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england_n	good_a	great_a	lord_n	2,953	5	3.2823	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A53263	The old leaven purged out, or, The apostacy of this day further opened being a true and faithfull narrative of the orderly prooceedings [sic] and dealings of the lesser part of the congregation formerly walking with Mr. John Sympson, with and against severall souldiers of the army, who (being fallen in with the apostacy of this day, contrary to professed and declared principles, and the many out-goings of the Lord thereupon) are withdrawn and separated from, together with Mr. Sympson their chief abettor, and others, after neer two years labouring whilest while we were in the congregation, and neer two years more since : as also the true coppies of seven of the letters which Mr. Sympson wrote with his own hand, and sent to the congregation an answer to several objections that have been, or may be raised against printing and published the whole : all humbly presented to publique view, not in strife, vain-glory, or to be seen of men, but we hope out of conscience, to endeavor a recovering of the name of the Lord ...	Hathorn, Humphrey.	1658 (1658)	Wing O205; ESTC R32246	96,744	101

maintain them in the injoyment of a maintenance which by the Mother of Harlots is inforced and compelled from the People Sweet Jesus open the eyes of the People of England that they may see themselves in the midst of Babylon Dear Brethren be not offended with the subject of this Letter I am bound as a Watchman to give you notice of the approching of the Beast and be not offended with my manner of expressing of my self It is best to speak of Christian and Antichristian things and persons in the language of the Scripture or Scripture like words What I write I write with a good conscience without doubting or wavering blessed be Jehovah for it and therefore receive it in love learn to love every truth of God if any of you be otherwise minded concerning this matter God shall reveal even this unto you in the mean while whereunto you have already attained walk by the same Rule of Christ and minde the same things Pray to God that he may keep you sound in the Faith which I hope you have received from Jesus Christ and take heed of those deceitful workers who overthrow the plain and simple gospel of Christ Do not hazard your own soules endamage the soules of others not encourage them by lending an ear unto their Sermons and discourses beware of familistical and notional wolves in sheeps clothing remember that victory over false Teachers is part of that victory which we have by Christ Ye are of God little Children and have overcome them John 4.4 Because greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world If any therefore come into your City and bring not the plain Doctrine of Faith according to Godliness bid them not God speed for he that biddeth them God speed is partaker of their evill deeds 2 John 10.11 Do not murther Soules by encouraging Soul-murtherers by hearing of them but beware lest being led away by the errour of the wicked you fall from your own stedfastness 2 Pet. 3.16.17 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ To him be glory both now and for ever Amen Your Brother in the Spirit of Jesus John Sympson Windsor the 2. Moneth the 8 th day 1654. This is a true Coppy of the Originall examined by us Tho. Cary. John Clements Dear Brethren I Have thorow mercy a whole week together tasted the sweetness of God in close Imprisonment it is nothing to be alone if it be for many years together where there is a gracious presence of God he that with Enoch walketh with God can never be alone It was the speech of an heathen I am never less alone then when I am alone how much more may a Christian say who in truth can say Truly my fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Unless the New Courtiers did love me very well they would not deal with me as they do If they knew what an Advantage close Imprisonment were unto me That my Faith Joyes Hope Sanctification might arise higher my Father gave forth his Orders that the under Gaolers should keep me close Prisoner Father if thou wilt be so sweet in all thy dispensations to thy worthless and vile Creature though by grace thy Son it shall not be grievous unto me If it shall please thee to suffer them to deal more roughly and barbarously with me God is so sweet that I cannot but glory in Tribulations I have my wife and children about me while I am alone because my Jesus is with me My personal Communion is so sweet with God that were it not that I would not live onely to my self and my own comforts in glorifying God but do desire to be usefull unto others in glorifying God I should never desire more external Liberty God doth smile upon me yea that you may wax confident by my Imprisonment and not be ashamed of my reproach I must tell you the cause for which I suffer doth smile upon me Who am I that God hath so highly honoured me in thinking me worthy to suffer for Righteousnesse sake in bearing witness against the Covetousnesse Lies Perjuries Hypocrisies and Tyranicall Practises of Men I would not change my Imprisoned condition with the highest condition of my persecutors and oppressors How much is it better to be a persecuted Saint then a Persecutor The Lord will succour and relieve the oppressed but will break in pieces the oppressor