iS>TWV^"tWT^¥ #* *• m^^^^^^rm. /-N^./^K::'rsj FROM THE LIBRARY OF REV. LOUIS FITZGERALD BENSON. D. D. BEQUEATHED BY HIM TO THE LIBRARY OF PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY */-;??> ^.^^}^55^^ •*^^ • c ..•'-paitiw.^;^- ^r^ ^'^, J''"^ ■Ar^ ^ ^^/-y V;'*?^r-^^>" ^nrY^m^^^0r<^^r^m >«j THE H I S T O OF THE Englifh Baptifts, F R O M T H E R E F O R MAT ION TO T H E jBeglnning of the Reign of King George I. VOL. III. CONTAINING Their History from the End of the Reign of King Charles II. to the End of the glorious. Reign of King William III. of immortal Memory. . / By T H O. CROSBY. LONDON: Printed for the Author, and fold by John Robinson, Bookfeller^ u^on Horfe-Iy- down i J. HoDGES, upon Z«o«- dcn- Bridge j and A, Ward, in Little- Britain^ MDCCXL, T O T H E READER. N Jan. 173I was puhlijhed in the Gen- tleman'j Magazine, a letter from me who fuhfcribed himfelf Marcus ; end^a^ vouring to prove dipping ejjential to Baptilm. In April following^ an ah* fwer thereto was puhlijhed by another who fuhfcribed himfelf J. L. He endeavoured to prove dipping not ejjential to Baptifm. One part of the controverfy turning upon a citation^ taken by the firfi from me *, / thought it proper in the fame way to reply ^ and accordingly in Augaft enfiiing wrote a letter to Mr. Urban, the fiippofed author^ and dire5led the fame to Mr, Cave the printer of the faid Magazine. But no notice havi?jg yet been taken thdreof^ 1 (hall oblige my readers therewith in ihis place. Marcus having taken notice of the exprefs tedimony of Luther, /j^'K;f«^ dipping to be the proper baptifm, adds^ ' f A late author f om whom the lafi authority is taken ^ tells « us from Bugenhagius Pomeranus, ^hat he was dejired < to be a witnefs of a baptifm at Hamburgh in the year * 1529 j that when he faiv the minifter only fprinkle the ' infant^ he was furprized: in a general affembly^ there- *" fore, of all the minifiers of the word, he did ask of a *• cer-*. * Eng, Bfept. Vol. I. Pref. p. 22. f Gent. Mag. Vol. IX. p. 1 1. To the R E A D E R. ^ terUin mmijieri John Fritz, who was fimeiime minf- * J^y ^Lubec, bow baptifm was adminiftred at Lubec^ * who pioujly and gravely replied^ that they were baptized ' naked^ after the fame fafhion as in Germany ; hut how * this peculiar cujlom had crept into Hamburgh he was ig- * norant. At length they did agrce^ that the judgment of * Luther, and the divines of Wittemberg fi:)ould be de- * manded about the point *, which being done^ Luther did * write back to Hamburgh, that this fprinkling was an * abufe which they ought to remove, 'Thus plunging ^in- ' fants was refloredat Hamburgh. J. L. in anfwer to this, fays thus : * ^ The fiory told * of the learned John Bugenhagius Pomeranus, 1 donU * fee any foundation for. Tour correfpondent'^s late author ' does 7iot give us fo much as the title of the German book < to which he refers. The reply Ijt^tade to thiSy was in a letter to Mr. Urban as follows y viz, Mr. Urban, ^ In the controverfy between your ingenious correfpondentSy about the mode ^Baptifm, I find ^ that what is cited from me by the one^ refpe^ing the tefiimony of Bugenhagius •, the other can fee no foundation for \ becaufe the title of the Ger- man book referred to., is not mentioned. And to corroborate his dimfightednefs^ addsy ^ ' Nor do Adams or Secken- ' dorf, fo far as ashe could fee., fay any thing of it., though < one wrote his life., and the other fays a great many things ' of him ^ Poorreafoningl Who ever wrote the life of a man, that contained even every material a5i thereof. And what difficulty could attend the fear ch after a book., when the year in which it was puhlifhed., is mentioned., though the title is not ? It cannot be fuppojed that the authcr wrote many kooks in the fame year. This 5 lb. p, 1 1 3. f Gent. Mag. Vol. 9. p. i ij* To the READER. 57^fj late author^ fays Mr. Lewis, (I fhovMhaveJatd I. L. biitfince it is out, let it go^ at moft^ it can be deeined hut a mijlake) \\ ^feems quite mijlaken /;/y^7;?^'BugenhaQ-ins ' fucceeded LiUther in the minijiry at Wittemberg. • Adams y^v^S ' fufFeftus eft in locum Simonis Benkii, ' alias Henfii. Ifsyiot at all probable.^ that Bugenhagiiis * fhould neither have heard or feen^ a minifier iprinkle or ' pour water on the head or face of an infant strapped in * fjoaddling clothes. Nor does this late author'' s ingenious ' fuppofttion^ that he meant among proteftants, mend ' the matter, as if the proteftants of that time did no fucb * thing. All that this proves is, the misfortune of our ^ imagining, we are wifer or more knowing than any body ' elfe. 'This I think is enough tofhew that it is a novel ' and groundlefs opinion, that dipping is of the effence of ' chriftian baptifm. Thus the Rev. Mr. John Lewis ^Margate, in his hifiory of the Englifti Anabaptifls, asheftiles them, after the reci- tal of the mad rebellion of a frantick people in Germany^ fays, * ' Ihis is fufficient tofhew, that infant baptifm had * been the cufiom and pra5fice of all the chriftian churches * from the very beginning.^ And LL. has found enough to fhew. That it is a novel and groundlefs opinion, that dip- ingis of the effence of chriftian baptifm. Great difcove- ries ! But to jtftify my own citation. I am not convinced of any miftake at all by l.Us, IhadalmoftfaidA&. LewisV reafoning, they are fo much alike. For according to Adams, ?/ Bugenhagius did fucceed Henfius /« Denmark, that is not a proof that he did not fucceed Luther at Wittemberg, with whom he was a fellow in the miniftry, as appears by the ar tide Hofmsin, in Mr. BayleV Crit. andHi^. Did. And the learned Br. Duveil exprefty affirms, fthat he was both a fellow and fucceffor in the miniftry of Luther at Wittemberg. Sup- I lb. p. 114 * P. 37. f Expofit. Aas. p. 286. To the R E A D E R. Suppofmg then^ not granting a mijlake^ how does the fa^ related appear not at all probable ? Hhey are according to Duveil, Bugenhagius'j own words ^ and both Thuanus and Zanchy witnefs^ that he was a very moderate^ learned^ and pious man^ and confequently as much^ if not more to be credited than J. L. who^ though he has f aid nothing to the purpofe^ yet tells us, he has /aid enough tojhew^ that dipp- ing, as an ejjence of chriftian baptifm, is a novel and groundlefs opinion ; which giv^s him a fair title to the fole property of the misfortune he mentions ; inafmuch as I ap- pealed to thofe who were wifer and more knowing than rny^ felf^ telling them in my preface to the reader, vol. I, That I fhould hold myfelf obliged to them^ whofhould be pleafed to reprefent my mi/lakes^ promi/mg to amend them. It does not belong to my province to enter the lifls with gentlemen^ who are pleafed to controvert the mode or fub- jed of baptifm. IJhall in the preface to my next volume ^ £ i. c. theprefent vol. ] fhew^ that both the principles and pra5lice of the Englifh Baptifts are jufiified^ even by the mofi learned of the padobaptifls themfelves, andbutjufi oh- ferve here^ ihat both Scapula and Stephens, two as great mafters of the Greek tonj^ue as mofi we have, do tell us in their Lexicons, that BcfTrji^o from BctTrla, Jigf^tfies mergo, immergo, (^c. And Mr. Leigh, in his Critica Sacra, fays., the native and proper figmfication of the word, is to dip into the water, &c. And alfofays, fome would have it fignify^^Mm^\ which fenfe "Er^ifmus oppofed, affirming, that it was not otherwife fo, than by confequence, for the proper fignification was fucha dipping or plunging as dy- ers ufe for dying of cloth. The learned and pious Mr. Jo- feph Mede affirms, TJoere was no fuch thing as fprink- ling or rantifm ufed in baptifm, in the apoftles days, nor many ages after. He had fpoken more properly, if he had faid, there was no rantifm ufed in the apoftle^s days, but baptifm \ fince he well knew^ they are two difiin^ different a5is. To the R E A D E R. oils. It cannot he baptifm at all^ if it he only rantifni immerfion er dipping being the very things not an^acci^ dent^ hut an efential, fo ahfolutely necejjary, that it cannot be the a£f or ordinance without it. Therefore dipping is ejjential to baptifm. Tour humble fervant^ THO. CROSBY. The The CONTENTS. THEPREFACE. CHAP. I. Contains an account ofthofe BaptiftMinifters, vjhowere ejeSfed or filenced by or before the a5l of uniforrnhy^ or otherwife fuffered on account of their ?ninijiry, CHAP. JI. From the begmning of the reign of King James //. to the glorious revolution under King William IH* of immortal memory. Oates, Dangerfeild «W Baxter /r#W, p. 164. Account of Titus Oates, 166. Eliz. G2iunt burned^ 185. Liberty of conjcience declared, 197. King James careffes the nonconform mifts^ 201. EreSfs a new ecclefafical com7}iiJfton^ 203. The dergy carefs the nonconformijls., 205. The prime ^/^ Orange lands at Torbay, 210. Is addreffed by the clergy and diffent- ing miniflcrs of London, 2l6. The ?iobiliiy, gentry and com- monality's engagement at Exeter, 218. Their declaration at Nottingham, 219. The declaration of the lords fpiritual and temporal^ 223. Addrefs of the lieutenancy of London, 225. The recorder oflaondow*s fpeech, 227. The city ^/'LondonV addrefs, 229. A reply from the Baptifts in Oliver'^ army, to his intentions concerning them, 231. CHAP. in. From the revolution to the end of the reign of KingWiWhm III. A general affembly held by ^^^ Englifh Baptifts, 246. They char themfelves from the reproach c aft upon them, refpeSling the regulators, 255. Mr. Thomas Grantham flandered, 261, Another general affemhly of the Baptifts, 264. They determine the c onir over fy about finging, in public worjhip, lb']. Anin-- tended affajfination of the King, 273. The Baptifts addrefs the King thereupon, 278. Matthew Caifin'i controverfy, 280. An account of the Baptift board, 286. Mr. Whifton'^ letter /o Z)r. Humpbrys, 289. A fad inflance of prieft pride, 297. A fcheme of mmifterial praStife, 30 1 . The public difputation hetween the Baptifts a7id Presbyterians at Portfmouth, 312. A4r. John Pilkington, a Roman Catholick, embraces the prin- ciples of the Baptifts, 353. The Baptift minifiers addrefs to the King, on the French King's proclaiming the Pretender, 357. THE PREFACE, HO' many of the Englijh Bapt^Jis , men of great learning, prudence, and piety, have wrote fo fully in vindication of Believers baptifm, in oppojition to that of Infants^ and fufficiencly juftified, both from Icripture and anticjui'cy, their principles and pradice ; yet many, whom they cannot but acknowledge, and mull cfteem to be men of piety, and true chriftians, retain an avcrfion, not only to their practice, but alio to their perfon% and are too ready to ridicule both. But '^d the Rev. Mr. David Rees^ very juftly obfervcs, ' The wider any people remove/;;/ p^pt. no * from papal errors, or any other mno^LMitut, of * vations crept into the chriftian church, ^h*"^^^- ^-f- * and the nearer they approach to the ^ ftandard of naked truth ^ by fo much ■^ the more they expofe themfclvcs, to the a *• ifiviMoiis ii The TREFJCE. l^ifroicilous cenfures of their neighbours ; ^'efpecially, whilft thofe neighbours un- * happily continue fettered with the long ^ received cuilom of their anceltors. The ' flate of the protejiant dilfenters in gene- * ral, fajs he, may exemphly the truth ^ ol this. And hence it comes to pafs in ' particular, that tho' we, who aiicrt ^- ' dull hdptifm^ differ in nothing elfe ma- ^ terial, from our protejiant brethren, of ' other communities in this nation, ex- ^ cepting in the point oihaptifni'^ yet for * our attempting, confcientioufly to re- * flore this lingle ordinance to its original ^ purity* we have been, and it ieeras ^ mull continue to be, d.S'dfe3 everywhere ^^ fpoken againjf. This treatment, is fome- ' ' what the more remarkable becaufe * * It Is fo well known, that the principle * whereupon we differ from others, is fo ^ evidently fupported by fcrlpture, that * our very adveriaries often confefs it, and ^ themfelves arc not able to produce any ' thing like the Ihape of a fair argument * againft it/ Conajjiom of \ fhall therefore here give the reader a /Z^Paedo-bap.y^^^ of the feveral conceffions, that have ^IflbeBalt^L^^^'^ made by the clergy of the church * of Engloindj and other ^^dobapttjis^ to thofe who deny the rite o^ infant-baptiftriy and admlniflcr that ordinance only by immerfion. How far the church of England agrees with us in this point, will be manifelt from the Queflion thereupon, and the anfwer thereto, in her Catechiim. al. What The TREFACE. iii g^ What is required oi perlbns to be baptized ? A- Repent ance^ whereby they for fake fin, 2i.Vidfanb^ whereby they Itedfaltly be- lieve the promifes of God made to them in that facrament. But beiore I come to particulars, ^tv^The Scripture a mit me toobferve^ I'hat there is vioX.[\\ngP^''f^^^ ^^^^^^ °f more readily, and moreuniverially allowed p'^^^^^^J by proteJiantSy than that the holy fcrip- tures are a perje3 rule of the chriilian's faith and pradice. By this weapon, they have often vanquiihed their popijh advcr- faries, and therctbrc have greatly triumph- ed in It. But in difputes among them- felves they have been either afhamed, or afraid to produce it ; or elfe, have fo un- skillully managed it, as to wound the very caufe they deligned to defend by it. If any weight may be given to the dig- nity of the Perfuns who have afferted this truth ; not only reverend prelates, and eminent profeifors and pallors of the re- formed churches, but Kings and noble- men alio, have declared thcmielves to be of this judgment. That excellent determination o^ kmgFroteJf. B^con- yames T. fays Dr. Whitby^ is worthy to be^^^- Preface, had in perpetual remembrance, ^oiz, ^ Hisj^. jpmes 7. Majelly thinketh, that for concord there /-vi Icjlimony. is no nearer way, than diligently to fe- parate things necejfary from the uunecef- fciry^ and to bcitovv all our labour that we may agree in- the things necejfary^ and that in things uv.nccsjjary^ there may be chriitian liberty allowed. Now his a 1 ^ Majeily iv The TREFAC E. ^'Majefty calls thofe things (wa'^Xy necep- ^. fary^ which the Word of God expreuy ^ commandeth^ to be btlieved or done. ^ N. B. Or which the ancient church did ■*' gather from the word of God^ by nc- ■ ^ :^^^' cclliiry confecjuence : but thofc things * which by the conllitution of men, with- * out the word of God, tho' pioully, and * prudently introduced, his Majefty con- r.uu .s.;su- -^"^'J:^ Ijght, wherein we muft walk; thefo.d ,-* of .)ur fouls ; an antidote that exreli^th * any infection ; the only Iword that kills * the enemy; the only plaiiler that can v'^i^cure our wounds; the only documents *'^'^^: * to attain to eternal life/ Ibid, p. 116. Again^ ^ That the evidences which aire ^ In fcripture cannot be manifeited, but out ■ * of the fame /?r//)^wr^/ /pr^^FauIk- The learned and judicious Lord Faulk" hnd*sTc^i- j.^^^^^ jj^ i^-g j,^p|^ ^Q Whites anfwer to hi» l)r'!\vhhhy di^courfe oi^ ififallihility^ fpeaks thus, ' I Prot. Recon. ' am confident, that all who receive the Fref. p. \z. :^ fcTipUiTe for the only rulc^ and belieVe ^ what is there plain to be only neoejjary^ ''^- would (if they truly believed what they ^ profelled, and were not led alide, eithdr * by prejudice, or following the authority -'•of fonic perfuns, either alive or dead^ ' bv The TREFACE. % * by them much eflcemed) foon agree In * as much as isiiecejfaryy^nd in concluding * no neceirity of agreeing in more, there ' being no doubt, but it would ibon ap- * pear plainly what is plain/ The molt reverend and learned Biihop^/*- TaylorV ^^>/criays, ' CZ;n/? onlyisourLaw-giver/^^''^''^^ and what he faid, was to lait for ever. In all things which he faid not,the apoftles could not be lawgivers. They had noDuff. Dul>2f, fuch authority: and therefore vvhatfo-^* *^- ^9? ever they ordered, by their own wif- ^ ;;^ dom, v^'as to abide as long as the reafon . ^ did abide, but ilill with the fame liberty vv^ith which they appointed it; for of .^ all men in the world, they would leaft put a fnare upon the difciples, or tye fetters upon chriilian liberty. And Prof. Rtrea, oh, that in this cafe, fays Dr. mjithy^V-^^^- their fuccelfors would be pleafed to imi* tate them.' The reverend and learned Dr. Stilling" Dr. Stilling- Jleet^ in his preface to his yrenicum^ among ^^^^'* ^C/^*" many arguments, to exhort chriflians, to^^'-^ r^purfue the things that make for peace, ufeth this: ' The grand commifTion, th^Prot. Rem, a-poJUes were fent out with, was only toP* ^37» •' teach what Cbriji had commanded them : not the Icaft intimation of any power given them to impofi^ or require any . thing, beyond what he himfelf had fpoken to them, or they were directed to, by the immediate guidance of the fpiiit of God/ -i 3 To rt Dr. Harris'/ Serm p. 3 1 . Dr. Wright^ lejtimony ? 33. Mr. BarkerV ^efti?nony. p'7, 8- • ThsTREFJCE. ■ To the fame purpofe could I proceed, in citini>: a multitude from the reverend clergy ^ io iJkewife from the moll: eminent of the dtffenting minifters. But I ihall only add a few teftimonies of fome of our inoderu diifenting miniHers. and begin with them^ taken from thi^iv/ermons^ preached at Salters-hally in the Year 1735, againll popery. Dr. Harris in a few words, but very full to the purpofe, declares thus, ' We acknowledge nothing as an ant h or it at iv 2 rule of faith ^ but the /cripttireSj the great charter of the chriilian church/ Dr. Wright fajs, ' A church built upon unfcriptural traditions, yea, upon anti- fcripturai traditions is a building of men, raifed by the help and inlligationof the god of this world ; a kmgdom fet up to overthrow the great delign of the gofpcL and in diredl oppohtinn to our faviour's declaration, that his kingdom is fiot of this world!- And again, ' For if it be our duty to l]:and ialt to the things delivered by the appjiles^ and to hold to their epiflles ; then it is our duty to I'tjtdc things that are evidently contrary to their epiftles, and to doc- trines, and precepts let down in their writings/ Mr. Barker expreffes himfelf thus ; Chriftianity is plain and limple, and no impure mixtures are to be made or al- lowed with it; no jfezvfh oblervances, no human inventions, no old or nevv traditions* To this fmgly, without ^ addition The T RE FACE. Vii addition or alteration, fhould chriilians flick and adhere, keeping to the truth as it is in ysfus^ and prefcrving the fimplicity of the gofpel ^ not mingling it vvith any thing, that is falfe and fo- reign to it ; not concealing any part of it, or mixing any fallhood with it, or wreliing or perverting the true fenfe or meaning of it, to ferve our own ends, the lufts of others, or any worldly pur- pofes whatfoever/ Mr. Chandler iays; ' Wc have no full Mr. Chnnd- and certain account of the dodrines^^^'-^ ^/'"^""Z)- taught by Cbriff^ and his apoJUes^ but^*^^* from the records of the veiv teftamefH \ and as thefe contain the whole revelati- on of the gofpel, all that we are to be- lieve and pradiie as Chrillians, 'tis an undeniable conlequence, that we can no othervvife demonftrate, our fubje6tion and fidelity to Cbrijf^ as lord, and law- giver in his church, than by our care in acquainting ourfelves vvith the facred records of truth, and religioufly adhe- ring to them, as the only' rule and flan- dard of om faith and ivor/hip* Dr. Hughes very juflly obfervcs; ' That^''; Hughes'i in all our difquifitions about religion, '^''A^''"^'^- we are to conlider the blefled God, as^* the rci^or of the world, who has an un- queftionable right to prefcribe laws to his rational creatures. Thefe law^s fut- ficiently notified we are bound to obey accordingly. God has revealed his mind to man in the facred fcriptureSj thofe flanding oracles of our holy reli- a 4 ^ gion. vm Afr. NcalV ^ejtimofiy. Berry ft rect p, 38. *lat. XV. 9. The T REV ACE. gion. Whatever inilitutions we meet with there, as appointed by God, we are religiouily to comply with ; what- ever clie is appointed by others, if it have no foundation in the word ot God, we are (o far from being obliged to the pradlice of it, that in honour to God, we ought to protei^ againft ir, as a bold ufurpacion of the divine authority/ I cannot omit the teilimony of the reverend Mr. Neak\ tho' he has ihewn himfelf no Friend to the EngUjh BaptiflSy by his invidious reprefentation of tliem, in his late Hijiory of ths ^Puritans- Yet when he fpeaks truth it ought not to be buried in oblivion j and therefore I iliall join him with his brethren, as a witncfs in this behalf. For he fays, ^ By the * fufHciency of the holy fcriptures, wc * mean, that they contain all things ^/a- ' ceff'ary to be believed and praBifed. The ^ law oi Mofcs was fo compleat a dire6bi- ^ on of the faith and ohedience of the '. yeivs^ that the addition of thtfcribt.s ^ and pharifeeSy were both ufcleis and ^ vain; and are condemned as fuch by * our faviour. In like manner, the writings ' of the flew tcfl anient^ are a perje£i Jluur *^ dard to us chrillians ; for all things, that * our bleded Lord heard of his father, * he made known to his apoJUes^ and the ^- apojiles made them known to the' ^ churches. 1 tak^ you to record^ that I ^ have not fhunned to declare to you the y,7vbole counfd of God\ which counfel rer ^ iijains for our fervice, in the books ul * the The T RE FACE. & the new teflamevt. And without all doubt, the curfes denounced againll thofe, who add to, or take from the prophecy of the book of the revelati^ cns^ were deligned as an awful giijtid upon all the mlpired \vrit-ings. If tiny man jhall add to tbefe thwgs^ God patl add to him the plagues that are wrttien in this book : Jnd if any man jhall take away from the words of this prophecy^ God pall take away his part out of the the book of lifc^ and out of the holy city^ avd from the things that are written in this hook. Methinks, fays he, fuch a folemn threatning ihould llrike terror into the hearts of thofe, who pretend to fupply the dcfeds oi revelation^ by their unwritten traditions! Again, in the practical remarks upon his difcourfe, he fays, ^ Hence we may learn^ that the re- p. 43^ ligion of a chriftian fhoiild be hh bible ^ becaufe it contains the whole revealed will, of God, and is aperJeSl rule oifattB and praBice. 'Tis alfo, fays he, a more fure word of prophecy, or a more it:- fallible guide, than the unwritten tra- ditions of men. Again, in judging of controverlies among chrillians, fays he, let us not be carried away by the au« thority of great names, or the numbers of them, that are on one lide^ but keep clofc to the fori ptures. If ourfiill reformers, had acquiefced in the au- thority of the church, we had been in pcpi/b darknefs unto this day ; but they * fcarchcd the firiptures,, and compared ^ the % The PREFACE, ^ the received dodtnnes of the church ^ with the word oi' God. Let us follow * their example Councils^ ^ud father s^ ^ and fynods^ may be miftaken in their * decrees, but the word of God is infal- ' lible \ here we are fafe, and no where ^ elfe/ The reverend Div Watts in his MtfceU laneous I'houghts^ thus exprefies himjelf ; ITn Watts, t ^^ j ^^^^ ^^ iddater^ and would build ^" '^^^ ^ a temple forthey^;;, I fhould make the * whole fabrick to confift of glafs ; the ^ wails and roof of it Ihould be all over ' tranfparent, and it fhould need no other ^ windows. Thus I might every where ^ behold the glory ot the God that I ^ woiih ]p, and feel his heat, and rejoice ^ in his light, and partake of the vital ^ influences of that illulirious liar, in every ^ part of his temple. But may not this ^ happincls be obtained without forfaking * the trtic GOD, or falling off to ido^ ^ latry ? ' Surely, fays he, the bleffcd ordi- '^ nances of chriftianitv, are thus contrived * and defigned. Such are Bapttfm^ and ^ the Lord' S'fuppcr^ preaching, praying, '^ and pfalmody. Thefe infti tut ions of ^ worfhip are chofen and appointed with * fuch divine wifdom, that they repre- * -fent to us, the glory of the feveral per- * fedt ions of our GOD in his works of ^ nature and grace ; ana tranfmit the ^ beams of his power and love, to enliven ^ ^nd to comfort our dark and drooping * fpirits The TREFAC E. xi fplrits But to carry the fimilitudc yet further : ^ Suppofe, fays he, when I had finifh- ^ ed this heathen temple, and basked there with pleafure, under the ra)'s of my bright idol, fome fanciful and in- genious painter, ihould attempt to cover the building all round with his own or- ^ naments : how would this feclude ' the fun's bell influences, and fhut this * idol deity out of his own temple ? Nay, Jt tho' the image of the fuu Ihould be ■S^dravvn there V^;/ thoufand times over, in ^4mes of gold, with a pretence to repre- 'J-fent him. in all his wondVous effeds ; § yet every line will forbid the entrance 5:? of a fun-beam, and the woriliipper * within, mull dwell in twihght, or per- ^ haps adore in darkncis Such, fays * he, are the rites and ceremonies of /y«- >. man wifdom, when they are contrived 1-as ornaments to divine worihip. A * facred inltitution, mingled with the de- i vices of men, is in truth nothing elfe, f but glafs darkened with the coluurs of * a painter, laid thick upon it. So ^ far, as ornaments prevail above the ^ fimple ordinance, they prevent all the ^ kind intiuences of his power and grace; f, for he vouchfafes to tranfmit thele, no f other way, but thro' his own inilituti- * ons. O excellent inilrudlors I We w ill hear them, tho' we dare not do after their works, in the point of ha^tifm ; and cleave xtt Tho TREFJCE. cleave to the holy fer/ptures only, as our rule^ both oi faith and pra^itce. Now in a itrid and proper fence, a rz:., vealed by Qmjl to the world, and what ^v^not/ ^.i-Novv, that Qirljl has not revealed 10 h/arru E.f^ us the prad:ice oihijant Baptifm ; I lhali^{/^^A '^//^ begin with theteftimony ofbiihop Burnet J^''^'^'^^"^^''!^ who m his e>ipption oi the ayth article ot^,-^;^ Burnet. the church oi England^ fays, ' There is * no exprefs precept^ or rule^ given in the ir. iViw TeftamefJty lor the -baptifm of in^ 1t>*Again, Dn Barlow^ bilhop of LifJcoh^AlfihyDr^ in his letter to Mr. Tombes^ fays, ' I be-^^^^^ ^ lieve and know, that there is neither * precept nor exampk mfiriptur^ ior'-T^do- t-ibaptfm! r Dr. ytrtyny Taylor^ Biihop of D^c7;and5%;Tny]Qr, Coimor Q^ocs farther, and fays, ' It is agatnfl^'^^^''^°f P'''^ t the perpetual analog\' of Chrif^ doc-^^''^' P* 3^5- ^ trine to baptize injauts. Vox belide.% ^ that Cbrifi never gave any precept to * baptize in} ant s^ nor ever hiwfelj\ nor his * apojfles^ that appears, did baptize ^ny ' of tiieai : all that either he or his * apojiles iaid concerning it, requires fuch * previous difpolitions to baptijkiy of * which infants are not capable; and thcic * arc fait Ij and repentance! Dr. XIV Dr, Wall. Matt, xxviii. ^9- Mr. Fuller, I/if, Advoc. p. 71. Mr. Baxter. D:p"teof Right to Sac, p. 149. The 'PREFACE. Dr. Wall begins the preface of his ela- borate hiftory oi Infant Baptlfm^ with this conceflion. ' Forafmuch as the commiflion given by our faviour to his difciples, in the time of his mortal hfe, to haptize^ is fet down in fuch brief words, that there is no particular direction given, what they were to do in reference to the 6:Z?//^/r^;/of thofe that received they'k/Y/^; and among all the perfons that are re- corded, as baptized by thcapofikSy there is no exprefs mention of any infafJtJ Mr. Fuller fays; ' We do freely con- {c{s^ that there is neither expreis/)r(?i^6?;)^, nor precedcuty in the New Tejia?nenty for the baptiZ'nig of Infants* To thefe teilimonies, let me add one more, from that great champion for ^ijedohaptifm^ Mr. Richard Baxter* For he does not only acknowledge, thtftknce of the fcripture in this matter, but forms it into an argument, thus ; ' If tiiere can ' be no e:^ ample given In fcripture^ of any ' one chat was baptized^ without the prO" ' f^ff^'^'*^ 0^ ^ faving/i;//r^, nor any precept ' for {o doing ; then muH not we baptize ' any w^ithout it. But the antecedent is ^ true : therefore io is the confequent* ' Then he proceeds to prove this, by reviewing the fcripture examples of Bap* tift7z : After which he thus concludes the argument. * In a word, I know of no one word ' in fcriptursj that giveth us the leail in- * timation, that ever man was baptized^ ' Without The "PREFACE. xv ^ without the pro/^y/c;; of a faving/^^VZ?, ^ or that giveth the leaft encouragement, ^ to baptize any upon another's /k^Y/^' It mult be allowed, that not with iland- //;/:;»?; Bap~ ing the concejjions of the aforementioned'-/^ ^'/'^^jft?^-^ authors, yet they continued in the prac- '''' ^^-^^-^'^'■*^* tice of infants bapifm^ and endeavoured to juitify the fame. For Mr. I'uller obferves; ^ That St. 5> i^^.F«Tler. * ^john faith, Chap^ xxi, 25. And thcrt ' are alfo many other things^ which yefus ' did^ which are not written \ amongil ///. ^^Wr. * which, for ought appears to the con-P- ^5°- ^ trary, the baptizing of thcfc infants^ ' [viz. that C^r// took in his arms and ' blelfed] might be one of them/ A pretty argument for popijh fuperfii- tion and idolatry I For what may not be thruli into the practice of the chrilliaii church, upon fuch a way of aiguing ? To the like purpofe Mr. ff'''alker kys,By^(fr,Wzlk^ ' It doth not follow that our faviourgave^^- ^ no precepty for the baptizing of ^^^^'^^«^/p ^26^/ * ^ becaufe no fuch precept is, particularly ^ (as our adverfaries iuppofc) cxprelfed 'in the fcnpture. For our laviour fpake ' many things to his difciples, concerning *' the kingdom of God, both before his ' palfion, and alfo after his re fur re 6b ion, ' which are not written in the fcriptures, ' And who can fay, but that, among ' thofe many nn-written fayings of his, * there might be an exprcfs precept for *- infants baptifms'' Seeing Dr. Jer. Tay- lor'i TejUmony egair.jt Tradi- xvi The TRE FACE. J^j Tradition, Seeing fcripture will not do, the next refuge tor the jullification of infaftis h^ip-* tifm is tradttioii. Therefore to this I ftall fubjoin the words of th€ aforc-cited Dr. Jeremy Taylor* ' But traditiony fays he, by all means, mufl iupply the place oi fcripture* And there is pretended a tradition apollolical, that itifants were baptized. But at this we are not much moved. For we who rely upon the written word of God, a$ fumcient to eitabliih all true religion, do not value the allegation of tradition. And however the world goes, none of the reformed churches can pretend this argument againit this opinion ; becaufe they who rejedl tradition when it is a- gainft them, mufl not pretend it at all for them. But if we Ihould allow the topick to be good, yet how will it be ve* rifled ? For fo far. as it can appear, It^ relies wholly upon the teflimony of Origcfj : for from him Auflin had it. Now a tradition apoitolical, if it be not conligned with a fuller tellimony than o{ one perfon, whom all after-ages have condemned of many errors, will obtain fo little reputation amongfl thofe, who know that things have upon greater authority, pretended to derive from the apofileSy and yctfal/7y ; that it will be a great argument, that he is credulous and weak, that ihall be determined by fo weak probation, in matters of fo great concernment. And the truth of •the tK^T REFACE. xvii the bulincfs is, as there vvas no com- maad of /cripture to obhge cbildrefi to the iufceprion of it; lb the neceflity of '^Piedobaptifm^ was not determined in the church, 'till in the eighth age after Chrijf. But in the year 418, in the Mi/roitau council, a pro\ incial oi Jfrica^ there was a camn niaae for ^Pctdohaptifm : never till then ! I grant it was pradiled in Jfrica before that time : and they, or fome of them, thought well of it. And tho' that be no argument for us to think fo ; yet none of them did ever before pretend it to be nece]]'ary\ none to have been a precept ot the golpcl. ^t, Jiifiin was the hril, that ever preached it to be abfolutely nccejj'ary : and it was in his heat and anger againlt ^elagitiSj who had warm'd and chal'd him lb in that queftion, that it madcj him innovate in other doctrines, polli^ bly of more concernment than thiv^;. And that altho' this was pra(!lifed anci- ently in yJfnca^ yet, that it was with-^ out an opinion oi ricccjjhy^ and not often there, nor at all in other places; we have the teitimony of a learned P^do- baptift, Ltidoviciis V'rccs^ who in his annotaticns upon St. Jitjlpt^ De civit*^ Dci^ 1. I. c. 27. affirms, Ne?npjcm riiji adidtmn^ nntinuitus foJere haptizarh ^ But beiides, lays the Dodlor, that the tmditiofi cannot be proved apoilolical ; we have very good evidence trom anti-. c^\\\iy- ; that it wi^s the opinion of the "^ b ' primitive XX , The T REFJC K good confequences, on which they found their pradtice ; I Hiall bi icliy conlidir fome of their principal texts brought tor this purpofe ^ and fhevv, even from tne ^cedobapiijh of the moll eminent rank, that thofe Icriptures are mifappUed, and no way anfwci' the end for which they are cited : and fo confequcntly the lels material ones mull fall before them. Mr John '^^^^^ ^^^ ^^*^" ^ begin with, is Matth. Turner'jAT.>-XXviii. I p. Go ye therefore and teach all tu re proof for natious^ baptijl/ig them in the name of the uifznt baptifm. Ya^^.^^^ SoH, aud Holy GhcJL Which Mr Vind. ^/Inf. '^ohn ^'urueT fays, ' being given in gene- Bapt. p. 1 6. ' ral, and unlimited terms, and ordain'd ' by Almighty God, as one of the ordi- * nary means of falvation, ought to be ex- *- tended to all perfons whatfocver, that are * capable of admifiion into the covenant : ' Infants are capable of being admitted ,' f into the covenant : and then infants are ^ alfo included in this precept or coni- ^ mand/ Anftver'd b^ I" anfwer to this let me cite Dr. Whit-- Dr. Whitby. ly\ who in his annotations upon this text," i-^ys^ ' Teach all nations^ UctSidivuvy is here ' to preach the gofpel to all nations, and ^ engage them to believe it, in order to ^ their profcjfion of that faith by baptifm ; ^ as feems apparent, ' I. From the parallel commiflion. Mar* ^ xvi. 15. Go preach the gofpel to every crea-' ' ture^ he that believeth and is baptized ' (hall he faved. ' *- 1. From the fcriptnre notion of a dij"^ ^ ciple ; that being ifiU the fame as a be-^^^ * liever ; The T REFACE. xxi * lie^oe? ; as in that queftlon to the bh'nd * Man,_ mil you alfo he his difcipk F That * is, will you believe he is a prophet fent ' trom God ? And in the anfwer of the ^ ^Pbarlfecs^ JVe arc the difciyks of Mofes..^ ' If here it iLould be faid, fays theDoc-^' * tor, that I yield too much to the Jntt^ ' po^dobaptif^^ b}'^^}'i"g> that to ht made' * difciplcs here, is to be taught to believe in ' Chnil \ T delire any one to tell me, how ' the apoftles could Uahdivnv^ make a dif- ' clplcj of an heatbe?iy or an unbelie\'ing *- Jew^ without being licih^lcti^ or teachers ' of them : Avhether they were not fent ' to preach to thofe that could hear, and ' to teach them to whom they preached, ' that Jefus was the Chrijf '^ and only to ' baptize them when they did believe this. Dr. Burnet, bilTiop^of Sarum^ uponExpofit. .;7 this head fays, ^ That by the firit teach-the 39 Art. ' ing^ or mahng dtfciples, that mull goP- 30^- before baptifm ; is to be meant the con- vincing of the world, that Jefus is the Chrijl, the true Mejfias anointed of God, with a fulnefs of grace, and of the fpi-.'' rit without meafjre, and fent to be tlic faviour and redeemer of the World • and when they were brought to ac- knowledge this, then they were Ko bap-- tize them, to initiate them to this reli- ligion,by obliging them to renounce all idolatry and vmgodiincfs, as well as all fecular and carnal luH. Mr. Bur kit acknowledges the fame ) for Mr. Bui kit ^t the term of this commilTion, as recorded by ^-i/^^''/^'^, p. j s. St. Markj doth alf^ prove this to be the b S ienfc %m ThcfREFJCE: fenfe of it, He that believetb afid, is hdp^ tized /hall be faved> ^ A profeffion of ac- tual faith, fays Mi. Burkit^ is neceffarily required before haptifm in all adult per- foils, that is, perfons grown to riper years: who are the perfons whom our Saviour meant, when he faid, He that heUei)eth and is baptized Jhall be faved '^ 2iS moft evident- ly appears by the following words : He that believeth not Jh all be damned. What, fays he, muft all that die in their. infancy go to hell for an impoilibility ? The text only intends fuch, as by hearing the gofpel preach'd, are capable of ac^ tual faith \ fuch as enjoy the means of faith ^ and yet live and die in the neg- lect oi faith ^ and contempt of baptifm^ fliall certainly be damned. Says the apoille, If any man imll not work^ let him not eat ; that is, fuch as are capable of working mull work. But muil children be Itarved becaufe they cannot labour ? Thus here : Children lye under a natu^ ral incapacity of profejjing adtual jaith ; therefore the firft text does nut concern them any more than the latter. /?/. Taylor, 'And this interpretation ofChrlJi's com- Lib. e/'Proph. niilfion for baptizing^ confirms the argu- V- 3-3» 324- nient formed upon it by Dr. yercmy Taylor^ in favour of the Baptijh. ^ Not to in* * fiance, faith he, in thofe innumerable ' places, that require faith before this fa- * crament ; there needs no more but this * one faying of our blelFed Saviour, He < that believeth and is baptized (hall be faved^ '"• hit be. that belirouh not Jhall be damned. 'Plainly The T REPACK. xxiii < Plainly thus : faith and hapti/m in con--' ♦junction will bring a man to heaven, but- t if he have not fditb^ baptifm fhall do him < no good. So that, if baptifm be tjecef" ^ fary^ then fo is faith ^ and much more : * for want of faith damns abfulutely ; it < is not faid lb of the v/ant of hapttfrn, * Now if this decretory fentence be to * underltood of perfons of age ; and if * children by fuch an anfwer (which in- * deed is reafonable enough) be excufed * from the neceflity of faith^ the want * of which regularly does damn : then ' it is fottiflj to fay, the fame incapaci- ' ty of reafon and faith Ihall not excufc ' them from the adual fufception of bap- ^ tifm^ which is lefs neceifary, and to ' which faith and many other a6ts are ' neceflary predifpoiitions, when it is rea- ' fonably and humanly received. The ' conclul]on is, that baptifm is alfo to be ' deferred till the time of faith : and ' whether /;^}z/;f.f hs-VQ faith or no, is a ' queftion to be difputed by perfons that * care not how much they fay, nor how * little they prove/ Again : That infants baptifm is founded j^jother frnp- on God's word, fome endeavour to prove /vr^ ^'-^^Z o^^ from J^s ii. 39. ^Peterfaid imto them r^-Mr. TumerV pent and be baptized every one of you^ /;; ^^^^ w/^yii '''^ fidmc of ycfus Cbrijf^ for the remijfion of fws^ and ye fhall receive the gtft of the Holy Ghofl ; for the promife is to you^ and your children^ and to all that are afar off ^ even as vinny as the Lord oar God fhall call, ' In which words, fays Mr. Turner^ chil-vind. ^y Inf. b 4 > ^ drenBapt. p. 16, xxvi: The T REFAC E. Morefcriptnre . Again *. For the fupport of infant hap-- f>- oof for in- tif^n^ fome have rccourfe to thofe texts, xviii. 15, 16, alj which places give us aa account^ that little children were brought to our Saviour, ^c. Fowler Wal- Thus Mr. Foivler Walbsr^ to prove /;;- li€r^s Def. ^/ y'^/zf baptiffUy fajs, ' We are told that Inf. Bapt. (. Qijyij]-^ during his incarnation, welcomed '* ^°* * children to his arms, bleiied them, and ^ declared them fub|e<^s of his kingdom: ^ which, I think, lays he, is a fuificient ^ indication of his mind, that they ihould ' be received into his church by haptifnu Dr. Whitby'j But Dr. JFblthy^ in his annotations on snjwer. this text, grants, that Cbrifl neither hapr tized thefe children himfclf, nor command- ed hiS apojUes to do it. For which cofH ceffion he gives thefe two reafons, i. ^ That ^'Qmfiianhaptifyn was not yet inllituted. ^ a. That the haptifm then u%d by yohn * and Cbriit'& difciples, was only the hap^ i^as xix» 4. ^ tiffU of repentance and faith in the Afi?/^ ^ Jiab^ which was to come : of both ^ which 171 f ants were incapable. Ri^rTori, ' Now as thefe are very good reafons to induce any one to beheve, that thofe infants were not baptized:, fo I think they arc fufficient to overthrow any argument that can be drawn for the baptizing of injants^ from this pafTage. For, i. As the Cbrif- tian haptifm v/as not yet inftituted, then certainly our vSaviour, in his words and a6i:ion.upon this occafion, had no refer- ence to baptifm\ nor could they be de- figned to teach the difciples concerning a rite^ ThtV RE FACE. xxvii ■1 rite J vvhich was not yet inflltuted : {o that all arguments drawn from thence for I/apt:zing infants^ extend the words and* adiion of our Saviour beyond the flrft in- tention of them. And what can be more abfurd, than to take direction about a pojitive rite^ from any word or action that happened before the inftitution was in the world ? ' 2. To fay they were not admitted to the baptifm then in ufe, becaul'c they were incapable of it, repentance and faith in the A'kfjiah which was to come, faith the doctor, being required to the baptifm ufed by yohn^ and the difciples of our Saviour : ^This, I fay, grants that no cPjil- drcJ! were baptized in the time of our Sa- viour's life ; and that they are as inca- pable of Chrifvs baptifm as they were of Johns, ' For children are as incapahle of ','epentance^ and believing that the Mefftah is come as they were of believing he was to come; and yet both thefe are required of perfons, in order to their receiving Chnffs baptifm. And to fay that thefe children were not ^as ii. 3S. baptized becaufe they had already entered viii.^ 37. into covenant with God by circumcificn^ \^^nd ariiyer in to fay no more of them than what might ^^^J^^^^^^^'' be fard of all men, who had hitherto been baptized either by John or the dif- . ciples of our Saviour. ?':'s^.<'. Very jultly therefore does the learned T>r. Hsm- Dr Hammond fay, ' If the inference ffrom^^^^"^'^ ^'^'^^'^'- ^ this text I were, that all tnfants are? - ^.j; ^ that is, ought to be batptzcd^ upon this (and xxviii ThzTREFACE, ' (and no other) ground, becaufe Omfi ^' blclied them, I fliould acknowledge, the ' conclulion to bevveakl) built/ And he grants^ ' That \\xA^' chiUrcn may, and *- niuft be permitted to be brought by p. i54» ^ others to Chrift^ and being fo brought, *" yet are faid to come unto him. :2. His ^ bleffing them, by impoiition of hands * * and, 3. His affirming, that the king- *^ dom of God, the church here, and ' heaven hereafter, are a conjundrion of ^particulars, which come not home di- ^ ftindlly to b.^pttzing of infants \ becaufe, *- it is not affirmed he did baptize them/ ^^vV^^'.Taylor^ So that this gentleman confirms the lt!>. i^rrfb. iirgument given by the reverend Dr. Je- F- 3'^- remy Taylor ; who hys^ ^ From thcadion ^ of Chviji*2> ble/Jing ivjautSy to infer that ' they are to be baptized^ proves nothing •■^ fo much, as that there is great want of ^ better arguments. The conclufion would "^ be with m .)re probability derived thus; ^ Chrijt blejfed children and fo difmtjfed *- thinly hut baptized them not; therefore ^ infams are not to be baptized. But let ^ this be as weak as its enemy; yet that ^ Chrijl did not baptize them, is an argu-" *^ ment fuffixient, that Chriji hath other ^ ways, of bringing them to heaven, than ^ hybapttfin. He palled his ad of grace " ' upon them, by bencdidtion and impo- ^ iition of hands. ^ . -l^ 'yUCmim.crs The continuers of ^^ooi's annotations.,^ e/ Poors yi/;. f^iy^ ^ That a doubt may from this text ,*^ ;vktff-fl^.'. *arife--Jn the -reader'^ mind, for what ;|j ' pwrpofe the parents- or nurfes did bring ' ^ thefe The T RE FACE. xxk ^ thefe young, children to Chrifi ; it was ' not for hapifm^ for he baptized none ^ bimfclf/ ^ Again, ' That we mufl take heed, we ^- do not found i/zfam-bc^ptifm^ upon the * example oi Cbrijt in this text ; ibr it is ^ cert.iin, that he did not. baptize .tiKJl * children' Permit me then to obferve, and It isKcnark^ pkin, that the coming unto Cbrift^ ipoken of in the text, intends a perfonal approach, not '^fprritual coming, fo as to love him, fear him, believe in him, and become his followers. Now from chlidrens being brought into his prcfcnce, and from what is laid, of the lawfulncfs of fuch a coming to hini^ to infer, their capacity of coming to him jpintiially^ and their right to baprifm is a very weak conclulion. Many that were permitted to come into Cbrifi's prefcncc in the days ot his tlcfh, were tar enough from being his difciples, or having any right to the ordinances of the gofpel church. Many who believed not m him were brought to him to be healed. Many of the Scribes and Pharifees came to him to mock him, and catch at his lajings , therefore from a bodily coming to him, to argue a right or capacity of a fpintual coming, is moil ridiculous. Nor does it appear, from the rclatiou given of this matter by either of the ev.^.ngelills^ that thcfe children were brought to Cbnji^ upon any other accounC than what many grown pc-r^^ns were, ^i. xxK Tht 'PREFACE. viz» that they might be loeaUi of fomc ■ hodily dtfte?npsrs» Nay, the words of St. Luke plainly intimate, it was for this end. For, fays he, they brought to him alfo^ infants, that he would touch them; where the term alfo intimates, that they were either brought with others, or upon the fame account that others were \ viz. tc he healed* For it is, as if he had faid ; As they . brought men and women, afflided with various dillempers unto Cbrijf to be cured; fo they brought children a/fo. And this interpretation is flirther lignified, in that it is faid, they brought them to him, that he would touch them. Now it wa? well known, that Chrijl's method of heal- ing diftemperSj was by his touchivg the perfon, or their touching of him. Nor do we read that ever he convey d fpiritual benefits to perfons by a touch ; therefore it is evident, that it was not any /pi ritual privilege, but a bodily curcy for which they brought thefe children to *him. Nor do the words of St* Matthew overthrow this interpretation, when he fays, they were brought that he ihould put hn hands m them^ and pray ; for he frequently^ took that method, in the performing of his miracles. When yatrus befought Chrift to come and heal his daughter, he Markv. 22. fays, I pray thee cowrie and lay thine hand% on her^ that fhe may he healed. Sometimes we read of this work, joined with his impolition of hands ; as in the Marki. 41. cure cf the Leper, and at tke railing of the ■;*i Tht'P REFACE. XXXI die widow of hfiins fon ; and it is raid,Luke vii. 14 that Chrijl lijt up his eyes a^/d prayed ^]oha :(i. j^i, when he railed Lazarus from the dead. This being ChrijVs cuitom ; it is very cafy to underftand their dejign, in bring- ing theie children unto him, that he would lay his hands on them and pray ; viz. that they might thereby receive the blelEngof a miraculous cure. I'hat objediion, That if thefe children (Were brought to Chriji to be healed of any bodily dillempers, then the difciples would not have hindered them, is of no force. For we find they were fometimes guilty of the fiime error, when adult pcr-Matt. xx. Ions fought to him for a cure. It is laid, thofe that followed Chrijl^ which chiefly were his difciples, rebuked the two blind mcn^ bccaufe they ihould hold their peace. It is expreily faid of the difciples, that they befought Chrijt to fend the woman oi Samaria away, when repeated appli- cation was made to him. Chriji was fome- times fo thronged with the multitude of men and w^omen that came to him, that he with his difciples had not leifure ta take their neceflary refreihment, io that they might conclude, their mailer would be much preiTcd indeed, if they were al- lowed to bring xhcn/ick and weak childrefi alfo. And the reafon which our faviour gives, why he would have them fuffer'd to come unto him, 1:1 z, for of fuch is the Jungdom of heaven.^ docs not in the leall overthrow this interpretation, but rather juftifics it. For by the kingdom o( heaven, xx^Ii The T REFAC E. heaven, it is agreed on all hands, our faviour either intends the itate of glory^ or the chriliian church. Now iince children for their innocence and humility refemble the blefied in heaven, who are free from all infirmities^ or the faints who are interefted in the kingdom of grace. Our faviour may well be underilood, as if he had faid, there IS no reafon to think them below my no- tice, or ^o deprive them of receiving from me a cure of their infirmities : they have not brought their ficknels and d{{- eafes upon themfeives by their aBiial tranfgreifions, as indeed many of the adult whom I have cured havedoiie; and therefore they have a better title to my compaflion to enjoy tlic blelfing of a mi- raculous cure. And that our faviour does not intend by thefe words that little children fhould be mem.bers of the gofpel church, but only fuch who refemble little children in innocence and humility, and a freedom from all prejudices, appears both by the the woid Tc; 6r:cv here ufed, that is, fuch like, or thofc that refemble them ; and alf), by what the evangeliji reports our faviour to have added at the fame time, ^larkx. 14. as explicative of this faying. Verily I Jay tinto youj ivhofocvcr fiall not receive the. kingdom of God^ as a little child^jhall tn tio ivifc enter therein. But if we wave all thefe advantages againii the argument drawn from hence ; there is anoriier obfervation shat wlil fufficicntly overthrow it, viz. That The TREFACE, xxxHi That tho' it be plainly expreffed here, that littje children were brought to Chrijf^ that he declared fuch might come unto him, and that he laid his hands upon .them, and blelFed them ; yet there is not the leaft intimation, in any of the evan-^ gelijfsj that they were baptized > So par- ticularly the learned Dr. Whitby upon this text grants, that Chrijl neither baptized thcfc children himfelf, nor commanded his difcij^les to do it; and for- this con- xefiion he gave thofe two very good rea- fon3 aforementioned. When bloody Boimer^ in his dL^putc \vith Robert Smith the martyr^ brouglit :this text to prove the neceffity of bap^ .tizuig infants ; the martyr iiiiartly returned this anfvver; Our faviour fays, yjf^r Uttk^ox'sJas r.?jd children to come unto me^ and not unto''^^''^- P- ^-5^* WMter. Having thus conlidered the fubjeBs oi'the Mo^eof haptifm^ I fhalj proceed to the mode o^^Baftii'rnconfi' baptizi/icr^ and fhew like wife from un-''^^'^ * quefiionable concellions of the moll con- fiderable ^ P- ^34- fixch commandment; and forms his ar- gument upon It .thus : ' That which is a ^ plain breach of the y/x^/^ commandment, ' Thou jhalt not kill^ is no ordinance of ^ God, but a moft heinous iin : But the - ordinary practice oibaptizirig by dipping ^ over he:u.l in cold water, as neceilary, is xxw ThtTREFAC E. ^rg^^ plain breach oi tho^Jjsth command- t nicnt : Therefore it is no ordinance of ^ God, but an heinous lin. And as Mr.- ^ Cradock^ in his book of Go/pel Liberty^ ^ fhews • the magiflrate ought to rellrain ' it, to fave the lives of his fubjedts ; t, even according to their principles, that ^: will yet allow the magillrate no power ^ diredtij in matter of w^orfliip. That \, this liiflat murder^ and no better, being, ^ ordinarily and generally uled, is unde- ^ niable to any underftanding man. For S that which diredly tendeth to over-* f, .^hrovv mens lives, being wilfully ufed, Sx^ plain murder/ And farther he adds", ^,,1 know not what trick a covetous land-, ^ lord can find out, to get his tenants to * die apace, that he may have new fines ^ and herriots, likelier than tq encourage ^ fuch practices, that he may get them f all to turn Anabaptills. I wifh, fays he; ' that this device be not it. that counte- ^' nanccth rhefe men. And covetous phy- *■' ficians, methinks, fhould not be much * againlt them. Catarrhs -and obftrudi^ ' ons, which are the two great fountains ' of moll mortal difeafes in man's body, * Gould fcarce have a more notable m^eans ' to produce them where they are not, ' or to increaie them where they are. ^. Jpopkxies^ lethargies^ _paljies^ and ail ^ comatous difeafes, would be promoted ' by it. So would cephalalgias^ b&inicra^ ' nies^ phthifeSy debility of the llomach, ' crudities^ and almoll: all fevers^ dyfente'^ y ries, diarhifasy chollcksy ?//>r^ palfions, ' ccnviilfonSy * cofiviilfmsj /pafmSj trcmores^ &c. All ' hepatic^ fpknetic^ puhmniac perlbns, and ' hypochofidriacks^ would Iboiihave enough "- of it/ Strange quackifjn ! as if hard words, impudence, and nonfenfe^ delivered with a magifterial air, w^culd carry every thing before them. He . might have; added, Thus, Gentlemen, you may call- ly by my bill perceive, that I infinitely furpafs thofe empty pretending quacks^ who confine their natrow talent to one diftemper, whereas all difeafes are alike to me, and I have a hundred feveral ways to extirpate them. But he concluded thus: ' In a word, fays he, it is good for * nothing, but to difpatch men out of the ' world, that are burdenfome, and to ' rankcn church-yards/ No wonder, Mr. Baxter vias fo unwil- ling to be dipt. I have been informed that Mr. Baxter was for having all the Baptijis hangcdy and therefore Ihall add one paifage more, and leave the reader to judge, wh?it he would have done to the Biptijis^ had it been in his power. They P/.?-v/5'.t>'. are his own words : ' If, fays he. Murder ^'"'f^ P- ^3^- *- be a fin, then dippwg ordinarily in cold *- water over head in England^ is o. fin. ' And if thofe that would make it Mens \ religion to murder themfelves, and urge * it on their confciences as their duty, are * not to be fuffcreA in a common-wealth, ' any more than highway murderers \X\\cn * judge how thefe Jnahaptijh^ that reach ' the necefhty cf fuch dipping^ are to be ^ niffered/ c 2 His xKxvi The TREFAC E. His next argument is to prove fiipphig a breach of the fiventh command... sent. "Thou Jhalt not cotnmit adultery. For rl us he cxpreiferh himfelf ; ^ Isly fiventh argu- ^ ment, is alio againll another wic' 'rd- ' nefs, in their manner of baptizing ; ' which is their d^pph/g perfons uaked^ as ^ is very ufual with many of them, or * next to naked, as is ufual with the ' modefleil, that I have heard of/ U/r-y p. 2. Mr. Baxter indeed acknowledges, that in his youth he was addidled tc^ lyingj and it plainly appears he had not left it when he wrote this chapter. The whole of wiiich, befidcvS lies^ is fo full of obfcenlty and immodelty, that it rather difcovers the naughtinefs of his own hearty than a confutation of what is intended thereby ; and therefore I forbear to recite it. But whether the water oihaptifm ought to be applied by immerjm^ or by that of afperfan^ or cffujion^ is, fays the learned 'Irent.ofBcipt.'Q^^q'QrrjQ^^pjj^^ «. ^ more material quefti on, ^' ^^' ^ than it is commonly deemed by us, who ' have been accullomed to baptize by a ' bare effu/ion^ or fprlnkling of water upon ^ the party. For in things which depend * for their force, upon the meer will and ' pleafure of him who inllitured them, ' there ought no doubt, great regard to ^ be had to the commands of him, who ^ did fo ; as without which there is no ^ reafon to prefume, we iliall receive the ' benefit of that ceremony to which he ^ hath been pleafed to annex it. Now, ^ what. The PREFACE. xx;cvil wliat the command of Chrift was in this particular cannot well be doubted of, by thole who fhall conlidcr the firft words of Chriji concerning it, and the practice of thofe times ; whether in the baptifm o'CJchHy or of our faviour. For the words oi Chriji are, that they Ihould baptize or dip thole whom they made di/cip/es to himx ; for fo no doubt the word BATTi^m^^ properly iignifies. And which is more, and not without its weigiit, that they iliould baptize them into the name of the father, and of the fon, and of the holy gholl ; thereby intimating fuch a ivafiing^ as iliould receive the party baptized^ ivitb" « /■;; the very body of that water, which they were to baptize him with/ And further, lays he, ' If there could be any doubt, con- p. cerning the hgnification of the words in themielves [jn Chrijfs commiflion^ yet would that doubt be .removed, by coniidcring the praf^ice of thofe times, whether in the baptifm of yohn^ or of our faviour. For fuch as was x\\c prac- tice of thofe tmies in baptizing^ fuch in reafon are wc to think, our faviour's command to have been concerning it, efpecially when the words themielves incline that way ^ there being not other- wile any means, either for thofe, or future times, to difcover his intention concerning it. Now what the pracfice of thofe times was, as to this particular, will need no other proof, than their c ^ * rcfort 5:) xxxvlii The TREFAGE. ^^reforting to rivers^ and other fuch like '' fefceptacles of water for the performance ^ of that ceremony, as that too, becaufe Ivfatt. ill. 5. ' there was much water there '^ for fo the yi. 13. « fcripture doth not only affirm concerning Jcnn HI. 22, c ^\^^ baptifm of johu^^ but both intimate - ' ^ concerning that, w^hich our faviour ad- ^ minilired in yudea. Becaufe, making ' yohns baptifm^ and his, to be fo far ^ iorth of the fame fort, and exprefly • ' affirm concerning the baptifm of the ^ Eumchj which is the o//Iy chriitian bap'' '^ tifm^ the fcripture is any thing particular ' in the defcription of. The words of i^asvlii, 38. < St. Luh.e being, that both ^htJip and ^ the Eunuch went down into a certain ^ water, which they met with in their ^ Journey, in order to the kaptizing of ' the htter. For what need w^ould there ^ have been, either of the Baptijh refort- ^ ing; to great confluxes of water, or of ^ Philip and the Eunuch's going down * into this; were it not, that the baptifm^ ^ both of the one or the other, was to be *- performed by an inimcrfion:? A very ^ little water, as we know it doth with u?, ^ fufficing for an effujion ox fpr inkling' D^-.Tillotron, T)r:.Tillotfon^ archbiihop oi Cantew/ry\ f'4 I. p. 66. fays thus, ' Antiently thofe who were i'^f- ^ tize.4^ put off their garments, which ^ fignified the putting off..' the body of Jin ^ ' and were immerfed^ and buried in the ^ water, to reprefent their death to Jin :, ^ and then did rife up again out of -the ^ water, to iignify their entrance upon' a ^ evY life. And to thefc cuftoms the? ap'jj'r TI>e "PREFAC E. -, xxxix > apoflle alludes, when he fays ; Ho'Wjhall .•^ we that are dead to Jin live any longer ^ therein ? Know ye mt^ that fo many of * WJ-, as IV ere baptized into Jefus Chrijfj * were baptized into his death ? Therejorc i ii'e are buried with him by baptifm! Dr. Cave tells us, ^ That the party to D^. Cave. * be baptized was wholly immergcd^ ^y^Fnm. Chrif!. * put under water, which was the almofl^ '^.^^204= * conltant and univerfal cuftom ot" thofc *• tunes, whereby they did more notably, * and ligniflcanrly exprefs the three great * ends, and effeds oi baptifm. For,- as * in immerjion^ there are in a manner three ^ fevcral ad:s; the putting the pcribn into ^ the water, his abiding there for a little ^ time, and his riling up again ; fo by * theie were reprefented ChrijVs death, ^ burial^ and relurredtion \ and in cbn- ^ formity thereunto, our dying unto lin., * the deilrudtion of its power, -and our ^ refurredlion to a new courfe of lite/ Dr. Sharpy archbilhop of jTor.^, in hisl>/-. Shnrp. fermon before Queen Mary^ has thcfe^'^'^^^'^ -*' words: ' Whenever a peribn in antient ^ '^^* ' times was baptized^ he was not only to ^ profefs his faith in Chrijfs death and re- ^ furred:! on, but he was alfo to look up'.'.n ^ himfelf as obliged, in correfpondence * therewith, to mortify his former carnal * affections, and lb enter upon a new itatc ^ of life ; and the very form of baptifm^ * did lively reprcfent this obligation to ^ them. For what did their being plunged ' under water lignify but their under- f taking, in imitation of Chriji's death c ^ ' and jci Br, Whitby ^jfinot. Matt. iiic 1 6. (. c i, 'B^i7?op Burnet, hypofj. of the c 39^y;-/. p. 3004 i 4 C The T REV ACE. and burial J to forfake all their former evil courfes, as their afce'iidwg out of the water^ did their engagemenc to lead a holy fpiritual life/ Dr. Whithy obferves, ^ That It is faid of our faviour himfelf, that bewg bap- tized he cmne up Jiraightway out of the water. The obfervation of the Greek church is this ^ that he who afcended out of the ivater^ rnuit firil defcerul down into it : Baptifm therefore, is to be per- formed not by fprinkUjig., but by wajh- ing the body; and, indeed, it can be only from ignorance of the yeivifh rites in bdptif/u^ that this is queftioned. For they, to the due performance of this rite, fo fuperftitioully required the i;^;- mer/iou of the whole body in the water, that if any dirt, hindred the water from coming to any part of it, the haptifrtz w^as not right; and if one held the bap" tized by the arm, when he vvas letdown into a;e water, another muft after d/p him, holding him by the other arm that was Wdfbed before, becaufe his hand would not fuller the water to come to his whole body/ Biihop Burnet fays thus; ^ How well foever the ye'ivs might have been ac- cuilomed to this rite, and how proper a preparation foever, it might be to the manifeiiation oi the Mcjjias ; yet the ju ft i fie at ion oibaptirm^ as it is a foederal ad: of the chriilian religion, nraft be taken from the commillion, that our fiviour gave to his difciplcs to go preaci; i V.-r- The TREFAC E. *:^li * preach and mdk.e rUfcipIes to him in all ^ nations, for that is the ilrid iigniE- * cation of the word ; hapizwg them in ^ the name of the father, and of the Ion, ^ and of the holy ghoil ^ teaching them to * chferve all things^ ivhatfoever I have com- ' mauded you. )^y the tirll teaching or * making of difciplcs, that mull go before * haptipn^ fays the hifnop, is to be meant * the convincing of the v»-orld, that Jefu's ^ is the Chrijt^ &c. as cited i)ag3 9. And ' then they" led them /;//(? the water, and * with no other garments, but what might ^ cover nature^ they at firii laid them * down in the water, as a man is laid in ^ a grave, and then they faid thefe words, ^ \ baptize^ or wa/h thee, in the name of ' the father, fon,^and holy ghoil: then ^ they raifed them up again, and clean * garments were put on them, from ^ whence came the phrafes, of being ^^/)- ^ tized i;ito Chriji's death ; of being buried ' with hif?i by baptifin into death:, of our * being rifen 'with Chriji^ and of our putting ' on the Lord Jcfus Cbrifl ; of putting off ' the old man^ and putting on the Jic\i\ ^ After baptifin was thus performed, the ^ baptized pcrfon w^as to be further in- ^ llruded in all the fpecialries of the . ' chrillian religion, and in all the rules of ' hfe, that Chrifi had prcfcribed/ I mufl beg leave once more to cite Dr.D/-. Whkby. Whitby on this head, becaufe he fpeaks ib full to the purpofc : -OcvA do hope it will not be deemed iuperlluous. He i^ys^prot. Rcrcn^ \ Thar baptifm in the apollles time, was2 £^- p. 264, *• adminiftrcd ^lil The PREFACE. ^ admlniltred by nippwg^ not hy fp'ink-^. ling the baptized perfon : and therefore that dipping was the injiitiition of our Lordj or his apoilles, is extremely evi- dent. For thus this facrament was ad- minillred to our blelll'd faviour, of whom it is fald, That Jiraightwayjefu^ went up mt of the. water* He came up* therefore he went down; behold an immcrjion^ not an afperjion^ faith yeremias Patriarch oiConftantinople : and this im^ merfion^ was ufed to exprefs the great mylkry of baptifm^ viz. our being buried with Cbrtft^ as to the old man, and our refurredtion with him to newnefs of hfc. So St. ^aul plainly intimateth, faying, How (hall we that are dead to jm live any longer therein ? Now that baptize'd chriitians are dead to fin, he proveth from their being buried with Cbnjl in baptifm. Whence it is clear, that bap- tifm then was fo performed as to be an^ image of the burial and refurrcdtion of our Lord, and therefore was adminiltred by putting the baptized perfon under water, and cauling him to rife up out of it. i)r. Wall. " Dr. JVall^ in his Defence of Infaut-bap- ■ ' tifn^ grants, that the baptifms oi Johiiy and the apojiles v^as performed by immer" (ion. His words. are thefe : ' As to '^he ' manner of baptifin then generally ufcd, ' the texts produced by our author *, and by every one that fpeaks of thefe matters, are undeniable proofs^ that the haptt-zcd perfonvvent orc^in-mlyMo the Def. of Inf, Bapt. p. 13 * Dr. Gale, ' fvhom by way of(. contempt tbrd* 4 his '[vholc hook ipe calls Mr. Gale. water. rixtTREFAC E. ' 0Ui i water, and fometimes the B apt ijv too. * We Ihould not know by thele i! ..counts * whether the whole body o{ the i.,.pti zed ^ was put ufider water, head and all; were ^ it not for two later proofs, - iiich leeiii ^ to me to put it out of queltjon. tO/;^ * that St. ^Vaul does tziJice^ in an allijiive *' way of fpeaking, call hapifm a burial? ^ which alluiion is not fo proper, if we ' conceive them to have gone into the * water only up to the arm-pits, Gr. as ^ it is, if their whole body was imo'erfed. ' The otheT^ the cuiJom of the Chriftians ^ in the near fucceeding times, which ' being more largely and particularly de-* '* livered in books, is known to have been ' generally, or ordinarily, a total immer^ * Jion of the naked body, and that (as ^ this author obferves, and I had fliewn) 5 thrice repeated, ■ In another place, the Doftor, to fnew * his zeal for the praclicc of immo'fion in haptifm^ offers very fubmiiiively fonie few things, to the coniideration of thofe of his brethren, who thought the coldnefs of our climate a good reaibn to change the antient pradice of dipping into that of fpr'inkling. For thus he alfcrts, * That A/, of In/.- ^ our climate is no colder than it was, {or^"P'' r- H4* ' thofe thirteen or fourteen bmidred. y0-ar§, * from the beginning of Chriftianitv here, *" to Queen Elizabeths time; and not near * fo cold as MurccA'-y- ,2LV\d fome other ^ countries, where they do ftill n!pt\\c\t * children in baptifi^j^ and find no incon- ^ venience in it. That the apparent ' rcafaa jcliV * ThcTR EFJCE. ' reafon that alter'd the cuflom, was iioi ' the. coldnefs of the climate^ but the ' imitation of Cahm^ and the church of Gerieva^ and fome ( thers thereabouts. ' That our reformers and compilers of the liiuigy (even of the lall edition of it) v/cre of another mind ; as appears both by the exprefs orders of the ru- * brick Icfelf, and by the prayer ufed jull: befjre haptifm^ fanSiify this water^ 6cc. and grant that this child now to be hap- tized THEREIN, &c. (if they had meant, that pourivg fliould have always, or moil ordinarily have been ufed, they * would have faid therewith. And * by the definition given in the cate- chifm of the outward vifible fign in haptifm \ water wherein the per/on is baptized. I know, that in one edition it was faid is dipped or fpnnkled v/ith it. I know not the hiflory 'of that edition ; ' but as it is a late one, fo it was not thought fxt to be continued. The old edition had the prayer beforefaid in thefe words, baptized in this water. ' That if it be the coldnefs of the air that is feared ; a child brought in loofe blankets, that may be prefently put o^ and on, need be no longer naked, or ^ very little longer, than at its ordinary ^ drelling and undreffing, not a quarter or ' iixth part of a minute. ' If the coldnefs of the water ; there ^ is no reafon, from the nature of the ' thing, nor order or command of God, * or man, that it fhould be ufed cold : ^ but ThcTREFACE. xk but as the waters in which our faviour and the primitive chriftians in thofe hot countries, which the /cripture mentions, were naturally warm by reafon of the climate ; fo if ours be made warm, they will be liker to them. As the inward and main part of haptifm^ is God's wafh- ing and fanc^tifying the foul ; fo the outward ij'mbol is the wafhing the body, which is as naturally done by warm wa- ter as cold \ it may I fuppofe be ufed in fjch degree of warmth as the parents delire. The Do6tor goes on to iliew the diffi« culties that lye in the way of reltoring this loll primitive pradice of dipping in haptifm : and thinks Cahin was the lirfl who made a breach therein, by prefcrib- ing pouring water on the infant ^ but lays the total profanation of it (by bringing it to fpTinkling) at the door of the ^^Presby^ terians here in England^ when their reign began about the year 1644. This, he • i-^^^^^^//Mefe!*ved a worfe name than that of Her e^ tbeysar 140. ^y^^^^ ^^.^^.^ i^|^^ c.^^^ ^{^^^ changed the praftice of dipping into pouring ; fo that pouring m hapttfniy which he feems to be fo fond of, fprungfrom a very bad origi- to!. ir,p. 94.naL For after he has given a very llrange account, from Jrenjeus^ of the pradice fom.