me the true Faith by which I find an inward rejoycing in my soul to come to God and to call upon him with confidence and therefore I must serve and love him And I judge lastly that both his Faith and Love is well grounded because I find him really patient meek and humble with cheerfulness bearing this condition on whereinto God hath cast him which in it self outwardly is not at all comfortable but rather hard and because he maketh oft a reflexion upon the great mercy and love of God towards poor sinners of which number he doth feelingly confess himself to be one And I judge that he doth it feelingly because he shewes a hatred to his former sinful life and a joy to have found a way of deliverance from it The consideration of these Characters of Grace in this Turk who hath so little Notional knowledge of which so many of us Christians abound so much and for which there is so much stir and strife and so many rents among us doth make me see more evidently and distinctly than I have formerly been able to do how little speculative knowledge is needful to save a soul when the Spirit of Grace by true Faith and Love doth dwell in it which doth make me fear that many of our great leading and pretending professors some in forms and some without forms exalting themselves in their waies one above another will be found in the way of true Christianity far behind this Turck when they shall be tryed as he is Surely Religion doth not consist in the things which most men strive about but in the life and power of Godliness which is forgotten when men make their profession to become a matter of Interest and do not own Christ surely for his own sake as he is the Son of God and our Saviour which I find this honest Tvrck doth in simplicitie for he is a Sober man in words and behaviour for so far as I have conversed with him I have found nothing indiscreetly done or said by him for he spakes seldome except he be put to it and when he speaks of himself he doth it sparingly chiefly concerning his outward former state and at present he desires nothing so much if a man may believe his expressions as being supplyed with a necessarie livelyhood to apply himself to the study and life of Christianity to which effect he desires to be taught our Language to speak read and write it that he may learn the Law of Christ in the Scripture and I believe by the former Characters of his Faith and Love to Christ that this is his true intention and desire Having delivered my opinion of his sincerity upon the ground of mine own conversation with him I shall farther relate what I have found concerning him upon an inquiry from others for being desirous to know how he spent his time dayly he told me that he went abroad from morning till evening and that his acquaintance was with some Turkie Merchants and with some French Men and with Mr. Powel who liveth near the Temple I have spoken with the Governour and Secretary of the Turkie Companie and with some of the Merchants amongst whom Mr. Muddiford is the Chief of his acquaintance and with the french Men with whom he hath had his dyet since he came hither they all give him a very good report cōcerning his life conversation and make no doubt of his sicerity Mr. Muddiford in a special manner told me that by the circumstances of things which he relates concerning his Father he believes him to be the Son of one who commanded a Squadron of Gallies and was killed in a fight at Negropont If then upon the whole matter I should give my advice touching that which I think fit should be done with him take it thus First some competent provision being made for his livelyhood and so setled that it may come duyly to his hands he might be boarded and lodged with some understanding honest Christian who should at a reasonable rate provide one to teach him to read write and speak English at certain hours of the day Secondly he should be made acquainted with Mr. Calandrine the Dutch Minister who speaks Italian and with the Minister of the Italian Church who should with Mr. Despagne and my self be obliged to take some turns to converse with him till we judge it fit that he should be publickly baptized Thirdly when he shall be sufficiently instructed to make a publick profession of his faith and promise of his obedience unto Christ the time place and manner of his publick Baptism may be determined Fourthly when afterward he shall be able to speak English it may be considered whether yea or no and what employment he may be put to For he professes a willingness to do any service which he shall be judged capable to perform This was the substance of that report and advice which Mr. Dury gave of him to Mr. Secretatry about the latter end of May 1658. And this advice was followed for being recommended to the Ministers forenamed they gave him admittance and soon found him fit to be Baptized but the Solemnity of his Baptism was delayed partly by reason of his sicknesse partly by reason of a journy which Mr. Durie made into the Country and partly by reason of some other lets and tryals which did befall him till at last Mr. Durie thought it expedient to put him upon a way of manifesting his capacity of Baptism that all who should doubt of the sufficiencie of his knowledge in Christianity might receive satisfaction thereby and to this effect he made a Note of certain heads of matters to the number of seventeen naming only the bare Titles as concerning God concerning the Trinity concerning the Creation of the World concerning Adam and his Sin c. and gave them to him that his boy should read them to him in order for he can neither read nor write himself and that he should dictate unto his Boy that which he did know and believe concerning each of those Heads This Note Mr. Durie gave unto him about nine of the Clock in the Mornng and left him to his thoughts when he had promised that he would go about it that very day and the same day about nine of the Clock at night his Boy brought Mr. Durie the Confession hereafter adjoyned pretty well written in French which when Mr. Durie had read finding it so full and satisfactory that he did wonder at it he resolved to translate it into English keeping as neer as the sense would bear it the very words which he used and having done this he caused some Copies to be transcribed in his French and some in English and imparted the French to some of his Highness Councel and the English to the Commissioners who meet at White-hall for approving of Ministers who all hearing of his holy and zealous way of conversation judged him very fit to be Baptized without delay and
