therein they that cannot interpret it by the other four nor yet by the Commission it self nor by the Commissioners faithful observance thereof in all other instances let them prove if they can these three particulars 1. That Lydia ever had a husband 2. In case she had that ever she had any children by him and if so then in the 3. place that they were not dead or so grown up that they might hear and receive the word gladly as well as their mother 3. A third argument to prove that a visible believer is the person that according to the mind of Christ is to be baptized in water may be taken from the order which the Spirit of Christ laies down faith and baptism in the scriptures of truth putting faith still in the first place witness Mark 16. 15 16. Mat. 28. 19. Heb. 6. Eph. 4. A 4 argument may be taken from the nature of the ordinance and a 5 from Johns Baptism Yea much more might be said to this point but this may suffice And also the only person that is to walk in the visible order of his house and so to wait for his comming the second time in the form of a Lord and King with his glorious Kingdome according to promise That he is the only person that is to enter into and walk in the visible order of his house will evidently appear if the order in which our Lord left his house when he went to his Father to receive his kingdome be duly considered for in his last will and testament we shall find it thus recorded when our Lord was about to be gone he gave order unto his Apostles whom he made stewards in his house of the mysteries of God to make him Disciples of all Nations and that such as were so made should then be baptized and so visibly planted into Christ and put on Christ and having so received him should walk in him observing all things whatsoever he had commanded the first thing wherof as touching order was to be added or joined one to another in the fellowship of the Gospel by a mutual professed subjection to the Scepter of Christ and being a company thus called out of the world from worldly vanities and worldly worships after Christ Jesus the Lord which is the proper English of these words the Church of Christ and is in other terms called the Houshold of faith should steadfastly continue together in the Apostles doctrine sci the consolation reproof and instruction thereof in Fellowship sci mutual support both inward and outward in Breaking of bread thereby remembring the death of our Lord whose soul was made an offering for sin as his flesh is meat indeed and his blood drink indeed by the help of the Spirit to nourish our souls and spirits up unto eternal life and in prayer one with and for another And that this is the absolute order which the Lord hath appointed in his last Will and Testament doth evidently appear both by his own precept and command and by the practice of such as first trusted in him and if so then neither infants of daies nor yet such as profess themselves to be believers in Jesus but refuse as a manifestation thereof according to the practice of such as first trusted in Christ to yield up themselves to be planted into the death burial and resurrection of Christ and so visibly to put Christ on as did the Christians of old I say such have no visible right to enter into or walk in the order of the Gospel of Christ and to conclude the point the argument stands thus They and they only have visible right to enter into and walk in the visible order of Christs house and so to wait for his comming whom Christ Jesus himself being the Lord of the house hath appointed and his Apostles being his stewards have approved of But such as first have been taught and made disciples or Scholars of Jesus and believers in Christ and afterwards have bin baptised or dipped and therby visibly lively planted into the death burial and resurrection of Christ are they and they only whom Christ hath appointed and the Apostles have approved of See his Commission peruse their practice Ergo They and they only have visible right to enter into and walk in the order of Christs house and so to wait for his comming the second time in the form of a King with his glorious Kingdom according to promise See for a farther confirmation of the last clause in the first Epistle to the Corinthians 1. 7. 1 The 1 10. 2. The. 3. 5. But to proceed He is the person that is also to wait for his Lords sending down from the right hand of his father in the time of his absence the holy Ghost or holy Spirit of promise and all this according to the last will and testament of that living Lord That this living Lord did promise when he left this present evil world that is in a great measure subjected to devils and went to his Father not only to return again but in the time of his absence as a testimony of his great love unto such as are called to be his disciples manifest the same by loving him keeping his commandments and as a teâ—â—imony of his loving acceptance at the right hand his Father to send down the holy Spirit which should be in them as a well-spring of living water flowing forth unto eternall life who being a Spirit of truth and sent by Christ who is the truth which God will exalt shall glorifie him take of him and his and shew unto them and so lead them from truth to truth until he hath brought them into all truth as a comforter or Spirit of comfort shall fill their hearts with joy in believing by bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God and by revealing unto them the precious things w ch God hath prepared for them that love him which neither eye hath seen nor ear hath heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive and as a holy Spirit shall set them apart that are justifyed by the blood of his Son unto the holy God and sanctifie them throughout in soul and spirit and body and as a Spirit of supplication shall help them to speak unto God and as a Spirit of prophecy to speak unto men that this Lord I say did promise unto his disciples who love him and keep his commandments in the time of his absence the presence of such a Spirit as this which hath supplies in him beyond what the â—oul lacks and that therfore they are to wait for this promise and for these supplies in his appointments will clearly appear 1. Out of the words of the Lord himself See Iohn 14. 15 16 17. so v. 26. chap. 15. 26. chap. 16. 7 8. so v. 13 14 15. five times in that night in which he was betraied doth he repeat that promise to his Disciples
following meet again at the said William Witters in contempt to Authority you being then in the custody of the Law and did there receive the Sacrament being Excommunicate and that you did Baptize such as were Baptized before and thereby did necessarily deny the Baptism that was before administred to be Baptism the Churches no Churches and also other Ordinances and Ministers as if all were a Nullity And also did deny the lawfullness of Baptizing of Infants and all this tends to the dishonour of God the despising the ordinances of God among us the peace of the Churches and seducing the Subjects of this Commonwealth from the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and perverting the strait waies of the Lord the Court doth fine you 30 pounds to be paid or sufficient sureties that the said sum shall be paid by the first day of the next Court of Assistants or else to be well whipt and that you shall remain in Prison till it be paid or security given in for it By the Court ENCREASE NOWELL And now because his sufferings and the sence which his Soul felt of the Lords Support according to promise is affectionately set forth and commended as a token of his love in a Letter written with his own hand and sent unto those that have obtained like precious faith in London or elsewhere whereby by an experiment which God hath been pleased to give to him and us they may evidently discern that Iesus Christ is in point of tender compassions touching those that confess his name before the Sonnes of men the same to day that he was yesterday that as yesterday so to day it may be said as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ so that they which keep the commandements of God and Testimony of Iesus Christ may be hereby incouraged to fear none of those things which they shall suffer before they come nor when they look them in the face and begin the incounter with them be soon weary and wax faint in their minds but faithfully and hopefully expect they suffering for the name of Christ and as Christians that the spirit of their Lord and of glory shall rest upon them The words of his Letter followeth Unto the well beloved Brethren Iohn Spilsbury William Kissin and the rest that in London stand fast in that Faith and continue to walk stedfastly in that Order of the Gospell which was once delivered unto the Saints by Iesus Christ Obediah Holms an unworthy witness that Iesus is