spoyle of our goods Now God having revealed his true worship to uâ— iâ— the light of Christ which is is in spiâ—it and truth and called us out of carnall things â—or which there is no Scripture we â—â—nnâ— 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 havâ— 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 tâ—is is not the Spirit of the Prophets nor subject to the Prophets but the rude Spirit which tumulâ—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 strangâ— or an error in us to compare weigh and â—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 â—cripture to us there is onâ— body one Spirit one 〈◊〉 one faith one baptisme one God and fatheâ— 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 â—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
Conscience from dead works And will you not suffer him to reigne and governe therein hath not he quickned every living soule and created anew every free Spirit and would you take and keepe the kingdome therein out of his hand and rule there for another or your selves with force and cruelty Is not this he for whom the Sabbath was made and all the ordinances under heaven speakes his dominion And will you now read this and professe and withstand him in the Consciences of his tender people and deny him to rule in his Church alone have you not read what God hath said of him and his enemies in the second Psalme nay are not all the Scriptures his and testifie to him alone as head over all and ruler in all his Saints And as you have heard read and professed his dominion more then heathens and yet goe on to keepe it from him so to you is his first appearâ—nce to seeke his owne of you And if you persist to deny him it s you must drinke the Cup first that the heathens may heare and feare his name frâ—m farre and his rising appeare to all the ends of the world that its he alone who is from everlasting at whose name every knee must bow and tongue confesse to the right of his inheritance And this further I lay before you people of this Nation who have long been crying for peace and settlement in the Nations and in your Religion and you cry out of so many divisions and so many religions I say to you all how should you be otherwise when you will not come to the one religion that is of God and was in the beginning with God and brought forth in time by Iesus Christ for the bringing all into God againe and reconciling all sorts of scattered people who are scattered in the imaginations and customes of carnall spirited men from God the one good thing into many things rudiments and traditions wherein you can neither be reconciled to God nor one to another for how is it like that ever that religion can reconcile to God which sets you a killing one another to uphold it are you like to obtaine peace in that Spirit which in your hearts is the cause of enmity and warre or obtaine unitie from that roote which hath thus scattered you in its fruits and off spring This is like the false Prophets of old who would bite with their teeth and cry peace Nay this is not the way of settlement or lasting peace THAT you must have in returning and making peace with the Spirit of Jesus you must kisse the Son and so make peace for this hath been seene concerning you of these Nations that if you owne not the light of Christ in spirit and truth that he may lead you out of these many things which are not of â—od and reconcile you to God in spirit and truth there to worship him alone who is a Spirit you will ere long be in bloud eyther amongst your selves one against another or else iâ— the bloud of the innocent Lambs of Chriâ—t which will not be for your peace with God for he that hath letted your peace and settlement is not yet taken away nor his power who is that old bloud-sucker and divider of Nations people and tongues abouâ— faith and religions and with which a fire hath often been kindled nor can his power be stopped but by the Spirit of the Lambe of God which takes away sin and breakes downe the wall of separation which is made about ordinances litterall ceremoniall and traditionall which can never cease but as men turne to the Spirit of the Lord Iesus That with the light of peace and truth you may be led into peace truth and unity that wrath may be done away and the ground thereof and you and your religion may be setled on the foundation of truth Christ Jesus the chiefe corner stone and not upon dayes times meats drinks and apparell and other things which will perish with the using and so will they that worship and not in the leadings of Christ alone and God will shake the Idolls of peoples minds and all the glory of flesh that he alone may be exalted in the earth as he is in heaven So if you will have peace you must come to the Son of peace and if you will have establishment you must come to the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles of God for I say many have been about to build a house for God to dwell in with carnall