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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57540	Ohel or Beth-shemesh A tabernacle for the sun, or, Irenicum evangelicum : an idea of church-discipline in the theorick and practick parts, which come forth first into the world as bridegroom and bride ... by whom you will have the totum essentiale of a true Gospel-church state according to Christs rules and order left us when he ascended ... : published for the benefit of all gathered churches, more especially in England, Ireland and Scotland / by John Rogers ...	Rogers, John, 1627-1665?; Rogers, John, 1627-1665? Challah, the heavenly nymph.	1653 (1653)	Wing R1813; Wing R1805; ESTC R850	596,170	655

make them Now we all concur Schoolmen Ministers and all That where there is true grace experienced Saints know it sweeter then the drops from the honey comb and qui accipit gratiam per quandam experientiam dulcedinis novit se illam habere quam non experitur ille qui non accipit as we have amply before mentioned Such men must needs know the love of God is sweet who have tasted and digested it They can comfortably use Laban's words in Gen. 30.27 I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me Jehovah hath raised me and increased me I have experience of it by comparing my former condition with my present So the Saints do tell by experience how Jehovah hath helped them and blessed them even with spiritual blessings in heavenly places Some of which though not so perfectly as they were delivered yet as well as I can collect them out of the Notes which I took of them from their own mouths when they were admitted into the Church I shall present as a sweet posie of some of the chiefest flowers that I have met with this spring-time in the Garden of the Lord the Church of Christ which is growing apace up to an Eden from flowers to fruits from Plants to Trees of Righteousness planted by Rivers of Water Examples of Experiences OR Discourses and Discoveries of the dead hearing the voice of the Son of God and now living As they were delivered in Dublin by divers Members admitted into the Church Being a clear account to the judgement of charity of the work of Grace upon their hearts in divers ways and sundry manners converted some extraordinarily and some ordinarily When where and how with the effects But before I begin I shall premise this for the godly Readers sake that I must contract much their experiences as they were taken least they be too voluminous And although in the choicest and most extraordinary ones I shall gather the stalk longer least I hurt the beauty and hide the excellency of those flowers yet without hurt to the rest in those which are ordinary I shall be very short being prevented by others in that little Treatise of Experiences newly put out I shall gather out the flowers onely and give you the sum of what they said and so tie them up together for a conclusion of the whole matter The most of these are mens and some womens and a very great many more I might adde to them which I have met with in England Essex and London and in Ireland and at Chester Holly-Head in Wales and in my travels but that I say I am I hope seasonably though unexpectedly prevented although many more do lie prepared by me But to the business as coming last from Dublin to declare some of those precious ones and which are the greatest treasure that I brought with me from thence The savor of which I hope will be attractive and encourage others over into Ireland where the Lord hath his Garden enclosed and full of Spices with the Mandrakes laid up for the Beloved against his coming which is looked for every day there as well as here and there the ●ride saith O! come Lord Jesus come quickly The Testimony of Tho. Huggins Preacher of the Gospel given in at the publick place Octob. 8. 1651. of Brides in Dublin IT is my joy to see willingness in Gods people to walk together in fellowship with the Father and the Son and such I desire to have fellowship with where Christ the King in his beauty appears most I do acknowledge as you have heard that account of faith before made by our Brother R. and do experimentally know and therefore must acknowledge that glorious Being of one God in his three distinct relations of Father and Creator Son and Redeemer and Spirit and Sanctifier and I finde in me by his Spirit and the several operations of this his Agent these things I believe the Scriptures Old and New Testament to be the very minde of God and do heartily desire my soul may be turned into the nature of those truths therein declared but to that which is expected from me most I come viz. to my conversation I was but yong when I began to be warmed yea within being under a zealous Ministry and much put upon duty I did use to read the Scriptures every night and to repeat Sermons often and so spent the