the Lord and of late a Prisoner for Iesus sake at Boston sendeth greeting Dearly Beloved and longed after MY hearts desire is to hear from you and to hear that you grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ and that your love to him and one unto another as he hath given commandment aboundeth would be the very joy and great rejoycing of my Soul and Spirit had I not been prevented by my beloved Brethren of Providence who have wrot unto you wherein you have my Mind at large and also by our beloved Brother Clarke of Road-Iland who may if God permit see you and speak with you mouth to mouth I had here declared my self in that matter but now I forbear And because I have an experimentall knowledge in my self that in members of the same Body while it stands in union with the head there is a sympathizing Spirit which passeth through and also remain in each particular so that one member can neither mourn nor rejoyce but all the members are ready to mourn or rejoyce with it I shall the rather impart unto you some dealings which I have had therein from the Sons of Men and the gracious supports which I have met with from the Son of God my Lord and yours that so like Members you might rejoyce with me and might be encouraged by the same experiment of his â—ender mercies to fear none of those things which you shall suffer for Iesus sake â—t pleased the Father of Light after a long continuance of mine in death and darknesse to cause life and immortality to be brought to light in my soul and also to cause me to see that this life was by the death of his Son in that hour and power of darknesse procured which wrought in my heart a restless desire to know what that Lord who had so dearly bought me would have me to do and finding that it was his last will to which none is to adde and from which none is to detract that they which had faith in his death for life should yeeld up themselves to hold forth a lively consimilitude or likenesse unto his death buriall and resurrection by that Ordinance of Baptisme I readily yeelded thereto being by love constrained to follow that Lamb that takes away the sins of the World whither soever he goes I had no sooner separated from their assemblies and from Communion with them in their worship of God and thus visibly put on Christ being resolved alone to attend upon him and to submit to his will but immediately the adversary cast out a flood against us and stirred up the spirits of men to present my self and two more to Plymouth Court where we met with 4 Petitions against our whole company to take some speedy course to suppress us one from our own Plantation with 35 hands to it one froÌ„ the Church as they call it at Tantoâ— one from all the Ministers in our Colony except two if I mistake not and one from the Court at Boston in the Mathatusets under their Secretaries hand whereupon the Court straitly chargeth us to desist and neither to ordain Officers nor to Baptize nor to break bread together nor yet to meet upon the first day of the week and having received these strait charges one of the three discovers the sandy foundation upon which he stood who when the flood came and the wind blew fell yet it pleased the Father of mercies to whom be the praise to give us strength to stand to tell them it was better to obey God rather than man and such was the grace of our God to us-ward that though we were had from Court to Court yet were we firmly resolved to keep close to the rule and to obey the voyce of our Lord come what will come Not long after these troubles I came upon occasion of businesse into to the Colony of the Mathatusets with two other Brethren as Brother Clark being one of the two can inform you where we three were apprehended carried to the prison at Boston and so to the Court and were all sentenced what they laid to my charge you may here read in my sentence Vpon the pronouncing of which as I went from the Bar I exprest my self in these words I blesse God I am connted worthy to suffer for the name of Iesus whereupon Iohn Wilson their Pastor as they call him strook me before the Iudgment
our friends house at Lin where we lodged it being two miles out of the town we were persued and also apprehended by the Constables under the name of erronious persons being strangers and by that power were caried after a full and clear manifestation of our unfreeness unto their Assembly then to Prison and after a while were also brought before their Iudgment seat in which two Assemblies to which we were forced they drew forth matter enough as they conceived to make us transgressors thereupon proceeded to sentence us without producing either Accuser Witness Iury Law of God or man whereby either we might appear to be guilty or they to be just and justified in their proceedings against us 2 After we were thus persued and apprehended under the name of erronious persons and strangers and by their Court condemned and sentenced as Herericks or scismaticks a motion being made by their Governour touching a discourse with their Ministers was readily accepted by us and often repeated and as often promised by them but yet could not be obtained as is here at large to be seen 3 Although through the mercifull hand of our God upon us we had wronged no man corrupted no man defrauded no man as he together with our Consciences then did and still to this day do bear us witness yet besides the exceeding great loss and detriment otherwise sustained we had all no doubt met with as cruell Scourgings as his faithfull servants of old had not the provident hand of our God so disposed the hearts of some of our friends to lay down our ransome by which two did escape and this did evidently appear in the third who came under their zealous yet merciless hands and received from them 50 stripes above the restraint of the Iews as writers report yea and such entertainment no doubt should strangers or Angels from Heaven yea Christ Iesus himself have received at their hands if they could effect it in case they should have come among them and not submitted as it is not possible they should unto that golden and glorious Image or likeness of the worship and way of God appointed by Christ which they have set up 4 When this faithfull Martyr and Witness that Christ is the Lord had born this fourscore and ten stripes cruelly laid on not only with a patient mind but with an exceeding great joy of the holy spirit as the spectators could not but discern and was loosed from the Post and was going to Prison again some being inwardly moved with joy in beholding the gracious support which the Lord afforded him as they have affirmed could not forbear to take him by the hand for which thing sake two of them were apprehended sentenced to pay each of them 40 s or els be whipt Let the Actors themselves and all that peruse their practice for cautions sake consider whether the spirit by which they are led thus to act be not very like unto if not the same which is seen Revel 13. Acting the second Beast that arose up out of the Earth which had two hornes like a Lamb yet spake like a Dragon and exercised all the power of the first Beast that was before him caused a lively Image to be made unto him and forced the Earth and them that dwel herein both small and great rich and poor free and bond to worship his Image and that no man might buy or sell save he that had the marke or the name or the number of his name Here is Wisdom and let such as desire from their hearts to live Godly in Christ Iesus and do as really expect to suffer with Christ in this present evill World as they do to reign with him in that good World which yet is to come let such I say consider and bear still in mind these expressions Revel 13. 10. He that leadeth into Captivity shall go into Captivity he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword here is the patience and faith of the S ints Rev. 12. 11. And they overcame him by the bloud of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 6. 9 10 11. I saw under the Altar the Souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they beld And they cryed with a loud voice saying how long holy and true wilt thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwel on the Earth c. Rev. 20. 