I begin to be perswaded that there is some truth in the things which formerly I spake doubtfully of About at twelve moneth since in Martins fields I was transported into a Spirit beyond my own and in it the downfall of great O. was revealed unto me About the dissolution of the Parliament I saw great O. four severall Mornings Intellectually In the first he was hastily running towards a Crown In the second he sat in a Chair of State In the third he was presented with a part of Horns upon his head and in the fourth he was shamefully tumbled from his Pomp and Glory I have seen the three first come to pass and for the third I do now more fully understand it then ever I did His two Horns are his Tyrannical Power by which he doth push at and persecute the poor Saints and his Antichristian power by which in things Spiritual and Ecclesiastical he doth oppose Christ in his Royal Prerogatives as he is King of Saints and an appointer and ordainer of Preachers according to his own Laws I pitty the man in the place in which he is now seated If he were an Angel in his present place and feat he could not but be a persecutor of the Saints for he is one of the ten horns of the Beast which must make war with the Lamb but he shall overcome him for he is Lord of lords and King of kings and they that are with him are called chosen and faithful Rev. 17.14 I had an impulse of Spirit in which I was strongly carried to believe that that Bastardly Government in the setting up of which the mouthes of Gods enemies were opened to blaspheme should die and not live though in it self it might be good enough and too good for us unless we did walk more worthy of our mercies yet considering it as set up by them who declared so much for the Liberty of the free born people of England and the Interest of Christ it is a bastard begotten conceived in a night of Hypocrisie and brought forth in a day of bold faced impiety and the Lord will make a grave for it for it is vild I did apprehend that great O. was set up by God permissively by the Dragon voluntarily by himself ambitiously by the Army cowardly by willing Saints Trayterously and by unwilling Saints passively mournfully I do repeat these things that you may know I am confirmed not weakned in my perswasions that you may know what comfortable ground I have to wait for

party in Parliament true to God and their Trust did bring to justice and cause to be executed the late King did lay aside the House of Lords and for the good of the people resolved the Government into a Common-wealth and removed the King and Kingship And that it might appear the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ was in the womb of all their undertakings they cause more particularly to declare for the same see Decl. Aug 1 1650 say they And having these things singly in our eye namely the destruction of antichrist and the advancement of the Kingdom of Iesus Christ c. and being perswaded in our consciences that the King and his Monarchy was one of the ten horns of the beast spoken of Rev 17.12 13 14 being witnesses to so much innocent blood of the Saints he had shed in supporting the beast considering the loud cryes of the souls of the Saints under the altar we were carryed forth to desire justice upon the King c VVe are not souldiers of fortune nor meerly the servants of men we have not only proclaimed Christ to be our King by profession but desire to admit him to the exercise of his royal authority in our hearts and to follow him whither soever he goes it is our prayer dayly that those that seat the Lord in England and Scotland may become one in the hand of the Lord joine together in the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ and throwing down and trampling upon the seate of the Beast why should not Scotland as well as England rejoice to see the horns of the beast cut off that we may join together to hate the whore burn her fl●sh with fire c in another Decl. pag. 54 of the same Book they desire the people might forget Monarchy See their speech to the little Parliament pag 55 61 62 63 of the aforementioned book where much is spoken to this purpose And what interest is now exalted but self-interest how is antichrist destroyed but in changing Bishops for Triers VVhat Church and people delivered but the National Church and such as are willing quietly to walk under the former abominations what means the present Monarchy at whole doore will the blood of the Saints shed in opposition to the late King lye yea and the blood of the King and his party lyespunctel Give leave to instance Hos 1 4 Yet a little while and I will avenge the blood of Jezrel upon the house of John Are not our brethren and the army souldiers of Fortune and the servants of men now if not so would they crouch to such abominations as these Have they not chosen another King besides Jesus Surely these Declarations and Engagements stare them in the face and at which they could not but blush if their consciences were not feared see what is the mind of the Lord concerning this thing in the following Scriptures Numb 30.2 Eccles 5.4 compared with Psal 66 13 14. Deut 33 2● Isa 5.9 3 Hos 10.4 Mal. 3 5 Gal 3 15 2 Tim 3 3 June 14. 1647. likewise another upon the Armies going into Scotland dated July 10. 