first scene of my youth till I came to be sent by my friends to London and there I lived for a year or two but in that time as often as I saw any Minister I could not but weep and always wished that I might be one to be able to preach too After this I was sent to one of the Vniversities there but being wilde with youthful company I was soon after sent hither to this Colledge of Dublin where I am well known and here I continued till the Rebellion brake out at which time I left it and went for England into the North-parts and about Liverpool where I preached till now I returned hither But all this while I was but formal and as the yong-man that said he had kept all these from his youth So was I from my youth religious well-given loving the means following of them and seeking to serve God But alas yet all this while was I in darkness and did not know it but afterwards I saw that I was blinde and but carnal For about the year 1645. I began to be in great doubts and troubles and very much clouded in my spirit and was exceedingly bound and tyed up for a time under the sence of my formal holiness and sins till the Lord was pleased to give me light Once as I was walking all alone sadly upon the Mountains he immediately powred his Spirit upon me and satisfied my soul in Jesus Christ and filled my heart with heavenly joy and peace and with most ravishing contemplations which continued without a cloud for six weeks together which gave me full assurance of Gods love and ever since I have lived in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus though I have met with many clouds and storms since yet such as have passed away and cannot hinder me as long as Christ mine is above them Being thus translated from the form into the power I do heartily propose my self to be one with the members of Christ in his Church And although before I was not free in England or elsewhere to joyn thus it being so in controversie and disputable yet now I am fully satisfied and do see God building up his Jerusalem apace and am confident of what he is doing to Nations yea I joy to see that you all seek to unite by one Spirit and all to be one in Spirit if not all in one Form and so do I not doubting but this Ministration will be most to edification A further Testimony added to the truth by the experience

c. 6 l. 2 Samaritans brought in by the Experience of a woman declared p. 367 368 c. 6 l. 2 Sandy foundations will faile many Churches that are built on them p. 190 c. 14 l. 1 Sanctuary of the Lord filled with Volunteers p. 125 c. 11 l. 1 Saphires precious stones who they be p. 513 c. 9 l. 2 Sardiuss's precious stones who p. 516 c. 9 l. 2 Sardonix's precious stones who p. 515 c. 9 l. 2 Sathan renews Temptations every foot p. 432 c. 6 l. 1 Sathans syn●gogues in Parish Churches p. 79 c. 6 l. 1 Saving sanctifying graces fit us for Church-fellowship p. 59 c. 5 l. 1 Saul is slaine Davids dayes entred and Solomons entring very speedily 26 Epist. Scandal upon Churches and Saints whence vid. Epist to Churches and p. 321 c. 5 l. 2 Scandal to Christ Saints and Gospel to put any by for their bare opinions in things indifferent p. 321 322 c. 5 l. 2 Scandal of this age and of the Gospel is so many Hypocrites in Chu●ches p. 68 c. 5 l. 1 Scripture-comforts are sure and will last p. 309 c. 6 l. 2 Scriptu●es how Presbyterian● Papists agree in them p. 461 402 c. 9 l. 2 Seal of the Spirit what it is p. 266 c. 2 l. 2 Sealing of the Spirit how p. 372 373 c. 6 l. 2 Secular powers in matters of faith are tyranny and persecution p. 160 c. 13 l. 1 Seed time a sad-time before Harvest p. 365 c. 6 l. 2 Seekers sins p. 194 c. 14 l. 2 Selfe-examination of all that comes into Church-fellowship p. 240 c. 1 l. 2 Selfe-murther the Author sayed from p. 429 435 c. 6 l. 2 Separation from them without Christ calls for p. 45 c. 4 l. 1 Separation a part of Church-form p. 70 c. 6 l. 1 Separation what it is p. 75 76 c. 6 l. 1 Separates from Parish-Churches no Schismaticks but who are so and who are not p. 77 78 c. 6 l. 1 Sense makes us look and live so low as not to see things that are comming p. 47 c. 4 l. 1 Sequestration of Ministers of Christ cannot be from their preaching by any man p. 180 c. 13 l. 1 Sermons how to bee remembred p. 421 c. 6 l. 2 Serpent tempts with the tree of knowledge p. 545 c. 9 l. 2 Servants of Christ the Master-builder who p. 141 c. 13 l. 1 Servants of the Churche officers p. 288 c. 4 l. 2 Servants of God differ in opinions and yet the Lords p. 317 c. 5 l. 2 Set forme in Churches must not be p. 272 c. 3 l. 2 Shield to Saints who are to be 27 Ep. Shadow what it is and what are so p. 338 c. 5 l. 2 Sin in things indifferent p. 324 c. 5 l. 2 Sisters as well as Brethren have their Right as Church-members to vote c. p. 463 464 c. 8 l. 2 Sisters joyned in choosing an Apostle p. 466 c. 8 l. 2 Sixth day now man put into Paradise