read Acts 20. That the Apostle Paul preached in a Chamber on the first day of the Week until midnight Acts 20.7,8 And Peter preached boldly and effectually in the House of Cornelius Acts 10 and Paul preached two yeares in his own hired House and received all that came unto him preaching the Kingdome of God and teaching those things which concerned the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence no man forbiding him as it is written Acts 28.30,31 whereby it is evident that God owns and justifies Meetings and preaching in Houses and that a Minister of Christ may preach in other places besides Parish Churches and Chapels and in his own hired House also and there receive such as come to be instructed by him in the matters of the Kingdome of God and our Lord Jesus Christ as aforesaid First It is evident and plain therefore by the holy Scripture and also by the Liturgie of the Church of England that preaching and meeting in Houses is owned and honoured by the Lord and ought not to be condemned but justified by the true Christians and believers in Christ for to condemn the Ministers of Christ and true Christians for preaching and meeting in Houses upon the account of Religion and worship of God would be to condemn the practise of Christ and his Apostles and Primitive Christians recorded in Scriptures and it would be to deny and disallow of what God Almighty and the holy Scriptures do evidently justify and own and therefore meeting and preaching in Houses ought not to be forbiden or punished by men because such Christian Religious Meetings preaching and practises are allowed by the Liturgy and owned and honoured by the Lord God of Heaven Secondly That which is allowed by the Liturgie and owned and honoured by the Lord God of Heaven ought not to be forbiden and condemned by men but Christian Religious Meetings and preaching in other places then Parish Churches and Chapels are allowed by the Liturgie and owned and honoured by the Lord God of Heaven Therefore Christian Religious Meetings and preachings in Houses or in other places then Parish Churches and Chapels as aforesaid ought not to be forbiden and condemned by men Thirdly That the Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians did frequently meet together after Christs Ascension in Houses to preach and pray and perform service to God and that such Christian Religious meetings and preaching in Houses were owned and honoured by the Lord God of Heaven is plain and clearly proved as aforesaid and therefore such Christian religious meetings and preachings are allowed by the Lord to be lawful assemblies and practises which ought to be allowed and tollerated by men because they are owned and justified by the great God of Heaven Fourthly The Apostles of Christ and Primitive Christians to whom Christ appeared after his Resurrection and gave commandment to wait at Jerusalem untill they received the promise of the Father or the Holy Ghost from Heaven did in obedience to that Command return from the Mount Olivet after Christs Ascension unto Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Ghost from Heaven but they did not go into the Temple at Jerusalem nor into a Parish Church or Chappel to wait for the same but they entered into Jerusalem and went into an upper Room and was sitting together in a House when they received the Holy Ghost from Heaven as by the Scriptures are evident and plain Acts 1. and Acts 2. Whereby it appears or from hence we may observe and learn first That the Parish Churches and Chappels were not the places appointed by Christ at his Ascension to meet and assemble together in to wait upon God untill they received the Holy Ghost from Heaven 2ly That God is not bound or tyed up to Parish Churches or Chappels to wait upon him therein as the appointed place of his Worship 3ly That the Lord God Almighty hath signally owned and testified from Heaven that he owns and justifies meetings in Houses to wait upon him beause when they were met together as they sate in a House they received the Holy Ghost from Heaven and spake as the Spirit gave them utterance but we do not read in the Scriptures that Almighty God did ever at any time so wonderfully manifest himself to People in a Parish Church or Chappel as in Houses he hath done since Christs Ascension into Heaven Fifthly The Lord hath so far owned and honoured Meeting and Preaching in House since Christs Ascension that the Hearers have received the Holy Ghost at meeting and preaching in Houses as by the Scripture is evident and plain therefore meeting and preaching in Houses ought not to be forbidden but when did the Lord so evidently appear and signally own meeting and preaching in Parish Churches and Chappels as then and therein to give the Holy Ghost to the Hearers as at preaching in Houses he hath done for when Peter was preaching in the houses of Cornelius the Holy Ghost fell on al them which heard the word as you may read Acts 10. from verse 19. to verse 49. whereby it appears that meeting and preaching in houses are owned and honoured of God as by the Scriptures is apparently proved Sixthly And when the day of Pentecost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place and suddenly there came a sound from Heaven and filled all the House where they were sitting whereby it appeares