4. And I saw the Souls of them that were beheaded for the Witness of Iesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshiped the Beast neither his Image neither had received the marke upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years And now forasmuch as it was boldly affirmed by a Solicitor for New-England and that in the Councell Chamber before that honourable Committee there assembled in Councell that men in New-England might freely injoy their understandings and Consciences provided they walk civilly among them and that they that suffered of late did not suffer for their Consciences but for some misdemeanor thereby endeavouring to possess those noble brests with that which is false therefore I think it necessary both for the Vindication of truth and to the end that such worthy persons may not be taken with or deceived by such unworthy reports so as to be drawn to countenance persons that walk in a way that they are ashamed in plain and open terms to prosess and acknowledge for these ends I say I think it necessary to produce their Laws at least such as speak to the matter in question whereby these two things will plainly appear 1 That they that will not or else in Conscience towards God cannot conform to their worship or suspend the worship of God as their Souls are perswaded are by the authority of their Laws to be forced to the one and restrained from the other and that the Magistrate is thereby not only justified in but also injoyned unto such a proceeding against them although the men otherwise walk not only as civilly or soberly as themselves but also righteously and Godly in this present evill World and are such indeed as are a Law to themselves 2 Although they have Laws thus to proceed to force all to their worship to restrain those that differ from them from that worship to which their Souls are perswaded yet in our case they were so far transported with zeal that what they did unto us they did without Law yea against those Cautions which their own Laws have provided Certain Lawes established in the Colony of the Mathatusets in New-England and drawn forth by constraint to prove that the Authority there established cannot permit men though of never so civill sober and peaceable a Spirit and Life freely to enjoy their understandings and consciences nor yet to live or come among them unlesse they can
was baptized went up straitway out of the water therefore had he been down in the water 6. That this appointment of Christ was not by sprinkling but by dipping or as it were a drowning appears in that Iohn the Baptizer his work being to baptize remains in the wilderness by the river of Iordan and afterward in Aenon and the reason that is rendred by the Spirit of God why there he abode was because there was much water there which need not have been if that appointment could have been performed by sprinkling and not by dipping See Luke 3. 2 3. Iohn 3. 23. 7. That this appointment of Christ was not to be performed by sprinkling but by diping c. appears from the nature of the Ordinance it self for it is such an ordinance as whereby the person that submitteth thereto doth visibly put on Christ Iesus the Lord and is hereby visibly planted into his death holding forth therein a lively similitude and likeness unto his death whereby onely through faith he now professeth he hath escaped death and is in hope to obtain life and peace everlasting and so to have fellowship with him in his death as to be dead with him and thereupon to reckon himself to be dead indeed unto sin Sathan the law and the curse See Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 8. 2. 3. 5. 7 8. 11. 1 Cor. 15. 29. But the planting of a person into the likness of death is no waies resembled by sprinkling but by dipping it is lively set forth and demonstrated therefore 8. This appointment of Christ sci Baptism is an ordinance whereby the person that submitteth thereto doth hereby visibly and cleerly resemble the buriall of Christ and his being buried with him so as in respect of the old man the former lusts and conversation like the Egyptians to be taken out of the way and seen no more See Romans 6. 4. 6. Col. 2. 12. But sprinkling doth no way lively resemble the buriall of Christ or the persons being buried with him as dipping doth therefore 9. This appointment of Christ sci Baptism is an ordinance wherby the person that submitteth thereto doth visibly and lively hold forth herein the resurrection of Christ declares him whose life was taken from the earth to be alive again who although he died and was buried yet was he not left in the grave to see corruption but was raised again and behold he liveth for evermore and as hereby he holds forth the resurrectiof Christ so doth he also his own being planted into the likeness therof so as to reckon himself to be in his soul and spirit quickned and risen with Christ from henceforth to live unto God the fountain of life and to Christ Iesus the Lord who died for him and rose again and so to walk in newness of life in this present evill world being also begotten unto a lively hope that in the world to come he shall be raised and quickned both in soul and body to a life everlasting See Rom. 6. 4 5. 8. 11. Acts 8. 33 35 36. Col. 2. 12. Rom. 8. 11. 1 Cor. 15. 29. 1 Pet. 1. 3. but sprinkling doth no way lively resemble the resurrection of Christ or the souls or bodies rising or being raised by him as the way of dipping doth Therefore this appointment of Christ was and still is to be performed by way of dipping or putting the person into or under the water and not by sprinkling And that this dipping in or into water in the name of Iesus is one of the commandments of this Lord Iesus Christ doth evidently appear Mat. 28. 19. Mark 16. 15 16 compared with Acts 2. 38. 41. 8. 36. 38. and 10. 47 48. And that it is also to be observed by all that trust in Christ as other of his commands as he is the Lord untill he come again is likewise expresly manifested to be his will Mat. 28. 20. Gal. 1. 7 8. Jude 3. 2 Tim. 2. 2. Col. 2. 5 6. Rev. 2. 25. 3. 11. Hold fast till I come Rev. 22. 14. 19. Heb. 12. 25. But to proceed That a visible believer or disciple of Christ Jesus that is one that manifesteth repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ is the onely person that is to be baptised with that visible baptism or dipping of Jesus Christ in water That a visible disciple or Scholar of Christ one that manifesteth himself to have heard him to have been taught by him and to have yielded up himself to him as his teacher is the only person c. will be made manifest 1. By the commission it self and the argument stands thus they and they onely have right to this ordinance and appointment of Jesus Christ whom the ordainer himself sci Christ Jesus the Lord hath in his Last Will and Testament appointed it to but Christ Jesus the Lord hath appointed it to Disciples and to Believers and to such onely Therefore The first proposition cannot be denyed and the second will easily be proved see the commission by which the Apostles were warranted to administer this ordinance and so must all that baptise or they will appear but usurpers Mat. 28. 18 19. All power is given unto me in heaven and in Earth saith the Lord go ye therefore and discipulize or make disciples not among the Jews only but among the Gentiles and Nations and baptize them so that if the question should have been made Lord whom shall we baptise of the Nations among the Jews and Gentiles his answer was given in the words before and he would have given no other you shall baptize amongst the Nations Jews and Gentiles such as first have been taught and by teaching have been made my disciples so Mar. 16. 16. Go ye into all the world saith the Lord and preach the Gospel to every creature to the Gentiles as well as the Jews he that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved c. So that if the question here again should be propounded who among the religious and strict Jews and the loose and profane Gentiles should be baptised the answer is plain those to whom the Gospel first hath been preached and they through that Gospel have also believed 2. By the practice of the Commissioners who were faithful unto their Lord and to the charge which he gave them and the argument stands thus Such as the faithful Apostles and first Commissioners of Christ Jesus the Lord administred this ordinance of baptism unto such and such only ought to be made partakers thereof But the Apostles and first Commissioners of Christ administred not this ordinance unto carnal babes infants of daies such as are by the testimony of the Scriptures declared to be conceived in sin to be brought forth in iniquity and being born of the flesh to be but flesh and so by nature the Children of wrath one as well as another being also untaught But to such as first were taught and were ordained by the immortal seed of the word to be born