more than that which John saith Math. 3. 11. the Holy Ghost and fire that is the Holy Ghost working in the nature of fire so the Spirit and water is the Spirit working in the nature of water It is a figure of speech called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is one thing by two expressions Fire and Water are purging Elements their operation is in one spirit and the Prophet Isai. joyneth them together in one effect Cap. 4. 4. When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the Daughters of Sion and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgement and the spirit of Burning here the Spirit doth wash and burn to purge away sin This then is a gross mistake of the phrase but as to the thing it self that salvation doth not depend upon the use of outward Water is clear from 1 Pet. 3. 21. where the Apostle telling us that Baptism doth save us doth immediately to prevent a mistake explain himself and saith that he meaneth not the putting away the filth of the Flesh viz. by outward water but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ that is the Baptism which saveth the Soul and therefore Christ Mar. 16. 16. saith he that beleeveth and is Baptized shall be saved but he that beleeveth not shall be damned he saith not he that is not Baptized shall be damned intimating that there is no such necessity of water-Baptism that without it a Soul cannot be saved for the promise is to faith alone whosoever beleeveth in him shall not perish but have life everlasting Joh. 3. 16. and the Apostle Gal. 5. 6. assures us that in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing but Faith which worketh by Love The saving vertue is in the washing of Regeneration renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. which words are a clear exposition of Christs words except ye be born of the Spirit and water ye cannot enter into the Kingdome of God Joh. 3. 5. for the washing of Regeneration by the renewing of the Holy Ghost which is shed on us is to be born of the Spirit and Water and without this none is saved that is none enters into Gods Kingdom Yet although the saving of Souls doth not depend upon the outward washing nevertheless we say there is some necessity for the use of Baptism namely the necessitas praecepti that is a necessity to obey Gods command for as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 7. 19. of Circumcision that neither it nor uncircumcision is any thing but the obeying of Gods Commandement so we say that to be baptised is nothing and to want Baptism is nothing but the keeping of the Commandements of God the meaning is that the outward work or the opus operatum whether you have it or want it is not to be regarded but the keeping of Gods commandement is that which is necessarie therefore we say that Christs Command to administer Baptism is necessary to be observed in his Church according to his end for which he did appoint it which is not to make Salvation to depend upon material Water but to Characterize and separate Disciples from the rest of the World and to conveigh as an outward testimony the manifestation of the inward work of Grace exhibited in the word of the institution and to these ends it is a means appointed by God and by reason of his appointment it is necessary to be used as a means to shew forth the Relation which is between Christ and his members it is a means necessary to signifie and seal their ingraffing into one body by one Spirit with him as their head 1 Cor. 12. 13. So far then as God will have a publick visibility of the profession to be owned and our Relation to Christ in the Covenant to be held forth so far is publick Baptism necessarie now this is not otherwise necessary than as circumstances will permit it to be done Regularly that is by a Lawfull Minister in Christs way for the Baptism of Women is not Lawful nor of any other who hath not a Call to administer the Ordinance Nor is it the want but the contempt or wilfull neglect of Baptism that brings guilt Saint Ambrose saith of Valentinian the Emperor that though he dyed without Water-Baptism yet he had the Grace of Baptism because he earnestly did desire it Hitherto the use of Instruction The use of Comfort is two-fold 1. That God doth condescend to our weakness to give us a visible and sensible Word to make us feel in the outward man that which he doth in the inward this is a great support of our faith and a real ground of Comfort which God makes use of to conveigh by the word of promise the increase of Grace unto our Souls 2. That God doth mark us outunto himself and by a visible token of his Covenant in our outward Man will seal a Relation between him and us as Gen. 17. 11 13. This is a special Confirmation of his free Grace and Love and that he by this means will separate us from the World as a peculiar people and a chosen generation 1 Pet. 2. 9. It is a ground of Confidence to us that he will have a special care of us in evil times for the causes bind up the Testimony and Seal the Law among his Disciples Isa. 8. 16. His Church which is made up of these Disciples are his Vineyard which he doth keep and water every moment lest any thing hurt it Isa. 27. 2 3. It is his Garden enclosed a Spring shut up and a Fountain sealed Cant. 4. 12. This gives us a ground in time of trouble and temptation to fly unto him to mind him of his Covenant with us in Baptism and to tell him as David doth Psal. 22. 10. I was cast upon thee from the womb thou art my God from my Mothers belly be not far from me for trouble is neer The use of Admonition and exhortation is 1. That we should mind our Covenant with God in Baptism what the tenor of it is what our Relation is to him what it is to be his Disciple how we should be under his Discipline how separate from the world the Devil and the Flesh how carefull as good Souldiers to war faithfully under his Banner the Ancients called it Sacramentum to be mindfull of the oath which Souldiers took to be faithfull unto their General and Tessera Militaris a token of their Warfar to war against the lusts of the Flesh 1 Pet. 2. 11. 2. To remember that we are redeemed by Christ and Adopted and regenerated and made a peculiar people to live to him and to be zealous of good works Tit. 3. 14. and to walk worthy of his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thes. 2. 12. 3. To consider that by Baptism we are both dead and made alive again with Christ Rom. 6. 3 4. and that
