government though suspition might arise in the minds of some and be ready to judge it unsafe to suffer such meetings And it came to passe that when Jesus had finished these sayings he departed from Galilee Mat. 9.1.2 and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan and great multitudes followed him as by the Scripture is plain But if Christ was here now and did so he must be imprisoned and banished by a law and by that law the people might be kept from following Christ or else suffer imprisonment and banishment for following of him and that by such as pretends to be friends unto him But it is not every one that pretends love to him or saith Lord Lord that shall enter into the kingdome of Heaven but he that doth the will of the Father as Christ Iesus hath declared and said And Jesus came at another time nigh unto the Sea of Galilee and went up into a mountain and sate down and great multitudes came unto him Mat. 5.29.30 as by the Scripture is plain whereby it is evident and remaines true that there either was no law that prohibited such great meetings on mountaines and to keep the people back from following of Iesus after that manner or if there were any such lawes then in being they were not regarded by Christ and the followers of him in matters of faith and salvation And at another time Iesus entred into Capernaum and it was noised that he was in the house and straitway many were gathered together insomuch that there was no room to receive them no not so much as about the door and he preached the word unto them Mark 2.1.2 as you may read in the Scripture of truth But if Iesus was here now and did so might not he and the people be imprisoned and banished or sold for so doing consider well of it and let the Lord judge in this case And before Christs ascention being assembled together with his disciples and friends which were about the number of five he commanded them that they should not depart from Ierusalem but wait for the promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me Act. 1.1.2.3.4 And when they were come in they went up into an upper room where abode both Peter and Iames and Iohn and Andrew Philip and Thomas Bartholomew and Matthew Iames the son of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Iudas the brother of Iames which were above the number of five and they did not disperse themselves into numbers under five but these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Iesus and with his brethren as you may read Act. 1.13.14 And if there had been such a law that they might not have met upon the account of religion from a parish Church to the number of five or above under pain of imprisonment and banishment as now Act. 1.3.4 Act. 1.13.14 they might either have disobeyed the commands of Christ or else have broken such a law as is directly against that command of the Lord Iesus as by the Scripture is evident And when the day of Penticost was fully come they were all with one accord in one place and not dispersed into companies under the number of five as you may read Act. 2.1 And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty winde and it filled the house where they were sitting Act. 2. 2. so that they were not met in a parish Church or Chappel but in a house and God mightily honoured their meeting for they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak as the spirit gave them utterance as by the Scripture is evident Ast. 2.1.2.3.4 And the Servants of Iesus did meet together in houses and in great numbers also or else how should there have been three thousand soules added unto them on one day as there was by the preaching of Peter Act. 2. And in private houses they met often and also in multitudes as by the Scripture appeareth and some of them believed and consorted with Paul and Silas Act. 17.4.5.6.7.8 and of the devout Greeks a great multitude and of the chief women not a few but the Iewes which believed not moved with envie took unto them certain lew'd fellowes of the baser sort and gathered a company and let all the City on an uproar and assaulted the house of Jason and sought to bring them out to the people and they drew Jason and certain of the brethren unto the Rulers of the city crying these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also whom Iason hath received saying that there is another King one Iesus and they troubled the people and the Rulers of the city when they heard these things so you may see how the old envious professours and the baser sort of people did trouble the people and Rulers by haling out and abusing the primitive christians and reporting of them as aforesaid but the true christians did not persecute any but were persecuted as by the Scripture appeareth Act. 17.4.5.6.7.8 And after the uproar was ceased Paul called unto him the Disciples and embraced them and departed for to go into Macedonia Acts 20.1 And upon the first day of the week the Disciples came together and met neither in a Parish Church nor a Chappel Act. 20.8 but in a private house and Paul continued his Speech until midnight in the Chamber where they were gathered together Acts 20.7 8. Whereby it is evident and remains true that it was the practice of Christ and his Apostles to meet together in private houses and in great numbers and they never made any uproar nor abused any but they were abused and suffered as those do who follow their examples Eph. 5. Gal. 5.16.22 23 24 25. Heb. 10.22 23. and live in the Spirit as they did It was the practise of the primitive Christians to assemble themselves together and wait upon God in the way of his Worship and they were to hold fast their Profession without wavering because he was faithful that promised Heb. 10. though they were persecuted for meeting and worshipping contrary to the custome of the envious Jewes and contrary to the way and worship of the World as aforesaid Whereby it is evident and remains true that it is the duty of true Christians Saints and Believers in Christ Jesus to be true and faithful unto God in meeting together in the Way and Worship of God and mind their continuation with God in the same though they be attended with a suffering condition from men for so doing and as it is their duty to meet together as the Worshippers of God according to the manifestation and perswasions of God so it is a danger to neglect the same as by the Scripture is evident and plain Heb. 10.22 23.24,25 And as Preaching is not an Art of Nature but a spritual gift so none are required by the Lord to minister from