avoid a greater and further declares that the servant of the lord must nor strive but be gentle unto all men apt to teach not to strike patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will according to which precepts of Christ we find the primitive Christians were meek and gentle and yet able by sound doctrine both to exhort convince the gainsayers who called not for carnall weapons to mannage their warfare but declared their weapons were mighty through God and either by the word and a good conversation wonne men to the acknowledgement of the truth as it is in Jesus or else left them wiâ—hout excuse together with the world unto the judgement of the great day of the Lord but now all men may see that your way is not only different from but contrary unto this precept of Christ and president of Christians and therefore cannot be esteemed any better than unchristian yet Antichristian Let not your adversary and mine Dear Countreymen fill your hearts with indignation and thoughts of revenge against him who in a faithful discharge of his conscience both towards God and you have made bold to deal plainly with you least my God to whom vengeance belongs repay it upon you and smite you with blindness of mind and hardness of heart that cannot repent but rather set before your eyes that memorable practice and worthy pattern of those noble Bereans and laying profits honor and prejudice aside if it be possible peruse my testimony and search the scriptures diligently to see whether the things contained therein be so or no if you find them so viz. confirmed and justifyed by the word of God and by the testimony of Christ Jesus the Lord then consider not I but the Lord from heaven calls upon you to break off your sins by repentance and let me hereby give you warning to take heed that you dispise not him that speaketh from heaven As touching the wrong and injury done to us you having thereby much more wronged your own souls in transgressing the very law and light of Nations doing as you would not be done unto it is in my heart to pitty you rather and to petition my Lord in heaven not to lay this sin to your charge than to complain against you or to petition your lords and ours here on earth for justice herein no no we have better learned Christ than so having also given up our hearts to be led by his spirit and to walk in his steps who when he was reviled reviled not again when he suffered he threatned not but committed his case to him that judgeth righteously and who knowes but that the spirit of judgement and the spirit of burning hath been or may be ere long in your hearts whereby you may be made affectedly sensible that the cause is the same or very little differing from this A poor innocent traveller passeth along the Countrey upon his occasions a man having strength in his arm findeth him frames himself offended with him for no cause he hath given him and because he cannot draw him unto his party either to rob or to kill or to say amen to his practises he therefore binds him and casts him into a pit and declares himself resolute there to keep him till he hath his blood unless he will deliver him his purse the man either hath not a purse about him or a heart to deliver it and being unwilling either to part with his blood or that the other should be so deeply guilty in taking it from him he meekly and earnestly thrice moveth the strong man for a discourse and humbly entreats him that he would not seek by the strength of his arme but by the force of some arguments to convince his understanding and conscience and so to draw him as a man to his party but the strong man delaies him and so puts him off whereupon a good tender hearted Samaritan passing by and perceiving how the case stood and that the strong man would have his purse or his blood without any dispute being moved with compassion to redeem this innocent blood from the handof the strong man he delivers him his own purse and so the man is released Take it not ill that I have used so much plainess of speech for my studie is now to speak plainly and neither flatteringly nor invectively and to use plain dealing with all men although I verifie the Proverb and die a begger for as I told some of your selveâ— and that in publick I abhor dissimulation neither can I account him a wise man who doth not hate dissembling or that doth love to dissemble and therefore saith Solomon rebuke a wise man and he will love thee c. and David the King saith on this wife let the righteous smite me and it shall be a precious balm I know instruction is grievous to him that is out of the way but what saith the wise man he that hateth instruction shall die Consider I pray what hath been spoken and turn not away your eye nor your ear nor your heart from instruction least that which was said by the prophet of old Isa 9. 14 15. 16. be in you verified which to prevent is the humble and earnest request unto the fathers of mercies of Your loving friend and Couutreyman JOHN CLARK To the true Christian Reader THou maist herein Christian Reader see and peruse thy destiny in this present evill world which seems in a great measure to be subjected unto devils through which thou art to pass unto that purchased possession and promised inheritance of the Saints in light which is in that better world which is not subjected unto Angels but unto the Sonne of God himself thou maist herein also observe and take notice of the hand by whom from thy heavenly father thou art to receive that bitter cup which he drunk off when he was here below for thy sake chiefly was this treatise brought forth into the publick view I hope not to discourage thee but to strengthen thine heart that thou mightest not fear any of those things which thou shalt suffer either from men or devils for thy testimony that Jesus is the Christ it being that which will shortly appear the only prevailing and victorious truth in all the world for herein shalt thou also see that worthy saying lively accomplished If ye suffer for the name of Christ blessed are ye for the spirit of the Lord and of glory resteth upon you thou hast a worthy name called on thee My hearts desire and prayer to God on thy behalf therefore is that thou maist enjoy such a plentifull pouring forth of that holy spirit into thine heart that thereby thou maist be inabled to walk worthy of it and having so bright a beam of the Fathers glory in thy
soul it may so shine forth before the sons of men that they seeing thy good works may have cause administred to glorify our father which is in heaven It is not words now Christian although they were spoken with tongues of men and Angels when that worthy name is every where well spoken of but faith that works by love and love by works that will distinguish a heady from a hearty Christian Say not in thine heart that Christs Comands are low and his appointments carnall legal injunctions and at the best but neat for babes least hereby thine heart be declared to be vainly puft â—p in thy carnall or fleshly mind and to have too low and carnall conceits of Christ himself who is the injoyner appointer and commander thereof and shall ere long appear as Judge yea least hereby thou be declared ignorant or at the best forgetful of this one thing that it is the great design of God in Christ as to glorifie himself to admiration in poor sinful flesh so whilest he doth it to hide pride from man and therefore as he hath chosen not many wise mighty nor noble of this world but the foolish weak base despised nothings thereof so hath he suited his commands and appointments thereunto and intends through these foolish things so to cause his wisdome to shine forth as thereby to confound the wise through these weak things so to cause his power to appear as thereby to confound the things that are mighty and through these base dispised things that are not to bring to nought those noble glorious and excellent things of the world that are Thou mayst herein see gentle Reader that I have rather chosen to bear witness to the faith and order of our Lord and to shew unto the world but especially unto thee what is the mind of Christ in this time of his absence as to faith and obedience to shew I say rather what is truth which is but one than to bear witness against the ly which is so various knowing that the truth once established shall discover the falshood and light breaking forth shall scatter the darkness And whilest I lead thee forth to seek him whom thy soul loveth and longeth after who is also thy joy and thy Crown while I lead thee I say by the footsteps of those flocks that first trusted in Christ and were fed by such pastors according to his own heart as he gave them God forbid that thou shouldst be as one that wilt turn aside by the flocks of his companions and shouldst be found remaining either on the left side in a visible way of worship in deed but such as was neither appointed by Christ nor yet practised by them who first trusted in him or on the right in no visible way of worship or order at all either pretending that the outward court is given to the Gentiles and the holy City is by them to be troden under foot that the Church of Christ is now in the wilderness and the time of its recovery is not yet or else pretending that God is a spirit and so will in spirit be worshipped and not in this place or that in this way or that Well if thou beest in these waies misled I can no longer forbear in tenderness of spirit and compassionate bowels of love to stretch forth a helping hand thereby to try whether it be the good pleasure of God at this time to drop down a word of light and life and power into thine heart that thou mayest be there by awakned and quickned to be still saying within thy soul Lord what wilt thou have me to do so shalt thou hear such a saying as this Come out from among them Oh my people and be ye separate from them and touch no unsanctifyed thing and I will receive you and be a father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord God Almighty and also such a saying as this Blessed are they that do his commands for they have right to the tree of life and shall enter in through those gates of pearl into that glorious City Rev. 22. 