Repent saith he and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call So that we see Repentance and Faith fits men for Baptism and to these the gift of the Holy Ghost is a consequent in the ordinary dispensation although in this case of Cornelius the gift of the Holy Ghost was dispensed before Baptism The Vses 1. To encourage Parents to present their children to God and to testifie their interest in his Covenant on their behalf If they desire God to be the God of their children they should present them to him and accept of the priviledge which belongeth unto them to put them in possession of it Marc. 10. 14. it is said that when Christ had reproved his Disciples for hindering the children to come to him he took them up in his arms laid his hands upon them and blessed them When they are brought to the Ordinance and receive the seal of the Covenant he takes them in his arms layes his hands upon them and blesseth them 2. To oblige Parents to teach their children the Tenor of the Covenant and upon what account they have been owned by God and what their duty is to live unto him If under the Law Parents were obliged to teach their children Deut. 6. 7. Certainly under the Gospel this ought not to be rejected where there is a Covenant under better promises 3. To teach us to observe the Qualities requisite in those who are to be baptized that the Ordinance may not be administred either too scrupulously or too negligently It may be administred too scrupulously when such a distinct knowledge of all the heads of faith and duties is stood upon which may become one who is a large proficient in Christianity It is to be understood that if they have the knowledge of the main object of our Faith and Hope with a desire to be saved by Christ although they know no particular controversal matters yet they ought when they repent to be admitted to Baptism for they are baptized to be made disciples and being such to be taught and directed in the wayes of God according to Christs commandement in the Institution of Baptism Matth. 28. 19 20. make Disciples Baptize Teach Again it will be administred too scrupulously if Baptism should be suspended upon the account that he to whom it is administred should be embodied into some particular Congregation for Baptism is not instituted to make a man a member of any particular Society but to make him a disciple and to own him as a member of the Catholick Church visible For all particular Congregations make but one body unto which all particular believers belong Eph. 4. 4 5 6. 1 Cor. 12. 12. till 21. It may be administred too carelesly if no respect be had to their knowledge whether it be of the fundamental truths that Christ is the Son of God the only Saviour and that whosoever doth repent and believe in him for the mission of sins shall be saved and if no respect be had to the seriousnesse of their intention whether they desire Baptism yea or no for the true end to have a relation to Christ as his disciple in the Covenant to be taught and guided by him or whether they desire it onely for some worldly by-ends as many hypocrites have done And now to make the Application of this to the person in hand and the present action we can testifie of the Qualification of the person that he hath more than a competent measure of knowledge in Christianity both in matters of Faith and of Duties and that his life is answerable thereunto as having renounced all for Christs sake to come to live amongst Christians in a penitent humble sober and mortified state seeking onely to be found in Jesus Christ for the obtaining of the remission of sins and righteousnesse through him This being known to us to be his aym and his profession and having earnestly desired upon these ground and upon the Confession of Faith which he made in one day to be baptized we may warantably and cheerfully proceed to administer the holy Ordinance unto him and say with the Apostle Peter in my Text Can any man forbid water that this man should not be baptized who hath received the Graces of the Holy Ghost as well as we For by his Confession of Faith it will appear that he is largely enlightned and taught in the Truth by the Holy Ghost for not being able either to read or write and dictating this Confession according to certain heads which were given him and doing it readily in one day it is evident that he hath received a large measure of Grace which fits him for Baptism Here the Confession was read as it was Translated out of the French Copy which his Boy wrote from his mouth and it is as followeth The Confession of Faith made by ISUF the Turkish Chaous Who was Baptized in Mr. Mantons Church in Covent-Garden the 29th of January 1658. His name was Richard Christophilus I Believe that there is one God onely who being Eternal of himself above and in all the Author of all life and being is a Spirit only good only wise almighty all just every where present and infinite in all perfection I believe that this Divine Nature doth subsist in three Persons to wit the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost and these three are the same God I believe that the world and all that is therein visible and invisible have been made in the beginning by the Word of God in six dayes and believe also that every man was made after the Image of God faithful and holy and with authority to rule the creatures of this world by God who did breath an immortal Soul in a Body of dust and made the woman of one of his ribs and placed them in Paradise I believe that Man being made of God Faithful was obliged to do his will which if he did he should have lived joyfully in Paradise but if he did it not that he should dye according to the promise which he made unto him But man was tempted by the Devil to transgress the Commandement of God to the end that he should obey Gods Commandement no more but do his own will So the sin of Adam falling away from God became not only the sin of Adam but all his full Posterity is guilty of Condemnation for they are by nature children of wrath who do nothing at all good but alwayes evil All men born naturally of Adam do sin against the Law of God not only against that which is in their hearts but also against that which is revealed in the Word so that all are actually transgressors before God and guilty of death Moreover man
his commands they ought to render obedience of Faith unto him and to believe in the Name of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost according to the scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles upon which the Believers are built Jesus Christ being the chief Corner stone the scriptures are the word inspired by God to make men wise unto salvation by the Faith which is in Jesus Christ to make them perfectly instructed unto every good work for Doctrine Correction and instruction in Righteousness Moreover I believe that Baptism ought to be administred in the name of the Father of the Son and of the holy Ghost to shew forth that the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost are the only true God in whom we ought to believe and whom we should obey I believe also that all believers are baptised by the holy Ghost into one Body and that every one of them being members of this Body in his place become members one of another The washing which is instituted in Baptism doth