-e of thent in their ways cf hapif^fr^ he tells u5, ' That feme of th'em lay, ' that it is needlefs to bring the perfon ^ to the v/ater'at all. But m^fking a mix- ' tnre of oyl and water, they pour it odi, ' his head, uling certain prophane words ^ much like them before-mentioned : and ^" they fay that this is redcmpticn [_or haf-^ 'tifm.'l Many more teffimonles' to fh'fs purpofe might be produced, both foreign and do- meltic. But leall' foiiic, who delight iri numbers, fliOi^ld think thefe not fufl'icient^ I fhall, for their fakes, add the teflimony of an 'i^hoie (^JJhnhlj of Di^inz^y v/ho'iri their annotations on thofe words of the apoille,' huried^^mr-him hy tfaptifniy dz^ liver their opinioh' ih thefe terrns. ' In this phrafc, fay they, the apoille ' feemeth to allude to the a:ncient mannct^ ^' of bapti/m, Vfhich was to r///) the parties ^ baptize dy and as it were to hry tli^ni ' under The T RE FACE; xlvli 'v. under the water for a while, and thcii td ^', draw them out of it, and lilt them up, ^ to reprefent the burial of our old man, * and our rcfurre6tion to newnefs of life. I iliall now conclude with the words of ^Mr. JofepH reverend and learned gentleman, who,^^^"'^^^* after he had been contemplating on thefe things, fays, ' He cannot, chuic but la-y^;^^r/^ ' meat, that fo many pious and learned Rufren,p.i9i^ ', men fhould find themfelves fo fettered ^Iby the tyranny of cuftom and traditional * that tho' they cannot but afpire after' ' the liberty of pra6tiiing the ordinances ' of ChriJ}^ "according to the primitive *' pattern, and now and then let go fome ' lighs and wiftes, to exprefs the fenfe lof their minds on this head, yet they ^ feem to want that degree of refolution, * and firmnefs of mind, which is neccf- ^.fary to attempt fuch a reformation. ^ Too many are afraid of the confe- * qucnces of altering old traditions, and ' ieem rather difpoied to tolerate abufes, * than to redrefs them : not enough ^ conlidcring,- that it is every man's duty. ^i^%Q refor4Ti his own practice, and to en'*-. ^ deavour to reform that of others, fo ': far as he is capable in his Hation ^ that *Lthere can be no good excufe framed to ^ palliate the violation of plain inflitutioDo ; *. that the long or general pra6tice of a ^ cuftom that wants a foundation in the ' word of God, makes the rcafons that ^ arc urged for a reformation io much *; the ftronger ; and that whatfoever names * of re£roacb may be given to thofe, who slviii rht9REFJCE. ^ have the courage to ftem the tide of ^ vulgar errors and abufes, they act aa *" honourable part, in eipouling the caufe ' of truth, which is the caufe of God. n' ^ For tbofe who honour him^ he 'wlll houoiir. ^e Baptids NotwithHanding fo much which has been mjreprfjented. faid, and nauch more which might have been faid in favour of the EnghjJj Bdptifts j yet there is hardly any party, or denomi- nation of Chri^lians, that have been fo bafcly rnifreprefented, and unkindly treated in the world as they. Wherever there; has been any perfecution, they, if any in thofe countries, have been fure to feel ihe hotteil part of it. The books written a- gaiaft them^ are not only very numerous, but commonly ffffd v/ith foolifn and fcan- dalous ilories, to render them ciiious : and ' the hiftories of this people, that are yet extant, are, for the moit parr, fuch as have been publilKed by their greateil ad- vcrftnes. The foreign B^ptljis indeed iiave piib- lillicd iovuz account of themlelves, and their martyrbhgy is a large boo'k in Folio ; but the EugUjh have done nothing of this nature. It were much to be wifl:ied, that fome abler hand had undertaken it; for^ I believe, that none who have gone under this name in the world have behaved themfelves better, or can have more faid to their reputation, and to recom.mend them to the love and elleem of their fel- low Chriilians, than thole who have lived in England. And further, I will venture to lay, that none of tiic rcibrmed cljurchcs in The T REFACE. xlix in England^ or elfeyvhere, have behaved themlelVes with more prudence, piety, and charity, than the Englijjj Baptijis : and, to their immortal honour be it Ipo- ken, they have never been perfecutors of others for confcience fake, though they thcmfelves have been perfecuted by every led. . ^ ^ Before the reformation was eflabhfhed, all ^Proteflants were, hy Roman Cnthohcks^ branded with the name of ^iiahaptijis ; as appears by King Henry VIII's fpeech to his parliament, Dee, 24, 1545, and fe- verai of them in their examinations, and at their executions took care to clear themfelycs. ' Behold, fays he, what love Fox, vo!. Ill; ^ and charity is among you, when the oneP- 57*' ' calleth the other Heretick^ and Anahap" * tifi^ and he calleth him again ^apift^ ^ Hypocrite^ and ^harifee' After the reformation, all that diilented from the eftablilhed church, had the fame tide bellowed upon them ; and riot one of the feveral fedls, as I can find, efcaped it. Thus the Browmfts complain, in their third petition to King y^?^/^5 I. ' We Apology, ^ have been, fay they, all manner of ways P- 2^» ^'2-. ^ traduced, and divulged to be Donatills, * Jnabaptijis^ ^cf The male-cofitents^ that is, thofe who continued in the church, but difliked fe- veral things in it, and endeavoured tostrype, c. have them reformed, complain of belngxxviilp.29x; reproached with this name hy their bre- t heren :. as appears by their petition at d the 1 The T REFAG E. the beginning of Queen ElizahetJjs reign* The Family of Love were reprefented by King yames himielf, to be a vile fedl among tlie jhahapijis ; as they iLevv in their petition to that prince, and of which they endeavour to clear themfelves. Fuller, Cent. ' Whereas, fay they, there is publifhed 17. p. 32. ' a book, written by your highncfs, as an ' inltrudion to your moll noble fon, of a ' people that are of a vile fe6t among the ' Jjiahaptifls^ called the Family of Love^ ' who do hold and maintain many proud, ^ uncharitable, unchriflian, and moll ab- ' furd opinions. They, with humble * hearts, do befeech your majefty to un- ' derfland, that the people of the Family ' of Love^ or of God, do utterly declaim' ' and detetl: all the faid abfurd, and fell- ^ conceited opinions, and difobedient and ^ erroneous forts of the Jriahaptifts^ and * all other proud minded fedts and here- ' lies whatlbever/ And further, To render the name of Anahaptijl yet more odious, they have en- deavoured to reprefent the greatcll Here-- ticks ^ and men who have been executed for the word of crimes, to be of the fecb of the jlnahaptijh. Sir Jerois Jl'/z;/ J, lieutenant of the tower, who was executed on Toiver-bill for poifon- \ngS\vTbomas Overbury was reprefented to be an Jnabaptijl^ as appears by his fpeech on the fcaffold. In which, fays he, ' The ^ Lord Chief Juftice, upon the doling up rruth brought \ ?^^^^y Speeches, at my arraignment faid to light by time. I ^""'^^ ^^ Jndbaptijh I would to Part II. p. 89.^ God I was as clear from all other fins, ' as The T REFAC E. ^ as from that ; for I always detelted that ^ condition/ How much weak minds have been wrought upon by fuch reprcfentatlons, appears HJl among the ^cedohaptifls^ who never gave themselves the trouble of en- quiring into the truth of fad:s. And the more ignorant of them, are even fright- ' cd at the name, and will hardly elleem their neighbours, thus denominated, chri- {tians. And that time might not blot out fuch reprelentarions, Mr. Neal was pleafed to llamp a mark of his fivour thereon : but what credit he has gained, even among his Vcedohaptijl friends thercb}', let the world judge. • But'l Ihall cite the ^jedohaptijis them- felvcs, to take off the edge of fuch mif- chievous, unchriflian, and ill-natured re- prefentations ; believing, that a word or > two from them will go much farther with fjch bigoted perfon?, than all we can fay, tho' never fo full to the purpofe, for our felves. • The firil I fliall mention is Mr. William Walker : who in the preface to his ^Hea for Infant'hapUfm^ faj's thus ; ' Of all ' difcUters from the church of England^ ' none leem to lye under Uronger preju- ' dices, than the Antl-p^dohaptifis^ as * having fo fcemingly fair picas to make, ' both lor themfelves, and againft their * opponents^ and that both fiom /cripture ' text, and eccleliaitical praflice, as few ^ oi their fellow-diffenters can parallel. d 2 ' With lU The PREFACE. ^ With the more favour and kindnefs, m ' my thoughts, are their perfons, precife- ' \y conlidered as fuch, to be treated : ^ and with the more fairnels and clearnefs ^ ought thofe endeavours, which are un- ^ dertaken for the removal of their pre- ^ judices to be managed/ ^Obed Wills ^ M. A. in the preface to his Infafit-haptifm ajjerted^ fays, ' There are ^ fome very worthy perfons, and eminent ^ chriftians of that way \Antipdedohaptifis\ ^ whom I exceedingly honour for their ^ gifts and graces, moderation and fweet- * nefs of fpirit, and liberality towards all ^ chriftians/ fe: ^5; Again ; ^ The' I contend with what I ^ conceive is an error in them, yet I can^ ' not but love their perfons; for I know ' there are fome of that perlualion, who ^ for their eminency in grace, ought to * be had in eftimation by us/ And fur- ther adds, ' ^Tis hard in difputes, both ^ not to be provoked, and not to provoke * * neverthelefs, I hope the godly, fober^ ^ and ingenious amongft them, will put ^ the bell conllrudlion upon all/ Mr. yohn .Rogers of St. Thomas Jpojlhs in LondoUy in his treatife of Church^difii-^ fline^ having fpoken of a fmall number of l/^nabaptijis in Ireland^ as he calls them, who difcovered a malicious fpirit, and refufed communion with other chriftians that differed from them ; yet fpeaking of thofe in England^ fays, * They excel all \ others of that prafticeg that I ever met ' ^-w^ith The "PREFACE. lilj i with. Many of that judgment here in ^ London^ and other places, may be fet * for eminent examples, both to them at * Dublin^ and us here, of fweetnefs, pa- ^ tience, humility, obedience, felf-denial, ' and love even to all faints ; and, indeed, * fuch in whom my foul much rejoices, * and hath been much refrelhed/ And as to their prad:ice of dipping^ he ' fays, ' Indeed I dare not deny my judg- ^ ment, to teach thus far for dtpphig^ *• above the other forms oi fprinklifjgy or ^ pourifig 5 that were it as orderly in our ' church, and ufed, and no offence to * weak fouls, I would fooner be induced ^ to dip one, that was never before ' baptized^ than to fprinkJe one ; for to ' me, it would be more ligniflcant, and ,^ full, and pregnant with former prac* ^ -rices/ Mr. Mark Needham^ in his View of England's hterejf, publiflu'd in 1659, fpeaking of the j4nabaptijis in England^ ias fo ililcd, -and the injuftice of charging them with the crimes of thofe called fo mGermany^ fays, ' It is known, that many ' learned men, and others, have been, ^ and are of the fame judgment; who, ^ touching other particulars, are as or~ ^ tbodox as any/ Belides, Mr. Cazvdry faith, ^ the /captures are not clear, that ^ infanUhaptifm was an apoJioJical prac-^ ^ tice' Bifliop llv Lib. 3. c. 15, §3. Vol. IV. The T REFAC E. Bifiiop Moretofi., in his Jppeai acknow«» kdgeth, that there was an antient pradice, for admitting infants to the facrament of the Lord's-lupper^ as well as to hafttfin ; and that it held //x hundred years in tliC church, yet in later times, it was thought fit to be laid aiide. ' Shall any prefume then, fays he, to faflen an odium upon a wh jle party, which abounds v/ith pious men, truly proteJfa?it in other points, merely becaufe Ibme others think, as they do concerning ^^dobapufm^ do fly out into other notions ? By this rule of proceeding, I will eaiily condemn, not popery itfelf, ^nd. prelacy only, but other protcfiions of men, whom to avoid of- fence I will not now name ; becaufe there is no one party of them, but have their tranfcendentah. But this fhall not therefore, be an argument againlt the whole parties themfelves *, among whom the moll are men of fobriety and gravity, and fuch we muft allow to be the con- llitution of the baptized party/ Mr. Richard Baxter^ with whofe telli- mony I ihall conclude this head, in his TJorkSy fays ; ' I confefs to you, of the two evils, I think the church is more corrupted, for want of a folemn re- newing of the baptifmul covenant at age, and by turning confirmations into a r^r*?- mony^ than by thofe Anabaptijhy who call people to be rebaptized, as the Jjrick council did thofe, that had been Infant S'haptifm ' is baptized by hereticks. The T REFAC E. Iv ^ is no fuch eafy controverfy, or article of ' faithj as that no one fhould be tolerated, ' that receiveth it not. The antient. ' church, which we moft reverence, left ' all men to their liberty, to be baptized ' only when they pleafed ; and compelled ' none, for themlclves, or their children. * TertuUian was for the delay till they ^ undcrllood. Nazianzen was for the ' Itaying fome years, ^zf^;/^?/;; and others ' of the Fathers were baptized ^t age.' And in his Life and Times he fays 'p. 140, ' And for the yjfjabaptijrs themfclves ; * tho' I have written and faid fo much * againfl them ; as I found, that moll of * them were people of zeal in religion ; * fo many of them v/erc fober and godly ^ people, and differed from others, but ^ in the point of Infant-baptifjn^ or at moll ' in the point of predeitination, and free- * vv^ill, and perfeverance, ^c. Again, in his book upon confirmatioji he f^ys* ' Upon the review of my argu- ' ments, ''oiz. with Mr. To?nbes^ upon ths ^ controverfy about Infant-baptifm^ I find * that I have ufcd too many provoking * words, for which I am heartily forry, ^ and defire pardon of God and him.' And further, in his Letter to Mr. Lajnb's wife J *• If, fays he, Mr. La??ib look into ^ my book for infa?it-haptifm^ let him ^ know, that I much repent of the harlli ^ language in it, but not of the main * matter. Thus Ivi The T REPACK Thus this good old gentleman, and difciple ofCbrTfi^ lived to fee his fault in fpeaking injurioully of the Baptijts ; and repented, and did not fcruple to make a, publick acknowledgment; an example worthy of imitation, and, therefore, I recommend it to the reverend Mn Neal THE THE HISTORY O F T H E Englilli Baptifts. C H A P. I. Contai7nng an account of thofe Bap- tifl: Minifters, who were ejefted or filenc'd, by or before the A6t of uniformity, or other wife fuf- fered on account of their mini- fry. H E many difficulties, that attend an account to be given of fo many men, fo long fince dead, had al- moft brought me to a re- folution of dropping this I do not pretend to keep an exadt order of time^ and it is not to be Vol. III. B fuppofed. 2 Tl^e History of the fuppofedj that the publick pieces can fur- nifli me with what is needful to be faid on ;; , this head; nor that the account which I here give is a compleat one. And as I have been obliged to depend upon the account of others, obtained in the beft manner I could ; fo if I have unhappily fallen into any miftakes, or been lilent for want of information, I hope the candid reader will not only excufe me, but alfo point out thofe miftakes or omiffions, that I may {hew, it was not with defign, by taking an opportunity, in zfuppkment or new edition of thefe works, to amend the fame. Hanferd Mr. Hanferd Knollys was ejedted from Knollys. jji^^jjj^^jiQ^je in the county of Leicejier, He was a very pious and worthy man, of "^l whom I have already given an account in ;:voi.i. p. 334. Henry Mr. Henry Denne was ejefted from Denne. Jg^^ in the county of Cambridge. He fuffered much for his Nonconformity^ and died about the year 1661. An account of him you will find in Vol. I. p. 297. , , Mr. John Tombes, B. D. was eiedied from Tombes. Ijeominjter^ m the county or tierejord^ a worthy minifter of great learning and moderation. See the account I have given of him. Vol. I. p. 278. ^^^'^^ Henry Jejjey, M. A. was ejedted from St. George's Southwark^ in the county of Surrey^ a very humble, learned, and pious minifter. English Baptists. 3 minifter, of whom I have given an ac- count, Vol. I. p. 307. Mr. Edward Barber^ a gentleman ofEdward great learning, was firft a minifter in the ^^* eftabliflied church, and embraced the prin- ciples of the Baptijisy long before the breaking out of the civil wars. He was the means of convincing many, that /;;- fanUbaptifm has no foundation in fcripture, and foon gatiiered a numerous congregation. They met in the Spital in Bifiopgate-Jireet 5 and, according to Mr. Danvers, and Mr. Edwardsy was the firft church, among the Baptilis^ that pradifed laying on of hands on baptized believer s^ at their reception in- to the church. He died before the Refto- ration, and his fufFerings on account of religion were before epifcopacy was wholly laid afide, as has been before ob- ferved, Vol.1, p. 219. William Dell, M. A. was ejedled from William Telden, in the county of Berks , and^®^' from being mafter of Caius college^ in the univerfity of Cambridge, I have al- ready given fome account of him, Vol. I. P-323- Mr. William KifEn, minifter to a BaptiftY-f''^ ' T\ n- Q f ^ Kiffin. congregation m Devonjmre-bquarey Lon- don. He was a man of great natural parts, and fome learning -, a great difputant, and when joined with others, generally had the preference. He was firft of an indepen^ dant congregation, and called to the miniftry B 2 among '4 The History of the among them; was one of thofe who were concerned in the conferences held .. in the congregation of Mr. Henry Jeffey, ". by v/hich Mr. J^^and the greateft part of the congregation became profehted to the opinion of the Baptifts, He joined himfelf to the church oi'Mv, J oh?i Spilf- bury ', but a difFereHce ariiing about per- mitting perfons to preach amongft them, that had not been baptized by immerjion^ they parted by confent, yet kept a good correfpondence. After the Reftoration, being a man of great fubftance, he had great intereft at court, and was very much in favour with the King, and chancellor Hide. I have been informed that it was currently reported, that when the King wanted money, he fent to Mr. Kifin to borrow of \\voi\ forty thoufand pounds % that ^r. Ki^n pleaded in excufe, his not hav- ing fo much, and told the meflenger, if it would be of fervlce to his majefly, he would prefent him with tenthoujand\ the which was accepted, and Mr. Kijffin after- wards faid, he had faved thereby thirty thou/and pounds. But be this as it will, it is evident, he was very much in the King's favour ; and that he was the perfon that went to the King, and complained againft that wucked and fcurrilous pamphlet, de- ^t^e Voliigned to defame the Baptijls, intitled ir. p. 2. ^Baxter baptized in Blood-, and by his in- ^Ui^nce was the King's order procured, to have English Baptists. j have the fame examined in council. And alfo he was the means of procuring the Kings pardon for the twelve Bapti/is who w^ere condemned to death at Ailjbury^ j^.^ for refafing to conform to the eftabhfhedp. igi church. His great favour with the Kiiig procured him many enemies, who had a defign upon his Hfe. They accordingly fent a letter to him, directing him to be ready with his friends, at a certain time 5 which letter was firft intercepted, and then-^ brought to him. Mr. Kiffin timely applied to chancellor Hide^ fhewed him the letter, and proved it an impofition upon him, with a bafe defign ; and fo efcaped. ' ' He was one of the Jive Bapti/is , who were made Aldermen by King James 11. when he took away the charter of the city of London. ^^^^ There v/as a great difpute held about Baptifm^ at Coventry^ between Dr. Grew and Dr. Bryan^ on the fide of the Pado- baptijis, and Mr. Kiffin and Mr. Knollys^ on the fide of the Baptijls. It was manag- ed with good temper, and great modera- tion 3 both fides claimed the vidory, and parted good friends. All granted, that the Baptijis came oflf with great reputation. Mr. Kiffin lived to be very old, and con- tinued to preach till near his death. Of his profecution, by the Ordinance for punijhing Blafphemies and Herejies^ I have taken notice, Vol.1, p. 215.^ B 3 I have 6 7^^ History of the I have met with one piece which he pub- lilhed, intitled, a fiber difcourfe^ ef right to church communion ; wherein he endea- vours to prove, by fcripture, by the exam- ple of the primitive times, and the practice of all, that have profeffed the chriftian religion; that no imhaptized perfon may be regularly admitted to the Lord's-fupper. Daniel Daniel Dyke^ M. A. was ejeded from I^yke. Qjr^at Hadhant in the county of Hertford, Dr. Calamy, as an evidence of his being Continua- epifcopally ordaincd, fays : ^ That\ a certain tton, c perfon, whom he had married, being de- * firous to get off from his marriage, he * produced his orders, and by that means he ■ was difappointed/ I have given fome ac- count of him in Vol. I. p. 355, Vavafor Mr. Vavofor Powel^ a very pious man, ^^Z^\ ^^d a popular preacher. The Reverend Vol. 4.^^ Mr. Neale has given an account of him, p- 44S and tells us, he was educated in Jefus College^ Oxon \ and had he been an illiterate- man, its not unlikely but he would have told us alfo, that he was a Baptijl. I havejgiven fome account of him, Vol. L P-373- Benjamin Mr. Benjamin Cox was ejeded from a Cox. living ; but where it was I find nqt. I have given an account of him, Vol. I. p. 353, Francis Fraucis Bampficldy M. A. was ejeded Bampfield. from Sherboum in the county of Dorfif, v!Ts'(). ^ ^^^^ given fome account of him. Vol. I. P- 363. Dr. Cfilamy thinksy * none at all - acquainted English Baptist s . ^ « acquainted with his ferious piety, which ^ hath been generally acknowledged, can * forbear owning, that he deferved another. * fort of treatment than he met with from ' the unkind world. And that he was: * collated to a prebend in the cathedral' * church of Exeter^ May 15, 1641. and ' that he was re-polTeffed of it, upon the * Reftoration, and enjoyed it till Bartholo- Cf"^^'^^'^- ' ?neW'Adiy 1662. when he was deprived p"''^',^ ' of it, jointly with his living of Sherbourn, * for Nonconformity. He adds, ' I am * alfo informed, that he was one of the ^ moft celebrated preachers in the Wefi of * England^ and extreamly admired by his ' hearers/ Francis Cornwell^ M. A. I have given Francis fome account of him Vol. I. p. 344. and^°^"^^^^- have fince received further information, viz^ That he was minifter of Harden in Kent *y and when under imprifonment in King Charles Ts time for Nonconformity to wear-; ing the furplice, t6 kneeling at the facra- ment, the crofs in baptifm, and other ceremonies then impofed, he had for his companion Mr. JVilfon of Ottham, They were together in Maidjione Goal, where amongft the viiitors that came to fee them, there was a woman that had fome fcruplcs of mind, whether the baptiftn of infants could be proved from fcripture. Mr. Corn-- well endeavoured by the beft fcripture- ar- guments he could, to refolve the woman*s B 4 doubts i 8 The History of the doubts; but found he coulc/ not do itfo well toherfatisfadion, and his own, as he could have witlicd. The woman being gone, he had fome conference with Mr. Wilfony his fellow- prifoner; who affured him, that he never underftood, that infants baptifm could be proved from fcripture, but had its authority from human t^-adition ; it be- ing handed down from primitive times, as a pracStice generally received in the church. Mr. Cornwell taking the fcriptures to be the only rule of faith, and confidering that on this principle only, all the protefiant churches vindicated their feparation from the church of Rome^ againft all her im- pofitions brought in by pretended primitive antiquity, tho' not to be found in fcripture. This principle of making the fcriptures the only rule of faith, engaged him to make more diligent fearch; and finding that he could not to his own fatisfadlion . ,. prove the authority of infants baptifm frorn 1 the fcripture ; but that in all-ages it had its dependance on the decrees, canpns, andivx councils of the church, as oiany other, corruptions had ; he refolved to relinquifh the doctrine of infants baptifm^ and con- cluded, that believers onl)\ which made . profeflion of their faith and repentance^v^^^ were the proper fubjeds of baptifm. \^ ' After the death of King Charles I. Oliver Cromwell gave liberty to all to worfhip God according to their own con- fciences. English Baptists. 9 fciences. Mr. Cornwell hdng then at liber- ty, and minifter again of the parifh-church at Marden^ and having yet concealed his fentiments, was made choice of to preach the vifitation-fermon at Crambrook, Hav- ing been baptized by Mr. William Jeffery^ of Seven-Oaks^ his friends concluded this a proper time for him to declare publick- ly his fentiments ^ which he did, from. Mark vii. 7. Howbeit in vai?i do they worjhip me, teaching for doBrines the commandments of men. After the fermon was ended, the clergy were for difputing the point with Mr. Cornwell bat ; Mr. Jeffery being pre- fent, he referred them to him. They foon found Mr. Jeffery too hard for them in difputatipn, which caufed Mr. Blackwood^ to defire them to ceafe at that time 5 for he had taken the Sermon as preached, in fhort-hand, and v/ould return an anfwer in print, which he hoped might be to the fatisfadlion of them all. Bat in the iflue, as 'I have before related, Yol. I. p. 347. Mr. Blackwood became a profelite^ and was baptized by the faid Mr. Jeffery. Mr. Robert Brown, I take him to be Robert the perfon ejeded from the fequeftred liv- ^^°^^"- ing of Whitelady Afton, who Dr. Walker, Conthua- according to Dr. Calamy, fays, ' was a''^''^ 'fifth-monarchy man, and wrote again ft ' hearing the parifli minifters.' Dr. StiU ling fleet faid, * that \\\sjerubbaal contdAxitd * the fubftance of all that was faid by the • 2 'old lo 77)6 VLisTov!.\ of the * old Brownijis.* He was generally owned a fcholar. He died in Plymouth by excef- five preaching. John John Harding^ D. D. Dr. Calamy men- Harding, tionsoneof this nameejefted from Breitk- V'^iT^. 'zc'^r//^ in the county of Wilts^ 2. learned man, much courted to conform ; but re- fufing, he loft his redory. He had a fon of the fame name ejecled from Milkijham in the fame county. It is probable one of them may be our Harding^ but I am not certain which. Robert Mr. Robert Steed. Dr. Calamy mentions 5f^^; one Mr. Steed eiedled from L amber hurfl tion^ m the county or Kent, He lays he was p- S44- advanced in years, ^x^A was very eminent for his piety : If this be our Steed^ he was one of them who left the eftablifhed church for the fake of a good confcience. ,^ . Mr. Williams^ he was one who left the liams eftablifh*d church, and joined the Baptijls, Dr. Calamy mentions feveral of the name of Williams^ and in all likelihood this might be one of them. He mentions one Mr. Henry Williams of Montgomery-Jhife^^ Account, < ^^ itinerant preacher, fays he, was dif- abled from the publick exercife of his miniftry, in 16.62. but continued td ^ preach more privately, in feveral parts of this county, as he had opportunity. He was an upright man, very adtive for God, and a lively preacher. He fufFer- ed much for the fake of a good cori-^^ * fcience. p. 712. Englsih Baptists. ii * fcience, both by imprifonmenfy and the ' fpoiling of his goods. He endured all * patiently, and went on doing the work * of the Lord, in the moft difficult times. ' He fubfifled by a fmall eftate, which he * had, and preached the gofpel freely to * fuch as were willing to receive it. This charader, feems to fit the gentle- men of the Bapfi/l perfuafion in thofe ^ times, more than the other denominations, ■ and even the Baptifts of the prefent day. And it is but juft and reafonable, minifters (hould have a living ; for the labourer is worthy of his hire^ and a competent main- tenance is their due. I wifli there were none amongft them that wanted it \ tho' it is not unlikely, fome may have the liv- ing chiefly in their view y but that is beft known to themfelves. Mr. Paul Frewen^ an Anabaptifly fays Paul Dr. Calamy, was ejeded from Kemply^^^^^^' in the county of Glocejler, After his ' ejeftment, he wasminifter to a congrega- tion at JVarwick^ a good preacher, and a very popular man. Mr, Joflma Heady fays Dr. Calamy^ was Jofhua filenced alfo in the county of Gloucelier, ^^^^• 111 r 1 ' r\ ^ xt ^CCOUflt, tho he cannot lay where ejeaed. ' He p. 332. * afterwards preached, fays the Dodor, to * a people at Burton on the watery was an ' Anabaptifly but a worthy man/ Mr. Abraham Cheary he was ejeded from Plitnouth^ in the county cf Demji^ and 12 T6e Hisr OKY of t&e and was afterwards minifter to a numerous congregation, at Loo in Cornwall. He was a very pious and laborious minifter, took great pains, and wrote many feafon- able leffons to youth, whilft he was in bonds for the truth of Chrift ; calling them early to remember their creator. To which purpofe, he exprefies his good wifhes for the fouls of divers of them, towards whom he then flood nearly relat- ed, and dearly affefted. In the year 1665, he was imprtfoned at the Guildhall in P//- mouth ; and from thence, after a month's detention, fent prifoner to the IJland, He affixed to the wall of the Guildhall prifon the following verfes. Looking-' c jsjinrji four years fince, fent out from hence, fii ' To Exon Goal was I ; ^'^•-- ''"'^■^' ^ But fpecial grace, in three months fpace, * Wrought out my liberty. ' Till Bartholomew y in fixty two ^ That freedom did remain : ' When without bail, to Exon Goal * I hurried was again. * Where having lain as do the flaln, * *Mong dead men, wholly free ; * Full three years fpace, my native place ^ By leave I come to fee. ' And thought not then, I here again * h month's reflraint fhould find ; I Since to my den, cafl out from men * Tm during life defign'd, ' But English Baptists* rj' ^ But fince my lines, the Lord affigns ' In fuch a lot to be ; * I kifs the rod, confels my God ^ Deals faithfully with me. * My charged crime, in his due time, ' He fully will decide ; ^ And until then, forgiving men, * In peace with him I 'bide. This worthy good man, after {uWfbree years fufFering under very hard circum- ftances, enduring many inhumanities from mercilefs goalers, was continued a prifojier under military guards, in the Ifle of P//- mouth y where a violent fickncfs in a few days feized upon him, which ended in his death. On the Lord's-day preceeding it, he addreffed himfelf to all in the family with him, in the following manner. ' Ah ! Sifter,* fays he, the Lord gave * She * you a heart to own and profefs him ; f^^^.^^l^^ * his name and ways early, when they i^t 'lonfi^ * were ways every were Jpoken againjl-j^^^^j^^^*' '^ and fince you have held up, and out, '^ ^^^^^ * the profeffion thereof, in a flourifh- ' ing day, and now are concerned in, and * with the famej in this hour of tempta- ' tion, which I befeech you, be not af- ^ frighted nor offended at. You know * how it fared with our Lord and matter ; * whom the religious, as well as the pro- * fane world perfecuted, and expelled * their coafts. T^he fervanf is not above * his mafier. It is true, you have had ' the ttan* 14 Tie History of fie the name of a gentlewoman, and of being defcended of great parentage, and raifed to great things in a worldly ac- count; but keepthefe all under foot as you ought, and let that be the fong ftill, Worthy is the Lamb to receive power and riches^ wifdom andjirength, honour^ and glory ^ and blejji?ig. Oh ! give up all to him, as Araunah of old, as a king to a king, fo let the offering be given up chearfully, and refignedly, entirely to him. * I blefs God, I have learned fomething of this in converfing with you, of your readinefs and freenefs heretofore, and now to lay out for the Lord. And tho' I now go the way of all flejh^ yet you know in all yotlr hearts, and in all your fouls, that we have none of us caufe to be forry or repent for what we have laid out for the Lord. And you for your part, have heretofore entertained faints^ ycd. it may be, angels unawares. The Lord reward you for it; and the God un- der whofe wings you are come to truft, be your great reward. But oh! take heed your good be not evil fpoken of; and that your table become not a trap^ nor what was provided for good, turn to your hurt. I defire the Lord Jefus may teach you to look carefully about you, that you lofe not the things you have wrought, but receive a full reward. * I English Baptists. ■\^*- I remember it is faid of jiM, who tbd l^^.deady he yet fpedketh -y and have thought ^ f that word, in a bad fenfe, looking at me * and many others, who while living, * have been but dead fpeakers ; but I am ^,^* now haftning to another kind of death, * where, after worms have confumed this ' flelh and bones, yet I may be brought * forth, as a living fpeaking witnefs, in qf' thofe words of mine, againft fuch as * flight the inflrudion of them/ Then he gave thanks to God, for the hope he had given him of eternal falvation thro' Jefus Chrift, and warned his friends about him to improve the prefent difpen- fation and the religious opportunities afford- ed to them 'y and fpoke with very earneft concern, about the guilt contracted in this nation, by perjecuting God's faithful fer- va?itSy and with great joy and affurance, concerning the delight which God takes in his fuffering faints, and the ample re- compenfe he will hereafter render for their prefent forrows. ^flmjl CHARGE you all, fays he, in ^*- the name of the Lord Jefus, and as .^ you will ever anfwer it at that great ^f' day ; that you make religion your bufi- / nefs, and that you make not godlinefs a J flight thing, nor walking with God a j/ fmall matter, as ever you hope to fl:and .'* with boldnefs before God in the judg- * ment. God indeed, hath took ftrength * from 15 1 6 "The History of the * from thefe arms of mine; I fpeak it not * as if I murmured at it, or by way of ' difcouragement, as if he could not if * it pleafe him, raife dead bones, and of * jiojies make children to Abraham' He defired them to lift up his arms; which they did, and then he laid his folemn charge upon them, desiring they would, by lifting and holding up his hands, be witnefs to it, as his charge to all of them, That they make it their great bufinefs, the remaining part of their days, to walk to the praife and glory of the Lord Jefus, in all the paths of his pleafure. During his illnefs almoft to the laft hour, he continued glorifying God, exhorting all who vifited him, to ftedfaftnefs and perfeverance, not- withftanding the periloufnefs of the times. About three hours before his difTolution, a friend perceiving him under great preiTures, fpake foftly to him thus: T^hey looked unto the Lord, and were lightned^ a right look will bring down relief under all difficulties. Yea^ replied he, with great ftrength and earneftnefs, ajid their faces were not ajloam- ed. He fpoke no more, and foon after yeiided up his fpirit, falling alleep without pang or confiderable groan; it being the fifth day of March, 1668. He wrote many letters to his friends, during his imprifonment, full of chriftian exhortations to conftancy and ftedfaftnefs. I (hall mention but one ; which was upoa occafion English Baptists* 17 occafion of a token of fmall value, in provifionsfent to him and his fellow pri- foners, dedicated thus: Unto our brethren mid friends^ in the bonds ^ and bowels of the go/pel ^ whofe hands have made them willing under the bounteous in- fuences of the God ^'Ifrael, to comfort the hearts of the imworthy prifoners of the Lord in Plimouth Ifland, by acofllypre^ fent ', and to e'-jery one that hath contri bun- ted or helped therein^ to a tender groan^ or the value of a cup of cold water ^ be a large recompence of reward^ given in grace ^ and afcertained in glory ^ by him who is not unfaithful^ to forget fuch la- bour of love jhewed to his name, * Beloved, and elleemed, as is meet in the Lord * A LTHO* we are hitherto detained, * jLJl from the perfonal and particular * knowledge of you by name, whofe * counfcls and care have been concerned, * in this liberal expreffion of your fympa- * thy with a few poor undeferving crea- * tures : in which matter we could be glad * to receive diftindl information, as far as * fuch a defire might be thought modefl * in us to afk, and be expedient for you to * grant; to the end, that our fupplications * for you, and applications to you, might * be more direct and particular. Yet eVe * that come to hand, and left Matth, vi.3. * may have influenced (tho' we think the Vol. III. C ' reafon 1 8 The History of the reafon of it binds not in this cafe) we thought it lay on us not to forbear the prefent acknowledgment, fuch as it is, (at leaf!:, as a forerunner to what we fhould be willing to offer more particu- larly) that hereby you might be inform- ed, that thro' the Lord's providence, the whole of it came fafe to hand, and by his grace, we hope the heavenly voice in it, hath, and thro' your prayers, will yet have a more effedtual accefs to our hearts, to lay us under thofe obligations to a faithful, chearful, unwearied "truft- ing in him, and waiting on him at all times, which we are fatisfadlorily per- fuaded was the deflgn of your devifing thofe liberal things for us. Under which engagements, we reckon ourfelves bound at leaft, to give you fome account of ourfelves in the prefent refpedt 3 that if it may be our rejoicing in each other, it may be rendered more reciprocal, we, comforted together with you, by the mutu- al faith and love both of you and us, * And firft of all, we wifti you knew, that under the varieties and viciffitudes of exercifes, wherewith our heavenly father hath feen good to prove, and try us, for fome years together, leading lis in fome paths, and under fome difappointments, in our creature concerns, and accommo- dations, that we thought not of, and had not trod with our feet in days paft ; * yet English Baptists* 19 yet hitherto hath his bountiful provi- fion, and tender care over us, exalted it- felf in a diftinguifliing manner, and many times to our admiration, (o as hitherto, our bread hath not failed, but hath been given to us in due feafon, and our waters have been Jure ; fo that know- ing how little we are yet fitted to bear, as a father pitieth his children, in their low eftate, he hath not proved us with hunger, or with ftraits, nor called us up to approve ourfelves his witneffes in neceffities, in diftrefles, &c, but our lot hath rather been, to partake of the fat, and fweet, and foft ; infomuch, as if he put that queftion to us, to be refolved, according to that exprefs literal fenfe of it; when I fent you forth on the fervices and fufferings that attended your tejlimonyy lacked you any thing ? we mufl: anfwer, nothing Lord-, but in that refped:, have in hand, or we truft in fome degree of fweet fatisfacflion, we have all, and abound, and are full, by the favour of him, who giveth us all things richly to enjoy, and is, we would humbly hope, teaching us, in whatfoever fate we are^ therewith to be content. So that, at many of the ftrange preventions of loving- kindnefs even in things of this fort, we are often made with admiration to cry out, what is this to us. Lord ! Is this after the*manner of men, O God ! Is this a C 2 ' prifon ! 20 Tie History of the prifon ! If we fliould have fought a pri- fon, in a prifon, thefo Jlx or jeven years, have we yet found it ! Whatever others in the fame felbwfhip of bonds with us have found, we mulT: fay for our parts ; that as we have efcaped the fword, and we hope the pollutions of the ad- verfary, fo we have found great grace in the wlldernefs, for his people, his chofen. — The which we mention, not only that we may praife the Lord to- gether,' while ye obferve, that we re- ceive not, nor accept not, fo thankfully your prefent, in refpedt of need, through that unfpeakable gift, and care of his, who hath hitherto continued the bread of the day, in its day ; but that here- withal we might take hold of an apt occaiion, to take you by the hand, and lead you with a little the more encou- ragement, up and down in thofe ways of the Lord, wherein we muft ling, great hath been the goodnefi of our God^ even in the experiences, that we have pafled praftically through, in the doctrine and profeffion whereof we had been trained up in our years of plenty and profperity ; fo that we muft fay , the land that we have been fent to fpy out, even in the ftraiteft paffages of it, as far as our father afligned us to follow hira in, is a very good land 5 and if we re- bel not againft the Lord, but abide with * him. English Baptists. zi * him, thofe very circumftances that at a ' diftance feem like fons of j^nak, and * walls reaching up to heaven, apt to eat ^ up the inhabitants, are well able to be ' overcome, and will be found bread for ^ us, while we ftand and feed in the ' ftrength of the Lord, and in the majefty ' of the name of the Lord our God ; fo ' that thdh Jerpents at a diltance, from ' which we are apt to flee, are found to ' believers, but a rod, and that a rod of ^ God too, when taken in the hand. And ^ could we come forth to you in truth and ' evidence, as wife, and right improvers ' of the fenfible experiments we have ' adually found, tafted, feen, and hand- ^ led hitherto of this fort 5 and that the " favour of thefe excellent things, had not ^ been diminiflied in thefe fouls of ours, ■ thro' too much an inobfervant, carelefs, ' earthly difpofuion, bringing us down ' from our advantages of excellency ; we might fpeak more loudly to you, than now we can. Oh ! tafte and fee that the Lord is good! Blejfed are they that put their truft in him I The lions, among whom we dwell, do v/ant and fuffer hunger; but they that fear the Lord, lack nothing that is good. In the midft of their fufficiency, they are in ftraits; while in the flraits (dtfigned to wear out the people of the faints of the Moll: High) there is a provifion made of fufficiency. C 3 < Be ^ i "The Hisro KY of the Be ye therefore ftrong, and very ftrong, and very couragious, and God fhall ftrengthen your hearts. * ANDnov^ for a thankful acknowledg- ment, tho' it may not be interpreted as any requital of your holy liberality, what 'fhall we farther fay? then that we do, as we are able, bring the matter in our requefls, and thankfgivings unto him, who is able to make all grace abound to- V7ard you y all fufFiciency in all things, may abound to every good work, being enriched in every thing, to all bountiful- nefs, which caufeth in us thankfgivings unto God. And this we beg on your be- half j not as if we defired a gift, or that it fliould be fo again done unto us, know- ing that there are many watry faces, every where requiring bread to be caft upon them, as under far greater neceffi- ty than ourfelves; but as having per- fuafion, and fome fmali experience, what a great recompence it is in fuch cafe, to have the mouth and hand opened from the heart's being enlarged, with thofe expatiating graces, and virtues of the fpirit of the new teftament that conftitute a true largenefs of heart, like the fand on the fea-{liore, and to increafe that greatnefs, that is proportionate, to the large difcoveries of believing, doing, fufFering grace, and preparations for expedted glory. In order to it, we de- ' fire English Baptists. 23 fire for you all, and intreat you to prefs and purfue after. * I. Greater advances towards new- nefs of heart. The old heart will be as old , bottles, and an old garment, that will not comport with the new wine, which is yet in the clufter, and a bleffing in it, tho' men attempt to deftroy it. And this is not only a newnefs of ftate, but a newnefs alfo of frame, by means where- of, the inner man may pafs under ex- perimental rene wings, day by day, even the renewings in the fpirit of your mind, by which the truths, ways, and works of the Lord, the King, may have an intimate accefs, and abundant en- trance into your own fouls, and you into them, in their virtue, dominion and power. * 2. Greater approaches in a way of heavenlinefs, and nearnefs to the Lord, at diftance from the fpirit of this evil world; where the world is fet in the heart, the god of this world will be quickly filling it, narrowing, and en- clofing it for earthly fervice: and this not only in men of earth, who have their portion in this life; but alfo in thofe that are by the blood of Chrift deliver- ed from the grofs pollutions of this pre- fent evil world, thro' luft ; but yet much concerned in the bufinefs, cares, and intricating affairs of its many things, C 4 \ which. ?4 ' '^he History of the ' which, tho' lawful in themfelves to be ^ diligently profecuted, yet as lying under * the influence and advantages of the ^ prince of it, having a notable tendency * to bring down fouls from their excellency, * and to eat out infenfibly the livelinefs ^ and fweetnefs of our fpirits longer, and * farther, than the vidiory that overcomes ^ it, in the virtue of the crofs of Chrift, ' by which we are crucified to it, and it * to us, be kept up on frefh exercife. *■ 3. Right waitings for, and waitings * on the fpirit of promife, who is of pow- ^ er to quicken dry bones, raife dead wit- ' nefles, and do great things in, and for us, * which fhall not be refifted, nor need not * be affifted with might and power, tho' * for a time, the work about it, may be * made to ceafe wath force and power. ' We (hall fay no more at prefent, but ' with the reprefentation of our obliged * refpedls to every one of you, as if known * by name, leaving you in the bleffed arms * of our beloved, we remain 2 2d of the Tour brethren waiWig for 9th Month, 67. the confolation of lirael. The publifher of fome of this holy man's works, under the title of words in feafon^ has annexed thereto the following poftfcript. ' If any enquire, fays he, what might \ occafion fo much feverity, as to detain ' thq English Baptists, 3^; the author, fo many years, and until death, ^priJo7ier? It may fuffice to in- fert here, for the reader's fatisfaftion. That in the flate of kis cafe, left under his hand, fetting forth the illegality^ and unrighteoufnej's oi the proceedings againft him, he concludes it thus : ' If it jQ^ould be faggefted, perhaps he is a ringleader y this true characfler of the perfon, may alleviate jealoufies of that kind. * He was born at PUmouth, of mean, yet honeft parentage j is not by kindred, or any alliance, related to any perfon, or family of any note at all ; was not bred up to learning, at any univerfity, or fent any where to travel for education, or experience ; but contrariwife, brought up, and kept diligently by his parents to work in the poor, yet honeft trade of a fuller : never Uved out of that town a month together all his life, ex- cept in a journey fome weeks, on occafion dhouifixteen years fince, to London*, be- fides, what he underwent, by conftraint in prifon. Never in the former wars, was inlifted in any troop or company, under pay, and in the trained-bands of the town where he ferved, never was accounted worthy of promotion, to fo much as a corporal ; nor in the corpora- tion, whereof he was a member, ever advanced fo high as a conflahle\ never * bettered i6 The History of the * bettered his eftate ojte farthings by all * the propitious advantages that might * have given him opportunity of fo doing ; * nor is confcious to himfelf, of the leaft * defire of adding to what he hath, by * any prefent or future advantages, that * any favourable overtures of the times * may tempt him with; never was advanc- * ed to, or improved, in any place or * office of truft or profit, civil, military, * or eccleflaftical ; fave only for fome few * weeks, unknown to him, and againll * his will, he was muflered a chaplain to * the fort, but quickly got himfelf dif- * charged from that again. Never was he * concerned in, nor truely charged with * any plot, mutiny, or tumult, giving the ' leaft difturbance, or occalion of fear, or * jealoufy. * This one thing then only C2.Vi remain, * to give colour to fuch proceedings ; that * about eighteen years fince, he being con- * vinced of his duty to his Lord, by evi- * dence of Icripture light, joined himfelf * in an holy covenant, to walk in all the ^ ordinances of the Lord blamelefs^ to the * beft of his light and power, in fellow- * fhip with a poor, and defpifed people.' Paul Mr. Paul Hob/on, he joined with Mr. Hobfon. Green and Captain Spencer^ who raifed a Baptift church in Crutched Friers, He was one of them that fubfcribed the con- fejjion of faith, put forth by the kv^n churches Englsih Baptists. 27 churches in London^ and was a captain in the army; had been a preacher a great while, and preached much againft the prejbyterian eftablijhinent^ their miniftry, and childrens baptifm : Crimes big enough for that defaming Author Mr. Edwards^ to load him with reproach, and blacken hhContinua- memory. Dr. Cala?ny makes mention oP'^^'j g one of this name, ejeded from being chaplain of Eaton College in the county of Bucks. If it be the fame man, ' it is faid ' by fome, fays the Doftor, that he had ^ had a place of command in the army; * and it is not unlikely, but it may be * true. However, had he conformed ' afterwards, that in all probability might * have atoned for his paft adtions. * This was the cafe, fays theDodlor, of ■ Mr. George Majierjon who was both a * chaplain and a captain under Cromwell \ ^ of whom Mr. Z a chary Croft on gives * fome remarkable hints, in his prefatory * epiftle^ before Mr. Giles Finning anfwer ^ to Dr. Gaiiden on the Liturgy ; but he, ^ honefl: man, turned his buff into a ' canonical coat, and fo became reBus in * curia ^ after the Reft oration, being zea- * lousfor the church.' Mr. Thomas Hardcajile, ejefted from^^^of^ Bramha?n in the county of Tork^ ^ft^^'caftle. wards was paftor to a Baptiji church at Brijiol, and fuffered much for his Non- . conformity, Dr, Ccilamy^ fays, * he was * born 28 The VLi^TO^Y of the * born at Barwick upon Holm^ and train- * ed up under Mr. Jackfofi of Barwick^ 2l * learned divine. K^ was but a young * preacher, when the a(£l of uniformity * came out, which found him at Bram- * /&^;;2. He preached afterwards at Sbacl- * wel chapel^ and other places ; was a man * of pregnant parts, and a bold fpirit, and * feared no danger. H:^ was feveral times * prifoner at Tork^ at Leeds^ and Chefter. * At Brijlol^ where he was paftor to a * fociety oi fober Anabaptifts, they fent * him to the houfe of corredtion. He * died at Brijloly Anno 1679/ He wrote a ferious treatife upon Matth. vi. 3 4. called Chrijlian Geography and Arith- metic^ an OBavo ; and printed fome excel- lent difcourfes of Mr. Garbiifs, Entitled, one come from the dead to awaken drunkards, George George Fownes, M. A. cjecSed Fownes. from High JVickham in the county of Continua- Bucks. ' He was, fays Dr. Culamy^ born tion, < in Shr op/hire^ bred np in ichool-learning P- 144- c at Shrewjbury, and his father dying, * his mother fcnt him to Cambridge^ where * he was reckoned a confiderable fcholar, * and one of a fharp wit. He was the * publick minifter of this town feveral ' years; but quitted the paridi church * voluntarily, before the King's reftoration * in 1660. However he continued preach- * ing, tho' he was for a while unfixed. [ Sir Henry Wroth bore very hard upon * him. English Baptists. 29 him. He afterwards afTifted Mr. An- thony F aimer in FiimerS'Ilall^ and preached a Ledlure in Lothbury, In 1679. he became paftor to a fociety of Anti-pado'haptilis in Brijiol, in which he fucceeded Mr. T!homas Ilardcajile, A- bout the time of that, which was com- monly called the prepyterian plot^ Sir Robert Teemans took him in the pulpit, and committed him to Neivgate, By- virtue of a flaw in his mittimus^ he was in fix weeks time removed by an Habeas Corpus to the Kings-bench and acquitted, to the no fmall vexation of Mr. Town- clerk Ramfey, Meetings being at that time held in the fields, he was taken on the Highway in Kingjhvood^ ' upon fuf- picion of corning from a meeting, tho' they could not prove it. He was then committed to Gloucejler Jail, for refufing . the corporation oatk^ and riding within Jive miles of a corporation. This was a great hardfliip upon him, becaufe the ad had no power or force in his cafe, upon the account of his refignnig his living before King Charles II. came in. When they brought him to Gloucejler Cajlle, they declared publickly, hejhowd not come out alive. His mittimus was for Jix months. In which time they endea- voured to fuborn witnefTes to fwe^r a riot againfi him, tho* no other rioter was named in the bill that was drawn up, ' and 30 T/je ^isroKY of the ^ and brought in againft him. Upon his * trial, when the witnefs came to fwear, * he looked back on the juftices of the ^ feffions, and faid, Lord! Gentlemen, * what would you have me do ? I cannot. * fwear any thing againft this perfon. * However, they impanelled a jury, and * proceeded. He pleaded his own caufe * very pleafantly; and told them, that if * George and his horfe could not be guilty * of a riot, without John^ Thomas, or * William, or any other company, then * he could not be judged guilty. Here- * upon the jury went out, and returning * quickly again, the foreman gave in the * verdidt, not guilty, - The then Bifhop's * chancellor, being one of the juftices on * the bench, faid with an accent 5 what! * 7iot guilty? The foreman replied a fecond * time ; no, not guilty ; for can George * and his horfe be guilty of a riot, without * any other company ? I fay, not. How- * ever, he was returned back to prifon. * When Jix months were expired, he de- * manded his liberty of the Jailor, who * told him, he had orders not to let him * go, what damage foeverhimfelffuifered; * for they would bear him harmlefs. A * bond wasinliftedon, for good behaviour, * and that with fureties ; and preaching ' he knew would be interpreted a forfei- * ture of this bond, upon which account [ he refufed to ccme under fuch bonds, * and English Baptists. 3 1 * and fo was continued in priion. At the ' affizes he made his appeal to the Judge, ' Juftice Player^ and Juilice Newton^ be- * fore next morning told the Judge, that * if he let that man go, he would draw ' all the country after him. And fo he ' was kept in Gloucefter prifon for two * years, and a half, till God was pleafed ' to releafe him by death, in December^ * 1685. This confinement of his, fays the ^ Dodtor, was the more grievous, becaufe ^ of his being fadly afflided with thcjione. ' Dr. Peachy^ the phyfician, declared to ' him, before his wife, that their confine- ' ment of him was his death -, and that it ' was no lefs murder^ than if they had * run him through the firft day he came ' in, tho* it had been lefs cruel* Mr. yohn Miles, he was ejedted from John Illftonin Glamorga?iflnre, South-wales, and^^^^' after hisejedtment went to New England. He was a very pious man ; and, fays Mr. Mather, had a refpedtful charadler in the churches there. Mr. Tho?nas Froude, he wasejedled from Thomas Cheryton in the county aforefaid. I can^^°"^^ find nothing of him; only Dr. Calamy^ when he mentions him, adds, an Anabap- tift. The Dodtor's partiality towards the Baptijls appears in almoft every inftance. For when fpeaking of Mr. jofiua Head^ he adds, an Anabaptift, but a worthy man\ as if it were a rarity to find a worthy man among 32 The History of th^ among thofe he is pleafed to flile Anabap-- tijis. So when fpeaking of Mr. Thomas Hardca/ilcy he tells us, he was paftor to a {ocitiy oi fiber A?iabaptijls ^iBrifiol. An invidious term, not becoming the pen of a fcholar, a chriftian, or a gentleman. Jolm Mr. "John Skinner^ ejefted from Wejlon^ Skiuner. jj^ ^^ county of Hereford, He appears by the book he wrote 2l^^\vA inj ants bap- ttfrriy to be a man of excellent parts, and learning. Laurence Mr. Laurence Wifi^ he was ejedted from Wife. Chatham Dock in the county of Keiit-, a man of a learned education, and preacher at Aldgate church in Olivers time. His congregation met latterly in Goodmans-yard in the Minories, Mr. John Travers be- longed to him, and had a great refped: for him. When he was 2.prifiner for noncon- formity^ his friends raifed fifty pounds, and put it into the hands of Mr. Traversio im- prove for his ufe. He was one of the five miniflers king Charles II. fent for, when he was for granting liberty of confcience Continua- to the Difenters, Dr. Calamy fays, * he tton^ ^ « yy^g imprifoned in Newgate, for his Jion- ' conformity in 1682, and died in 1692, ' about the 70th year of his age. He be- * came an Anabapti/i before his death, and ' preached to thofe of that denomination * feveral years. Pie has in print feleci ^ hymns for the facrament^ 12°. 1692. To * which are added at the end, fome of his ' laft English Baptists. 23 * laft fermons, which feem to have been * taken from broken notes/ Mr. "John St. Nicholas, ejedled from John st. Ltitterivorth \n the county of Leicejier, It Nicholas. is doubted, whether he was a Bapttjl^ But Mr. Adams who Hved within ten miles of him, fays, that he was reported to be a Baptifl. Dr. Calamy, fays, ^ * He to the ' laft, and he lived to a good old age, was * ufed to ftile himfelf a ftudent in St. Paul's * epiftles. He tranllated into Englifi^ Dr. * Amess Marrow of divinity, which was ' printed by order of parliament. He died * in his 95 th year, and went to the publick * church, as long as he was able to go ' abroad; notwithftanding, that he was ^ for many years fo thick of hearing, that ' he could not hear a word that was faid. ' And when he was afked why he would ' go to church, when he had loft his * hearing ; he declared, he went to give an. * example to others, being afraid, that if * he ftiould ftay at home on the Lord's- * day, when there was a fermon in the ^ church, others might be encouraged to * ftay at home, and keep from church too, * tho' they had no fuch difficulties as he ^ laboured under. He had a good eftate, * and married the Earl of X"^;i/'s daughter, ' and was an able fcholar.' He wrote iht Htjiory of baptifm, 8^, 1671. The 'widows mite, 4°. D Dr. * Manu/cript ^enes me, ^ Ac:ou?it, p. 426. 34 ^ke History of the Dr. Calamy adds, '^ that he hath printed be fides, an help to beginners in the faith ^ containing fome explicatory queftions upon the Creed, Lord's-prayer, ten command- ments and fome choice fcriptures, which was firft pubhfhedin 1663, and lately re- printed in 1 7 19, OSlavo, * I am told, ^ fays the Doftor, as to the Earl of Kent^ *■ whofe daughter Mr. Nicholas married j ' that he was an old puritan^ and incum- ' bent of a living, and met with trouble * in the ecclefiaftical courts, on account of ' fome failures in the point of conformity; * and when the honour came to him, as * heir of that noble family, he was not to ' be prevailed with, tho* preffed by many, * to quit the miniftry, but held on ofRcia- * ting as before, and had no further mo- * leftation or difturbance/ I OBSERVE fays he, * as to this Mr. * St, Nicholas^ that he has prefixed to his ' hi [lory of baptifrn^ which he has dedica- ' ted to Anthojiy Earl of Kent^ a Ihort ad- * drefs to the governours, and minifters of *• the colonies, and plantations in New * England, efpecially the old planters; in * which he ftiles himfelf, an adventurer * in the iirfl: plantation, as well as a fym- * pathizer, in their joys, fears and for- * rows/ William Mr. JVilliam Woodward, after his ejedl- ^^°° " ment, was pallor of a fmall congrega- tion ^ Continuation^ p. :;9r. English Baptists. -jc tion at Harlow in the county of Ef- /ex. Mr. Thomas Jefinings, ejeded from Thomas Brimsfeildin the county of Gloncepr, Dr. -^^""^"S^- Calamy i^iys, ' '^he was a moderate Ajiabap- * tifl J and that he finds his name, as mini- ' fter oiMatfon, ^ to the teftimony of the ' mlniftersin this county^ in 1648*. The Dodior is very free with his epithets when fpeaking of the Baptifis, But I do not once find him diftinguifliing any one of his own fedl in that manner, and it is well known, that many of them could not with juftice be fo diftinguiflied. But I on- ly remark it as an inftance of the Dolor's partiality ; as to his moderation I'll not meddle with. Mr. Baker, he was elder of a Bapti/l Baker,- chavchsLt Chatham. . Dr. G?/^;;^^ mentions one of this name ejefted from Folkfione, ^If it be the fame man, he fays, * after his ' ejedment, he became very poor, and * was indifpofed in his head, and his un- ' derftanding was impaired. He lived for ' fome time, in a very afflided, diftreffed * ftate, and at length died at Dover.' Mv. John Smith, ejedlcd fron, ^r^;7//>john in LeiceflerJJnre, he was a very lively and Smith, folid preacher, a man of an unblemiihed converlation, very much beloved. He was fent down into the country by the Triers, D 2 and * Acccuvt, p. 330. e Continuation, p. 505, ^ Account y p. 384. 36 7he History of the and prefented to the living by -^ Palmer^ Efq; after his eje(flment, he took a fmall farm in Ckarky-forrejl^ preached frequent- ly, when he had opportunity, and Hved privately till he died. Mr. Ogle preached his funeral fermon at Dife^ivorth in the fame county. He was forced out before theadt of uniformity ; becaufe fuch were excepted in the king's proclamation of pardon. Thom3s jyi^-^ Thomas Faxford^ he was eje6led from Clapton in the county of Gloucejier, ' s Xho* he was not bred a fcholar, fays ' Dr. Calamy, yet he had good natural parts, *^ and preached, and prayed well, and ' fometimes officiated for Mr. Palmer^ at * Boiirton upon the ivater. After his ejedt- * ment, he became an Anabapti/i -, and ' fell under fome cenfures as to his 7?iorals ; ' which I the rather take notice of, becaufe * of an intimation of Dr. Walkers, as if ^ fome of the ejected were therefore paiTed ^ by, becaufe they were fuch, 2i%partiality ' itfelf could not fpeak well of.* The Dodtor here, could not be under a neceffity of anfwering Dr. Walkers inti- mation, by an inftance from among the Baptilisy but might if he pfeafed, have found many, amongft thofe of his own denomination, which would have been much more to the purpofe. It is not can- did, thus by i?iuendo, to impeach the cha- radter of any perfon. He ought to have I given 8 Continuation, p. 506. English Baptists. 37 given fome well attefted proof of theccn- fures Mr. Paxton fell under refpeding his morals. For when a man affirms any thing that is injurious to the memory of a perfon, he ought at leaft to give fome fort of proof of its truth. Tho' a negative is not eafily praved, and a bold affirnner may fancy he has fome advantages -, yet all the world is not of his mind, and fome colour of truth is at leaft expedled. But he be- came in the ftile of the Dodor an Ana- baptili^ and that's enough I find, in his judgment, to intitle him to fay what he pleafed, without any proof. Mr. Richard Adams ^ he was ejeded Richard from his living at HumberJio?ie^ in the"^^^"^^- county of Leice/ier, by the black Bartho- Imnew a5i in 1662. After his ejecStment, he married a wife at Mountforrel^ and there fet up a meeting in his own houfe. Many perfons at firft were afraid to appear there; afterwards it increafed much, and he kept it ^hoxxi fourteen years. Juftice Babington was very fevere againft him. He fined him twelve pence per day, and fent to the officers of the parifli to make dijirefs for it. The poor men were fo troubled in confcience, that they could not tell what to do. At length upon the juftice's threatning them, they feized his pewter^ and fent it to the pewterer's, who refufed to buy it. After this the juftice fcnt for him, and told him he was not D 3 againft 38 7he "iHisTOVi^ of the agalnft his keeping of fchool in his houfe ; but if he would not leave off his meeting there, he mufl expecfl to be troubled. Soon after this, the juftice died by exceflive bleeding. He was a fober Gentleman, but zealous againli the diffenters, and oppreffed them more than all the other juftices in the country. Mr. Adams retired to London^ '• ^ He was, fays Dr. Calamy, an Anabap- ' ///?, and fucceeded Mr. Daniel Dyke, in ^ the care of the congregation at Devonjldire- * fquare, a man of great piety and integrity'. He lived to a very great age, by reaibn of which, he could not preach fome years before his death ; but was affifred by the reverend Mr. Mark Ke\\ who alfo fucceed- ed him in the paftoral care of his church. Henry Mr. Henry Haggar^ he was fome time K^gg^r- miniftcr at Stafford and wrote a piece, called, lihe foundation of the font dif cover - ed\ which was anfwered by Mr. Houghton, He is mentioned by Mr. Denne^ in his preface to the two publick difputations between Dr. Gunning and himfelf, as one who had teftified, both by his pen and fufferings againft infant haptifm, and is fuppofed to be the perfon that baptized Mr. Daitvers, Mr. John Canne^ I find him in a manu- fcript lift, among the gentlemen that left the eftablifhed church, and joined the Eaptifis. Which lift, a reverend gentle- maq * Continuation, p. 594. Ciinne, English Baptists. 39 man has put into my hands, fince the pub- lication of the firft volume. But I am not certain, whether he was a Baptijl or not. The reverend Mv.Neak obferves, that Mr. Fuller calls the church of which he was the paftor, a congregation o^Anabap- . tifts^ who were met together to the number of eighty \ but by their journal or church- book, an abftradt of which, fays he, is now before me, it appears to be Mr. More^ congveg2ition of Imlepenclents. ' We have, * fays Mr. Neale, given an account of their * original [the Independents^'] from Mr. ^ Robiiifon, and Mr. Jacob, in the year and I confirmed the churches in other places. I am not yet got fo far as London-, but I fliall, I exped: to-morrow. Dearly beloved, my defire and prayer to our father, on your behalf is, that you may live above, and then your fouls (hall not v/ant comfort; and my exhortation to you is, to wait upon the Lord, in his own way, and not to look forth into the world ; th.cTe is bread enough in your fluher's hoiifc ; there he hath promifed his prefence. Tho' you feem to want gifts, yet you fliall not want the prefence of your iatl:er, your Jefus, if you wait upon him. I The English Baptists. 53 The unlimited power of the Prejhyterians is denied them [an unpardonable fault to talk at that rate] of which you ftiall hear more fhortly. I defire to be remembred to all my friends with you, and at prefent reft Tour dear brother in the faith andfeU lowjhip oj the gojpel^ Gilford Ap. 20, Thomas Collier, 1646. I (hall fee you as fpeedily as poffibly I may. I'd the Saints in the order and fellowfdip of the gofpel. MY dear ones in the Lord Jefus, I falute you, defiring him who is our head and hufband, our life and liberty, our all and in all, to gather up our fouls more abundantly into the glorious unity and fellowihip of the fon of God ; that you may not live upon thefe lower things, which are but inftruments to convey light and love unto us : I mean, even ordinan- ces, or the like; which indeed are but as a fhell without the kernel, further than we enjoy Chrift in them. My dear ones, you are in my heart continually, and my ^ defire is to be with you as foon as poffible I can, to impart fome fpiricual gifts unto you, and to enjoy fellowfhip in Jefus Chrift with you. But what is this ? you are upon the heart of Chrift ; nay, en- E 3 graven 54 ^^^ Hist OR V of the graven upon his hand, and fhall be had in everlafting remembrance before him. I am much in hafte at prefent, the poft be- ing coming forth of town, only I have fent you thefe few^ lines, and two books here inclofed, as a remembrance of my love. I defire to be remembred to all my dear friends with you, and at prefent reft aad remain lljiir dear brother, in the faith and fellowjldip of the go/pel, Lond. May 2, , ^ ii« 1646. 1 nomas Lollien ThciT.as Mr. Thomas Lamb was a zealous and Lamb, popular preacher among the Baptijls, dur- ing the tyranny of archbiftop Land':, and at his infligation, was brought in chains from Colchejhr, the place of his nativity, to London^ for not confirming to the eftab- 1 idled church, and for preaching toafepa- rate congregation. He was brought before the court oF Star-chamber, and called up- on to confefs, that he had adminiftred thefacrament of the LordVfupper^ which if he had confeffed, he would have been hanijhcd. But without either owning or denying, he pleaded, that a fubjedl of England was under no obhgation to bear witrxfs aeainft himfelf. His wife went often to the Star-chamber-court, while her hufband was confined, and in behalf of f/^o/ children^ earneftly folicited thearch- ' •'- bifliop English Ba pt is ts. biihop to let her hufband have his liberty, which it was in his power to procure. But he called to the people about him to take away that troublefome woman. Mr. Lamb was in almoft all the goals in and about London ; always returning to his work of preaching, as foon as he got free from con- finement, and was of fuch couragious re- folution, as often to fay, that the man v/as not fit to preach, who would not preach for God's fake, tho' he were fure to die for it as foon as he had done. He was made chaplain to a regiment in Oliver's army, and died about the year 1672. Once, when this Mr. La-72b was to baptize a woman in Oldford river, which place was then much frequented for that purpofe; her hufband, a bitter enemy to the Baptijls^ brought a great ftone under his coat, defigning, as he afterwards con- fefled, to have thrown it at Mr. Lamb, while he flood in the river. But he was fo much affeded with the prayer he heard before the baptizing^ that he dropped the ftone, fell into tears, and was himfelf the next per Jon baptized. There is a quarto book extant written by this Mr. Lamb^ in the year 1656, and dedicated to his high- nefs the ProteBor, intitled, Abfolute free- dom of Jin, by Chrijfs death for the world, as the objedf of faith, in oppoftion to con- ditional, Jet forth by Mr. John Goodwin, in his book intitled. Redemption redeemed, E 4 ' and s^ 56 The History of the and the final per feverance of the faints pro^ ceeding from eleBion^ by the grace of God alone ^ maintained^ ajid fuceetly reconciled with the aforefald do5irine. And the great queftion of God's eter?ial decree of reproba- ting the unbelieving world chained from that odium caft upon it by Mr, Goodwin. He wrote alfo a fmall cBavo pamphlet, in- titled, I'be fou7itain of f^ee grace opejted. And a larger pamphlet in quarto^ printed in the year 1642, intitled, A treatife of particular predcfiination^ wherein are an- fwered^ three letters^ the fir ft ^ tending to difprove particular predeflination : the /econd, to Jl:ew the coniradiSlion betwixt Chrifi's dying for all, and God's eledlion of fome : the third, to prove, that the foul doth not come from the parent, and confequently that there is no original fin. In which pamphlet, in anfwer to thefe three letters, he labours the fame argument, which runs thro' the whole aforementioned book a- gainft Goodwin, that is, the reconciling of particular eleBion, with u?iiverfal redemp- tion. I T n I N K it proper to obferve, that there was in thefe times another Thomas Lafnb, who, together with Mr. William Allen, left the Baptifts, after they had for fome time preached amongft them, and became followers of Mr. Baxter^ and afterwards conformed to the eflabliflied church. That this Lamb, who conformed, was not he of whom English Baptists, 57 whom I have given the aforegoing account, appears by the teftimony of a perfon now living, descended from that fir ft- mentioned Mr. Lamb^ who well knew him for many years to the time of his death ; and who abfolutcly affirms, that he to the laft con- tinued a diflenter, and a Baptijl. And moreover, that the church of which he was paftor, met in his own houfe, at the Spital near Norton-falgate ; whereas Mr. Baxters profelyte was, together with Mr. jille?!