14. and know that these are the commandments of Jesus sci As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him and behold I come quickly hold that fast which thou hast yea hold fast till I come And such as may be under the later disceptions let me intreat thee to ponder these words in thine heart sci That prophecies although marvelous plain and easy to be understood cannot warrant a pure conscience to neglect much less to cast off the commandments and oppointments of Jesus neither can the spirit of Christ direct or incourage the heart of a Christian to cast off his lordship no no the spirit of Christ is hereby distinguished from that of Antichrist in that he shall unfainedly confess that Jesus is the Christ and that this Christ Jesus is come in the flesh and when he is come according to promise into the heart of a Christian he shall not speak of himself but as a messenger his office is to gloryfie Christ by taking of him and his and shewing it unto yea writing it in the heart of a Christian so that I dare boldly say there is none for the exaltation of Christ Jesus the lord according to his last will and testament and for the nourishing a lively hope in the heart of a Christian concerning his glorious return I say there is none to that holy spirit of promise who being also the spirit of truth shall guide the souls of the Saints to worship the father as in spirit so likewise in truth and therfore that spirit that speaks of himself and is so far from taking of Christs to exalt and gloryfie him according as he hath foretold and his father intended that he takes from Christ laies him low and diminisheth his glory that spirit cannot be the spirit of Christ or that holy spirit of promise and for asmuch as the spirit speaketh expresly that in these later daies there shall be seducing spirits that shall deceive if it were possible the very elect of God whose incounter will not be so much with flesh and blood but with wicked spirits in high places let me therfore exhort thee in the words of that beloved disciple of Christ beleive not every spirit but try the spirits and that by this rule whether they be of God or no bring them to the wholsome words of the holy Apostles Prophets and son of God ye erre saith Christ not knowing the scriptures and the power of God let it be thy care Christian therfore to search the Scriptures and therein to wait for the power and glory of the spirit of God And look to thy spirit for as immediately before Christs appearing in flesh Satan in a large measure possessed the bodies of men that by his casting them out his power in flesh might appear So before his coming again in glory I have grounds
Seat and cursed me saying The Curse of God or Iesus goe with thee so we were carried to the Prison where not long after I was deprived of my two loving Friends at whose departure the Adversary stept in took hold on my Spirit and troubled me for the space of an hour and then the Lord came in and sweetly releeved me causing me to look to himself so was I stayed and refreshed in the thoughts of my God and although during the time of my Imprisonment the Tempter was busie yet it pleased God so to stand at my right hand that the motions were but sudden and so vanished away and although there were that would have payd the money if I would accept it yet I durst not accept of deliverance in such a way and therefore my answer to them was that although I would acknowledge their love to a cup of cold Water yet could I not thank them for their money if they should pay it so the Court drew neer and the night before I should suffer according to my sentence it pleased God I rested and slept quietly in the morning many Friends came to visit me desiring me to take the refreshment of Wine and other Comforts but my resolution was not to drink Wine nor strong drink that day untill my punishment were over and the reason was lest in case I had more strength courage and boldnesse than ordinarily could be expected the VVorld should either say he is drunk with new VVine or else that the comfort and strength of the Creature hath carried him through but my course was this I desired Brother John Hazell to bear my Friends company and I betook my self to my Chamber where I might communicate with my God commit my self to him and beg strength from him I had no sooner sequestred my self and come into my Chamber but Sathan lets flie at me saying Remember thy self thy birth breeding and friends thy wife children name and credit but as this was sudden so there came in sweetly from the Lord as sudden an answer 't is for my Lord I must not deny him before the Sons of men for that is to set men above him but rather lose all yea wife children and mine own life also To this the tempter replies Oh! but that is the question is it for him and for him alone is it not rather for thy own or some others sake thou hast so professed and practised and now art loth to deny it is not pride and self in the bottom surely this temptation was strong and thereupon I made diligent search after the matter as formerly I had done and after a while there was even as it had been a voyce from Heaven in my very Soul bearing witnes with my Conscience that it was not for any mans case or sake in this world that so I had professed and practised but for my Lords case and sake and for him alone whereupon my Spirit was much refresht as also in the consideration of these three Scriptures which speak on this wise Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect Although I walk through the valley and shadow of Death I will fear none evill thy rod and thy staff they shall comfort me And he that continueth to to the end the same shall be saved But then came in the consideration of the weaknesse of the Flesh to bear the strokes of a whip though the Spirit was willing and hereupon I was caused to pray earnestly unto the Lord that he would be pleased to give me a spirit of courage and boldnesse a tongue to speak for him and strength of body to suffer for his sake and not to shrink or yeeld to the stroaks or shed tears lest the adversaries of the truth should thereupon blaspheme and be hardned and the weak and feeble-hearted discouraged and for this I befought the Lord earnestly at length he satisfied my spirit to give up as my soul so my body to him and quietly to leave the whole disposing of the matter to him and so I addressed my self in as comely a manner as I could having such a Lord and Master to serve in this businesse And when I heard the voyce of my Keeper come for me even cheerfulnesse did come upon me and taking my Testament in my hand I went along with him to the place of execution and after common salutation there stood there stood by also one of the Magistrates by name Mr. Encrease Nowell who for a while kept silent and spoke not a word and so did I expecting the Governours presence but he came not But after a while Mr. Nowell bad the Executioner doe his Office then I desired to speak a few words but Mr. Nowell answered it is not now a time to speak whereupon I took leave and said Men Brethren Fathers and Countrey-men I beseech you give me leave to speak a few words and the rather because here are many Spectators to see me punished and I am to seal with my Blood if God give strength that which I hold and practise in reference to the Word of God and the testimony of Iesus that which I have to say in brief is this Although I confesse I am no Disputant yet seeing I am to seal what I hold with my Blood I am ready to defend it by the Word and to dispute that point with any that shall come forth to withstand it Mr. Nowell answered me now was no time to dispute then said I then I desire to give an account of the Faith and Order I hold and this I desired three times but in comes Mr. Flint and saith to the Executioner Fellow doe thine Office for this Fellow would but make a long Speech to delude the people so I being resolved to speak told the people That which I am to suffer for is for the Word of God and testimony of Iesus Christ No saith Mr. Nowell it is for your Error and going about to seduce the people to which I replyed not for Error for in all the time of my Imprisonment wherein I was left alone my Brethren being gone which of all your Ministers in all that time came to convince me of Error and when upon the Governours words a motion was made for a publick dispute and upon fair terms so often renewed and desired by hundreds what was the reason it was not granted Mr. Nowell told me it was his fault that went away and would not dispute but this the Writings will cleer at large still Mr. Flint calls to the man to doe his Office so before and in the time of his pulling off my cloathes I continued speaking telling them That I had so learned that for all Boston I would not give my bodie into their hands thus to be bruised upon another account yet upon this I would not give the hundredth part of a Wampon Peague to free it out of their hands and that I made as much Conscience of unbuttoning one button as I