signifie the washing of Regeneration by the renewing of the holy Ghost which is shed abroad by Jesus Christ upon believers I believe also that this washing is a sign of the new Covenant established in the blood of Jesus Christ into which we are received by the Testimony of a good Conscience towards God in giving our selves wholly over unto him according to the tenor of his Covenant to be taught and governed by him in all things as his Disciples in this washing which is common to all believers to be received all they who are joyned to Jesus Christ as to their Master or head to become his members are baptized by him into one Spirit to become one Body and to behave themselves the one towards the other as his members in the Communion of Saints I believe that the Spiritual and inward Baptism of the Souls which doth purifie the Conscience from dead works makes believers carefull to keep all the Commandements of God and gives them access to call upon the name of the Lord at the throne of grace to be helped in due time I believe that that the Commandements which ought to be observed are given by Moses and confirmed by Christ and the prayer by which we should make our requests known to the Father is taught by the Lord Matth. 6. 9 10 11 12 13. I believe that the Church of God is made use of in this world to hold forth the word of life and the Ordinances of Truth which are appointed to the things which beget and increase grace and to reform vices and scandales I believe that the Ordinances of the publick administration of the Word and Prayer for those that are Ministers or Pastors whose office is to prophesie and pray in the Church are the Organes by which God doth beget faith in men and to make them compleat in all other graces as Saints for the building up of the body of Christ I believe that the Ordinances of the Church and Government of Discipline ought to be administred by the office of Elders and are Organs to prevent and reme the spiritual adultery and evill which is incident unto the society of Saints by an equal administration of Charity for the comforting of the weak and supply of the necessities of the poor as also for order and decency to proceed in all publick concernments and for the correction of a Brother and of those that are in any disorderly way I believe that the Government of God and the Administration of his Providence in the World to come is universal towards all and particular towards the Elect By his universal Providence he will raise up the dead at the last day both great and small and shall call the quick and the dead as well Men as Angels unto Judgment this sentence shall last eternally wherein the Angels shall be judged by the Saints and by his particular Providence over the Reprobates they shall be destroyed from the presence of the Lord with everlasting torments in Hell with the Devil and his Angels but the Elect shall be received into everlasting glory with Christ being made heirs of all things in the presence of God for ever I believe that the Scriptures of the old and New Testament are the true Word of God containing evidently infallibly and perfectly his revealed Will and Truth to be a rule of our Faith and obedience a Judge of our lives a touch-stone of all Doctrines and an Organ to make all believers perfect unto Salvation My Spiritual Father This evening I have made a general confession before my Lord Jesus Christ of my Faith as his slave with a good heart as yet it seems to me that I have great need of Baptism which our Lord Jesus Christ hath ordained for those that believe in him with a good heart Sir I pray you for the love of God to sollice it that I may be baptized for you know that we are subject to die and if I should dye without Baptism I shall not dye having my heart contented I am inclined to pray my Lord Iesus Christ for all faithfull Christians who bear love unto him Isuf Chaous the Slave of my Lord Jesus Christ The Confession being read and the fulnesse of it being taken notice of the Minister went out of the Pulpit down to the Font at which he sate and standing by him asked him three Questions First whether he did not renounce before God and this Congregation the Mahometan Sect whereunto he answered yea he hid renounce it utterly Secondly whether he did not desire to make profession of the Christian Faith and to be Baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost as a disciple of Christ whereunto he answered yea it was his earnest desire Thirdly whether he was not resolved in the future course of his life to submit himself to all the Ordinances of Christ and to walk unblameably under Christian Discipline whereunto he answered yea it was his sincere Resolution These Questions his Answers were made in the Italian tongue and interpreted afterward unto the Congregation in English Then a Prayer was made for a blessing upon the Ordinance to be administed unto him desiring the Lord to be present with his Spirit to seal and exhibite the thing signified thereby that being made partaker of the Promises of the Covenant his walking may be answerable thereunto and he may be delivered from all the Temptations of the evil one henceforth to be filled with joy and comfort by the Holy Ghost and other requests to this effect Which being done the Minister dipt his head into the water of a large Font and poured water upon it saying Richard Christophilus I Baptize thee in the name of of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Then the Minister returning to the Pulpit exhorted the Congregation to observe to the Glory of God the freedom of his Grace and Election that he did out of the midst of a most damnable Sect call this soul to himself in a way more than ordinary and that we should praise God for the work of Grace bestowed on him and that we might hope that God was preparing by such meanes a way to bring in the Conversion of the Jewes and the Fulnesse of the Gentiles amongst which the Turks should be comprehended of whom this man and some others being the first fruits we might expect hereafter a full Harvest They were also exhorted to rejoyce with and for him that he was now in the bosom of the Church that they should embrace him in their hearts through the Communion of Saints and pray for him These Exhortations being ended the Action was concluded with a Prayer and the singing of a part of a Psalm And this Relation is thus made publick that all those to whose hands it may come should be edified therby and stirred up to consider Gods works to give him due praise for the mercy which he shewes to any sinners and to pray that he would dayly add such as belong to his Election unto his Church till all flesh see his glory together And that this Proselyte may be made instrumental to advance his Glory towards his own Nation in due time being delivered from the Temptations and Assaults which Satan hath made upon him in a way not ordinary wherein the Lord hath hitherto graciously supported him and whereof hereafter in due time some more particular account may be given In the mean time this is offered to the ingenuous and true-hearted Christian that various and uncertain Reports may be prevented concerning this Action which we hope will redound to the Glory of our gracious Lord Jesus Christ in whose name it hath been performed and to him with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all Honour Praise and Thanksgiving rendred from all his Creatures and in all his Congregations for evermore Amen FINIS Rom. 9. 