things and rudiments and this they would bind him to his people who is a Spirit and his house must be built of spirituall men and women who like living stones must grow up in his owne light and vertue into a holy temple in the Lord In which you must be builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2.20 21 22. And this is Gods house built by Christ alone with that which is elect and precious not with gold and garments or observations of perishing things but with redeemed soules by the bloud of Iesus out of their vaine conversation and gathered into the Spirit of truth and life and power to worship God who is a Spirit in spirit truth and this is Gods house at this day which was his house in the Apostles dayes who dwells not in Temples made with hands as saith the Apostles nor with mens hands is worshipped but with him that 's poore in spirit and of a broken and contrite heart to him will I looke saith the Lord and there will I dwell And the bodyes of his holy people are the Temples of the living God as he hath said I will dwell in them and walke in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 2 Cor. 6.16 And untill you come to this building of God in your selves God will not dwell with you in peace but all your buildings will he coÌ„found and not accept your sacrifice and then the Devill will enrage you against Gods house and spirituall building even his poore despised people them to destroy like Cain when his sacrifice was not accepted in his owne will But if you turne to the Lord who is that Spirit then will he cause his light to shine in your hearts to give you an heavenly understanding and he will put his Spirit in your inward parts and fill you with heavenly power and will let you see the lively Image of truth and peace and he will take away the vaile of the Covering that is spead over all Nations from which arises all their carnall comprehensions and carnall worships of the invisible spirituall God and he will also swallow up death in victory which now worketh in the Nations to kill one another about religion and worship without spirit and life so will you come to be taught his true worship who is a Spirit and become true worshippers in Spirit and so grow up in his knowledge and he will owne your worship whom as yet you have neither heard hiâ— voyce at any time nor seene his shape And Christ saith of such worshippers You worship you know not what but the true worshippers worship in faith and know what they worship and such the Father â— now seeking to worship him saith Christ Iesus John 4.22 23 24. And this is the thing oh England thaâ— concernes thy peace with thy God in thiâ— thy day who art Combred with many things about Christ and worship but neglects the one thing needfull for thy everlasting peace and establishment and to bring thee into that worship of Spirit withouâ— which God cannot accept thee and that religion which is pure and undefiled in the sight of God which will keepe thee unspotted in the world which till thou turnâ— to thou wilt be working against the Spirit of God through the darknesse of enmity that is in thee and he will certainly worke against thee except thou repent THE END J. N. R. H. 1 John 3.27 Isa. 5.6 2 Chro. 19.6 Isa. 6.9 Mat. 12.8 Heb. 2.10 Dan. 4.25 Acts 2.36 1 Tim. 6.15 Isa. 11.4 Isa. 40.11 Psal. 45.7 Jer. 23.5 6. Luk. 1.24 Isa. 6.3 2 Sam. 23.4 Isa. 32.1 2. Eccles. 10.16 17. Psal. 69.9 Lam. 3.14 Rev. 21.24 Isa. 5.21 Jer. 17.5 John 5.44 Isa. 30.1 Rom. 8.14 Gal. 5.18 Mat. 17.5 2 Cor. 10.6 Isa. 28.7 Jere. 23. Amos 2.4 Amos 7.14 Jerem. 23. Isa. 1.9 Hester 3. Dan. 6. Dan. 3. Acts 5.28 29. John 16.2.3 2 Tim. 1.13 Job 32.21 22. James 2. Dan. 3.21 Lev. 18.30 Ier. 23.10 Mat. 5.34 Iames 5.12 Lev. 19.12 Mat. 5.34 Mat. 5. Isa. 59.4 Isa. 28.15 Jer. 9.3 4 5 Pro. 12.19.22 Pro. 29.12 Psal. 40.4 Deut. 19.16 17 18 19 20 1 Cor. 7.39 Mâ—la 2.15 Maâ—h. 19.6 Mâ—th. 19.8 Mah. 19.4 5. Rom. 8.2 Nom. 13. Acts 4.19 2 Câ—r 1.12 1 Tim. 3.9 James 1.27 John 4.23 24. Dan. 4.17 Heb. 1.8 9. Isa. 11.1 2. 2 Cor. 4.5 2 Cor. 1.24 1 Pet. 5.3 2 Cor. 10.4 Eph. 6.12 1 Cor. 4.5 Mic. 3.10 Col. 1.18 Phil. 2.10 Rev. 17.14 John 6.27 Col. 1.18 Mat. 1.21 Phil. 2.13 1 Cor. 6.10 Rom. 14.23 Rom. 14.4 Mat. 7.12 1 Cor. 2.10 11. John 3.20 21. Rom. 7.6 1 Thes. 1.1 Gala. 1.16 Gal. 1.11.12 1 Cor. 9.14 1 Cor. â— 17 18. 2 Cor. 4.5 1 Cor. 14 29 30 31. 1 Cor. 2.12 1 John 4.1 1 Thes. 5.21 1 Cor. 8.5 6. 〈◊〉 4 5 6. Heb. 7. John 4.21 24. Acts 7.48 Acts 17.24 Jer. 10.2 3. Isa. 55.4 Luke 1.79 Heb. 1.6 Mica 3. Col. 2.14 15 16 17 20 21 22. Heb. 10.11 Isa. 66.2 Isa. 25.7 8. 2 Cor. 3.16 17 18. John 5 37. Luke 19 42· Luke 10.41 42. James 1.27
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 anâ— 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 oâ—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 tâ—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