Crandall 5 li. Fine and to remain in prison untill their Fines be either payed or security given for them or else they are all of them to be well whipped When Obediah Holmes was brought forth to receive his Sentence he desired of the Magistrates that he might hold forth the ground of his practice but they refused to let him speak and commanded the whipper to do his Office then the whipper began to pull off his Cloathes upon which Obediah Holmes said Lord lay not this sin unto their charge and so the whipper began to lay on with his whip upon which Obediah Holmes said O Lord I beseech thee to manifest thy power in the weaknesse of thy Creature he neither moving nor stirring at all for the strokes brake out into these expressions Blessed and praised be the Lord and thus he carryed it to the end and went away rejoycingly I Iohn Spur being present it did take such an impression in my Spirit to trust in God and to walk according to the light that God had communicated to me and not to fear what man could do unto me that I went to the man being inwardly affected with what I saw and heard and with a joyfull countenance took him by the hand when he was from the Post and said praised be the Lord and so I went along with him to the prison and presently that day there was information given to the Court what I had said and done and also a warrant was presently granted out that day to arest both my self and Iohn Hazel which was executed on the morrow morning upon us and so we were brought to the Court and examined the Governour asked me concerning Obediah Holmes according as he was informed by old Mr. Cole and Thomas Buttolph of my taking of him by the hand and smiling and I did then freely declare what I did and what I said which was this Obediah Holmes said I I do look upon as a Godly man and do affirm that he carryed himself as did become a Christian under so sad an affliction and his affliction did so affect my Soul that I went to him being from the Post and said blessed be the Lord but said the Governour what do you apprehend concerning the cause for which he suffered my Answer was that I am not able to judge of it then said the Governour we will deal with you as we have dealt with him I said unto him again I am in the hands of God then Mr. Simons a Magistrate said you shall know you are in the hands of Men the Governour then said keeper take him and so I was presently carried away to prison The next day about one of the Clock I was sent for again into the Court the Governour being then about to go out of the Court when I came in delivered this speech to me said he you must pay 40 shiâ—lings or be whipped I said then to those of the Court that remained that if any man suffer as a Christian let him glorifie God in this behalf then I desired to know what Law I had broken and what evill I had done but they produced no Law only they produced what the two witnesses had sworn against me my speech thereto was this my practice and cariage is alowed by the word of God for it is written in Rom. 12. Be like affectioned one towards another rejoyce with them that rejoyce and it is contrary to my Iudgment and Conscience to pay a Peny then said Mr. Bendall I will pay it for him and there presented himself I answered then and said I thanked him for his love but did believe it was no acceptable service for any man to pay a peny for me in this case yet not withstanding the Court accepted of his profer and bid me be gone then came Iohn Hazell to be examined Iohn Spur. Here followeth the testimony of those that came in against me I Cole being in the Market place when Obediah Holmes came from the Whipping Post Iohn Spur came and met him presently laughing in his face saying Blessed be God for thee Brother and so did go with him laughing upon him up towards the prison which was very grievous to me to see him harden the man in his sin and shewing much contempt of Authority by that cariage as if he had been unjustly punished and had suffered as a righteous man under a tyrannicall Government Deposed before the Court the 5th of the 7th M. 1651. Increase Nowell I Thomas Buttolph did see Iohn Spur come to Obediah Holmes so som as he came from the Whipping Post laughing in his face and going along with him towards the Prison to my great grief to see him harden him in his sin and to shew such a contempt of Authority Deposed the 5th of the 7th Month 1651. Before the Court. Increase Nowell As for Iohn Hazell to my knowledge although he had some occasion of business in these parts yet the main business that drew him hither was to visit the prisoner whom he at this time took by the hand who was indeed his neer Neighbour lived in the same Town together walked together in the same fellowship and faith of the Gospell and had their hearts knit together in a more than ordinary neer bond of love and as a manifestation thereof he undertoke so great a journey it being between fourty and fifty miles to visit him he being indisposed by reason of his age for such an undertaking being between three and fourscore years old and when he was there understanding it would not be long before he should suffer out of the same tender love could not leave him before it was over who also accompanied him from the Prison to the Post and so back again now for him only for taking his friend by the hand when he had suffered his punishment and was loosed from the Post to be thus handled shall not the Nations that know not civility that neither fear God nor reverence man be astonished at this if this be to do to others as we would that others should do to us which is the Law and the Prophets the command of Christ and his Apostles let all true Christians judge the Man being old did professe as I was informed That if they should have laid the strokes upon him they would certainly have killed him which I know ceized not a little upon him and how far what was done had influence into his death the Lord onely knowes for as is before said the same day he went forth he fell sick and within ten dayes he died The Lord grant that no part of his death may be laid to their charge and that they may see the exceeding greatnesse of the evill of thirsting after the blood of the Innocent before the Lord come forth to avenge it and as to that story I shall say no more but leave the Reader to his own relation which partly in Prison and partly upon his death Bed as may
that loved him and kept his commandments and that he intended the same unto other visible disciples that should love him and keep his commandments unto the end of the world will also appear for if the appointment of Christ sci the supper that went before and is exprest chapter the 13. and the prayer of Christ that followed after and is exprest chapter 17. did belong unto them that should believe through their word till he come again then this promise that is so often repeated between doth as well belong unto them as to these but the former is true See Iohn 17. 20. 1. Cor. 11. 26. therefore the later If the consequence be denied it will still be proved out of Christs own words See Iohn 7. 37 38. and the consideration even in reason of Christs exceeding love and tender care towards all his disciples that love him and keep his commandments and their sensible wants of the same supplies of the Spirit will clearly evince it 2. It will clearly appear out of the words of the Apostles of Christ See Iohns interpretation of these words of Christ Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake he saith Iohn of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the holy Spirit was not yet because Iesus was not yet glorified John 7. 29. See also what they all say with one mouth after they had received this holy Spirit with power whereby they were furnished as Apostles or Embassadors of him that had all power in heaven and earth in his hand to go forth with the embassage of peace into all Nations and could deliver the mind of their Lord unto them in their own language Acts 2. 