^ paftor of a people, that met in Lotbbury. And further the name of the wife, whofe writing to Mr. Baxter was the immediate occafion of her huft)and's leaving the Baptijls^ was quite different from the name of the wife of Mr. Lamb^ above defcribed 5 and other circumftances might be mentioned if needful. 'Tis indeed out of courfe to mention in this chapter perfon s v/ho ntVQV Juffered on account of their miniftry among the Baptijis. However, the reader I hope, will pardon the digrefifion I here make, to vindicate the memory of a man of great refolution and firmnefs, from that inftabi- lity, which otherwife might feem to be- long to his character. Mr. Baxters ac- count of Mr. //^////^w ^&;7, and Mr. T/j^?- Thomas mas Lamb is as follows:*' ^ There was, ^^JJIj^'^^ * fays he, two very fober men in London, Alkn. * Mr. Lamby and Mr. ^l/e?7, who were * paftojcs } li/e, part 2. p. 180. 58 The JriisTOViY of the . * paftors of an Anabapfiji feparated church. * The wife of one of them, an extraordi- * nary intelligent woman, wrote me a * letter, that her hufband was in troubled * thoughts, not about anabaptiftry, but * about feparation upon that account; and * that if I would write to him now, it * might do him good. Which I did, * and gave him many arguments to prove, ' that tho' he fliould continue in his opi- * mon '^g2i\n& i?ifant baptifm, yet he ought / not to make it a reafon of denying com- * munion with his brethren of another « mind. Thele arguments met with * thoughts of his own, that tended the * fame way; and in conclufion he was * fatisfied. Afterwards the fame woman * perfuaded me to try with Mr. Allen alfo, * who in conclufion was fatisfied, and they * diflblved their church. When this was * done, the men, being of extraordinary * fincerity, and underftanding, v/ere very ' zealous for the redudion of their brethren ' of the Anabaptijls way. And to that end, * they had a meeting with divers of the ' moft moderate paftors of the re- baptized ' churches, and they delired mypropofals * or terms on which we might hold peace * and communion with them.— Thefe . * two brethren at laft caft off their Anabap- ' tiflry alfo ; and are now more zealous ^ than other men againft independency ' and English Baptists. 59 * and reparation, by how much the more * they fmarted by it/ In another place, fays Mr. Baxter ^"^Tvjo ' old friends that I had a hand hereto- * fore in turning from Anabapttfti-y and ^ feparation, Mr. Thomas La?nb, and Mr. * William Allen, that followed Mr. John * Goodwin, and afterwards became paftors * of an Anabaptijl chmch,' tho' but tradef- rnen [they were men of under/landing be- fore] ^ fell on writing again ft feparation, ' more ftrongly than any of the conform- ' able clergy 5 but in fenfe of their old * error run now into the other extreme, ' efpecially Mr. Lamb^ and wrote againft ^ our gathering affemblies, and preaching * when we are iilenced.* I TAKE the liberty further to obferve, tho' I own it is not according to the ftrid: rules of order, to do it here, that there was in thefe times one; who^ far from following the example of his brethrens conftancy, deferted in fo fhameful a man- ner, the caufe he had undertaken to defend, that it muft be extenfive charity, which can fuppofe, that he did it from convidlion of conscience; and tho* after his confor- mity, he returned again to his brethren, whom he had forfaken, yet he never wiped off that blot, which the love of this world had fixed upon him. I mean Mr. *5^^^/2/^/g^^ , Gates, father of the famous, or rather infa- Oates. mous ^ Life, part 3. p. i8c. 6o The History of the mous ^itm Oates. He was minifter of a Baptiji church in LtncohJInre ^ a popular preacher, and great difputant, and probably the fame who difpu ted with Mv.Sheffeild in Leicejler-caftle ; of which mention is made by Dr. Calamy, His words are thefe: * " Mr. Oates^ an Anabaptiji^ coming into * the country, difturbed feveral congrega- * tions, and difperfed publick challenges, * to difpute with any minifter or minifters, * upon the point of infant bapttfm. Seve- * ral jufticesof the peace fent to Mr. Shef- * fetld^ defiring him to accept the challenge, * and difpute the point with him in Leicef- ' ter-caftle. He yeilded to their deiire, *■ and by agreement, Sir Thomas Beaumont ' was moderator. At the entrance of the * difpute, Mr. Sheffeild openly protefted, * that it was truth, and not victory, he * was aiming at and purfuing: and that ' therefore, if he could not anfwer the ar- "- guments that fhould be brought againft ' him, or maintain the points he pretended ' to defend, againft the oppofition that * fhould be made againft them, he would * frankly acknowledge it before them. He ^ * defired the fame of Mr. Oates^ who alfo ' agreed. The difpute, fays he, continu- * ed three houis, and was managed with * great fairnefs and temper. At length * Mr. Oates was gravelled with an argu- * ment, and yqt loudly called on by the * people 9 Account y Vol. II. p. 421 • English Baptists. 6i^ * people prefent, either to anfwer, or, ac- * cording to his promife, to confefs he * could not. Whereupon he frankly * confeffed, that he could not at prefent • * anfwer it/ After the Reftoration, he had a great place offered him by the duke of Tork^ which temptation prevailed with him to conform. He had the living of Haflings^ in the county of Sujfex, But fometime after, his confcience fmote him; he left his living, and returned to Mr. Lamb's congregation, where he continued about Jive ovjix years, till his death. But to return to thofe who remained ftedfaft. Mr. John Gofjiold, he was iirft john a minifter of the eftablifhed church, a man Gofnold. of great learning and piety. In the time of the civil wars, when men were upon fearch after truth, and made the fcriptures the ftandard of their enquiries, he became convinced, that the Baptijis were the only people, who clofely adhered in faith and practice to the written word ; and accord- ingly he joined himfelf to them. He was chofe paftor of a congregation at Barbica?i in London^ and was one of thofe minifters who fubfcribed the Apology pre fen ted to King Charles II. on occafion of Venners confpiracy. He was a pious prad:ical preacher, of Angular modefty and mode- ration, unconcerned in the difputes of the times, and much efteemcd and valued by men 62 n^e lAisroKY of the men of note and dignity in the eflabliill- ed church; who, notwithftanding the change of his opinion in the point of haptifm^ kept up a correfpondence with him. Particularly, he was intimate with Dr. Ttllotfon^ afterwards archbifhop of Can^ terbiiry^ and ufed to attend his week-day ledlure. He was fo popular in his preaching, as to draw after him people of all denomi- nations. His audience, in a large building (which ftill continues no inconfiderable place of worfhip, tho' eight or nine rooms have fince been taken out of it, and the upper gallery fo quite unoccupied) was ufually computed to be near three thoufandy and among them very often ^;c ov /even clergy men in their gowns, who fat in a convenient place, under a large gallery, where they were feen by few. The great number of his auditors, and the figure which fome of them made, was (hortly after the fire of Loudon the occafion of an application from the officers of the parifl> oiCripplegate^ in which his meeting flood, defiring, that he would make a colledlion for the poor, who abounded in that parifh, efpecially after that dreadful fire. Accord- ingly he made a collection, amounting to upwards of ^y5/?y pounds, and the church -voluntarily continued the coUedtion for a- bove twenty years after. He publifhed a fmall treatife, intitled, T.he doEtrine of baptijmi j English Baptists. St bapttfms y and another concerning the laying on of hands. Dr. Calamy fays, * ° He was bred in * the Charterboufe fchool, and in Pembroke^ * hall in Cambridge ; and was afterwards * chaplain to the lord Grey, He was a- * gainft infaiit baptifm. He was deprived * of his liberty of preaching, and forced * to hide and fkulk, tho' he was always * peaceably minded, and never gave any * difturbance to the government. He had * a great zeal againft focinianijm, making * it much his buiinefs to expofe the opini- ' ons of fuch as were that way given, * and to keep his people from that infedion. * He was mucli refpeded by his flock. He * is interred in the burying-ground near * Bunhil-Jields^ where there is this infcrip- * tion upon his Tomb-ftone. ' Here lyeth the body of Mr. Jolvz * Gojhold, a faithful minifter of the gofpel, * who departed this life OBober the third ^ 1678, and in the 53d year of his age.' Mr. yohn Bunyan^ he was born at y^hn Eljlon, in thecounty of £^^^r^, of honeft, Bunyan. but very poor parents. Yet they took care to give him that learning which was fuitable to their condition, bringing him up to read and write. But fo great was his natural depravity, and his pronenefs to all evil, that he quickly forgot both, being only wife to do evil^ and became fo noted for * Continuaticm, P- ?/♦ 64 T^e History of the for his impiety, that he declared himfelf, that he was a town-fmner^ and the very ringleader of all the youth that kept him company, in all manner of vice and un- godlinefs. His converfation with a poor religious man fo affedted him, that he be- took himfelf to reading of the bible, which produced fuch an outward reformation, both in his words and life, as filled his neighbours with wonder and aftonifliment ; and thofe that fpake ill of him before, be- gan now to praife and commend him, both to his face, and behind his back. Not long after this, he went to Bedford y where the religious converfation of fome there, brought him to feel fome unufual agitations in his heart, and to be confcious to himfelf, that his condition was not fo good as he had thought it to be ; fo he began to make his condition known to thofe, whofe reli- gious difcourfe had been the occafion of his real converfion. Thefe acquainted Mr. Gifford, the paftor of the Baptijl church there, who invited him to his houfe. And about the year 1655, Mr. Bunyan was baptized, and admitted a member of the Baptiji church at Bedford \ who having had experience of the grace of God that tvas in him, and how eminently God had fitted him for the work of the miniftry, foon gave him a call thereto. And after he had fpent fome time privately in the exercife.of his gifts, he was folemnly fet a- part English Baptists. 65 part, by fafling and prayer, for the more publick preaching of the word of God ; and very ufeful was he, in the hand of God, to the converfion of many. One remarkable inftance, fays the author of his life,* I cannot omit, and that is, * That * p. 23. ' being to preach in a church, in a coun- ^ try village (before the refloration of king * Charles) in Cambridgejhire^ and the peo- * pie being gathered together in the church- * yard, a Cambridge fcholar, and none of * the fobereft of them neither, enquired * what the meaning of that concourfe of * people was, it being upon a week-day ; * and being told, that one Bimyan a tinker * was to preach there, he gave a boy two- * pence to hold his horfe, faying, he was * refolved to hear the tinker prate ; and fo * he went into the church to hear him. But '■ God met him there, by his miniftry, fo ^ that he came out much changed, and * would by his good-will, hear none but ^ the tinker for a long time after ; he him- ^ felf becoming a very eminent roinifter ^ in that country afterwards.' There is a manufcript under Mr. Bun- yan^ hand, giving an account of his im- prifonment^ and of the conferences he had with fome of the clergy, and hisexamina-^ tions and pretended tryal, before the juftices, at their qiiarter-fcjjions^ held at Bedford^ too much to be fully tranfcribed in this place, it begins thus : Vol, hi. F T:he 66 ^he Hi s t o r y of the The relation of my imprifonment, in the mo?2th of Nowtmhtv^ 1660. WHEN by the good hand of my God, I had for five or Jix years together, without any interruption, freely preached the bleffed gofpel of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and alfo had thro' his bleffed grace, fome encouragement by hisbleffing thereupon ; the devil, that old enemy of man's falvation, took his opportunity to enflame the hearts of his vaffalsagainft me, infomuch that at the laft, I was laid wait for, by warrant of a Juftice of the peace, and was taken and committed to prifon. The relation thereof is as foUoweth. * Upon the twelfth of this inftant Novem- ber 1660, I was defired by fome friends in the country, to come to preach at Gan- jel^ near Harlington^ in Bedford/hire-^ to whom I made a promife, if the Lord permitted, to be with them at the time ap- pointed. He was there (by virtue of a warrant granted by Francis IVijigate^ Efq; a Juftice of the peace) apprehended ; tho' he might have efcaped their hands, having had pre- vious notice of theit'^rr^;//againfthim, by putting off their meeting. But h^ encouraged himfelf in the Lord his Gody and after fome deliberation /)ro and con^ refolved not to put it offi and faid, come be of good cheer, let English Baptists. 67 us not be daunted, our caufe is good, we need not be aftiamed of it ; to preach the word is fo good a work, that we fhall be well rewarded, ifwefufFer for it. Being taken^ and had before juftice Win-- gate^ who enquired of the officers, what they did, where they met, and what they had with them ; I tro* fays Mr. Bunyan he meant, whether we had armour or not. But when he was told, they were only few, and met together to hear the word preach- ed, and no figns of any thing elfe, he was at a (land; and after a few words with Mr. Bunyan^ wifhed him to get fureties^ or elfe he would fend him to goal. The fureties being ready, were called in, and told, if Mr. Bunyan preached, their bonds would be forfeited. Then faid Mr. Bun- yaUy I fhall break them, for I fhall not leave fpeaking the word of God, even to counfel, comfort, exhort, and teach the people amongfl whom I come ; and farther faid, he thought preaching to be a work, that had no hurt in it, but was rather worthy of commendation than blame. ^'I Whilst \{\s mittimus vj^lS making, and ''the juflice withdrawn, Dr. Lindale began ■^to taunt at him, with many reviling terms; A^but Mr. Bunyan fo anfwered hirn, as foon ^"^ut him to filence. The mittimus h^'ing ^^ 'made, he was committed to the officer, Jio be carried to the goal in Bedford, But as I was going, fays Mr. Bunyan, two of F 2 my 68 The History of the my brethren met with me by the way, and defired the officer to flay, fappofing that they fliould prevail with the juftice, thro' the favour of a pretended friend, to let me go at liberty : fo we did ftay, while they went to the juftice. And after much dif- courfe with him, it came to this ; that if I would come to him again, and fay, fome certain words^ I (hould be releafed ; which, when they told me, I faid, if the words were fuch, that might be faid with a good conjcience, I (hould, or elfe I (hould not. So, thro' their importunity, I went back again ; but not believing \ fhould be ■ delivered : for I feared, their fpirit was too full of oppofition to the truth, to let me go, unlefs I fliould in fomething or other, dijhonour my God, and wound my con- fcience. Wherefore as I went, I lift up my heart to God, for light and ftrength, to be kept, that I might not do any thing, that might either difl^onour him, or wrong my own foul, or be a grief or difcourage- ment to any, that was inclining towards Jefus Chrift. Mr. Bunyan being come back to the iuftice's, Mv. Fofler of -Bedford, with much feeming aftedtion, faid to him, How doft thou do, John Banyan ? who anfwered, that, bleffed be God, he Vt^as well. Says Mr. Fojler, if you will promife to call the ■ people no more together^ you fliail have your liberty to go home ; for my brother is very loth English Baptists. 69 lath to fend you \.o prijbn^ if you will but be ruled. Much pro and con^ was held between Mr. Biinyan and Mr. Fofter^ a- bout what was meant by calling the people together. And when he found Mr. Biinyan was at a point with him, and could not be moved, nor prevailed upon to leave preach- ing; hetoldthejuftice, that then he muft fend him away to prifon, and that he would do well, if he would prefent them all, that were the caufe of his coming a- mongft them to meetings. And verily, fays Mr. Bunyan, as I was going forth of the doors, I had much ado, to forbear fay- ing unto them, that I carried the peace of God along with me. But I held my peace; and, bleffed be the Lord, I went away to prifon with God's comfort in my poor foul. After he had lain in the goal five or fix days, means were attempted to procure his liberty by bondfmen ; for fo ran his rnitti- mus, that he fhould lie there till he could ti^Afureties, and had the promife of juftice Crumpton2xRlfloiD, But he defiring to fee his mittimus^ which ran to this purpofe, that he went about to feveral conventicles in this country, to the great difparagement of the government of the church of England^ Sic. upon which he faid, there might be fome- thing more againft him, than was exprefkd, and therefore he being but a young man, durft not do it. This, fays Mr. Bunyan, my goaler told me ; and I was not at all daunt- F 3 ed yo The History of the ed, but rather glad, and faw evidently that the Lord had heard me. For before I went down to the juftice, I begg*d of of God, that if I might do more good, by being at liberty, than in prifon, that then I might be fet at liberty ; but if not, his will be done. I was not altogether without hopes, but that my imprifonment might be an awakening to the faints in the country. Therefore I could not tell well what tq chufe ; only I in that manner did commit the thing to God. And verily, at my re- turn, I did meet my Goi Jhveetly in priforiy again comforting me, and fatisfying me, that it was his will and mind, that I fhould be there j none can exprefs what joy I had. For when I came back again to prifon, as J was mufing at the flender anfwer of the young juftice ; this word dropt in upon my heart with fome life, For he k?uw that for envy^ they had delivered hi?7i. After feve?i weeks imprifonment, he vv'as brought to the quarter-fejjioiis held at Bedford: and the bill of indiB7nent prefer- red againft him was, T^hat he did devilifloly^ and pernicioujly abftain from coming to church to hear divine fervice^ a?id is a common upholder of fever al unlawful meet^ ings and conventicles^ to the great difur- bance, and difraBion of the goodfubjeBs of this kingdom^ contrary to the laws of our fovereign Lord the King^ &c. W?iEN this was read^ the clerk of the English Baptists. 71 feflions faid unto hitn, What fay you to this ? Mr. Bunyan replied, that as to the firft part of it, he was a common frequenter of the church of God, a member of them over whom Chrift is the head. Much time was fpent in queftions about the Common- prayer^ &c. and juftice Keeling in the end told him, he was not fo well verfed in fcripture, as to difpute, and that they could not wait upon him any longer: but faid to him. Do you not confefs the indidlmeat? do you not ? Says Mr. Bunyan^ not till now, I faw I was indiBed. I faid, this I confefs, we have had many meetings together, both to pray to God, and exhort one another: an(J we had the fweet comforting prefence of the Lord amongft us, for our encourage- ment, blefled be his name. Then faid juftice Keelirig^ hear your judgment. You muft go back again to prifon^ and there lie for three months fol- lowing ', and at the three months end, if you do not fubmitto go to church, to hear di- vine fervice, and leave your preaching, you muft be bajtified the realm ; and if, after fuch a day as (hall be appointed you to be gone, you (hall be found in this realm, &c. or be found to come over again, without a fpecial licence from the king, you muft fir etch by the neck for it, I tell you plainly ; and fo bid the goaler have him away. Mr. F 4 Bunyan 7 2 l^he History of the Bunyan anfwered, a^ to this matter, he was at a point with him, for if he was out of prifon to day, he would preach the gof- pel again to-morrow, by the help of God. Thus, fays Mr. Biinyan^ I departed from them ; and I can truly fay, I blefs the Lord Jefus Chrift for it, that my heart was fweetly rcfreflied in the time of my examination, and alfo afterwards at my returning to prifon ; fo that I found Chrift's words more than bare trifles, where he faith, / will give a mouth and 7!jiJdoj7J, even fiich as all the adverfaries jhall not rejifi or gain fay, and that his peace no man can take from lis. After he had continued twelve weeks longer in prifon, Mr. Cob, the clerk of the peace, went to admonifli him, and de- mand of him fubm'[[jion to the church of Engla7id', a long conference was held be- tween him and Mr. Banyan, and, in the end, Mr. Bunyan told him, the law had provided two ways of obeying ; the one was to do that which he in his confcience did believe he was bound to do aBively ; and where he could not obey actively, he was willing to lie down and fufFer what they fhould do unto him. After I had, fays Mr. Bunyan, re- ceived this fentence of banifiing or ha?2g-^ ing from them, juft when the time drew i:!igh, in which I fhould have abjured, or done v/orfe^ came the time in which the king English Baptists. -73 king was to be crowned. Now, at the coronation of kings, there is ufually a releafement of divers prifoners, by virtue of the king's coronation, in which privi- lege alfo, I fhould have had my {hare, but that they took me for a conviBed perfon ; and, therefore, unlefs I fued out a pardon, I could have no benefit thereby. Yet, forafmuch as the coronation proclamation did give liberty, from the day the king was crowned, to that day twehe-month^ to fue my pardon out ; therefore, tho' they would not let me out of prifon, as they let out thoufands^ yet they could not meddle with me, as touching the execu- tion of their fentence, becaufe of the li- berty afforded for the fuing out of par- dons ; whereupon I continued in prifon till the next affizes, 1661. Now, at that Affizes^ by reafon I would not leave any poffible means unattempted, that might be lawful, I did, by my wife, prefent a petition to the judges three times, that I might be heard, and that they would impartially take my cafe into con- fideration. Much trouble did attend the poor wo- man, but without any fuccefs, his enemies being fo prevalent, that he was kept a prifoner ivom JeJjtGns to fejjionsy and from one a[ji%e to another^ without being per- mitted to appear before the judges to fpeak for himfelf. And thus he continued in prifon 74 7%e }ii^TOViY of the prifon twelve years, for the teftimony of a good confcience. During which time, though he laboured with his hands^ to mi- nifter to his own, and to his family's ne- ceffities, yet he wrote feveral excellent and ufeful treatifes j particularly The Holy Cityy Chrijlian Behaviour^ the Refurrediion of the Dead^ Grace abounding to the chief of SinnerSy and feveral others. After his enlargement, which was ob- tained by the means of that worthy pre- late Dr. Barlow^ bifliop of Lincoln, he made it a great part of his bufinefs, to vi- fit the faints of God abroad, paying his chriftian acknowledgements to them ; ef- pecially fuch who were a fupport to him under his fufferings, preaching the Gofpel wherever he came, and exhorting all, not to be afraid or ajhamed of taking up the crofs of Chrijly or to forfake the ajfembling of themf elves together, the' the laws were againft it, as knowing that God ought to be obeyed before man. He was a man of a piercing judgment, and had a great infight into things, as ap- peared in the reign of king fames II. when liberty of confcience was fo uaexped:- edly given to dillenters in general. He faw it was not out of kindnefs to them, and acknowledged, that liberty of confd^ ence was good, and was every man's birth- right by a divine charter j but he could not believe, it was then given out of a good end. English Baptists. 75 end, and that the bright funfhine of the prefent liberty, was but to introduce a black cloud of flavery upon them, when once the defigns then laying, were ripe for execution ; and therefore exhorted his con- gregation at Bedford, and others alfo, to niake ufe of the Ninevites remedy, to avert the impending ftorm. It was his conftant pradice, when he had his liberty, to' come up once a year to London^ and to preach in feveral places there, but more particularly in Southwark^ near the Faulcon -, and his labours met with a general acceptance from all his nu- merous auditors. The laft ad: of his life, was a labour of love and charity, A young gentleman, who was his neighbour, having fallen un- der the difpleafurc of his father, he defired Mr. Bunyan to be the inftrument of mak- ing up the breach, which he both under- took, and happily effected. But in his re- turn to London^ being overtaken with ex- ceffive rains, and coming to his lodgings very wet, he fell fick of a violent fever ^ which, in teji days, put a period to his life. He died Augufi 17, 1688, in the 59th year of his age. His works, which were many, are now collected, and pub- lifhed in two volumes in folio. Mr. Thomas Grantham^ a faithful and Thomas laborious minifter of Chrift. He began tO(.jj^^" feek the Lord very early, and publickly made Ude History of the made a profeffion of his faith, by being baptized^ and joining himfelf to the bap- tized church, gathered at Bofton in Lin- colnjiyire^ about the 19th year of his age. He waiting in the church of God, foon obtained favour of the Lord, to know his will, and alfo abilities to make the fame known unto others. In the profecution of this work, he had the honour to be made a fufferer for the fake of Chrift and his caufe, for he foon became the objedt of fatan's hate ; and, as a confequence thereof, was thrown into Lincoln goal^ where he well employed his time, and wrote the firft trad:, which bears the title of, T^he Prifoner againjl the Prelate^ &c. This book contains the reafons of feparation from the church of Englmid as by law eftablirtied, as maintained by the baptized churches. The argument is clofe and nervous, though writ in verfe, and contains about ten flieets in fmall cBavo. The confeffion of faith, in the appen- dix^ Vol. II. N^ 4. was by him delivered into King Charles the IId*s own hands. It was written in a time of great danger, and the defigned brevity made way for too much ambiguity, infomuch that the fame much affedcd Mr. Grantham^ which was the caufe of his fpeaking more fully on this Xubjcd:, in his Prifoner againjl the Prelate^ and fubjoining the teftimony of anticjuity, for the better underftanding of each English Baptists. 77 each article, in his Chrijiianifmus Primitt- vus^ lib. 2. chap. 5. and more particularly in his Sigh for Peace, p. 104, &c. There is extant, a manufcript of Mr. Granthani^, intitled, Chrijiianitas reflau-- rata, or Chrijiianity rejiored ; by which it appears, that about the year 1 644, there arofe a reformed chriftian church, in the Jouth marJJj parts of Lincoln/hire, which endured great perfecution in their names, and fubftance, by unjufl flanders and con- fifcations; becaufe, in their adminiji ration of baptifm, they rejed:ed the crofs, and the Jponfors, x\\o\ at the fame time, they re- tained the mode of fpr inkling. But being a pious and holy people, and zealous in the fervice of God, when further light ap- peared to them, they gladly adhered to it, and very readily fet forward a reformation. But further reformations occafioned fome difagreements, that, in the end, ifTued in fuch difunion, that in the year 1651, there were but four perfons who refolved to keep clofe to ihQ fcripture rule, refpeding baptifm by immerfion, upon the profeffion of faith. Thefe (with the afliftance of Mr. Grantham, who procured for them mini- fters to preach to them publickly, whilft himfelf exercifed his own gifts among them privately) by the bleffing of God, foon increafed in number ; and, in the year 1656, chofe Mr. Grantham to be their paftor, tho' he was then but twenty two 8 The History of the two years of age. Being thus fettled in a church ftate, they, like a very fruitful vineyard, grew and encreafed very much, and fent forth feveral minifters to preach the gofpelj who, tho' they were refpedted by fome, yet others ufed them very un- civilly, and in particular the clergy, who, by warrants, brought Mr. Grantham^ and feveral others, before the magiftrates ; but having nothing to fupport their accufations againft them, but forged Jlories and lies^ the wifdom of the magiftrates foon per- ceived their innocency, and the malice of their perfecutors, and therefore fet them all at liberty. And they went on chear- fully, and publickly preaching the word, not only at Halton^ but alfo in many other places^ tho* they met with much rude treatment from the mobs, who would fometimes, in a very uncivil manner, in- terrupt them in their difcourfes, and fome- times drag them out of doors and Jione them ; all which they bore with patience, and treated their rude adverfaries with mo- defty and meeknefs. At length they ob- tained a grant of Northolm-chapel^ where they remained fome years preaching Chrift, and bearing up his caufe, thro* the frowns, feoffs, and jeers of their enemies, and had many feals to their miniftry ; in the num- john ber of which, was Mr. Joh?! Watts ^ a^ perfon very eminent, of honeft repute, and of good note in thofe parts ^ he was bred Watts, English Baptists. 79 bred up at the univerfity^ and becaufe he could not clofe with the cuftoms and ce- remonies thereof, he obtained no dignity or preferment in the church ; but in time became the paftor of a baptifed church, which met together in his own houfe. After the reftauration, (ham plots were contrived, in order to enfnare and arraign them, but without effecft. And Mr. Radleyy who was a mortal enemy to the Baptijis^ by virtue of the Bartholomew adt, went with an armed force to their meeting, with defign to take them up ; but the foldiers beholding their innocent deportment, the fury of them was turned afide, and they went away difmayed, to the great mortification of their leader* This Radley^ tho' a gentlemen, when he had done all he could againft the Baptijls^ grew very poor, became a bankrupt, and died of the plague at London, His wife was expofed to great poverty, and his children thrown upon the town, to be maintained. Some of them were relieved by thofe very Baptijis whom their father had perfecuted. And, indeed, moft of thofe who were forward in oppofing this church, were, by the providence of God, ftrangely cut off, the effect of which was, that fcveral, who would not be otherwife convinced, when they faw this, gave glory to God, and were baptized. About the year 1662, Mr. Grantham was So The History of the was taken up, and carried before a ma- giftrate, who bound him over to the af- fizes held for the county of Lincoln^ and the Baptijls were forely harraffed, with the levies of 20/. per month for not going to the eftabliftied church. Whereupon this church refolved by a petition to fpread their cafe before the king, humbly im- ploring his grace and favour, and to be re- lieved from thofe fevere oppreffions. Pur- fuant to this refolution, they chofe two meffengers, 'viz, Mr. Thomas Grantham^ and Mx.Jofeph Wright, who being ad- mitted into the king's prefence, declared their grievances to him, and prefented to him their brief confejjion, or declaration of faith, fet forth by the baptized churches^ to inform all men of their innocent beliefs andpraBicCy anno 1661. The king received their petition, and the declaration of faith, treated the meffen- gers very courteoufly, protefted againft the cruelty exercifed on them by their ene- mies, and promifed them, that they fhould have their liberties, and accordingly fet forth his declaration in their favour, the 26th of December following; and they who had been indifted for religion, were at the next feffions, or affizes, acquitted in open court, to the fhame and vexation of their enemies, who were upon the bench. ' When the Conventicle adl took place, another perfecution, came upon the churches English Baptists, 8i churches, and foldiers were fent to diiarm thofe, that diffented from the eftablifhed church. And tho* they could not find any arms in the poffeflion of the Baptifts^ yet they rifled their houfes, and took away their goods, and forced Mr. Grantham^ Mr. yohn Gree^ and feveral others, away from their wives and families, making them run along like lacqueys by their horfes fides ; nor would they tell them whither they defigned to lead them, nor whether they Ihould be profecuted by law, or puniilied by force of arms. However, they were forced to go where the foldiers pleafed , who dragged them from town to town 5 but night coming on, they put up at an inn, where they put their prijbners in a room not fit for entertainment, and fa tied them up all night, that they could take no reft ; nor would the foldiers take any themfclves, but fit up near them, damning and fwearing, drinking and fing- ing, making the place like a hell, to thofe devout and pious fouls; and v/hen the morning came, they had them away to Louth, put them into the houfe of correc- tion and afterwards had them before the committee, where inftead of charging them with any crimes, they fought by enfnaring queflions, to pick up fomething to accufe them with; then tendred oaths to them, and afked, if they would conform to the eftablifhed worfhip of the church of Vol. III. G Enz- 82 7/5^ History of the Engla?id, And here, tho' many of the diflenting Pado-baptijls turned, for fear of fufFering ; yet the Baptijls had ftrength and courage enough, to ftand the tryal, and fo three of them, viz, Mr. Grantham^ Mr„ ^John Gree^ and Mr. yohn Green ^ were by ftricl command fent to goal^ where they lay half a year. In which time the ajjizes came on, and their ene- mies prevented their being heard at that time ; but afterwards they were brought before the juftices, at the quarter-feffions^ where the bench refufed to own them, or proceed to hear their caufe. Upon which, the {lierifF faid, that as he had fhewed them in open court, he was free from his charge, and fo they were all fet at liberty. Soon after this, the enemies of Mr. Grantham attempted his ruin, by bring- ing an adtion againft him, of om hundred pounds, under a pretence, that he with force of arms did beat, and uncivilly en- treat, the wife of a certain perfon, and this for no other reafon, but becaufe he h3,di baptized htr. But to the fhame of his profecutors, the caufe at the next ajjizes was thrown out of court, as' a w^//aoz/i profecution. Upon his majefty's indulgence^ fet forth by a declaration in March i6^i, granting liberty to the diffenters to meet and wbr- ihip God according to the light of their confciences, without reftraint or diftur- ' bance. English Baptists. 85 bance, provided their teachers were licenf- ed, their doors fet open, and preached no fedition; Mr. Grantham^ with another -meffenger, was fent by the Baptijls in LincolnJJnre ^ to wait upon his majefty, with an humble addrefs^ or remonjlrance: In which, after praife to Ahnighty God, with thanks to his majefty for the induU gence he was gracioufly pleafed to grant them, of holding publick affemblies for the worfhip of God, they fet forth, wherein they thought his royal declara- tion infringed that liberty, which as chriftians they had a right to 3 and befeech- ing him to leave them to the light of fcripture, with refpeft to the exercife of thofe fpiritual gifts of prayer, and preach- ing in their affemblies, according to their abilities, for the edification of the church, where gifts are free; that they fliould con- tinue in this practice, till they obtain his permiffion ; affuring his majefty, that no lefs liberty than the fcriptures exprefs, would fatisfy the church of God. And then they concluded with thanks to his majefty for all his lenity 5 praying that God would magnify grace in his princely foul, that whilft he reigned here on earth, he might excel in all true honour, and after this life enjoy a crown of immortali- ty, and a throne of glory in heaven. The fteadinefs, zeal, and piety of the Baptijli in Lincolnjmre, created them ma- G 2 ny 84 The History of the ny enemies, who endeavoured to opprefs them to the uttermoft. They wrote in vindication of themfelves a fmall piece that was never pubHflied, intitled, The Baptills complaint againjl the perfecuting priefts, &c. This was drav^n up by Mr. Grantham^ and introduced thus : Altho' we acknowledge ourfelves fandry ways obhged to honour many of the learned of the church of England \ yet feeing fome of them are fo evidently of a perfecuting fpirit, as that they daily feek our utter ruin, both by perfecuting us themfelves, and by ftirring up thofe that are in authority to trouble us, by imprifon- ment and feizure of our goods, we are therefore conftrained to exhibit this our juft complaint ; and the rather, becaufe we have faithfully endeavoured to obtain peace and brotherly concord with them, both by our friendly deportment, and by propofing in a more publick manner, fuch things in our frieiidly epijlle to the bijlx)ps and miniftej'-s of the church of England^ as alfo in our Apology fo?' the baptized be- lievers, as does, we truft, fufficiently evi- dence, that there is nothing more dear to us, than truth, 2Lndp^^ce with all that call o?i the name of our Lord Jefus Chrijl. T o complain againft any out of a pee- vifli humour, or as murmuring at their profperity, becaufe we cannot have our own wills, is a temper below a chriftian. English Baptists. 85 But to complain againft maliciouSj de- bauched and cruel pracflices, is part of the work of thofe, who arc to bear a tefti- mony for God. After Job had fuffered many things from the Chaldeans^ who fpoiled him of his fubftance, he makes his moan thus: ^ Kven to day is my complaint bitter^ my Jiroke is heavier tha?i my groafi- ing. And the P/2/^/;^ thus; ^ I poured out my complaint before him^ I pc-wed before him my trouble^ there was no man that would know me^ no man cared for myJouL In the wav wherein I walked, have they pfivily laid afnarefor me. And Job, again, As for me, is my complaint to man ? A^id if it were fo, why jhould not my fpirit be troubled? . Now, our cafe being, as we believe, much like the cafe of thefe good men, we do alfo make our juft complaint -, that we hve among thofe, who by their place fhould be men of peace and meeknefs, but are far otherwife, fo haughty, a man can fcarce tell how to fpeak to them i and when we fpeak of truth and peace, they are for war, bitterly calling us damn-, ed phanaticks and hereticks, even in their pulpits; only becaufe we diflent from them in fome things which the moft learned confefs have neither precept nor precedent in the word of God. We have born the unkind ufage of many of our countrymen, and of perfe- » Jobxxiii. 2. ^ PfalmaCiii. 3, 4. G 3 muting 86 The History of the cuting priefts in particular for more tharf thirty years. For in the time of Crom" ivelPs ufurpation, they did then hale us before the judgment feats, becaufe we could not worfliip God, after the will of their Lord Protedor; for fo they ftiled him in their articles againft us. And we had ^ then our goods taken away, and never re- ilored to this day. . And left the reader fhould here fuppofc we pi-ovoked thefe men, by witholding their dues ; let him know, that we gave them their demands as well as any, and perhaps from better principles than fome others. For we conlider, that when we either hire, or purchafe land, the tenth is excepted, and fo not ours. But yet, it is alfo to be confidered, that they were not given to maintain men in drunkennefs, lording, perfecuting and ruining fuch as fear God, merely becaufe they diffent from them in the things aforefaid. Yet thus goes the bufinefs in thefe days; by which unreafonable praftices, they outdo the falfe prophets which were of old ; for they prepared war againft thofe as did not put into their mouths; but thefe devour thofe that labour to maintain them. Nor fiiall we as yet make a particular rehearfal of the fufferings of the baptized believers in this nation, having learned with Jerome to fay^ if at any time for the commandment of God, and the verity of faith, English Baptists. 87 faith, the priefts, or falfe prophets, or fool- iih people, be angry with us, let us not efteem or make any account of it, but let us keep the commandments of God 3 not thinking on our troubles which are prcr fent, but beholding the goodnefs to come. Let it fuffice then, that we briefly touch, or refledl upon the things which have come upon us in ^ one county only, tho* we be but few in number, and generally poor men, becaufe there may be a more general account of thefe things tranfmitted to po- fterity. And I. We have fuftained not lefs than the imprifonment of one hundred per- fons, fome by the writ de capiendo, others by the writ qui tarn : fome for hearing, others for preaching the word of God ; not any man am,ongft us being any ways concerned in plotting, or any mifdemeanor, againft our lord the king; for which we give thanks to God, with prayer, that he may have a long and happy reign over us. , 2. We have born the tryal of no lefs than three hundred Itvi^s^ fome for 60, 40, 20, and 10 pounds, fome for 2 pence per week, which by the often repetition of them, have weakened many poor men, and caufed fome to remove their habitations. 3. Indictments at the affizes, and . 'jfellions, upon the Jlatute for 2 pence per ;-week, znd twenty pound per months we ^ The county of Lincoln. .biiiJ G 4 have 88 T^e Hist OKY of the have had the trial of not lefs than a thou- fandy which has been no fmall charge to thofe who have been profecuted there. 4. Presentments, and excommuni- cations in the commifikry courts we have had fome hundreds^ to the great prejudice, as well as charge, of many of us; with many other particular vexations from pri- vate perfons, not here to be inferted. And yet, we truit, we may humbly ufe the words of the Pfalmift ; All this is come upon us, yet have we 7iot forgotten thee ; neither have we dealt deceitfully in thy covenant. ^ But thefe things have contributed, in ge- neral, to our more full afiurance that the truth is with us, in the things wherein we diflent from thofe who perfecute us. And in this holy confidence we hope to pafs thro' the valley of the Jhadow of deaths if our God (hall call us to it. For we believe, and are fure, to perfecute is no mark of the true church, but to fufFer perfecution is fo; and that that religion is not worth profef- fing in a time of peace, which is not worth owning in the time of the greateft trouble. They obferved that two ftrange doftrines were fpread abroad in their day, viz. That there was no fuch thing as paffive obedi- ence for the caufe of religion. That kings are fo far infallible^ as that what re- ligion they eftablifh is the true worfhip of. ° Pfalm xliv. 17,18. God English Baptists. 89 God in their dominions. Strange doftrlnes indeed ! and the better to propagate them, they were thruft into their common al- manacks, ^and very much inkrged upon. To thefe doctrines they replied, that the firft could not be true, becaufe it con- demned the generation of the juft in all ages, from righteous Ahel to the prefent day; who, it is certain, did fufFer all kinds of torment for the caufe of religion, and committed themfelves therein to almighty God in well-doing, as into the hands of a faithful Creator, And alfo that it did con- demn the Lord of life and glory himfelf; iioho learned obedience by the things ivhich he fiifered. And further that it did condemn the dodrine of the gofpel, which teacheth all chriftians to fuffer patiently, affuring the profeffors of it, that all that will live godly in Chrijl Jefus^ mujl fuffer perfecution^ and that they miifl thro many tribulations enter into the kingdojn of God, Neither could xhtfecond doctrine be true, fay they, unlefs truth and falfehood be the fame thing, when diverfified only in refpedt of place. For do not fome kings eftablifh heathen idolatry, or the worfliip of falfe and many gods, fome Turcifm, fome Popery, and fome the Protejlajit religion ? are not thefe rel: /ions in many things pal- pably contradi<^ory ? / nd is it poffible, for all thefe to be the true worfliip of God ? Sure, 90 The History of the Sure the very mention of fuch dodlrincs as thefe, is a fufficient confutation of them. What is here faid of the Baptijls in Lincolnjhire^ may very well be afcribed ta Mr. Grantham^ as the perfon v^ho greatly encouraged the churches under their fufFer- ings, and chiefly direfted them in all their proceedings. He wrote, and publiflied a book, intitled. The Pado-baptijis apology . for the baptized churches^ being certain extracts from their writings; by whofe , teftimonies it appears, that the Baptijli mode ^ndi fubjeB of baptifm^ is the moil ancient and apoftolical; and that infant baptifm is a novelty, and confequently that the fufFerings the Baptifts were under, were no lefs their glory, than the (hame of their perfecutors. But the book I have not feen. Henry Mr. Henry D'anvers^ a worthy man, D anvers. ^£ ^^ unfpotted life and converfation, joint . elder to a baptized congregation near j^/d-- gate. He wrote a treatife of baptifm^ which fo ftirred up the Pdedo-baptijls a- gainft him, that he was obliged to write ieveral replies to Mr. Wills^ Mr. Blinman^ and Mr. Baxter in defence thereof. The fame was afterward well defended, by Mr. Tombes^ Mr. Hutchinfon^ and Mr. Delaune^ againft Mr. /F/V/i, Mv. Baxter, Mx.ifrJ^iJl ion^ and Mr. Walker, -,_fs,-f > The undue, .and uncomely refleflions, the haughty, bitter^ wrathful, and pro- voking English Baptists. ^r yoking fpirit that appears in the books of fFi/ls^ Baxter^ &c. fo unbecoming chri- ftian candour, their holy profeflion, or the nature of the ordinance treated of, are too grofs to be mentioned ; and therefore I leave them, as unworthy of notice. Mr. JVills did appeal to the Bapti/ls, and charge Mr. Uanvers with mifquoting his authors, perverting their fenfe, and fathering upon them what they did not fay. The Bap- tifts examined his charge, went thro' all the particulars thereof, and returned an anfwer to Mr. Wills. SIR, (fay they J * \\ 7E l^ave ferioufly confidered your * VV clppeal againll: Mr. D'anversi * and have alfo heard, and carefully weigh- * ed the defence he makes thereto; arid in * order to give you an impartial judgment, * as you call us to, have defired fome of ^ our number diligently to examine the * authors cited by you both. And tho' it * appears to us, that Mr. D'anvers has * earneftly endeavoured an accommoda- * tion, in a more private and friendly * manner, betwixt you and him, fo to * recflify miftakes on any hand, which, ■ had it been accepted of, might have faved * this trouble 3 and that the method you ^ have ufed in this appeal be unufual, and * unlike the pattern you feem to take; an * appeal in thefe cafes being then only * proper, g2 7he Hist 0-9. Y of the * proper, when the party appealed againfl: fj appears to be contumaciouSj and ftub- * born, as to rejed: and ftand out againfl * juft convidlion, and admonition ; which * we find not to be juftly chargeable upon * Mr. D'anvers -, whether it be not your * own overfight, we hope you will in time * be fenfible of; yet we fay, we fhall not * infift upon that confideration. And, to * give you and the world the fatisfad:ion ' expedled from us, fome of us whofe * names are fubfcribed, have examined * the particulars you charge him with, * and find fome miftakes and efcapes on * Mr. Uanverss fide, which he ingenu- * oufly acknowledges, and we hope, may * be to your full fatisfadtion, as it cannot ^ in juftice but be to ours, fince, as you * feem to hint, a publick owning is what * you expedt. * Some of the particulars in your ap- * peal we find to be fo trivial, and infig- * nificant, that they deferve not to be * mentioned, and deem hisanfwers return- * ed to them refpeftively, fufficicnt to - * fatisfy the reader. Others of your * charges he traverfes, and joins ifiue with ■* you, at the bar you have brought it to ; * and the mod material of thefe, we liow * remark to you ; fo that what he acknow- * ledges, and what's inconfiderable, and ^ what's here further examined, compre- * hends your v;hcle appeal' 3 Tkev English Baptists, g^ They then proceed to the particulars ; and having gone through them, conclude thus : SIR, * TTTE have given a true, and im- * V V partial reprefentation of the par- * ticulars, as v^e find them j being, as we * conceive, the principal matters under our * cognizance, omitting the lefs material; * and do recommend them to your chri- * ftian confideration, hoping that your fe- * rious reviev/of them will difcover them * to be your errors. And as Mr. Uanvers * has publickly owned what of miflake * he is convinced of in his anfwer to your * appeal 'y fo it is juftly expedted, you will * alfo, according to yourpromife in the * preface to your appeal, do the fame in * thefe particulars. And fince your charges * do not appear to be true, to the fatisfac- * tion of all impartial perfons ; but, on the ^ contrary, great miftakcs on your fide; * you will not, we hope, think it unjuft, if * we acquit him, and refledl the blame of ^ the charge upon yourfelf, as you defire, * in cafe you be found in the error. The * particulars Mr. D'anvers owns in his faid ' anjwer to your appeal, we bring not v.n- * derour difcufion or cenfure, concluding ' it to be enough that he acknowledges * them. And fuch petty charges as he * fufficiently anfwers, and are indeed of * httle 94 T^e History of the * little weight, fave to inhance the number * of your particulars, as alfo things contrd- * verted, and only collateral to the grand * propofition in difpute : As are thofe things * yoM C2\\ fir ange doBrines^ &c. we think * do not fo properly offer themfelves to ^ our confideration, and therefore we * conclude, we may be excufed, if we * wave them. And laftly, we propofe, * that if the return we give to your appeal^ ^ fliould be deemed infufficient by you, * or fhort in any thing, which we are not * confcious of, and that thereupon you ' take your felf concerned to appear in this * controverfy, you would be perfuaded, * that things may be tranfadted in an ami- *■ cable and friendly way; which we hope may tend to our mutual fatisfaftion, in the clearing up of truth, and to cherifli that love, that all that fear the Lord fliould bear each other, tho' differing in fome things, which is our very earheft defire ; and to promote which, we fhall endeavour to contribute the utmoft we can. Lo?tdony the 13th of the 5th month, 1675. :k. Hanferd Knollys^ Daniel Dyke^ Henry Forty ^ Willi am Kiffin^ "John Gojholdy 'Thomas Delaune, Mr. D'arivers, in the poftfcrlpt of this anfwer to Mr, Wills ^ appeal^ gives us a letter English Baptists, ktter fent to him by a perfon of quality,* of known worth, ability and moderation, and is as foUowcth : SIR, * A S to Mr. Baxters pelce (which fo * JLJl ^oon as I heard of, I forthwith * fent for) I have curforily run over, efpe- * cially that part thereof which more im- * mediately concerns yourfclf ^ and am * forry to fee fo much rancour, and malice * in the writings of one who hath had * fo great a name for religion and piety. * But whither will not pride, paffion, and * an over- weaning opinion of a man's felf, * carry thofe who are overcome by them ? * When I firfl: read your treatije of baptifm^ ' I hoped it would have occafioned a * ferious, and full difquifition of that * point. But whether, thro' the unhappy ]^ temper of your opponents, or what elfe "}.. I know not, I have been hitherto difap- * pointed in my expedtation ; meeting ia * their writings with more of heat, paf- * fion and perfonal refleftions, than of rea- * fon, or a fober inquifition after truth. * I AM not fo well verfed in antiquity, * as to fay, when infant baptifm firft came * in ufe amongft chriftians \ but admire, * a matter of fad: only, as that is, fliould * be fo difficult to be determined. But if /^it were not in all, or at lead the firft, ^ * But conceals his name. ^' ,^. ' and 95 96 7^^ History ^ />5^ * and pureft ages of chriftianity, and fome * learned Pado-baptifts feem to grant it * was not, it cannot be faid to be of apo- ^ ftolical tradition ; the beft plea, if true, '^ I have yet heard for it, and therefore I ^ could wifh that point had been foberly ' and calmly debated. I muft confefs, I * know not of any difference amongft pro- * felTors of more unhappy arid pernicious * confequence, than this of Baptifm^ in * regard of that feparation and divifion, it * caufes among learned, fmcere and truely * pious chriftians; for fuch I no ways * doubt, but there are of both perfuafions. * But it is matter of greateft trouble and ' forrow tome, to fee with what unchari- * table and unchriftian fpirits, fome men * manage this controverfy, even to the re- ' proach and fcandal of religion ; and this ^ too, in a day, when our common fuffer- ' ings ought in prudence, if not for piety * fake, to unite us, at leaft in brotherly * love, and a chriftian walking together fo ^ far as we have attained, and in other ^ things to a patient waiting for the reve- * lation of the mind of God to them that * differ j who, in his good time, will, I * doubt not, unite our affedions, heal our * breaches, and make us all but one fheep- * fold, under the great (hepherd of the * fheep, Chrift Jefus. To whofe guidance * and protedion I mofl heartily recommend * you, and for the prefent remain, &c, Mr. English Baptists. 97 Mr. D'anvers was governour of Stafford^ and ajuflice of the peace, fomedme before Olivers ufurpation, and well beloved a- mong the people. Here he firft embraced the opinion of the Baptijis, and was noted for one, that would take no bribes. He defcended from honourable parents ; his father being a gentleman, who had an eftate oi fou?' hundred a year, n^nde over to truftees that it might not be claimed by the perfecutors of his time, and who was of the Jifth monarchy principles, tho' he could not fall in with their pradices. A proclamation was out againft him, with a reward of one hundred pounds for his appre- henfion. At length he was taken and fent to the tower. His lady having great friends at court, and they having nothing material to charge him with, he was let out upon bail, about the year 1675. He had been in fome private meeting, where things had been concerted, in favour of the duke of Mon7nouth \ which mifcarrying, he fled into Holland^ and there died, about a year after the duke of Monmouth was beheaded. Mr. fVilliam Jeffery^ he was born about the year 1616. o'i pious parents, in the parifh of Pe?ifkurfi, and afterwards lived at Bradbourn^ in Seven-oaks^ in the county of Kent 3 where his brother Davidy and he, were the great fupportcrs of a meeting, if not the founders of it. For in tiSoie days, there was a congregation of Baptifis^ Vol. III. H about 98 the History of the about Orpington^ which fpread itfelf below the hill, and there increafed very much, under the miniftry of Mr. Jeffery, He was ordained pallor of that church, then denominated the church of Bradbourn-y which is the fame that now meeteth at BedfeUs-gxQcn^ and thro' his unwearied diligence, many meetings were fet up far and near, and a church was gathered about Speldhurji and Pembury^ which he fettled in gofpel order, and ordained Mr. yohn Care, to be the elder thereof, which is the fame that now meeteth at Tuitbridge-weUs, So that by his diligence, and feveral others who laboured for the good of fouls, there were more than t'wenty particular congre- gations, gathered in the county oi Kent '3 which, with but little variation remain to this day, and fome of them very large congregations. The great work of this faithful labourer in the gofpel, and which he was very intent upon, was preaching and eftablifhing the foundation principles, of a vifible gofpel church, according to Heb. vi. I, 2. without entring upon fpecu- lative and controverted points in religion. He was very eminent in maintaining the general love of God, not only in convinc- ing many, and eftablifliing the churches in the truth, but alfo in publick difputa- tions for the fame. He was a fuccefsful, vigorous, and unwearied promoter, and defender of the Baptijl mtereji-^ one who fuffered English Baptists* fuffered much with great patience and pleafure in his Mafler's caufe , had feveral difpu rations, not only with thofe of the eftablifliment, but with the Independents and Sluakers. Thefe lafl: he laboured to undeceive, upon their firft appearance. He with Mr. Matthew Coffin, joined ifllie with them at feveral places. He was much valued for \m fteady piety, and univerfal virtue. And when he had finiflied the work, that the Lord had appointed for him, he died in a good old age, and was fucceeded in his church by his fon John yeffery, who was chofen and ordained elder thereof. He wrote a piece, intitled, The whole faith of man ; being the gofpel declared in plaifinefs, as it is in Je/iiSy and the way thereof, of old confirmed by divers figns^ wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghofl, The fecond edition was printed in 1659. Mr. John Reeve, all I can obtain concern- John inghim is, that he was joint elder with^^^^^ Mr. William Jeffery. It happened, that the magiftrates of Seven-^oaks, fent fome officers to this congregation, meeting at Bradbourn; who took all the men from thence, of whom he might b? one, and carried them up to town, and by an order, they were kept prifoners all the night. On the morrow, when the juflices were met together, the prifoners were had before H z them. ijv^ 7he History of the them, and examined ^ and after fome little difcourfe with them, were difmiffed. They all with one heart full of wonder and joy, returned from the place from whence they were carried, to return thanks to God, for this fo unexped:ed a deliverance. And ' when they came to the place, to their great furprize and unexpreffible joy, they found the women there, who had not de- parted from the houfe, but fpent that evening, night and morning, in falling and prayer to God on their behalf. Henry Mr. Henry Forty^ he fubfcribed the Forty. Baptiji confeffion of faith in 1651, and was paftor of the church at Abingdon^ a man of great piety ; one, who long and faithfully ferved Jefus Chrift, under many afflictions, great trials and fufferings. He was an inftrument in God's hand, for the converfion of his own father and mother, and many others. He lay twelve years in prifon at Exeter^ for the teftimony of a good confcience ; lived an unfpotted life, and died in the 67th year of his age. Anno 1692. His funeral fermon was preached by Mr. Benjamin KeacL\ and printed with an elegy annexed. When Mr. JeJJey died, and a difference arofe in his church about inixed communion, the Baptijis that were againft it, fell in with Mr. Forty^ then a member of that congregation. Upon Mn Forty s call to the church at Abingdon^ bis people joined with Mr. 7^/^;/s congregation. I Mr. English Baptists. lOi Mr. Thomas Wilcox, elder of a fmall Thomas congregation, v/hich met before the fwk- ^^^°^* nefs^ at his houfe in Cannon-jlrcet ^ after- wards, at the Three-cranes^ in the Borough of Sotithwark. He was two or three times put into Newgate for Nonconformity y and fuftered very much. He writ a fmall piece, which was printed before the Fire of London^ intitled, A drop of honey from the rock Chrijl, A peice that was very well efteemed, and has done much good, and been oft reprinted. He was born in the month of Aiigujl 1622, 2XLindeny in the county of Rutland ^ and died May 17th, 1687, in the 64th year of his age. He was a moderate man, and of catholick principles, well beloved by all denomina- tions, and frequently preached among the Prejhyterians and Independents, He left a widow and three children. Mr. Ifaac Lamb, was fon of that Tho- ifaac mas Lamby before mentioned, who fufFer- L^"*^- ed fo feverely under archbifhop Laud, and the court of Star-chamber, He was born at Colchefter, about the year 1630 ; and for fome time waited on his father, in Cromwell's army. From his youth, he difcovered an affedion to ferious religion, and took delight in converfing with the fcriptures. And having made a greater progrefs in that ftudy, than was ufual at his years, and moreover by the gravity of his afpeft, and ferioufnefs of his behaviour, H 3 feeming 102 The History of the feeming to be much older than he really was ; he was in Olivers time, made chap- lain of the Conjtant Warwick^ a man of war, at 1 6 years of age. He often preach- ed before admiral Blake \ and once before him, and admiral Pen, and another ad- miral together ; having an agreeable man- ner of delivering ferious things. He bap- tized fix of the Ihip's company, in an arm of the fea. Afte R having been not lefs than twenty times, on different occafions, upon the French fl:iore, fometimes in Spain, and fometimes at other places -, he came home from Holland, in the fame fleet which brought in king Charles II. in the year 3660, and was foon ftripped of all he had, for want of conforming ; befides lof- ing the benefit oi ojie htmdred per annum ,_ which was offered him, and two hundred found, which was fome way or other due upon that living, and ready to be paid to the next incumbent. As a reafon of his refufal, he alledged, that he could noi fprmkle the children of the parifh. To which he was anfwered, that another fhould be got to do it for him \ but he would not accept it. He became paftor of a church in Eaft- fmithfeld'y which by his popularity increaf- ing very much, a place was built for him in Virginiafireet, near Ratcliff-highway ; where he had fometimes three hundred com- English Baptists. 103 communicants, befides a numerous audi- tory. The place was often difturbed in king Charles^ time, by officers and foldiers. Once, while he was preaching, one came with his party, and commanded him to be filent. To which he anfwered in the words of the apoftles, ^ Whether it be right in the fight of God, to hearken unto you more than unto God, jtfdge ye. Upon which the officer and his people went a- way. Another time, feven juftices, (a- mong whom were Sir William Smith, and juftice Bury and Brown) came in their coaches, with 2l pojfe of people to break up the meeting, pulpit, pews and win- dows, as they had done before, by the meeting of Mr. Hercules Collins, in the neighbourhood. But Mr. Lamb having notice beforehand, by the advice of a friend, removed every thing, except fome loofe forms ; fo that when they came, they were difappointed. Upon which, one of the juftices faid, his name ought to have been Fox, and not Lamb, He died the 20th of Augiijl, 1 69 1 5 a man of fweet temper, exemplary converfation, and great ufefulnefs. Mr. George Ham?non, paftor of a peo- George pie at Biddenden in the county of Kent. Hammon. He was a very eminent and remarkable man, for vindicating what he judged to be truth, on all occafions^ and was very [ A£t iv. 19. H 4 much 1 04 The History of th^ much perfecuted on that account. He died at Hafeldens-wood^ in the parifli of Cranhrook, The following books were publiflied by him. 1. A difcovery of the latitude of the lofs of the earthly paradife, by original fin s occafioned by a difputation between Mr. Matthias Rutton^ and himfelf, 1655. 2. Sign's redemption difcovered, 1655. 3. Sign's redemption, and original lin vindicated; being an anfwer to ISAv^Heze- kiah Holland^ ^ ^5 ^ • 4. Annotations on the 9th chapter to the Romans, 5. Sign's redemption, redeemed. 6. Truth and innocency prevailing againft error and infolency ; in anfwer to Mr. Holland'^ book, intitled, Truth's con- fiiB with error, 7. The good ancient laws and ftatutes of king yejiis^ occafioned by a conference between himfelf and Mr. Simon HendoUy and his fon yofo, y^^^^3> 1658. Richard Mr. Richard Hobbs, paftor of a con- gregation at Dover in the county of Ke72ty 2. worthy pious good man, who filtered much for his religion. When a prijhier at Dover^ his piety and ferioufnefs pro- cured him liberty now and then, to go from his prijbn^ Lord's-days excepted. But upon his v/riting a letter to Dr. Hind^ the doctor in ftead of returning an anfwer, \vcnt to the magiftrates and ilirred them up Hobbs. English Baiptists. 105 up againft him, who in a great rage fent the goal-keeper to fetch him from his houfe, with a charge to grant him no more liberty. Upon this, the good man made this obfervation. ^ Now conlider, fays he, how hke thefe proceedings are to their proceedings beyond the feas, at Rome ^ where, if any do but queftion the truth of their worfliip, its an hundred to one if they have not the inquijition for their pains. And doubtlefs, adds he, fuch kind of pro- ceedings, do found more Hke the Pope's anathemas, than in the leaft favour of a proteftant fpirit. The letter he wrote to the dodtor, which, for want of better arguments, was anfwered as aforefaid, is as followeth : SIR, ' T TAVING waited fome time, in ^ X JL expectation of Mr. Carlile's mak- * ing good his promife to me, at my com- ' mitment to prifon, which was to bring * us together, that fo we might have fome ' conference about fome points in religion * wherein we differ; and finding a delay * in the performance thereof, I do hereby * take liberty, to propofe two queries to * you, grounded on the holy fcriptures. ' And if I do err therein, I hope by your * learned refolves, in anfwering them, 1 « fhall receive further information therein ; 2 Mar.ufcript penes me, I knowing j[06 n^e History of the ^ knowing that you ought, as to your * place and profeffion, to be an inflruBor * of babes^ and a guide to the erring per- * ion, and fuch as may be out of the way. * Qu^ERY I. Whether youryi/;?^///^/?- * tal principle (or facrament^ as you call * it) namely Baptifm (by the which you * fay, the fubjedt is made, a member of * Chrift's church, and an heir of the king- * dom of heaven) be not diffonant to the * fcriptures of truth, in the adminijlrator^ * fubjec}, and admiiiiftration ? * I. In the adminijirator^ becaufe I read * in the fcriptures, that the true minillry, * or adminijirators of the ordinance of * Chrift, were made minifters by Chrift, * viz. ^ They were virtually called to that * work, as they wxre ' gifted by the fpirit ^ of Chrift and fo were able minifters, not * oi fet forms oi fervice, butof the^/r/V, ' ''and newteflamenti who, as they had ^freely received^ did freely give alfo; in * converfation, holy, harmlefs, no ftrik- * ers or perfecutors^ no lovers of ^ wine, or * filthy lucre, but fober, chafte, and of * good behaviour j ^ not lordm^.it over the * heritage of God^ but examples to thefock, '* by their lingular pious converfation. * 2. li^^tfubjeB, becaufe in the fcrip- ^ ture, repentance and faith h required of ^th^fubjediy in order to Baptifm ^ the ^ z Cor. iii. 6. ^ Gal. i. i. *= Matth. x. 8. \ Tit. i. 7, 8. ^ 2Pet. V. 2,3. * whicK ENGLISH Baptists. 