that they were assembled and met in a House and that Christian meeting was no seditious Conventicle but owned and honoured by the Lord from Heaven though they were not assembled in a Parish Church or Chapel but in a House whereby it appeares that God is well pleased with meeting and preaching in Houses for they were filled with the holy Ghost and spake as the spirit gave them utterance though some mocking of them said these men are full of new Wine but Peter standing up with the Elders lift up his voice and preached unto them and when they had heard him preach the word of God unto them they were pricked in their hearts and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand soules and they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship as you may read Acts 2.1,2 to the 43. Whereby it appears that the Word of God may be effectually preached in houses was there ever such a thing known at a meeting in a Parish Church or Chappel by the preaching of a Parish Priest in those places to convert at one Sermon three thousand Souls as was effectually done by the preaching of the Word by the Apostle Peter as aforesaid therefore it is apparent arid evident by the Scriptures that meeting and preaching in houses are lawful meetings and practices being so highly approv'd of and signally owned of the Lord and such meetings and preaching in Houses as are owned and approved of God ought not to be forbidden by men but rather allowed and tollerated by them Seventhly Though God Almighty did so evidently shew
A TOLLERATION Sent down from Heaven to Preach OR Godly Religious Meetings and true Gospell Preachers praying and preaching in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels justified by the Highest Powers and signally owned by Testimonies from Heaven ought not to be condemned or forbiden but rather Allowed and Tollerated by Men upon Earth AND Likewise what it is to Preach according to the Laws and Statutes of the Kingdome as to the matter of Preaching not punishable by the Act against Nonconformists ALSO Concerning the manner of Christian Religious Meetings and the true Ordination of Ministers sent forth to Preach according to the Scriprures since Christs Assention And likewise what the Gospel is who have a true right to preach it and what it is for Preachers to live of the Gospel according to the Scriptures or Ordination of God in that Case provided And he commanded us to preach unto the people to testifie that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Acts 10.42,43 Written in Glocestershire the beginning of the 10 th Month 1665. By R. F. Printed in the Year 1665. A Tolleration sent down from Heaven to Preach Or Godly Religious Meetings and true Gospel Preachers Praying and Preaching in other Places then Parish Churches and Chappels justified by the highest Powers and signally owned by Testimonies from Heaven ought not to be condemned or forbidden but rather allowed and tollerated by Men upon Earth c. THe Ministers of the Gospel of Christ who are made Ministers by the Lord God of Heaven 2 Coâ— 3.5,6 they are by a true Spiritual right and Gospel authority ordained and enabled to preach from God unto the Souls of the People as by the Scriptures is evident and plain therefore such ought not to be forbidden to preach nor punished for so doing The Ministers of Man are ordained and impowered by man and are bound to preach up the Interest of Man or else to be turned out of their Ministry maintenance by men for refusing the same Acts 10.42,43 Act. 28 30,3â— 2 Cor. 4 5. But the Ministers of God are ordained of God and impowered by him and bound in spirit to preach the Gospel of Christ and the Interest of God because they are not to please Men but the Lord nor to preach themselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and themselves no Lords nor Masters but servants for Jesus sake for they dare not make themselves of the number or compare themselves with some that commend themselves for they who are so in love with self-commendation they do but measure themselves by themselves or by their Schollership and natural abilities and so comparing themselves amongst themselves 2 Cor. 10 1â— they are not wise But the true Ministers of Christ will not boast of things beyond their measure but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to them they reach unto others in preaching the Gospel of Christ not boasting of things beyond their measure that is of other mens labours for not he that commendeth himself is approved but whom the Lord commendeth as by the Scriptures is evident and plain see 2 Cor. 10.12,13,14,15,16,17,18 They who are made able Ministers of the New Testament 2. Cor. 3. by him whose Ministers they are that is to say by the Lord God of Heaven and whose Interest they preach in preaching the Kingdom of God Act. 28 30,31 and teaching those things that concern the Lord Jesus Christ no man ought to forbid them Acts 28.30,31 because they are approved by the Lord and commended of him by their Ministration to the Consciences of Men in the sight of the Lord as the Scriptures do testifie of them for because they have received a Ministry from God they haye renounced the hidden things of dishonesty not walking in craftiness to turn with the times for any self-end nor handling the word of God deceitfully 2 Cor. 4.