p. 446 c. 9 l. 2 Sodome a type of Antichrist p. 525 c. 9 l. 2 Slanders the Author suffers 43 Epist. Sleeping at Church how to avoid it p. 521 c. 6 l. 2 Solemne Order must accompany solemne Ordinances p. 280 c. 3 l. 2 Solemnity of Embodying is in publick p. 281 c. 3 l. 2 Soules flashed for sin exalted in Christ p. 381 c. 6 l. 2 Souldiers of Christ are best in the Churches p. 90 c. 7 l. 1 J. Spilmans Experience 4 Expe. 6 2 Speech of Christ what p. 98 c. 8 l. 1 Spirit and Truth inwardly and outwardly God to bee worshipped in p. 1 c. 1 l. 1 Spirit least when Form most p. 33 c. 3 l. 1 Spirit calls to come away p. 40 c. 3 l. 1 Spiritual means against spiritual evils p. 111 c. 8 l. 1 Spirit qualifies us by convincing and making us voluntary p. 126 c. 11 l. 1 Spirit is the Key that opens and none shuts p. 138 c. 13 l. 1 Spirit agreeing with our spirits how p. 373 c. 6 l. 2 Spirit is the sweetest compulsive power p. 129 c. 11 21 Spirited for the worke of the Temple little yet to what will be ere long p. 123 c. 10 l. 1 Spiritual Ah●●iabs none else should goe about to say the true Foundation of the Church p. 192 c. 14 l. 1 Spiritual worshippers in the Churches p. 209 c. 15 l. 1 Spirit and Word are the Lords Arms be draws with p. 253 c. 2 l. 2 Spirit of Christ the interior working Instrument p. 264 c. 2 l. 2 Spirit is Gods strongest and right Arme p. 269 c. 2 l. 2 Spirit how it is knowne and how it convinces p. 264 265 c. 2 l. 2 Spirit how one in all p. 268 c. 2 l. 2 True Spirit how known p. 373 c. 6 l. 2 Spirit carries through thicke and thin p. 266 c. 2 l. 2 Spirit powred out hard by us p. 506 523 c. 9 l. 2 Spirits powring out where it will bee first p. 538 c. 9 l. 2 Spirit is the onely orthodox Expositor p. 463 c. 9 l. 2 Spiritual Covenants are best and binde m●st p. 462 c. 7 l. 2 Spiritual Egypt many Churches how and why p. 342 c. 5 l. 2 Spirit-Baptisme a principle of union p. 307 c. 4 l. 2 Spirit-Baptisme by which we enter Christs Body p. 308 c. 4 l. 2 Spouse of Christ faire p. 87 c. 7 l. 1 Spring time is entred for the Churches p. 28 c. 3 l. 1 Sprinkling and washing all one with dipping p. 497 c. 4 l. 2 Strength of Saints embodyed invincible p. 89 90 c. 7 l. 1 Storme which the Author was in 48 Epist. A. Strongs Experience 9 Exp. 6 2 Storms the Churches must meet with yet p. 28 c. 3 l. 1 Subjects to Christ the Lord and Lawgiver p. 143 144 c. 13 l. 1 Substance of all shadows is Christ p. 338 c. 5 l. 2 Sun must rule the day that is coming 528 92 37 Epist. L. Swinfields Experience 396 397 and 4 Exp. 6 2 Sword of Christ that slayes sinne and errors is the word of Christ p. 261 c. 2 l. 2 Sympathy with the least member of Christ the Head p. 149 c. 13 l. 1 Synods ruling unwarrantable 107 8 1 497 9 2 T. Tabernacles i. e. Churches their benefits p. 94 c. 7 l. 1 Tabernacles of David types of Congregational Churches p. 526 c. 9 l. 2 Task masters of Egypt who and where now p. 343 c. 5 l. 2 Teachings are best by best Experiences p. 382 383 c. 6 l. 2 Teeth of the Church who p. 97 c. 8 l. 1 Temples of the Church who p. 98 ib. Temple stones hewn and fitted c. p. 52 c. 5 l. 1 Temple of Solomon a Type of New Jerusalem p. 528 c. 9 l. 2 Temptations are strong and many after Calls p. 416 c. 6 l. 2 Temptations incredible the Author met with 427 428 ib. Temptations are divers ways 433 434 1 Exper. ib. Temptations to deny Ordinances 404 2 Exp. ib. Terminus the Lawyers God 221 Epist. Terror

fellowship or injoynting into one The Devill hath set his black and fowle cloven-foot of divisions and dissensions in every Parish upon the earth yet the God of this world the Prince of Parishes hath blinded their eyes and they will not beleeve 2 Cor. 4.4 O what persecutions of the Saints oppositions of Christs ordinances Menaces against his Ministers what desperate Oathes devillish cursing horrible lying detestable libelling monstrous malice palpable cheating and unsufferable slanders yea and what not is in every Parish and what is the reason read what Christ saith Joh. 8.23 Yee are from beneath but I am and my wayes are and worship is from above yee are of this world but I am not of this world And as Rev. 9.1 2 3 4 c. out of the bottomlesse pit arose smoake as the smoake of a great furnace the Sun and Ayre were darkned by reason of the smoake and out of the smoake came Locusts and unto them was given power as the Scorpions of the earth have power and it was commanded them that they should not hurt any green thing a Saint in his viridity full of sap and in the spring neither any tree a flourishing Saint in his virility and well grown Psal. 1.3 Psal. 52.8 Psal. 92.12 Jer. 17.8 but only such men as have not the seale of God in their fore-heads These Locusts of Hell these Aegyptian plagues which have Scorpion-stings in their tayles ver 10. whilst the fairest out-side and faces of men ver 7. yet are ever running and