107 * which is no way applicable to infants. « "" And as there is no command or example * in fcripture for ° baptizing infants^ as I « can find ; fo the true miniftry were < wont to baptize fuch, as were penitent . * and believiftg perfons. ' 3. In the adminiftration, becaufe I « find in the fcriptures, the true miniftry * were wont to "^ dip, plunge, or bury the ' JiibjeB in water, and fo the greek word ' baptizo, P and mergo, immergo, doth fig- ^ nify, as many of the unprejudiced learn- * ed have ingenuoufly confeffed. * Q^ueryII. Whether by your /om72^, * and receiving all into your church, mak- * ing them communicants, howfoeverfin- < ful and impious otherwife they be 5 you * do not thereby pervert the gofpel, and * overthrow the way of the new covenant, ^ and fogive many pious and confcientious * men juft ground to queftion the authen- * ticknefs of your worlhip ? < The ground of this query arifeth * hence. * I. Because the gofpel itfelf is glad- « tidings, peace, and falvation to all men ; * and is always tendred in love and meek- < nefs, with gentle perfuafions, forcing < none to embrace it; any otherwife, than < by manifefting its own glory, vertue < and power, to the confcience: whereas, n Afts viii. 12. ** Heb. xi. 6. J Ads viii. 38. ^ Rom. vi. 4, ": the io8 Hjc History of the * the contrary brings fad tidings, perfecu- * tion, adverfity and defolation, as many * at this day do witnefs. * 2. Because, as the new covenant ^ containeth fpiritualand celeftial promifes; * fo the conditions of the covenant arc * fuch, that none but penitent, believing * and regenerate perfons, can be heirs of * thofe promifes in whofe heart God hath * put his law, and writ them in their in- * ward parts \ fuch only to be the chil- * dren of the promife, which are counted * for the feed, and are the church, in the * ftate of the covenant, and not the chil- * dren of the flefh, or the impious and rude * multitude. From htm^ that defires nothing • more than the knowledge of God and hh ways, Richard Hobbs. Charles Charks Maria Duveil, D. D. He was ^^^^^ ^ijeiv by birth, and profelyted to the church of Rome: afterwards he embraced the Pro- teflant religion, in the year 1677, and was received into the church oi England. They gladly embraced a man of fuch great learn- ing and piety, as appears by the teftimoni- als under the hands of feme of the bilhops and mofl eminent divines of that church. He was fupported by feveral of the digni- fied clergy, and encouraged to go on in his literal expofiiions of the hoh fcriptures. While English Baptists. While he was employed in this work, he became convinced, that there was itojoiin" dation for hijants baptifrn^ either in the holy fcriptures, or writings of the lirft fathers ; and that fprmkling could not be baptifm : and being free from thofe preju- dices he formerly lay under, refolving to embrace whatever he found to be the truth, was thereupon baptized. He accepted the care of a fmall Baptijl church, which met in Grace'Chiirch'Jlreet, whofe former mini- fter renounced his religion thro' fear of perfecution, and foon after deftroyed him- felf in the greateft horrour. When he had found the truth himfelf, he was deiirous to help others to do fo too, and endeavoured to recommend it to them. Therefore he wrote his expofition on the ABs of the Apo- files in Englifli ; where he fully proved, and vindicated the principles and praSice he had embraced. He was not a popular preacher, becaufe he fpoke EngliJJ: very brokenly. After he embraced the opinion of the Baptifis, he pradifed phyfick for his maintenance, and was very fkilful therein. The reverend Mr. &harp declared, that he had received great benefit by him, when in a very dan- gerous condition. I fhall give a more par- ticular account of hirn in another place. Mr. Ed^ward Morecock, was elder of the Baptifi church at Chatham^ in the coun- ty of Kiiit. He v»'as born in "January^ 1626, 109 xio The History of the 1626. and died in Auguli^ ^^9V -^^ ^^^ been in Olivers time, a captain of a man of war, and in an engagement was {hot thro* the b^dy with a mufquet-ball. By his great fkill in fifhing up fhipwfecks, he made a handfome provifion for his family. After the Dutch war, in 1672. being well rewarded for the fervice he did that way, upon the fhips funk in the river Medway^ upon which Chatham flands ; for the Dutch fhips in that war, had come fo clofe, as to throw many of their fhot into the town, one of which was found in cap- tain Morecock's garden^ he might after- wards have made a much greater advan- tage to himfelf, if he would have accept- ed an invitation to weigh fome wrecks, which were out at fea 5 but he would not fo far leave the paftoral care^ which he had then undertaken, as that employment would have obliged him to do. Being a man of fome figure, and in- fluence, and of great zeal, and firmnefs, he was, in the latter end of king Charles's reign, harafTed by frequent warrants for feizing body and goods, on account of his non-conformity ; but by his unblameable and obliging behaviour, he had gained fo much efteem and aff^dion, and particular- ly among the gentlemen in his neighbour- hoodj that whenever any warrant was ilTued for feizing his perfon, one of the juftices would privately fend his fervant to give English Baptists. tit him notice, before the officers could come to execute it ; whereupon he ufually re- tired to the houfe of one of his daughters in Efex. He was however fined monthly for not going to church, till he was ex- chequered for the fum of eight hundred pouftds-y his houfe often plundered, his goods feized, and carried off. To fecure the fubftance of his eftate for a numerous family, of near twenty children, he made it over to an intimate friend, who, after the danger was part, was fo juft as to re- ftore it. One of the informers againft him, Hinton by name, ufed often to threat- en, that he would have him laid in a pri^ fin^ and get poffefs'd of the beft furni- ture of liis houfe 5 and was fo rafti, as to promife to give it to a lewd woman^ who attended him : But thro* the good provi- dence of God, Mr. Morecock always efca- ped that imprifonment which many of his brethren fuffered; and going one day to vifit fome of them in Roc he ft er goal, he faw this Hinton there confined ; upon which he only faid to him, friend, I fee you are go thither before me. This /«- former afterwards died miferably, the flefli rotting from his bones. Upon king fames s acceffion, captain Morecock was very much courted, known to be a leading man among the diffenters ; particular the lord Ropery a papifi, offered him, in the king's name^ any thing that he 2. would 112 T})e History of th^ would accept ; but he abfolutely refufed to take any commiffion whatever under king James^ giving to his friends this rea- fon for his refufal ; that the favours offered by him to diffenters, were defigned only to draw them into a fnare. His firmnefs was the occafion of a defign againft his life; for two witnejfes were procured to fwear againft him, that he had been an ofBcer in Monmouth'^ army, in the Wejl oi England'. But he proved, by unexcep- tionable evidence, that at the time when he was pretended to be in that army, he was in another place. Samuel M j-^ Samuel Taverner^ a man of great averner. ^^^^ £^^ j^j^ piety and ufefulnefs, was born at Rumford^ in the county of Ejfex^ in the month oijuly^ anno 1621. About the year 1643, he was made captain of a troop of horfe; and on the loth of Fe-- bruary, 1653, he received a commiffion from Oliver Cromwel^ the lord protestor, by which he was made governour of Deal- caftle. While in this ftation, he converfed much with Mr. Prefect of Gujlon^ paftor of the church 3.t Dover, and embracing the principles of the Baptijlsy was baptized at Sandwich on the 13 th oi April, in the year 1663. in all probability, by the faid Mr. Pre/cot, He was ordained elder of the church oi Dover, October 13, 1681. He Juffered much for his no?!- conformity ; was frequently taken from his meeting- houfe English Baptists. 113 houfe when preaching, and had before the magirtratcs, where he zealoufly bore a teflimony for the truth he profeffed. In Novembe?\ 1682, his pe^'fecutors canie with a falfe "warranty and feized all that he had, carrying away his fliop-goods, and as much of his hou (hold-goods, as they deemed worth their removing ; and even confeffed that they had fo much, that they knew not what to do with them. He was 07ice fent to prijhn^ but his great intereft at court, foon procured his liberty ; and then he went to Lo7jdo?2y where he ccnrinucd preaching, as often and pub- lickly as the circumftances of the times w^ould permit him. He lived till the year 1696, and then left this life for a better, on the 4th of Augiifly in the 75th year of his age. Mr. Thomas Phmf : He was elder of^^^maj the congregation in Barbican^ and fuc- ^"- ceeded Mr. Jo!m Gofnold, I find him joined with yiv.. Benjamin DenJiis^ in the publication of the narrative of the life and deplorable end of Mr, John Child. His po- pularity in preaching, excited fo much of the rage of his pefj'kutors again ft him, that he had once 7iine warrants out againft him ax a time ; but he was fo beloved in the parilli, that all the conftables who had the iDarrantSy fent him private notice to get away. His meeting, however, was difturbed, and the pulpit and forms broke Vol. III. I XQ 114 ^he History of the to pieces, by orders from the lord Bridge 'watcrj vvhofe houfe then flood where Bridgioater- fquare now is, in the neigh- bourhood of Barbican ; but was, not long after, burnt down to the ground, and fe- veral of his children, and his gentleman^ who ufed to go in his name, and difturb the meetings, burnt in it. Mr. Plant was forced to go in fuch difguifes along the ftreet, that many of the people of the church, to which he was paftor, did not know him when they met him. William ]\.,/[i-^ William Pardoe^ a worthy, hum- ble, felf-denying preacher, and a great Jufferer for his religion ; a very ufeful man, and bleffed with great fuccefs in his minifterial work. He lived moftly about J'VorceJier^ w^as fometimes in heicejlerjlnre^ fomeiimes in Torkjloire ; and wrote fome part of his Bethanids Walks, in Worcefter prifon, and fome part of it in Leicejler pri- J°^" fon. He died in Au^uL 1692. Mr. "John Demie, v/as fon of the fa- mous Henry Dcjine, mentioned in my for- mer volume. In this he differed from his father ; that he followed the opinion of the Remonjlrants, with regard to the dodrine ■of univcrfal redemption ; but was like him in his zeal for what he believed to be the mind of Chrift. His miniftry was chiefly in the counties of Huntingdon and Cam- bridge. And to thofe to whom he had miniilred in thofe counties, he dedicated, in 1699, a difcourfe of his, iatitled, Glad 'Tidings Denne. English Baptists. 115 Tidings of Peace : Wherein is manifefled, grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, thro' Jefus Chrift, to all mankind, in a fennojjy preached upon ABs x. 36. which jermon he fignifies, had lain con- cealed many years, by reafon of the vio- lent oppofition which fome had made againft printing of it. I do not find he fuffered any other perfecution, than that he was once fined for preaching. Mr. Manajfah King, of Coventry, a vdry ManafTah eminent and worthy minifler, who fuffer-^^^^' ed much for his non-conformity. He was fome time a preacher in Leicefter/hire, but many years at Coventry, and his name is ftill precious there. Once, an alderman, who was a juftice of the peace at Cove?itry, upon his commitment to prifon, afked him, ifhefaw the crofs^ he anfwered he did ; then faid the alderinan to him, look at it now, for you {hall never fee it again. He lived, not only to fee the crofs again, but alfo the death of that fevere juftice \ for he lived to a con- fiderable age, died, and was buried at Co- ventry, in the beginning of the reign of king William III. of glorious memory, Mr. Jonathan femiings^ a very able Jonathan preacher, and who, firft and laft, fuffered ^'"''^"S^* twelve ^'d'^ri imprifonment. When preach- ing on a Lord's-day, between morning and afternoon fermon, at Mr. Loved ay s meet- ing-houfe, in Looking-glajs alley. Baft- fmithfieldy the officers came, and fet a guard I 2 at 1 1 6 7he Wi^rovi^ of the at each door : Mr. Jennings efcaping in the crowd, they greatly abufed the peo- ple, ftriking them with their iftaves, took the names of fcveral, and carried about jrcenty before juftice Srmth of Stepney, A- hoMX. fifty of them made it up with the officers and informers, and the reft were committed to New-prifon^ where they were uied fo barbaroufly, that fome of them died there, being croudcd together, and forced to lie upon the ground. This did not fuffice; they removed the felons cut of a nafty hole, and put them there- in ^ till, at length, they were obliged to pay three pound a week for two rooms, and liberty to have their own beds. Thus they continued prifoners x\td.x four monthsy and, in the end, were fined each ten marks, jofeph Mr. Jofeph Wright, He was born in the >v^^g^t. y^^j. 1623, and bred at the U7iiverfity 'y a man of great learning and piety, and prac- tifed phyfich He was a prifoner twenty years in Maidjlom goal ; a very ferious and diligent preacher, and promoted the intcreft ni the Baptijls very much. He lived to the age of eighty years, and died at Maidjlone about the year 1703. Matthew Mr. Matthew Caffin^ a worthy minifter, CaiSn. of great learning, piety, and ufefulnefs ; a great clifputant, and one that fuftered much for his opinions. He was five limes com- mitted to prifon ; the firft, to that of New- gate, being apprehended at Lofidon^ where 2 lie English Baptists. tiy he lay till many, who were imprifoned with him died, and he himfelf narrowly efcaped. I am not certain ; but feme of his friends do hold, that this imprifonment was upon the a^ againft unordai?ied preach- ers^ which took place in the year 1645. The other times of his imprifonment were either in Maidjione or Horjham goal 5 for in both places he had his lot of oppref- fion, and confinement ; and, in all proba- bility, muft have been long a prifoner in the goal of his own town, viz, Horjham^ had not Sir James Moreton^ his landlord, interceded for him, and procured his dif- charge. Befides his imprilbnments, he had the fatigue of feveral profecutions, up- on the con'-oenticle a5i. One Bujljel^ of Darking^ in Surrey^ a wicked and aban- doned fellow, informed againft him 3 up- on which he was fined twenty poimds ; and the meeting-houfe at Broad-bridge heathy where he preached, in the like fum. This wicked informer, with more of his accomplices, drove away his cattle j and had not money been fent after them 10 re- deem them, all would have been loft. Many of his hearers were fined five JJdil- lings each, and diftrefs made upon their goods for payment. Bat notwlthilanding his many loffes and fufferings, by the blef- fing of God on his induiiry, diligence, and frugality, he always lived in reputa- tion, fupported a large family, fettled his I - ' chiU I J 8 The History of the children in the world, and had the com- fort of feeing them walking in the fame truths, which he himfelf profefTed and taught. I iliall give a farther account of him in another place. John Ec- Mr. 'John Eccles. He was pallor of a congregation at Bromifgrove^ in the county of JVorceJler ; and preached the gofpel there and at Coventry^ near fixty years. He fuffcred much for his non- conformity ; was taken preaching, and greatly abufed, and put into a dungeon in JVorceJler goal. But God raifed him up a friend, Mr. Szc'ift, one of the members of parliament for the county of Worcejler, who became bound for him in a bond of one thou [and pouyjds^ and fo procured his liberty. He was a man of worth, and given much to hofpitality ; but having a large family, and Suffering much perfeciition, he was in the end reduced to great poverty ; the which he bore in a very chearful manner. The latter part of his life was fpent at Cove?!- , /ry, where he died January 26, anno 171 1, in the 76th year of his age. Richard lyjj-^ Ricba7^d Farmer, in LeicellerMre, He was minifter of a congregation oi Bap- tifis at Kilbey 3 had a fmall eftate to live upon ; was a very affedting preacher, and frequently preached among the Indepen- dents. He ftudied hard, and increafed m knowledge very faft. The calamity of the times brgught much trouble upon birn, English Baptists. 119 fo that he fuflfered greatly for his religion. Diftrefs was made, by virtue of a juftice of peace's warrant, upon his goods ; and they took from him, in one year, to the value of one hundred and ten pounds. One of his informers, who threatned him much, was at Trinkley market, and there boailed of what he had done againft him, and de- clared, that he hoped, before next CaJidle^ mas^ this being at Chrijhnas, that he fliould get a good portion for his daughter by ir- forming: But, as he was riding home, and over a boggy place, where there was a lit 'e brook, his horfe threw him into it, and he w^as drowned in a lefs quantity of water than would cover his body. At another time, one fwore againft him 3 quickly after, this informer's tongue fo fwelled in .his mouth, that he died thereupon, being fuf- pofed to have taken a falfe oath, Mr. Farmer^ and Mr. /Jdams, joined with Mr. Shuttlewortb, and Mr. Clark^ and frequently kept days of prayer, at Mr. Woolaflo7i\ at Loeshy, They preached of- ten one for another, and kept up a meet- ing at Loesby-hall, taking their turns. He died in the reign of king James II. and, as I am informed, was buried at Kilbey^ the plac£ of his refidence. Mr. Gamman, a zealous preacher. <^^"^"^^- He with one Richard Stayes, and others, were carried to Maid/lone^ and put inio the keeper's ward. They were, on the I 4 Lord' St 120 The History of the Lord's-day, taken from their meeting, and driven like beafts, men, women, and chil- dren, thro' Chatham ilreet, to the crown in Rochejier^ where the men were confin- ed; and the women and children crying without in the ftreet. Mr. Ga^nmaji open- ed the window, and exhorted them, to Hand f aft ^ and be ftedfajl in the faith, and God would reward them, at the great day. The fame church was another time diftuibed, by the means of one Stowel^ who belonged to the College, a very bufy man in thcfe days. They took fome of the people, and put them on board a fhip at Biack'fiakes^ in order to tranfport them \ the wind fliifted againft them, and conti- nued fo long, that the captain believed their being on board, was the caufe of it ; and told Stowel^ that if he would have them bantfied, he fhould do it himfclf, and fo put them on fliore : The wind (liift- ing, he failed, and left them. This Stowel was afterwards y6^;7g-f^ for murder, having wilfully killed a man, by throwing him out of a window, John E)r. John Griffith^ a worthy man, who fiEpth. was long imprifoned in Newgate for no?7- conformity. He v/rote, ne complaint of the cpprejfed^ again fl oppre[fors-y ^nd fe- veral other books. He publiflied his cafe when under imprifonment ; the which, I have before taken notice of, page 361. of the fecond volume. Mr, English Baptists. i^t Mr. Stephen Dagnat, He was minifter Stephen to a congregation that met at Ailjbury, '^^" * He, with eleve?2movc of his congregation, being taken at a meeting, were Jente77ced to deaths but were pardoned by the king, as has been before more particularly rela- ted, Vol.11, p. 1 8 1. Mr, John Miller, a man of great piety, John MiK worth, and ufefulnefs, defcended frorn^"^'- parents poffefTed of a plentiful eftate. , He was born in Hinton-Marto?:, in the county , of Dorfety and educated under the tutor- age of a prejbyferia?i minifter. But not fatisfied with the grounds upon which /;/- fant baptifm is founded, after a diligent and ftudious enquiry, embraced the opi- nion of the Baptijis, and was paftor of a people at Minthenton^ in the county afore- faid, where he lived. Notwithstanding the feverity of the times, he travelled from place to place, preached openly, and became an inftru- ment in God's hand for the bringing many fouls toChrift, and gathered, and planted feveral churches. He fiiffered greatly for his opinion, and nonconformity ; lay ten years in prifon, and very narrowly efcaped being premwtired. In the year preceding the death of king Charles II. they made diftrefs upon his goods, on the three week act ; then took him up, and put him in prifon at Dorchejier^ and at the fummer- ^ aiEzes at Sherbourn^ indidled him for ek- 122 The History of the ^jen months nonconformity. There being but one witnefs againft him, a neighbour- ing juftice of the peace, (one of K, C — /s poor knights, as the manufcript before me calls him) rather than to lofe their prey, fwore to the indid:ment. And though he pleaded in his own defence, that, contra- ry to the laws of England^ he had fuffer- ed in tns:o courts for the fame offence, yet he ■\N'3i'^ fined two hundred and twenty found, and only told by the judge, he might feek his recompence as he could. The under- fheriff, with/^^/r ox five bailiffs, at Micha- elmas enfuing, took poiTeffion of his alfets, feized fiour hundred flieep, about twenty cows, and younger beafts, feven horfes, fix or [even fatting hogs ; all the hay, corn, and wool of a years growth ; nay, even the very malt and hops, made for the ufe of the family ; and fold the fame for the king s ufe. Thus, for the term of about four months, was this good man*s affets ravaged, the worthy juflice, his profecu- tor, not permitting him to appear, delign- ing to imprifon him again ; and obliged the eldefl fon to fly, for feiU' of a warrant granted againft him, becaufe he took ac- count of the goods that were fold. T'wo near neighbourc, one a churchman, feeing iiich deiolation, went to the (heriff, paid his demand, returned, and turned away thofe mercilefs bailiffs, who had taken and wafted between four and five hundred I pounds^ English Baptists. i23f pounds. While they were thus fpoiling and robbing him of his goods, he went to London^ and petitioned the king 5 not for the reftoration of his goods, but to prevent the little that was left of his corn from be- ing fold, that his children, which were eighty might not want bread, being denied it by the bailiffs without money. The an- fwer he obtained from the king was only this : I have nothing to fay to you ; you miijlgo home and conform. The good man returned home, fold bis eftate, and retired to a lonefome place, renting a fmall farm of about thirty pound a year, and lived quietly the reft of his days. He left this troublefome life for a better, on the 14th dayof Af^^y, Anno Dom. 1694. When liberty of confcience was granted, he had feveral difputes with divers clergy- men. The moft remarkable was that he had with Dr. Beach^ ^i^difour more, be- fore a multitude of people. The time, and place appointed, having been publick- ly publifhed in three market-towns. The clergymen were to prove their haptifm^ churchy and miniftry^ to be ac- cording; to the fcriptures \ and to fhew, that Mr. Miller^ and thofe that adhered to him, ^zx^fchifmaticks. They began firft with the fubje^f of baptifn 3 in which, Mr. Miller put them all to filence ; and the do6tor, fays my inanufcript^ ingenu- pufly confeffed, it was a difficult point ^ and would p24 ^^ History of the would not meddle with the two other. The clergymen withdrew, fent for Mr. Miller to the houfe where they went, and like gentlemen, met him, {hook hands with him, and faid, they were very lorry they had troubled him, and aflured him, they would never difpute the point more with the Bapfijis ; drank to him, and fo parted James in friendlhip. Wiimot. Mr. James Wilmot^ oi Kooknorton \ and Archer, ^^* ^^^^^^ Archer^ of Sweakley in the county of Oxford, joint-paflors of a bap- ttzed congregation, meeting at Hook Nor- ton, gxt^ifufferers for nonconformity, Abo u T the year 1 664, they were taken at their meeting, and carried to the caftle at Oxford, At another time they were fent to Whitney Goal\ Mr. Wiimot was fined twenty pounds^ for which all his goods were feized. They not finding enough on the premifes to fatisfy them, feized upon the goods of Mr. Humphry Gillity a wool- man, who was taken at the fame meeting with him. Mr. Wilmot\ father, a zealous church- man, went to Sir Thomas Pefinyjlone, the juftice who committed him, and defired him to releafe his fon. The juftice repli- ed, he fhould rot in a goal. Says Mr. Wii- mot, another juftice had faid the fame, but he is now dead. Tho* he be dead, replied Sir Thomas, yet his workjhall not die. Engli SH Baptists. 'i«j; Mr. Thorpe the jaylor at Oxford^ was very fevere. He would not permit them to pray together : and if they craved but a bleffing on their rweat, he would come ia a great rage, and difturb them, faying, what, are you preaching over your vic- tuals ? The goods of Mr. Wilmof^ who had been twice imprifoned in Oxford g02\^ were carried to Cbippi?ig'Norton^ and there pub- lickly cryed for fale, on feveral market- days, but none would bid for them. Then they were carried to Swansford^ to one of the informer's houfes, who could maks no rnoney of them ; in the end they brought them again to Hooknorton^ and proclaimed there. That if any one would lay down twenty (hillings, they fhould have them all ; a friend of Mr. Wilmot\ did do fo ; and he had all his goods again. When Mr. WiU mot was releafed from Whitney goal, they excommunicated him, and feveral writs were ifllied out againft him. But he being infoi pjed of them, abfconded, and fo efca- ped ^heir hands. I N Whitney goal^ they had much more kindncfs (hewn them. Mr. Alexander Fox, Mr. Jofeph Davis^ and divers others, were committed with them. Mr. TidmarJIj, was minifter feve- Tidmj \ ral years to the congregation of Baptijis at Oxford', a man greatly efteemed, and of good reputation -, one that fuffered much in ^^6 The Hist OKY of the in the time of perfecution for his noncon- formity. John ' Mr. "John Amory^ a man of good learn- Amor/, ing and acquired parts. He was of Wring- tony in the county of Somerfet -, much bar- rajfed for his nonconformity^ and obliged fo to tend 2itfeJJions and ajjizes, that he became much impoveri(hed thereby, and by dif- trefles made on his goods. Thomas Mr. Thomas Biirgefs, He was paftor of ^''g^ s. ^ i^aptift church at T'aunton^ in the county of Somerfet^ very often imprifoned, with feveral other preachers, whofe names I have not. James Mr.' James Hind of Langport^ paftor of Hind. the Baptill cono;re?;ation, at Kin^lhury in William ^, ^/ r c r^ J \/{ TTr-ij- Richards. ^"^ county ot homerjet ; and Mr. William Richards^ a preacher at Dracott^ with fe- veral others, were almoft ruined, by the defpoiiing and taking of their goods ; fo that a general colledlion, in all the churches of the ajjociation^ was agreed upon, as ap- pears by their regijler-book^ to be made to help them in their diftrefs. Peter Mr. Peter Coles, a Baptiji preacher at ^^^f;^ Downton in the county of Sarum-y and Penn. Mr. Walker Penn, paftor of the Baptiji John church at Sarmn, with Mr. John King- Kingman. ^^^^^^^ ^^ Burford near Sarum. Thefe three ^\ were feveral years prifoners in the county- goal at Sarum^ for nonconformity. Mr, English Baptists. 127 Mr. 'John Sanger^ who kept a writing John and a grammar- fchool, and was paftor of ^^'^^^' the church at Downton^ was greatly har- rafled and vexed. His goods were often diftrained, and he fined for nonconformity, Mr. Ro^er Appl'tn of Ellerton^ paftor of Roger the Baptiji people at Whitechurch, in the Appiin. county of Dorfet, a man of goofl parts, and holy life, had his cattle taken away and fold, on account oiYn^noii- conformity, Mr. John Tredwel^ a man of an un- John blemiftied life and converfation -, a folid Tredwel. and ufeful preacher. When preaching at the houfe of one Mr. Foliar d^ an oar- ma- ker, at Dancing-bridge^ by the water-fide in St. Olave Southwark ; Mr. Brown the informer, and Mr. Cook the conftable, dif- turbed them. Mv,Tredwel^nd fome others efcaped, by getting away backwards. Of thofe that remained, fome paid them five (hillings a-piece 5 others gave their names, and places of abode. Mr. Fra?2cis Stanley, of Northampton- Francis fiire, a very noted man for his zeal and Stanley. piety, was impnfoned in Northampton goal, for the great crime of preaching. He wrote a little piece, entitled, The go/peU honour, and the church's ornament. He bore his fufterings like a chriftian, and lived to fee better days. He died about the year 1696, and was buried at Eajl-Haddon in that county. . ■ Mr. 28 John Grunden. John Stanton. Stephen Curtisr. JofepK Slater. William Stanger. Robert Bring- Benjamin Morley. John Iqas, William Smith. William Blifs. John Gilby. n^e History of the Mr. John Grunden oi Cocke f^ near Tow-^ cejier^ and Mr. John Stmiton oi Blijfworth^ were imprifoned by a bifhop*s writ, and continued there ma?iy years, even until li- berty of confcience was proclaimed by king James II. Their goods and cattle were feized, and taken from them, only becaufe they could* not in conicience conform to the rites and ceremonies of the eftablifhed church. Mr. Stephen Curtis was born at Har- ringworih m the county oi Northampton^ and was a very ufeful minifter there. He was taken into cuftody by the bifliop's writ, and lay in prifon many years. He being a fiepherd^ had his fheep and goods feized, and taken from him; whereby he was much impoveriflied, and yi^r^^ greatly. Mr. Jofeph Slater, Mr. William Stan- ger, and Mr. Robert Bringhurji, to efcape imprifonment, were obliged to fly out of the county. But they had their goods and cattle feized often, and redeemed by fome of their neighbours ; fo that they were thereby put to great charges, and in the end taken by procefs, and made to pay goal-fees, to obtain their liberty. Mr. Benjamin Morley of Ramflkorp, Mr» John leas of Eaji-Haddon, Mr. William Smith, and Mr. William Blifs of Weljion^ Mr. John Gilby, of Long-Bugby in the county of Northampton, were all of them under fnes for fion-conformity. And be- fides English Baptists. 129 fides the lofs of their goods, were many times hnprifoned^ and greatly harraflcd by their perieciitors. Mr. Hercules Collins, a faithful minift^r ^^^^If of the gofpel ; though lie had not a learn- ed education^ yet was a very ufeful and la- borious fervant of Chrift, and one that fufFered imprifonment for his fake. He be- gan to be religious early, and continued faithful to the laft, and was not fhock'd by the fury of perfecutors. ' He was one, * fays Mr. Figgot, that had afolid acquain- ^°''^y^ ' tance with divine things 3 about which ' he always fpoke with a becoming fe- ^ rioufnefs, and a due reiiih. ^ He * fliewed an unwearied endeavour to re- ^ cover the decayed power of religion -, for * he lived what he preached, and it plea- "^ fed God to fucceed his endeavours in the * gofpel afcer a wonderful manner. ' PIe had huther^ three qualifications ^ for a gofpel- miniiler 5 he was much gi- ^ ven to m.editation and prayer 5 and hard- * ly any man was more grievoufly tempt- * ed of the devil than he, though for ma- •^ ny years Satan, in a great meafure, was ^ bruifed under his jeet ^ and God had fo * cleared up his love to his foul, that he * could fay, / know in ioho?n I have belie- * ved. His con ft ant walk was in the fear * of the Lord, and in the comforts of the * Holy Ghoft. He had a full afTurance of * the love of God for many years : yet Vol. III. K ' this I JO The H 1 s T o R y ^ //5^ ' this did not make him carelefs, and neg- * ligent irt duty : it did not lift him up * above meafure, but kept him at the foot ^ of Chrift. He was faithful in every re- * lation 3 a man of truth and integrity, ' one entirely devoted to the fervice of the ' temple, and zealoufly bent to promote * the intereft of the Lord redeemer/ Af- ter a few days indifpofition, he was re- moved from the toils of the pulpit to the triumphs of the throne, on the 4th day of Odober^ Anno Dom, 1702. He wrote a large pamphlet in 4to, intided, Thefandy foundation of infants baptifm fhahn. jofeph Mr. Jofeph Davis, a very zealous and Davis. pious preacher, was born at Chipping-Nor- ton, a corporation in the county oi Oxford^ in the month of Auguft 1627. His fa- ther, Mr. John Davis, who had been for a long time a burgefs, and chief magiftrate of the aforefaid corporation, in thofe days nick-named a Puritan, brought up his children religioufly; which, fays Mr. y^?- feph Davis, ' by the effedual working of '' the Spirit of God, wrought his fear in * m.e in my childhood, fo as to fhun and * hate bad companions -, and alfo, as well * as I could, in that ftate of childhood, to *■ feek my Creator in prayer privately.* To pafs by the fufferings of his father, wherein he loft his all ; Mr. Cooling, a mercer at Coventry, took our Jofepb ap» prentice j and whilft fuch, he embraced the English Baptists. 131 the principles of the Baptijls^ and was bap- tized at Coventij^ and thereupon became defpifed by all the family. About the year 1655, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Wright of Daventree^ in the county of Northampton : by whom, he fays, * he obtained, as the gift of God, four chil- dren, which have ail been removed from me by death, but my fon Jofepk^ whom the Lord hath made a ftaff to me in my old age, and who is joined in the fame chriftian communion with me, among thofe that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jefus. * About the time, fays he, the king [Charles II.] enter'd London^ I was ille- gally feized by the county troops, and carried a prifoner /even miles from my habitation and caUing, to Biirford^ and there detained two davs, beine oftentimes tempted to drink the king's health : but, out of confcience, I as often refufed fo vain an action, though it began to be very much the cuftom of the time. * M Y fecond imprifonment, was after Verniers unlawful infurredtion, when the militia of the county, horfe and foot, were raifed for the fuppreffing Icls than forty men; who being over-powered by their unequal force, and thofe that were left alive of this linail party taken into cuftody, a troop of horfe, and fome companies of militia^ came on the fe- K z *venth 1^2 The History of th^ ^ ventli day in the evening to our town 1 « and Mr. Hoard, one of the captains of * the county-troops, came to my fhop, afk- ^ ing my name, and demanding arms, ^ rudely made me a prifoner for nothing ; * put me into the cuftody of a foldier, who * prefently carried me to the inn. My ^ houfe was rifled by his foldiers, who * took away my goods felonioufly ; and ' all night I v/as kept there, from my wife * and children, and till Sunday towards * evening, when the lord lieutenant Faulk^ * land came: who, after he had vented * malicious words againft m.e, for difcover- ^ ing that he had been formerly in Booth's * plot, againft the then government, he * tendered me the oath of allegiance^ which * I did not refufe : and then demanding * the good behaviour, the breach of which, * they interpreted would be going to any * feparate aflembly for the fake of religious * worfhip. This arbitrary demand I re- * fufed, indeed, and was kept all night, ' and on Monday fent to Oxford-QZ^^^ ' with others of my honeft neighbours, * until the Le7it affizes ; when no matters * being alledged againft us, we were pri- * vately releafed by the lord lieutenant. * I N Jafiuary, the year following, one * Worge, a conftable, as he faid, had ver- ' bal order from the lord Faulkland, to ^ take me up again, and carry me to O^- ^ ford^ which he did accordingly 5 and 2 ^ with English Baptists. 133 ^ with fuch a guard, as if I had been a ^ criminal, although without any warrant ^ of commitment, and delivered mea/>r;- * finer to the goaler ; where I was detain- * ed till the Lent affizes, and then obtain* * ed to be called. * T H E judge would know, what I was * committed for ; and, after I had opened * the cafe to him, he replied, I muft not * interfere with the lord lieutenant*s pow- * er 5 and fo I was remanded back to pri^ * fin, until the jum^ner affizes. In doing * which, he adted contrary to his com- ^ miffion and oath ; but then having a ' more juft judge than the other was, he * rcleafed me \ the lord Faulkland, my * adverfary, having before this, been fum- * moned by death, to the great tribunal. *The nextfpring I was committed to * prifon by Sir Thomas Pennifon^ deputy- * lieutenant, upon the fame account, where « I remained about two years j and appear- * ing in court, where he was prefent, I « told him before the judge of the feffions, < that the Englifb laws were tender of * mens liberties, aod did not countenance ^ the keeping them always, no, nor fo * long in prijon, although a legal occafion * had been given for the behaviour to be * required 5 whereas I had broken no law, * nor was charged with the breach of any * by my commitment. He faid, that in- * deed ihould have been 5 and tliey, whif- K 3 'pering 134 ^^ History of the ^ pering together, malicioufly tendered the ^ oath of allegiance. I anfwered them, I * had taken it already ; and there being ^ no new matter againft me, they might ^ tender it, ad infinitum : and therefore I ^ could not in confcience comply with « them herein, becaufe I thought fuch ^ needlefs repetition of eifolemn oath would ^ be little better than njain [wearing. ^ But however, in a few feffions, they ^ premunired me, which, in feverity, is ' the lofs of all my goods and chattels, ajid ^ imprtfonment during the kings pie afiire. ^ A frightful fentence, had not my God ^ reftrained the execution, and fortified me * by his grace, with patience, courage, * and refolution. * But now, the proud waves went over ^ my foul : for my dear wife, who having ' had the incumbrance of my fliop, and * three children lying upon her hands, de- * fpaired of my liberty, and of enjoying ^ the afliilance and comfort of a hulband * fhe entirely loved, fell into a deep con- * fumption, of which flie languifhed a- * bove two years, which much hafie?ied * * my afflidion. During which time, her ' affedions carried her fometimes beyond ^ her ability, to come and fee me, when * fhe was fo weak, that I was forced to * carry her up ftairs in my arms. But ' when (he \*;as near her end, by the means * kcightnedj I fup^ofe itjkould he. ^ of English Baptists. * of the aforefaid Sir Thomas Fennijon's * lady's mid%vifey he ordered me fo much * liberty, in the year 1665, that I had * the opportunity to fee her laft end, and * difpofe of my houfe and ihop-goods, and * put my children out to nurfe : after ^ which, I returned again to my prifon^ as * ordered. When I had been in my tribu- * lation ten days^ u e. a prifoner ten years ^ ^ or near upon, and the counfel of the ' Lord had tried me, the king fent and ' loofed my bands, and the ruler of the ^ people let me go free^ without any fnare ' laid before me. After that, fays he, ^ I came to London^ and in fome little ^ time fent for my children up, but could ^ not foon fall into an employment, tho* ' I fought very carefully after it. At ' length, by the direction of God's provi- ■ dence, Ifet up the trade of a limien-dra- ' per^ beginning firft in a garret, and af- terwards I made ufe of a middle room, till at length, the providence of God di- redling, I took a fliop in the Little Mi- nories, — Though I was fettled in a very good bufinefs, it was not eight years e'er a general ftorm arofe, that affeded all the dijfenters^ in moft parts of this na- tion, who were faithful and couragious in their holy profeffion ; the enemy turn- ing the laws, made againft Papifls, upon the Dijfenters: of which, I had my K 4 ihare. ^ZS 13^ The History of the * (hare, and was fined twefity pound ///^ ^ month, being taken at //?r^^ meetings. * The forward perfecutors affrighting * the peace-officers with threats, to caufe ^ them to make diftrefs upon my goods ; * they came upon the fabbath-evening to * break open my fhop, and had almoft * effedled it, but left oft'; whether it were ^ that my family's being a linging while * they were doing it, or by reafon of lome ^ other powerful convidion ; or that * Mr. ^omlinfon^ nailing up the windows * almoft broken open, with fomie long ^ nails, prevented them, I do not deter- * mine ; however, they gave over for that ^ time. But being informed by a neigh- ^' bour, that they intended to come the * next week with the trained bands, to * make a fpoil and prey of what I had, I ^ fuddenly removed my goods from my ^ houfe and fhop into the city, and made * iale of them ; and I and my wife \l:is ^ fecond wife] went and lived privately ^ fome years, until God iiayed his rough ' wirius ifZ the day of his ea/i wmds ; and * king James afcended the throne, decla- * ring for liberty of confcience.' He lived till the year 1706, and then died on the i6th of February He left a inanufcript, entitled, Hn La ft Legacy : which was publiflied, and given at his fu- neral to his friends and acquaintance. The |arne was reprinted at London^ in the year English Baptists. loy 1720. From whence I colleded this ac- count. Mr. George Saunders was many years George a preacher to the church at Chatham^ where Saunaers, Mr. Edward Morecock was paftor. He was once fried for preaching ; was univer- fally refpecfted and beloved by people of all denominations, though in a low condition of life. He died in the year 1715, about the age of fixty. Mr. Richard T>rinkwater^ was born at Richard Milton Abbey ^ in the county of Dorfet^ Drink- Anno Dom. 1646, and was baptized m the year 1667. He fucceeded Mr. Wentiuorth^ v/ho I tajce to be the firft paftor of the Baptifl church at Port/mouthy and was ordaip.ed elder of that church in the year 1669. He preached to them with good fuccefs many years, and was much re- fpecfted for his piety, prudence, and good behaviour to the laft. He was a faithful fiifferer in the caufe of truth and liberty. At one time he was a prijoner eighteen months, and at other times yxndj^t fines and profecutions. Mr. T^bomas Bowes, a perfon of great a- Thomas bilities, and an acceptable preacher. He Bowes. frffered very much for his ftcadinefs to his principles and prad:ice ; occupying certain land in Portfmouth I/land. The bufy in- formers iifed to drive av/ay his cattle, of a confiderablc value, and fell them to fup- port their debaucheries and extravagance. He 1^^ The History of the He was minifter of the baptized congre- gation at Port/mouth, and fome time co- paftor with Mr. Richard Drinkwater^ and continued paftor thereof fome years after Mr. Drinkwafer's deceafe. John y[i\ John Maulden^ a pious and worthy Maulden* niinifter of the gofpel, was profecuted for his non-conformity in the latter part of the reign of king Charles 11. upon the afl: of the 23d of queen Elizabeth y and Jlned twenty pound />^r month; upon which his goods were feized, and he fent to New Prifon at Clarkenwell^ and confined there for fome time among the felons. He, with fome others who were there imprifoned on the fame account, were removed to a cham- ber in the prifon, where they continued till fet at liberty by king James II. He was paftor of the congregation of Baptijls that met in Eaji Smithfold, and fucceeded Mr. Samuel Loveday, When the times would not permit them to meet at their publick place, they ufually met together privately, at one or oiher of their private houfes. After he obtained his liberty, tliey built for him a meeting-houfe in Good > an' s Fields y where he continued fome years, with good fuccefs in his miniftry. But upon enquiry into the controverfy refped:- ing the Sabbath^ he became perfuaded in his own mind, that it was the duty of chriftians to keep the feventh day as a Sab- bath : his people not being of the fame , fenii- English Baptists. fentiment, they parted by confent ; and he thereupon joined the people of that fen- timent, (who ftill meet in Mill-Tard) and became co-paftor with Mr. Savage^ of them J where he remained till the time of his death, which was in February^ Anno 1 7 14, at the age of about feventy years. Thus his practice became confentaneous to his principles. It mull indeed be grant- ed, that there have been, and are ftill fome, who notwithftanding their opinion of hold- ing the feve?2th day as the chriftian fabbath, do become paftors of congregations hold- ing the contrary. I F the /event h day ought to be obferved as the chriftian fabbath, then all congre- gations that obferve they?r/? day as fuch, muft be fabbath-breakers. But, as the Rev. Mr. Benjamin Reach has with great pains and accuracy well handled this point, and proved the abrogation of the old fe- venth-day fabbath, and that xhefirft-day is of divine appointment ; and as the fame has not yet been replied to, I muft leave thofe gentlemen on the contrary fide to their own fentiments; and to vindicate the practice of becoming paftors to a peo- ple, whom, in their confcience, they muft believe to be breakers of the fabbath. The books publiftied by Mr. Maulden were as follow. I. The t39 i^9 He History of the 1. The pious young man's guide, or a compendious and ufeful catechifm for children, and all young perfons; being reprefented as a converfadon between a father and his fon, 2. A threefold dialogue, concerning the three chief points in controverfy amongfl the Protejianfsinoxxt days, viz. i. Whe- ther the holy fcriptures do prove the do- ctrine of free grace, or free will ? 2. Whe- ther believers, or infant -baptifm, be the ordinance of Chrift ? 3. Whether the y^- veiith^ or xkiQ firjl day of the week, be the fabbath of the Lord ? 3. Imperfections difcovered ; in which he deplores the unconcernednefs of profefTors for real, and fubftantial religion, and their heats and diviiions about points not neceflary to falvation. Francis Mr, Francis Morrifs, a very pious and ufeful minifter, and one who very much promoted the great ajftairs oi religion in the world. He was a man of excellent natu- ral parts, if not of great learning. The diflance of time, and death of fome per- fons, prevents my having a due account of him. He was a very great fufferer in his day for righteoulhefs fake, though I can obtain but one circumilance thereof; and that is, when he lived at Priors Marjlon^ m the county of Warwick^ he, with fome others, were by virtue of a warrant, had before a juftice of the peace at WiU :_hnghhy\ Morrifs English Baptists. iri+SI loughby ; and a neighbouring clergyman appeared there, very zealous to fpur on, and further their profecution. They en- quired, by what law they were profecu- ted ? The juftice anfwered, by virtue of the ftature made in the 35th of queen Eli- zabeth, They were threatened with im- prifonment, yet efcaped at that time, but upon what terms, my manufcript does not inform me. Mr. William Smithy of JVelton in the WIIM county of Northamptoii^ a great Jhfferer for ^"^"^•. thefakeof Chriftandhisgofpel. He was the fon of Mr. John Stnith^ author of an effay on univerfal redemption \ and was a man of (lixcellent parts and learning, very ufeful in his day, and of great faithfulnefs, which procured him refpedt even amongft thofe who were of the eftablifhed church. The conftable of Welt on was obliged to feize his goods, by virtue of a warrant brought to him by a bufy informer. He had them cryed in Daventree-market ^ to be fold at a day appointed, wholefale, and not retail. The informer plcafing himfelf with an in- tent to purchafe them, was difappointed by the great price the conftable fet on them, and no body elfe appearing to purchafe them, they were left in the conftable's hands. A friend of Mr. Smith's, from Warwick, with the conftable's confent, bought the goods of the conftable at a pub- lick-houfe for thirty {hillings, the which money 14^ "The History of the money the conftable put into the hands of Mr. Smithy on his promife to repay it, if called for, which never happened. So that by the favour of the conftable, he had his goods again without any coft or da- mage. Once on a Lord's-day, when Mr. S7nith was preaching, a military officer, with fome foldiers, diftarbed him, and commanded him to be filent, affaring him that he was his prifoner : upon which he afked him for his warrant ^ he having none, put his hand to his fword, and told him that was his commiffion. Mr, Smith replied, that was a highwayman's commiffion, and if he had no other he fliould not regard it. Then the officer went to a neighbouring juftice of the peace for a warrant, com- manding the foldiers to ftand at the door, and keep all the people in till he returned. In the interim, Mr. Smith went on with his fermon, which when finifhed, the people preffed by the foldiers, and went home. The officer, upon his return, was angry with the foldiers, who told him they could not hinder them ; and fo they all efcaped at that time. Mr. Smith was once committed to Northa?npfo?t goal io\: preach- ing ; but from whence he was taken, and how long he lay there, I do not find. He wrote three books, one, on the per- fonal reign of Chrift; another, on George Keith' % three fermons y and the other was in English Baptists, jr43 in anfwer to Mr. Hunt^ of Infants bap- dfm. Mr. "Thomas Garret^ 2l very zealous pro- Thomas moter of the gofpel of his mafter, and Garret, very fuccefsful therein. He was a man of good natural parts, and had feme {hare of fufFerings for Chrift's fake, and the gofpel's. His fidelity and good behaviour procured him friends, fo that he efcaped imprifon- ment, by being aforehand informed of a warrant that was taken out againfh him for preaching. For when he lived at Flecknoe in the county of Warwick^^ his brother, who was not a Baptiji, through the igno- rance of the officers, was laid hold on, and had before the juftice, who threatened to commit him to prifon for preaching. But he declaring that he was not Thomas Gar^ ref, was difcharged. I do not find that Mr. Garret was ever imprifoned, but he was obliged very often to abfcond, his enemies continually lying in wait to ap- prehend him. Mr. Benjamin Reach, of whom I fliall give a more particular account in another place. He was a very worthy and pious minifter of the gofpel. After he had ////^ fered, as is before related, Vol.11, p. 185, he continued dboxxt. four years in the coun- try, preaching from place to place, both ^ publickly and privately, as opportuniiies prefented, being continually harrafTed arid followed by his perfecutors. His publick trial 14+ The History of itti trial and fufFering rendering him more ac- ceptable to the informers than others, fo that it was not likely he could enjoy any quiet iettlement in thofe parts for the fef- vice of the church of Chrift ; and he, ha- ving not then taken upon him the charge of any people, thought of removing to Lm- doriy where he might have an opportunity of doing more good. Accordingly, he turned his efFedts into money, and fet out with his wife and children for London^ in the year 1668. But in his journey up, the coach was befet with highwaymen, who compelled all the pafTengers to come out, and took from them all they could find of any value. This was no fmall trial, to be bereft of all that he had, and left to (hift, with a wife and three childreUj in a ftrang® place. Thus he came to London^ without any money, and almoft without acquain- tance. Flowever, a man of fuch a publick charadter, and fpotlefs converfation, was' foon taken notice of; and the Baptijis^ who are as ready to adls of charity as any others, took care to fupply his prefent ne- ceflities ; and he joined with the refl of the pafTengers in fuing the county, and fo re-* covered the whole of their lofs again. God has various ways to try the faith of fome, and the charity of others ; and by unexpeded croffes, does often raife up, of caft down his children, as he fees to be meet for their good. He offers to many brave English Baptists. 145 brave and virtuous men, troubles and af- flidions, that they may exert and diftin- gui{h themfeU'es above others. And many things feem evil which are not really {o, but are opportunities given us to fhew our conftancy and courage. When the indulgence granted io pro- te/iant diflenters was removed, he was a- gain very much haraffed by his perfecutors, and forced to remove from place to place for his fecurity from their rage : and tho' the congregation, of which he was paftor, were very careful to conceal themfelves, yet they were twice difturbed. Being met for religious worfhlp in Ja- cob'ftreet, and in a private houfe down an alley, the church-wardens^ with Mr. Cook the conftable, came in and feized y?;^ per- fons, and had them before juftice ^f^^/;^^> who bound them over to appear at the quarter fejjions. At another time they met together at the widow Colfe's houfe at Ken- ningtony to join together in the facrament of the Lord's- fupper. At the conclufion of which finging an hymn^ the officers of the pari(h foon attended them : but having the conveniency of a back-door, they all efcaped except one ; who returning back again for fomething he had left behind, was apprehended and taken. He was carri- ed before a juftice of peace, who commit- ted him to prifon, where he continued till fome of his friends became bound for him. Vol. III. L At 14-6 The H 1 s T o ]^ Y of the At the next quarter feffiom he was finedj^ and his fine paid. The king s meffenget was fent to apprehend the widow , but being informed fhe was nurle to one v/ho lay fick of the fmall pox,^ he departed with an oath, and fought no more after her. Mr. Keach^ after this, was fought for^ by one of the king's meffengers ^f the prefs, for printing a httle book, called, T^he child's inflrudlor. This book, as near as he could make it, was the fame for which he was imprifoned^ and put into the pillory -, the other, being then not to be obtained, tho' he fought greatly after it. He was at this time tenant to that noted, informer Cook^ but not known to him by his name. The which, when he came to know, he told him, that one of the king s m.eflengers was in queft of him ; and for his fake, as a tenant, he fcreened him. But at length he was taken up by a warrant, left by the faid meffenger vv^ith another man in their neighbourhood, and was carried before juftice Glover, The juftice being informed -of an an* cient gentleman of worth and credit, (who was one of the members of Mr. Reach's church, viz. yohn Roberts, dodor of phyfick) fent for him ; and when he came, aiked him if he knew that man, pointing to Mr. Reach, The dodor an- fwered, Yes; very well. Then faid the juftice, will you be bound for him ? Yes, z replies English Bm^tists; 147 replies the dcdor, body jor body. The dodlor's hail being taken, Mr. Keach was difchargcd: but in the ifTue, he W2^s fined twenty pounds • tlie which he was obli- ged to pay, when ethers, linder the like circumftances, efcaped through the infuf- ficiency of the bail, that was generally ta- ken in thofe times. This Dr. Roberts was famous for two excellent medicines he prepared, viz. a thiviure^ which is a wonderful, and an immediate cure for the bloody fiux^ and the gripes ; and jugar-plumbs for children, which have been found to bring from them many ftrange and monflrous worms. And thefe two medicines were the chief fupport of the doctor and his wife, the latter part of their life, till through age he became incapable to prepare them any longer. He then contraded with Mr. Keax:h, to teach one of his daughters to prepare the fame : and Mr. Keach became bound to allow a fufficient, limited^ weekly mainte- nance, for the fupport of the dodor and his wife, during their lives ; the which he performed to the full fatisfadion of them both. And thefe two ufeful medi- cines have beert ever fince, and are ftill prepared by the faid daughter of Mr.i&^f^; and have been, and ftill are efteemed very ufeful for the aforementioned purpofes. L 2 Mr, GifFord. 148 ^h History of the Andrew Mr. Andrew Giffordy a worthy and no- ted minifter of the gofpel, whofe memory- is yet precious to many in the Weft of Ejjgland, having laboured amongft them 2bo'dtfixty years. He was eminently own- ed by the Lord in his minifterial fervice ; for many hundreds were the feals of his miniftry: And tho' his church confifted of 2ihQui forty at his coming to them, yet, at his death, they were encreafed to near four hundred members. He fet out in his mailer's work, in the year 1661, a threat- ning time ; and, for twenty-eight years, v/as a zealous and patient y^^r^r for the fake of it. Tho' he was paftor of a fe- parate gongregation, yet he declined not preaching in the publick places of wor- ship, as providence gave him opportu- nity ; and, particularly, in the parifli church of St. Leonard's in the city of Br/- Jlol, till excluded by the a^ of uniformity ; and even after that, he did not fcruple to accept of the offer of feveral country churches, when a convenient place near was not to be had, provided he had the leave, either of the church-war de?iSy or the incumbents; fome of whom, who greatly valued him for his piety, and zeal for God's glory, and good of fouls, would honour him by being his auditors, tho' others were greatly offended, and gave him all the difturbance and interruption that was in their power. He was once invited I to English Baptists. 149 to a very confiderable market-town in Somerfetjhire^ to preach 2i funeral fermon^ for a gentlewoman, that was wife to one of the moft refpedted and wealthy perfons in the town. Leave was eafily obtained for him to preach it in the parifli churcWj but his enemies kept the organs playing fo long after he was in the pulpit, that he perceived their intention, and therefore retired into the church yard, and {landing upon a high tomb-ftone, he preached it there to a numerous audience, without any further difturbance. From that time, the gentleman freely offered him the ufe of his houfe, in which he and his fon preached for many years to a confiderabl« number of people, and not without fome tokens of divine bleffing. Many fuch paffagers as this occurred in his life. It was no unufual thing for him to leave the church, or houfe, or barn (for it was all one to him where he preached) v/hcn too fmall to contain the audience, and go out into the fields to preach to the people. He was often forced to fwim thro' great floods in his journeys, which he chofe rather than difappoint the meetings. And tho' he ef- caped drowning, when others who made the fame dangerous experiment did not y yet he often fell into the hands of perfe- cuting enemies, and was treated by them with all the feverity, that was in their power. Four times he was in prijan, dur- L 3 ing x^o TAe History of tha in the three hot ftorms of perfecatlon iq king Charles's reign ; thrice in Newgate in Brijloly and (^/zt^d* in Glocejier-cajile ^ and muft have been there many tim^s more, if providence had not interyened,by favouring his efcape in a peculiar manner, and giv- ing him favour in the eyes of fome of the magiftrates of the city of Brtjiol, who could not approve of hurting fo innocent an4 holy a man, v/hofe very prefence and coun- tenance, ftruck an awe into the beholders. On c EjVvhile he was preaching in the cha-. pel of the Black-friers, atBri/lo/, which was the place; his people had hired for that pur- pofe, the mayor and aldermen, having no- tice of it, came with the fword, and other, city regalia '^ before them, and command- ed him to be filent, and come down ; he told them, he was about his maiier's bu- fmefs 5 but if they pleafed to flay till he had done, he would go where-ever thev pleaicd. Accordingly, they fat down, and attended to the word with a ffreat deal of reverence, till he had .done ; and then he waited on them to the ComicU-hGiife^ where they difi»iiired him, after giving him a {(^{x, reproof and cauiionj not to offend for the future. Another tirne, they would have re- leafed him, if. he would have promifed to^ preach no more, but he abfoluteiy refufed ihati ceiling them, that he ought to obey * sic oiigine* Go4 English Baptists. 151: God rather than man ; upon which he was fent to Newgate fof a month. While he was there, a grievous diftemper got among the prifoners, and carried off a great number 3 but he found favour in the eyes of the keeper, who removed him, and fome other pious miniflers and fuf- ferers, into an houfe in an airy place. Another time, notice being given of his preaching, the magiilrates fent an of- ficer to take him, who found him in the pulpit, and commanded him to give over, and go along with him j which he refufing to do, he Jiruck him on the- face-, upon which he immediately turned, and whe- ther he frighted him by the feverity of his countenance, or by telling him, that God fliould fmite him as a whited wall ; fo it was, that he was (o awed, as to ftay pa- tiently, till he had done, tho* he came, as he afterwards confefl^^^d, refolved to pull him out of the -pulpit : He then went with him to the council^ who again reproved him for his contempt of publick authority, and fo difmiffed him for that time. But, notwithftanding all the interpofition of his friends among the rulers, he was twice more fent to Newgate^ as was before hinted, and took joyfully the fpoiling of his goods, for he loji his all^ However, God won- derfully provided for him ; neither he, nor his wife, and numerous family of feven children^ were ever in want. L 4 DuR- X52 2^^ History of the During the heat of thefe purfecutions, he was wonderfully affifted -, and my au- thor fays, he has heard him fpeak it with great pleafure, that tho* abundance of pro- feflbrs forfook the good old way, and conformed for fear of men, yet he loft but two of his members, {one of whom became a grievous perfccutor, and both died miferable) but had more than thirty added to his church. He alfo obferved with joy, that he never loft a day of prayer, a meeting of conference, or for the adminiftration of the Lord's-fupper, except when he was in prifon : And even there he preached and prayed with the prifoners , with confiderable encourage- ment; the goals being remarkably reform- ed, while he and other minifters continued in them. In order to efcape the fury of his ad- yerfaries, he often went difguifed in the habit of an officer, gentleman, and the like 3 and providence very often remarkably appeared. One time, when he was preach- ing, his fon 'Emanuel (afterwards an emi- nent and fuccefsful minifter, affiftant, and co-paftor with him near thirty years) who was the fpy upon the informers^ being then but eleven or twelve years old; and negledling his office for the fake of his play, the iiiformers came up to him be- fore he was aware of them ; however, he ran, and gave notice to the people of their ap- English Baptists. 153 approach, and thereby difcovered the place where the meeting was held. They were fo enraged at the courage of the youth, that they left the meeting to purfue him , and did it fo clofely, that at length being quite tired out with the fatigue of dodging them thro* feveral ways and paflages, he took fandtuary under a ftair-cafe of a neighbouring houfe ; where he could hear them fwear, as they went by, that if they could catch the young fanatical dog, they would cut him as fmall as herbs for the pot. However, they mifled their prey; the Lord difappointed their devices, the fnare broke, and both he, his father, and all the people at the meeting efcaped. Another time, being furprifed on a fudden, and taken by the informers, he dipt off his great loofe coat ; and fo for that time got clear of them, leaving it in their hands. The next day they had it cry'd be- fore his door, but no body appearing to own it, they were difappointed in their defign. In the year 1672, when king Charles II. afliimed a power to difpenfe with the penal laws, and publiihed a declaration of indulgence^ to that purpofe ; though the Baptijls could by no means be brought to approve of it^ yet fome of them did not refufe the relief that thereby they en- joyed, from a grievous oppreflion, even as people in want are not ufed to enquire, whether the hands that fupply them are clean 154 ^^^ History of the clean or no. Among others that enjoyecf " the benefit of it^ as it afforded a little breath from the hard bondage of perfecution, at leaft for the prefent ; and efpecially gave them a farther opportunity of ferving God^ and their generation, in promoting the in- tereft of precious fouls, Mr. Gifford was one, who received OiUcenfe under the king's hand and fea!, and counterfigned by lord Arlington^ then one of the fecretaries of flate. I have feen the original, and the fol- lowing is the true copy thereof. CHARLES R. /^ Harks, by the grace of God, king of ^ England, Scotland, France, and Ire- land, defender of the faith, &c. To all mayors, bailiffs, conflables, and other our officers, and minifters, civil and military^ whom it may concern, greeting. In purfuance of our declaration of the 15th of March, 1671-2, we do hereby permit and licenfe Andrew Gifford, of our city oiBriJlol, of the perfuafion commonly called Bapfijh, to be a teacher, and to teach in any place licenfed, and allowed by us, according to our faid declaration. Given at our court at Whitehall, the 5th day of September, in the 24th year of our reign, 1672. Gifford, a teacher. By his Majefty's command, ArBtgton. ^ English Baptists, j^| The diffenters not anfwering the king's end, this favour did not laft long ; and perfecution returned with greater violence and feverity. Mr. Gifford foon felt the efFecfts of itj, and his enemies gladly em- braced the opportunity of fliewing their envy and rage againft him. In order to efcape their fury, he frequently preached in the forefl of Kiiigfwood^ about three miles from BriJioL The county juftices heard it with great indignation ; but pro- vidence prevented his falling into their hands, till the end of November^ 1680^ when he was taken by a warrant, figned by no lefs than thirteen of them, and fent to goal. As this was tlie laft and longeft imprifonment he underwent, fo feveral cir- f umftances concurred to make it the moft remarkable. His fon, that was the watch upon the informers^ was prevented giving timely notice of their coming, by being froze to the ground^ upon which he had fat down but a few minutes to reft him- felf; nor could he get free till he cut off the fkirts of a new freize coat he had on, and left them fiftened to it by the vio- lence of the froft. A worthy Iji dependent minifter, that preached at the fame time in a neighbouring part of the wood, in attempting to crols the river to efcape their rage, loft his life. And the Colliers hear- ing that Mr. Gifford was taken, rofe in great numbers^ and came armed with bills, ^- and 1^6 7he VLisTOKY of the and clubs, and other rural weapons, and generoufly offered, at once, to refcue him out of their hands : But he refufed, fay- ing; * That tho' he thought he might * juftly do all he could to prevent being * feized; yet, being now adlually taken, * and that by legal authority, he chofe to * fubmit to the law of the land, and leave * his caufe with God, who, he doubted * not, would order all things for the * beft *.' He was no fooner brought be- fore one of the juftices, but his rnittimm was made, and upon reprefenting that he had fome affairs of importance, and that * Providence feemed to give him an intimation of his danger the night before, which was fo far from intimidat- ing him, that it was a greater encouragement; for his wife dreamt, that he arofe to go out to preach according to his appointment ; but upon opening the door, that the i^ery firft ilep he took, was up to his knees in fnow ; that thereupon fhe difluaded him, but in vain; that he was feized by two particular mea, whofe names fhe mentioned, and brought to the Sun-Ta^verny that then was without £«w/or^j-G/^/^, and there confined in a great dining-room, being placed behind a particular table in it ; and one of them, by main force, held him down by leaning on his right ihoulder, and the other on his left. It m?de fuch an impreflion, that fhe awaked with the fright, and told him of it, and did all fhe could to difTvvade him : But he he told her, pe talked like 07ie of the foolijh ^Motnen ; that nothing fhould hinder him from his mailer's bufmefs. They arofe, and upon opening the door into the yard, they found there had fallen a great fnow, fmce they went to bed, with a fevere fro ft, which had driven up to the houfe, fo that the firft ftep indeed was up to his knees : Upon this fhe repeated her importunity, but to no pur- pofe ; and the efFedl was, that he was taken according to her dream, and that every particular circumltance of it, \>i?.o the BCAt day punflually fulfilled. his English Baptists. xy^ his wife was very near her time ; and pro- rnifing, that he woiild come and furrender himfelf at what time foevcr the juftice fhould appoint, he readily difmiffed him upon his parole of honour, giving him two or three days to fettle his affairs. But he was no fooner got home, when the harpies came and feized him ; and that ve- ry afternoon, hurried him away to Gkuce- fier-caftle^ which was thirty miles diftant, without regarding the juftice's lenity. This is the county goal, and he entered it while the college chimes rung twelve at mid- night. I mention this circum fiance, be- caufe providence afterwards over-ruled it for good. While he was there, he, and feveral other miniflers, fet up preaching and praying ; and a great reformation was wrought, efpecially among the felons. In the mean time, his enemies, to prevent his preaching any more in publick, procured an order from court, by means of the duke of Tork^ afterwards king James II. to con- fine him there yi?r life ; but the Lord made all their defigns abortive, and made them to know, that wherein they dealt proudly, he was above them, by catching them in their own fnare ; For when the time that \{\s mittimus mentioned, viz. fix months^ was expired, he defired the keeper to difmifs him \ who anfwered, it was unufual to open the gates at midnight; Mr. Gifford replied, they were opened to let him in, and ijS ^e History of tU and therefore why fliould they not to' let him out? And feconding his reafoning with a more powerful argument, being apprifed of his enemies deiign, he was dif- charged at the time he came in, vi%. twelve of the clock at night : And the very next morning, about 7&c of the clock, the exprefs arrived from Lo7tdon^ with the or- der to confine him during lifi. Thus,; lays my author^', the wrath of man praifed God, and the remainder thereof did he reftrain, and turned that for good, which his enemies deiigned for evil, as in the cafe of Jofeph: For if he had not been hurried to prifon, before his parole was out^ ^ he had not been difmiffed, in all probabi- lityj before the order had come. I ha'^e often heard him, fays he, make this re- mark, in telling this ftory, with great plea- fure, and thankfulnefs, as he always did any of his perfecutions ; rejoicing, that he was couJited worthy to fuffer for the name of ^efus. He left the reverend and learned Mr. George Fozmes, in Gloucejier-ca/ile ; who, by the confinement, and a conftitu- tion broken with labours and fatigue in the fame caafe, foon after took his flight from a prifon below, to a paradife above- Mr. Jofeph Maifiers, I fhall give fome account of him hereafter , and only ob- f Manufcript fenes ?ne, ' ferve English Baptists. T^§ ferve here from Dr. Calamy '^ ; That ' he 1^%^ ^ was born at King/down^ near Illchejler^ * in the county of Somerfet^ Nov, 13, * 1640. Hq WQUt to Magdak?t-College, the * latter end of Feb, 1656; and there he * continued, till upon the refloration of ' of king Ckar/es, commiffioners were fent * down, as fi^God expreffes it, to redlify * all things in the univerfity. Among * other redifications, they brought in the * ceremonies of the church of England m" * to that, as well as other colleges. : And * Mr. Maifkrs thereupon removed to Mag- * dalen'hall\ and at that time ftanding for * his degree of batchelhr of arts^ it was * denied him, purely becaufe of his refuf- * ing conformity. And, in this refped:, ' he was one of the firft fufferers, Hav- * ing feen fome certificates of this, I fhall * here fubjoin them : And, fays the doc- * tor, leave my reader to his own remarks, Feb, 5, 1 660-1. * ^ I ^ H E S E are to certify whom it * X J^^y concern, that Jofeph Mai~ * fters, ftudent of Magdalen-hall^ (lately * oi Magdalen-college^ in Oxon, during his * abode in the faid univerfity, did behave * himfelf pioufly, and ftudioufly .; and was * forced to leave his place in the faid col- * lege 5 as alfo, was denied his degree of * batchelhr in arts^ (having compleated his * Continuation, p. 107, i time, a6o Tie History of the ^ time, and performed all exercifes thereto *^ required by the ftatutes) only upon this ^ reafon; 'viz, for his non-^conformity to " the ecclefiaftical difcipline lately intro- ' dnced into the faid college. In teftimony "• whereof, we fubfcribe our names, Henry Wilkinfon^ D. D. ^ I am perfuaded, that Mr. MaifterSy in ' refpedt of his life and learning, is with- ' out exception : And I have attefted it * before by my own hand, in the regifter ' of the congregation, that his prefenta- ^ tion was unduely denied, after his grace ' was by me pronounced granted, merely ^ upon the pretence of non-conformity : So * that the faid Mr. Maijlers (in my opi- * nion) hath a good right to challenge a ^ prefentation to his degree, if it pleafe ^ the vice-chancellor accordingly to ad- ^ mit him thereunto. Ita teftor, 7ho, Tanner^ Acad. Proc. *^ We whofe names are underwrit, can ^ teflify the truth of the forefaid certificate, * and prodlor's fubfcription, John Williams, (then) dean. Edward Northmore, reg. mag. pre- fent at that congregation. Ed?72u?id Major, reg. mag. prefent at that congregation. I'keo. Gale, A M. * These English Baptists. i6i ^ These are to certify, whom it * may concern, that we whofe names are ' here fubfcribed, having perfonal know- * ledge of Jofeph Maifters, do teftify, that * he hath behaved himfelf ftudioufly, pi- * oufly, and defervingly, during his refi- * dence in the univerfity/ Henry Hickman, B. D. George Cowper, A. M. ' John Brett, A. M. After fuch ufage,fays Dr. Calamy.M^, Maifters had Uttle heart to ftay any longer in the univerflty ^ and therefore quitted it, after near five years continuance there, and lived, and followed his ftudies in private, preaching occafionally, as he had oppor- tunity. At length he fettled with a wor- fhipping fociety of chriftians, at Theobalds in Hertfordfloire, and was ordained to the miniftry, OBoberi^o, i6jj, and continued exercifing his miniftry afterwards there, and in the city of London^ fometimes more publickly, and fometimes more privately, as the times would allow, iov fifty years, till his death. Mr. Richard Allen, a man of great pi- ^\f^^'^ ety and moderation, of whom I fliall make more mention hereafter. When preaching a ledlare, on a 'Tburfday, was, with ten more feized, and carried to Newgate, He was fined ten pounds, and the reft fome Vol. III. M marks i Alien. i62 Tie History of the marks : He lay there about Jix or /even weeks. His friends having fome intereft in the (heriffs, became bound for his good behaviour, and obtaining aremiffion of his fine, he was difcharged; the reft paying their fines, were difcharged alfo. At another time, he was preaching in Whites-alley^ Moorjields, they met about five of the clock ill the morning, the bet- ter to conceal themfelves ; but fome troop- ers came in upon them, and abufed the people very much ; threw one of the forms at Mr. Allen in the pulpit, broke down the galleries, and did ^hoxxt forty ov fifty pounds damage to the meeting-houfe. CHAP. II. Fro?n the beginning of the reign of king James II. to the glorious re- volutiofi tmder ki?2g William III. of im?72ortal memory. K James Ty^ I N G James II. being now upon iL^rmno J^^ the throne, all the former heats and animofities againft him, on the ac- count of his beins; of the Roman-catholick religion, in the late reign, feemed now to be English Baptists. 