15. The Estry 1. Of God 2. Of the Holy Trinity 3. Of the Creation of the world 4. Of Adam and his falling from God 5. Of the Restauration of man by Christ 6. Of the ten Commandements 7. Of Christs office of Mediation between God and Man 8. Of the Doctrine of Faith 9. Of good works 10. The Creed 11. The Lords Prayer 12. Of the Sacraments 13. Of the Lords Supper 15. Of Baptism 14. Of the Church Ordinances 16. Of the last Judgment 17. Of the Holy scripture
A TRUE RELATION OF THE Conversion and Baptism OF ISUF THE Turkish Chaous NAMED Richard Christophilus In the presence of a full Congregation Jan. 30. 1658. in Covent-Garden where Mr. Manton is Minister Imprimatur EDM. CALAMY LONDON Printed by S. Griffin and are to be sold by John Rothwel at the Fountain in Cheap side and Thomas Vnderhil at the Bible in Pauls Church-yard 1658. ERRATA PAge 12. lin. 17. for surely read sincerely P. 14. l. 15. f. sicerity r. sincerity P. 22. l. 16. f. is be r. is to be P. 30. l. 15. after inclusively add and cumulatively P. 41. l. 4. f. the r. he P. 46. l. 22. f. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} r. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} P. 48. l. 22. f. heed r. need P. 58. l. 6. f. 29th r. 30th P. 82. l. 3. f. sollice r. sollicit P. 83. l. 11. f. Hid r. did To the Christian Reader A PREFACE CHristian and Ingenuous Reader for to such I would only make this address thou wilt find in this Relation a rare Example of Christianity and Ingenuity which I wish it may affect thee as it hath done me at several times for I must confess that by the zeal and ingenuity of this Proselyte in the profession of Christianity I have been oft-times awakened to many affections and paroxysms of love towards Jesus Christ and been reproved and ashamed within my self that he should in his first beginning of acquaintance with the Lord Jesus outstrip me in many things who have had so long acquaintance with him and manifold experiences of his goodness and providences towards me But as this on the one hand hath convinced me of my failing so on the other hand it hath moved me to a loving admiration and adoration of the free grace and work of the Spirit of God who bloweth where he listeth and sheweth mercy on whom he will have mercy and hath compassion on whom he will have compassion For here we have a clear example of this way of Gods dealing in causing one who lived in the greatness and splendor of the world to renounce all for the love of Jesus Christ to come amongst Christians to live unto him in obedience to his will and being come amongst those first who under the name of Christianity were found by him to be Idolaters although they used all ways of industry and allurements to invite him to live amongst them yet he rather chose to forsake all the enjoyments which he might have had amongst them to embrace the Society of poor Prostants where he could have no hopes of preferment than to be deprived of the meanes of being perfectly joyned unto the Lord by saving knowledge and the conversation of those that are truly Godly wherein we may observe another act of special grace that he was taught by the Spirit to discern the falshood of the by way before he was fully instructed in the Truth and now since he is come to the knowledge of the Truth I find his great grievance and trouble to be this that he can meet with very few who are sincere in their walking answerable to the Rule for of this he doth with much passion sometimes complain that it is a wonder to him and a cause of much affliction that such as have the knowledge of the great love of Jesus Christ towards their soules and have received from him so rich promises and so perfect a Law should have no more respect unto him and his wayes so that oft-times when he hath fallen upon these complaints with some passionate expressions as if his heart were ready to break he hath brought into my mind with more life than ever I formerly could represent unto my self the passions which the Psalmist in the 119. Psalm saith he was in by reason of the wicked who transgressed the Law of God As when he saith v. 53. ror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy Law And again v. 158. I beheld the transgressors and was grieved because they kept not thy word I say that I never understood the nature of this grief and horror so lively within my self as I have perceived it in him by which evidence of grace in him I confess to the glory of God that I have been much edified and many times have had cause to condemn mine own soul for the sluggish disposition under which I am found when I have perceived so much life and vigorous zeal and sincerity in a new Convert who hath quit all and doth count every thing but dung to win Christ and to find the life of his Holiness amongst Christians For the truth is that in all his Converse with others this is his business to discern who hath this life of love to Christ who it is that walks without worldly interests and is unbyassed in the profession And because he doth meet with so few in whom he can perceive the sincerity and ingenuity of the Spirit of Christ therefore he is oft-times troubled and offended and I am made partaker of his grief and made more sensible of it than at any time heretofore when I have had no such object to converse withall but chiefly I find him in the extremit of passion with anger and grief when he perceives and truly he is very discerning that under any pretence of Religion or of Righteousness men drive on some self-interest when he perceives this he knows not almost with what words of indignation to detest that hypocrisie So that to conclude I must truly say to the glory of God that wch is upon my heart that whiles I have been imployed to instruct and comfort him I have profited more by his conversation than by any that I have been acquainted withall in England and if this man should not prove sincere and upright in the way of Godliness I shall confess that I know no evidence to discern the uprightness of any man henceforth in this world And if thou that art ingenuous and sincere in thy love to Christ wilt converse with him I make no doubt but thou wilt find this to be a Truth which in simplicity of heart to encourage thee to look to thy wayes as in the presence of God is freely attested by Thy servant in Christ JOHN DURIE To the Reader Christian Reader HAving had several conferences with this Noble Convert and being desired to give some short account thereof I thought good to add this to the subsequent Narrative being several passages of private conference between him my self whereof an account could not so well be given by the Author Some of them are these viz. I asked him among other Questions what he thought to be the meaning of these words If thy right eye offend thee pull it out and cast it from thee and if thy right hand offend thee cut it off His Answer was as near as I can remember thus That our Lord Jesus Christ did not intend us any harm