ready for battle ver 7. ver 9. have seised upon the spirits of many men more ridged then religious and they doe eate them up See but what hot contentions Suits at Law Plots to doe mischiefe desires to persecute the people of God devices to make them odious among men Jer. 18.18 and what not came along with this Soule-comfortlesse bottomlesse-pit smoake when your Parishes were constituted and tell me then if Pharoahs leane ill-favoured Kine doe not eate up the fat Gen. 41. and if the withered wild blasted eares doe not devoure the full and faire eares See if as yet amongst many the Magicians rods doe not turne Serpents and seek to eate up Aarons though Aarons shal devoure theirs ere long and Truth shall triumph over errours Christ over Antichrist Faith over fallacies maugre all their malicious mischievous dispositions and oppositions and their water shal be turned into bloud speedily and all their Fish shall dye that swim now in their Elements and croaking Froggs shall cry in every place I meane them that give now and then a little leape and that is all upward and such will also dye and then their dust shall be turned into Lice and their pleasures to plagues then boyles and blaines their contagion and corruption shall appeare to all whilst the Lords owne Israel and Saints shall be safe and free This shall bee shortly but in the interim how Parishes swarme with Egyptian flyes let wise men judge whilst Serpents lye by the way-side Gen. 49.17 and bite us or rather backbite us before we are aware not openly in our sight but crookedly and craftily treacherously and behinde us Dublin hath the most of this Tribe of Dan that ever I met with Moreover many an Adullamite Gen. 38.20 might wee finde here in this City for if their occupations were but printed upon their foreheads as some of them have full foreheads wee should heare and see their trading and delight is to serve an ill-master and to runne upon ill arrands to cog to carry tales to dissemble lye and flatter and to have faire faces as of men but to sting as Serpents and Scorpions being bound to hurt the Innocent and harmelesse ones But I say no more only that such Parishes fal infinitly short of the true Forme of true Churches of Christ and I can confidently assert such Synagogues as I said matter-lesse and form-lesse or if some fit matter may bee found amongst them yet they are but as the Philosophers say of the earth when it was a Chaos and without forme materia prima informis sine formâ normâ the first matter which is without forme and order and which is semper passiva sayes Tho. Aquin. 1.54.3.3 to suffer another nature and workmanship Eph. 2.10 till then wee may say of them as in Zeph. 2.15 How are they become a desolation and a place for beasts to lye downe in And why so as Mayer sayes but because no difference is put betwixt the righteous and the wicked therefore it follows every one that passes by shall hisse and wag his hand and Zeph. 3.1 Woe to her that is filthy c. which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or provoking and disobedient such are your Parish-Churches And they put mee in minde of that place in the hot sands of Africa where wilde beasts of all sorts meet together to drinke and there are the strangest monsters got whence the Proverb is Africa aliquid apportat novi And so in Parish Churches all sorts meet and many monsters are made by reason of such who are not fit for civill society much lesse for Saints And a Heathen said Qui aequo animo malis immiscetur malus est he must needs be bad that likes and allows of such a mixture And I might also mention the saying of one That as often as he had been among such men hee returned home lesse a man then he was before Wherefore common rules of reason may dictate this doctrine to us The Lacedemonians would enquire of the carriage of their children by the condition of their Play-fellowes And as Socrates said to Alcibiades the Parragon of beauty I feare not thee but thy companions so may wee say to some honest men And indeed it is a sad thing for will the loyall wife still keep that company which her husband dislikes sheep lose wool that will keep in the wildernesse among the bushes so doe men be they ever so good lose much that will continue in Parish-Churches which are upon their destiny being too old to live longer for the Lord will discover their filthinesse their whoredomes their Idolatries and abominations even unto their Lovers and they shall loath them But the Bramble of Rome which hath brought so many unto obedience shall be burnt up and a strong voyce shall say Rev. 18.2 Babylon is fallen is fallen and is become an habitation of Devils and the hold of every foule spirit and a cage of every uncleane and hatefull bird and verse 9.11.16.18 And then the Kings and people and Merchants and Ship-masters that have traded with her from time to time and have had of her commodities to carry to other Nations and have brought away of her Trumperies and Traditions will h●wle and lament and yet stand a far off for fear of her torments verse 15. Wherefore come out of