163 be quite forgot^ amidft the loud acclama- tions of the people at his acceffion. Dr. Welwood^ fays, ' The firft fpeech he made as king, the day his brother died, gave hopes of a happy reign ; and even thofe that had appeared with the greateft w^armth againft him before; were willing now to own themfelves to have been mi- ftaken, and were ready to exprefs their repentance for what was paft. For he told them, that fince it had pleafed Al- mighty God, to place him in that ftation, and that he was now to fucceed to fo good and gracious a king, as well as fo very kind a brother, he thought fit to declare to them, that he would endea- vour to follow his example, and efpeci- ally in that of his great clemency, and tendernefs to his people ; and that tbo' he had been reported to be a man for arbitrary power, yet he was refolved to make it his endeavour to preferve the government of EiUgland^ both in church and ftate, as it was then eftablifhed by law. That he knew the prirxiples of the church of E?7gla72d were for monar- chy^ and that the members of it had fhewn themfelves good and loyal fubjeds^ therefore he would always take care of it, and defend and fupport it. That he knew that the laws of England were * futiicient to make the king as great a * Memoirs, p. 136. M 2 mo- 164 ^he History of the * monarch as he could wifli ; and that * as he would never depart from the juft * rights and prerogatives of the crown, fo * he would never invade any man's pro- * perty : Concluding, that as he had often * hitherto ventured his life in defence of * this nation, fo he was refolved to go as ' far as any man in preferving it, in all * its juft rights and liberties/ Anno Before the meeting oi ^t parliament^ ottes which was called for the 19th of May\ Danger- three pcrfons, njiz. Oates, Dangerfield, and £eid, a77d Baxter, which were odious to the king, ^^xx.Qxtn- ^^^ papifts and the prevailing party, were brought to their trials before the lord chief juftice Jefertes, at the King's-bench bar the 8th and gihoi May 1685. The par- tiality with which thefe perfons were tried and condemned, will fcarcely be denied : For as well during this reign, as in the latter part of the former, all thtju7'ies were packed, and had engaged before hand to be guided by the court. The cruel fentences paffed againft Oates^ and DangerfieU, are fads fo well known, that I fliall omit them, and only take no-- tice of Jeferies's condud: in the trial of Mr. Baxter, for his paraphrafe on the New Tejlajnent ; wherein it was pretended, that there were feveral feditious pafrages,and highly refleding on the bifhops ; which may Ihew the judge's partialiaty, with re- fped to the whole. Monf English Baptists. 165 Monf. Rapin * fays, ' Jefferies laying ^ afide, on this occafion, the office of a judge, to turn evidence, affirmed, that Baxter was an enemy to the name and thing, the office and perfons of biffiops ; and feverely reprimanded the counfel, probably for defending their caufe too well. Then fpeaking to Baxter^ he faid ; Richard, thou art an old fellow, an old knave, thou haft written books enough to load a cart, every one as full oi /edition, I might fay treajb?i, as an egg is full of meat ; had'ft thou been whipped out of thy writing trade /ir/v years ago, it had been happy. Thou pretendeft to be a preacher of the gof- pel of peace, and thou haft one foot in the grave j it is time for thee to begin to think what account thou intendeft to give. But leave thee to thyfelf, and I fee thoul't go on, as thou haft begun y but, by the grace of God, I will look after thee. I know thou haft a mighty party, and I fee a great many of the brotherhood in corners waiting to fee what will become of their mighty Don^ and a dodlor of the p.irty (Dr. Bates) at your elbow ; but by the grace of God Almighty, I will crufti you all. ' The chief juftice, in fumming up the evidence, faid; it is notorioufly \ known, that there has been a defign to * Jiill. of England, Vol. II. p. 744. M 3 ' ruin 1 66 T'be Hist OR Y of the * ruin the king and the nation. He * is as modeft now as can be ; but time * was, when no man was fo ready at, ^ Ifind your kings in chains^ and your no- * Bles in fetters of iron \ and, to your tents, ^ O Ifrael. Gentlemen, for God's fake, * do not let us be gulled twice in an age, * It manifeftly appears, fays Rapin^ from * thefe laft words of Jefferiess, that Bax- * ters book was only a pretence to punifli * him for what he had done during the '^ troubles. *■ In conclufion, being found guilty, ' judgment was given againft him, to be * fined^'z;^ hundred marks^ to lie in prifon * till he paid it, and to be bound to his ^ good behaviour {oxfeven years.' Accont of Dr. Titus Oates^ having bore the name ^^2\ of a Baptiji, and been fome fmall time of that profeffion, I fhall here from Rapin * tranfcribe fome account of him ; who fays, * He had his firfl education in Mer^ * chant'taylors fchool in London^ and next * in the univerfity of Cambridge^ where * he was ftudent in two colleges, Cains ^ * and St. Johns, and where he left no * reputation behind him for his parts or * learning -, tho' he feemed diftinguiflied * for a tenacious memory, a plodding in- ' duftry, and an unparalleled affurance; be- * fides a particular canting way, that ap- , * Hiii of England, Vol II. p. 689. * peared English Baptists. 167 * peared in his academiGal exercifes. Re- moving from thence he flipt into orders, and for a while officiated as curate to his father; after which he enjoyed a fmall vicarage in Kcnty from whence he removed to another in Sujfex ; and after that, for fome time got into the duke of Norfolk's family, when he par* ticularly fided with the S>ociniam at Lion- don-, fo that he became very uncertain as to his principles and religion, and in- famous as to his morals. In the year 1677, being abandoned, and deftitute of common neceflaries, he fell into the acquaintance of Dr. Ezrael Tongue^ a city divine, a man of letters^ and a pro- hfick head, filled with all the RomiJJj plots and confpiracies fince the refor- mation. This man was remarkable for his parts and great reading, but of a reftlefs and humorous temper, full of variety of projects, and fcarce ever with- out a pen in his hand, and a plot in his head. At firft he feemed to entertain Oates out of charity, who then went by the namQ of ylm/?roJe ; and complain- ing that he knew not where to get bread, the do6tor took him to his houfe, gave him clothes, lodging, and diet, and told him, he would put him in a v/ay. Af- ter which, finding him a bold under- taker, he perfuaded him to infindate himfelf among the Papijh, and get par- M 4 ' ticular 68 " The History of the ^ ticular acquaintance with them ; which, ■^ being effedied, he let him underftand, ^ that there had been feveral plots in ^ England to bring in popery ; and if he ' would go beyond fea among the Jefuits^ "■ and ftridly obferve their ways, it was * poffible there niight be one at prefent ; ' and if he could make that out, it would ' be his preferment for ever. But, how- * ever, if he could get their names, and ^ feme informations from the PapiJJs^ it * w^ould be eafy to roufe people with the * fear of Popery. ' Pursuant to this advice, fays Ra- * pin^ Oates reconciled himfdf to the * church of Ro?7ie ; and, moreover, accor- ' ding to fome, entered into the fociety ^ of the Jefiiits. In April, 1677, he * was fent to Valladolid in Spain, where ' he remained fix months, and then re- * turned to England: After a month's ' ftay, he was fent to St, Omers, the E;/- * glijh feminary, for further difoveries. In ' ihort, the latter end of Jtme, the ' lame year, he returned to E?2gland, and ' repaired to his friend Tongue, furniflied ' with materials picked up at St, Omers, ^^ Out of thefe materials. Tongue and Oates ^ ' at feveral conferences together, pither at * London, or in an hired houfe at Lam- * beth, framed the papers, or narrative ^ delivered by To?igue to the king, and ": the lord treafurer IJanhy, as copies of ■ what English Baptists. i^^ ^ what Oafes had written with his own < hand; It is well known, that this Tifus Oafe$^ in the latter part of his life, joined him- felf in communion, and was a fhort time in the miniftry among the Baptijls, He had, in his youth, been a member of a church of that denomination, meeting in Virginia-Jlreet ^ Rat cliff -highway^ under the f)aftoral care of Mr. Ifaac Lamb^ but had eft them, and the whole body of diffen- ters for near thirty years, feeking elfewhere for that preferment which he knew they could not give him. But it was not till after above two years application (a$ ap- pears by the feveral dates of his letters pub- Jiflied in 1701, in a quarto pamphlet, in- titled, a New Difcovery of Titus Gates) that he was reflored to their communion. The feeming fincerity of his religious pro- teftations, not only contained in his many letters, but alfo in his daily converfe with them, in the end gave them fome hopes of his integrity and true reformation. But the great caution and conduct of that con- gregation to whom he applied, their full examination and ftrid: fcmtiny into the fincerity of his profeffions, in which they proceeded as far as human teft could reach, the truth of the heart lying only in the fight of God, will appear by the letter fubfcribed by the chief of the congregation, and the propofals therein contained. ^ SIR, 170 7le History of the SIR, July^, 1696. SU C H of us, who were prefent at (the conference between you and ih^ four brethren, at J Coffee-houfe^ were well pleafed with what you faid to thofe three things then difcourfed of; and, for a further fatisfaftion to us, and the whole church, to which you defire to be united, we make it our requeft to you, to give an account of the following things in writing, and we hope you will not be unwilling to comply with our de- fire herein ; thinking, that it will be much to the honour of God, and be the moft probable way to fatisfy us. The firft then difcourfed of, were fome great prin- ciples of religion ; now in regard, that the principles of religion are of a large compafs, and few of them were then touched upon, we defire you to give an account of your faith in writing; and we are the rather induced hereto, be- caufe a good agreement and harmony in principles, is very neceffary to the com- fort of church communion ; and alfo becaufe it is the indifpenfible duty of every church, to be th^ pillar and ground of truth, to keep fajl the form of found words, to contend earnejily for the faith once delivered to the faints^ and to feek after, for their fpiritual nourifhment and growth, the fine ere milk of the word. ' The English Baptists. 171 The next thing then difcourfed of was, your grievous apojiacy^ and falling into the communion of the church of Rome^ and joining with it fo far in its hellifh and bloody defigns againft the protejiant intereft in thefe nations, which we think requires the deepeft humiliation. And inafmuch as you have been upon the publick ftage for many years, and are fo known, not only in thefe nations, but in moft of Europe^ we do think, that a pub- lick acknowledgment of it in print might be very expedient for the honour of God, and the fatisfadtion of all good Pro^ tejlants. But as for our own fatisfadtion, which we are moftly concerned in, we defire you would give us a particular account of your conveifion j which by a fincere refiedlion upon what hath pair- ed between God and your own foul, we hope may be eafily done. This, we are very defirous of, becaufe the inward work of God's Spirit, in the converfion of a finner to himfelf, is the fpring and caufe of a holy life and converfation, whereby God is honoured in the world, and a good example is given unto others, if the heart be furnifhed with gracious and holy principles, that will difcover themfelves in an outward conformity to all rules of religion, whereby we adorfi the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. We defire you will be pleafed ' to 17.2 The History of the ^ to take what we have here written in * good part, having no other end, befides * the glory of God, your good, and our * own fatisfadtion, in order to that you * have propofed to us. Without any far- * ther troubling you in reading our well- * intended lines, we remain Tour real and affeBionafe friends; I SHALL not trouble the reader with the many letters he wrote full of feeming lincerity and fandtity, and earneft and pref- ling defires, continued from year to year before he could gain admiflion. I THINK it is fufficient to let the world fee the caution with which this people aded, and the time they took for the tri- al of the fincerity of the profeffion he had made to them ; I (hall therefore only ob- ferve, that fome of the doftor's letters are addreffed to one, whom he ftiles his dear- ly beloved brother^ a deacon of that church, who was indeed a worthy man, and of an unblemifhed character, whofe name I forbear to mention ; becaufe the author * from whence I colledled this account, has done fo. He tells him in one place, ' That thro* the grace of God, he defires * admiffion into their communion, to be * a comfort to him and the brethren/ In another place, * That it fhould be both * to his own, and their fatisfadlion ^ but ^' New Dircovery. ^ above English Baptists. 173 * above all, to the honour of our holy * God, and the edification of his churcho'' In another, he does with the grcateft fo- lemnity, proteft in the prefence of '^eho- vah^ and his holy angels, and them all, * That he has no other defigns, than the * glory of his name, and the credit of his * everlafting gofpel, and their peace and * comfort, and his own, that he might * walk with them in the truth, Gfr. That * he will do the utmoft of his power, to * adorn the dodtine of God his Saviour in * all things/ He was reftored to his communion in the year 1698 or 1699, but did not long continue, bofore his condud: difcovered his hypocrify, and they excluded him from among them. The immediate occafion was his behaviour on the death of a gen- tlewoman belonging to the fame church; who, about twelve years before, had been deceived in the charadler of a perfon who courted her ; and finding reafon to fuf- pedl him when matters had been carried too far to refufe him, did, by articles of agreement^ made between them, under hand and feal, affign in truft for her fe- parate ufe, and referve to herfelf, the power of difpofing of her eflate at her death, ex- cepting fuch part as was thereby fetlcd upon him. The marriage being agreed to upon thefe conditions, and the hufband iifing his wife in a barbarous manner, fe- veral 174 2j5^ History of the veral fuits were commenced againft himr by her, and her truftees. But at length, they came to a fecond agreement, by new articles^ confirming the former ; and, in confideration oi eight hundred pound vnoxQ paid to the hufband, the remainder of her eftate was affigned over in truft for fuch purpofes only, as fhe, whether y^/(?, or un- der coverture^ fhould by her laft will, or by any writing under her hand and feal^ dired: and appoint. And it was agreed, that for want of fuch diredtion and ap- pointment, it {hould go to her executors and adminiftraton^ exclufive always to the hufband, and fo, as that he fliould have no power over any part of it. This gentlewoman died in OdioheVy 1699, poffeffed of about eleven or twelve hundred pounds ; part of which fhe dif- pofed of by her iioill^ in feveral legacies, leaving the refidue to her executors^ who had alfo formerly been two of her truftees. Of thefe the above - mentioned gentle- man was Q7ie, The heads of the church appointed a minifter, much efteemed by the deceafed, to preach her funeral fermon. He waited on the dodlor, who feemed very well pleafed, and readily gave his affent to the choice j but to the furprife of the con- gregation, on the Lord's-day, the dodtor got into the pulpit half an hour before the ufual time, on purpofe to prevent the ini^ni^A funeral fermon : The congrega- tion. English Baptists^ ty^ tion, unwilling to make any difturbance, fubmitted to the rudenefs and obftinacy of the dodtor, and appointed ih^fwieral fermon to be preached next Sunday follow- ing. The doing of this fo difpleafed the dodlor, that with much paffion, and un- becoming words, he told the officers of the church, that from that day forwards, he would never preach more amongft them. In anfwer to which, they told him, that they would take him at his word ;. for the church had made an entry in their church-book, that he never fhould preach more amongft them. From this unex- pected anfwer, joined with the afore- mentioned refentments, we may prefume the doftor premeditated revenge. For having prefented the church with a pulpit- . cloth, table-cloth, and cufliion, he fent a meflenger to demand them, and they were accordingly delivered. About four months after he fent them back to the church, with this apology^ that it was his wife, not he, that fent for them, and that he would have fent them back again the next day, had it not rained-, whereupon one plea-p fantly afked the doctor, if it had rained three ox four months together ? The doctor, to cover his refentment, by acquiefcing in outward appearance with the pleafure of the church, in fubmiffion to his exclufion from the miniftry with them, came now and then as t^. private au- ditor^ 1 7^ T^eHisfoRvofi^Le ditdr^ defiring to know wherein he had offended, and feemingly to offer all rea- fonable fatisfadlion. But he had a fecret game to play, 'viz. under the mafk of friendfhip to ruin tht gentleman abovemen- tioned, one of the executors of the deceafed gentlewoman, who had the chief hand in preventing his preaching the funeral fer^ rn^QH^ and in advifing to difcontinue him as their minifler. For the hufband of the deceafed, contefting the validity of the will in doctors commons^ on pretence that the tejiatrix was non compos mentis at the mak- ing of it, Oates zealoudy folicited the caufe againfl the executors -, and, as he himfelf de* clared to fome perfons, who afterwards te-^ ftified it againft him upon oath in chan-- cery^ that it was by his management, a fen^ tence was obtained againfl the will. From this fentence the executors appealed to the court of the arches. From which time the do6lor, who till then had adted openly a- gainfl them, made frequent vifits to them, and to all their relations and acquaintance, who he could imagine had any influence upon them ; iatreating and foliciting mofl earneftly, that they would get the caufe re- moved from the commons^ and not fpend any more chriflian money in that anti- chriftian court, the vile remains of /^/^rji as he called it, but leave it to arbitration. His mofl frequent vifits were to his dear friend, the gentleman above-mentioned. I la English BaptIst^s. 177- In which he firft fignified, that it was pro^ bable he had been impofed upon by the hufband 5 and therefore defired to be bet- ter informed how the cafe flood. And having received from both the executors a full account of it, he pretended great for- row for the fteps he had taken againft them, declared himfelf fully fatisfied of thejuftnefs of their caufe, even from that cue claufe in the fecond deed of fettlemenf^ whereby the hufband had for ever debarred himfelf from having any thing to do with his wife's eflate. This he declared fo fluck with him, that he could not get over it, often calling it, the five Jhilling claufe^ and faying, that if he had ktn the fettlement before, he never would have flirred one - ftep for the hufband. He declared he was fatisfied of the validity of the will ; and that even the inflrucftions given to the at- torney, were in his judgment a ^0^^ will. With the help of fuch infinuations as thefe, he preffed the executors to leave the matter to his arbitration. After much folicltation and intrigue on his fide, the thing was at length agreed to ; and bonds being fealed by both parties, attendance was made at the doctor's houfe, where, contrary to an agreement exprefly made before the arbitration, that no La^w- yers fliould be prefent, an attorney^ a pro- Bor^ and Tifolicitor, appeared on the huf- band's fide, interrupting and brow-beating Vol. III. N the 1 7^ 7^e History of i^Ife difdr^ defiring to know wherein he had offended, and feemingly to offer all rea- fonable latisfadion. But he had a fecret game to play, viz, under the mafk of friendfhip to ruin iht gentleman abovemen- tioned, one of the executors of the deceafed gentlewoman, who had the chief hand in preventing his preaching the funeral fer^ fi^on^ and in advifing to difcontinue him as their minifter. For the hulband of the deceafed, contefting the 'validity of the will in do&ors commons^ on pretence that the tefiatrix was non compos mentis at the mak- ing of it, Oates zealoufly folicited the caufe againft the executors \ and, as he himfelf de* clared to fome perfons, who afterwards te- llified it againft him upon oath in chan-^ cery^ that it was by his management, a fen- tence was obtained againft the will. From this fentence the executors appealed to the court of the arches. From which time the doctor, who till then had adted openly a- gainft them, made frequent vifits to them, and to all their relations and acquaintance, who he could imagine had any influence upon them ; intreating and foliciting moft earneftly, that they would get the caufe re^ moved from the commons^ and not fpend any more chriftian money in that anti- chriftian court, the vile remains of />c/^;7, as he called it, but leave it to arbitration. His moft frequent vifits were to his dear friend, the gentleman above-riientioned. I la English Baptists. 177 In which he firft fignified, that it was pro^ bable he had been impofed upon by the huiband ; and therefore defired to be bet- ter informed how the cafe flood. And having received from both the executors a full account of it^ he pretended great for- row for the fteps he had taken againft them, declared himfelf fully fatisfied of thejuftnefs of their caufe, even from that one claufe in the fecond deed of fettlement^ whereby the huftand had for ever debarred himfelf from having any thing to do with his wife's eftate. This he declared fo fluck with him, that he could not get over it, often calling it, the five piUing cldufe^ and faying, that if he had ktn the fettlement before, he never would have flirred one - ilep for the huftand. He declared he was fatisfied of the validity of the will ; and that even the inflrucflions given to the at- torney, were in his judgment a good will. With the help of fuch infinuations as thefe, he preffed the executors to leave the matter TO his arbitration. After much folicltation and intrigue on his fide, the thing was at length agreed to ; and bonds being fealed by both parties, attendance was made at the doctor's houfe, where, contrary to an agreement exprefly made before the arbitration, that no Laijo- yers fliould be prefent, an attorney^ 2. pro- Bor^ and dijhlicitor^ appeared on the huf- band's fide, interrupting; and brow-beating Vol. III. N the 178 T'he History of the ' the executors witneffes, and were therein encouraged and aflifted by the dodlor; and at length, in December 1700, he pub- liflied his awards whereby he confirmed the fentence given againft the will, and a- mong other things, ordered the executors to pay to the hulband of the deceafed^?^^;^ hundred pimd^ at his [the dodor's] own houfe. For relief againft this award, the exe^ cutors exhibited a bill in chancery. In an- fwer to which, Oates fwore that the de- ceafed herfelf had acquainted him, a fort- night before her death, that one of the executors^ \ht per/on fo often before-men- tioned, had above two thoufa?id founds of her's in his hands, and that in proof there- of, fhe {liewed him two bonds under his hand and feal, the one iox fifteen hundred founds and the other for five hundred. But no fuch matter was pretended to at the time of the reference, or ever heard of, till this his anfwer in chancery. Besides, it is well known, that inftead of any fuch intimacy, as fhould difpofe the gendewoman to make him acquainted with her condition, (he often expreffed a great diflike of him ; particularly, hav- ing feveral months before her death, invited him one Sunday to dine at her houfe, which was near the meeting-place, fhe took fuch difguft at his behaviour, as to declare fliortly after, that he fhould ne- ver English Baptists. 179 ver more come within her doors. More- over, as a probable evidence, that this whole matter was an invention of his own, defigned to fatisfy his revenge, it was te- ftified upon oath, that at the very time when Oates folicited the executors to leave the caufe to his arbitration, he declared in other company, that he was angry with them for not inviting him or his wife to the funeral, and for preventing his "^x^^.Ai- ingxhQ funeral fermon^ and putting a boy over his head, who had been a dodor in divinity twenty years. It was likewife proved, that foon after the affair was committed to his arbitration^ he faid, w^ith an air of joy and triumph, to two gentlemen of the executors ac- quaintance, that he had then a rod in his hajids^ with which he would fcourge the perfon above-mentioned; (whom in his letters he had called his dear friend) that he would y^/;?g*6' him with it, and when he had worn it to the ftumps, he would lay it by ; that before he had done with him, he would ruin him, and make him fly his country, and not leave him worth 2iJljiUing, And being told that he ought not to leek revenge, but leave it to God j he replied, that vengeance was indeed God's fweet morfel, which he kept to him- felf ; but that he was often long before he executed his vengeance ; and that whea the Jews refufed St. Paul^ he turned to N 2 the i8o ^he History of th^ the Gentiles, To which being anlwere^i that though St. Paul did turn to the Geii- tileSj yet he did not wage war with the ye%i)s ; he replied, that tho' Paul's teeth were grown, his nails were not. And further it was proved, that in difcourfe af- ter the award, Oates declared, there never was any reconciliation, between him and that executor -, that though he went to the fame meeting with him, he had an end in that ; and that he believed he had done his bufinefs. It may be fome fatisfadion to the rea- der to be informed, that after two days hearing of this caufe, the award was, by a decree in chancery, in Nov, 1702. con- demned and fet afide, as revengeful and partial. That decree w^as a few months after confirmed in the houje of lords, to whom the hufband had appealed 3 and the gen- tlewoman's will was fhortly after that con- firmed in the court of the arches, and the former fentence againft it reverfed. AT. B. This account of Dr. Oates is ta- ken partly from the above-mentioned /j^;;;- phlet '.y and partly from the afliftance given by a reverend gentleman, a defcendant of one of the executors, who has in his hands the deeds, the bills, and anfwers, the de- f:)ofitions of witnefTes, and other papers re- ating to the controverfy. I SHOULD English Baptists. i8r I SHOULD have pafTed over this infa- mous man in filence, had not the Pcedo- baptift gentlemen, when they had occafion to mention him, been careful to note him an Anahaptijl ; but the reader may fee - with what little jnftice he is by way of odium on that profelTion denominated fuch. For, whatever his profeffion might be un- der the tutelage of his father in his youth, and for fome little time afterwards, he be- came a member of the church of England^ and was deemed worthy of a living therein. After he fell to the church of Rome, he returned again to the church of Englandy and continued therein 2}ooutfixtee72 years, before he made his application to the Bap- tijls for admiffion into their communion. And they, through a prudent jealoufy of him, fpent almoft three years in trial of the fmcerity of his profeffion. For in his letters he thus complains and fays, ' It is aw.' dif- ' ^ keeping him upon the rack. It is ^°'^^'y- * worfe than death, in thofe circumftan- V ces he is in, to be thus long delayed.' Aeain, he beg-s them not to break his heart by fuch delay, and fays, ' If he be not ' reftored to the communion with the * church of God, he (hall always mourn ' like a turtle.' Nay, he farther faid, * that his heart was lick unto death, * particularly on fuch a Lord's-day he * thought he (hould have died with the N 3 * very iSz The History of the ^ very anguifh of foul for being put off/ However, by fuch his plaufible car- riage and behaviour, though in the end they were deceived, a fliult not to be im- puted to thofe who cannot enter into the fecrets of mens hearts 3 yet, as far as I can find, in lefs than a year after his ad- million, they excluded him as a dijorderly perfon, and an hypocrite. Therefore, if he deferved any chriftian denomination, let the reader judge to whom he molt properly belonged. Vind. of In the reign of king James II. fays the Dif- ]Yj|.^ Peirce, ' Our author, [meam?2g Dr. p^t^^^' c Nichols] begins with the rebeUion of * the duke of Monmouth, In the begin- * x{\x\^, fays he^ of this reign, James^M^Q * oi Monmouth^ taking to himfelf the roy- ' al title, raifed an army againft king * James. His head quarters were at Taiin- * ton^ a town in the Weji of England^ ^ whither foldiers flock'd in unto him out * of all the different feds of the mii-con- * formifts, more of which had in all pro- ' bability joined him, if he had fucceeded * in his enterprize. * Many of the 7ion-confo7'mtfts^ fays ' Mr. Peirce^ thought king Charles mar- ^ ried to the duke's mother, and fo were ' perfuaded the duke was the true heir to ^ the crown 5 and that king Charles dil- ^ owned his m.arriage, that he might do * the English Baptists. 183 ' the Papifts a pleafure by fetting him a- * fide. They may therefore be the rather * excufed, that being thus miftaken about * his right, they embraced that opportu- * nity of {baking off the tyrannical yoke, * and recovering their juft hber^' 03, ^hct * they had been miferably oppitlTed, and ' perfecuted for above twenty yea.s. Or, * if that miftake on our fide is not to be * forgiven, we only defire they may fall ^ under the fame cenfure, w^ho, before * they had felt the thoufandth part of our * hardfliips, had recourfe to the prince of * Orange^ crying out earneftiy for his ^ affiftance, and mutually promifing him * their own.' The duke of Monmouth being defeated, paid the price of his rebellion with his blood. ' The king being thus freed, favs mji. of ' Rapin, from his greateft fears, gave hin.- ^^¥Vf' ' * felf over entirely to the paffion of re- p, 7^0. ^ venge, on thofe who directly, or indi- * redly, had affifted the duke of Mon- ' month. To that end, the lord chief juf- ' tice Jeff'eries was fent with yi//r judges * affiftants into the JVeJi^ with a fpecial * commiffion of oyer and tenniner^ to try * the late rebels : and major-general Kirk * was ordered to attend him with a body * of troops, to keep the people in awe, * It was not poffible, fays he^ for the king * to find in the whole kingdom, two men * more dcftitute of religion, honour, and N 4 * huma- i S4 l^h^ Yiisr ovi^ of^ the ^ humanity. They were two cruel, and . - * mercilefs tygers, that delighted in blood/ James Bent, in his book intitled, the bloody ajfizes, has given a lift of all thoie that were condemned, and fuffered in the Weji in the year 1685, under the fen- tence of Jeferies, and the number in each place where they were executed ; which in all, by his account appears to be two himdi^ed and thirty Jtine perfons *, be- fides thofe hanged and deftroyed in cold blood; Amongft which, without doubt, fome were Baptijh : and in all probability, had not the nation in general united foon after to dethrone the king, this, like fome others, would have been recorded as a reheUion of the Baptifts, * Father Orleans, fays Rapin, who Ibidem ^ w^^^ f^^"^ the mouth oi James II. not * being able to deny thefe barbarous exe- ' cutions, endeavours to excufe them two ' ways. He fays, Firft, that the king < was informed of them too late to prevent « them, and that the great fervices per- * formed by Jefferies and Kirk prevailed * with him to fpare them. He fays in the ^ next place, that the king made amends ^ for thofe injuflices, as far as lay in his * power, by the general pardon he after- < wards granted. But it is eafy to fee < how vain thefe excufes are, if it is con- ^ fidered, that when Kirk was charged * B'ljhop Burnet y^?;^ aho^vc fix lii4nclred ^i<:ere hanged. ' with English Baptists. I 8c * with thefe cruelties, he anfwered, that * Jefferies and bimfelf adted far fhort of ^ the king s inftrudtions.' Bishop Burnet affiires us, * That the Eiji, of * kinp; had a particular account of all T^/^ ^^^ ^'^''^ /^r/(?i s proceedings, wrU to him eve- p. e^g^ ^ ry day ; and he took pleafure to relate * them in the drawing-room to foreign ' miniflers, and at table, calling it 7"^- * r/Vi's campaign. * Dykvelt^ the ftates ambaflador, told * Burnet, that the king talked fo often of ^ thefe things, in his hearing, that he * wondered to fee him break cut into thofe * indecencies/ The city of London was witnefs alfo of feveral executions in OBober ; and a- mong many others, Mrs. Elizabeth Gaunt ^ a Baptijl^ a very pious and religious wo- man, was publickly and cruelly burnt a- live for harbouring one of the duke of Monmoutb\ adherents. ' There, was in London, fays bifhop ibidem. ' Burnet, one Gaunt, a woman that was Elizabeth ^ an Anabaptiji, who fpent a great part of P'"^""^ * her \\{q in works of charity, vifiting the ^ jails, and looking after the poor, of what * perfuafion foever they were. One of ' the rebels found her out, and flie har- * boured liim in her houfe, and was look- ^ ing for an occafion of fending him out * of the kingdom. He went about in the * nighty and came to hear what the king ' had i86 ^he History of the < had faid, viz. That he would fooner < pardon the rebels, than thofe who har- < boured them. So he, by an unheard of < bafenefs, went and delivered himfelf, and * accufed her that harboured him. She < was feized on and tried. There was no * witnefs to prove that flie knew that the < perfon (he harboured was a rebel, but he « himfelf. Her maid witneffed only, that < he was entertained at her houfe. But « though the crime was her harbouring a * traitor, and was proved only by this in- * famous witnefs, yet the judge charged « the y^/ry to bring her in guilty, pretend- * ing, that the maid was a fecond witnefs, * though {he knew nothing of that which « was the criminal part. She was con- * demned and burnt ^ as the law diredts, * in the. cafe of women convicl of treafon. « She died with a conftancy even to a * cheerfulnefs, that ftruck all that faw it. « She faid, charity was a part of her reli- * gion, as well as faith. This, at worft, < was the feeding of an enemy ; fo fhe * hoped fhe had her reward with him, for * whofe fake (he did this fervice, how un- * worthy foever the perfon was that made * fo ill a return for it. She rejoiced, that * God had honoured her to be xhtfrft that * fuffered by fire in this reign ; and that * her fuffering was a martyrdom^ for'that re- * ligion which was all love. Pen the quaker, ' fays the bilhop, told me he law her die. 'She English Baptists. 187 * She laid the ftraw about her for burning * her fpeedily, and behaved herfelf in fuch * a manner, that all the fped:ators melted * in tears/ She was executed according to her fentence at Tybiir?i^ October 23, 1685. and left the following paper written with her own hand, and delivered it to captain Richardfo7J^ then keeper of Newgate. * Not knowing whether I (hall be fuf- Her * fered, or able, becaufe of weakneflcs that^^^^^* * are upon me, through my hard and clofe * imprifonment, to fpeak at the place of < execution, I have wrote thefe few lines, * to fignify, that I am reconciled to the * ways of my God towards me -, though it < be in ways I looked not for, and by ter- * rible things, yet in righteoufneis : for * having given me life, he ought to have * the difpofing of it, when and where he ^ pleafes to call for it : and I defire to of- * fqr up my all to him, it being but my * reafonable fervice^ and alfo the firft ' terms Chrift offers, That he that will be * his dijciple^ miifl forfake all and follow * him. And therefore let none think hard, * or be difcouraged at what hath happened- ^ unto me ; for he doth nothing without * caufe, in all that he hath done unto me ; * he being holy in all his ways, and righte- * ous in all his works \ and it is but my lot, * in common with poor defolate Zion at f thi3 j[88 77)e }iisToi^Y of the * this day. Neither do I find in my heart, *^ the leaft regret for any thing that I have * done in the fervice of my Lord and Ma- * fter Jefas Chrift, in fecuring and fiic- * couring of any of his poor fuiferers, that * have (hewed favour, as I thought, to his * righteous caufe 5 which caufe, though it * be nov/ fallen and trampled on, yet it * may revive, and God may plead it at an- * other rate, more than ever he hath yet * done, with all its oppofers and malicious * haters. And therefore, let all that love * and fear him, not omit the leaft duty * that comes to hand, or lies before them j < knowing, that now Chrift hath need of * them, and expeds they fliould ferve him. * x4nd I defire to blefs his holy name, that * he hath made me ufeful in my genera- •^ tion, to the comfort and relief of many * defolate ones ; that the bkffing of thofe \ that ivere ready toperifi^ hath come upon " me ; and I have been helped to make the * hea?'t of the widow to fing. And I blefs * his holy name, that in all this, together * with what I was charged with, I can * approve my heart to him, that I have *- done his will, though it doth crofs man's. * And the fcriptures which fatisfy me are, * Ifa.xvu 3, 4. Hide the out-caflsy bewray * not him that wandereth ; be thou a covert * to them from the face of the fpoiler. And * Ob ad. xii. 13, 14. Thou Jl^otddeji not have ^ delivered up thoje of his ^ that did remain English Baptists. 189 mthe day of dijlrefs. But men fay yoii muft give them up, or you fhall die for it. Now, who to obey^ j^^dge ye. So that I have caufe to rejoice, and be ex- ceeding glad, in that 1 fuff^vfor righfe- cufnefi fake, and that I am accounted w^orthy to fuffer for well doing ; and that God hath accepted any fervice from me, which hath been done in lincerity, tho* mixed with manifold infirmities, which he hath been pleafed, for Chrift's fake, to cover and forgive. 'And now, as concerning my crime, as it is called -, alas ! it was but a little one^ and might well become a prince to for- give : but he that fliews no mercy, fhall find none; and I may fay of it in the language oi Jonathan^ I did but tajie a little honey ^ and lo, 1 mujl die for it, I did but relieve an unworthy, poor, diC- treffed family, and lo, I muft die for it. Well, I defire, in the lamb-like nature of the gofpel, to forgive thofe that are con- cerned ; and to fay, Lord, lay it net to their charge. But I fear it will not ; nay, I believe, when he comes to make inquifition for blood, it will be found at the door of the furious judge*; who, becaufe I could not remember things, through my dauntednefs at Burtori^ wife, and daughter's witnefs, and my igno- rance, took advantage thereat/and would * Withers, Z * not J go The History of the * not bear me, when I had called to mind ^ that which I am fure would have in- « validated the evidence. And though he * granted fomething of the fame kind to « another, he denied it to me. At that * time my blood will alfo be found at the * door of the unrighteous jury, who found * me guilty upon the fingle oath of an * out-lawed man ; for there was none but * his oath about the money, who is no * legal witnefs, though he be pardoned, * his out-lawry not being reverfed, the law * requiring two witneffes in point of trea- * fon. And then about my going with * him to the place mentioned, mz, the * Hope ; it was by his own word before he * could be out-lawed ; for it was about ' two months after his abfconding : fo * that though he was in a proclamation, * yet not high treafon, as I amrinformed, * whereby I am clearly murdered. And * alfo bloody Mr. Att — ,* who hath fo un- * fatiably hunted after it, though it is no * profit to him, yet through the ill will he * bears me, left no ftone unturned, as I * have ground to believe, till he brought ' it to this, and fhewed favour to B—ton^ * who ought to have died for his own fault, * not to have bought his life with mine. * And capt. Richard/on^ who is cruel and ^ fevere to all under my circumftances, * and who did at that time, without any * Atterhurp \ mercy Eng'lish Baptists. xgi mercy and pity, haften my fentence, and held up my hand that it might be given: all which, together with the great one * of all, by whofe power all thefe, and multitudes morq of cruelties are done, I do heartily and freely forgive as againft me \ but as it is done in an implacable mind, againft the Lord Chrift, and his righteous caufe and followers, I leave it to him who is the avenger of all fuch wrong, isoho 'will tread upon princes as upon mortar, and be terrible to the kings of the earth. And know this alfo, that though you are feemingly fixed, and becaufe of the power in your hands, are weighing out your violence, and deal- ing with a fpiteful mind, becaufe of the old and new hatred, by impoverifhjng, and every way diftreffing thofe you have got under you ; yet unlefs you can fe- cure Jefus Chrift, and all his holy an- gels, you fhall never do your bufinefs, nor your hand accomphih your enter- prizes 5 for he will be upon you ere you are aware; and therefore, that you would be wife, inftrudted and learn, is the defire of her that finds no mercy from you, Elizabeth Gau?it* * King James II, p.s. tg^ The History of the P, S, ' Such as it is, you have from thd ^ band of her who hath done as fhe could, * and is forry (he can do no better ; hopes * you will pity and confider, and cover * weakneffes and fhortnefs, and any thing * that is wanting : and begs, that none ' may be weakned or ftumble by my low- * nefs of fpirit ; for God's defign is to * humble and abafe, that he alone may be * exalted in that day : and I hope he will * appear in the needful time and hour, and * it may be referve the beft wine till the * laft, as he hath done for fome before me. * None goes a ^warfare at his own charge s^ * and the fpirit blows not oxAy where ^ but ' when it lijleth % and it becomes me, who * have {o often grieved it, and quenched it, ' afld refifted it, to wait for and upon its * motions, and not to murmur ; but I may * mourn, becaufe through the want of it, ^ I honour not my God, nor his bleffed * caufe, which I have fo long loved, and * delight to ferve; and repent of nothing ' about it, but that I have ferved it and him * no better/ The author of the difplay of tyranny begins his remarks upon the trial of this TartW. good woman thus. ' Were my pen,yi^^'i t' ^59- * he^ quaUfied to reprefent the due charac- * ter of this excellent woman, it would * be readily granted, that fhe flood mofl * defervedly entitled to an eternal monu- * meat of honour, in the hearts of all fin- " ■ ' cere English Baptists. 193 * cere lovers of the reformed religion. All ^ true chriftians, though in fome things * differing in perfuafion with her, found * in her a univerfal chanty, and fincere ^ friendfhip, as is well known to many * here, and alfo to a multitude of the ' Scotch nation, minifters and others, who * for confcience fake were thruft into exile * by prelatick rage. Thefe found in her * a moft refrefhing refuge. She dedicated * herfelf with unwearied induftry to pro- * vide for their fupply and fupport -, and * therein I do incline to think, fhe out- ^ ftripped every individual perfon (if not * the whole body of Protejlants) in this * great city. Hereby (he became expo- * fed to the implacable fury of the bloody * Papiflsy and thofe blind tools who co- ^ operated to promote their accurfed de- * figns 5 and fo there appeared little diffi- * culty to procure a jtiry^ as there were ' well-prepared yW^^j, to make her ^Ja- ' orifice y as a tray tor, to holy church^ The profecution of the diffenters was ftill carried on with all imaginable feverity, and great were the oppreffions of thofe who frequented the feparate meetings in feve- ral counties^ and all the neighbouring vil- lages about London. The juilices, and confiding clergy, were equally diligent in their feveral parifhes. Injundtions were fent Vol. III. O In. 1 94 The History of the out from feveral of the blfhops under the feal of their offices, requiring all church- wardens to prefent fuch as did not come to church,nor receive the facrament 2^.\.EaJier,^ AnAth^ juries 21 the affizes gave it as their opinion, that the Di [[enters ihould be ef- Hifi. fedually profecuted. ' Bat the fcanda- f^j'''- * lous villanies and perjuries of the infor- P- 545- ' ' mers, fays Mr. Nealy made wife men ^ begin to abhor the trade ; however, fo * terrible were the times, that many fami- * lies and minifters removed with their * efieds to New-England, and other plan- * tations in America! Swarms of Jejuits^ and regular priefts, were fent for from abroad 5 Jefuits fchools, * The Rev. Dr. Calatny, m the life of Mr. John Ho^Cy p. 160, records this paffage of him. * Are all * fit to approach the facred table, whom the fear of ruin, * or hope of gain, may bring thither ? Vs'e tremble to * think of the exciufwe facramental teil, brought down *' as low as the keeper of an alehoufe. We cannot but * often remember with horrour, what happened three or ' four years ago. A man that led an ill life, but fre- ' quented the church, was obferved not to come to the ' facrament, and preifed by the officers to come ; he yet * declined, knowing himfelf unfit. At length, being ' threatned and terrified, he came ; but faid to fome pre- * fent at the time of the folemn a^lion, that he came on- * ly to avoid being undone, and took them to witnefs, * that what he there received, he took only as common * bread and wine, not daring to receive them as the body ' and blood of Chrift. 'Tis amazing, fays he, that a- * mong chriiHans, fo venerable an inititution fhould be * prollituted to the ferving of fo mean purpofes, andfofo- * reign to its true end. and English Baptists. 195 and other femlnaries, were fet up in Lon- don y and the country -, mafs-houfes v/erc erecfled in the mod confiderable towns ; four Roman Catholick biiliops were confe- crated in the royal chapel, and exerciied their fundlions, under the charadler oi vi- cars apojiolical', their regular clergy ap- peared at Whitehall ^Sidi. St. fames s in their habits, and were unwearied in their at- tempts to feduce the common people. The way to preferment, was to be a catholick^ or to declare for the prerogative 5 for all ilate-affairs were managed by fuch men. This opened the eyes of many of the clergy, and put them upon preaching a- gainft ihtpopip dodtrines, that they might recover the people, who were running from them, and refcue the protejlant reli- gion from the dangers their own follies had brought it into. The clergy y by preaching and writing zealoufly again ft poper\\ broke all meafures between the king and the church of Eng- land ; and each party now courted the mn-conformijls for their auxiliaries, wlioni they had been perfecuting and deftroying for fo many years. His majefty now refolved to introduce Burnet, an imiverjal toleration, in defpite of the^^^5' church ot England, and at their expence. The cruelty of the church of England was • his common fubjedl of difcourfe. He re- proached them for their violent perfecu- O 2 tion 196 "The History of the tion of the Diffenters 5 and faiii, he had intended to fet on foot a toleration fooner, but that he was reftraincd by fome of them who had treated with him, and had un- dertaken to fhew favour to the PapiJiSy provided they might be ftill fuffered to vex the Diffenters; and he named the very men, though they thought fit afterwards to deny it. But how far the faft is pro- bable, muft be left with the reader. It being thought impracticable to ob- ■ tain a legal toleration in the prefent circum- ilances of the nation, his majefty deter- mined to attempt it by the difpenfmg power ^ and fo new model'd his judges, fer- jeants, and privy-council, that ^/6'w;2 of the /«ze^^/'U(? judges gave it as their opinion ; 1. That the laws of England were the king*s laws. 2. That it is an infeparable branch of the prerogative of the kings of England^ as of all other fovereign princes, to difpenfe with all penal laws on particular cafes, and on particular occafions. 3. Th AT of thefe reafons and neceffity, the king is fole judge. 4. That this isnotatruft now inveft- ed in, and granted to the prefent king ; but the ancient remains of the fovereign power of the kings of England^ which was never yet taken from them, nor can be. The king having thus obtained of the judges their opinion, that he might difpenfe with English Baptists. 197 difpenfe with the penal laws. In confe- quence of this decilion, the Papifls, with the king's permiflion, fet up every where in the kingdom, the free and open exer- cife of their rehgion ; and he fiimmoned his council, and told them it was his inten- tion to publifh a declaration for liberty of conjcience. He grounded his refolution on his obferving, that the endeavours to efta- bliih an uniformity in the /i^/r preceding reigns, had proved ineffedtual, and been very prejudicial to the nation. That be- fides, it was his opinion, as moft fuitable to the principles of chriftianity, that no manjhould be profecuted for confcie?ice fake ; for he thought confcience fhould not be forced. The council approved of this re- folution, and magnified extremely the king's indulgence to his fubjeds ; and the declaration of liberty of confcience was there- Liherty upon publifhed in the vsar J&87. ofconfci- i. 1 • / cues dS' It is not ilrange that the ?ion~conformiJls, dared who had hitherto been treated with fo An. 1687. much rigour, (hould at firft think them- felvcs happy in a deliverance from perfe- cution : and for this reafon addrelles of thanks, from the feveral feds, were pre- fented to the king for his declaration. The Baptijis^ who h^d been the great- efi: and longeft fufferers, having had ex- perience of the three dificrent cftablifh- ments, which had been fet up in this kingdom, and felt the fmart of the mild- O 3 ncfs theDiJJhit, J p. 271. 198 The History of the nefs of their feveral powers, led the way 5 tlic Sliiakers followed ; next came the In- dependents) and laflly xhc.PreJbyterians, Now, fays Dr. Nichols, the lay 72071" conformijh^ fi'orn all parts of the nation, fend up addreffes to the king, figned with their own hands, full of the moft fub- miffive flattery, w 'n'-^ . "^^ whom Mr. Peirce anfwered, ' It is natural enough to all men to be complai- fant and obliging to fuch as (hew kind- nefs to them. Our princes have had ex- perience of this in the church of E?ig" land; who have complimented them with as fubmiffive a flattery as ever the Diflenters did. They not only fet the DifTenters an example, by their mean cringing to the iwo popip brothers in the laft reign, after they had feverely refie- 6ted on our fide for v.'hat was done in king James's tim.e, they, in defiance to all modefty,- renewed their old pradice in prefenting'fcandalous addreflfes, fluffed with fulfome' flattery, and promifes of unreferved obedience ; and that at a time when the nation feems to have been In as much danger as ever. Indeed the DilTenters are eafy to be won upon by kindnefs, as the churchmen themfelves have reafon to acknowledge 5 and would have had much more, if they could have ever found in their hearts to have aded * friendly English Baptists. 199 * friendly towards them, v;hen they were * not themfelves in any diftrefs/ It is not to be doubted, but every one clearly faw, that king James s aim, in this declaration of liberty of conjcience^ was to eftabliih ih^ pop ijlj religion upon the ruins of the protejlant. For how could it be fuppoied that the king, from a violent perfecutor, fliould at once become a friend to the Diffenters? or what affurance could there be, that his promifes to the Jion-coJi-- formifts would be better kept than thofe he had made to the church of E?2gland ? And if there were non-conformifts who thought themfelves obliged toexprcfs tbxir gratitude to the king's declaration by flattering ad- drefles ; there were like wife bifhops, who with much lefs foundation prevailed with their clergy to fend addreiTes of thanks to the king, as for a fignal favour to the church of Rngland, Dr. Welwood^ in his ?nemoirs obfervcs, Memoirs, * That the Romijlo cabal btg^n to play their P* ^^^* * popular engine, and which was likely to ' do moft execution, by weakening the na- ' tional eftablifhed church, and dividing * Proteftants among themfelves, when in * the mean time the Roman Catkolicks ' were to be the only gainers. This was ' difguifcd under the, fpecious names of * liberty of confcience ; and !he very fame * party that advifed this toleration^ were * they that had pufhed on all the fe verities O 4 ' againft 200 l^he History of the * againft the protejiant Diffenters in the ' former reign, with defign to widen the * breach between them and the church of * Englandy and to render the firft more * willing to fwallow the bait of toleration^ * whenever it fhould be offered to them, * They gained in a great part their end ; * for the Diffenters were not fo fond of * perfecution and ill ufage, as to refufe a * liberty that was frankly offered them, * which neither their prayers nor their tears * could obtain before. Nor did they think * it good manners to enquire too narrow- * ly how that liberty came about, as long * as they were fheltered thereby from the * oppreffions they lay under/ Notwithstanding the long, tedious, and expenfive fufferings of the non-confor- mifts^ of whom near ten thoufand perifhed in {linking goals and dungeons, and not much lefs than twe?ity millions in goods, chattels, &c. violently extorted from them ; yet their numbers did not decreafe, but, through the providence of God, rather in- creafed, and became fo formidable, (tho* not to be compared with thofeof the efta- blifhment^ or the Tories and Roman Ca- tholicks) as to become a ballance^ and ca- pable of turning the fcale on either lide, according as they fliould throw in their weight. This is apparently evident, be- cauie both parties ftrove to engage them on English Baptists. 201 on their lide in the quarrel now between the king and the clergy of England, The king began to carefs the non-con-^^g^^i^- formijls ' all on a fudden, fays bijhop Bur- ' net. The churchmen were difgraced, * and the Diffenters in high favour. Lord * chief juftice Herbert went the Wefiern ^ circuit after Jeferies^ who was now * made lord chancellor -, and all was grace ^ and favour to them ; their former fufFer- * ings were much refledted upon, and pi- * tied ; every thing was offered that might * alleviate them : their minifters were en- * couraged to fet up their conventicles, ^ which had been difcontinued, or held * very fecretlyj^^r or ^^?^ years ; intima- ^ tions were given every where, that the * king would not have them, or their * meetings, difturbed. ' The Diflenters being now made eafy, Hij!. * fays Mr. Neal, it was refolved to turn ^^''^^' * the artillery of the prerogative againft p.^r-"/ * the church, and make them feel a httle * of the fmart they had given others ; the ' king and his priefts were thoroughly en- * raged with their oppofitions to the court, * and therefore appointed commiflioners * all over England to enquire what money * had been raifed ; or what goods had * been feized by diftrefs on Diflenters, or * profecutions for recu fancy, and not * brought to account in the exchequer. * In the Gazette of March 5, 1687. it ' was 202 The History of the • * was advertifed, that the commlffioners * appointed to examine into the loffes of ^ DilTenters and Recufants, within the fe- * veral counties of Gloucejier^ Worcejier, ' and Monmouthy were to hold their M- ' lions for the faid counties, at the places ^ therein mentioned. Others were ap- * pointed for the counties of Middlefex^ * EJJex\ &c. to enquire what money or * goods had been taken or received for any *^ matters relating to religion lince Sept, 29, * 1677. in any of the counties for which * they were named. They were to re- * turn the names of all perfons who had * feized goods, or received money. The * parties themfelves, if alive, was obliged * to appear, and give account ; and if dead, * their relations were to appear before the * commiffioners for them. This, fays * Mr. Neal, ftruck terror into the whole * tribe of informers ^ the confiding juftices, * and otherSj who expeded now to be ^ ruined. But, fays Dr, Calamy, the * protejiant Diflenters generoufly refufed to * appear againft their enemies, upon affu- * ranees given by leading perfons, both of * clergy and laity, that no fuch methods * fhould be ufed for the future. Bat if * this enquiry had proceeded, and the Dif- * fenters all over Eiidand had come into * it, a black and fraudulent fcene would ' have been opened, .which now will be ^ concealed. Bishop English Baptists. 203 Bishop Burnet fays, 'The king or- P^^^7»S' dered thefm to enquire into all vexatious fuits, into which the Dlffenters had been brought in the fpiritual courts, and into all the compofitions they had been forced to make, to redeem them felves from fur- ther trouble, which, as was faid, would have brought to light a fcandalous dif- covery of all the ill practices of thofe courts ; for the ufe that many who be- long to thofe courts, had made of the laws with relation to the Diflenters, was, to draw prefents from fuch as could make them, threatning them with a procefs in cafe they failed to do that, and upon doing it, leaving them at full liber- ty to negledt the laws as much as they pleafed. The commifTions fubfifted till the revolution : and it was hoped, fays his Lordjhip, that this would have anima- ted the Diflenters to turn upon the clergy with fome of that fiercenefs, with which they themfelves had been lately treated/ But, fays Mr. Ncal, ' they made no h/j?. advantage of the difpolition of the court, ^^'"'"'• r L ' V • Vol. IV. nor or the opportunity that was put into p g their hands, of making reprifals on their adverfaries 5 v/hich fhews the truly ge- nerous and chriftian fpirit of thofe con- fcfTors for religion, and deferved a more grateful acknowledgment/ The king, to humble the clergy, by the advice of J^ffcries^ ereded a new eccle- fiajllcal :204 iTye ¥Liz TO'SiY of the Jiajlical commijjton. And being not willing to rely on the fafhionable doftrines of faffive obedience and non-rejijlance^ which had been preached up for above twenty yearsy as the unalterable doftrines of the church of England^ refolved to augment his ftanding forces io fifteen thoufand men, and ordered his army to encamp upon Blackheathy under the command of the earl of Feverjloam^ to awe the city, and to be at hand upon any emergency. All things being now ready to attack the church of England in form, he begins with making an example of fome of their leading divines, and {upends the bifhop of London^ for refufing to fufpend Dr. Sharp according to his order. Then he invaded the privileges of the univerfity of Cambridge^ and fufpended Dr. Peachely the vice-chancellor thereof; and foon after deprived twenty five of the fellows of Magdalen -College at Oxjordy for refufing to fign a fubmiffion to Dr. Par- ker ^ bilhop of Oxford^ the new prefident, put in by- the new ecclefiafiical commtjji- on, Parker died foon after, and one of the popifi^ bifhops was, by mandamus^ cho- fen prefident in his place. Which inflamed the church-party fo far,that they fent pref- Cng meflages to the prince of Orange^ de- firing him to efpoufe the caufe of the church, and break with the king, if he would not redrefs their grievances. 'Thus, English Baptists. 205 * Thus, fays bipop Burnet, the very^^^'70'« * firft beginnings of refiftance to king * James came from that very univeriity, * who hwifour years before had pronoun- . ^ ced this dodlrine damnable^ by a folemn * decree j and from thofe very men, who * were afterwards king Williani^ moft * bitter enemies. * But the wider and more defperate ///y?. * the war was, fa'^s Mr, Neal, between ^urit. \7 1 '\\7 * the king and the church, the more i^^-pVe,. * ceffary did both parties find it to fhew * kindnefs to the Diffenters. For this * purpofe his majefty fent agents among * them, ofifering them the royal favour, * and all manner of encouragement, if * they would concur with his majefty, in * abrogating the pejial laws and teji. He * invited fome of their minifters to court, * and pretended to confult them in the ' prefent crifis. The clergy at the fame * time prayed and entreated the Diffenters * to appear on their fide, and ftand by the ' eftablifhment ; making large promifes of * favour and brotherly affed:ion, if ever ' they got out of their troubles/ K pamphlet was writ by the marquis of Hallifax, and publiflied by advice of fome of the moft eminent dignitaries of the church, and difperfed all over England^ intitled, A letter to a Dijfenter^ upon oc- cdfwn of his ?najejlys late gracious decla- ration of indulgence. It begins with fay- 2o6 ^e History of the ing, ^ That churchmen are not furprized, * nor provoked, at the Diffenters accept- * ing the offers of eafe from the late hard- * fhips they lay under j' and further tells them, thus; * You have formerly very * juftly blamed the church of England for * going too far in her compliance with the * court ;' and declares, ' the church is now . * convinced of its error, in being too fe- * yere to you 3 the next parliament will be * gentle to you \ the next heir is bred in a * country famous for indulgence ; there is * a general agreement of thinking men, * that we muft: no more cut our felves off * from foreign ProteJla?2ts^ but enlarge our * foundations; fo that all things confpire * to give you eafe and fatisfadion/ When Dr. Loyd^ bifhop of St Afaph^ paffed through Ofwejiry^ in Shrofjhirey he fent for Mr. James Owen^ the difTent- ing minifler, and ventured' to acquaint him with the fecret of the prince of Orange'^ invitation by fome great perfons, together with himfelf ; and he freely ex- prefled his hope that the protejlant diffen- ters would readily concur in promoting the common intereft ; ^ * For you and we are * brethren, fays he ; we have, indeed, been * angry brethreen, but w^e have ken our * folly, and are refolved, if we ever have « it in our pov/er, to fliew that we will « treat you as brethren/ * Dr. Calamfi Cont. Ded. p. 91. Arch- English Baptists. 