but that we should lay aside the malign and sinful use of these parts I asked him what he thought of the Turkish Alcoran now he had read the Scriptures Sir sayes he why should we go about to compare the word of God with a Comedy Having some occasion to speak of wicked men he said that God is far from them but recalling himself he said they rather were far from God secretly as I took it intimating that we rather depart from God than God from us I understanding that he was much offended at the wicked lives of Christians did much endeavour to Antidote him against that poyson telling him that the small number of true Christians was so far from giving just cause of offence that it did establish the truth of the Gospel since Christ plainly tells us that there are few that shall be saved and that many are called and few are chosen but that withall I doubted not but hereafter he should meet with and be acquainted with abundance who truly feared God and lived suitable to the doctrine of Christ whose acquaintance would as much rejoyce him as the others did scandalize him His Answer was with much gravity thus Sir I judge not of the Word of God by men but of men by the Word of God And that there was but one Lot in Sodom but that it was true that he was much offended and it yet troubled him to see the wicked lives of those that call themselves Christians I thought to try him with something a more intricate question I asked him how it came to pass that he reading of such high points as of the Trinity c. in the Bible he should not rather judge that Book not to be Gods Word that spake of things so much above reason rather than to judge these things to be true because he found them written in the Bible To this purpose he answered That he was much satisfied of the Truth of Christian Religion before he came out of his own Country and finding that all Christians did agree that their Religion was set down in that Book he had a reverend esteem of it and said the spiritual love of God in the heart prepares it to the understanding of spiritual truths I asking him what reasons moved him to embrace Christianity he used this expression As a man at a feast takes one bit here and another there till at last he is so satisfied that he can eat no more So there were several reasons that from time to time affected him that at last he could stand out no longer He told me moreover that he went several times on Pilgrimage to Mahomets Tomb and the last time was resolved to see what was in it The Priest at first was very unwilling to shew it saying that there were divers there and such a thing was not to be publickly seen Upon which he told him he would stay till they were gone and so did Then he being a man of power and authority the Priest durst not deny him but opened the Tomb where he saw nothing but a few scattered black bones which much incensed him against Mahomet insomuch saith he that had I spoke what I then thought I had not gone alive out of that place I having read in the Turkish History a Relation much conducing to the advantage of Christian Religion and knowing that it was in his remembrance enquired of him of the truth of it He told me that it was very true and related some other passages which are not set down in the printed story which he said with other things did much affect him but that the Grand Signior charged that upon pain of death none should speak of it The Story was this About the year 1620. upon the 10th of September There came Newes to Constantinople of a strange Apparition or Vision which was seen at Medina Talnabi in Arabia whereas Mahomet their great Prophet was buried to visit whose Tomb the Turks use to go in Pilgrimage but they must first go to Mecha which is some few dayes journey off and there they take a ticket from the Grand Seigniors Beglerbeg else they are not allowed to go to Medina This Vision continued three weeks together which terrified the whole Countrey for that no man could discover the truth thereof About the 20th of September there fell so great a tempest and so fearful thunder about midnight as the Heavens were darkened and those that were awake almost distracted but the vapours being dispersed and the element clear the people might read in Arabian Characters these words in the Firmament O why will ye believe in lyes Between two and three in the morning there was seen a woman in white compassed about with the Sun having a cheerful countenance and holding in her hand a Book coming from the North-west opposite against her were armies of Turks Persians Arabians and other Mahometans ranged in order of battel and ready to charge her but she kept her standing and only opened the Book at the sight whereof those Armies fled and presently all the lamps about Mahomets Tomb went out for as soon as ever the Vision vanished which was commonly an hour before Sun-rising a murmuring wind was heard whereunto they imputed the extinguishing of the lamps The ancient Pilgrims of Mahomets race who after they have visited this place never use to cut their hair were much amazed for that they could not conceive the meaning of this Vision only one of the Dervices which is a strict religious Order among the Turks like unto the Capuchins among the Papists and live in contemplation stepped up very boldly and made a Speech unto the company which incensed them much against him so as this poor Priest for his plain dealing lost his life as you shall hear The summe of his speech was this That the World had never but three true Religions every one of which had a Prophet first God chose the Jewes and did wonders for them in Egypt and brought them forth by their Prophet Moses who prescribed them a Law wherein he would have maintained them if they had not been obstinate and rebellious and fallen to Idolatry whereupon he gave them over and scattered them upon the face of the earth Then presently after he raised a new Prophet who taught the Christian Religion This good man the Jewes condemned and crucified for a Seducer of the people not moved with the piety of his life his great Miracles nor his Doctrine Yet after his death the preaching of a few fishermen did so move the hearts of men as the greatest Monarchs of the world bowed to his very Title and yielded to the command of his Ministers But it seems they grew as corrupt as the Jewes their Church being dismembred with the distinction of the East and West committing Idolatry again by setting up of Images with many other idle ceremonies besides the corruption of their lives so as God was weary of them too and not only sent divisions