Office of Preaching be denied any but that they have free Liberty yet if they transgress Gospel-bounds and will be seditious and fierce c. then it is your Lordships duty to suppress and banish them saying We will freely grant you to fight with the Word against all false Doctrines but we will restrain your hands and spirits from those things that belong to our Magistracy and Civil Power c. Either of these I say out of their orbs and places are of a Phaeton-spirit obnoxious to all and in such disorders as will set all on fire again Therefore such are said in Scriptures to be lifted up to their own destruction 2 Chro. 26.16 For such pride is never without a fall And till this be both Magistracy and Ministry must needs lie under much contempt both which in the restitution of times will be glorious at first Wherefore as Bishops had not best to storm that they are thrown down from their Lordships Judgeships Justices of Peace or the like neither let our Stately-Ministers be offended for calling them to and keeping them in the work of the Ministry of Christ whereinto they are called nor yet our honorable Rulers whose honor is to rule well within their sphere and not to meddle with matters of Faith which is an edge tool that will cut their fingers for Extorquere timidis commutationem possunt sed fidem inspirare non possunt Ambr. epist. 13. it is out of their orb Quest. But may not Magistrates suppress Errors c. Answ. Evil doings and practises as you heard before they may and must but they are not competent Judges of controversal points opinions and doctrines And thus that eminent servant of Christ Mr. Burroughs in his Vindication against Edwards answereth this Question he sayes That where the hainousness of the matter and turbulency of the carriage manifests stubbornness c. These hainous actions and turbulent carriages do come within their cognizance but they are not the fit Judges of controversies in Religion or matters of faith But why sayes hee for this should there be such a stirre and out-cry against that which is called the Independent way as if there must needs bee a confusion of all things if liberty in it bee but granted The Lord judge between us in this thing c. But as it is an intollerable wrong done to the truth Christ and his Churches to grade and grace Ministers with such a Power as we said before which is most properly the States so is it no lesse lamentable an injury done to Jesus Christ his Church and truth to gratifie Magistrates with such a Power which is most properly the Churches as to suppress sinne errours in opinions and judgements which is to bee by the word of Christ He is no Judge of Doctrine to pronounce which is true and which is not which shall stand and which shall not because as Mr. Dell sayes he is as liable to erre as any man Acts 14 14. vid. Owens Essay for Church government p. 72. Secondly Because he wil do all he can dentibus unguibus as wee may say to uphold his owne opinion and religion though never so false and to sentence others though ever so true as if they were false heresies blasphemies and the like as appears Acts 24.14 So did the Jewes Acts 28.22 and the Scribes and Pharisees sentence Christ and Christianity and all but their owne Thirdly Every Magistrate would make it his office to maintaine his owne Idol and what a world of false gods and false worships would be set up and worshipped then and in most places true Religion put into the Rack Object But they must have the advice of the Assembly of Divines or able Ministers Answ. 1. Then Magistrates must act upon an implicite answer 1 faith to see with their eyes and beleeve as they beleeve Secondly Then Magistrates were but the Ministers or Assemblies executioners a flat peece of Popery methinks Pilate stands for a Sea-mark before such to the end of the world who did but execute the Priests sentence upon Christ in crucifying him 3 This would take Ministers off the right means of ruining errour i. e. by the word of Christ and this would make them idle and neglect their duties in doing that by the word that such Magistrates would doe though they ought not to do by the sword but Fourthly Why Magistrates as Magistrates are not to suppresse errours c. is because Christ and his Apostles after him never medled as we heard before with secular powers to suppresse blasphemies c. neither was this Doctrine maintained or entertained as usefull in Christs Church for three hundred yeers after Christ. Fifthly Because Christ hath left other Lawes to suppresse Errours Heresies Blasphemies as appears in 1 Tim. 1.20 Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4 5 c. Cum multis aliis c. and