Commands That so under you we might be godly and quietly governed within and without But if yet it must be so that your distance be so great that with one heart we cannot obey you both then whether it is better to obey God or men with the light of God in your own consciences judge you therefore if we can but keepe peace with the one of you we chuse to keepe our everlasting peace with God and that saving saith that 's held in a pure Conscience And our prayers to the father of lights is for our whole body of Christs Church and every member thereof that our hearts may be kept single to him alone what ever we suffer from men for so doing Now to those things which some call religious THough in our selves we make no such distinction it being that our Consciences are to be exercised in the light and Spirit of Christ in all we doe towards God and towards man and every particular action towards men God requires that it be done as to him and to his glory and not in our own wills nor in mens wills nor after their wills manners and customes and commands but in the will of God alone revealed in Christ Jesus in Spirit and in his motion and leadings which if we misse in and serve eyther men or our selves therein and not God we are accountable to him as though we had erred in that which the world calls Religion therefore what ever we do to God in Christ to us is his service and pure religion and undefiled before God if we keepe but our conscience unspotted from the world though it be but in visiting a fatherless childe or a widdow in their affliction or any other thing which the Spirit of truth justice and mercy leads us to and requires of us But as the worship of God it selfe hath relation to him alone who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and in truth betwixt him and every particular creature onely known in matter measure and manner time and place And knowing that the onely wise God who gives the kingdoms of the earth to whom he will yea and may set over them the basest of men as well as the most vertuous without controule if he please so to deale in judgement towards any Nation yet this hath he reserved as an eternall Scepter in the hand of Jesus our Lord and by an everlasting Covenant hath he sworne once for all concerning him Thou art a King for ever over the holy people and his throne is established in their consciences by a perpetuall decree to all generations therefore was it never known that ever he trusted or titled any earthly Prince with Lord over the faith and consciences of his owne people This was ever the Sâ—ns prerogative above the Kings of the earth and he alone is to be Judge and Law-giver and correcter and leader in that invisible spirituall work of worship towards God for he onely knowes the way and none comes to the Father but by him It s true the Pope hath taken upon himselfe such authority under pretence of the Apostles even over the faith and consciences of people and with it hath shed much innocent bloud which lyes upon his seat and his line till God come to enquire for it and for that end hath set up inquisitions c. And others after and from that have erected Courts and Synods with their fines and prisons and tortures to force the faith and Consciences of people and they pretend the Apostles also for this worke But this we know that the Apostles was no such men nor used any such weapons but deny them therein both the Pope and they that are risen since And expressely deny to be Lords over Gods heritage or over their faith neither did they preach themselves Lords and Masters but Christ Jesus alone the Lord and themselves servants for Iesus sake as both their owne words practise doth testifie for saith Paul Not for that we have dominion over your faith And saith Peter Not for filthy lucre neither as being Lords over Gods heritage but as examples to the flock So we know that from Peter they had it not nor from Paul nor from any of the true Ministers of Christ for their weapons was not carnall but spirituall nor did they wrestle with flesh but with spirit so all they can get from the Apostles either in word or practise is this That if they be troubled with errors or profanenesse in their Churches Then if they have the Spirit and power of the Lord Iesus then to deliver such a one up to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the soule may be saved and body also in the day of the Lord And this is not to goales or gallowes or inquisitions or tortures or fires now had they this spirit and power they would know that which would convert in deed and truth and not make hypocrites or else kill them but the false Church having not these weapons nor this spirit and power is builded with oppression and upholden with bloud And in her are found the bloud of all the holy Martyrs of Jesus as saith the Scriptures yea even now is she drunke with bloud Revel. 