1650 wherein they do voluntarily and without compulsion declare unto the World that they will not set up a single person over the Nation though he were such a one as they could most confide in looking upon that form of Government not onely to be tyrannical but antichristian And many more reasons are there laid downe to ground their judgements upon truth according to the Scriptures whereby it plainly appears to us they are no less then guilty of Covenant-breaking and false swearing whatsoe're may be said to the contrary by objecting That me can not prove their hands were to any such Declarations or Engagments for it is all one if they being then in or belonging to the Army did in their place prosecute the ends of those Declarattions and Engagements against the Stuarts Party and other opposers never in the least declaring against the matter and ends thereof Thirdly For one sin doth not go without its Concomitants the Lords people their own Brethren are oppressed first Because they cannot pay Taxes n Besides the forementioned particulars the very same and greater arbitrary powers which they declared should not be exercised by any much less by themselves viz. a negative voice the costly pomp of a Court of which the man in power once said He abhor'd that way of government for nothing more a House of Lords of whom he said It would never be well whilest there was one Lord left in England and till the Earl of Manchester was called Mr. Montague Keeping men in prison without bringing them to tryal Injustice in proceeding at Law Paying Taxes whilest Oppression remains Forming a balancing party in the Parliament for his interest Forcing ●rebble damages from those who refuse to pay Tythes Locking up Printing-Presses against whom they please Vpholding Monopolies Which is as in other things so now up on the Bible with many other particulars that might be named all practised in this day which the Army the generality of the Churches and other godly prodeclared against as may be seen in the several Declarations Remonstrances Petitions and Letters of the army as also the large petition presented to the Parliament by thousands well affected people in and about London in pag. 9 13 14 18 19 20 21 25 29 32 33 37 38 39 40 41. of Book called The Looking-Glass And yet for our Brethren and the Army after all to be upholding not onely the same but greater oppressions and chiefly among themseves it can be no less then open apostacy And to demand much more force the Lords people and others to pay Taxes to maintaine them herein it being evident they ventured their Estates Lives and all with them whilest prosecuting the cause of Christ it can be no other then Oppression in a hign degree With those Scriptures in the Margent see Obad. ver 13. to maintain them in their present standing of apostacy and backsliding Secondly Tythes o To demand much more force the payment of tythes for maintenance of parish-Ministers or others upon that account is against the dispensation of the Gospel Heb. 7.12 The Levitical priesthood being changed so is the Law Heb. 7 13. Christ sprang from Judah of which Tribe was no priest to receive tythes the National Ministers pretend to receive their Commission from Christ who sprang from Judah and not from the Priesthood which was of the tribe of Levi There is no New-Teltament-Rule for any dwelling within such a compass of ground to build a Steeple-house to preach the Gospel in or to compel all or any within that bounds to come to hear that Minister which is either appointed by themslves or by others imposed upon them whether they come or no to demand much less force a contribution to help maintain that House and Minister and in case they refuse to hale them before Magistrates and cast

honoured who at all times and in all ages hath doth and will hear the prayers of his faithful ones in Christ we have cause mutually to rejoyce that God hath heard your prayers for my fellow Prisoner and me and that God hath heard our prayers for you At my meeting with you I shall see more of God in some of you then ever I saw though some may wither away and come to nothing and I am confident that you shall behold the Image of Christ more plainly in me then ever formerly you beheld it God doth still notwithstanding many infirmities in me shine upon the Soul of his unworthy Servant in the face of Jesus Christ I shall grow in grace my faith is quickned my repentance shall be encreased my love will abound to you to all Saints my hope shall be lively and my joy shall be full And I shall never be ashamed that I have given you an Alarm of Christs comming in the Spirit among his People I do yet by free grace glory that I shall receive more of the Spirit in gifts and graces then yet is given unto me Isa 45.11 God hath commanded me to ask him of things to come Christ hath perswaded me that this Prison is a Jerusalem where I must wait for the promise of the Father Acts 1.4 Pray therefore for me for your selves and for all Saints that they and we may be Baptized with the holy Spirit not many dayes hence The Spirit will return again unto believing Saints and the Churches of Christ according to the New Testament institution shall be the Schools of the Prophets Universities as now they stand upon an Antichristian foundation must be tumbled down Antichrist hath set up those Cages of unclean Birds that they who go thither may learn to sing the whores songs but not the songs of Zyon what the Spirit shall be to the Spiritual Church those places have been to the Carnal Church when Antichrist forced the Woman into the wildernesse