him to the people but them to whom it is given and all have a true right given and allowed of God to minister from him to the people to whom that gift of Ministration is given and such ought not to be forbidden 1 Pet. 4.10 11. because there is a toleration to such given and granted in heaven as every man hath received the gift so let him minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold grace of God If any man speak let him speak as the Oracles or Sayings of God If any man Minister let him do it as of the Ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified as 〈◊〉 is written 1 Pet. 4.10 11. Order of Baptisme And for as much as it is a Fundamental of the Episcopal or Protestant Religion and according to the Constitutions and Canons of the Church of England that all who are Admitted into Church fellowship must in order to their Admission and in order to the obtaining to themselves the honourable Title of Christians promise and vow unto God before many witnesses to forsake the Devil and all his Works and to keep Gods holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of their lives Are not the Protestants or Episcopals hereby bound from persecuting any for Conscience towards God in matters of Faith and Salvation Because it is acknowledged to be a work of the Devil and contrary to the will of God to persecute Christians for matters of Faith and Salvation in point of Religion and Worship of God And for as much as it is declared in the Common Prayer Book or Liturgy of the Church of England 2 Coll. for Peace that the Service of God is perfect freedom whether ought any to be forced either to it or from it by outward compulsion but rather left to their freedome that God may convince and perswade them Because whatsoever is not of Faith is sin and every man ought to be fully perswaded in his own heart in matters of Faith and Salvation and it properly belongs to she Lord to make known his own Worship who knows how to perswade the heart both to believe and close in with the same And whereas it is said in the Common Prayer that God is the Author of Peace and Lover of Concord ought not the Episcopals or Protestants to be like minded unto him If so they would see it to be below the life and spirit of a true Christian to force Conscience before they convince it And so ought to seek their peace and welfare and not their destruction and Ruine who are yet unconvinced or perswaded by them who themselves do not walk up to their profession Com. upon the Feasts of Trin. And whereas in the Liturgie of the Church of England it is acknowledged that it is very meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places worship and serve the Lord or give Thanks unto the Almighty and Everlasting God why then should we be bound from doing that which is accounted and declared to be very meet right and our bounden duty at any time and in any place especially by them who do own and profess the same as aforesaid And whereas the Priests Bishops and Curates do declare and confess by the Liturgie of the Church of England that there is no health in them meaning no souls health nor saving health in any of them because it is generally acknowledged by them and upon a spiritual Account what Reason can be produced in Reason why any man should be forced against his Conscience to come to seek Cure of them who plainly say they have no health in them and if they have no health in them as they say they have not Have they any Cure of Souls in them If not to whom must the wounded souls go to be cured Is it not best to leave them to their freedome that the Lord may direct them to whom to go to be cured when they are wounded by sin and the Temptations of Satan that they may also be delivered from under the bondage of Corruption Concerning the Church according to the Constitutions and Canons or Liturgie And al o of practising according to the Liturgie of the Church of England 1. AS to the Church who are accounted true Members thereof and the Condition of their being admitted into Fellowship therewith according to the Constitutions and Canons or Liturgie None are to be Admitted into Church-Fellowship neither can any obtain to themselves the honourable Title of Christians but such as do Covenant with God by Promise and Vow before many Witnesses to be perfect and free from sin First by forsaking the Devil and all his Works And secondly by keeping Gods holy Will and Commandments and walking in the same all the dayes of their lives And seeing that none can be Admitted into Church-Fellowship nor obtain to themselves that Honourable Title of Christians but upon the aforesaid Conditions Have and Do not all thereby who have Entered and are Admitted as aforesaid both Covenanted and do Covenant with God against Persecution about masters of Religion And if they persecute any upon that Account Do they not break Covenant with God and Violate the Fundamentalls of their Religion Secondly None are accounted Members of the Church according to the Liturgie but such as are born again of Water and the Spirit and are by Regeneration made Members of Christ Children of God and Inheritors of the Kingdome of Heaven If it be true that the Priests did Regenerate and Invest us into a Right to God's Kingdome by that Act of Baptisme so called as they have told us they did What true Spiritual Power and Gospel Authority have the Bishops and Priests to dispossesse us of that Right to Gods Kingdome again either by Church Censure or Excommunication And if they made us Children of God Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdome of Heaven by that Act of Baptisme so called as they say they did Then what Spiritual Right and Gospel Authority have they to persecute the Members of Christ and Children of God about matters of Faith and Salvation and things appertaining to the Kingdome of God Is not that to act contrary to the Liturgie of the Church And do not such actions staine their Profession and violate the Fundamentals of the Episcopal and Protestant Religion And if they made us Children of God Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdome of Heaven by that act of Baptisme so called Did they but mate us so for that present time onely or for continuance and perpetuity By their own account they did not make us so for that present time onely but for continuance and perpetuity for they say they made us Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven and their Faith and Judgement is that we cannot Inherit the Kingdome of Heaven whilst in this Life till after Death and therefore it must needs be