207 Archbishop Bancroft, in the circular letter which he fent to the clergy of his province, exhorted them to cultivate a good correfpondence with the diffenters. The eleventh article, of his letter, hath thefe words ; ' * That they, viz. the cler- * gy,{hould walk in wifdom towards them, * who are not of our communion ; and if * there be in their parifhes any fuch, that * they negled not frequently to converfe « with them in the fpirit of meeknefs, < feeking, by all good ways and means, « to gain and win them over to our com- « munion; more efpecially in that they * have a tender regard to our brethren * the />ro/^^;2/ diffenters ; that upon occa- « fion offered, they vifit them at their * houfes, and receive them kindly at their * own ; and treat them fairly where-ever * they meet them ; perfuading them, if it * may be, to a full compliance with our * church, or, at leaft, that whereunto we * have already attained^ we ?nay all walk ' by the fame rule, and Jiiind the fame things ; ' and, in order thereunto, that they take * opportunity of affuring and convincing * them, that the bifnops of this church * are really and fmcerely irreconcileable * enemies to the errors, fuperftition, ido- * latries and tyrannies of the church of * 'Rome \ and that the very unkijid jea- * loufies which fome have had of us to the ♦ Cfz/a^'s abridgment, p. 385. * centra- 2o8 ^ T^e Hist OR Y of itLe * contrary, were altogether groundlefs. * And, in the laft place, that they warm- * ly and affeftionately join us in daily fer- « vent prayers to the God of peace, for ^ an univerfal blelTed union of all reformed * churches at home and abroad, againft ' our common enemy/ Bishop Burnef ^ tells us, it was often faid, That if ever God (hould deliver them out of the prefent diftrefs, they would keep up their domeftic quarrels no more, which were fo vifibly, and yet artfully managed by our adverfaries, as to make us devour one another. Again, I do affure you, and I am certain I have the beft grounds in the world for my affurance, fays one-f, that the bifhops, when the happy opportunity ihall offer itfelf, will let the protefiant diffenters find, that they will be better than their word given in their famous pe- tition. Remakable are the words of ano- ther reverend divine on the fam.e occafion. « § The bifhops have, under their hands « declared their difpofuions to come to a « temper in matters of conformity, and * there feems to be no doubt of their fin- « cerity. If ever God brings us into a « fettled ftate, out of the florms into which • our palTions and folly, as well as the * p. 716. t Calamy, p. 386, § ApoL for the church of Eng. Calarny, p. 426. * trea- English Baptists, 209 treachery of others, has led us, it can- not be imagined, that the bifhops will go ofF from thofe moderate refolutions which they have now declared ; and they continuing firm, the weak and in- difcreet paffions of any of the inferior clergy mull needs vanifh And I ■ will boldly fay, that if the church of * England^ after (he is got out of this ■ ftorm, will return to hearken to the ■ peeviflinefs of fome four men, fhe will " be abandoned both of God and man, ' and will fet heaven and earth againft her. ' The nation fees too clearly, how dear ' the difpute about conformity has coil us, ^ to ftand upon fuch pun5filids -, and thofe ^ in whom our deliverance is wrapt up, ^ judge too right, that ever they will be * prieft-ridden in this point. And, if * any argument was wanting to conclude * the certainty of this point, the wife and * generous behaviour of the main body of * the dijfenters in this prefent juncture, has * given them fo juft a title to our friend- * {hip, that we muft refolve to fet all the * world againft us, if we can ever forget * it; and if we do not make them all the ' returns- of eafe and favour, when it is ' in our power/ Thus you may fee the many and ftrong affurances of favour, given by the church party in diftrefs, to ihtnon-conjormijis -, all Vol. Ill, P which. 2IO The Hist o^Y of the which, in a few months, fays Mr. Neal^ vanifhed into fmoak. King James being flattered with the gaudy charms of abfolate power, and the empty merit of refloring the popijh reli- gion, drove on without controul, till at laft he forced the people of England upon an inevitable neceffity of calling in the prince of Orange^ to retrieve the expiring liberties of their country ; who put to fea Nov. I. and after a remarkable pafTage, in which the wind chopt about almofl mira- culoufly in his favour, landed at Toriay Nov, 5, with about fourteen thoufand men^ without meeting the king's fleet, which was out at fea, in order to intercept them. Soon after his highnefs landed, the body of the nation difcovered their inclinations fo evidently, that the king lofl: both head and heart at once. And having fent the queen with the pretended prince of Wales to France^ he caufed the writs for calling a 7iew paliament to be burned, and the great feal to be thrown into the "Thames ; then attempting to leave the kingdom, he was feized at Feverjham, and prevailed with to return back to London. But when the prince of Orange refolved to come to Whitehall, and fent his majefl:y a meflfage, that he thought it not confiftent with the peace of the city, and for the kingdom, for both of them to be there together; his majefliy retired a fecond time to Roche- English Baptists. 2J-i fler^ with the prince's confent, and after a week's flay in that place, went away pri- vately in a veffel to France, Upon the departure of the king, there was an Inter-regnum \ but of fach a na- ture, fays Rapi7i *, as the like had never been known in England. At length, af- ter many long debates, the lords agreed with the commons, that king James had abdicated the government; and that the throne was thereby become vacant, ' -f This * great ftep being made, the next thing * to be debated was, who fliould fill the * the vacant throne. The marquifs of * Hallifax moved, that the crown fhould ' be given to the prince of Orange alone, * and to the two princefTes after his death; ^ but he was not feconded. It was rea- * dily agreed, that the princefs of Orange ^ fhould be placed on the throne ; but the ^ queflion was, whether the prince fhould * be king of himfelf, or as hufband of * the princefs ? Upon this, parties began * to be formed in both houfes. Mean * while, as the princefs was detained in ^ Holland by the frofl, and by contrary * winds after the thaw, the earl of Danby, * fent one over to the princefs, with an ' account of the prefent flate of the debate, * and to tell her, that if fhe defired it, he * did not doubt, but he fhould be able to * carry it, for fetting her alone upon the * Hift. of Eng. Vol. II. p. 783. f lb. 793. P 2 * throne. 212 ^he History of the * throne. The princefs anfwered, fhe was ' the prince's wife, and would never be "- other, than what fhe would be in con- ' jundtion with him, and under him j ad- ^ ding, (lie would take it very ill, if any, * under a pretence of their care for her, * would itl up a divided intereft between * her and the prince. Not content with * this, fhe fent the lord Danbfs letter, and ' her anfwer to the prince ; and thereby ' broke all the meafures of thofe, who * wifiied to create a mifunderftanding or * jealoufy between them. The earl of * DaJiby received not the leaft mark of dif- ' pleafure from the prince of Orange^ who ' continued ftill to employ and truft ' him. * At laft, both houfes agreed, and voted ^ feverally, that the prince and princefs of * Orange^ fliould be king and queen of * E?2glafid', but that the fole and full re- * gal power, fhould be in the prince only, * in the name of both.* On the 12th of February^ the princefs of Orange arrived at London^ and feemed very well pleafed with what had been re- folved 5 that the adminiftration of the go- vernment fhould be in the prince only, in the name of both. Thus the ftridt union between the prince and princefs, broke the meafures of fuch as hoped to create a mif- underftanding between them, in order to ferve their old mafter. The English Baptists. ai-^ The next day, the prince and princefs of Orange being feated on two large chairs, under a canopy of ftate in the banqueting- houfe, hth hoiifes of the convention ^waited upon them, in a full body, to offer them the crown. After the reading of a declaration * of the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons affembled \n parliament^ the mar- quifs of HallifaXy fpeaker of the houfe of lords, made a folemn tender of the crown to their highnefles, in the name of both houfes ', whereupon the prince of Orange . returned the following anfwer : My lords and gentlemen, * ' I ^ H I S is certainly the greateft proof * X of ^'^^ ^^'^ft you have in us that * can be given, which is the thing that * makes us value it the more -, and we * thankfully accept what you have offered. * And as I had no other intention in com- * ing hither, than to preferve your reli- ' gion, laws, and liberties, fo you may ' be fure, that I fhall endeavour to fup- * port them ; and fhall be willing to con- * cur in any thing that fhall be for the ' good of the kingdom ; and to do all that * is in my power, to advance the welfare * and glory of the nation.' ♦ Rapin, p. 795. P 3 The 214 2^^ History of the The fame day, the prince and princefs were proclaimed king and queen of Eng- land^ Scotland^ France, and Ireland^ by the names of William and Mary, to the inexpreffible joy of the people. Thus by concuring accidents arid fur- prifing circumftances, ended the fliort and unhappy reign oi^mg James \\, and with him the male line of the royal houfe of Stuarts 'y fucceeded by the glorious rej volution, brought about under the con- duct of king JVilliam III. of immortal memory : Of whom it has been veryjuftly faid, ' He was the afferter of liberty, the ' deliverer of nations, the fupport of the * Empire^ the bulwark of Holland^ the * preferver of Britain^ the reducer of Ire^ ' landy and the terror of France. * His thoughts were wife and fecret, his ^ words few and faithful, his anions many ' and heroic, his government without ty- * ranny, his juftice without rigour, and his ^ religion without fuperftition. * He was magnanimous without pride, * valiant without violence, vicftorious with- * out triumph, adtive without wearinefs, * cautious without fear, and meritorious * without thanks. * Kingy queen ^ prince^ potentate ^ the world (ne'er f aw y * So wifejujl^ honejiy valiant as Naffau English Baptists. 215 * He was -, but words are wanting to J ay whdty * Say all that's great and goody and he was ' that: There was, at this time, two parties in the church of England y both joined to carefs the diflenters, in order to obtain them to fide with them ; a tafk that carried in itfelf no apparent difficulty, becaufe they were at a greater diftance, and much more reformed from popery than themfelves. And he that does not think the low -church clerg)'- meant honeftly, and deiigned to be as good as their word, hardly deferves to be ranked amongft rational creatures. But there was another party that lay behind the curtaio, and meant no more by their proteftations of favour and friendfhip to the diflenters, than to get themfelves out of trouble : And though they renounced the dodtrine oinon- refifiance to ferve their own turn, yet when that was done, they retreated, and would have become as cruel perfecutors as before. Thefe were enemies to the glorious revolu- tion ; and when our glorious deliverer had done their work, they would have fent him back from whence he came. And thefe were afterwards juftly difl:inguill:ied bv the names of Non-jurors ^^ acobites^ and liigl^ jiiers^ vvdiofe numbers were greater than the low-church clergy imagined. They prevailed in convocation, intimidated the P 4 friends 2i6 l^he History of the friends of liberty and charity, and have been the pejl of the kingdom ever fince. I CANNOT pafs this glorious, and ne- ver-to-be-forgotten year, vi^ithout mention- ing fome few things, v^hich fet forth the fenfe the nation then had of this mighty monarch. And the rather, becaufe that/^- jlilent party who oppofed him, have ever lince been endeavouring to undermine the glorious fettlement of iht prof eft ant fiiccef- fion^ by which he fecured to us our civil and religious liberties. And I hope my readers will not deem it (tho' I muft con- fefs, it is fomewhat foreign to the hiftory I am writing) an impertinent digreffion ; becaufe all attempts made by that reftlefi faBiotis party, to undermine the protefiant intereft in this kingdom, are againft the Englijfj Baptijis^ inafmuch as they now (hare in common with all the other pro- tejlant parties in this kingdom, and join with the other diffenters in their publick civil adminiflrations. Ue hi- The firft thing then I fliall mention is, Tkrgyland ^^'^ humble application of the pious and dijfenting noble prelate Henry lord bifhop of Lon- mini vy/^rj ^^yi^ \N\\\\ the reverend clergy of the city, don', ad- '^^^ fome of the diffenting minifters in it, dreu- made to him, when prince of Orange^ Nov. ^i, 1688. ' He declared in excellent words *, that A fixth co];e6l. of pnpers relating to the prefent junc- ture of aftairs in E?2?Iund, 168S. p. 17. they English Baptists. 217 they came to pay him their humble du- ties, and moft grateful refpedls, for his very great and moft hazardous under- taking for their deliverance, and the pre- fervation of the proteftant religion, with the antient lav^s and liberties of this na- tion. He addeth, that they gave up dai- ly many thankfgivings to Almighty God, who had hitherto been gracioufly pleafed fo wonderfully to preferve his perfon, and profper and favour his good defign. And they promifed the continuance of their ferventeft prayers to the fame God, and all concurrent endeavours in their circumftances, for the promoting yet further that work, which was fo hap- pily begun ; and alfo for the perfecting of it, not only in this kingdom, but in other chriftian kingdoms. He likewife fuggefted to the good prince, that fome of the diffenting minifters, and their brethren, were there prefent 5 who, hav- ing the fame fenfe of his coming hither with themfelves, had joined themfelves with them, by him, to render him their humbleft and moft grateful acknow- ledgements.' 'His highnefs was pleafed to declare, that he thiuked them for their atten- dance, and acquainted them very briefly with the chiefeft ends of his difficult and chargeable expedition: That indeed it was to preferve and fecure iht protefia?it ' religion '3 ^i8 Ihe History of the * religion ; (his own religion, and their * religion) and affuring them, he fhould ' not think any thing, not life itfelf, too * dear to hazard, in promoting and per- * fedling fo good a work. Alfo he offered * up with great devotion, his foiemneft ac- * knowledgments to Almighty God for * his prefence with him , and bleffing upon * his endeavours and arms hitherto ; and * afked the continuance of all their prayers ' to God for him/ Themhili- And fo fenfible was the nation in ge- ty, gentry, j^gj.^j q£ ^j^^ dauecr they were in, that the ana com- , ... ^ i monaity's noDility, gentry, and commonalty, met at engage- Exeter^ entered into an engagement to af- Exeter. ^^^ ^^^ prince of Orange^ in the defence of the protejiant religion, laws, and liber- ties of the people oi Englandy Scotland y and Ireland^ as folio weth, viz,^ * We do engage to Almighty God, and * to his highnefs the prince of Orange^ * and with one another, to ftick firm to * this caufe, and to one another, in the * defence of it, and never to depart from * it, until our religion, laws and liberties * are fo far fecured to us in zfree parlia- * ment^ that we fhall be no more in dan- * ger of falling under popery and flavery. * And whereas we are engaged in the com- ' mon caufe, under the protection of the * prince of Orange^ by which means his * perfon may be expofed to danger, and * Second cqHsSI . p. 27. Ma English Baptists. 219 * to the defperate and curfed defigns of * PapiJlSy and other bloody men 5 we do * therefore folemnly engage to God and * to one another^ that if any fuch attempts * be made upon him, we will purfue not * only thofe that made them, but all their * adherents, and all we find in arms a- * gainft us, with the utmoft feverity of * juft revenge in their ruin and deftruc- ' tion ; and that the executing any fuch ^ attempt (which God of his infinite mer- * cy forbid) {hall not deprive us from pur- ' fuing this caufe which we do now under- ' take, but that it fliall encourage us to * carry it on with all the vigour that {o * barbarous an approach (hall deferve. T'he declaration of the nobility^ gentry^ and commonalty J at the rendezvous at Not- tingham, ISTov. 22, 1688.* ' We the nobility, gentry, and com- "the deck- < monalty of thefe northern counties, af- ''^ll'^^{ii^ ^ fembled together at Nottingham^ for the ty, gentry, * defence of the laws, religion and pro- ^»^r- liament^ with all fpeed, wherein our laws, our liberties and properties, may be fe- cured^ the church of England in parti- cular, with a due liberty to protejiant Diffenters, and in general the protejiant ' religion English Baptists. i2^ * religion and intereft over the whole ^ world, may be fupported and encoura- * ged, to the glory of God, the happinefs * of the eftablifhed government in thefe * kingdoms, and the advantage of all prin- * ces and ftates in chriflendom, that may * be herein concerned. *■ In the mean timCj we will endeavour * to preferve, as much as in us lies, the * peace and fecurity of thefe great and po- * pulous cities of London and Wejiminjler^ * and the parts adjacent, by taking care to * difarm all Papijis^ and fecure all Jefuits ' and Romijh priefts, who are in and about * the fame. 'And if there be any more to be per- * formed by us, for promoting his high^ * nefs's generous intentions for the publick * good, we fhall be ready to do it as occa- * fion {hall require/ On the fame day was prefented to his highnefs the humble addrefs of the lieute^ nancy of the city of London^ as follows : May it file afe your Highnefs^ ' We can never fufficiently exprefs the z./V«/^;?^:;?i * deep fenfe we have conceived, and (hall O' '^f ^o^- . ^ . . , I 1-1 don J ad' ever retain in our hearts, that your high- ^^^j^^ ' nefs has expofed your perfon to To many * ^ dangers both by fea and land, for the * prefer vat ion of the proteftant religion^ < * and the laws and liberties of tiiis king- * Fourth colkri. p. 50. Vol. III. Q_ ' doni} 026 T&e Hist OK Y of the ^ dom ; without which unparallel'd urr- ^ dertakirig, we muft probably have luf- ' fered all the miferies that popery and fla- * very could have brought upon us. ' We have been greatly concerned, that ' before this time we have not had any ' feafonable opportunity to give your high- . ^ nefs, and the world, a real teftimony, * that it has been our firm refolution to ^ venture all that is dear to us, to attain ^ thole glorious ends which your highnefs ^ has propoled, for reftoring and fettling * thefe diftraded nations. ^ We therefore now unanimoufly pre- * fent to your highnefs our juft and due * acknowledgments, for the happy relief ^ you have brought to us. And that we ' may not be wanting in this prefent con- * jundure, we have put our felves into * fuch a pofture, that by the bleffing of '^ God v/e may be capable to prevent all ill * defigns, and to preferve this city in peace ' and fafety, till your highnefs's happy ^ arrival. ' We therefore humbly defire, that ^ your highnefs will pleafe to repair to * this city, with what convenient fpeed * you can, for the perfecting the great * work which your highnefs has fo hap- * pily begun, to the general joy and fatis- * fadion of us all/ On English Baptists. 227 On the 20th oi December, the humble ^^^^^^^^^^^ addrefs of the: lord mayor, aldermen, and jon? commons of the city of London, was pre- fpeech. fented to hishighnefs : which was introduced with a fpeech made by Sir George Treby, Kt* recorder of the city of London^ viz. May it pleafe your highnefs, 'The lord mayor being difabled by * ficknefs, your highnefs is attended by * the aldermen and commons of the capi-^ * tal city of this kingdom, deputed to ' congratulate your highnefs upon this * great and glorious occafion. In which, ' labouring for words, we cannot but come / * fhort in expreflion. ' Reviewing our late danger, were* * member our church and ftate over-run * by popery and arbitrary powerj and ^ brought to the point of deflrudtion by * the condudl of men that were our true ' invaders, that brake the facred fences of ^ our laws, and which was worfe, the * very conftitution of our legillature. So * that there was no remedy left but the ' laft. The only perfon under heaven that *' could apply this remedy was your high- ' nefs. You are of a nation, whofe alli- ' ance in all times has been agreeable and * profperous to us. You are of a family * moft illuftrious benefactors to mankind. ' To have the title of fovereign prince^ * Fourth coUe5l. pag. 33, 0^2 'ftadt' 2 28 T!he History of the ^ fladtholder^ and to have worn the impe" * nW crown, are anaong their lefferdigni- * ties. They have long enjoyed a dignity * fingular and tranfcendent, viz, to be ' champions of Almighty God, fent forth * in feveral ages to vindicate his caufe, a- ^ gainft the greateft oppreflions. ' To this divine commiffion, our no- * bles, our gentry, and among them our * brave Englijh foldiers, rendered them- ' felves and their arms upon your appear- Great Sir^ 'When we look back to the laft * month, and contemplate the fwiftnefs ' and fulnefs of our prefent deliverance^ * aftoniftied ! v^e think it miraculous. * Your highnefs, led by the hand of * heaven, and called by the voice of the * people, has preferved our deareft inte- * refts, the protejlant religion^ which is * primitive chriftianity reftored. Our laws, * which are our ancient title to our lives^ * liberties, and eftates, and without which ' this world are a wildernefs. ' But what retribution can we make ^ to your highnefs ? Our thoughts are full ' charged with gratitude= Your highnefs ^ has a lafting monument in the hearts, * in the prayers, in the praifes of all good * men amongft us. And late pofterity * will celebrate your ever glorious name, * till time fhall be no more/ 2 "The English Baptists. 229 The ADDRESS. May it pleafe your Highnejs, ' We, taking into confideration your * highnefs's fervent zeal for the protejlant * religion^ manifefted to the world in your The city of * many and hazardous enterprizes, which ^^jf'^f^ ^ it hath pleafed Almighty God to blefs"^ * you with miraculous fuccefs ; We ren- * der our deepeft thanks to the divine ma- * jefty for the fame : and beg leave to pre- * fent our moft humble thanks to your * highnefs, particularly for your appearing * in arms in this kingdom, to carry on * and perfed: your glorious defign, to * refcue Etigland^ Scotlafid, and Ireland^ * from flavery and popery^ and in di free * parliament to eftablifli the religion, the ' law^s, and the liberties of thefe kingdoms *• upon a fure and lafting foundation. ' We have hitherto looked for fome re- * medy for thefe opprefTions, and imminent * dangers, we, together with our />rc/^/^;^^ * fellow- fubjeds laboured under, from his * majefty's conceffions and concurrences, ^ with your highnefs's jufl and pious purpo- * fes, expreffed in your gracious declaration. * But herein, finding our felvcs final- * ly difappointed by his majefty^s with- * drawing himfelf, we prefume to make * your highnefs our refuge ; and do, in * the name of this capital city, implore * your highnefs's protedion ; and moft * fourth colled, p. 32. 0^3 ' hum- 230 77)e Hist OK Y of the ' humbly befeech your highnefs to vouch- * fafe to repair to this city, where your * highnefs will be received with univerlal * ]oy and fatisfad:ion/ To the EjigUJh Baptifts I perfuade my felf, this relation will not feem an unne- ceiTary digreflion , though it does not feem to fuit my title and profefled deiign ; fince too many have forgot, or at leaft never knew, how much this nation is indebted to the memory of this glorious deliverer. I am verily perfuaded, our wife anceflors, had they been requeiled by their fellow- citizens (at their own expence, and with- out any charge to the city) to be permitted to ere6t a ftatue therein to his memory \ they, inflead of reje(5ting fuch a requeft, would rather that tl golden ji at ue had been eredted to his memory in the moft publick place of this magnificent city, and joined in contributing thereunto. He muft be very impious^ or very ftu- pid, who, upon a due confidcration of this great deliverance, cannot fee reafon to a- dore the boundlefs goodneft of God to- wards this nation ; for thereby he defeated the hopes, and totally overthrew the con- trivances of that reftlefs, implacable, and perfidious fadlion, even when they feemed to be in fuch a condition that they feared nothing. But the Almighty power of God exerted it felf, as in the cafe of Sen- nacherib ', which they neither feared nor fufpeded. In English Baptists. 231 In chap. I. of vol. II. I did obferve from capt. Deans Letter^ what fhare the Bap- tilts had in the revolution of the times then treated of 5 and from thence concluded, as they were not in the favour of the pro- te6tor, io no grounds could be given to charge the adtion of the king's death upon them. Having fince received from the Rev. Mr. Calamy a ivci2\\ pamphlet ^ fetting forth the difcoverj/ of his highnefs's inien- tions, touching the Baptifis in the army, wrote, we may fuppofe, by an officer, who had been of the prote(ftors intimacy, tho' at that time he thought it advifeable to conceal himfelf. Indeed, it is penned with fome warmth ; and there is more of re« fentment in it than is ufually found amongft the writings of the Baptijis. But it is to be confidered, that it comes from foldiers, and not only foldiers, but injured foldiers; and therefore makes nothing againft what I have hitherto written in behalf of the innocency of the Englijh Baptifis^ and their fubjed:ion to government. They had now no king in Ifrael^ and no wonder, if evejy man did that which was right in his own eyes. However, to do juftice to my rea- ders, and the reverend gentleman who communicated the fame to me, I (hall in- fert the whole thereof in this place, and leave them to make fuch ufe thereof as they (hall think fit. It is intitled, A fbort difco'uery of his highnefs the lord protc^ors 0^4 inte?!' 233 "The History of the intentions touching the Anabaptifts in the army^ and all juch as are againjl his refor- ming things in the church ; which 150 as fir fi communicated to a Scotch hrd^ who is call- ed Twidle ; but is now come to the ear of the Anabaptifis : upon which there is pro- pounded thirty-five queries for his highnefs ' to anfwer to his own confidence. By a well- wijher to the Anabaptifts profperity^ and all the reft of the feparates in England. To his highnefs the Lord Protedtor, My Lord, * There i: fome intelligence abroad, * which I deiire to communicate in a pri-^ « vate way, left I become a prey to the * malice or envy of the ramping lyon, < But to the matter intended, and that is * this : It feems your highnefs being dif- « courfing with a Scotch lord, who is call- ^ ed the lord Twidle^ you were pleafed to * fay, that there was fomething amifs in * the church and ftate, which you would < reform as foon as may be. Of thofe < that were amifs in ftate, fome were done^ ^ and the reft were a doing; and as for ^ thofe things that were amifs in the < church, you hoped to redlify by degrees, ' as convenient opportunity prefented it * felf ; but before you could do this work, ^ the Anabaptifis muft be taken out of the * army j and this you could not do with * (liarp corrofive medicines, but it muft be ^ done by degrees. From which there are ^ two things obfervable, i. The work. * 2. The En GL IS H Baptists. 233 * 2. The way you intend to take to do * this work. ' F I R s T , to the work 5 and that is church work. It fcems you intend to follow ' the ileps of them that are gone before, ' which could not be content to meddle ' with ftate affairs, and to make laws for ^ the body or perfons of men, but for the ' confcience too ; and to make laws and ^ ftatutes, and impofe them upon the ' people, as rules of divine worship. And ■ this is the work you intend to be at, un- * der pretence of correcting error, and fo ' todeftroy truth. * But who could have thought, when ' you made your lall fpeech to the par^ ^ liament, when your tongue was fo fweet- ^ ly tipt for the liberty of confcience^ re- * proving the parliament for having a ^ finger on their brother ^ conjhience ; who * could have imagined, that then heard ^ you, that you would have been fo foon ^ at the fame trade ? unlefs he had fup- ■ pofed, a fountain could have fent forth * fweet water and bitter ? But, ' Secondly, the way you intend to ^ take to bring about this defign, is two- * fold. I. To purge the army of the * Anabaptijis, 2. To do it by degrees, * But, Oliver, is this thy defign ? And is ' this the way to be rid of the Anabap- ' ///?j? And is this the reafon, becaufe \ they hinder the reforming the things ' amifi 234 ^^ History of the * amifs in the church ? I confefs, they * have been enemies to the prcjbyteriaji * church government ; and fo were you, ' when you were at Dunbar in Scotland ; < or at leaft you feemed to be fo by your * words and adlions^ for you fpake '^%piire * independency as any of us all then ; and * made this an argument why we fliould « fight ftoutly^ becaufe we had the prayers < of the Independents^ and baptize dchyixoht^, * So highly did you feem to love the A^ia- « baptijh then, that you did not only in- *■ vite them into the army, but entertain < them into your family ;. but it feems the < cafe is altered. But I pray do not de- * ceive your felf, nor let the priefts de- * ceive you j for the Anabciptifts are men ' that will not be ihuffled out of their « birth-rights, as free-born people of Rng- « land. And have they not filled your « towns, your cities, your provinces, your « iflands, your caftles, your navies, your * tents, your armies, (except that which < went to the ^^^// Indies, which profpers * fo well) your court? your very council * is not free ; only v/e have left your tem- ' pies for your felf to v/orlliip in. So that ' 1 believe it will be a hard thing to root * them out ; although you tell the Scotch ^ lord you will do it by degrees, as he re- * ports. ' May itpleafe yourhighnefs ferioufly ^ to ccnfid:ir what hath been faid, and an« * fv/er English Bapti sts. fwer thefe enfuing queries to your own confcience. * I. Whether your highnefs had come to that heighth of honour and greatnefs you are now come to, if the Anabaptifis^ fo called, had been as much your enemies as they were your friends? * 2. Whether the Anabaptijls were ever unfaithful, either to the common- wealth in general, or to your highnefs in particular ? And if not, then what is the reafon of your intended difmiffion ? * 3.Wh ether the AnabaptiJishQ not as honeft now, as in the year 1 650, and 5 1 and 52 ? ^c, and if fo, why not as ufe- ful now as then ? * 4. Wh e t h e r the Anabaptijls are not to be commended for their integrity, which had rather keep faith and a good confcience, although it may lofe them their employments, than to keep their employments with the lofs of both ? ' 5. Whether the Anabaptifls may • not as juftly endeavour to eat out the '" bowels of your government, as your f highnefs may endeavour to eat them out ^ of their employments ? * 6. Whether the A?2abapfijls did ^ not come more juftly into their employ- < ments in the army, than your highnefs \ came into the feat of government? ' 7. Whe- 235 236 ^e History of the * 7. Whether, if the Anabapttfls * had the power in their hands, and were * as able to caft you out, as you were them, * and they did intend it to you, as you do * to them ; whether, I fay, your highnefs * would not fay, they were all knaves ? * 8. Whether this be fair dealing in * the fight of God and men, to pretend a * great deal of love to the Anabaptifts^ as * to major Pack^ and Mr. Kiffin^ and a * hundred more that I could name, when * at the fame time you intend evil againft * them? * 9. Whether the Anabapti/i will * not be in a better condition in the day of * Chrift, that keeps his covenant with God ' and men, than your highnefs will be, if * you break with both? * I o. Wh ether a hundred of the old * '^Anabaptifis^ fuch as marched under your * command in 48, 49, 50, G?r. be not as * good as two hundred of your new cour- ^ tiers, if you were in fuch a condition as * you were at Dunbar in Scotland .^ * II. Whether the caufe of the ar- * mies defedt in Hifpaniola was becaufe * there was fo many Anabaptijls in it ? and * if fo, whether that be the only reafon * that they are fo much out of date ? * 12. Whether your highnefs hath ^ not changed your former intention, to [ have an equal refpeft to the godly, tho' * different English Baptists. 237 different in judgment? and if fo, whe- ther it be from the better to the worfe ? * 13. Whether your highnefs's con- Icience was not more at peace, and your mind movejef upo?2 things abovCy when you loved the Anabaptifis^ than it is now, when you hate their principle, or their fervice, or both ? * 14. Whether your high nefs's court is not a greater charge to this nation, than the Anabaptijis in the army ? and if fo, whether this be the eafe that you promifed the people ? ' 15. Whether there be any difpro- portion betwixt the ftate of things now, and the ftate of things in the days of old ; and if there be, ihew us where it lieth, how and when ? * 16. Whether the monies laid out, in the making of the new rivers, ajid ponds at Hampt on- courts might not have been better beftowed in paying the pub- lick faith, or the Anabaptijis arrears^ be- fore their difmiffion ? ' 17. Whether it is not convenient for the Anabaptilis to provide for their own fafety, feeing frosn you they can exped: none ? * 18. Whether it will be any more treafon to fight for our liberties and civil properties in thefe days, if they be denied us, than it was to fight for them in the days of the king ? [ 19. Whe- 238 The History of the * 19. Whether the infirumeiit o£ government be as the laws of the Mede% and Perjians^ that alter not ? If fo, how is it that Mr. John Biddle is now a pri- foner ? ' 20. Whether your highnefs may not as well violate the whole Jnjlrume?it of government as the thirty-feventh and thirty-eighrh articles ? If fo, what fecu- rity have the people for their liberty ? * 21. Whether our liberty doth not wholly depend upon your will, and the will of a future proted;or, feeing the in-- flrument of government is fo little ufe- ful ? If fo, whether our condition be not as bad as ever ? * 2 2. Wh E T H E R you may not as juflly fuffer all to be put in prifon that differ from the church of England^ as to fuf- fer Mr. Biddle to be imprifoned ? ' 23. Whether it will not be more abominable to the Anabaptijls^ or Inde^ pendents^ or Mr. Biddle^ or any other^ profeffing faith in God by Jefus Chrift^ and are not diilurbers of the civil peace, nor turn their liberty into licentioufnefs, to fuffer for their confciences under your government, that promifed liberty to fuch, than it was to have fuffered under the king that promifed them none ? ' 24. Whether your highnefs will not appear to be a dreadful apoflate, and * fearful diflembler, if you fuffer perfe- * cution^ English Baptists. 239 ' cution to fall upon the Anahaptijl%^ or ^ Indepe7idents^ or them of Mr. Biddies * judgment, feeing you promifed equal * libeny to all ? ' 25. Whether this will not prove ^ your highnefs's ruin, if you join with * fuch a wicked principle to perfecute for ' confcience, or to turn men out of the * army for being Anabaptijls^ or for any * fuch thing as differs from the church of * England \ feeing God hath confounded * all fuch as have done fo ? * 26. Whether the old parlianunt * was not turned out, for leaving undone * that which they ought to have done ? * and if fo, whether thofe things have been * done fince ? ' 27. Whether the little parliament * was not turned out for doing that which * the other left undone ; or taking away * of tithes^ and other grievances ? and if fo, * then * 28. Whether you did not intend ^ your own ends, more than you did the ' nation's good, in breaking \\\q jirft par^ * liament^ and calling the fecond^ and dif- * folving of them again? ' 29. Whether the inftrument of go^ * vernment was not preparing eight or ni?ie ' days before the breaking up of the little ' parliament ? And if fo, whether you did ^ not intend their diffolving ? * 30. Whe-] 24-0 77)e History of tie ' 30. Whether you did not tell a fliameful untruth to the lajl parliament,, faying, that you did not know of their difTolving, that is to fay, the little par- liament^ till they came to deliver up their power to you ? * 31. Whether your highnefs did not put a flur upon the lord Lambert^ when hefliould have gone lord- deputy to Ire^ land^ in telling the parliament^ it favour- ed too much of monarchy \ and fo fent Fleetwood wifh a lower title ? * 32. Whether your highnefs do not intend to put another flur upon the lord Lambert^ in fending for the lord-deputy to come into England^ to make him^^- neralijjimo of the armies in England^ Scotland^ and Ireland? * 33. Whether it is not convenient for the lord Lambert to confider of thofe adtions, and to have an eye to your pro- ceedings, left by degrees you eat him out of all, as you intend to do the Anabap^ * 34. Whether the exceffive pride of your family do not call for a fpeedy judgment from heaven, feeing pride ne^ vergoeth without a fall ? * 35. Whether the fix coach-horfes did not give your highnefs a fair warn- ing of fome worfe thing to follow, if you repent not, feeing God often fore- warns before he ftrikes home ? The English Baptists. 241 The Conclusion. My Lordy * My humble requeft is, that you will ferioully confider of thele few hnes, al- though you may diflike the way by which they are communicated j yet let the matter fink deep into your heart ; for thefe things fhould have [met *] you in another manner, had not your high- nefs caft off all fuch friendly commu- nication, by word of mouth, and the perfons too, if they did but tell you plain- ly their minds. And take heed of cart- ing away old friends for new acquain- tance, as Reboboa?n -f- did, who forfook the counfel of his good old friends, and confulted with his young courtiers 5 which caufed the ten tribes to revolt from him. And it is a deadly fign of a fpee- dy ruin, when a prince or a ftate cafts off the interefl: of the people of God ; as you may fee, how Joajh J forfook the people and houfe of God, and then his hoft fell before a few of the A[f\na?2Sy and at laft his own fervants confpired a- gainft him, and flew him. ' And therefore, O Cromwell leave off thy wicked defign of cafting off the interell of the people of God j and let * This word is fupplied, that in the original being torn oiF. f i Kings xii. 8. \z Chron. xxiv. 17, 24, Vol. HI. R my 242 T^he History of the *- my counfel be acceptable to thee, and * break off tky fins by right eoufnefs^ and thine * iniquity by /hewing mercy to the poor \ * and it may be a lengthning of thy tran- ^ quillity : for it is not ftrength united with * policy, but righteoufnefs accompanied . * with ftrength, that muft keep alive your ^ intereft with God and the people. And * when both thefe die, that is to fay, righ- * teoufnefs and fincerity, then adieu to * thy greatnefs here, and thy eternal hap- * pinefs hereafter/ ' FrG?n him who wifies your * highnefs happinejs^ Jo long * as you do well. * Printed for the information of all * fuch as prize the liberty of their confci- ^ ences, for which fo much blood hath been ' fpilt. CHAR English Baptists, 243 CHAR III. ) From the^ Revolution, to the end of the reign of King V/iiliam the Third. TH E king and queen being proclaim- Anno ed, the lord Churchill on the next ^^^9-. day was fworn of their privy council, and made one of the gentlemen of the king's bed-chamber •, and foon after was advan- ced to the dignity of earl of Marlborough^ and accordingly attended in that quality at their majefties coronation, which was performed on the nth of Aprils to the great joy of \ht protejiant part of the king- dom. The reception of king James in the French court, and his tranfporting French forces into Ireland, foon made a war ne- ceffary. The houje of commom in a body, humbly addrefled his majefty for a war with France ; and the hoiife of lords una- nimoufly refolved to ferve and affift his maielliy therein, to their utmoft power: whereupon, May the 7th, the war was folemnly proclaimed. But the affairs of R 2 the 244 ^^^ History of the the nation, and the fitting of the parUa- Tnenty requiring his majefty's prefence in the kingdom, he fixed upon the earl of Marlborough^ as the moft proper perfon to head his forces in the Netherlands, and fent him thither accordingly ; and when the affairs of the nation permitted, he went himfelf ; and by his valour and con- du6tj not only rejftored to the Englijh na- tion that figure they had loft in the world for near an hundred years paft, but raifed them to a greater than ever they had be- fore. It has been a glory peculiar to the houfe of NASSAU, to have fought for LIBERTY, the nobleft caufe, and the greateft (take that mortals can contend for. And it is the fureft and beft way to tranf- mit a glorious name to pofterity -, to re- lieve the opprefTed, break off their fetters, and fet the world free. Dr. JVelwoody in his epiftle dedicatory, fays ^, * The memory of that prince muft ' be lading, who, in all the wars he has ' been engaged in, and in all the treaties * that have been made to reffore peace to ' his country, has never made any terms ' for himfelf ; except once, when the in- * tereft of three kingdoms, and his own, \ were become one and the fame. And he * adds, when fucceeding ages fliall fcarce * fee any other coin in England, but of * one ftamp, they muft look back with * Memoirs, p<7^e 5. ^ amaze- English Baptists. 245 * amazement upon the reign of a prince * whofe imao;e it bears, and wonder, how * it was poffible, that daring the heat of ' the moft expenfive war that ever was, fo ' vaft a treafure could be new minted, and * at fo prodigious a lofs j while at the fame ' time they will commend and blefs u ' people, that with fo much chearfulnefs * affifted him with fupplies faitable to fuch * mighty undertakings. They will be no ' lefs furprized to find, that amidft many ' hardfiiips and difappointments, which ' could not be avoided, his armies follow- * ed him with an inviolable fidelity, and * inimitable courage ; and will hardly be- * lieve, that it was within the compafs of ' human prudence to cement fo many jar- * ring interefis, and unite fo many prin- ' ces of different religions into one alli- * ance, till the glorious conclufion of a ' general peace/ These gj^eat things were very much admired and extolled by the then prefent age, and ought no lefs by pofterity. And it is but reafonable that the memory of fuch adions (hould live for ever. For, by this glorious revolution^ a flop was put to per I e cut ion ^ and liberty of confcience to all proteflant DiJJenters eftabl idled by law. Th e face of things being thus changed, it prefently appeared how ineffcdual thoie cruel and barbarous methods, hyjines ar^d imprifonments^ dzc. were to ftop the growch R 3 and 246 T^e History of the A general ^nd iHcreafe of the Englijh Bapiijis. For E^dim '^^'^ ^^^^ y^^^5 ^^ appears by the narrative of Baptifts. the proceegings of 2i general ajjembly^ there were more than one hundred congregations of them affembled together, to confuli of proper ways and means to advance the glo- ry of God, and the well-being of their churches. A general faji was appointed by this ajfembly to be kept by all the con- gregations, and the caufes and recifo:iS thereof fent to each of the churches. The main and principal evils mourned, on the day appointed, were as followeth. ' Firji^ Those many gnevoas back- * Hidings, fay they, fins and provocations, * not only of the whole nation, but alfo * of the Lord's own people, as confidered ^ in our publick and private flations ; par- * ticularly, that great decay of firft-love, * faith, and zeal, for the ways and wor- * {hip of God, which hath been apparent, ^ not only in our churches, but alfo in * private families. ' Secondly, That this declenfion and * backfliding hath been, we fear, for a long * feries of time ; and many fore judgments ' God has brought upon the nation ; and * a ftrang? death of late come upon the ' Lord's f ithful v\ itneffes ; befi :ks divers * painful labourers in Chrift's vineyard * called hoii^ie, iind but few raifed up in * their ftead ; little faccefs in the miniftry ; * llorms of pcifecution having been raifed * upon English Baptists. 247 upon us y a new war commenced by the beaft (through the permiffion of God, and hand of his juftice) to a total over- coming to appearance, the witneiTes of Chrift in thefe ijles -, befides his more immediate flrokes by plague and fire^ &c. God not bleffing all effays ufed for deliverance ; fo that v^e were almoft without hope. Therefore our fins that provoked the righteous and juft God to bring all thefe evils upon us, we ought to bewail and mourn for before him. But withal, not to forget his infinite goodnefs •, who, when he faw that our power was gone, and that there was none fhut up or left, that he (hould thus appear for our help and deliverance, in a way unexpedled and unthought of by us. ' Thirdly y The things we fhould there- fore in the next place pray and cry to the Lord for, are, that he would give us true, broken, and penitent hearts for all our iniquities, and the fins of his people ; and wafh and cleanfeaway thofe great pollutions with which we have been defiled; and alfo pour forth more of his Spirit upon us, and open the myfteries of his word, that we may un- derfliand whereabouts we are, in refpedt of the latter time, and what he is a do- ing, and know our work ; and that a R 4 * blefling 248 The Yii^r OKY of the ^ blefling may attend all the churches of * his faints in thefe nations ; and that * greater light may break forth, and the ' gloi'y of tl^^ Lord rife upon us ; and that ' the word may not any more be as a ^ mifcarrying womb and dry breads ; but ^ that in every place multitudes may be ^ turned to the Lord, and that love and ' fweet concord may be found among all * the Lord's people in thefe nations ; that * the great work begun therein fo un- ^ expededly, may go on and be perfedl- ' ed, to the praife of his own glory : * Likewife to put up earnefl cries and *" fupplications to the Lord for the lineal ' feed of Abraham^ the poor Jews, that * they may be called, and both Jews and * Gentiles made one iheepfold under that * one Shepherd Jefus Chrifl. * These are feme of thofc things we * have thought good to lay before you, * and which we hope we fliall be helped * with you to fpread before tlie Lord on ' that day, with whatfoever elfe you, or * we, may be enabled to come to a re- * folve about, fo that all may be fucceed- * ed, with a glorious bleiTing from the * Almighty ^ that the prefent churches, * and thofe faints who fhall come after * us, may have caufe to praife his holy * name 3 which is the unfeigned prayer ' and English Baptists. 249 ^ and defire of us, who fubfcribe our felves * your fervants for Jefus fake.' Signed by thirty-two, in the name and behalf of the whole aflembly. A T this general afjembly^ which was every day opened and concluded with fo- lemn prayer, were prefent upwards of 150 perfons, and fo united were their hearts in the fpirit of love and fweet concord, that in their debates, confultations and re- folves, they fay, ^ Scarcely one brother ' dilTented from the ajjembly in the fenti- ' ments of his mind in any one thing * propofed to their ferious confideration/ To prevent all miftakes, mifapprehen- lions, and inconveniencies that might arife in time to come concerning this gene- ral aflembly, and for the fatisfad:ion of every particular church, they did folemnly and unanimoufly profefs and declare in the following words : ' I. That we difclaim all manner oi^^g^ 10. * fuperiorit)\ or fuperintendency over the ciaratioit. ' churches ; and that we have no aittho- ' rity or poii^er to prefcribe or impofe any * thing upon the faith or prad:ice of any * of the churches of Chrift. Our v;hole ' intendment is, to be helpers together of * one another, by way of counfel and ad- ' vice, in the right underftanding of that * perfedl rule^ which our Lord Jefus, the ^ only bilhop of our fouls, hath already * pre- jp50 7^^ History (?/* //5^ * prefcribed, and given to his churches in * his word, and therefore do feverally and * jointly agree. * 2. T H A T in thofe things wherein * one church differs from another church, * in their principles or pradices, in point * of communion, that we cannot, (hall * not, impofe upon any particular church * therein ; but leave every church to their * ovi^n liberty, tp walk together as they * have received from the Lord. * 3. That if any particular offence * doth arife betwixt one church and ano- * ther, or betwixt one particular perfon * and another, no offence (hall be admitted * to be debated among us, 'till the rule * Chrift hath given in that matter be firfl * anfwered, and the confent of both par- * ties had, or fufRciently endeavoured. ' 4. That whatever is determined by * us, in any cafe, (hall not be binding to * any one church, till the confent of that * church be firft had, and they conclude * the fame among themfelves. ' 5. That all things we offer by way * of counfel and advice, be proved out of * the word of God, and the fcriptures an- * nexed. ' 6. That the breviats of this meet- ^ ing be tranfcribed, and fent to every par- « ticular church, with a letter. * 7. That the meffengers that come * to this meeting be recommended by a * letter English Baptists. 251 letter from the church ; and that none * be admitted to fpeak in this ajfembly^ * unlefs by general confent/ This general ajfembly^ Sept. 5. after fo- lemn feeking the Lord, confidered and cor> eluded, that a publick fund or Jlock was i^eceflary towards maintaining and fup- porting a regular miniftry, and came to a refolucion how to raife it ; and unani- moully concluded that it fhould be raifed by a free-will offering ; that every perfon fliould communicate according to his abi- lity, and as the Lord fhall make him willing, and enlarge his heart 3 and that the churches feverally among themfelves, do order the colled:ion of it with all con- venient fpeed, that the ends propofed may be put into prefent pradlice. The ufes to which this fu7id^ or pub- lick flock were to be applied, viz, * I. To communicate thereof to thofe ?age 12. * churches that are not able to maintain * their own miniftry ; and that their mi- ' nifters may be encouraged wholly to de- ' vote themfelves to the great work of * preaching the gofpel. * 2. To fend minifters that are ordain- * ed, or at leaft folemnly called, to preach * both in city and country, where the * gofpel hathj or hath not yet been preach- * ed, and to viiit the churches 3 and thefe ^ to be chofen out of the churches in Loyi- ' doHy or the country, which minifters are ' to 252 The History of the ' to be approved of, and fent forth by two ' churches at the lead ; but more if it * may be. * 3. To affift thofe members that fliall * be found in any of the aforefaid churches ^ that are difpofed for ftudy, have an in- * viting gift, and are' found in fundamen- * tals, in attaining to the knowledge and * underftanding of the languages, Latin^ * Greek^ and Hebrew! Several queftions were propofed from the churches to this general af[embl)\ and debated and refolved ; for which i muft refer the reader to the printed narrative, be- ing too many to be inferted here ; there- fore I fhall mention only fome of them, 'vsix, Pagei^. € Whether it be not expedient for * churches that live near together, and * conlift of fmall numbers, and are not * able to maintain their own mJniftry, to * join together, for the better and more * comfortable fupport of their miniftry, * and better edification of one another ? * Which was unanimoufly agreed to, and ^ concluded in the affirmative. * ^ Whether believers were not * /7^/^(3'//)' reconciled to God, aBuallyju^i^ * fied and adopted when Chrift died } ^ A, That the reconciliation, juftifi- * cation and adoption of believers are in- ^ fallibly fecured by the gracious purpofs * of God, and merit of Jefus Chrift 5 yet * none can be faid to be aBually recon- ' ciled. English Baptists. 253 ^ died, juftlfied or adopted, until they * are really implanted into Jefus Chrift by ' faith; and io by virtue of this their ' union with him, have thefe fundamen- * tal benefits aBually conveyed unto them. ■^°"^' "^* * And this we conceive is fully evidenced, v. n. * becaufe the fcripture attributes all thefe ^- /.: ' benefits to faith, as the inflrumental ^^^•"''^^• * caufe of them ; and gives fuch reprefen- ' tation of the ftate of the ele^l, before ' faith, as is altogether inconfiftent with * an aSlual right in them. Eph, i. 2, ' 3> ^12. ' ^Whether it be not neceflary for * the elders, miniftring brethren, and mef- * fengers of the churches, to take into their * ferious confideration thofe exceffes that * are found among their members, men ' and women, with refpedl to their ap- ' parel ? ' A. That it is a fhame for men to ' wear long hair, or long perriwigs, and ' efpecially minifters, i Cor, xi. 14. or ' Jirange apparel, Zeph. i. 8. That the Lord ' reproves the daughters of Sion for the ' bravery, haughtinefs, and pride of their ' attire, walking with Ji retched cut necks ^ * wanton eyes, mincing as they go, Ifa. iii. ' 1 6. The apoftle Paul ej^horts || women to * adorn themfelves in modcjl apparel, with * Jhame-facedncfs and Jhbriety, not with ' broidcred hair, or gold, or pearls, or cojlly jl I Tim. ii. 9, 10. * array ; 254 7%e l:ii^TOK\ of the * array ^ but with good works, as becomes * women profeffing godb'jiefs, and whofe * adorning, fays Peter ^ * Let it not be the » outward adorning^ of plaiting the hair, ^ of wearing gold, or of putting on of ap- * parel ; hut the ornament of a meek and * Quiei fpirit, which is ' in the fight of * God of great price 3 for after this (faihion) * manner, the holy women who trufted * in God adorned themfelves. And there- * fore we cannot but bewail it with much ^ forrow and grief of fpirit ; that thofe * brethren and fijiers who have folemnly < profefled to deny themfelves, and who « are by profeffion obliged in duty not to ^ conform to this world, fhould fo much ' conform to the fafhion of this world ; * and not reform themfelves in thofe incli- *■ nations that their natures addicted them * to in days of ignorance. From thefe * confiderations, we earneftly dcfire that * men and women, whofe fouls are com- * mitted to our charge, may be watched * over in this matter; and that care bs < taken, and all juft and due means ufed * for a reformation herein ; ana that fuch » who are guilty of this crying fin of * pride, that abounds in the churches, as « well as in the nation, may be reproved ; * efpecially confidering what time and trea- * fure is fooliflily v/afted in adorning the * body, which would be better fpent in * I Pet. iii. 3, 4, 5. * a care- English Baptists. 255 * a careful endeavour to adorn the foul ; * and the charge laid out upon thofe fu- * perfluities to relieve the neceffities of the * poor faints, and to promote the intertft * of Jefus Chrift. And though we deny * not but in fome cafes ornaments may be * allowed, yet whatever ornaments in men * or women which are inconfiftent with * modefty, gravity, fobriety, and a fcan- * dal to religion, opening the mouths of * the ungodly, ought to be caft off, being * truly no ornaments to believers, but ra- ' rather a defilement ; and that thofe mi- * niflers and churches who do not en- * deavour after a reformation herein, are * juflly to be blamed/ This general afembly now met toge- ther to confider of feveral things relating to the well-being of their churches, em- braced this opportunity ; and judged it their duty to clear themfelves from thofe reproaches caft on them, occafioned by the weaknefs of fome few of their per- fuafion, who in the late King's reign were employed as regulators for the fupport of his difpenfing power. They fay, ' There Page 26. * having been many reflcdlions caft upon * us under the name oi Anahaptijls^ as * fuch, as having in the late times, for * our liberties fake, complied with the * Popip party, to the hazard of the Pro- * tejlant religion, and the civil liberties ' of 256 n^e History of the of the nation ; we being met together^ fome from moft parts of this kingdomr judge it our duty to clear ourfelves from the faid reflections caft upon us. And we do firft declare, that to the utmoft of our knowledge there was not one congregation that had a hand, or gave confent to any thing of that nature, nor did ever countenance any of their members to own an abfolute power in the late king, to difpenfe with the pe- nal laws and tejls 5 being well fatisfied, that the doing thereof, by his fole pre- rogative, would lay the foundation of deftruffion of the Fi'otejlant religion, and bring Jlavery to this kingdom : But yet we muft confefs, that fome few perfons (from their own fentiments) which were of our focieties, ufed their endeavours for the taking off the penal laws and teJls ; and were employed by the late King James to go into divers countries, and to feveral corporations, to improve their intereft therein, but met with little or no encouragement by any of our members ; tho' confidering the temptations fome were under (their lives being in their enemies hands) the great fufferings, by imprifonments, excommu- nications, ^c. that did attend, from the ecclefiaftical courts ; as alfo by frequent moleftations of informers againft our meetings, by means whereof many fa- * milies English Baptists. 257 milies were ruined in their eftates 5 as alfo deprived of all our liberties^ and denied the common juftice of the na- tion, by the oaths and perjury of the vileft of mankind, might be feme abate- ment to the fevere cenfures that have attended us -, tho' if fome amongft us, in the hopes of a deliverance from the heavy bondage they then lay under, might mifcarry, by falling in with the late king's deiign. It being alfo well known, that fome congregations have not only reproved thofe among them that were employed, but in a regular way have further proceeded againft them. From whence it feems unreafonable, that for the mifcarriage of a few perfons the whole parry fhould be laid under re- proach and infamy : it being our pro- feffed judgment, and we on all occa- fions (hall manifeft the fame, to venture our all for the P?''oteJlant religion, and liberties of our native country. And we do with great thankfulnefs to God, ac- knowledge his fpccial goodnefs to thefe nations, in raifing up our prefcnt King William^ to be a bleffed inftrument in his hand to deliver us from Fopery and arbitrary ^o\NQV ', and (hall always, as in duty bound, pray the Lord may con- tinue him, and his royal confort, long to be a bleiiing to thefe kingdoms j and fliall always be ready, to the utmofl: of Vol. III.' S * cur 258 The History of the * our ability, in our places, to join our ^ hearts and hands with the reft of our *^ Protejlant brethren, for the prefervation * of the Proteftant religion, and the liber- * ties of the nation/ This ajfembly did publifh a confeffion of faith y which was the fame, without ally alteration, with that publifhed in the year 1 677, which I mentioned, but omit- ted there, defigning to exhibit it in this place. They did prefix thereto, under their hands, the following certificate, viz, * W E the minifters and meffengers of, ^ and concerned for upwards of 100 con- * gregations in England and Wale 5^ deny- * ing Arminianifm^ being met together in * London^ from the third day of the 7^^ * month, to the 1 1'^ of the fame, 1689, to confider of fome things that might be for * the glory of God, and the good of thefe * congregations, have thought meet, for * the fatisfadion of all other Chriftians, * that differ from us in the point of hap- ' tifm^ to recommend to their perufal the ' confeffion of our* faith ^ which confeffion ' we own, as containing the dodtrine of * our faith and practice ; and do defire that * the members of our churches, refpecStive- * ly, do furniih themfelves therewith. This was figned by 37 perfons, and it is added, in the name and behalf of the whole affembly, I have placed it in the Appendix, N^ II. Another English Baptists. 259 nno Another general ajjemhly of the elders -^^ and meflengers of the baptized churches ^ ^^ from divers parts of Rngland and JVales^ was held in London from the fecond of Ju?iey to the eighth of the fame, 1691, in which I find the fame methods ufed for the happy fettlement, firm peace, and well-being of all thofe churches for which they were immediately concerned ; and therefore (hall not mention any of the particulars in this ajfembly tranfaded. In this year was publifhed by fome baptized congregations in the JVejl^ in the county of Somer/et^ or near adjacent, who did ftedfaftly deny the doftrine o{ Anti^ nominiajiifm^ and perjhnal reprobation^ a fiort confejjion^ or a brief narrative of faith. The fame contained 27 articles ; the which I have placed in the Appendix, Vol. IV. N^ I. In their Introdud:ion they fay, ' It * is not for any ambition of our attain- * ments above others, neither for want of * an underftanding that there have been * fufficient faid to thefe things already, by * fuch pens as we prefer and honour \ as * being far more able to fet forth the ' great truths of the gofpel than ourfelves. ' Neither do we hereby pretend to be ' bringing forth of new things ; but to ' bear our teftimony to the faith o?tce de- * livercd to the faints, in which we truft, \ through grace, we are eftablifhcd ; but S 2 ' our ' 26q T'he History of the our reafons why we thus publickly ap- pear are, ' I. We are, on ihtic articles oi faith ^ united together as one people, to wor- {hip and ferve the Lord, with one mind and confent (until we fee juft caufe to relinquifh) holily and refolvedly, in the ftrength of the Lord, to perfevere therein unto the end. ' 2. Because we are looked upon as a people degenerated from almoft all o- ther baptized congregations, at leaft in our parts of the nation -, fo that they are not only unfrce, but are even afraid to to have affinity with us in the work, worfhip, andferviceof the Lord ; which did incline us to appear in publick after this manner, to give a fliort account of our faith, in the great things of the gofpel J fo that, if poffible, we may have more acquaintance, acceptance, and fellowfliip with thefe churches of Jefus Chrift, that we believe are one with us, in the moft material things of the gofpel, both relating to matters of faith and pradlice 3 who, it may be, do carry themfelves flrange for want of a right underflanding of our faith. But if, when all is done, it do not anfwer the end for which it is intended ; but we muft, notwithftanding, be looked upon as a bye people, and be rejeded, or laid aiide, we truft we {hall keep clofe to ' tli» English Baptists. 261 •^ the Lord in the things that we at pre- * fent underftand, until we are by fome * divine authority convinced of fome reU- ^ gious miftakes therein, &c, and now ' we {hall proceed to explain ourfelves by ' thofe brief articles of faith following. ' We have in this fhort narrative ta- ' ken care to place the fcriptures, fuch as ' are moft plain and pertinent to every ' article, not in words at length, but only ' refer to the chapter and verfe for brevity ' fake/ I T was about this time that the malice Thomas Granthai JIandered, of the implacable enemies of the Baptijls ^^'-^"^^^"^ vented their abominable flanders againft Mr. Thomas Grantham^ a faithful minifter of the gofpel, a gentleman fo endowed with all moral and chriftian virtues, that many of his acquaintance were perfuaded that he was equalled by few, and ex- ceeded by none that lived in his day ; and yet this pious and ufeful man could not efcape the perJectitio?i of the tongue, Some faid he was a drunkard 3 others, a whore- monger ; fome, that he was a Jefuit ; others, that he was a thief, and ftole Iheep and hurdles ; and not only of the com- mon people, but men of reputation too -, one was a gentleman, called Mr. Toathby^ that had been a perfecuting magiftrate, though out of commiffion, when he vented this flander againft Mr. Grantham at Nor- S 3 wich. 262 7^^ History of the mch. Another was one Mr. John Willefy xzdiot of T^atterjhal in the county of Lin^ cohy who declared in writing under his hand, that he faw Mr. Grantham ftand in the pillory two hours at Louth in Lin- coln/hire^ for caufing his man fervant to fetch up feven fheep of one of his neigh- bours, and to brand them with his own brand, &c. On the 6^'" of OBober^ 1691, this n^ile prieft, before l^homas Blofield^ Efq; mayor of Norwich^ did with great humility con- fefs his wicked nefs ; and that all was falfe which he had faid, and fubfcnbed againft Mr. Grantham ; and he did over and over, with crying and bended knees, and wring- ing of his hands, defire forgivenefs of him ; which he, like a good chriftian, readily I granted, though the worfliioful mayor de- clared, that it was the fouleft thing that ever he heard ; and faid, it was next to the taking Mr. Grantham's life, and re- buked the jlanderer for his wickednefs, which was fuch as deferved fevere whip- ping 3 and further faid, if Mr. Grantham forgave him, it was a very great kindnefs ; and commanded his clerk to make a record of his confeffion ; and ordered that the fiandering prieft fhould fign and feal it •, which was done accordingly, and is as fol- loweth, viz. Norwich^ English Baptists. 263 Norwich, * Whereas I John IVillefy late recflor of Tatterjhall in Lincolnjhire, did, on the 2d day of October 1691. wickedly and falfely certify, and fubfcribe, That Thomas Grantham^ late oi LincolnfiirCy and now inhabitant in the cityof A^or- wich, did, to my knowledge, ftand in the pillory at Louth in Lincolnjhire ^ two hours, for ftealing flieep and hurdles ; and that I did fee him hold up his hand at the bar. And further I do declare, that I have not only wickedly abufed the faid Thomas Grantham^ in in all thefe things, but falfely accufed Dr. Hilly ard^ Mr. "John Connould,^ and Mr. Thomas Poke, in faying at Great Tarmoitth^ that I was drawn to it, by the forefaid Dr. Hillyardy Mr. Jofm ConnouJd^ and Mr. Poke^ by giving me too much wine, and two (hillings in money. And I further do declare, that what I faid of Mr. Grantham^ and fubfcribed, was falfe, and from my felf only ; and that I drank but one glafs of wine at the do(ftor's a- forefaid. And I believe that the dodtor fuppofmg I was in want, did out of his chriftian charity give me two fliillings. In witnefs whereof I have hereunto fet my hand and feal, before Thomas Bio- S 4 ' feild. 264 77)e History of the ^ fetid, Efq; mayor, the 6th day of 05io^ '^ ber. Anno Dom, 1691.' John mikt o Sealed and fubfcribed before me Tho, Blofeildy mayor. Now this wretched flanderer had no money to free hlmfelf from the officer ; therefore Mr. Grantham, to prevent his going to prifon for charges, gave the offi- cer ten Pollings to fet him at liberty. Thus he manifefted love to his e7iem\\ requiting him good for evil. Anno Another general ajfembly of the Bap- ^Pl' tifts, confiding of elders, minifters, and geJml meffengers, was held at London,' May 3, ^fembly 1692, and continued to the 24th of the tJha. fame month. And in order to the more comfortable communion of thofe churches that were in union, and then confided of [07, it was thought expedient, ^ I. That whereas for fome years laft * pafl, the churches have had in feveral '• counties particular affociate meetings, ' and one general at London annually ; it * is now propofed to divide this o?2e gene- ^ ral into two, and to keep o?2e in the Wefl, * and one here for the Eajl : That in the ^ Weji to be at Briftol, and the other in ' London 5 defiring, that all churches will * fend meffengers to one or the other, once ^ a year Eaptills. English Baptists. 26^ a year, as may be moft for their con- veniency ; and that either from their particular churches, or they that live re- mote from fuch aflbciations, as they think meet to keep. * 2. That the rrieeting at Briftol be kept annually at the time called Eafier ; and that at London at the time called Whitfontide, * 3. That two mejfengersht fent-down from London every time to that at Bri- Jiol ', and alfo two fent up from that at Brifiol, to that at LoJidon^ for the main- taining of general communion. * 4. For the better keeping up of the fiind^ that this method be obferved. That all churches make quarterly colledlions, in what method they think beft, for the encouragement of the miiiijiry^ by help- ing thofe minifters that are poor, and to educate brethren that may be appro- ved, to learn the knowledge of thofe tongues wherein the fcriptures are writ- ten. ' 5. That thofe ajfemblies are not to be accountable to one another, any more than churches are. ' 6. That no churches make appeals to them, to determine matters oi faith or faci^ but propofe or query for ad- vice. ' 7. That '366 l^he History of the * 7. That after both the meetings in * Wefi and Eafi have been held, that a ge- * neral narrative be printed, and fent to * all the churches, of fuch matters as may * be of general ufe/ There being a controverfy about Ihe con- fmging the praifes of God in the ajjemhly for tro^erfy pubUck worlhip, managed and maintained about Jtngr- r . J r^ o r i r .