by those Lawes left us upon record in Primitive times were errours depressed and punished Query Whether a Member cast out of a Church-society comes not under secular Cognizance for punishment Answ. Affirm So far as Christians whether in or out of Church-fellowship are of the world they are under worldly government and powers but no further For worldly government reaches not out of the world but Saints as Saints yea as members of the Church visible are called out of the world and Christs Church though in the world yet they are not of the world Church-government is over men as Members of the Church and Civill government is over them as members of the State or Nation or Commonwealth The first is Christs the second Caesars It is Antichrist arrogates both and casts a Christian under the notion of a Hereticke erroneous person or the like out of one hand into the other We grant that a member whether in the society or out for it is all one for that for as much as he is a member of the Nation must needs come under Civill Cognizance but answer 2 Secondly Negative I can finde no warrant in the word for any Church of Christ to deliver up any be he never so bad to secular powers for punishment for either he must bee delivered up before or after he is cast out if before then he is yet under the government of the Church and if after then the Church hath nothing to do with him being without her Lines I doe not finde this to be in practise in primitive times till Popery was pretty ripe and then under pretence of Hereticks the dear Saints suffered death presently and frequently Secondly But if Magistrates doe take Cognizance of Blasphemers Hereticks c. let them take heed they out-run not Gods rule in inflicting mulcts and punishments though it be for actions I say that they goe not too far Luke 9.55 56. I see not how they can sentence to death any for mis-beleeving or not beleeving our points

all the World beside Saints being the living stones thereof 1 Pet. 2.5 A Jew saies Origen in M●tt tract 35. Nihil dubitat de hujusmodi c. Christ's doctrine to say so is strange Besides if the presence of God makes holy then marke the promise which is not to the place but to the people Mat. 18.20 Wheresoever it be that two or three are gathered together in my name I am in th● middest of them If example would adde anything we have all the primitive practise for us both of Christ praying and preaching on the mount and the Apostles in any place in all places from house to house Now although we deny not but that a convenient use may be made of those Churches yet there is not a necessary use of them as to the places holier then any others or that God is more present there For as Origen hath it Locum sanctum in corde requiro positum c. I seek a holy place not in the house but in the heart My son give me thy heart Et non putemus structuram lapidum c. Orig. Hom. 5. in Lev. Let us not then think saies he that the building of dead senslesse stones is the holy place Mr. Tindall hath seal'd to this truth with his bloud Fox p. 125. That Christ hath taken away the difference of places and will be worshipped in every place neither is there in his kingdome on● place holy and another unholy but all places are indifferent neither canst thou more heartily and better beleeve trust love God in the Temple at the Altar in the Church yard c. saies he then in the barn kitchen vineyard bed c. And to be short the Martyrs of Christ have honou●ed worshipped him in prisons and dark dungeons Thus he And so we 2. The Papists appointed these Churches to be dedicated to Saints and Bell. c. 4. brings an argument to urge Temples to be built to Saints Now although the Priests and Presbyters can't for shame own these Popish decrees yet what do they lesse then approve of their Churches so consecrated and dedicated as to S. Mary S. John S. James S. Thomas Apostles c when they professe them theirs and call them by their names as Sainted and unde●take them as such From which we dissent and do declare our dissatisfaction with Parish-Churches as such we disown the titles and them as Temples and Churches and we abhor them as consecrated or dedicated as before and affirm further that many Ministers approbations of those Churches and appropriation of them to themselves as theirs is not far from that manifest impiety and idolatry which appear'd at their first consecration and Christning if I may so say of them and does lead people into too much Popery and foppery about them It were to be wished that their names were left and lost and buryed never more to rise among Christians and that those places also were detested as to the use and end for which and name to which they were consecrated When superstition began to grow big this idolizing of places burgeon'd out also though more anciently they were wont to devote them to Christ as Constantine did his