38 39. Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Iesus for the remission of sins ye shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit for the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are a far off as many of all these as the Lord our God shall call sci to repentance from dead works to faith in Christ Iesus to this visible manifestation thereof by being baptised and so visibly planted into the death buriall and resurrection of Christ for the remission of sins 3. This will also appear by the enjoyments of those that first trusted in Christ and visibly manifested their faith and love in and to the Lord by keeping his commandments The Disciples which were also called Apostles waiting in the appointment of their Lord at Jerusalem received and were filled with that holy Spirit with power according to promise See Acts 1. 4. compared with 2. 2. So that great number that were about three or rather five thousand souls that believed through their word and were baptized in Jerusalem and waited in the appointments of the same Lord that is to say together steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and in fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayer they also enjoied this holy Spirit according to promise See Acts 4. 31. The like may be found among the Saints in Samaria Acts 8. 17. in Ephesus Acts 19. And the same may be found among the Saints that thus put on Christ and walked in him among those that first trusted in him in all places See it in the Romans chap. 5. 5. and chap. 8. at large See it in the Corinthians Epistle 1. chap. 2. 10. 12. and 6. 11. 19. and ch 12. at large In the Galathians ch 3. 2. 4. 6. In the Ephesians chap. 1. 13. In the Philippians chap. 3. 3. In the Colossians chap. 1. 8. In the Thessalonians Ep. 1. chap. 1. 5 6. and chap. 5. 19. This promise is also found true in the litle children that Iohn writes to and is often repeated 1 Iohn 3. 24 4. 13. and in the 2. 27. he speaks unto them after this manner but the anointing speaking of this holy Spirit of promise which ye have received of him abideth in you and such is his supply that you need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him And now litle Children abide in him c. And Iude telleth us that the very ground why some that had made a profession of the faith and order of Iesus caused divisions and offences contrary to that doctrine they had received and separated themselves was because they were sensuall not having this Spirit Iude 19 And as all this hath been proved by the last Will and Testament of that living Lord so is it also clear that his Will is not to be added to or taken from compare Gal. 3. 15. with Rev. 22. 18 19. which notwithstanding if any man shall attempt to do let him know this Lord is alive and will ere-long appear sufficiently able to avenge it 3. I testifie that every such servant of Christ Iesus may in point of liberty yea ought in point of duty to improve that talent which his Lord hath given unto him That it is their duty to improve the talent the Lord hath given unto them and that for that end it was also given will appear by those two instances of the Lord himself the first is Mat. 5. 13 14 15. Ye saith the Lord to his Disciples are the salt of the earth the light of the world c. neither do men light a candle and put it under a hushell but on a candlestick whereby he intimates that if it be far from the intention of men who are but weak and foolish in their intentions and actions to sight a candle which is for use and then to put it under a bushell and so make it useless then much further from the purpose and intention of God who is the father of lights to enlighten the spirit of a man which is the candle of the Lord and then to have that light concealed and with-held therefore it follows let your light saith the Lord so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven The other instance is in the 19 th chapter of Luke 11 12 13 14 15 16. to the 27. verse in which Parable is lively declared by the Lord 1. That that glorious Kingdome of God that shall certainly appear should not so immediatly appear as some thought it should for which end is the Parable spoken verse 11. and the first words of the Parable will prove the same thing for the Noble-man which is Christ Iesus the Lord must first go into a far counâ—ry to receive his Kingdome which is to the right hand of the Father there to sit untill all his enemies become his footstool and so return 2. Here is declared the order in which this Lord left this houshold when he went to receive his Kingdome he bestowed gifts or talents upon them and commands them as his servants in their severall places to occupy till he come
verse 13. which proves that for which I produced this scripture and for further encouragement unto a servant of Christ to improve that Talent in his Lords service that he hath bestowed upon him 3. In the third place is declared the exceeding great countenance and rich reward which this Lord will bestow upon a faithfull servant that hath thus improved his Talent when he shall have received the Kingdome and shall return in the glory of his Father the countenance I say appears in these words he will say well or as it is in the 25 of Matthew well done thou good and faithful servant thou hast been faithful in a few things the rich Reward appears in these Enter into the joy of thy Lord or have thou Authority in my Kingdom over ten Cities be thou also ruler over five Cities c. But to proceed And in the congregation he may either ask for information to himself This was a liberty amongst the Jews in their synagogues or congregations as appears Luke 2. 46. where Christ being about twelve years old is found by his parents among the Doctors in the Temple not only hearing them but asking them questions and when he also taught in the Temple or elsewhere the people did not only hear him but asked him questions yea made objections against what was delivered without interruption and it cannot be conceived but this is much more a liberty in the congregations and Churches of Christ and therefore 1 Cor. 14. 35. where women are directed to ask their husbands at home if they will learn and the reason is given because it is a shame for them to speak in the Church it is plainly declared that men that will learn may ask in the Church for it is not a shame for them to speak there But to proceed Or if he can he may speak by way of prophecy for the edification exhortation and comfort of the whole by prophecy here I mean a plain and brief declaration of the mind and counsel of God in words significantly and easie to be understood confirmed by the words of the Apostles and Prophets of God and brought forth for the edification exhortation and comfort of the whole The 14 of the 1 Cor. will plentifully clear this truth and make this liberty good unto the Saints in the Churches of Christ and it cannot be shut out but by the spirit of Antichrist See verse 1. 5. 12. 24. 26. 30 31. 39 40. So 1 Thes 5. 19 20. Quench not the Spirit is the exhortation to him that is therby moved to speak and despise not prophecyings is the exhortation to them that are present to hear But to proceed And out of the congregation at all times upon all occasions and in all places as far as the jurisdiction of his Lord extends which is not only to the utmost parts of the Earth but also to heaven See Mat. 28. 18. Heb. 1. 2. Ephes. 1. 20 21 22. May yea ought to walk as a Child of light justifying wisdome with her waies and reproving folly with the unfruitful words therof provided c. For a warrant here see Deu. 6. 7. Mat. 5. 14. 16. 10. 32 33. 11. 19. Eph. 5. 11. Act. 4. 20. Jam. 3. 13. And so have I done also with the 3d. Conclusion the fourth followeth 4. I testify that no servant of Christ Jesus hath any liberty much less authority from his Lord to smite his Fellow-servant This will be evinced to be a truth many waies from the mouth of the Lord. 1. In that it is the great commandment of this Lord to his disciples and servants to love one another and so to bear one anothers burdens who ought to have their love stronger than death so as to lay down their lives for the bretheren See John 13. 34. 15. 17. 1 John 3. 23. 4. 21. Gal. 6. 2. 1 John 3. 16. Now to smite one another is a breach of that Law of Love in a very high degree Therefore 2. The servants of Christ are called upon by their Lord to learn of him to be meek and lowly and are put thereby into a capacity to be further taught the way and fear of the Lord to increase their joy and they are such as shall inherit the earth and also heaven for they shall find rest for their souls and this meek quiet and gentle Spirit is declared by the Spirit of the Lord to be an ornament of very great price See for a proof of all this Mat. 11. 