18.24 17.6 So now this is the thing we say as to the worship of our God and to the order of it In all things it belongs to Christ Iesus our Lord and to him as sole King Lord thereof we coÌ„mit our selves even the whole man soule and body as to all things of that nature And though there may ariâ—e power after power and seeke tâ— stop us of this liberty and freedome by acting force and violence upon our outward man yet are we free by birth in Christ Iesus and our inwâ—rd man they cannot bind nor can we ever while we abide in that seeâ—e give up the right of Christ unto any of them but this we testifie in all we doe or suffer that the right is Christs over our Consciences and over our worships and to him alone we confesse before men and he hath the name in us And though for a time or times we yet suffer yet we know the end must come And the Lambe must take the kingdome and we know him that is true and faithfull whom the Father hath sealed and anoynted to be head of the â—hurch which is his body and to him must the Nations account And therefore we say to all the severall powers that comes upon us we may not deny the Lord in our Consciences to bow to or worship in what men shall set up or command but he that saves us dayly from our sins he shall leade us in our worship and to him we must give the obedience of faith who gives us faith and power by his Spirit to obey and who hath wrought all our workes in us and for us and by whose vertue
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 Conscienâ—e towards his God but that an universall libâ—â—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 â—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 thaâ— 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 tâ—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 oâ—daine them in any age nor command them to bâ— observed in his Church as men now imposâ—â—hem but the contrary we find from the Spirit of Christ both in the oldness of letter and iâ— newness of life So these things we cannoâ— bow â—o nor worship in for conscience sake â—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
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 â—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 hâ— 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 â—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 â—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 foâ— the same testimony and they told them the most high God could not be worshipped with mens hands nor carnall things but in sâ—irit â—nd in â—ruth And how often was they tumulâ—ed and beaten and their bloud shed for this testâ—mony against the beggerly rudiments 〈◊〉 ordinances of men both of Iewes who had their ordinances from the letter and â—â—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 â—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 thiâ— age to beare this record of God in Christ 〈◊〉 to become his witnesse how maâ—y 〈◊〉 lost their liberties their estates and 〈…〉 lives for this testimony in word 〈◊〉 â—â—â—câ—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 repeÌ„tance 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 â—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 â—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 fâ—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 lâ—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 tâ—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
but to love our enemies and pray for them that dispitefully use us and hate us And so from all men to suffer for peace sake for to peace we are called towards all men and under the Prince of peace is our government so that we need not men to end Controversies amongst us who are all in unity of spirit and life in Christ Iesus But when men haile us before Iudgement-Seats or cause us to appeare at their Courts of Law then we meet with many things among them there which for Conscience sake we cannot bow to nor uphold finding them not onely against the rule of Christians but out of the way of common honesty as men yea many things against truth it selfe and this we cannot serve as Law which is against truth As when they send a Writ to appeare at their Courts in a mans owne proper person and in obedience thereto we have come may be two hundred miles or above and tendred our appearance accordingly at the very day appointed then they have with violence and reproach thrust us out of their Courtâ— because we did appeare in our owne personâ— and not â—n another mans person whom we have not known and for this have we suffered much damage long imprisonment as contemners of authority and Law Now this we cannot joyne to in our hearts nor owne as honesty and truth and plain dealing as men to let goe all talke of Christianâ— the heathen would not doe this to us Also when our adversary puts up a Bill oâ— Charge against us drawn up in a forme without truth fill'd with false accusations aâ—though our offence amounted to hundreds or thousands of pounds wrong or damage when with the truth of Christ in our Conscience we know that we have never wronged that man one penny in our lives but that it is the enemy of truth and peace even that Old accuser