GOSPEL LIBERTY Sent down from Heaven in a suffering Time OR Christian Tolleration given and granted by the Lord about the Worship of God and in matters of Faith and Salvation to the people of God and primitive Christians which is matter of comfort to them that are acquainted with God in the Spirit and have the Testimony of his Love and the signification of his acceptation who are true and faithful to God In the principles and practices of the Saints in Christ Jesus and primitive Christians according to the perswasisions of God upon their hearts and consciences though for so doing they be attended with a suffering condition which aforetime was and now is annexed to believing Philip. 1.29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake 2 Tim. 3.12 Yea and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution Written the 14th of the 3d moneth 1664. By R. F. FOr asmuch as God who is absolute in himself who hath jurisdiction over all flesh and spirits principalities and powers thrones and dominions created Colos 1.16.17 Act. 17.26.27 ordained and established by him and for him doth give grant and allow of a liberty to men and Christians as men and Christians First as men in the creation to answer the end for which they were created and Secondly as Christians in communion and covenant with him Gal. 4.31 being children of the free woman and are commanded and required by the Lord as a people in covenant with him to stand fast in the liberty of their tender consciences to God-ward in point of Religion and worship of God wherewith Christ hath made them free Gal. 5.1 They ought not to be denyed or hindred of that liberty which is given granted and allowed unto them by the Lord as men to hinder them for answering the end of their creation neither ought the true Christians and people in covenant with God to be denyed of liberty of Conscience in point of Religion and worship of God but to have liberty of conscience in matters of Faith and Salvation given granted and allowed unto them Gal. 5.13.14 Because they are thereunto called of God and it is against the doctrine of the Apostles contrary to the minde and will of the Lord and in opposition to the Scriptures and the practice of the primitive Christians to deny and refuse to grant it First because the Saints and true Christians are commanded by the Lord to stand fast in the liberty of conscience allowed in the gospel wherewith Christ hath made them free Secondly because they are forbidden to be intangled again with the yoke of bondage in point of religion and worship of God as by the Scripture is evident Gal. 5. To deny liberty of conscience in point of Religion and worship of God to any persons or people Act. 17.24.25.26.27.28.29.30.31 Gal. 5.1 Ioh. 4.23.24 is to deny that right which is given and granted unto them by the Lord for Religion and worship is that wherein Gods honour and glory is concerned and as it is God who is to be worshiped so the worship is the worship of God wherein conscience is concerned and not the worship of man and it belongs to the Lord to prescribe declare reveal or make known his own worship both in matter and manner and after made known to the conscience or a capacity in man conscience ought to stand free and not be forced threfrom that God may perswade it to own allow of and close in with the same and every man ought to be fully perswaded in his own heart as by the Scripture is evident and plain and who hath the like right power wisdome and skil to inform reform and perswade the heart of a man to him who made it and knowes best the frame temper and disposition of it and hath absolute power to punish it or be merciful unto it as it is disobedient or obedient to him in discipline worship and government for the right of heart searching and trying doth properly belong to the Lord and not unto man as by the Scripture is plain Therefore God ought to have his own right preserved and kept unviolated that he may inform reform and perswade the heart and conscience of man both to answer the end for which he was created and to fear reverence honour and obey him in conscience to God-ward as a worshipper of him and the right of men ought to be preserved that they may not be forced from but left to their liberty to receive and retain the trueth and teachings of God in matters of Faith and Salvation that they may continue therein and not be perswaded or forced therefrom by any man for the Apostle declares to the Galatians that they did run well but some hindred them that they should not obey the truth and they that hindred them did not well in so doing for saith he this perswasion cometh not of him that calleth you as by the Scripture is plain Gal. 5.7.8 They who are against liberty of conscience in matters of Faith and Salvation and would either by perswasions or threatnings hinder people from obeying and walking in the truth of the Gospel which God makes known unto them and perswades them to walk in do not well in so doing and though he that was born after the flesh did persecute him that was born after the spirit he did it without any right or authority from God and therefore the son of the bond woman must be cast out and not be heir with the son of the free woman as saith the Scripture Gal. 4.29.30 Christ hath purchased a liberty Gal. 5.1 and fredome for the Saints and believers in him in point of religion and in matters of faith and salvation and therefore they ought not to be deprived of it but ought to have it granted and allowed unto them by such as are professors of him that as they have begun in the spirit Gal. 3.1.2 3. they may not be forced and carried back again into the flesh But may have the liberty of their consciences in matters of Faith and Salvation allowed and granted to obey the truth of the gospel according to the manifestation and perswasion of the word and spirit of God and that they may run well in the way of the Lord without molestation or hindrance by them that professe the truth For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing Gal. 5.7.8 nor uncircumcision but a new Creature and Faith which worketh by love Gal. 5.5.6 Gal. 6.15.16 And as many as walk according to this rule that is to say the rule of the new creature Gal. 4.1.2.3.4.5.6.7 Gal. 6.15.16 which is the spirit of Christ Jesus Gal. 4.6 Peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God Rom. 8.14 So many and no more