among them but forsook them dispossessing them of their chiefest Cities Jerusalem and Constantinople yet God is still the Governor of the World and provides himself of another Prophet and people raising our Great Mahomet and giving way to our Nation so as no doubt we shall be happy for ever if we can serve this God aright and take example by the fall of others But alas I tremble to speak it we have erred in every point and wilfully broken our first institutions so as God hath manifested his wrath by evident signes and tokens keeping our Prophet from us who prefixed a time to return with all happiness to his people so as there are now forty yeares past by our account Wherefore this strange and fearful Vision is a prediction of some great troubles and alterations For either the opening of this Book in the womans hand doth foretel our falling away from the first intent of our Law whereat these armed men departed as confounded with the guilt of their own consciences or else it signifies some other book wherein we have not yet read and against which no power shall prevail so as I fear our Religion will be proved corrupt and our Prophet an Impostor and then this Christ whom they talk of shall shine like the Sun and set up his name everlastingly Hitherto the company were silent but hearing him speak so boldly they charged him with blasphemy and knowing their Law which makes all blasphemy capital they presently condemned him and having the Beglerbegs consent and warrant they put him to death I have observed his carriage to be very grave and serious he speaks of Christ with much affection and reverence alwayes calling him the Lord Jesus Christ Both his pronuciation and his gestures shew his high esteem of Christ When I was with him he was very temperate in his dyet his civilities such as shew him to be a man of no ordinary breeding and education This brings to remembrance a story he told me of certain Quakers who came to him with their hands in their pockets and using those rude carriages which they are known to use to all though of never so great quality withal telling him that we should not use any titles of honor or civilities to any He told me he was much offended at their demeanour and said unto them that for his part he thought that Worship was due to God and Courtesie to man I bless God for many spiritual advantages that I have gained by those things I have heard of him and from him Doubtless this providence is not to be gazed on but to be improved we must not be like Athenians that love novelties though the thing be never so serious when it ceases to be novell'd it ceases to affect them and if it be new though they account him a meer babler that tells it they long to hear it I fear Religion suffers upon this account And whereas the longer we are acquainted with the truths of God the more we should admire and love them yet it is too evident that novelty is as prevalent in matters of Religion as of the things of this world The Uses that we are to make of this Narrative I conceive to be these First that if we account it as we may justly do so great a mercy that God hath snatcht this Convert as a firebrand out of the fire ought not we to esteem the mercy less that we have enjoyed it so long In some sense we may say that with a great summe of money he hath purchac'd this freedom for he hath been fain to leave a great estate and his Countrey But we are born free had we been born where the name of Christ had not been spoke of or blasphemed we could not without a miraculous providence have been sav'd Now without a stupendious wickedness obstinacy and infidelty we cannot be damned blessed be God for our birth-priviledges and the Lord grant that we may not so abuse them that we shall be afraid to meet them at the day of Judgment I think further that if it be such a just cause of rejoycing that one Turk is Baptized and become a Christian how should we pray and endeavour as much as in us lies that not only they but other poor Heathen Nations may be brought in If there were as great care and wisedom used for the spreading of the Gospel as there is for the vending of our Staple-commodities in other Countreys how wonderful would God bless our endeavours But in stead of propagating the Gospel abroad we despise and destroy it at home I fear divers Merchants and Travellers leave the scandal that their sins cause behind them and â—â—…ing the infection and vices of Forein Nations home with them Divers Travellers go abroad with a little Religion and return with none The next Use that I could wish were made should be that all Christians might so live that all should have cause to say as Alexander Severus did of Origen when perceiving some to wonder at the learning of Origen whereby they were induced to embrace the Christian Profession Truly saith he the humility and charity of Christian people which I have heard of and do daily behold doth much more perswade me to believe that Christ is God than all Origens Arguments Surely if Christians lived like Christians it were enough to make Heathens Christians but generally the lives of Christians are such that it is enough to make any but true Christians to say sit anima mea cum Philosophis I will give you a short Narrative of some things that I have heard from this Noble Convert and others of the charity and fidelity of Turks He told me that once a year all the great men of Turky Bashaws and others had their whole estates valued and cast up by their Stewards and they give the tenth part yearly to charitable uses I could wish that this example were followed especially by persons of great estates Those that have many thousands a year that might better spare the third part of their revenue than one of a small estate can the twentieth part of his yet how do they look upon it as a work of supererogation if they give but four or five times a year but twenty pound at a time nay I wish there were not some who have vast estates and not a child to leave it to and yet never make an end of encreasing The Apostle saith If any man be covetous as well as if any man be a drunkard with such a man do not eat For my part if after admonition such a one as I have spoke of did not reform I should vote him to be covetous and upon that excommunicate him There is a story also that I think worth relating because of the good use that may be made of it Two Turks there were that had made a Christian drunk and then put a turban on his head and next day accus'd him to the Musty that he had promised