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 c. but by manifestation of the truth commending themselves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God as you may read 2 Cor. 4.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 c. The Ministers of the Gospel of Christ who are ordained of God and have received a Ministry from him for the Peoples everlasting good they ought not to be prohibited from preaching the word of God but are to be received as the Ministers of God because there is great danger both in prohibiting them to preach the Gospel of Christ 2 Cor. 4.1,2 Mat. 10.40 â—1,42 and also in rejecting them that are sent of the Lord and likewise the danger is great in receiving the Ministers of Antichrist under pretence of the Ministers of Christ because John saith â— Joh. 4.1 â— Joh. 1.7,8 â—,10,11 receive not such into your house neither bid them God speed least ye be partakers of their evil deeds and Christ himself saith concerning his Ministers Mat. 10.7,14 â—5 that it shall be more tollerable for Sodom and Gomorah in the day of Judgment then for those that reject them or refuse to hear them preach and deny to receive them and their Doctrine as by the Scripture is evident and plain Seeing then that a danger lyeth on both hands first in rejecting the Ministers of Christ under pretence of the Ministers of Antichrist and secondly in receiving the Ministers of Antichrist under pretence of the Ministers of Christ how may they be known assunder seeing the one hath the form as well as the other I answer first that the Ministers of Christ who are to be received as the Ministers of God who are rightly ordained â—cts 10.43 â—… â— Cor. 3. â— Cor. 7.1,2 and have received a Ministry from him they are accompanied with a true Spiritual power and Gospel authority in their Ministration so as to reach the witness of God in the people who are to receive them that they may be received as the Minister of God with the peoples consent without being forc'd upon them against their Consciences by outward constraint Secondly Mat. 10.7 2 Cor. 4.1,2 it is the part and duty of a Minister of Christ by virtue of his office as a Minister in order to his establishment and confirmation in the hearts of the receivers of him first to preach the Word of God to them and secondly in preaching the Word to commend himself to the consciences of them that he preaches unto in the sight of God that sent him by manifesting the truth unto them as a means provided by the Gospel for a Ministers entrance into the people and in order to the establishment of him and his Ministry amongst them 2 Cor. 2.18,19,20,21,22 First Mat. 10 7. Act. 10.42,43 the command of Christ to his Ministers is to preach the Gospel secondly All are admitted to the hearing of it because he commands to preach it to every Creature thirdly They
in the case of Peter and John therefore it is the duty and practice of the Ministers of the Gospel of Christ in preaching the word to be instant both in season and out of season according to the charge given before the Lord 2 Tim. 1.2 Fourthly The Ministers of Christ ought not to be prohibited from preaching the Word of God because by their preaching they are to be manifested to the Consciences of the people by a Gospel commendation that they may be received by them to whose consciences they are commended in the sight of God by manifesting the truth unto them but the Ministers of Antichrist ought to be rejected though they pretend to be the Ministers of Christ because they would come in by force upon the people to whose consciences they have not commended themselves as the Ministers of God by manifesting the truth of the Gospel unto them in the sight of God as the true Gospel Ministers do and afore-time did Fifthly 2 Cor. 2.21,21 Acts 10.42,43 The Ministers of Christ ought both to preach and be received as the Ministers of God because they are anointed and sealed of God as well as ordained and sent to Minister from him to the people for their salvation consolation and soul-satisfaction but the Ministers of Antichrist are not to be received but rejected though they pretend to be the Ministers of Christ because they are not ordained and sent of God secondly because they are not anointed and sealed of God and thirdly because they are not appointed by the Lord to Minister from him to the people for their salvation consolation and souls-satisfaction Sixthly They who are ordained anointed and sealed of God and sent forth to Minister from him to the soules of the people they ought to preach because they have the earnest of the spirit of God given into their hearts as a testimony that they are in Covenant with God and appointed to preach 2 Cor. 3.21,22,23 Act. 10.42,43 Seventhly they ought to preach the Word of God because they have not Dominion given them over the faith of their Hearers but are helpers of their joy for it is by faith that they stand as you may read 2 Cor. 2.24 8ly They ought to Preach because there is no falshood in their Doctrine but as God is true so is their Doctrine for it is not yea and nay as it is written 2 Cor. 2.18,19,21,22,23 but the Ministers of Antichrist are not ordained anointed and sealed of God or sent forth to minister from him to the Souls of the People for their Salvation consolation or