of the brethren which now workes in that Creature to spoyle our goods or take our lives or liberties from us Then we are not suffered to returne an answer in the feare of our God and in plainnesse and truth of expressions as the Spirit of truth shall move in the simplicity of our hearts And so with the Spirit of truth to deny the lyes and false accusations of the adversary But we must be forced to give unreasonable sums of money to another man whom we know not nor knows he our state and case in this matter to answer in our stead who for ought we know may in stead of sharply reproving those abominable lyes justifie them at least as a legall thing or forme at Law fit to be used And thus our testimony against falshood is taken from us which the Spirit of truth requires of us and we pay money to have it justified as a forme at Law when we know it to be a forme of lyes And we cannot leave the truth to serve this deceipt beside were the truth no dearer to us but that we could thus give it up to be betrayed knowingly yet it seems to us unreasonable as men to give our cause into the hands of him that knows it not further then we must informe him nor when we have informed him have no assurance whether he will speak our words or his owne or our adversaries and so bring us under the guilt of the whole body of falshood This appeares to us very unreasonable and dangerous and below the priviledge of a man as a man much more as a Christian so we rather chuse to suffer innocently under falshood keeping our consciences cleare then consent thereto and so establish mischiefe under pretence of a Law Psal. 94.20 and deny our testimony for the truth to which we are called and for which we suffer in all these things Also if any of us be sued at the Exchequer or Chancery and appeare and take a Coppie of the Bill and goe to the Iudges with a true answer thereto they will refuse it because we cannot sweare though they will shew us no written law for so doing but tell us its a Custome and this custome is preferred above his Law who saith sweare not at all and for this have many been imprisoned it being put upon us either to deny their Custome or Christs Command so we chuse to suffer by men for a season rather then defile our Consciences If we be summon'd to doe service for the Country on a Iury and be willing to do the service faithfully as to God and man yet because we cannot sweare many are fined imprisoned and their goods spoyled and reputed unserviceable in the nation when we would freely serve the Country so as we might not therein deny Christ our Saviour If one of us be summon'd to appeare at a Court for a witnesse that would testifie the truth before God from a good Conscience and in the feare of God and according to his Law viz. in all things that if we should wrong any man whatsoever through our false testimony that its just the same should be done to us yet because we cannot sweare be the action never so great our true testimony is refused and we thrust away without Iudgement threaten'd to cause us to pay what they say the party is damnified for our not swearing and all this we must suffer for obeying Christs Commands If one of us should buy a piece of land or have some fallen to him by inheritance and come to the Court Baron to take it up they will not let him take it except he sweare and so breake Christs sayings or if a man purchase or have an inheritance within a Customary Court it s the same and they will turne us without it if we will not sweare contrary to Christs Commands And thus is the evill Custome of a Courâ— preferred before Christs Commands a good Conscience and a familyes whole estate and livelihood If a man bind an apprentice in this Citie of London and give a great summe of money with him and the prentice serves his time honestly and truely and have his Masters testimony thereto yet is he denyed his freedome if he cannot sweare for Conscience sake and so must lose money and service if he be faithfull to Christ If one of us should dye intestate they will not suffer our owne wife or Children to administer on our owne goods unlesse they will sweare against their Conscience and the Law of Christ or if we make a will and make wife or Children Executer they are denyed to prove the will whereby they are to enjoy their estates but by breaking that Command of Christ in swearing Likewise when some of us have been arrested to appeare at such a Court such a day and have simply given bond to appeare And when the apâ—earance hath been made at the day expressed by the party so bound neither the appearance would be taken nor the bond delivered but a further snare because another man appeares not for us whom
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 â—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 â—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 coÌ„temners 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 â—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