and taught men to believe that the Spirit was not to be expected any more but that was to cease in his gifts and to supply the want of the Spirit which was in the true Church he laid the foundation of Universities and from them and not from the Churches and Spirit of Christ he taught Men to expect a Ministry But these Monastries must down Down with them sweet Jesus and lift up thy self in thy Spirit among the Congregations of thy Saints The Ministry likewise must down which stands upon a Popish foot and Antichrists foundation yea the best of Ministers must be thrown down so far as they stand upon an Antichristian Bottom though God will own what is of his own Spirit in them And God will most eminently appear against those sons of Hophnye and Phineas as he did against their fathers the Archbishops and Bishops 1 Sam 2.16 Who say unto the People as they did Nay but ye shall give it me now and if not I will take it by force The Judgement is gone forth from the Mouth of the Lord against them and all the Babylonish Protectors in the world shall not be able to defend them and to maintain them in the enjoyment of their Antichristian maintenance But Jehovah shall Arise and have mercy upon Zyon Psal 103.13 For the time to favour her yea the set time is come for thy servants take pleasure in her stones and favor the dust thereof The Spiritual Saints which are the stones of this Zyon begin to delight in one another and as they do abhor what is most glorious and seemingly Spiritual in Babylon so there is nothing so mean no outward Ordinance of Zyon so base and contemptible but they do honor it and thus they favor the Dust thereof Wherefore my Brethren if you are perswaded that this will be the work of God in this Generation night and day pray down those things Persons and Places which are Antichristian and yet standing in England Come out and be seperated from the wisdom and Spirit of the world and come up with me into the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Labor to practise the Lesson of self denial in opposing those Errours and sins which are pleaded for by the world and some Saints in these times as truths and vertues and so with Noah you shall be upright in your Generations Indeavour to know what are those truths which God will now bring forth to Light and not suffer them any longer to lie under the Cloud of Antichrist and resolve to overcome your enemies either by doing or suffering And not loving your lives unto the death give all diligence that you may be Christians in power and not in form onely disclaim your own strength every day value not a faith repentance love or hope of your own working it is not worth a rush But look up unto Jehovah to work all grace in you by the operation of God Pray for me that I may have a more glorious Mission and Commission from Christ to Baptize and Preach the Gospel Isaiah had a more glorious Call at the second time then he had at his first calling Isai 6.1 though to the glory of grace I do acknowledge that I have had a sufficient call yet for the exaltation of grace I beg a more glorious Call to Preach the Gospel Oh that I might Preach as one having Authority and not as Vniversity men Oh that I might have more of the Spirit that I might serve you better then ever I have done and might in some measure be enabled to requite you for those pledges and expences of love which I have received from you I am for many favors in the Spirit engaged unto you Particularly for your great gift of love which you sent the last week by some of our Brethren you have obliged me unto you beyond my desires and expectations The Lord knoweth that I sought no such thing from you directly or indirectly I was very well content to spend onely out of my own purse in this Prison but seeing God hath drawn you forth to express your love this way I am bound thankfully to accept your gift and do profess that if I know my own heart I am more taken with your love then with your gift or should be taken with it if it were a hundred thousand times more then it is and shall pray that my God may supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen Windsor the 12th Moneth 4th day 1653. This is a true Copy of the Originall examined by us Tho. Cary. John Clements Brethren of the Lord Jesus SInce I did write unto you as the Lord did move Elijah to write unto Jehoram so I do apprehend that the Lord did stir me up to write unto the Lord General and contrary to my own resolutions the Lord did presse me to put my life into his hands by dealing

Secondly I know that Christ knoweth the poverty of some of you but you are rich Rev. 2.9 The Lord hath left in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the name of the Lord Zeph. 3.12 Woe be unto the full for they are empty blessed be the empty for they are full Woe be to the rich for they are poor Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God Labour therefore to be poor that you may be rich And if any man seem to be wise among you let him become a fool that he may be wise He that will be nothing shall be something and he that will be something shall be nothing He that hath ears to hear let him hear what Christ saith unto his Church Thirdly some of you live where Satans seat is and yet hold fast the Name of Christ and do not deny the faith of your King Rev. 2.13 Some are labouring in spirit to help Christ to the throne of England Others if you can but give