Temple at Jerusalem to the Saviour of the world but afterwards they dedicated them to Saints which saies holy Lambert Martyr Fox 1108 the very Angels themselves would not that we should dedicate to the honour of them And for this take the confession of Wittenb Harm sect 2. p. 46. who say neither do we consecrate Churches or Temples to any Saints or Martyrs seeing not they but their God is our God It will do wel because many are and will be taught by the precepts of men which is a sad passage Hos. 5.11 therefore it would do well that our States would declare against those Churches as no Churches that they might never be eyed or owned more then any other places further then for conveniencie's sake so that as hot violent Ministers might not approve so not appropriate them as they do But that they might be left to the liberty of the godly people that when the Minister of the parish preaches not any other godly Minister or brother might preach there as having liberty and allowance as well as the other For indeed some proud s●lf-conceited hot spirited Presbyterians I know that account these Churches their own inheritance will keep or solely command the keyes and suffer none to preach but themselves or of their own feather gang and fancy with them and on the week-daies keep the door so close that a mouse may hardly get in for fear of too much preaching which they account dangerous unlesse on their Rounds on Sunday So that they ●hreaten to arrest such as dare preach in their Pulpits or Churches as they say without their consent Oh sad such doings we have in Countreys yet and are forced to preach under hedges or on mountains which I have done my self when we have not had a twig to shelter us from the rain But woe be to them for they have taken away the key of knowledge and have not entred in themselves and them that were entring in they have hindred Luk. 11.52 I hope in time this will be reformed too which though it seem a trifle yet will signifie much whilest people have a Popish fancy of finding God there more then in other houses that the word preached there is better then in private poor souls they can seek no further But if these places must be dedicated to Saints let them be dedicated to the use of Saints living and for the Churches that are so indeed to meet together Now to the last thing I shal name though I might many more Lastly The practise of Presbyterians is too alike the Papists in their accurate S●rutiny which they have of us to observe what differences they can finde amongst us to make their advantage and out cry against us this is an old popish trick Bell. lib. 4. eccles cap. 9. Do way-bible p. 50. of the Jesuites inventions which as the Papists had to render the Protestants odious so the rigid brethren the Presbyterians do all they can to make us a reproach and by publishing our weaknesses which they get up from the differences and divisions that are among the Saints Churches So Edwards Gangrena Baily in 's Dissuasive Dr. Bastwick in 's Rout Mr. Prin in 12 Queries Cummultis allis c. But we with the good old Protestants and Martyrs must acknowledge too many differences among us and that about forms too but we say that unity is no infallible note or necessary mark of the Church of Christ for as Mr. Bradford said Fox 1622. the Idolatrous Israelites then might have produced and pretended this argument for them And then 2. There may be unity where is not uniformity and where be differences about some outward rites yet all may agree in the

declared in the same place at the same time by John Bywater Preacher of the Word BRethren I do declare here this day the desire of my heart which is to have fellowship with such a society as are built up by the Spirit to be one with all those that are one with Jesus Christ the Head knowing this That all rudimentary and elementary things do but point at a higher glory As for my Faith I acknowledge God one not three but as you have heard before c. As for my life I shall in short say thus When I was a little one going to School God began with me for once I swore one Oath as I was playing with my School-fellows but I was presently struck with horror for it and sence of it as if I were to go to Hell for it presently in which horror and great trouble I left my School-fellows playing but I could no longer being in this misery for that sin but away I went into the Church-Porch not far off and there I sat alone and wept bitterly to my self for some time but at length growing in some hopes I know not how of pardon I began to grow chearful and fearless until a little while after that I went to see some malefactors suffer and after I came home this sight ran so much in my minde and was for a long time set so before my eyes That my sins and the horrors of Hell came afresh upon me again so that I was exceedingly cast down and cryed out O what shall