• j ing refer- m print by feveral perfons ot the baptized red to churches ; it was agreed by both parties ^^'^^' to refer the matter to the examination and determination of /even of the brethren nominated by this ajfemhly j and for that end, the following queftion was propofed to both parties, in the general ajfemhly y viz. '^. Whether you are willing to be determined by the faid brethren, and re- folve to do what they fhall determine, in order to the removing of all thofe reflec- tions that are writ in all the books that are printed on both fides, about the contro- 'verfy di fmging t &c. The matters to be debated, and determined, are only refpeft- ing refleBionSy and matters oifa^. This queftion was anfwered and fully agreed to, by Mr. William Kifin^ Mr. John Man, Mr. George Barret^ Mr. WiU Ham CcllinSy Mr. Benjamin Reach, Mr. Richard Steed, and Mr. Thomas HollowelL And the perfons nominated to examine and determine the matters aforefaid, were Mr. tion. English Baptists, 267 Mr. Andrew Gifford^ Mr. Edmund White ^ Mr. Henry Auftin, Mr. Robert Keate^ Mr. John Willis^ Mr. Samuel Buttal, and Mr. John Scott, The determination that was read to Their de^ both parties in the ajjimbly^ May 24, and tormina- figned by them, was as follows : * * Beloved and honoured in the Lord^ for * your work fake^ * We your unworthy brethren, whom * you have chofen to examine, and deter- * mine the matters aforefaid, fo far as we ^ know our own hearts, have fingly, with- * out refped: of perfons, judged as for the ' Lord, and iinanimoujly concluded, that * thofe perfons who have been concerned ^ in this controverfy^ have on both fides * erred in moft of the particulars that were ' laid before us. If we have been partial * in any thing, it is only, for which we beg ' your pardon, that we lay your evils be- * fore you in eafy terms, from this confi- * dence, that the grace of God will help ' you much more to aggravate them in * your own fouls ; efpecially when you * compare how unlike to Jefus Chrift, and ' the holy commands he hath given for ' brotherly love, your treatment hath been ' one towards another ; who when he was * reviled, reviled not again^ i Pet. ii. 22, * N.irratiye, ^. 1 1 . ^23. 268 ' 7he History of the '23. And how far fhort in this confro^ * verfy you have come, in anfwering that « character, which the Spirit of God gives < of true charity, i Cor. xiii. 4, * becaufe we don't privately, and particu- * larly infpedl into the ftate of our peo- * pies fouls, and their improvement, or * negled: of the word preached. More- * over, fome complain that we negled: ^ daily family devotions, both in our own * praftice, and in our enforcement of them * on our people. More there are who ob- ^ jedl, that our church-members generally * negledl to read the holy fcriptures, and * are English Baptists. 303 are very ignorant in them, which they impute to our negled: of the ufe of them in our families. The fakers condemn us as meer hirelings^ and fay, that the Httle we do is for the lucre of the fleece, rather than good of the flock. And though, fays he^ I know fome of thefe accufations to be falfe, all may not be fo : and therefore I refolved to lay down a fcheme for doing our duty, which kept up to, might entirely fl:op their mouths/ And there feems to him to be only one way left, to win the di [[enters, viz. by excelling them more and more in piety and virtue, particularly in the labours of their 7nini[ierial funftion. This reverend gentleman, who has thought fit to conceal his name, confider- ing the greatnefs and excellency of the minijlerial office^ concluded, his care of executing it well, ought to be fomewhat fuitable thereto, and confequently looked upon himfelf as obliged to make that care, the chief, the moft confl:ant, the moft laborious of his life. The confideration of the immortality of mens fouls, and of the infinitely valuable rewards God has pro- pofed to all obedient chrifl:Ians, both mi- tt ifters and people, became a great motive of engaging him wholly to give up him- felf to the great work of the miniftry* * This, fays he^ has afl^eded me fo, that T- \ am refolved all my life long to adt ^ chiefly 204» I'ke History of the * chiefly on the principle of eternity. It / cannot but highly affedt me to think^, * that if I ferve Goi faithfully ^ through ' the mediator Jefus, I fhall be eternally * happy -y nay, if I turn, or carefully ftrive « to turn many to righteoufnefs, I fliall * be eminently glorious among the orders * of that eternal exiftence/ Z)^;z»xii. 3, Having thus refolved to make the care oi fouls the grand bufinefs of his life, preferring it to all other aims and fatisfac- tions 5 * Hence, fays he^ it is I lay no * fchemes of raifing my worldly fortune, * of living at eafe in wealth and greatnefs ; * I leave all thefe things to God's difpo- ' lal, without concerning my felf about * them. But my chief thoughts, my de- * figi^s, my contrivances, are, how for * the prefent time, and for the future, to * fecure my own foul, and the fouls of as * many as I can, in the love and interefts ^ of God and Heaven.* H E enumerates all the ways he had thought on to bring a parifh to general piety i and praftifedas many of them, as his mean ftation, little authority, and poor ability, would permit him. I (hall mention but fome of them, though the whole is worthy the perulal of all who are employed in xki^ facred fundion. I. He refolved, by the grace of God^ to do all- things principally for his fake, and to his glory. ' I am, fays he^ by my ' office. English Baptists. 305 * office, fet apart from the world to his * fervice. I now in a fenfe belong no * more to the world, and am not only to * terminate in it, but to have little concern * with it, more than what relates to God * and his ghurch/ 2. He refolved, by the grace of God, to do his endeavour to bring evei-y thought into captivity to the obedience of Chrift, according to the rule of St. Paul, 2 Cor, X. 5. ' For, fays he^ though the carnal * paffions and appetites in men, do very * much fway the thoughts, yet the fame * thinking faculty, regulated by piety, can * make the inclinations holy and fpiri- ' tual/ 3. He refolved, that his words, which * are the outward indications of thought, * fhould be as becometh a minijier of Chrift ; * be grave, fober, and generally tending * to the improvement of virtue and piety/ 4. He refolved, to pradtifefirft himfelf, v/hat he perfuaded others to. * Hence, * fay% he, 'tis I ftrive, tha^: all my actions * be holy and juft, as conformable to the * doctrine and example of Chrift, as hu- * man weaknefs will permit them, that ^ fo the people may fee, what I urge them ' to, is practicable even by me. I am ' fenfible all my other endeavours are like * to be vain, if my own practice is not * added.' Vol. III. X ' 5. Upon 3o6 'The History of the 5. Upon private perfonal duties. ^iTie * chief, Jays /?£?(?r man that does fo, (hall * be very eminently diflinguifhed by me. * I will carefs him, fet him at my right * hand ; will vifit him, live he never fo ^ mean, dLndfiew him all publick refpeft, * that every one may fee, I love thofe beji^ ' whoever they are, who beft: love God. ' I will by no means take any due, either * in tithe or money, of any very poor and * pious man 5 but how much foever I ^ ilreighten my felf, will frankly remit it ^ to him.' Much English Bapitists. 311 Much more might be exhibited refpc- « that we may juftly conclude, he prelled them with no mean or contemptible argu- ments, and that he managed them with the dexterity of an able difputant. On the fiift oi April following, they publiflied in the Flying Poji, a long ftory full of untruths and refledions, not be- coming English Baptists. coming their learning or profeffion -, and all to fupport ^finking intereft : But it ap- peared fo manifeftly partial, and (o ill-na- tured, that there feemed to be little or no credit given to it, except by feme few of their own party : for in the paper they fay, one Mr. TFilliafn (by fome called Aodiox) Rujfel of London, Sec. though it was well known, that many years before this difpa- tation, he was not only admitted as ma- jler of arts, but took his degree of batche- lor in phyfick -, and was after that created a doBor in phyfick, of the famous univer- fity of Cambridge j and alfo admitted, by univerfal confent, to be a member of the Jenate there. But to pafs this their unman- nerly (to fay no worfe) treatment, they were not fo ready to let the world know, why they fo vain-glorioufly triumphed. For when th^fcribe, on the fide of the Baptijis, went to compare copies with xht'ix fsribe, he refufed to comply j and no applications made to him could procure fo much as a fight of his copy, he pleading in excufe, that he had never before been engaged in fuch a work, and fo his account was very imperfect. However Dr. Rujfel, to do iuftice to mankind, and leave them to judge on v/hofe fide the ijiBofj lay, publilhed the difputation under the title of a T^rue narrative of the Portfmouth difpu- tation, betu'een fome rninijlers of the Prefby- terians, and otbers of the Baptift perfua- flOfJy 3^3 gl4 5^^ History of the Jion^ concerning the fubje6ts and manner of baptifm. About three months after, the Prejbyterians publiihed their account, and as imperfedt as it was, upon their own confeffion, yet Dr. Ruffel^ Mr. Williams^ and Mr. Sharpy convided them of feveral infertions, tranfpofitions, falfifications, and additions : but I have not been able to ob- tain it 'y and therefore can only exhibit the account publifhed by Dr. Ruffel^ with fome additions I took from another edition^ revifed by the dodtor, and is as follows, viz. An account of the difputation held at Port/mouthy February 22, 1698-9. be- tween the Frejbyteriam and Baptiftsy con- cerning Baptifm. The names of the Disputan ts. For the Prefyteriam, Mr. Samuel Chandler of Fareham. Mr. Leigh of Newport. yiv.Robinfon oi Hungerfordy modera- tor. For the Baptijis. Dr. William Rujfel of London. Mr. John Williams of Eaji Knoyle. Mr. John Sharp of Fromey moderator. The above mentioned difputants, being come to the place of meeting, between the English Baptists. ^lij ^he hours of nine and ten in the morning, and having took their places, Mr. Chand- ler, the prejbyterian minifter, after having made an apology to the people, repeated the queftions to be difputed, viz, ^uejl, I. Whether, according to the commiffion of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, adult believers are only the proper fubjeds of baptifm, and not infants ? '^ejl. 2. Whether the ordinance of baptiftn, as appointed by Chrift, is ^o be adminiftred by dipping, plunging, or over- whelming only, and no otherwife ? These are the two articles, quoth he, we are to difpute at this time. We deny, and they affirm. Then Dr. Rujfel, for the Baptijis, after a few preliminary queftions and anfwers on both fides, began thus. If Chrift, fays he, hath no where required any of his mi^ nijlers to baptize infants^ then the baptifm of i?ifants is not according to the com- miffion of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. But Chrift hath no where requi- red any of his minijiers to baptize infants. Therefore the baptifm of infants is not ac- cording to the commiffion of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Mr. Chandler, If you will allow good confequences drawn from fcripture, I will deny your minor. Dr. 3 1 5 The History of the Dr. Riijj'el Then you muft fuppofe that Chriil hath requiredyS;/zf of his mini' Jiers to baptize infants. Mr. Leigh. We diftinguifli between confequenfial truths, and exprefs words. Dr. Riijfel. And fo do we ; but I hope our Lord's commiffion, about holy bap- tifm^ is deUvered in exprefs words, and not in confequentials 5 the term, in my argu- ment, is very lax ; I do not fay there row- manded^ but required \ and if you prove the baptifm of infants any where required by Chrift, 'tis fufficient, Mr. Leigh, Will you allow good fcripture confequences in this cafe, or do you expedl plain fcripture words ? Dr. Rujjel. I say again, the term I ufe admits of any proof ; he is not thereby obliged to produce any exprefs command, if he can do it without. If he can prove that Chrift hath any way required it, it will fufRce. But you muft remember, that you are to prove it according to Chrift's commiffion -, (for thofe are the terms in the queftion) and I believe you will find a difficult tafk to do that by confequence. Mr. Chandler. What from the com- miffion ? Mr. Robinfon, the moderator, cries out to Mv. Chandler, hold. Dr. Rujfel muft prove it by an univerfal negative. ,. , Dr. English Baptists. 317 Dr. RufeL Then Mr. Chandler muft deny fome part of my argument, which I have not yet been able to prevail with him to do. Mr. Chandler, I deny the minor. Dr. Rt/Jfe/. By denying the mhwr, you fay, that Chrifl hath fomewhere required fome of his minifters to baptize infants. Mr. Chajidler, By good confequence. Dr. Ruffel Then I will make good my minor thus : If Chriil hath any where required any of his minifters to baptize infants, it is fomewhere fo recorded in the holy fcripture : but it is no where fo re- corded in the holy fcriptures -, therefore Chrift hath not any where required any of his minifters to baptize infants. Mr. Chandler, If you mean by being recorded in fcripture, being recorded in exprefs words, I deny your major ^ but if you mean by coi;ifcquence, I deny your minor. Dr. RuJfeL If you do but prove it re- corded, it is fufficient. Mr. Chandler, I deny the mijior. Dr. Riijjel, Then you fay, it is fome- where fo recorded in holy fcripture. I therefore argue thus : If it be any where fo recorded in holy fcripture, Mr. Chand- ler, or fome other perfon, is able to fliew it : but neither Mr. Cha?idler, nor any other perfon whatfoever, is able to (hew it ; I there- 2 1 8 T'he History of the therefore it is not any where fo recorded in holy fcripture. Mr- Chandler, I deny your minor. Dr. Rt(feL Hold, Sir, It is an uni- verfal negative. You muft give your in- (tance, where it is fo written. I appeal to vour moderator. Mr. Robin fo7j. Suppose Mr. Chandler cannot give an inftance, nor any body in the company 5 you cannot thence infer, . that none in the world can. Dr. Rujfel. This is in efJed: to give a- way your caufe, v^hen fo many men of parts and learning are here prefent. If none of them are able to give us one inftance from fcripture for infant baptifm^ we can- not expedl that any body elfe fliould. Therefore, if Mr. Chandler will confefs he hath no inftance to give, I will proceed to a new argument. This Mr. Cha?tdler refufed to do, and yet would give no inftance. Dr. RujjeL If Mr. Chandler .c-^n give no inftance, here are divers other minifterSy gentlemer of parts and learning ; have none of them an iDilanc^ ^.o produce ? If you thus refufe to produce it, the people will think you have none to give. Whereupon Dr. Ri//fel {p^ke to this effedl : Gentlemen, it may be, you think I have but one argu- ment. If you will fay no more to this, I am not willing to tire the auditory: but take notice by the way, that my firft ar- gument English Baptists. gument ftands good, till you give your inftance to the contrary. Argiim, 2. If infants are not capable to be made difciples of Chrift by the mi- ' ni/lry of men, then they cannot pollibly be the fubjeBs of bapttfm, intended in Chrift *s commiifion : But infants are not capable to be made difciples of Chrift by the mini/iry of men ; therefore they cannot poffibly be the fuhjedls of baptifni intend- ed in Chrift*s commiffion. Mr. Chandler. Here, if you mean by being made difciples^ aBiial and compleat difciples^ I deny youi major ; but if you mean fuch as are entred inLo a fchool, and given up to inftrudtions, then I deny your minor. Dr. Riifel repeats his major^ and de^ fires Mr. Chandler to tell him what he denies in it ; for, fays he, my v^ords are plain, to be made difciples by the mimftry of men. Mr. Robinfon, Mr. Chandler diftin- guilhes between compleat and incompleat difciples. Dr. Riifel But what then doth he mean by denying m-^ major ^ IsAx.Robinfon. He denies, that they ihat cannot be made compleat difciples^ are not intended in the commiffion. Here Dr. Rufel^ feeing they would not be brought to g've any dire<5t aniwc^r, turns his hypothetical into a categorical fyllogifm. 319 20 TAe History of tie fyllogifm. Whofoever are uncapable, fays he, to be made difcipks by the minifiry of men, they cannot be the JiibjeBs of bap-- tilm intended in Chrift's commiffion : But infants are uncapable to be made difcipks by the minijlry of men ; therefore they cannot be ih^ fiibjedis oi baptifm^ intended in Chrift's commiffion. Mr. Leigh, I diftinguifh thus ; they may be entred into the church in order for learning, and fo they are difcipks be- fore baptifm ; yet in a more vifible fenfe they are made difcipks by baptifm. Dr. Rufel. If infants have no know- ledge to dilcern between good and evil, then they are not capable to be made dif- cipks by the mini ft ry of men: But iifants have no knowledge to difcern between good and evil j therefore they are not ca- pable to be made difcipks by the minifry of men. Mr. Chandkr, You trick all this while ; I told you, by infants being difcipks^ I meant their being folemnly inverted by baptifm. Dr. Rujfel, You ftill miftake; we are not fpeaking of their inveftiture^ but of the pre-requiftes of baptifm ; and it is evi- dent from what I have faid, that thofe that are truly baptized '<^QZOX^vc\^ to Chrift*s commiffion, which is the thing we are upon, muft firft be made difcipks by the minijlry of men : For the commiffion in Mark English Baptists. 321 Mark xvi. 15, 16. is a command to his apoftles, to go into all the worlds and preach the go I pel to every creature : and that fuch of them that were made dlfciples by their preachings they (hould baptize. And in M^itth, xxvni. 19. they are commanded to difciple all nations ; and to baptize fuch of them whom they had made difciple s by teaching. Now when I have fhewed you how, that infants not being capable thus to be made difciples^ they cannot be the fubjeBs of baptifm intended in that com- miffion ; then you grant the confequence of the major ^ and by denying my mijior^ you fay they are capable. And when I have brought another argument to prove my minor ^ you then evade it by an in- diredl anfwer. Sir, you are bound to give a diredl anfwer to my argument. Mr. Chandler. I deny the confequence of your major. Dr. RufJ'el. By fo doing, you fay, tho' they have no knowledge to difcern be- tween good and evil, yet they are capable to be made difciples by the miniftry of men ; how can this poffibly be ? Mr. Chandler. They have no know- ledge; yet are capable of being incompleat dijciples. Dr. Ruffel. If by compleat you mean perfcBly fo, I know not of any fuch chrifti- ans in the world ; but I hope this doth not hinder, but that there may be real Vol. III. Y and 32 2 The llisr o'^.Y of the and aBual difciples of Chrift, made fo by the mmijlry of men, and fitted for holy baptifm. Mr. Chandler. We allow infants are not capable to diicern between good and evil, nor of being made compleat difciples, D[\Ruj]}L Then the confequence ne- ceffarily ioUov/s, that infants are not at all intended in the commiffion of our Saviour, Matth, xxviii. 19. therefore now it is high time I defcend to a new argument. Argum, 3. If the apoftle PW did de- clare all the counfel of God, and kept back nothing that v/as profitable, for the church of God, and yet did never declare the baptifm of ijifants to be a gofpel iti- flitution, according to Chrift's commiffion, then it is no gofpel inflitiition^ nor any part of the counfel of God, nor profitable for the church of God : But the apoftle . Faiil did declare all the counfel of God, and kept back nothing that was profitable for the church of God j and yet did ne- ver declare the baptifm of infants to be a gofpel ifjftitution, according to Chrift's com- miffion ; therefore it is no gofpel iriflitii- tion, nor any part of the counfel of God, nor profitable for the church of God. Mx, Chandler, Your argument is long. Dr. Riiffel. Not fo long, nor fo hard to be underftood. Upon which Mr. Leigh anfwered, that he denied that the apoftle Paul English Baptists. 323 Paul did never declare infant bapfifm to be a go (pel viflitution. Dr. Rujfel. Then you deny my minor ^ which I thus prove. If the apoftle Paul hath fo declared it, it is Ibme where to be found in the writings of the New Tefta- ment : but it is not any where to be found in thofe writings ; therefore the apoftle Paul did never fo declare it. Mr. Leigh. You know that St. Paul wrote divers epiftles, and in them of dif- ferent fubjedts. It is as if a man fhould write a book of feveral things, and when he hath finiftied it, one comes and cuts oS Jix leaves thereof; and after this there is a queftion arifes, whether fuch a man hath writ any thing about fuch a particular fubjedl. Now it doth not follow, that be- caufe it is not contained in the reft of his book, that therefore it is not contained in the fix leaves that were cut off. Dr. RuJ/el. If Mr. Leigb fyz^ksadrem^ as I fuppofe he thinks he doth, then I thus infer upon him. Firft^ That he doth by this allow, that there is no mention made of i?2fant baptijm in any of thofe writings of the apoftle Pauls that we have bound up with the reft of the holy fcrip- tures. Secondl)\ He fuppofes there may be fomething faid of it in thok fx leaves that were cut oft^after he had finilhed his epiftles. Now the aflembly of divines tell us, that the fcriptures of the Old and New Te/la- y 2 me?2ty 324 T^he History of the ment^ are the only rule to diredl us in matters of woriliipi but whether Mr. L^'/g-^ be of their mind, I cannot tell. Mr. Leigh. Yes, I am. Dr. Riijjel Then what you mean by it I know not ; but I believe they meant what we have in the Bible, and not what is contained in thofe fix leaves that were cut off 3 or elfe they defigned to put a cheat upon the whole world, which I do not fuppofe. But, as touching thofe Jix leaves, I conclude our brethren have them not in their cuftody -, becaufe I never heard them fpeak any thing in the leafl con- cerning them. For my own part, I can fpeak for my felf, I never fav^ them, nor heard of them till now ; neither do I know any thing of the matter : But if Mr. Leigh, or Lis brethren, have them in their cuftody, I defire they would produce them ; and when they have fo done, if they pleafe to favour us fo far as firft to prove that thefe were the very fix leaves that were written by Paul, we will take the pains to examine them ; and if it then appears that there is any fuch thing con- tained in them as Mr. Leigh fpeaks of, we will allow it. Mr. Leigh was angry hereupon, faying. What do you talk of our being the keepers of them ? and what do you talk of all the JNew Tefiament ? is all the New l'ejiame?2t the apoftle PaiiV^ writings ? Dr. English Baptists. 325 Dr. Rujfet. I say, I do not confine you to PauH epiflles, much lefs pretend all the New Tejiame?2t to be of the apoftle Paul's writing, as you v/ould infinuate to the people 3 but my words are, it is no where fo declared in the writings of the New Tejlament ; and do you produce one inftance that it is if you can, for that will put an iffue to our controverfy. I fur- ther add, that \i Paul never taught infa?it baptijm in the church of Ephejus^ nor in the church of Corinth^ nor in any other ' place, I hope you will then acknowledge it to be no gofpel injlitution^ nor any part of the counfel of God, nor yet profitable for the church of God ; and there is no record in holy fcripture of his fo doing. Mr, Leigh. I say, Paul's writings are not the 100^'' part of what Paul preached ; we cannot fuppofe that in thofe fix chap- ters to the Epbefuins^ he could contrive to put down the whole of his preaching to them. Tl>['. RuJ/el. Sir, you might have fpared all this labour ; for I am fitisfied the people will not trouble themfelves to feek for it any where elfe, but only in the writings of the New 'Tejlajnent j and if they will take my word, I can allure them it is not there to be found : and I perceive you think fo too, or elie you need not refer them to Paul's fermons, which are ?jot written, I have heard, indeed, of fome Y 3 un- 326 The Wi^T OV.Y of the unwritten traditions, that are locked up in the popes breaft, to be dehvered out as he finds occafion for the ferving of a turn ; but I never knew that the Prepyterians were ever intrufted w^ith any fuch trea- fure. yiv. Leigh. If Paid did not declare it, if we have other places apparent and plain, at leaft confequential, it is fuflicient. Dr. RtiffeL This is not an anfwer to my argument ; you might have gone here upon the otherj but cannot upon this: Why did you not affign feme of thofe places then ? Mr. Chandler, We deny the confe- quence ; Paul might fpeak of it fome where elfe, though it is not found in his epiftles. Mr. Robin/on. You are to prove, that becaufe Paul did not fliun to declare ro the church oi Ephcfus the whole counfel of God, therefore baptizing of infants muft be found there, or elfe it is no part of the counfel of God. Mr. Leigh, Howe ve r, we will fuppofe the thing, but not grant it, that Paul has not fpoken of infa?7t baptifm, ^x. Williams. If you fuppofe it, we will take it for granted ; if we may not, fay fo. Thus ended their oppofition to this argument. Dr. Ru[feL I WILL now proceed to an- other argument Argiun, English Baptists. 327 Argum. 4. Christ's commiflion doth fhew "who are to be baptized 'y but it doth not ihew that infants arc to be baptized \ therefore infants are not the fubjeBs of baptifin^ according to ChriiVs commiflion. yS.'i. heigh, I DENY the 7ninor, Dr. RiijJeL By fo doing you fuppofe it doth (hew it. I therefore thus argue, If the commiflion doth fliew that infants are to be baptized^ Mr. Leigh ^ or fome other perfon, can ihew it is in the commiflion 5 but neither Mr. Leigh, nor any other per- fon, is able to fliew it us in the com- miflion ; therefore the commiflion doth not fhew that infants are to be baptized, Mr. Leigh. I say it is included in the word all nations ^ do you prove it is not. Dr. Ruffe/. You have brought an in- ftance, and it is your bufinefs to make good your infl:ance ; otlicrwife my argu- ment fl:ands firm and untouched : But if I fhew there are feme qualifications re- quired in the commiflion, and prove thofc cannot be found in infants, then infants cannot be included in tl^e vvord all nations. I tell you, he hath commanded us to baptize fome pei'-fons \ but he hath not com- manded us to baptize any infants, which I thus prove. If t'noie that Clirifl: in his commiflion hnth commanded to be bap- tized, muft: firflbe made difciples, accord- ing to that commiflion, then infants are not to be baptized by virtue of that com- Y 4 miflion: 328 n^e History of the miffion : But thofe that Chrift in his com- miffion hath commanded to be baptized^ muft firft be made difciples^ according to that commiffion -, therefore infants are not to be baptized^ by virtue of that com- miffion. Islx, Leigh, I DENY your whole argu- ment, that all that Chrift requires to be baptized are difciples^ and that infants are not capable. Dr. Rufeh If no other hut dfciples are exprefled in the commiffion, then the ?}jajor is true ; and if infants are uncanable to be made difciples^ then the ijiinor is true alfo. Mr. Leigh, You talk of the commif- fion \ it is the good confequences I infift upon, and fay, perfons are not to be corn- pleat difciples before they are baptized \ nor aBually taught before they are dif- ciples, Y):,RuJJel. Perhaps you mean a man is not 2iComple at chriftian, if he hath not attained to the higheft perfedion he is capable of, whilfl: in this life, altho' he hath been a real chriftian for many years. I fpeak not of fuch 2. completion^ but of fuch as are aBual difciples of Chrift, made fo by the mini fir y of men. Mr. Leigh, I say, there is no ncceffity of being difciples in your fenfe^ before they are baptized. Dr. RiiJJ'eL Tpien I will prove there is a neceiiity. If our Lord, in his commif- fion. English Baptists. 329 fion, did not require his apoftles to bap- tize any, but only fuch as they had be- fore made difciples by teaching, then there is a neceffity they Ihould be aBual dif- ciples before they are baptized ; but our Lord, in his commiffion, did not require his difciples to baptize any but only fuch as they had before made difciples by teach- ing ; therefore there is a neceffity they fliould be aBual difciples before they are baptized. Mr. Leigh. I deny the minor. Dr. RuJJel. Then I will read the com- miffion. 'M.V.Leigh, You need not do that, we all know the commiffion very well. Dr. RiifeL I will read my Matter's commiffion, Matth. xxvWi. 19. Go ye there- fore and difciple all nations ^ baptizing them in the name of the Father'^ and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghofi^ &c. Mr. Robmfon. Is this your argument? And then he hauls very loud, faying, Mr. Williams, will you fnfFer him to preach ? Dv. RuJJel. What do you talk of preaching, are you afraid of the commif- lion ? I hope it is not fo bad with you as it was with fome in times paft, whom . one of the fathers (i. e. Tertullian^ calls by the name of Lucifuga Scripturarum, &c. Flyers from the light of the fcriptures, as bats do from the light of the fun. What is 330 Tloe History (p/* if/5^ is the reafon, gentlemen, you will not endure to hear the commiffion opened? Will you fly from the light of the com- miflion of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrifl ? Is it not the fubjedt contained in the queftion ; and will you, or dare you deny that what I have faid is in the com- miffion. yix. Leigh. We fay not fo. Dr. RuJI'eL I f you {hould, you would diredly oppofe Mr. Calvin ; for he faith, there is no mention made of infants m the commiffion ; and further faith, we may as well apply thefe words in 2 Thejf.m. 10. That ij any would not work^ neither Jhould he eat^ to little infants, and fo keep them from food till they ilarve, as to apply what is faid in the commiffion to them ; whereas it belongs only to the adult, Mi\Rolfi?2/on. What have we to do with what Mr. Cahin fays? Dr. RuffeL I d i d not know but you might have had a veneration for Mr. Cal- vin ; but feeing it is otherwife, I will thus argue from the commiffion. If there be an exprefs command in our Lord's com- miffion for the baptizing oi fome perfons, and there be no exprefs command neither there nor el fe where for the baptizing of infants, then the baptifm of infants is not contained in that commiffiion ; but there is an exprefs command in our Lord's com- miffion for the baptizing q{ fime perfons, and English Baptists. 331 and there is no exprefs command, either there or elfewhere, for the baptizing of infants ; therefore the baptifm of infants is not contained in that commiflion. Mr. Leigh, Instead of giving his an- fwer to the argument, fays, I appeal to the people ; tho' he allowed confequences but now, yet now he requires an exprefs fcripture -, and yet, I fay, if nations incladQ infants, they are expreflly mentioned. Upon this Mr. Robinfon turns dictator ^ and fays to Mr. Leigh, you were better deny his confequence. Dr. Rujfel, Pray Mr. Leigh, be pleafed to change places with Mr. Robinfon ^ let him be difpiitant, and you moderator -, for I perceive neither you nor I are able to pleafe him : This was refufed 3 upon which Dr. Rujfel faid to Mr. Robinfon, pray Sir, do not you thus dittate to him, I have none to didtate to me 3 "pray let him an- fwer my argument. Here Mr. Leigh did as Mr. Robinfon had taught him, and denied the confe- quence ; and alfo, that an exprefs com- mand was necefiary to authorize the bap-- tiziiig of infants. Di". Rujfel. My argument was, if there be an exprefs command for the baptizijig oi fome perfom, you deny the fequel of the major -, and in fo doing you fay, that notwithftanding there is no exprefs com- mand for the baptizing of infants^ neither there 332 The History of the there nor elfewhere in all the holy fcrip- ture ; yet never thelefs they are intended in the commiffion. Mv, Leigh. I do fo. Dr. RuffeL A n d I fay, if there be an exprefs command for the baptizing oi fome perfons^ but none at all for the baptizifjg of infants^ then they are not at all intend- ed in that commiffion. Mt. Leigh, I deny firft, the fequel of the major ^ and then I will deny your minor. Dr. RuffeL This feems very ftrange, that v^hen I have made it appear fo evi- dently from the commiffion itfelf, that there is an exprefs command for the bap- tizing of fome perfons ; and yet it fliould not be allowed as a neceflary confequence from the premifes that infants are not in- tended ; when yourfelves have confeffed there is no exprefs command in all the fcriptures for the baptizing of i?ifants, Mi\ Leigh, I deny the fequel. Dr. Ruffe I, Th e n I will prove that there is an exprefs command for the baptizing of fo?ne perfons from the commiffion itfelf. Mr. Leigh. That is not the fequel of the major ^ it is that I deny. Dr. Riff el And I bring the commiffion to prove it: but you fay, that notwith- ftanding our Lord hath expreffly com- manded fome perfo?2S to be baptized^ altho' he hath not commanded infants to be baptized^ yet they may be fome of that number. English Baptists. number. Hath Chrift two forts oi fubjeSts that he commands to be baptized in that commifiion ? or rather, ^x^fome command- ed, and others not commanded, and yet both to be baptized-, the o?ie by a command, the other without ? Here Mr. Leigh re- fufed to anfvver, and cried out, put it into a fyllogifm. Dr. RiiJfeL If no perfons are to be bap- tized according to that commifiion, but what are there expreffly commanded, and infants are not io commanded, then the confequence of the major is true : But no perfons are to be baptized, according to that commifGon, but what are there ex- preffly commanded, and infants are not fo commanded ; therefore the confequence of the major is true. iVlr. Leigh. I deny your minor. Dr. Riifel. By fo doing, you fay there 2iXtfome to be baptized, that are not there expreffly commanded, Mr. Leigh, Do you not know your own argument ? Dr. Rufel, I repeat it not for my own knowledge, but for the peoples in- formation ; and I prove my f7ii?ior thus : If the words of the commlffion are an ex- prefs command to the apoftles to dired: them ivho they fhould baptize, then the miiior is true : But the words of the com- miffion are an exprefs command to the apoftles zzi 334 ^^ History of the apoftles to diredt them who they ihould baptize ; therefore the minor is true. . Mr. Leigh. I deny your minor. Dr. RuJfeL If there be no other com- miffion of our Lord for holy baptilm^ but what is recorded in Matth. xxviii. and Mark xvi. then the mi?ior is true : but there is no other, therefore the tninor is true. Mr. Leigh, I deny the fequel of your major. Dr. Ruffel, But we are now upon the commiffion. Mr. Leigh, We are fo; but we fay, good confequences derived from the com- miffion are Sufficient. Dr. Riiffel, So you may, if you pleafe ; but I had rather walk exactly according to the commiffion of our Lord, than by fuch confequences, wherein I may be de- ceived. Mr. "Robinfon, I matter not what you had rather do, or what your opinion is, I am for confequences. Mr. Leigh, I deny the fequel of the major ^ they are to baptize none, but fuch as they are exprcffly commanded. T>v,RiiJJ'el. Then I thus argue; if there be no manner of allowance given them to baptize any other but what they are ex- preffly commanded, then the fequel of the major is true : But there is no manner of allov^ance given them to baptize any other, English Baptist s* other, but what they are expreflly com- manded 5 therefore the fequel of the major is true. Mr. Leigh was pleafed here to give a general denial, without diftinguifliing. Upon which Dr. Rufe/ referred him to his former argument, wherein he had already (liewed, that there is an exprefs command to baptize by virtue of Chrift's commif- fion. Mr. Leigh, I deny your minor ^ but diftinguifli between the command, being expreffed, and the fubjed:s intended. Dr. RziJleL If the words in the com- miffion about holy baptijm be a command from Chrift to his apoftles, then the 772inor is true : Bat the words in the commiffion about holy baptijm are commanded from Chrift to his apoftles ; therefore the minor is true. Mr. Leigh. I ALLOW that the command is expreffed ; but I fay, thtjubjecis are to be brought in by confequence. Dr. Rujjel. Then I will prove that the fuhjedls arc exprefled. If Chrift did com- mand his apoftles to baptize fuch as be- lieve^ and are made difciples^ then the jubjeBs are expreffed : But Chrift did command his apoftles to baptize fuch as believe and are Tuade difciples -, therefore ih^JlibjeBs are expreffed. Mr. Robin/on, You muft fay all the fubjeds. Dr. 335 336 ^e History of the Dr. Rtijfeh By your favour, there is no need of that j for Mr. Leigh denies there is an exprefs command in Chrift's com- miffion for any fubjedl. Mr. Leigh, We muft all confefs, that Jefus Chrift gave commiflion to baptize believers^ when at the age of maturity, fuch as were before Jews and Greeks^ and newly believing in the Lord Jefus, were thereupon to be baptized ; but afterwards the childreji of thofe believers. Dr. RuffeL It is faid in Mark xvi. 16. He that believeth^ and is baptized, JJ:allbe faved. Here is not one word of infants, Mr. Leigh, And it follows, He that believeth not, JJoall be damned. Now if be- lieving be previous to baptifm, by the fame way of arguing it muft be neceflary to fal- vation ; and fo you muft fay, that all not believing, are damned ^ and fo all infants are damned. Dr. Riijjel, This is a non fequitur -, for infants are not at all intended in this com- miflion, as I have already {hewed you, and as Mr. Calvin doth alfo affirm. But I hope Mr. Leigh will allow our Saviour's ' words to be true ; that all thofe his apo- ftles preached to, according to his com- miflion, if they did not believe, they ftiould be damned ; for of fuch, it is faid, he that believeth not, is condemned akeady, becaufe he hath not believed in the name of the only- begotten fan of God, But as touching in- fants. English Baptists. 337 fant^^ I am far from believing, that God hath decreed them, as fuch, to eternal damnation. I will rather believe, that all infants^ dying in their infancy, are eled:- ed, than conclude, that any of them are damned. And I fuppofe you do not know the contrary ; if you do, I defire you would tell the people fo. Mr. Leigh, What do you put that upon us for ? Dr. Ruffel, Because I think its rea- fonable you (hould tell the people what your opinion is, feeing you have ftarted it j for you fee, I have given my opinion free- ly about it, and if you think otherwife, pray tell the people fo. For then I con- ceive, that your baptizing their infants will do them no good; for you cannot alter the decrees of heaven. Or, if you believe as the Papijis do, that grace is conveyed to them barely by the acfl done, notwith- ftanding the children are wholly paffive in it, pray tell us fo. Mr. Leigh refufed to anfwer to the for- mer ', but gave this anfwer to the latter. No, we deny that. Mr. Williams. If none can believe on Jefus Chrift that never heard of Jefus Chrift, th^n infants are uncapable of be- lieving : But none can believe on Jefus Chrift, that never heard of Jefus Chrift, therefore infants are incapable of believ- ing. Vol. III. Z Mr. 338 7^^ History of the Mr. Leigh denied the fequel of the ma- jor ; but he (hould have remembered what is written, Rom. x. 14. How pall they be^ lieve in him^ of whom they have not heard -y and how fhall they hear without a preacher ? And I do not fuppoie our antagonifts think they are obliged to preach to new-born infants ; and yet the adminiftration of haptifm is by the commiffion reftrained to fuch as are made believers by the preach- ing of the word. Thefe arguments be- ing fufficient to prove the incapacity of infants beheving, the next argument Mr. Williams offered was, from thence to prove, that i?fa?2ts could not be the fiibjecls of baptifm^ according to Chrifl's commiffion. But the admlniflrator muft have an ac- count of \hz faith of xht fubje5l before he baptize him ; therefore iiifajits are not t\iQ JiibjeBs oibaptifm, according to Chrifl's commiffion. Mr. Leigh denied the minor. For the proof of which, Mr. Williams urged two fcriptures, ABs viii. 36, 37. and Matth. xxviii. 19. and faid, When the Eunuch propofed for baptifm, Philip tells him, If thou believefl with all thine hearty thou mayejl. The contrary, that fairly offers it felf, is this, That if thou dofl not believe with all thine heart, thou mayefl not. And upon this the Eu?iuch declared his faith, before he was baptized, ' From whence it is evident, the Eunuch was English Baptists. 339 was content to be taught ; Philip teaches him, and yet after this, he muft know whether he believes^ before he baptized him. Therefore it follows, they muft have actual learnings and the minifter muft alfo know that • they have it, before he baptize them. And in Matth, xxviii. 19. Go difciple to me all nations baptizing them. From whence I thus argue. If minifters have no commiflion to baptize any but fuch as are difcipled to Chrift, then they muft have an account of their difciple flnp before they baptize them. : But minifters have no commiflion to baptize any but fuch as are difcipled to Chrift 5 therefore they muft have an account of their difci- pleflnp before they baptize them. To which was added. That Eraftnus^ in his paraphrafe upon the New Tefta- ment, reads the Commiflion thus; Go and teach all nations^ and when they have learn- ed, DIP them. And I further fay, if the adminiflrator muft have an account of the perfon's learning before he be baptized^ then a bare going to fchool is not fufficient to conftitute him a difciple. Mr. Robi?fbn. Do you fee. Sirs, this gentleman grounds his opinion upon the authority oiErafmus, Dr. Rufel. Why muft Erafmus be thus flighted ? Here are fome honourable perfons know very well, that Erafmus was a man not to be defpifed for his fkill Z 2 about 340 7^^ Hist OR Y oy /^^ about the etymology of a Greek word. But any thing ferves your turn at a pinch. Mr. heigh. He (\\\oits> Erajmus^ and it is well known he was between a Papift and a Froteflant, Now many of thefe men^ fpeaking againfl infant baptifm^ wdll call it Popery ; and yet he quotes Eiraf- mus for their judgment. Mr. William!;. Sir, you have heard my argument; to which you have given no anfwer. As touching Erafmus^ I did not quote him, as building vny faith upon his authority^ but for \\\% judgment -, it being the tranflation of a man, that very well underltood the original. And although he was not accounted one of the beft of men ; yet he was accounted one of the beft of fcholars in his time. Mr. Leigh, The Eunuch was a profe- lyte, and his infa?its, if he had any, were to be taken in alfo. Philip comes to him, and he requires a confejjion of his faith^ becaufe he was a grown man. Yet had he had an irfant with him, he had had a right to this ordinance, after he believ- ed ; when by your opinion, it muft be caft out, becaufe not capable of actual believing. Now, I deny, that he that ad- min ifters the ordinance, muft always have an account of the perfon, whether he hath learned or not. Y^x.RulJel. I SUPPOSE Mr. Leigh for- got himfelf to talk of an Eunuch'?^ having :. children. English Baptists. 341 children. It puts me in mind of a florv, I lately heard, of a presbyteriaii minifter, that undertook in a fermon to prove in- fant baptifm ; and to that end, chofe this text for his purpofe, of Philips baptizing the Eunuch', and when he had infifted fome time upon it, he fpeaks after this man- ner to the people. Beloved, fays he, vi^hen you are gone, perhaps, you will fay, what is all this to the purpofe ? Here is not one word of infants in the text. It is true, fays he, there is not j but I will tell you how that comes in 5 had he had his wife and children with him, they had then been baptized^ as well as himfelf; but they were at a great diftance from him, and as foon as he came home, immediately he baptized them all. If thefe gentlemen know what an Eunuch is, then it is vain babbling. If they do not, let them go to the Grand Seignior ^ Seraglio and learn. Mr. Williams. We have plain direcftion for what I have faid. Philip faid to the Eunuch^ If thou believe ft with all thine hearty thou mayefl ; and accordingly he took an account of his faith. And in the commiffion, Go dfciple all nations^ baptiz- ing them. From whence it is evident, it was thofe they had ?nade difciples, that they were to baptize^ and therefore they muft know, whether they are difciples or no, before they muft adventure to baptize them. Z 3 Then 242 'The History of the Then Mr. Williams proceeded to a new argument. If infmitiy fays he, are incapable of denying themfelves for Chrift, then they are incapable of being made difciples of Chrift : But injants are incapable of de- nying themfelves for Chrift^ therefore they are i?2capable of being made difciples of Chrift. Mr. Leigh denied the fequel of the ma- jor. Mr. TFilliams proved it thus, If a per- fon cannot be a difciple^ unlefs he deny both relative felf, and perfonal felf, then the fequel is true : But i?2fants are not ca- pable fo to do y therefore the fequel is true. Mr. Leigh, Th is purely refers to grown ferfons', and by the fame argument you may fay, infaiits ?niiji not eaty becaufe it is laid in another place, he that cannot work, mujl not eat. yix. Williams, Nay, Sir, it is he that will not work, not he that cannot ; it is he that is able, and will not ^ for I hope you will provide for your parents, when by reafon of age, they are not able to work for themfelves. yix. Leigh. I WOULD know, whether infants are not as capable of believing in Chrift, as of coming to Chrift. Now they are faid to come, when their parents brought them 5 for Chrift fays, fiiffer lit- tle English Baptists. tie children to come unto me ; and it is moft probable, they were brought in the arms to Chrift : Why may they not be fliid to believe^ when they do not ciBually be- lieve, if imputatively they are (aid to come, when their parents brought them ? fo, why may they not be faid to beHeve imputatively, when their parents devote them to Chrift, although the children do not acflually believe, but only the pa- rents ? IS/ir, Williams, I deny the parents faith was ever imputed to the child ; prove it if you can. Here neither Mr. Leigh, nor any other perfon were able to do it. Dr. RuJfeL If there be no other rule left, to direct us how we are to worfhip God in this ordinance of baptifm according to the gofpel, but what is contained in the writings of the New Teftament ; then it mull of neceffity follow, that it be therein written, if fuch an account be any where to be found : But there is no other rule left to diredt us how we are to wor- fhip God in this ordinance of baptifm z.z- cording to the gofpel, but v/hat is con- tained in the writings of the New Tefta- ment 5 therefore it muft of neceffity fol- low, that it be therein wTitten, if fuch an account be any where to be found. Mr. Leigh. I hy it might be p'adtifed in thofe times, though not recorded in the New Teftament. Z 4 Dr. 34. 34+ 7^^ History of the Dr. Rii[[eL Will you grant, that it is not recorded in the New Teftament ? Mr. Leigh, We will fuppofe it, but not grant it. Dr, RiiJfeL The reafon why you fup- pofe it, is, becaufe you cannot prove it ; for you are not fo free of your concef- fions. Mr. Leigh. It is not recorded in the New Teftament what you pradtife ; that grown children of believers were baptized, I challenge you to give one injlance of any one^ born of believing parents, baptized at age. Dr. Ruffel I have called for one injlance from fcripture feveral times, of any one infant^ that was ever baptized^ and you have not been able to produce it. This . you now fpeak of is befides the matter we are upon, and is ufed on purpofe to divert us from our argument, and lead us to fomething elfe, that is foreign to it. Pray do you firft (hew us, where it is fo writ- ten in the New Teftament, that any one infant 'W2iS^ baptized \i you can; and then you ftiall hear what we have to fay. Mr. Leigh. These men talk much of • fcripture, and call upon us to produce fcripture for our baptizifig of inJmtSy as if they had abundance of proof for their practice. Nov/ let them give but one in- jlance of what is their pradice, viz. of Ofte perfon that was born a believer ^ and was bap-T English Baptists. 34^ baptized when he came to grown years, and I will give them the caufe. Dr. Rujfel, I will inftance in Conjlantine the great, whofe mother Helena was a chriftian, and yet he was not baptized^ till he was confiderably in years. Befides, I do not remember that there is any account in hiftory during the firft five hundred years, that any one of the fathers, or emi- nent bijhops of the church, that were born of chriftian parents, were baptized till they were about twenty or thirty years of age ; and if any of you know the contrary, I defire you would (hew it. Mr. Leigh, What do you tell us of the fathers ? we are not bound to abide by their teftimony. Mr. Williams. Was not the mother of our Lord a believer when Chrift was born? Mr. Leigh. What do you afk that queflion for ? every body knows that ? Mr. Williams. But do you believe it ? Mr. Leigh. Yes, I do believe it ; what then ? yi:. Williams. Then here is an inftance for you, from fcripture, of the child oi -a, believer^ that was a believer before he was born ', and yet he was not baptized, till he came to years 3 and this we can prove. Upon this the people fell a laughing at Mr. Leigh ; and his countenance chang- ed pale, and he was under fome feeming confternation of mind, fo that he could not *> 46 The History of the not prefently recover himfelf ; bat at lafl his fpirits rallied again, and then he fpake to this eiFedt. Mr. Leigh. Our difcourfe was ground- ed on the commiflion ; now, was this be- fore the commiflion, or after it? Dr. RuJeL I t is a miftake, Mr. Leigh^ we were not now upon the commiflion, but upon your queftion : And I think Mr. Willi ams hath given you a pertinent anfwer every way fuitable to your quefl:ion, and the challenge you made us ; and you are bound to take it. To which he made no reply. Mr. Leigh, I w i l l prove that fome infants are viflble church members from Matth, xix. 1 4. Suffer little children to come unto me y faith Chrifl:, and forbid thetn not ^ for of jiich is the kingdom of heaven. Dr. RiifJeL D o yoij bring this to prove that thefe children were baptized ? Mv. Leigh, No, I do not pretend to any fuch thing. 'Dr.Ruffel, What then do you bring it for ? Mr. Leigh. I bring it to prove, that infa?its are vijible church members, Mr. Williams. If infants are neither members of the univerfal viflble church, nor yet oi 2i particular confl:ituted church, then they are not members of the viflble church at all : but they are neither mem- bers of the univerfal viflble church, nor yet English Baptists. 345 yet of a particular conftituted church ; therefore they are not members of the vi- fible church at all. Mr. Leigh took no notice of this argument, but went off from it, and faid, infants are a part of a nation^ and therefore might be baptized, Mr. JVilliams, Tho' children are a part of a nation^ yet not of a nation 77wdified according to Chrift*s commiflion. Where- upon their 7noderator faid, Mr. Williams had but little academical learning. Mr. Williams replied, H e was warned by the word, to have a care of vain phi^ lofophy ; and prefently demanded what was the antecedent to the relative the?n^ in the commiffion ? The jnoderator making no anfwer, Mr. Williams faid, it was all nations difcipled. Upon this Dr. Rujfel and Mr. Williams did both defire them to produce one inflame for i)jfa?2t baptifm out of the word of God : And this they did very many times defire of them ; but 710 inftance was produced. At length Mr. Williams defired them in thefe words : Brethren, I would beg you to produce one infla7ice for infant baptifm ; it will refledt upon you if you do not : What will all this people fay when they are gone? fo many times one in/tafice defired ; fo many minifters here, and not oiie inftance pro- duced ; they muft needs conclude there was not one to be produced, Notwith- ftanding 348 T^e History of the ftanding this the minifters were all filent, and not a man did reply to it. Dr. RufJ'el. I f infants are capable to be made difciples of Chrift by the miniftry of men, without the ufe of reafon, then the beajis of the Jield are alfo capable ; but the beajis of the Jield are not capable : there- fore infants are not capable, Mr. Robin/on their moderator flood up, and threw himfelf about, making a noife like one in a delirious paroxifm^ and bid the people take notice that Dr. Rufel had rank'd their infants among the brute beafts-y and that, if they became of his opinion, they muft look upon them as dogs^ or catSy or hogs, &c. with much more of the fame fort of rhetoric, endeavouring all he could to enrage the multitude of unthink- ing perfons againft him, and put the people into a confufion. Dr. RuffeL Hold, Mr. Robinfon, I have already told you how great an efteem I have for your little infants, that I will ra- ther believe that all infants dying in their infancy are elefted, than I will conclude that any one of them are damned. I bring this to (hew the abfurdity of fuch a no- tion ; and you are bound to (hew the dif- parity, or confefs you cannot. Suppofe there were twenty or thirty new born in- fants in a room, and you (hould choofe out the moft able and learned perfon a- mongft English Baptists. mongft you to preach to them, in order to make them difcipleSy according toChrift's commiffion ; I believe he would have no better fuccefs than St. Anthony had, as the flory goes, when he took upon him to inftrud: the pigs ; or, as fome others have done, even popijh faints, who have took upon them to preach to the Jowls of the air, &c, of which I could furnifh you with divers inftances. But why fhould Mr. Robin/on think it flrange, that any body fhoald have fuch a conceit in their minds ? doth he not know that the church of Rome baptize things of an inferior na- ture ? for they baptize churches and bells. And if I had compared your pradlice to theirs of baptizing bells^ you had no rea- fon to complain, for they are both paflive in the adt ; only, if you will give credit to one of the fathers, viz, Augujiine^ the bells are upon that account xht Jitteji fub- je5fs, for they are wholly paffive; but, faith he, the little children are not fo, for they (hew their refiftance by their crying. And now I demand of any of you to take off the retortion, and (hew the difparity if you can. Upon this they were all filent, and none of them would undertake to fhew the difparity. Mr. Leigh. I t is time to proceed to the other queftion : Whether the ordinance of baptifm, as appointed by Chriil:, is to be 349 >po The Hi^roKY of the be adminiftred by dipping, plunging, or overwhelming only, and not otherwife ? Dr. RuJjeL The holy fcripture fhews us the right way of baptizing, as appoint- ed by Chrift : but it doth not (hew us that it ought to be done by fprinkltng y therefore fprinkling h not the right way of baptizing. Mx, Leigh. Sir, you muft bring in that dipping is abfolutely necelTary ; what do do you talk oi fprinkling for? Dr. Rupl. I HOPE you are not afhamed of your pracflice ; but if you will difown Jprinklmg to be the right way of baptizing, I am contented, I will not then infift upon it. Mr. Robin/on. We are not difcourfing upon that now ; you are to prove dippi?2g to be the o?ily way -, and you mnji and fiall prove it. Dr.Ruffel. Must and fhall! muft and fhall is for the king, and not for Mr. -R^?- binjon. If there can no inftance be given that ever the apoftles did baptize other- ways than by dipping, then ours is the right way of baptizing : but there can-te no inftance given that ever the apoftles did baptize other ways than by dipping ; therefore ours is the right way of bap- tizi7ig. Mr. Chandler. I can ftiew there is an- other way that it might be done, and not by dipping -, and that from the etymology of English Baptists. 3^1 of the word baptizo j for it fignlfies alfo to wajh, Dr.RuJfeL I remember "wh^it Aljledius faith in his Lexicon Theologicum. Having before been fpeaking about the etymology of that word, Illud BATrri^nv^ tantu7n figntfi" cat tmmcrgere^ non lavare^ niji ex confe^ queitti ', and therefore it fignifies to wajh^ only in a fecondary and remote fenfe ; becaufe things that are dipped may be faid to be waJJoed, But the proper and pri- mary fignification of baptizo^ is to dip^ for it comes from B^tcrT^; mergo^ immergo^ to dipy to phmge^ to overwhelm^ to dip into^ &c. Mr. Charidler. I own that b^ctt^ figni- fies mergo, immergo. But I can (hew great probability, that many in fcripture times, were baptized by pouring a little water on the face s and there is no certainty that dipping was ever ufed. Dr. RiijfeL How doth that appear ? Mr. Leigh, I T might be done other- ways than by dipping j and a probability is the moft you can pretend to for dipp- ing. I require you to prove that dipping was certainly intended in thofe places you bring for it ; and then I will prove that dipping was not intended, but only an ap- plication of water to the perfon. Dr. Rujfel. It is expreffed in Mark i. 9. yejus came from Nazareth 0/' Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan -, and John I iii. 23. ^2 The History of the iii. 23. And John was baptizing in Enon, near to Salim, becaufe there was much wa- ter there. It is from this apparent, that both Chrifi and John baptized by dipping the body in the water; elfe they need not have fought places, where had been a great plenty of water. And ABs viii. 38, 39. And they went both down into the water ^ both Philip and the Eunuch, a^id he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water ^ &c. Here we have an account, that both the adminijlrator and the per- [on to be baptized^ went both down into the water, and when they came there, he baptized him. And if Philip had not been to put iht Eunuch into the water, and co- ver him with it, why (hould they go both down into the water ? a little of it might have been brought up to them in- to the chariot, \i Jprinkling would have ferved the turn. After much pro and con about words to no profit, but the fubverting of the hear- ers, and a confufed jangling and noife, Mr. Williams, the prefbyterian minifter, fald, he thought there had been little faid to the purpofe. Upon which Dr. Rujfel faid, Mr. Williams, I think there hath been a great deal faid, more than hath been an- fwered. But if you are not fatisfied, we will wave all that hath been faid, and I will difpute it over with you, de novo, Mr, Williams (hrugged, and anfwered, No, English Baptists. 353 No, I am not very well. Upon which it was thought meet by them to put an end to the difputation. And Mr. Leigh^ after he had made a fpeech to thank the governor and the mayor for their civility to them, and the Baptijis had returned their thanks alfo, he then concluded in prayer, and fo difmilTed the affembly. It was between the hours of fix and {tvtn of the clock, when the difpute ended. It was about this time, that Mr. John Mr. John Pilkingtony a Roman catholic, of the Ben- Piikington diBtne order of Monks in the monaftery ^^'^"^ ^ of St. Edmu?id in Paris^ embraced the principles of the Baptijis, and was bap^ tized by the Rev. Mr. John Piggot, and received into his church. He wrote a Nar^ rative, containing the means and manner of his conviftion ; but before he was per- mitted to read it in the prefence of the church, Mr. Piggot addreffed himfelf to the auditory, and him, in the following words. * Chrijlian Auditors, ' I AM at this time to acquaint you, * that there is one prefent in this aflem- * bly, who having been educated in the ^ P^pifi religion, after many inward con- * fliftSjdoes profefs himfelf to be thorough- ' ly convinced of the errors he had imbib'd Vol. III. A a ' while 356 T^he History of the land^ &c. by which he drew upon him- felf that fwarm of enemies which foon after compofed the grand alliance. This hafty and unexpe(fted proceeding of France was fo refented by the king, that he imme- diately fent an exprefs to the lord Man^ chejler^ his ambaflador in France ^ to come directly away without taking leave ; and notice was given, by his majefty's com- mand, to Monfieur Poujjin, the French fecretary here, that he fhould immediately leave the kingdom. Much about the fame time, fays Mr. Lediard^ author of the Vol, I. Life of ]o\\n Z)^ < thig beggarly Frenchman^ as a certain * author calls him, departed, there was a * fcandalous paper printed, as it was fup- ' pofed by his order, intitled, Tloe French * Kings reafons for owning the pretended * Prince of Wales for King of England/ ' The nation was highly enraged at this in- dignity offered by France ^j and fhewed their refentment in the numerous addreffes dired:ed on this occafion to the throne, fiom all parts of the kingdom, full of loyalty and affedtion : That from the Eng- lijh Baptijls was as followeth. Loudon Hampton-Court^ Dec, 21. The follow- Gazettey J^g addfcfs from thcBaptiJl minifters in 1701.^^' and about the city of London^ v/as pre- fented ta his majefty by Mr. Stennet^ in- troduced by the right honourable the earl of Peterborough, To English Baptists. 357 To the King*s moft excellent Majefty, The humble addrefs of the Baptifl mini- fters in and about the city of LondoUy in behalf of themfelves, and their feve- ral congregations. May it pleafe your Majedy^ ■ ^ W E adore the divine providence that * has again bleffed this nation with your * royal prefence, and humbly congratulate * your majefty's fafe return: And as w& * cannot forget what difficulties and dan- * gers your majefly has generoufly encoun-* « tered, and glorioufly overcome, in de- * livering and protefting thefe kingdoms * from popery and arbitrary poiver^ fo we * conceive a juft indignation againft the * late perfidious and prefumptuous conduct ' of the French king \ who, not content * to enflave and perfecute his own people, * afpires to give kings and laws to other na- * tions, and has taken upon him to own ' and declare the pretended prince ofWaki ^ to be king of thefe realms, of which * your majefty is the only lawful and * rightful fovereign. ' We gratefully acknowledge your ma- * jefty's pious care, as the father of your * people, in fo feafonably recommending * to the late parliament the fettlement of ^ the fucceffion in i\\o protejiant line; and * we 358 n^e )lIi srOKY of the * we beg leave to affiire your majefty, thaC *- we fliall- always remember, as well the * facred ties of gratitude as the other fo- * lemn obligations we are under, particu- ' larly that of the ajj'ociation^ we formerly * fubfcribed, and fhall, in this critical junc- * ture, and on all other occafions, do all ' that becomes Englifimen and proteftants^ ^ in the ftations wherein the law permits * us to a6t, in the defence and fupport of ' your majefty's perfon and government, * under which we enjoy our civil and re- ^ ligious liberties. . .. 'That the great God, by whoin- ' kings reign, may influence your majefty's * councils, defeat the wicked defigns of all ' your enemies, give your majefty a happy * meeting with the reprefentatives of your * people ; grant your majefty a vigorous ^ health and long life, for the defence and * advancement of the proteftanf ' intereft, * and the liberties of Europe ; and at laft V condud: your majefty to a crown of im-; * mortal blifs and glory, is the hearty prayer ' of, Great Sir, Tour^ viajeflfs mcji loyal and Obedient Jul?je&s.^'l King William having perfeded his al- liances abroad, diflblved the parliament^ and fummoned a new one to meet Dec, 30, 1702. at the opening of which he made his laft moft memorable fpeech from the throne. English Baptises. 359 throne, which was extre^mly grateful to both hoiifes^ as well as the whole 7jation ; and was anfwered the following days by addreffes and refolutions, which (hewed how unanimous they were in their fenti- ments for revenging the affront offered the nation by France. I fliall only mention one refolution of the houfe of commons of the jo^^ of ya?2iia7j^ viz. ^ That an *■ humble addreis be prefented to his ma- * jefly, that he will be gracioufly pleafed * to take care that it be an article in the * feveral treaties of alliance with his ma- * jefty, and other potentates, that no peace * Ihall be made with France until his ma- * jefly and the nation have reparation for * the great indignity offered by the French ^ king, in owning and declaring the pre- ' tended prince of Wales king of England^ ■ Scotland, and Ireland! I N purfuance of the feveral loyal refo- lutions of both houfes, correfpondent to his majefty's moft gracious intentions, for the honour, interefl, and fecurity of the nation, all neceffary preparations were making for a neceffary war ; but before it broke out, it pleafed God to take away his majefty, and put an end to his glorious reign, which ended March 8, 1702. I T was about this time Mr. David Rujfen publiflied his book, intitled, Funda^ fnentah without a foundation ; or, a true pBure of the Anabaptifls. Mr. Stennef 2 foon 360 5^^ History of the ibon anfwered him with fo much learn- ing and folid reafoning, that his antagonift never thought fit to make any reply. Fage 20. 'In this performance, fays the author * of his life, Mr. Stennet fhewed himfelf * a thorough mafter of the controverfy ; * and tho' he had to do with an adverfary * whofe plain defign was to reproach the * primitive mode of baptifm^ and to expofe * the characters of thofe who adhered to * it, as well as their principles \ and who * had (hewn as little regard to truth as * common decency, yet he conduced his * anfwer in fuch a manner, as not to dif- * cover the leaft appearance of anger or * refentment throughout the whole work ; * and all along maintained that eafy and * pleafant temper, mixed with fine turns ^ of wit, which was fo natural to him. The End of theTm^J> Volume- APPENDIX. mmmmmmmm's^mmmmm N U M B. I. ^n orthodox Greed; I. Article. Of the EJJ'ence of God. |^^£E verily believe, that there is Deut "^"^ 3IM but oh e, only livins: VI. /}, .vi-' 1-'^ , --, o and true. ^^ ...^ -^'^ WlX ^^0^^ ^^^ofi Ibbliftencc is inL;^'\^ ^g^ and of himi^lf; whofb eflenceLod.'ii^ H. cannot be comprehended by ?<"• c'^^l^i'. «;• any but himfclf; a moll pur-, fpiritual,^.^^^- V '3- or invilTble fubftance ^ who hath an abfo-f^^^" '''• '^' lute, independent, unchangeable^ and />//f-Col. i. i^. 7nte being ^ \^ithout matter or form^Adl? xv i. ^8.' body, parts, or pairiona. Lul^.xxiv.2 9, i-*or i am the Lord^ 1 Crja'rige not ^ G(?^ ts f^j^^^ j,, , <7 fpirit. Now unto the ktfig etcrnaly tm-i Tim. \.''ij. fiioHcAy imnJibU^ the only ivife God^ be /^o-Deut.xiv.12, A nout ^ A9TENDIX. mm and glory ^ for ever 'anil ever^ Amen* Te heard d" Voice^ hut faw no fimilitude. II. A R T I c L E/ Of the divine Attributes in God, E'very particle of being in heaven and earth, leads us to the infinite being of beings, namely God, who is limplicity, John V. 26. ^1^, Qi;i2 mere and perfed ad^' without M t " ^' ^8 ^^^ compolition, and an immenfe fea of Exod. vi. ?. perfections ; vyho is the only eternal be- Ifaiah xl. zS.ing, everlafting without time, whofe im- Pf. xc. 2. menfe prefence, is always every where xxxix. 7. prefent, having immutability without any Heb. VI 17. -s . • 1 • -I* • 1 James i. 17. alteration m being, or will; in a word, A4aL n 6. God is infinite, of univerlal, unlimited, Num.::xiii.i9and incomprehev/ibk perfeSfio?!^ moil holy, Lev. XX. 26. y^\{Q ;^||i 2j^^ o;ood : whofe vsrifdom is Pr. cxix. 68. "^^ lultice, whole jultice is his holineis, Deut.xxxii.4. and whofe wifdom, iuftice, and holinefs, Exod.xxxiv'6is himfelf Mod merciful, gracious, faith- iraiahxli.4. fy| ^^^ |.j.yg ^ £-^11 fountain of love, and jobxxxiil.12 ,' . , r c\ ^ ^ • 1 ■ u I Kin-^^sviii.^^'"^ ^^ ^^^^^ periect, fovcfeipj^ droine willy 27. ^ the ^/p^r7. of fapreme being. Pf. cxlv. iii. Is it trucy indeed^ that God will dwell on the earth ? Behold^ the heaven^ and heaven of heavens^ camwt contain thee : how much lefs this houfe which I have built* Great is the Lordy and worthy to be praifed^ and his greatnefs is incomprehenfbk. IIL AT 'P E N D I X. 3 III. Article. Of the holy Trinity. In this divine, and infinite being, or unity of the Godhead, there are three i John v. 7. perfons, or fubliffcences, the father, theJo*^" ^Y:.26. word, or fon, and the holy fpirit, of one p^^^'/"^"^*^ 3* fubftance, power, eternity ^ and will, each iMatt.^iif. 16 having the whole divine elfence, yet the 17. eilencc undivided. The father is of none, Jo^n y. 17. neither begotten nor proceeding; : the fonp,^^' ^* V . 11 u .^ r ^1 r? 1 Matt. XVI. 16. IS eternally begotten oi the lather; the xii. 22. holy ghoil is of the father, and the fon,Heb. i. 3. proceeding. .AH infinite^ without begin-Gen. i. 2, 26. ning, therefore but one God, who is ^>/- ^^'^ ^- ^• divijibkj and not to be divided in nature,"; Cor xn' 6 or being, but diltinguilhed by feveraln. properties and perfonal relations; and weJo^^^ xiv. n. worlhip and adore a Trinity in Unity, and ^J'^?^"/-/''^^* a Unity in Trinity, three perfons, and but ^ p^'^^^' ,|- one God'^ which dodlrine of the Trinity, 2C0r.xiii.14. is the foundation of all our communion i John v. 7. with God, and comfortable dependance^''^'"^-- ^^*^^^^' on him. ^^' ydnd there are three that bare record in heaven^ the father^ the ivord^ cwd the holy fpirit^ and thcfe three are one. Baptizing them in t];e name of the father^ fon^ aiid holy Gbofi^ &c. A 2 IV, ^ A^P 7 E N D 1 X. IV- Article. Of the divine Nature^ or Godhead of Chrift* Johnv. 