them some comfortable hopes of a place or preferment or some other worldly thing they care not whether the interest of Christ sink or swim they are contented that Satan shall keep his seat and the throne if he will but gratifie their lusts But the Kingdom of England shall be the Kingdom of Christ let Souldiers and Devils and carnal Policy do what they can to hinder it For the Kingdoms of this world are become already to out saith Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 Fourthly There may be some among you though very few of whom Christ may say I know thy works and love and service and faith and patience and thy works and the last to be more then the first Rev. 2.19 Hold fast this Crown the Lord Jesus doth lay none other burthen upon you and therefore I will not That which you have already hold fast til he come Rev. 2.24 25. But fifthly I am afraid that Christ may say to some of you as to the Angel of the Church of Sardis Thou hast a name that thou livest but thou art dead Rev. 3. There may be dead sinners in a congregation of Saints Oh! What will it advantage you to be in Church Communion with Saints here when you shall keep company with Fiends and Devils and Judases in hell to all eternity Externel priviledges and common gifts in the kingdom of heaven here will but agrivate our condemnation in hell hereafter unlesse Christs findes burning oyl in our Lamps internal and unfeigned graces in our souls Lay a carkass in the midst of a congregation of living men and will the carkass be enlivened by it so the presence of living members in a Church cannot quicken Church members who are dead in sins and trespasses strive therefore rather to be then to be accounted living Christians Sixthly There are some of you concerning whom Christ in the spirit doth inwardly give this testimony that they have a little strength Rev. 3.8 As Christ gave the same testimony concerning Philadelphia's Angel To you that have grace in truth more grace shall be given the weak shall be made strong grow therefore in grace and in the knowledge of the mystery of the Father Son and Spirit And while the lusty youths who are strong in their own strength shall faint and be weary and utterly fall They who have no might shall encrease their strength And they who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint Isa 40.29.30 Seventhly I would that I had no ground to fear that there are some lukewarm Laodiceans among you whom the Lord will spue out of his mouth Rev. 3.16 One end of our redemption by Christ is zeal in good works Titus 2.14 He who is a professor in these dayes without zeal will not be a professor long The Lord will suddenly bring his furnace to Zyon to burn up the hypocrites and refine the true Saints I do beg this at the hand of my God that you may all in this Looking-glass behold the graces and spots of your souls and behold your several conditions I shall reminde you of that which I moved when I last spake among you That our Brother Wise may be called forth from among you to be a teaching Elder I apprehend that by the grace of God it may be to Gods glory your edification and confirmation in faith and love and my great comfort and refreshment And likewise desire that you will endeavour to walk in the order of the gospel as becomes the Churches of Christ A City may as well be without Government an Army without Military Discipline as a Church of Christ without discipline and government the Lord compleat you in graces gifts and officers in the knowledge and practice of all the ordinances of Christ our Saviour and in the fulness of his Spirit which in the Spirit is and shall be the prayer of him who by grace am made Your Companion and Brother in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ John Sympson 16th day 12th Moneth 1653. from my Prison in Windsor Castle This is a True Copy of the Original Examined by us Tho. Cary. John Clements Brethren in Christ GRace Wisdom Discretion Valour Gentlenesse Meeknesse Zeal and Peace be multiplied upon you through the Knowledge of God and our Father who is God Blessed for ever Amen Rom. 9.5 The word which I have from the Lord unto you at this present is to direct you in the right manner of doing that which is good unto the glory of the Father When we seriously consider how many in these times have held forth most glorious truths and done many righteous things and afterwards have apostatized from the way of truth and righteousness we cannot but conclude that they never did any of them well the heart of foolish man doth not deceive him more in any thing then in holding forth truth and in doing that which is good in it self if we are for truth and do that which is good our deceitful hearts are ready presently to canonize us for Saints when in the mean while we may be rotten hearted Hypocrites It is not enough to do that which is right and just but that which is good must be well done any defect though never so small in an action may make it evil but there must be a joynt concurrence of all Causes and Ingredients to make an action really good There is a broad way to hell in doing that which is materially good Praying Preaching Fasing meeting with the Saints breaking of Bread with them and to them may be a stage upon which a man with the approbation of the Saints may act his lusts and the truths of God in all ages have never suffered more sadly then by some zealous and religious Stage players who