being fallen into sin and misery could not deliver himself nor could any Creature find or procure a way for deliverance but God found a good Remedy for man I believe that Man was restored from his fall and misery by the Mediation of Jesus Christ who hath undertaken to save Mankind from the Curse of God and to reconcile God to Men and Men to God to destroy all the works of the Devil and all the Enemies of the Salvation of mankind to unite men to God by one Spirit God was moved to appoint and accept this way of Mediation for Mankind only by his free love towards the world and by his Eternal and affectionate compassion towards his Elect in Jesus Christ to the end his grace should be manifested by us The work of Reconciliation between God and Man was effected by the Son of God the second Person of the Holy Trinity who being God from all Eternity took the nature of man in the fulness of time being born by the power of the Holy Ghost of a Virgin and under the Law and so he became Emanuel God with us in one Person I believe that God said with his own mouth I am the Lord thy God who have brought thee out of the land of Egypt and out of the house of bondage Thou shalt have no other Gods before my face c. I believe that the way by which he did bring to passe that admirable work was by the Administration of his three Offices Prophet Priest and King who in the state of his humiliation and exaltation became Wisedom to all Believers and also Righteousness and Redemption to make the work of Redemption and Reconciliation effectual and profitable in us he that did undertake it Jesus Christ is offered unto us with all his benefits in the covenant of grace and to all those to whom the Gospel is Preached this Covenant is published throughout the world by the publick Administration of the Word and of all the Doctrines of Repentance from dead works and of faith towards God and they are obliged every one to take an example by the grace of God which brings Salvation to receive it and to make use of it And the Doctrine of Repentance is applyed unto them that are transgressors of the Law to shew them to renounce wicked works which are first Atheism Idolatry false and Superstitious wayes of worshipping the true God all irreverence and abuse of his Name and all profanation of the Lords Day and neglect of his Solemn Worship and secondly to teach them to renounce all worldly lusts that is to say all disobedience to Superiors Murther and Malice Adultery and Villany False witness-bearing and all Concupiscence desiring things that pertain to his Neighbour I believe that the Doctrine of Faith is to be made use of towards those that have the use of reason to teach them that God is and that he is the Saviour of those that seek him diligently that they may know him and fear him and put their confidence in God the Father who hath made all things and in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son who having redeemed us is gone up into Heaven and is sitting at the right hand of God where he makes Intercession for us and from thence he shall come back in glory to give unto Believers their blessed hopes and in the Holy Ghost by whom the Church of Saints is gathered sanctified and governed in this world to be exalted in glory in the world to come I believe that God doth require good workes that thereby he may be glorified amongst men and we must do them that we may shew our love to him and to his glory and our thankfulnesse to his mercy that we may have assurance in our prayers and that we may build up our neighbour in the good way Moreover the Organ by which the Believers do good works is the life of the Spirit of Christ in them which makes the children of grace free from the dominion of sin and leads them in all truth that they may answer the Tenor of the Covenant to observe it also those that are faithful unto God in the Covenant of grace makes use of their graces towards Christ to remain in him and in his word and in his love and to follow him in their affection and actions that in all things they may be conformable to his Image I believe in God the Father Almighty maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son our Lord who was conceived of the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary did suffer under Potius Pilat was crucified dead and buried and descended into Hell the third day he rose from the dead he is gone up to Heaand sits at the right hand of God from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead I believe in the holy Ghost the holy Universal Church the Communion of Saints the forgiveness of sins the Resurrection of the Body life everlasting Our Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy Name thy Kingdom come thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our dayly bread and pardon us our trespasses as we pardon them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one for thine is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen I believe the Ordinances of Baptism and of the supper of the Lord are Organs to such as are Disciples to increase the Communion of Saints to seal the promises and to confirm the graces of the Covenant to believers and to their of-spring and to distinguish them from the World I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ having eaten the Passeover with his Disciples in the night in which he was betrayed did institute the use of the holy Supper that it should be celebrated afterward to remember his death and to shew it forth till he come again In the institution he took bread and having given thanks he break it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you do this in remembrance of me in like manner after Supper he took the Cup saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood do this as oft as ye drink thereof in remembrance of me he did make use of bread and Wine to let us know that even as the Body is nourished with meat and drink so also the Soul doth receive its spiritual nourishment from him in respect of his Body and blood given to us I beleeve that Iesus Christ did institute the Baptism after his Resurrection and before his ascention into heaven as an effect and a Testimony that he hath received all power in Heaven and Earth and the Disciples are commanded to administer the same to make it appear that all the Nations of the Earth are made subject unto him as to their Saviour and that being subject to