29. 21. 5. Psalm 25. 9. Isaiah 29. 19. Mat. 5. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 4. but to smite is an argument of a domineering proud and lofty spirit which is far from a Spirit that is meek and lowly Therefore 3. The servants of Christ are called upon by their Lord to be so far from smiting their fellows that in case they should be smitten by others for his and the Gospels sake meerly on one cheek they should rather turn the other than seek to revenge it See Luke 6. 20. Rom. 12. 17. 1 Cor. 6. 7. why do ye not rather take wrong saith the Apostle why do you not rather suffer your selves to be defrauded but this is far from smiting one another Therefore c. 4. This Lord being also that Prince of Peace doth so far dislike such practices as these among any servants of his that belong to his house that he hath absolutely and expresly declared that he by no means will have a striker to supply the Office of an Elder or Steward therein no nor one that is of a Lordly or domineering spirit nor yet one that is froward and will be soon angry See in the first Epistle of Timothy 3. 3. Titus 1. 7. Peter 5. 3. Therefore c. 5. That no servant of Christ hath such authority from his Lord to smite his fellows doth plainly appear in that Parable Mat. 18. 34. where it is said The Lord was so wroth that he will have that wicked servant delivered to the tormentors that did but take his fellow by the throat and him that fell to smiting his fellowes in his Lords absence Mat. 24. 51. it is said The Lord shall come upon in a day when he looked not for him and in an hour that he is not awar of and shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrits where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth But to proceed in the testimony where it is said No nor yet with outward force or arm of flesh to constrain or restrain anothers conscience nor yet his outward man for conscience sake or worship of his God c. That this is a truth will be made out by the Scriptures of truth and that many waies The first argument to prove it standeth thus 1. Arg. If any Servant of Christ Jesus be he high or low rich or poor have any such liberty or authority from his Lord so to do then he is able to shew it as that which may be his warrant so to
act either out of the words of the Lord himself or out of those that were spoken or writ by the Apostles which were his Ambassadors and were furnished from their Lord with commands for his Servants observance until he come again But no servant of Christ I suppose is able to shew either out of his own words or out of the words of the Apostles any such liberty or authoriâ—y from the Lord as that which may be his warrant so to do Therfore The first Proposition cannot be denyed which is this If any servant of Christ Jesus have any such authority from his Lord he is able to shew it either out of his own words or from the Apostles And indeed for a man to act in the name of the Lord and not to have a word or warrant from him is high presumption and so will it appear if these these things be considered 1. In that it is plainly declared That all power in heaven and in earth is given unto Christ and therefore must all authority in heaven and in earth be derived from him and hence it is that it concerns the feet and the toes of that great image if it be possible to stand clear of him who is that little stone cut out without hands and shall ere long become great mountain and fill the Earth 2. In that it is as plainly declared that the living God hath in these last daies spoken by Christ Heb. 1. 1. hath made him the heir of all things and thereupon hath called upon every one that hath an ear to hear him hath threatned that soul that will not hear him that he shal be cut of therfore it concerns every servant of his to take heed he use no such authority over another which he hath not heard and received from Christ 3. In that it is declared that Christ Jesus the Lord is that one law-giver and that they are blessed that do his commandements yea so blessed that the Apostle saith he is become the author of eternall salvation to those that obey him and that he is also the Judge unto whom the living God hath appointed a great and notable and terrible day in which and by whom he will Judge the world in righteousness yea the very secrets of mens hearts according to his gospel See James 4. 12. Rev. 22. 14. Heb. 5. 9. Acts 10. 42. and 17. 31. Rom. 2. 16. From which consideration it also appears that it concerns the servants of Christ that they despise not such a Law-giver and such a Judge as he is in taking such liberty or exercising such authority over other mens consciences which cannot be made out from his words that he hath given them all which as so many arguments will prove the first proposition And as for the second which is this sci No servant of Christ can shew a warrant from Christ for such an authority either out of his own words or his Apostles if that be denied we must then call for the warrant which must be shewed either out of the Evangelists the book of the Acts of the Apostles the Apostles Epistles or the Revelation of Jesus but I suppose it cannot be shewn out of any of these If the 13. of the Romans be produced for a warrant no man can deny that the power there spoken of was such as belonged to a heathen and I think no man will acknowledge that he had such an authority from Christ to order mens consciences or outward man with respect to the worship of God and therefore that word cannot be their warrant If the words of Paul Gal. 5. 12. I would they were cut off that trouble you be produceed for a warrant let the words be considered and in the first place there is no mention made of outward force or outward affliction and therefore no warrant for any outward or carnall hand so to afflict but 2. The words were spoken to the Churches in Ga atia which were spirit all societies and concerning spirituall transgressors and therefore their cutting off must be from that spirituall relation and union which hitherto they enjoyed and how that is done compare 3. Acts 23. with Mat. 18. 8. 17. Rom. 11. 17. 19. 20. 22. And the carnall cutting off from the carnall Israel before the time of reformation was but a type of this spirituall cutting off and casting out from the spirituall Israel of God since And thirdly consider the words were spoken by the Apostle Paul who would have us to know as he declares it 2 Cor. 10. 4. that the weapons of his warfare were not carnall he was not wont to strive with them that opposed themselves with carnall weapons and therefore if he speaks to such persons as these Galatians were that had received such power from the Lord touching a cutting off which is a business that belongs to a sword it would be too carnall an understanding of the place to conceive that this should be done by any other sword than by the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God and can reach to their Spirits and is the only offensive weapon the Saints are to take in such cases as this against their spirituall opposers and so have I done with the first Argument A second to evince this is taken from that law wherewith Christ Jesus that Sonne of Righteousness hath more or less enlightned the Nations which I may therefore call the law of Nations being that law by which the Lord will Judge those which may otherwise be said to be without law the Law is this Do as thou wouldst be done unto which is also as Christ speaks the Law and the Prophets The argument standeth thus 2. Arg. If every servant of Christ Jesus have a commandement from his Lord as he will answer it before him when he shall appear as Judge to do to others as he would have others to do unto him then no servant of his can have either liberty or authority from him thus to force another mans conscience or his outward man meely for conscience sake But every servant of Christ hath this command from his Lord viz. Do to others as ye would that others should do unto you Therefore c. The second proposition is undeniable See 7. Mat. 12. Luk. 6. 31. The consequence of the first proposition can scarce be denied but if any should rashly deny it then I appeal to that mans conscience not being seared which also knows but in part in the fight presence of God whether he can be willing that another who is further informed in the things of God and is also stronger than he whether he can be willing I say that he should by such a force constrain or restrain his conscience although in smaller differences but how much less in things that do so vastly differ 3 Arg. The third argument standeth thus If Christ Jesus the Lord instructed his servants to be meek lowly and gentle yea kind and curteous to all sent forth