souls satisfattion therefore they are not to be received as the Ministers of Christ but rejected as the Ministers of Antichrist 1. Because they have not the earnest of the Spirit of God given unto them neither are they guided thereby but do daily err and go astray from Gods own ways 2. Because they do not help the joy of Believers but rather fills them with sorrow and sadness by seeking to have dominion over their faith in seeking to force in themselves and their Doctrine and maintenance upon the People contrary to faith and a good Conscience whilest they themselves are miserable siners and daily offend against Gods holy Laws 3. They are subject to error both in matter and manner who have no saving health in them whose word and doctrine is not true but yea and nay according to the times and contrary to the doctrine of the true Gospel Ministers of Christ as aforesaid They who are ordained anointed and sealed of God and sent to Minister from him to the soules of the people Rom. 8.14,15,16,17 they have the spirit of God given unto them to guide them in their ministration Rom. 8.15,16,17 and if any pretend to be a Minister and have not the spirit of Christ he is no Minister of his Rom. 8.9 They who have received a Ministry from God they have also received a spirit suitable to such a Ministry that is to say the spirit of God whereby they know the things that are freely given unto them as it is written 1 Cor. 2.11,12 for what Man knoweth the things of a Man save the spirit of Man that is in him even so the things of God knoweth no Man but the spirit of God Now we have received the spirit of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God said the true Gospel Ministers which things we also speak not in the words which Mans wisedome teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth as yon may read the 1 Cor. 2.11,12 The holy Ghost hath a teaching office in and by the true Gospel Ministers therefore they ought to preach and none are sit to be Ministers before they receive the holy Ghost from Heaven for men are ignorant of the things of God untill then First because no man knowes the things of God but by the spirit of God so that the fpirit of God gives men the knowledg of the things of God in order to administration Secondly the spirit of God is given of God and received by them that are to minister from him to the soules of the people before they be sent forth as his Ministers and they that receive not the spirit of God receive not a Ministry from him therefore they who have hot the spirit of Christ are none of his Ministers as it is plain and clear by the Scriptures Rom. 8.9 Rom. 8.9 As it is the love of God to give his spirit so it is the duty of them to whom it is offered to imbrace and kindly receive such a gift for they who receive not the spirit of God without which they cannot know the things of God they are very unfit to be the Ministers of God First because the spirit of God gives men the knowledge of the things of God Secondly because the spirit of God both guides and inables the true Gospel Ministers to preach or speak the things that are given of God And Thirdly the spirit of God guides and inables the true Gospel Ministers to preach according to the mind of God because it teacheth and enableth them to preach the Gospel of Christ in the words which the holy Ghost teacheth and not in the words which mans wisedome teacheth the words which mans wisdome teacheth are not to be used in preaching the Gospel but that which the holy Ghost teacheth for the Gospel cannot be preached by the wisedome of man without the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven therefore no man can be a true Gospel Minister but such as have received and do receive a true Gospel Spirit to Minister withall as by the Scripture is evident and plain 1 Cor. 2.11,12,13 1. Pet. 1.10,11,12 Rom. 8.9 1 Cor. 2.11 â—2 13 1 Pet. 1.10,11,12 Rom. 8.9 The Scripture doth not enable men to be Preachers of Christ and the Gospel without the true Gospel Spirit which is the holy Ghost sent down from Heaven into the hearts of men for if
not after man for I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by Revelation of Jesus Christ as it is written Gal. 1.11,12 Whereby it is evident or from hence we may observe and learn first that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth wherein the Righteousness of God is revealed 2ly That Revelation is not ceased because that in the Ministration of the Gospel which is the power of God unto Salvation as aforesaid Gods Righteousness is revealed 3ly That the Gospel is to be received before it can be preached and it is to be revealed before it can be received or preached 4ly That the Gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto Salvation is neither received nor taught after Men but by Revelation 5ly That they who deny Revelation they have neither received the Gospel which is the power wherein the Righteousness of God is revealed nor the Righteousness of God which is revealed in the Gospel of Christ as aforesaid for saith the Apostle who received the Gospel of Christ Gal. 1.15,16 I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by Revelation Gal. 1.11,12 And when it pleased God who seperated me from my Mothers womb and called me by his grace to reveal his Son in me that