I do how shall I be saved which I had often in my mouth and in the hearing of my friends in which condition I could take no comfort from them till the Lord himself brought me out of it and gave me to be given up to Jesus Christ by the life of Faith which I now live notwithstanding I was under several temptations and oftentimes very thick but even then I resolved if that I were flung into Hell yet it should be holding on Christ for I will not let him go now and here I hold through mercy ever since So that I take Christ for my King Priest Prophet and do believe him to be a Propitiation for my sins And I believe that he will restore to us a pure language and that we shall all worship him in one Spirit and with one consent And my desire is to walk with you thus in union and love and by one and the same Spirit Another Testimony or Report made of the work of grace upon his heart at the same time in the same place by John Hewson Colonel and Governor of Dublin HAving an opportunity to speak something to you I shall do it without many words Time was that I was in a state of disobedience as to God a childe of wrath and lived in a wicked and profane family in London but yet I went often to hear a good man in London preach by which means I was brought to see sin and shown within me that I wanted Christ which when I saw I began to desire him and to long after him and still frequented the means and by the use of the means I was drawn nigher to himself but ever since I finde I have a corrupt heart and have much ado to keep it in therefore God brings me under many troubles and temptations more then many others And I though I am in places of power yet I account them nothing seeing an emptiness in all things and a fulness in none but in Christ. I confess I was sometime for the Presbyterians and very rigid and bitter against all others of the Independents till the Lord did shew me the Parish-Church was no true Church being a mixed Congregation and I was ignorant of this way which they call Independent But now I am clearly convinced of it and satisfied in this society and for matter of Faith I concur with the Brother that before spake and finde what he said to be true in me and do desire communion with you as you have with Christ Jesus The Testimonial of Raphael Swinfield or his experience as was taken out of his own mouth in Dublin in another publick place called Michaels I Do declare here what God hath done for me First in my youth my Father being a godly man brought up his children very religiously but for my part although I were well brought up and instructed yet I was very disobedient being yong and head-strong and hearkned not to my fathers advice which I had often but regarded it not which grieved me greatly afterward for I could not endure to be curbed or kept in but at length because of his continual and yet justly reproving me for my ill courses and ill company which I kept I resolved I would stay at home no longer but I would be gone into the Low-Countreys and we were put out to Sea but by contrary Winds and Seas were driven back again But I could not see this but still held on my purpose and having an opportunity I got away for all that into England and I was in England a while where my friends set upon me and perswaded me to turn home again telling me many things to move me but whilest I had my abode with my friends there for some time I began to be acquainted with some things for there I heard good men and Ministers often and there I was made to see my sin and wicked disobedience by one Master Evans and I was thereupon sadly affected and disconsolate and could have no quiet nor rest In this time my Father hearing of me where I was not knowing before what was become of me but that I might be dead or drowned now writ a Letter to me wherein I was admonished to beware of such as run headlong to perdition with many other good advices and he seemed as Iacob joyed to hear that his son was yet alive c. All which things struck me heavily to the heart and so I lay long under the fearful sentence of my sin and disobedience and could not take any comfort or content I prayed fasted heard the Word went to Ordinances yet had no satisfaction at all And thus I continued till my heart was ready to burst a peeces and then I began to make it known to my friends how I was afflicted who did a little comfort me but this lasted but a little while for I soon fell again into my old malady and grief as before being sadly diseased and so as I could finde no comfort at all by any means until that place in Isa. 50.10 came into me How he that sitteth in darkness and seeth no light should trust in the Name of the Lord and stay himself upon his God which did much fasten upon me and me upon God whereby I had abundance of comfort but yet never free from many temptations and fears and doubts and such sometimes as