I might preach Him among the Heathen immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were Apostles before me but I went into Arabia c. Gal. 1.15,16 whereby it is evident and from hence we may observe and learn that the Gospel is known by Revelation 2ly That they who deny Revelation are no true Ministers of the Gospel of Christ 3ly That it is the good pleasure of God to call such as he makes choice of to serve in the work of the Gospel of Christ 41y That the call to the Ministry is not an act of Nature but of Grace 5ly That Christ is revealed in a true Gospel Minister before he be at fit Preacher 6ly .. That after a Minister be called by the Grace of God to the work of the Ministry and Christ Jesus revealed spiritually in him he is a fit Preacher without going to Men for their Approbation concerning the same Now if either ignorance or wilfulness should object and say Mat. 11.27 that things were made known in the Apostles time by Revelation but it is ceased since then and there is no such thing to be expected or looked for now I answer thereunto Christ Jesus hath said Luk. 10.22 No man knows the Father but the Son neither knoweth any man the Son but the Father and he to whom he is pleased to reveal him Therefore they that say Revelation is ceased do in effect say that the way and means to attain to the knowledge of God is ceased for no man can come to the knowledg of God but by Revelation and if Revelation be ceased then no man can come to the knowledg of God but remain in ignorance of him and perish for want of knowledg Hosea 4.6 Thirdly As to that of Preachers who have received the Gospel it is ordained that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel and not of Tythes because they are no Gospel maintenance for they who are ordained of God to preach the Gospel which is the power of God unto Salvation they do minister the Spirit and Power of God unto Believers Therefore they that live of the Gospel do live of the free gift of the Power which opens the hearts of their Hearers freely to communicate to them Therefore it 's said let him that is taught in the Word communicate to him that teacheth in all gord things Gal. 6.6 Whereby it is evident or from hence we may observe and learn first that people are not injoyned by the Gospel to communicate any thing to any man as a Preacher by whom they were never taught in the Word 2ly That none ought to communicate any thing upon the account of Preaching but such as are taught in the Word 3ly That Believers are not compelled by the Gospel nor compellable to communicate to Preachers but are left to the powerful opperation of the Word of God as it may open their hearts and dispose of them in that respect 4ly That they are not to give place to any thing that would obstruct the office of love begotten in their hearts by the preaching of the Word of God unto them but are to let it shew forth its fruit and freeness in the act of Communicating unto them â—…l 6.6 Fourthly Concerning Christian Religious Meetings and preaching in Houses c. Whereas it is declared by Act of Parliament to be an offence against Law and punishable with Imprisonment Fines and Banishment for Persons to meet together to the number of five or above beside them of the Houshold under pretence of Religious exercise in other manner then is allowed by the Liturgie of the Church of England Then it is no offence against Law nor punishable thereby to meet in greater numbers upon the account of Religion and Worship of God So that the manner of their Meeting be allowed by the Liturgie What is contained in the Liturgy as to the manner of Christian Religious Meetings is allowed by the Liturgie But the manner of Meeting by Christ and his Apostles and the Primitive Christians in other places then Parish Churches and Chappels is contained in the Liturgie Therefore the manner of Christian Religious Meetings in other places then in Parish Churches and Chappels is allowed by the Liturgie so that such Meetings ought not to be accounted seditious Conventicles nor punishable by Law That which is contained in the Liturgie and ordained to be read as part of the practise or service of the Church of England is owned and allowed by the Liturgie and practise of the Church But the manner of the Meetings Assemblies and Preachings by Christ and his Apostles to and amongst the Primitive Christians and such as came to hear the word of God spoken unto them upon Mountains and by the Sea side and also in private Houses and other places is contained in the Liturgie and ordained to be read as part of the practise or service of the Church of England Therfore such manner of Meetings Assemblies or Preachings or the manner of such Christian Religious Meetings Assemblies and practises are no seditious Conventicles nor punishable by Law because they are owned and allowedly the Liturgy and practise of the Church as aforesaid That the manner of Christian Religious Meetings Assemblies and practises in other places then Parish Churches and Chapels is contained in the Liturgie and ordained to be read as part of the practise or service of the Church of England and therefore owned and allowed as aforesaid is very plain and apparently proved both by the Scripture and Liturgy First By the Scriptures it is apparent and evident that Christ and his