20. We confefs and believe, that the Son i. 1, 2, 3- of God, or the eternal word, is very and Hcb. i. 3. true God, having his perfonal fubiiflance 1 Cor. XV. 1 6,^^^,^^ father alone, and yet for ever of Col. i- 2, 9. himfelf as God ; and of the father as the Mic. V. 2, fon, the eternal fon of an eternal father ; Gnolam, or E- ^^^ j^^^^ \^ beginning. There was never Mat?ii 6. '*^"7 ^^^^^ ^^^^"^ ^^ ^^^^ ^*^^' "^^ ^^^^ ^^ Proviviii. 22, dignity, not other in fubftancc, begotten 23, 35. without diminution of his father that be- Phil. ii. 6. g^f.^ of one nature and fubllance with the father; begotten of the father, while the father communicated wholly to the fon, v/hich he retained wholly in himfelf, Johnxvi. 2 7,becaule both were infinite, without in- 28. equality of nature, without divilion of i. 18. elfence, neither made, nor created, noM Ifaiah^xl. ^'-^ ^^^^p^^^ t)ut begotten before all time '^ not ^cv.\'.^y\i.'^" '^ictaphorical, or fubordinate God; not Phil. ii. 6. a God by ofice, but a God by nature, co- John X. 30. Qq,ial coeJJintialy and coeternal with the Tohfxvii^' father and the holy gholi "" vUl'sS. Jefusfaid unto them, Verily, verily, I fay Heb. xiii. 8. unto you, before Abraham was, Iam> yefus Luke XX. ^^Qj^.:ji fjjQ fame 'yefterday, and to day, and for ever, I)avid therefore calleth him Lordy how ts he then his fon P AT "P E R D 1 a; V. Article. Of the fccond ^erfon of the holy trinity ^ taking our pejh. We believe that the only begotten fon i John v. 7. of God, the fccond perfon in ^^^ f^cred^!^^^^^^^^^ Trifiity^ took to himfelf a true, real, and|°j|^ei'2j^32. flejhly hody^ and re afon able foul, being con-Heb. ii. 16, ceived in the fiilneis of time, by the holy 17- gholt, and born of the virgin Mary, and >^"^^^- 34. became very and true man like unto us in^vi^tt xxvi. all things, even in our infirmities, fm38. only excepted, as appeareth by his con- Luke ii. 6, 7. ception, birth, life, and death. Hewas '-J^- 17 111 c ^\ Matt.1.1 0,20. of a v.'oman, and by the power 01 the ^^xiii.25. holy ghoit, in a fupernatural and miracu-Gal.iV 4. lous manner, was formed of the only Heb. iv. 15. feed, ox Ciihftance of the virgin Mzry, in "-.U.H- , . 1 -^n ^ rs 1111 r X.1 Luke 11. 52. v/hich refped he hath the name ot ^^^q^X.w^.^. fon of man, and is the true fon of DavU Rom. i. 3, 4. the fruit of the virgin^s womb, to that Luke iii. 23, end he midit die for ^J^;/7. y-' .. ,^ ^ IletD. vn. 14. Gen. xxvi. 17. Heb. ii. i6. VI. Article. Of the union of the tivo natures in Chyi/l. We believe the perfon of the fon of God, being a perfon from all eternity ^x-H^b. 11. 14, ifting, did aifume the moft pure nature of J^^c^.^^,^ ^,^^ man, wanting all perfonal exiiting of its ov/n, into the unity of his perfon,^ or / A 3 God- 6 AT T E N D IX. Godhead, and made it his own ; the . properties of each nature being preferved, and this infeparahh and indijfohahk union of both natures, and was made by the Matt. i. 20. holy ghoft, fa?i5iifying our nature in the Luke 1.35. virgin's womb, without change of either j^j^'JJ' J" ^2/^'nature, or mixture cf hoth^ and of two jTim.iii. 16. natures is one Chrij}^ God-man^ or Lmna- ii. 5. iiuelj God with us. Which myllery ex-^ ceeds the conception of men, and is the wonder of angels, one only mediator^ ye/us Qmfly the fon of God • VII. Article. Of the commimication cf'J^roperties. John X. 30. We believe that the two natures in V. 26, 27, Q-^y>ijj^ continue Hill diflind in fubftance, Hohn iv. q. properties, and adions, and remain one Matt. ix. 6. and (he fame Chrift : For the' properties John vii. 42. of the Godhead, cannot agree to the properties of the manhood, nor the /)rc'- |)^r/"/^5 of the manhood, to the properties of the Godhead ; for as the Godhead or divine nature cannot third, or be hungry, no more can the manhood be in all, or many places at once. Therefore, we bc- lievo, the Godhead was neither turned nor transfixed into the manhood, nor the manhood into the Godhead, but both, the divine nature keepeth entire all his elien-^ tial properties to its felf, fo that the hu- manity is neither omnipotent, omnifcient, nor omniprefent : And the human alfo keepeth ATT END IX, J keepeth his properties, tho' often thatAasxx. 28. which is proper to the one nature, is |q?^'^'|"' ^' fpoken of the perfon denominated from j^^!^'.!^ ii ,q^ the other, which mufi be underflood by the figure fynecdoche^ viz. a part being taken for the whole, by reaibn of the union of bot^ natures into one perfon. Hereby perceive we the Jcve of God^ ^ and fon, to whom with the father and fon, j^^-^j^ ^j g^^^ three perfons, and but one eternal and Aftsxxviii!' * almighty God, be by all the holts of^s, 26. faints and angels, afcribed eternal glory, ^^^^^^^v*' 3- and Hallelujahs. Amcii, IX. Article. Of ^redejiivation and Ekclicjj, The decrees of God arc founded on Ifaiah xlvi. •^infinite wifdom, and lituate in ^^*^^^"^*^OS]5°^5^ and are crowned with infallibility, as to ''^xvi"i\5 the event. Now predeilination unto life, Eph. i. \f. is the everlafting purpofe of God, where- Aiatt.xxv. 34, by before the foundation of the world j '^^"^•.^' 9- vvas laid, he hath conibmtly decreed in-'^'''^^!,"g3Jg_ A 4 his 8 ATTEND IK Eph. i. 4. fiis coimfel fecret to us, to deliver ^n^' ^y 33 frorxi curfe and damnation, thofe whom j^ *^g 'he ham ciiofen mChriJi^ and bring them s Their. 1/4. to e\'crlafting falvation, as velTels made Tit. i. I. to honour, thro* yefus Chrifl^ whom he iPet. 1. 19, cled:cd before tlie foundation of the Jfaiah xlii. 1 ^^ ^rld, and is called God's eleft, in Matt. xii. i^, whom Ills foul dchghteth, bcuig the 18. _ lamb foreordained, and fo prcdcftinated T fk^' ^' --t' ui^t^ t^"^^ fuperlarive glory of the hypo- ^^ " Itatical uni )n. And this not for any fore- I Pet. i. 19 feen holinefs in his human nature, hth all John i. 14.. that did flow out of the hypoftatical Heb u 16 |_]nion, being elected of mere grace, as 1 Tim ?'q ^^^ ^^'^ ^^"^^ members of his myltical body* Pf.lxxxix.23, And God the lather gave this his elected ^^ / and beloved fon^ for a covenant to the Johniir 16. people, and faid, tLit bis covenant (hall 10 iq^^' ^' P^^^^ i^^fi ivhh hrm'^ and bis feed [Jj all en^ ilom. iii. z^,^^>'^/oy e'ocT, And albeit God the father ^5. be the cfiicient caufe of all good things ^".".'- 3- he intended to us, yet ChrHl is the merit- Et5h^ir s^^^"& caqie of all thofe good things God iQ, ' ' intended to us in election, ^VJC^. repen- Heb. vii. [4. tance, faith and linccre obedience to -^Xx X. 5,6,^^. God's commandments. And fo God the ?'h T c' ^^^^^^^ f^^^^ he might bring about the; Gen", ii. 21, eternal falvation of his cled:, chdfe the ef^. man Cbri/}^ with rcfped: to liis human iv. I, V 5. iq.'' ' ' ^i vvoipan, made under the law, to redeem' L'jice i. 3c;. thofe that were under it, that we might 2 Tim. ii. 5. receive the adoption of fons. And thoV Heb. .X. 15. Q, w^ ^^^^^ from \JrIam, as Eve did, vttr^^ ^-,.. not hyJchinij as tain djd, vtz. by natu- ral nature, out of the fallen lump of mankind, which in tlie iulnefs of time, he made of A 'P T E N D I X: p ral propagation. Therefore without any I^aiab xlix. 6, lUin of lin, and this fecond Jdam^ being ^^- .. bj God's eternal decree, excepted out of^^j^^i ly'ir' the firll coveni?nt, as being neither God , cor. i\. 13! the father, who was jultly offended, nor i ThefT. i. 5. yet fintiil Jdam^ who* had offended himJo^""^- *^'- in brcakino; of it. Therefore ChrUL the \ — r 1 f r r 1-^1-^' Rom. 111. 30. lecond Jlaa??iy was a ht nieaiator between Q^liii.g, n, God and man, to reconcile both in him Phil. iii. 9. felf, by the Diedding and fprinkhng ofR^n^- '^^ ^»^' his blood, according to Gods eternal purpofe in electing of Chrijf^ and of ail that do, or Ihall believe in him, which eternal election or covenant tran faction between the fither and fon, is very con- liilent with his revealed will in the ^lA^-^ pel ; for we ought not to oppofe the grace of God in eleding of us, nor yet the grace of the fort in dying f^r all men, and \o for U3, nor yet the grace of the holy ghoft in propounding the gofpel, and pcrfuadmg us to believe it. For until we do believe, the effects of God's difpleafure are not taken from us ; fjr the wrath of God abideth on all them that do not be- lieve in Cbriji ; for the aclual declaration in the court of confcience, is by faith as an Inftrument, not for faith as a meriting cauic : kx Cbriji is the meriting caufe of eternal life to all that believe, but not of God's will to give eternal life to them, nor yet of God's decree to fave us, albeit we are chofen in Clriji befor'c the founda- tion of the world. Now laith is necef-i John n- , fary as the way of our Icilvation, as anin-'^* '9-. ilrumental caufc : but the adive and paf-^t'^' ^'' ^' i , John :. ii,i„'. hve ic AT T E N D I X. A6ls xiii. 39. live obedience of Chrifi^ is neceilary as XX. 28. ^ rneiiting caufe of our iiilvation ^ there^ •Rom.^v.'o^ fore God's eternal decree doth not op- l^c. * ' pofe his revealed will in the gofpel, it John vi. 40. being but one, not two diverfe or contrary iTim.n 3»4-wills. For his decree asking, dccreeth Pf cTv.^s .'^'^^^^ event, or what fhall be done infallibly; Job xlii. 2. but his command as a lawgiver, iheweth Jfaiahxxxiii. not what Ihall be done, but what is the ^-- . duty of man to do, and leave undone^ l?^l'v;;^^^ Therefore God hath, we believe, decreed, Mark XVI. ID. , .- • , ,• ' ■\ r\ - Aasxvi. 31. that taith as the meanvS, and lalvation as Ifaiahxiv.24.the end, {hall be joined together, that Pi. cxv. 3. where one is, the other muft be alfo, for xxxii. II, ij. is written, he that helieveth fiall be faved'^ jxxxix. 30, al^o^ believe in the Lord yefus Cbrift^ and 31, ^r. thou fh alt bcfavecL Now here is a great mylierv indeed, for God fo adminilteth his abfolute decree tliat he leaveth us much place for an efficacious conditional difpenfation, as if the decree itfelf were conditional. X. A R T I c L E. Of ^Vreterition or Reprobation. We do believe, that known unto God ftre all his works from eternity ; therefore Aits XV. 1 8. he forefaw jldams fall, but did not de- cree it, yet forefeeing it in his eternal counfel and wifdom, did elect and chule Jefus Cbnl}, and all that do or ihall be- lieve in him, out of that fallen lump of mankind. And hath nianifcfted his love and grace by J ejus Chrijf^ his eled or be- ■ loved J'PTENDIX. IX loved foil, thiV the gofpel means, to all ; and hath given us his word and oath, to aifure us that he delires not the death of the wicked, but rather that they repent, Ezek. xviii. or return to him and live, and if any do^a* 3 2-. periili, their dellrudion is of themfelves ^^^f^'^HL 9! and hath decreed to punifh all thofe jam.i.13,14. wicked, or ungodly, difobedicnt, and un-2 Theff. i. 9, believing or impenitent Inmers, that have,^°- "• '2, or lliall defpife his grace, love, and woings, or drivings of the holy ghoil, or long-Hcb. x. 26, fuffering, whether by a total and conti-^"^- nued rejed:ion of grace, (n' by an iiniver-I^^- ^^■^- 33- fal and hnal apoftacy ; and fuch perfons, ^^^*' ^^' fo living and dying, Ihall be punifhed Vfark ix. 45, with everlailing dcltruction ill hell fire, 4^^ with the iallen angels, or devils, and ihall-^" ^ ^^ be fixed in an irrecoverable Itate of dam- nation, irrevocable under the wrath oiA^att.xxv.41, God, they being the pr^oper obje6ts of it ; 4^. and fliall remain under his InexpreilibleRev. xx. 1 :;, wrath and juftice, in inconceivable tc ment, foul and body, to all eternity. :or" 1 4. XI. Article. Of Creatioiu In the beginning it pleafed god the fither. Gen. i. i. fon, and holy ghoil, according to his eter-^^^"^-.^^'- 3^ nal, and immutable decree, for the mani-p.j^i; ^j" ^ ' feflation of the glory of his eternal power, Col. i. 16. wifdom, and goodnefs, to create, or make Gen. v. i, 2. cut of nothing:, the world, and all things., "• ^- I • 1 Alutt X 2<> therem, whether vifible or invilible, and xxii.-:. — . created man male and female, with aR-rv. vIq]' ficihlvL'-i^'-^xiii.46, 12 A'P "P E N D I X. Aas.yii. 59. fleihiy body, and a reafonable, and invir Gen. 1.27. fit)l(?, or fpirkual, angcUral, and immor- Eph. iv.' 24. tal foul, made after the image of God, Rom. ii. 14, in knowledge, righteoufncfs^ and true !?• ,_ holinefs, having the law written in his Ecclervii 29. i^e^rt and power or liberty of will to fulfil Gen. 11! 6 . ' ' ^ , , / .— -i- ii. 16, 17.^^ yet mutable, or uuaer a poliiDJiity of tranfgrefFing, oeuig left to the liberty of their own will, w^hich was fubjed: to change ; and alfo gave them command not to eat of the tree of knowledge oi. good and evil, and while they kept this^ command, they enjoyed moil happy com- munion with God^ and had dominiorr over the creatures. And all this wonder-*^ ful work of creation, both in heaven and^^ in earth, was finilhed in the fpace of fiX| "' days, and all very good, and altho' reafori. cannot conceive nor comprehend it, yet God's word harh plainly revealed it, and faith believes it. XII. A ^T I c L E. Of Droine providence. Heb. 1*. 3. The Almighty God, that created all Jobxxxviii. things, and gave them their being,^by I'- ' his infinite power and wifdom, doth fuf- xxvi. 7, ti^r. -^^ ^^^^ uphold, and move, dired, dif- ^^^ " poic, and govern all creatures and things, Matt. X. 19, from the greateit' to the Icaft, according <^/- ^ to the couniel of his own good will and PI lxy.8,cfr i^^l'^ j-Q,, j^-g Q^, ^^ glory- and his crca- Gen. 31. ?n . 1 . M tures good. XIII. AT 7 E N D I X. 13 X!ll Art 1 c l e. Of the firjl Cevenanto The firll: covenant was made between God and man, before man had linned iri eating of the forbidden fruit, in which covenant God required ol' man perfe6t obedience to all the commands thereof, and in cafe he did fo obey he promifedHof. vi. 7. to be his God. And on the other p^irt^p^^ ''"':^'* man promifed to perform entire and per-^^^^^j^^^j'*^ fed obedience to all God's holy com- ^* mands in that covenant, by that ftrength wherewith God endowed him in his hrll' creation ; by the improvement of which he might have attained unto eternal life without faith, in the blood of the media- tor of the new covenant of grace ; but he finning againlt this covenant, which conliiled in two roots, viz. To Jove God ^-Matt. xxii. iJove all things ; and his neighbour as him-^^-^l^ 4®. felf., it being ;the fubilance of that lawf^"'' ''■ H» wifich was afterwards written in twoo'Jn. iii. 12. tables of ftone, and delivered unto Mofes\'>^. upon mount 5/;/.r/, and fell under the jufl^e'^it- ^'■^'^^' fcntcnce of eternal death, which was thcp^'j^^j^' ^'• punifhment that God had appointed for r^x i' 20^. the breacli of it. And under this righte-js. ous judgment of God, Adam and his na- tural pollcrity, had for c^'er remained, as the fallen Angels do, had not God of his infinite grace ami l,)vc, pro\:ded -hi- f)n', to take unto himf^lf our nature, and ib be- •\^"^- ^- ^^' came a fit n\i;diator between God the fa-gp^jl^ ^.■ 14 A T T E N D 1 X. ther, who was offended, and man, who had offended him in breaking his holy law and covenant. XIV. Art I c l e. Of the fall of man^ of bis fiu^ and of the funifhmcnt thereof* The firil man Adam^ in eating volun- tarily of the forbidden fruit, incurred the curfe of God upon Himfelf, and all his pofterity, that came of him by natural Rom. V. 12, ^ ^ '. . I J r • •-- 1 14. propagation, niiiz, corporal and IpinLual Gen. iii. lo, death, in body and foul eternally; but 12. this covenant was not only made with Eph. 11. 1,3. i^-j^^ i^yj. ^^ith his feed alfo, which fliould \lT\i'' ^^' defcend from his loins by natural genera- Heb. vii. 9, tion ; he ftanding as a publick perfon 10/ in the ftead of all mankind. And, as St^ Pf. Ii. 5. '^aul faith, Z^y h'lni came fin^ and death hy^ Rom. vii. 7.' fi"^ ^^- ^"^'^^ deprived himfelf, and all James i. 14! *^his pofterity, of that original righteouf- nefs, which God created him in. XV. Article. Of or I gin a ly or birth ^ fin. Rem. vii. 21. Original iin, is the fault and corruption ' Gen. vi. 5. of ti.e nature of every man, that naturally '^^' ^-.A^- defcendeth from Jdam by natural genera- Q°|^'^"\^^* tion, by means of which, man has not Jer. xvii. 9. only loil that original righteoufnefs, that Pf.li. 4, 5. God created him in, but is naturally in- Jobxiv 4. <^^i[ned to all manner of evil, being con-» AT T E N D 1 X. 15 ceived in fin, and brought forth In inl- 2 C0r.xv.22. quity ; and^ as St. Vaul faith, the y^^/^Ro^-vi. 23, lufteth againfi the fpirit. And therefore 9jj^";"- ^7- every man juitly deferveth God's wrath,, it. l\i v. ^6.* and damnation. And this concupifence,Gal. iii. 10. or indwelling lull, remaineth even in the ^^"^"^ '^'^'- i7» regenerate, that they cannot lov^e nor^^'.?^' obey God perfectly m this life, according GaL'iiil^al^' to the tenour of the firfl covenant. 22. Matt. xii. 33, XVI. Article. Of the new covenant of grace. The firil covenant being broken by Deut. ::xvii. mans difobedience, and by his lin, he was ^6. excluded from the favour of God, and^p''?^* eternalUfe, in which deplorable condition Tohriii!''i6! of his, God being plealed, out of l:is/m jer. xxxi. 3*1, grace and love to fillen man, in order to 32. his recovery ouc of this linful and de^^^"^' "'* ^^' pIoraMe cHatCj hath freely offered him aGluii.21,22. fecond, or a new covenant of grace, Rom. iii. 31. which new covenant of grace is "Y^/7/jKeb. viii. 7. Chrljfy ill remiiTion of fins, thro' faith'' in p^"' '"•. ^^'* his blood, which God hathpromifedtOKph.'r^;^^* give to all them tliat do obey and fubmitPf. xx. 3*. to the conditions of this covenant, whichAdsx. 43. covenant of grace, and eternal falvation i"- i9- annexed to it, is freely and fully offered ii'j^Js.' unto all men, upon the terms of the gof-iMark. i. 15.* pel^ viz. repentance and faith. And theGaJ. iii. n, ■benefits of this covenant, by God's free !^- grace, thro' the redemption that Is inj'^'^nT 6^^"' Jefus Chrijiy whom God' has fet forth to Rom. iii. 23, be a propitiation thro' faith in his blood, ^"V. to i6 AT T E N D I X. Ads X. 43. to declare his righteoufnsfs for there- in, xciii. ii-miilion of iins that are paft thro' the for- ^"""^'iii ^20 bearance of God, that he might be juit, Gal. iii. 8. ^nd the JLiilKier of him that ibeUeveth in ii. 16. yefus^ Therefore, vve conclude, that a Rom. V. 10, j^-^an is juftified by faith, without the deed.^ J9- X-.4' ^^f the law ; for by faith we receive that 2Cor/v. 21. righteoufnefs that the law, or the lirft 1 Cor. i. 30. covenant, required of the lirft Adam ; which righteoufnefs Cbrift hath fulfilled in our nature which he took of the vir- gin Mary^ by his adive obedience, and is, by God's free donation, made over to us by imputation ^ for he hath made him to us wii'dom, righteoufneft and fanitifj- cation. For as by one man's difobe- dience, many were made fmners, lo by the obedience of one, that is Ghriji^ fhall niany be made righteous. For Chrijt hath not only fulfilled the fanction of the law, viz. To love God with all his heart, and his neighbour as himfelf, but hath" Cal. ili. 13. alfo voluntarily fuffered the curfe of the I Pet. ii. 24. law, being made a curfe for us, that we Ifa. liii. 6, 7, j^]g|^l- receive the blelTing o^ Jhrabam.y p1,;i w -^ 9, and the piomife of the fpiriC Tthro' Gal. iii. 13, iaith m his blood. And now, albeit the 14. cflential righteoufnefs of Chrift^ as he Heb. vii. 26. -g QqJ cc^^^X with his father, be not im- Rom. v!'iV.' pu^^^ "^^^^ ^^^ "o^ yet his perfonai Gal. iv.6, 7. righteoufnefs, as he was or is man, only, Rom. iv. 3, 4, yet w^e believe his mediatorial rightcouf^ ?^3/^V.-25'2^-nefs, as God man, is imputed, reckoned, or made over to us, upon the terms of this new covenant of grace ; and fo being Nullified by his grace, we are thes^eby ma(ie Tit. 111. . i. 2. ATTENDIX. 17 made heirs according to the hope of e- ternal life : for, as St. ^Paul faith, If right eoufnefs co^ to chufe and ordain the Lord%/^j ChriJLl}\ ... ,^ his only begotten Ion, according to thepf ixxxix.28. covenant made bi^tween them both, to be cix. 10. the alone mediator between God and Gal. iii. 19, man, viz. God the father, who was hy^" ^ ^^ Adam^ lin juflly offended, and Ada7n^ ' xii. 24. our common parent, the perfon offend- 1 Tim. ii. 5. ing. Now in order to reconcile God toJ^^^^- 33- man, and man to God, who were at ^ZlJiTus^t: diftance, Chrift Jefus^ the fecond perfonQal. iii. 16.* in the trinity, being very God, of the Gen. iii. 15. fame fubflance with his father, did, when^^^^on.xvii. the fulnefs of time was come, take unto ^^' him maifs nature, with all the eflential properties, and common infirmities. Tin only excepted, being made of a woman, of the feed of Abraham and David ; and altho' he came Irom Adam^ and had tru- ly the nature of man, j^et not by Adam ; and the perfon of Chri^ took our nature into union with the divine nature, but he did not take the perfon of Adam which finned, therefore we believe he was neither Luke i. 35. the covenantee, nor yet the covcnanter,f^^t». vil. 26. and lo, by confequence, neither the cre-j^^^'^;-'^.^' diror nor the debtor. And being con- vii. aij^irV. B cerned I x8 AT T E N D 1 X. Eph. ii. 14. cerncd by this office or appointment of the pr. xUi. I, 6.£^^j^^j- j-Q make peace, it plainly appears, I Pet,!. 1 9, 20.^1^^^ he is the only Ht mediator between i. 9. ^ God and man, who is very God, and very f. xlv. 7. man ^ yet one Chrill, who was fand:ified, ^aiahlxi. i. ^nd anointed with the holy fpirit above Col. 11. 3 ' meafure, and was fuperlatively and ad- Tohn v! 22, mirably fitted for, and called unto this 27. office by his father, who put all judg- Rom. X. 4. ment into his hand, and power to exe- 2Cor. v.2i.^^^^ the fame, and he willingly under- Lukexxii.44,too^ ^^^^ f ime ; and being made under 45. the law, did perfectly fwlfill or keep it, Ifaiahliii. 10, and underwent the puniiliment due to us, ^Pet^^'i which we fhould have fuifered ; our fm, Matt.' xxvh. a^d the puniHiment of it, being reckoned 46. or imputed to him, he being made a curfe xxvi.37,38.for us, and underwent and trod the wine- Afts xiii. 28,pj.g^g ^^ Y\\s father's wrath for us, in do- Luke xxiv. 7. ^^^'ous pangs and agony of foul, and pain- John xx. 25, ful fufFerings in his body, was crucified, 2?. dead, and buried, or remained in the Hate Aasi. 9, io,q£ ^YiQ dead, yet faw no corruption, Markxvi.ig.^^^^ on the third day he arofe from the Rom. viii.34. dead, with the fame body in which he Matt. XXV. fuffered, with which he alfo afcended, |i' ^^- and there fittcth at the right hand of his ^ e , IX. 14, ^^^Y-\Q,Y^ making interceffion for his faints, and iliall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world. And the fame Lord yefus^ by his perfedt obedience to the whole law, and facrifice of himfelf, which he, thro' the eternal ll[-)irit offered up unto God the father, hath fully fatif- fied the jultice of God, and reconciled him to us ; and hath purchafcd an ever- lafting JT T E N D I X. 15) iaftlng inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all thofe that the father hathEph. ii. 14, given unto him, and now, by a conti-"^^- nued ad of interceffion in heaven, doth J p^" {^2"^^* apply the benefits he hath purchafedpjeb. vii.'i".* unto the eledt. And in this office of Ads iii. 22. mediator, he hath the dignity of three P^xlv. 5, ^r. offices, viz. Prieft, Prophet, and King : A'^^i^^^^'^'"' all which offices are necelfary for the benefit of his church, and without which we can never be faved. For, in refpedt of our ignorance, we Hand in need of his prophetical office, and in refpedt of our alienation from God, and imperfed: fervices, and God's ixjrath and jujtice, we ftand in need of his prieflly office, to reconcile God to us, and us to God ; and in refpedt of our bondage to Jin and Satan, and averfe- nefs to return to God, \sq need his kingly office to fubdue our enemies, and deliver us captives out of the kingdom and power 01 fin, and preferve us to his heavenly kingdom. And thus, in2Tim.iv.i8. our nature, he living the life of the <^'ol. i. 13,14. law, and fuffering the penalty due to^^^-'^*^^' us, continually prefents us at the throne of grace ; fo is a moft won- derful and compleat mediator fov his c led. JD - XVIII ao^ A'P T E N D I X. XVIII A p. T I C L E. Of Cbrifi dying for all mankM. Rom. V. 8. God the father, out of his royal bounty, Matt. XX. 28. and fountain of love, when all mankind Rom. viii. 3. ^vas fallen by lin, in breaking of the firft Ezdi.^xviii.' covenant of w^orks made with them in 23. ' ' * jidam^ did chufe jefus Cbrifty and fent Heb. ii. 9. him into the world to die for Adain^ or ijohnii,2. fallen man. And God's love is mani- i^ljm. 11. 3,£^^ to all mankind, in that he is not Heb. X. 12, willing, as himfelf hath fvvorn, and abun- i^c. dantly declared in his word, that mankind Markxvi.i6.i]^ould perifh eternally, but would have all ^-rkiy '^^* ^o be faved, and come to the knowledge of I 1 neli. 1. c, , , ^ A '*-t 1 ■ n 1' ^ - If 5^ y^ the truth. And Chrtjt died lor ah men, John. v.39,40- and there is a fufficiency in his death and Matt, xxiii. i-nerits for the fins of the whole world, ^'''xxiv 12 ^^^^ '^'^^^^ appointed the gofpel to be Aasxiii.46, P^^^^'"^<^ ^^^o ^^U ^^<^ ^^^^1 I'^^t forth 48. his fpirit to accompany the word in order to beget repentance and faith : fo that if any do perilh, it's not for want of the means of grace manifelted by Chrifl to them, but for the non- improvement of the grace of God, of- fered freely to them through Cbriji in the gofpel. XIX AT T E N D IX. ii XIX Article. Of the agreement hetiveen the OM and New Tejfament. The Gofpel, or new Covenant, was held forth, or preached to the fathers, from J^dam to Cbrift's coming in the flefh, though it was revealed by fundry degrees, Gal. iii. 8. and in diverfe manners, in types and iha-Gen. xii. 3.: dows, darkly; yet it was the fame gof-^^^- \^' ^'^ pel, the fame Chrl/f^ the fame faith for kind, ^ . i . and the very fame covenant, that they were jullified and faved by, before Cbnfi- took liefh of the virgin, that we have now, and is to continue to the end of the world. For as the church of thcHeb. ix, x, yewsy in their gofpel types, had a priefl,^"/^xi r/i^;>/. and an altar, and a lamb, and a fire, and without all thefe no facrifice could, or was accepted of God, then, nor now, without faith in the anti-type, Chrijfy vvhofe human nature is the true lamb, the union of natures, the high prielt, the divine nature, the altar, and the holy ghoft, the heavenly fire. And again : The blood Ihed upon the brazen altar, Heb. ix. 14. may be applied to our juflification, and the fprinklingof it upon the inceni'e altar, may be applied to the work of fandi- fication by Cbriji's fpirit, fprinkling his blood upon us. And the blood that wasEpli. v. il. carried within the vail, into the mofi: i Pet. i. 2. holy place, is applied to our glorifica- tion in heaven. And as they had in B 3 their -^ . AT "P E N D I X. their church the ark, a figure of Chrijl's Heb. ix. 7, prefence, fo have we the promife of ^^- his prefence to the end of the world. And as they had the tables of the old covenant or law, in the ark, fo have Matt, xviii. we the law fulfilled by Chrijf "^ and meet- 20. _ ing God in Chrijf^ it's handed forth by Rom"ii?^r^^^^ now to US, as the only rule of our viii. 3%.fan the tenure of the firit covenant, which ^' ^--i ^, perfe6tion of will is only attainable in thcEph. iv.^^ Itate of glory, after the redemption!, or refurreftion of our flefhly bodies. B 4 XXI i4 AT T E N D IX. XXI Article. Of Vocation and effectual Calling. Vocation, or calling, general, or com-' inon, is, when God by the means of his word and fpirit, freely of his own grace and goodnefs, doth miniflerially acquaint mankind with his gracious good purpofe Matt. xi. 28. of falvation, by JefusOmJl • inviting and Aftsxx. 21. -wooing them to come to him, and to ac- Rom.xvi.25,^^p^ q£ Ql^^j^ revealing unto them the Tit. ii. 1 1 . gofpel covenant, and thofe that with cor- Adls V. 31. dial hearts do improve this common grace, ^l:.}^' he in time worketh unfeigned faith, and f^^°"^*^''"'^'iincere repentance in them; and by his xi. 5, 7. grace they come to accept of Chrtfi^ as Eph. i. II, their only Lord and Saviour, with their ^^' whole heart ; and God becomes their fa- ETirj ^^^^ ^" Ch'rifty and they being then effec-^ Roni. i'v. 16. tually called, are by faith united to J^fuS' Cbrif by grace unto falvation. XXII Article. Of cuangcllcal Repentance. Tit. ji. 3, 4, Unfeigned repentance, is an inwaid and 5- .. ^ ^ , true forrow of heart for iin, v/ith fincere ^^CQ^'^i^'^Q^confeffion of the fame to God, efpeci^ally II. that we have offended fo gracious a God, Aasxvii. 30. and fo loving a father, together with a Pf. li. 4. fettled purpofe of heart, and a careful ^u ce XV. ^7»gj-^^^.jyQur to leave all our fins, and to Ezek.xviii.30 live a more holy and fandtified life, ac- cordina: AT T E N D I X. iij cording to all God's commands. Or it isEph. ii. >©. a turning, or change of the whole man^°|"-")^"'- '3- to God, with endeavour thro' his gtace,^^^ *^^* ^°' to mortify the indwelling lufl, or corrup- tions, and obtain a great reformation both in the outward and inward man, accord- ing to the will of God, and this repen- tance, for the nature of it, mull be con- tinued throughout the whole courfe of our lives, and is wrought in us by the John vlH. 31, fpirit of God; by the miniftry of the law^^- and ffofpeL in order to our, obedience to%,^-2[\"-^|- ^1 11 \ ' 1 ^- J • u- iTheii.i. 5,6. Chrijf^ or bemg baptized m his name, ^^siii j^^ but this repentance unto life, is not 26. wrought without faith in the foul ; for by "; 3^- faith we receive that grace, that perieds,??^!'*.^/-^- or carrieth on the work 01 repentance inc^^.^ the foul, from firll to lafl. XXIII Article. Of juflifying^ and fav'ing Faiths Faith is an adt of the underftanding,Rora. x. 14, giving a firm allent to the things contain- 17- ed in the holy fcriptures. But juftifying^'^^"* xm.20, faith is a grace, or habit, wrought in the^^sxxiV.iA. foul, by the holy ghoft, through preach-Pi". xix.;,^^. ing the word of God, whereby we are en- cxix. 72. abled to believe, not only that theMefTias^^^^^^]; ]\ is offered to us, but alfo to take and ^'co" iv7 1 - ! receive him, as a Lord and Saviour, andEph. ii. 8. wholly and only to reft upon CZt//?, for ^^'^^s'^'^'^»-3^- erace and eten\al falvation. « ^^/ ^ ' ' *-• 2 ret. J. 5,1 1 . Phil. iii. 8.9 yv X I V Acli viii . 3 - . ^6 AT "P E N D I :C XXIV Article. Of Jujlijicatwn by Cbnfl. Aasxiii. 38, Juftlfication is a declarative, or judicial 39- ... fentence of God the father, whereby he Kom.viu. 34,^^ ^jg infinite love, and nioft free grace, i'ii. s'^.^s'r. for the alcne and mediatorial righteoufnefs iv. 22, iffc. of his own fon, performed in our nature iCor.i. 30, and Head, which righteoufnefs of God ^Th ff. i ^^^h t^^^ •father imputing to us, and by Ads XV. 9.' cffedlual faith, received and embraced by Gal. V. 6. us, doth free us by judicial fentence from Kom.viii. i. fm and death, and accept us righteous in Gal ^Vii^i'^'i'^^-^'^!^ ^^^ furety, unto eternal life; the johnV 24. a^^ive and palTive obedience of Cbrifl bc- jRom. iii. 22, ing the accomplilliment of all that righte- 3^- oufnefs and fufferings the law, or juftice p ^'. ^^" of God required, and this being perfectly Eph. i*. "? * performed by our mediator, in the very Rom. V. 9. nature of us men, and accepted by the ^- 4- father in our ftead, accord mo; to that Hb"^ fe'' eternal covenant-tranfadlion, between the l'Cor!v.* 21. ^^^^'^^^ ^^^ t^'^e fon. And hereby we have liaiah liii.io, deliverance from the guilt and punifhment "^'^^ of all our iins, and are accounted righte- ous before God, at the throne of grace, by the alone righteoufnefs of Cbriji the medi^i'tor, imputed, or reckoned unto us through faith ; for wc believe there are lix neccifary caufes of man^s juftihcation, or falvation ; viz. Kr/?, The efficient caufc of our juilification, is God's free Rom. iii, 24.irracc. Secondly. The meritorious caufe IS ATT E,N D 1 Z. ay is the blood ofChrlJf. Thirdly^ The ma- Rom. v. 9. terial caule is Chnjl's adive obedience. Y' ^9- Fourthly^ The imputation of Chrift^ his y', * obedience for us, is the formal caufe.Eph.i. 11,12, Fifthly^ The inflrumental caufe is faith. Sixthly^ God's glory, and man's falvation, is the final caufe. Now we princi- pally apply the Jirjf and lafl to God the father ; tXitfecond and third to Cbrijt the mediator; the fourth ^nd fifth to the blef- fed comforter, the holy gholl ; hence it Matt, xxviii. is we are baptized in the name of the^9- father, of the fon, and holy gholt, and ^ j^^jj^^J'^^"^' fo we vvorfliip a trinity in unity, and unity in trinity. XXV Article. Of Reconciliation., and Sonfiip hy Cbrifi, t| Two privileges flow out of our juftifi- cation by filth in Chrijt^ viz^ our recon- cihation, and adoption, or fonlhip. Re- conciliation is a gracious privilege, where- by we that were enemies are made friends ; or, we that were enemies, rebels, and aliens, are received into favour, or brought near to God through laith in Cbriji Jcfus, And adoption is that power and privilege Rom.v.S,^V. to be the fons of God, through fiith in ^J^- i'- *2> Chriji our furety, who being the eternal ^^' ^ fon of God, became by incarnation ou^QJ^l.iv'.4,5,^, brother, that by him God might bring Rom. via. 16, many fons unto glory, according to his i7- .. eternal decree of preferving the human 5^5 ^'^'' nature of Chrijfj that it never fell in ' iy. j- yldcivu a8 ATTENDIX, Matt. 1. 18. Adam. And fo we are^ by faith accord- Heb. vii. 26. jj^g. ^^ God's free grace, and Chri^\ pur- «7' Rom.viii.i6,^j^-^'^^ or redemption, and the holyTpi rit^s application of it to us, made heirs and joint heirs vvith Chtifi^ our elder bro- ther, of the fame kingdom, and ftupen- dous and unutterable glory, for ever and ever. XXVI Article, Of SanBification^ and good Works. Ezek.xxxvi. Thofe that are united unto Cbriji hj -^- . effectual faith, are regenerated, and have -'Co/^v^it. ^ ^^^ heart and fpirit created in them, 7 John iii. 9. through the virtue of Cbriji his death, re- Tit, iii. 5. furredtion, and intercefTion, and by the * ^o*"-^^- 1 5- efficacy of the holy fpirit, received by 2 Cor. 111. is.f^-^} ^nd are fandified by the word and 1 1 im. 11. 20. ^^ . . ^ I 1 If • t 11- pr. ex. 3. ipirit or truth, dwelling in tnem, by de- 2Cor.x. 4, 5.itroying and pulling down the ftrong ^\}7' holds, or dominion of lin and luft, and xvfV'i'^ "^^^^ and more quickned and ftrengthen- Heb. xii. 'i4.'ed in all faving graces, in the practice of Rom.vii. 2o.holinefs, without which no man lliall fee Gal.v. J6,i7.fj^g Iqi-J. ji^nd this fandification is I Jo^^^.^'^^-^^'throughout the whole man, tho' imper- feCl in this life, there abiding Hill in the beft faints, fome remnants of corruption, which occalions a continual war in the foul, the flelli lulling againll the fpirit, and the fpirit againft the fleili ^ yet through the continual fupply of" llrength from Cbrijf^ which flows from him to be- lievers by means of the covenant of grace or XXVI. 12 ATT ENDIX. ip or hypoftatical union with our nature, the regenerate part doth overcome, prelTing after a heavenly life, in evangelical obe- dience to all the commands that Cbrijty their king, and law-giver, hath command- ed them in his word, or holy fcriptures, which are the only rule, and fquare ofRom. vi. 14, our fandification and obedience in all good^ph- ^Y:.^ v works, and piety. And lith our only afTift- "^ ^°'-^'!|; \^' ance to good works, fuchas God hath com-pf. cxii. i . ^ manded, is of God, who worketh in us both cxix. 4^: to will and to do, we have no caufe toJ^^^^'-^'^' boaft, nor ground to conclude, we ^^^^'^^ f^^C any thing thereby, we receiving all ofphii. ii. ,3 free and undeferved grace, and when we 2 Cor. iii.5. have done the moll, yet we are unproiit-Jot> jx. 2, 3» able fervants, and do abundantly fall ihort ; ^^' ^^^^ and the beit duties that we can now per- Gal. ii. 16. form, will not abide the judgment ofjamesii.9,10, God. Neither do any good works in. 2. whatfoever, that are done by unregcne- j^^^ \^l^,^ ^^ rate men, or without faith in, and love toprov.viii. 17, Chrijl^ pleafe God, or are accepted ofiCor. xvi.22. him. Yet good works are of great ad-J^^^*^- '^' vantage, being done in faith^ and love,Q^j ,^^ 22 2-» and wrought by the holy fpirit, and arejohn iv. iV° to be done by us, to flievv our thankful- v. 25 . nefs to God, for the grace of the new G^J. v. 6. covenant by Chrijl^ and to fit us more and^,^ °^* ^^' ^* more for glory. And in this fenfe thcHeb. xii. 28, ten commandments, as handed forth by 29. Chrift the mediator, are a rule of life to a ^ ^^^' ^"'^^ believer, and fhew us our duty to God^J-j ^ and man, as alfo our need o'i the grace of God, and merit of Chrifi^ XXVII 30 A'T T E N D I X. XXVII Article. Of Baptifntj and the Lord*s-fupper» Thefe two facraments, 'viz. Baptifm, and the Lord's-fupper, are ordinances ot' politive, fovereign, and holy inltltution, appointed by the Lord yefus Cbrijf^ the Matt, xxviii. only lawgiver, to be continued in his 19, 20. church, to the end of the world ; and to 1 Cor. XI. 26. ^g adminiflred by thofe only who are ' rightly qualified, and thereunto called, , according to the command of Chrift. yiXWll Article. Of the right fuhjeSf^ and admini prat ion of holy Baptifm, Baptlfm is an ordinance of the new teltament, ordained by J-efus Chrift^ to be unto the party baptized, or dipped, a iign of our entrance into the covenant of Rom. vl. 3, gi^ace, and ingrafting into Chriji^ and into 4, 5. the body of Chrift^ which is his church ; iCor. xii. i3.and of remifTion of lin in the blood of Mark xvf i6.P^'6^^' and of our fellowlliip with Chriji, Matt. iii. II. ^^ ^^^ death and refurred:ion, and of our Aasii. 38. living, or riling to ncwnefs of life. And Rom. VI. I, orderly none ought to be admitted into M^'t xxviii ^^^ vilible church of C/-?r//?, without being jQ ' " ' firlt baptized; and thofe which do really Adlsviii. 37. profcfs repentance towards God, and faith Matt, iii, 6- jn and obedience to our Lord '^efus Cbnfi, Heb. vi. AT T E N D I X. 3t Chriji^ are the only proper fubjeSfs of thlsAasii. 37,38 ordinance, according to our Lord's holy ^"MSo^* inititution, and primitive practice ; and ^* ought by the mmiller, or adminiftrator, to be done in a folemn manner, in the name of the father, fon, and holy ghoft,^^^^^' xTcviii. by hmnerfioh or dipping of the perlbn in ^^' . the element of water; this being necellary^^/^ ^' ^' ^* to the due adminiltration of this holy ili. 22, 2'*. facrament, as holy fcripture ihevveth, and^'^'^aiiii. 9,10. the firft and bcil antiquity witnefieth for Ibme centuries ^ of years* But the popifli doftrine which they teach and believe, that thofe infanta that die without bap- tifm, or have it not aBually^ or in deli re, are not, nor cannot be fived, we do not believe. Nor yet their pradice of ad- mitting perfons only upon an implicit faith of the church, nor their fuperflitious and popifh ceremonies of fait, and fpittle, and breathing on the face of the party baptized, together with their chrifom.s and hallowed lights f . Neither do we believe, that infants dying in infancy, without baptifm, go to purgatory or //;;?- bus infant U7n^ as they erroneouily teach. Nor do we believe, that the ^ope of Kome^ or any other perfons whomfoever, have power to. alter, or change, this ordi- nance of Cbrifi^ as they have done by this fuperftitious, and fuch like idolatrous inventions and practices of the Romifb church. All which fupcriiitions of theirs,, * See Mr. H. Danvers his TreatiJ} rf Bnptifm. t ^ee the fopifb Cattchlfm, p. 184, !4'%6! the common fuffrage of the church, and i. 2^3, 24, folcmnly fet apart by fafting and prayer, ^^- with impolition of hands, by the bilhops ^^^* ^?' of the fame funftion, ordinarily, and y^^^Tovn^-^ thofe bifhops fo ordained, have the go- ^^'^'^'^'"''vernment of thofe churches, that had To/^ ^P^^f^- fuffrage in their eledion, and no other Tgjof K-ctj Qj-^jinarily ; as alfo to preach the word, £;c>tA«(n^i^ or gofpel, to the world, or unbelievers. ^focrgy^w- ^^j ^j^^ particular pallor, or elder, in ^umq\ ipfts ^ike manner is to be chofen by the com- ferfuffragi-u mon fuffrage of the particular congrega- -^c. tion, and ordained by the biihop or met- i Tim. I. 3. fenger God hath placed in the church he Rev/ii/i, 2, ^^^^ charge of; and the elder, fo ordaln- ^c'. ' 'ed, is to watch over that particular Matt, xxviii. church J and he may noc minifterially aft |f9- in any other church before he be fent, Adimz! 'neither ought his power, or office, any 2 Tim. iv. 2. way to infringe the liberty, or due power, Aftsxiv. 23. or office of his bifliop ^^ God being a Rom. X. 15. Qq^^ of order, having ordained things Aasxiii.2,3,^^^^^ harmonioufly, tending everyway to I Cor. XVI. 1 6. unity. The deacons are in like manner 1 Tim.i. 3. to be chofen by eledion and ordination, Ads XX. 28. and are in their particular congregations, Tk^i.^c.^"^^^ receive the charity and free benevo- Heb. xiii! ly.lence of the people ; and the bifhops and iCor.xiv. 33. elders fo chofen, and ordained, to the Aas.vi. i,3.^yoj.j^ of God, ought to be enabled and TTim. iii. 8 capacitated thereunto, by a fufficient and 1 Cor. iii. 9. * Or overfeer, or JJ^epherd, honourable AT T E K D I X. 35 honourable maintenance of the people i Tim. iii. 5. that chofe them, anfwerable to the dignity J^y ^\ ^^' of their places, and charge committed to^-j/^' '^' ^' them, without which they cannot dif-i Cor. ix. i, charge their duty, as they ought to do,^^;- in ftudying to divide the word of God^^^^-^^- ^5> aright, as St. ^aul advifeth Timothy^ and , r^*- ^ ,„ ir ' 1 r 1 1 11 • ' lllHl. V. 17, alio to give themfelves wholly to it ; and is. this maintenance is to be given out of the Gal. vi. 6,10. labours, profits, and eftates of the people, ^^"^' ^^^' 4- by equality, and proportionable to their ^ r^-'^^Vj-'^'^* ability, in liberality, God having referved ^ifr. a portion for all his labourers, out of all xi. 13,^*^. the members worldly goods and pofTeC- ^ !^^"^* '» ^> ^^""^- iii. 14,^.. iv, 12 1? Col; iv. 11,17. 2 Gor. viii. 12, ^r. 2 Cor. ix. c, **>:>• 6, efr. ^ XXXII Article. Of 'Trayery with laying on of Hands. Prayer, with Impolition of hands byAasvIii. 12, the bilhop, or elder, on baptized be-^^- lievers, as fuch, for the reception of the ^^.^'^•'^' 7- holy promifed fpirit of CJmft^ we believe j_j";.b"^;-" 2.'''* is a principle of Cbrifl's dodrlne, and John xiii. 16, ought to be pradifcd and fubmitted to^^". by every baptized believer in order to re- 1 ^•^''^' ■ ceive the promifed fpirit of the father ^xi'm/i^ '(5.'^* an<^ fon. Aasii!38,39. C 2 XXXIJI 3« AT T E N D I X. XXXIII Article. Of the Endy and right Adminijiratm of the Lord's'fupper. Luk.xxii.17,. The fupper of the Lord Jefus^ was Iffc. inflituted by him the fame night wherein Matt.^xxvi. he was betrayed ; to be obferved in his I Cof xi zx ^'^"^^'^^> ^^ ^^^^ ^"^ ^^ t^^ world, for the ^c. ' ^perpetual remembrance, and fliewing forth Matt, xxviii. the facrifice of himfelf in his death ; and 20. for the confirmation of the faithful be- Gal. 111. I. lievers in all the benefits of his death and refurredtion, and fpiritual nouriihment and growth in him; fealing unto them their continuance in the covenant of grace, and to be a band and pledge of communion with him, and an obligation of obedience to Chrifi^ both pafTively and adtively, as alfo of our communion and union each 1 Cor. X. 16, with other, in the participation of this '7- ... holy facrament. And the outward ele- ments of bread and wins, after they are ' fct apart by the hand of the minifter, from common ufe, and bleiled, or confe- crated, by the word of God and prayer, the bread being broken, and wine poured forth, iignify to the faithful, the body and blood of Chrijl^ or holdeth forth Cbrljf^ and him crucified ; and the mini- Iter diftributing the bread and wine to the communicants, who are to take, or re- ceive, both the bread and wine at the iCor.xi. 27, hands of the minifler, applying it by ^^' fiith, with thankfglving to God the father, ATT END IX. ^y father, for fo great a benefit, and no un-Matt.xxvi 30 baptized, unbelieving, or open profane, ^^^^- ^- 7' ^^ or wicked heretical perfons, ought ^o^^a^^W.^i, admitted to this ordinance to profane ^r. it. Neither is that popilli do6^nne o(See the popijh tranfiibftantiation to be admitted of, "or^-"^^^^^'^'^^ adoration of the unbloody facrifice of^" ^ * the mafs, as they call it, together with their denying of the cup to the lait}', and many more idolatrous and fuperftiti- ous practices, decreed in the popift coun- cils of Lateraji and Trent. In oppolitionlb.p.i97,c^'c. to which, and fuch like idolatry oi Roiney many of our worthy and famous antients, and renowned proteitants, loft their lives by fire and faggot in England^ whofe^.r 7l/r. FoxV fpirits we hope are now in heaven, as^'^'^'^ of Mar- worthy martyrs and witnelles of Clmji^^^^^' in bearing a faithful teftimony to this holy ordinance of their Lord and mailer. Neither may we admit of confubftautia- tion, it being not confonant to God's word.^ Nor are little infants, that cannot examine themfelves, nor give account of their faith, nor unJerftand what is fignified by the outward iigns of bread and wine, to be admitted to this facrament. Though St. Juftin taught fo from John vi. 6'^. and many of theGrfc^ churches fo believe and praAife to this day. And this holy ordinance ought to be often celebrated among the faithful, v/ith examination of themielves, viz. of their faith, and love, and knowledge of thefe holy and divine myfteries, left they cat and drink their C ^ own 38 ATTENDIX. 1 Cor. xi. 1 8, own damnation, for prophaning of God^s holy ordinance, as many, we fear, have done, and yet do at this day j whofehard and blind hearts the Lord in rnercy open, if it be his blefled will. XXXIV Article. Of the Difcifline and Government of the Church of Chriji, We believe that the great king, and lawgiver, Chrift^ the univerfal and only head' of his church, hath given to his Tfaiah ix. 6. viiible chiirch, a fubordinate power, or Matt, xxviii. authority, for the well-being, ordering, '^xviiiiyii^^^ governing of it, for his ow^n glory, Rev. ii. /.', ^"^ ^^'^^ church's profit, and good, the I Cor. V. 4. executive part of which derivative Heb. xiii. 7, power of difcipline and government, is *7* comm'tted to his minifters, proportionable to their dignities and places in the church, in a moil harmonious way, for the beauty, order, government, and e- llablifliment of the fame, and conllfteth in the exercife and execution of the cenfors, or rod of correction, he hath -Their, ill. 6. appointed therein, for the purgation, or iThefl.v. '2, pruning of the fame, in order to prevent -'Cor ii " ^'^^^^^^s ^"^ offences, both publick and e.j. ' ^' private. And in cafe of perfonal and private trefpafles betwxen party and party, Lev. xix. 17, that the member fo offended, tell his 18. oflence to his brother, between them alone ^ and if he (liall not hear him, to take one or two more j if he will not hear AT T E N D I X. 3P hear him then, to tell it unto the church : Matt, xviii. And the minillers of Chrift ought to re-^^.^^- buke them fliarply, that lin before them^T/m.'il T± in the church ; and in cafe there be any Tit. i. 12,13, wicked, publick, and fcandalous linners, 14- or obftinate hereticks, that then the church ought fpeedily to convene fuch her mem- bers, and labour to convid: them of their iin and herefy, fchifm, and prophanenefs, whatfoever it be; and after fuch regular Lev. xiii. i, fufpenlion, and due admonition, if fuch >;^^*. .. ^ ^ ' 1 I ' r 1 Numb. XII. 14, linners repent not; that then tor thci^ honour of God, and preferving the credit zThefT. Hi. 6. of religion, and in order to fave the iin- ner's foul, and good of the church, in obedience to God's law, to proceed and excommunicate the linner, by a judicial fentence in the name of Cbriji and hisj^^^^^-.Y'^'^^^ church, tendring an admonition of re pen- j^^^." i"i .°20 tancetohim, with gravity, love, and au-^^. thority, and all this without hypocriiy, or partiality, praying for the linner, that his foul may be faved in the day o{ the Lord ; and under this fecond degree, of withdrawing, or excommunication, to ac- count him as a heathen, or publican, that he may be afhamed. But upon the third ^^^"- •'''^"^• and higheft adt of excommunication, it '' being a moll dreadful thunderclap of God's ^ Cor. xvi.22. judgment, it is molt difficult for any church now to proceed in, it being diffi- cult to know when any man hath linned the unpardonable lin, and fo to incur a total cutting off from the church. XXXV 40 ATTENDIX. XXXV Article. Of Communion of Saints^ and giving to th ^oor» Eph. iV. 5. All chrlftians that have been baptized Ads ii' 6^' ^^^^ ^"^ faith, and united in one true Epl^'.iy/^^' vilible way oC worlhipping the true God, ^r. * 'by CbriJ^ Jifi^^ our Lord, ftiould keep iCor. xii. i2,the unity of the fpirit, in the bond of Adsiv 2 P^^^^' feeing there is but one myHical iCor. xn.26.^^^y of Cbrtjlt^ and iliould have fellow- xii.4,5,fev,lhip and communion in each other's fuffer- ings, or afflidions, for if one member fuf- fer, all are pained with it. Hence it is alfo they partake of each other's gifts in great variety, which rpake the harmony of dependency on each other, feeing a need of every member, for the publick Life, and common profit of the whole, both in the private as well as more pub- lick, and folemn worlhip of God's houfe^ as alfo an interelt in each other's goods - ^^^'/^^^- ^' iind poffeffions, fo far as comports with Pf.xxxvii.26.^^^^^^^^y ^^^ charity, according to the Prov. xi 25. charter privileges, or law of their king^ xix. 17. and tho' no equality, or property, be xxn. 22. pleaded for ; yet the works of charity 7,,jL''Vy*J-^'and mercy, muit be minded as a duty to hph. IV. 20. •'1 T 1 1 ' 11- iCor.xvi. 1,2 lend to the Lord, and pity and relieve iii. 14, 15. the Lord's poor, wxekly laying out for Deut. XV. 7, them, as God hath profperedus, accord- Matt.xxv.3-/"S ^^ ^^^ ability in freedom, liberality, Q' who hath delivered and revealed his mind johnxx. 30, therein unto iii?, and containeth all things 31. necefiary for falvation ; fo that whatfoevcr xxi. 25. is not read therein, nor may be proved ^^f^-^' 'J"' ;2- tiiereby, 13 not to be required ot any man, ^^^ that it ihould be believed as an article of x. 35. the chriilian faith, or be thought requi- ^^ii. 12. fite to falvation. Neither ought we, fince^'®''- '''^'^- 5* we have the fcriptures delivered to usjo^^uai. 7. now, to depend upon, hearken to, or re-Rev. xxii. iS- gard the pretended immediate infpirati-p.cut. xii. 52- ons, dreams, or prophecical predictions, ^^P^^Y/\q°' by or from any perfon whatfoevcr, left we I john vU. s, beg, .ic. 42 AT T E ND IX. Matt. xxlv. be deluded by them. Nor yet do we 23, ^r. believe, that the works of creation, nor 2 Their. 11. 7, ^j^^ j^^ written in the heart, -j/js. natu- 1 Cor. i. 20 1^^^ religion, as fome call it, or the light l^c. within man, as fuch, is fufRcient to inform ii. 6, 7j man of Chrijl the mediator, or of the ^^- way to falvation, or eternal life by him ; xvi. 25,26! but the holy fcriptures are neceffary toin- i, i6,^r. ftrud all men into the way of falvation. Gal. V. 22 and eternal life. And we do believe, that Rom. XI. 3i,^j| people ought to have them in their ^^x. 12,^^.^^^^^^^ tongue, and diligently, and coa- ! Cor. xiv. 4, flantly to read them in their particular 9, ^f. places and families, for their edification, Col. 111. 16. ^j^j comfort ; and endeavour to frame 2j * ' ' their lives, according to the direclion of Adsxv. 15, God's word, both in faith and practice, 16. the holy fcriptures being of no private Matt.xx11.29, interpretation, but ought to be interpreted iasxvii. 10 according to the analogy of faith, and is l^c\ " ' the beft interpreter of itfelf, and is fole xviii. 28. judge in controverfy. And no decrees of popes, or councils, or writings of any perfon whatfoevcr, are of equal authority with the facred fcriptures. And by the holy fcriptures we underfland, the canoni- cal books of the old and new teftament, as they are now tranflated into our Englilb mother-tongue, of which there hath never been any doubt of their verity, and au- thority, in the proteilant churches of Chriji to this day. Theu follows the names of the hooks cf the Old and Nezv Tejiainait^ as ackiiowledgd in allproteliant confejfions^ after ivhich follow tbefe words : All AT T E N D 1 X. All which are given by the infpiration of God, to be the Rule of faith and life. XXXVIII Article. Of the three Creeds. The three creeds, viz. the Nicene creed, Athanajius's creed, and the Apujtks creed, as they are commonly called, ought throu'ghly to be received, and believed. For we believe, they may be proved, by mod undoubted authority of holy fcrip- ture, and are neceiFary to be underftood of all chriltians ; and to be intruded in the knowledge of them, by the minillers of Cbrifi^ according to the analogy of faith, recorded in facred fcriptures, upon which thefe creeds are grounded, and ca- techiftically opened, and expounded in all chriftian families, for the edification of young and old, which might be a means to prevent herefy in dodrine, and prac- tice, thefe creeds containing all things in a brief manner, that are neceilary to be known, fundamentally, in order to our falvation ; to which end they may be con- iidered, and better underilood of all men, we have here printed them under their feveral titles as followeth, viz. %e Jpoftks Creed. I believe in God the father almighty, The 43 44 A7 T E N D 1 X. The Nicene Creed. We believe in one God, the father al- mighty, Sc. jlthanajius his Creed, Whofoever will be faved, before all ti/ings, £^c. I have omitted inferting the creeds at length, they being to be found in every common prayer-book, and only obierve, that upon the article in the Apoilles creed, he defcended into hell^ they thus comment, ^ot that he^ to wit, Chxifty *went into the place of the dammd^ hut that he went ahfolutely into the ft ate of the dead. Sec Dx. UJher in his body of Divinity, p. 174, and Mr. Perkins on the creed. XXXIX Article. Of general Councils.^ or AffemUies, A^sxv. !, General councils, or aflemblies, confiil- ^c, ing of Bilhops, Elders, and Brethren, of the feveral churches of Chrifi^ and being legally convened, and met together out of all the churches, and the churches ap- pearing there by their reprefentatives, make but one church, and have lawful Aas XV. 11, nght^ and fu fir age in this general meet- M^',^ ^.A\\ irig, or afTembly, to aft in the name of iviau. Xv ill. ^I'n • r ' t-' f • 1 • i 20. Chrijf ; it being oi divine authority, and is the beil means under heaven to preferve unity, to prevent herefy, and fuperinten- Acts XV. 30, ^^^^y among, or in any congregation ^ * whatfoever within its own limits, or juril- diftion. And to fuch a meeting, or af^ fembly, A9T ENDIX. 45 fembly, appeals ought to be made, in cafe any injultice be done, or herefy, and fchifm countenanced, in any particular M^tt. xviii. congregation of CJmfi^ and the decifive J^'^J9-^ voice in fuch general affemblies is the^^ * '^'^* major part, and fuch general affemblies have lawful power to hear, and determine, as alfo to excommunicate. XL Article. Of religious Worjlip^ a?id the Sahhath^ day* The light of nature fheweth there is a Rom. i. 19, God, who hath a fovereigrty over all, but^°- ^^ the holy fcripture hath fully revealed it 5 as alfo that all men fhould worfliip him according to God's own inftitution and appointment. And hath limited us, by his own revealed will, that he may not be worlhipped according to the imaginations^ and devices of men, or the fuggeftions of Satan, under any vifible reprcfentations i Cliron. xvi, whatfoever, or any other way not pre-29- ^ ^, , ^ fcribed in the holy fcriptures ; and all re-g * ^^^' ' '' ligious worfliip is to be given to the * xcvii. 7. father, fjn, and holy ghoil, and to God ^cix. 5. alone, not to angels, faints, or any other J^,^^^.-. 7^^^- ^• creature, and fince the fall, not without a * ^"^-y'/^^ mediator, nor in the mediation of any Mark vii. 7. other but Chriji alone ; nor is this wor-Pf. xrix. 8,9. ihipping of God now under the gofpeL cvi. 29,39, . S^ ^ , 1 C5 i , 'John IV. 24. tied to any place, or made more accept- ^j^^^ .^^ ^J^ ableby one place than another. Yet theExod.xxxiv. alTcmbly of the church, ought not to be 14. ncgleded 4^ AT T E N D I X. 1 Cor.viii. 4.negled:ed by any. And in order to his Matt, xxviii. being worflaipped, and ferved, God hath I?' g inftituted one day in feven, for his fabbath l^c,' ' ' ^^ t)e kept holy unto him, which from John xiv. 6. the refurreftion of Chriftj is the firlt day Gal. iii. 9. of the week, which is called the Lord's- ^Tim^ii ^^ day, and is to be obferved and continued Ma«"^xviii. to the end of the world, as a chriftian 20. fabbath, the lafl: day of the week being John iv. 21. abolifhed. And this chriftian fabbath is ^.^: *• .? '; to be kept after a due and reverent man- I lim. 11. 8. . ^ . r, I ^ J Heb. X. 25. "^^5 1^ preparing 01 our hearts, and or- Aftsii. 42. dering of affairs fo beforehand, that we Exod. XX. 8. may reft that day from worldly and carnal '^°^' ^^'* *' employments, and frequent the folemn Afts XX. 7. aflembiies of the church, and in all pub- Rev, i. 10. lick and private duties of religion, as Ifaiahlyiii.isbearing, meditating, and conferring, and ^^^•^"'•' 5' reading in, or of the holy fcriptures, to- Heb. X. 25. gether with prayer, publick and private, Rev. i. 3. and in the duties of neceility, charity, James i. 23, and mercy, and not in any vain or world- Rom X 14. ^y difcourfe, or idle recreations whatfo- Pf. cxix. 15. ever. Zech. vii. 2. Lukexxi. 36. Adlsxvi. 13,16. Ifa. Ivi. 2, 6. XLI Article. Of puhlick and private Grayer. Matt. vi. 7. Prayer is an holy, religious, and facred Jude 20. ordinance of God, and the duty of all If^*\^l" 6^ "^^" ^^ perform, by the law of God ; Jer. xxix. 12.^"^ ^^ ^^^ alone, and no other, whether X. 6, 25. faint or angel, and in the name of CJmJi Pf. xxxii. 6. the mediator, and in his name alone, and no AT T E N D I X. 47 no other, whether faint or angel, or any Matt. xxvi. other creature. And that for all menji-. living, except they have finned the un-Hof i^^i'z^' pardonable lin, both high and low \ efpe- James i. 5. ' cially for minilters and magiftrates. And John xiv. 13, not for dead faints, nor infernal fplrits. '4- And prayer is to be made in a tongue un- ^^j ' ' derftood by the people : And we ought i Tim. ii. 1,2, to pray for all things neceffary according 3- to the will of God in Chriji Jefus^ in ^{^^^'^' ^^' . folemn and reverent manner, every way \^ ^ • ^- ^ 7» fuitable and agreeable to the platform, or 2Thefr. iii. i, manner of prayer, which Chrijt taught his 2. difciples, and us, in his holy gofpel, ^"* ^^- 3^- which is the only perfed: rule of all ^^°'- '''''• '^' prayers ; and by the alMance of the holy Matt. vi. 6, fpirit of God, without which we cannot ^^. pray aright. And this religious worfhip^®"^-'^^"- 265 all men are bound, and required to ferve ixhefl*. v 8 God in, both publick and private, at leaftifa. xvii. 65' two times a day, in all chrillian families, Jer.xviii. 14, by prayers, and fupplications, intercelli-i5- ons, and giving of thanks to God thep^^/^^ /^^^ father, in the name and mediation of Dan. vi*. 10. Cbrift Jefus our Lord. Pf. v. 2, 3, Pf.lv. 15,16,1-. Zach. viii. 21. Phil, i. 4,6. I Tim. iv. 5. Ifaiahi. 15. Rev. v. 8. XLII Article. Of public k HumiUatw?^^ hy Fafling and ^rayar. Publick humiliation, by failing andJoc^i. 14,1^, prayer, us an ordinance of God, appoint- "^^' ^3> ed for his church and people. And it ^ chronl xx, beings. 48 AT 7 E ND IX. being an extraordinary duty, efpecially aS it hath refpedt to the church generally, or the nation as fuch, and therefore we mufl have due regard to the grounds, ends, and manner, of its being perform- lev.xxui.27,ed; confefling of, and reforming from ^^' ^j.j ^j lin, both in publick as well as private ix.A. falls. Abftaining firom our pleafures, as X. T. alfo our common food, in a feniible and Neh.ix. 1,2, real affliding of our fouls before the Ifaiah Iviii -^ -"^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ "^y Player and 4, effr. '^'falling for fome fpiritual, or temporal Jonah iii.4,6, good, that God hath promifed us, or that ^c, v^e Hand in need of having due regard to Zech.vn. 5. Q^^^ word and glory, in this folemn or Matt. VI. 16, J. . J. o 77 ^..^ divine ordinance. 2Sara.xii.2i,22. Ellheriv. 16. XLJII Article* Of Family^ ot relative Duties thereitu Gen.xvin.19. Parents, and mailers, are a fortof fub- ^^^"^•^^'^^' ordinate governors, and rulers, in their Prov.xxx.ii,refpe6live jurifdidions and families, in ^r. their refpe£bive relative places, according 1 Tim. y. 8. ^q their capacities, and opportunities \ Matt.vii. 9, ^^j ^^^ engaged from God's word, to Col. iv. I. take the charge of their families, and Eph, iv. 25, rule and govern them according to the ^^* word of God, both husbands, parents, ^' ^' mailers, and all others concerned in any fuch relation ; and by their godly and re- ligious example, inllrud: their families ; they being found carefully keeping of the fabbath-day, in the holy and religious fervices ATT E ND 1 X. 4p I'ervlces of hearing the word preached;^ Joth.xxiv. 15. with publick and private prayer. Asalfo^^^?^- '^- ^9> requiring and initruding their families ^i , 2 ^ and relations, to follow their godly andi'rov.i.' i. religious example, in the private andpub- Aasx.30,33. lick exercifes of religion ; and calling ^ ^'/"' '1'; 4- them to an account, how they fpend the^ ^'"^sn. i, fibbath, and other times, and mercies Gen. xlxix. they enjoy; cipecially the reading of the2B> 29. fcriptures, and hearing the word preach- -^*^,^ ^- 5- ed, with publick prayer with them, and J^^'^"'"^^'^* for them, in order to a blefiing for them, Prov. xxii. 6 and their families. The negled: of which »^ duty, or power of godiinefs, and rehgion ^^'^^"S^ "24. in families, is one main caufe of that wicked atheifm, and impiety in the world and families; and of the carnal luke- f*^^^. xxix. warmnefs, and ignorance in churches, to-V^p.^^:.. gether with contempt of government ;*'^"^''*'' *^* becaufc many grofelfors make fo little ac- count, or conlcience of performing any duty at home in their own famihes. XLIV Article. Of Children dying in Infancy, We do believe, that all little children, irainh vlf. 16. dying in their infancy, viz. before they viii. 4. ' are capable to chufe either good or evil,fJ^'^"^-'^'"-i9» whether born of believing parents, orun-p^ek believing parents, fhall be faved by the4, esrV.^^''^* grace of God, and merit o^ Cbriji their i Kings xiv. redeemer, and work of the holy ghoft, '3- and fo being made members of the in- ^^'*"* ^'''"* vilible church, Ihall enjoy life everlalling; jer.^xxtf. 29, D lor 30. 50 A T T E N D 1 X. Deut. i. 39. for our Lord Jefus faith, of fuch hehngs Matt. XIX. 13,^^^ kingdom of heaven. ErgOy we conclude, Markx n, ^^^^ ^^^^^ opinion is falfe, which faith, ^.. ' that thofe Uttle intants dying before bap- tifm, are damned. XLV Article. Of the civil Magifirate. Romxiii. i, The fipreme lord and king of all the ^V. ^^ world, hath ordained civil magiHrates to Piw. vni. 15.1^^ under hini, over the people for his Piov^.'xx. :^6. own glory, and the publick good. And 2Sam.xxiii.3.the office of a magiftrate, may be accept- pr.lxxxii.3,4. ed of, and executed by chriltlans, when ^^^"'.4' 7- lawfully called thereunto ; and God hath Prov^ xx! 18. g^^^" ^^^ power of the fword, into the Lukeiii. 15. hands of all lawful magillrates, for the Aclsx. 22. defence and encouragemeut of them that ,iChron.v.22. Jq yj^\\^ ^^^ f^j. ^.j^^ puniftment of evil Tit^ii^'^r' *^c>ers, and for the maintenance of juilice, 2 Pet. ii. 13, ^^"id peace, according to the vvholefome 17. laws of each . kingdom, and common- Ecclef. X. 20. wealth, and they may vva2;e war upon ?Z'''v;i?%''iuft and neceffarv occafions. And fub- Kom. xiii. 5.^! . , T ^ 1 1 ^ -IT 1 rim ii. i,2.J^-tion m the Lord ought to be yielde Matt.xxii. 17, to the maglHrates in ail lawful things ^^' .. commanded by them, for confcience fake, 2 sIm xxi^^' ^^^^^"^ prayers for them, for a blefling upon 16, 17. ' them, paying all lawful and reafonable xxiii. i5,i6.cullom, and tribute to them, for the allifl- ing of them, againfl foreign, domeilical, and potent enemies. XLVI ATT E N D I X. Si XLVI Art 1 . 4. without equivocation, of mental referva-Heb. vi. 16. tion, in a folemn and reverent uling of|^^- ^^''J'-^o. God's holy name ; and fuch an oath, wcRph h'^28^* believe all chrlilians, when lawfully called Amos viii.V4. thereunto by the maglllrate, may take. James v. 12. But the fooliih monaftical vows o^papijfs^ 1Sam.xiv.29. and all idle and vain fwearing, Is an abo-jj-^'^"^^^[^!'ij^j^^' minable, and wicked prophaning of thezeph. i. 5. -'%oly name of God. lui «2-^ XLIX Article. '^Ofihe StdU'bf7?2an after Death^ and of ^- the Kefurre^ion of the Dead. V "' The bodies of men after death, return Gen. iii. 19. to dull, and fee corruption; but their ^^^^s xiii. 36. fouis, or fplrits, which neither die nor^^^i^^'^^:.^"- 7- eep, havmg an immortal lubJiltcncc, nn-Lul^e^,,^ifj^ mediately return to God who gave them; 2 Cor. v. 1,6"', the fouls of the righteous being then ^ . made perfect in holinefs, are rcccived?^'^'/^* \"..^-^- into paradife where they arc with CV'r.y/,!^,^^ 5 ' ^^* and behold the face oi" God in light and 1 Pet. iii. 19. glory, waiting for the full redemption of L^ii^exvi. 23, their bodies, and the fouls of the wicked ^j; -'are calt mto hell, where they remamm.^ •torment and utter darknefs, referved to i Their. iv.: -, D 3 the 54 A T T E N D I X. Jobxix. 26, the judgment of the great day. And ^Cor V befides thele two places, for fouls fepa- ^^ ' rated from their bodies, the holy fcrip- John v,28,29ture mentions none. And at the lall day, Dan. xii. 2. fuch of the faints as fhall be found alive, iC^or. XV. 2i,^]^alj not fleep, but be changed, and all Rev. XX. -,6.^^'^ ^^^<^ ^^^^ be raifed up with the felf A6lsxxiv. i5.fame bodies and none other, although Phil. iii. 21. with difterent qualities, which fhall be ^v. xix. I, uj^ited to their fouls for ever and ever, ^ly 5^^ but the bodies of the unjuft, ihall by the power of Chrlji^ as a fevere and jull judge, be raifed to difhonour ; and the bodies of tlie jull and righteous, by his fpiiit, as he is head of the catholick church, unto honour, and be made conformable with his glorious body, and fliall erijoy evei lading life ; in linging perpetual praifes, and hallelujahs to God for ever and ever. Artwu L A p. T I c L E, Of the laji Judgments Actsxvii. 31. And laflly, we believe, God hath ap- John V. 22, pointed a day, wherein he will judge the Kom.il. 16. ^^'^^^^^ ^^ righteoufiieis, by Jcfus Clmfi, 2 Tim. iv. I. to whom all power, and judgment is iCor. vi. 3. given of the father; in which day, not \t'''^ ^"- -,A ^"^y ^^^^ apoAate angels lliall be judged, 2 Coi-^v' 10 ^^^ ^^^^^^'^^^ ^ peribns that have lived Ecclef.xii. i4.upon the earth, Ihall appear before the Rom. xiv. 10, tribunal of CZ?r//?, to give an account of \]' ^ their thoughts, words, and deeds, and LuVe xxUs'-'^^^^ receive a jull fentence, according to what A T T E N D I X. S3 what they have done in their bodies, iThefT.iv. 17. whether good, or evil, when God, ac-^^-.^^^-./^- cording to his purpofe, will manifelt ^^'^^ u^at.xxvVe glory of his mercy, in the falvation ofpf. iviii. 10. * his ele6V, and of his juflice in the eternal 2 Tim. iv. 8. damnation of the wicked and difobedient ^ ^"^^ ^'.^'* ^^• for then ftall the righteous go into cver-jo^})'„ ^j^' ^' lading life, and receive the fullnefs of joyzThefT. i. g,' and glory, but the wicked, who know^^- not God, nor obey the gofpcl offered ^^^-J^- ^^» them in Chrifi^ Ihall be call into eternal ^ ^^^jj'^j ^ torments, and punifhed with everlalting dellru6tion, from the prefence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. D 4 NUMB. SS JT T E N D I X. NUMB. 11. A Confession of F a i T h, C H A R I. Of the holy Scrlpturgs. I. ^^f'^HE holy fcrlpture is the only. I fufficient, certain, and infallible 2Tini.iii. i5,rule of all-faving knowledge, faith, and ^^.- ... obedience j although the light of nature^^ Lukexxvi.zq''^"^ the works of creation and providence, ' 31. do fo far manifell the goodnefs, wifdom,, . Eph. ii. 20. and power of God, as to leave men unes- Rom. 1. J 9, cufable j yet are they not fufficient to give ,. ii u'l-^^^^ knowledge of God and his Will, .. Pr.xix. I, 2, which is necefiary unto falvation. There- Heb. i, I. fore it pleafed the Lord at fundry times, and in diverfe manners, to reveal himfelfj and to declare that his will unto his church; and afterward for the better pre- ferving, and propagating of the truths and for the more fure eilablilliment, and.. comforf of the church againfl the corrup-' Frcv.xxiJ.i9,tion of the flelh, and the malice olSatan^ ^''^' and of the world, to commit the fame 2^Pet iTq 20 ^^^^^l"^ ""^^ writing ; which makcdi the holy fcriptures to be moft neceilary, thofc . former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people being now ceafed. \1K 3is-^*. A "P "P E N D I X. s? ' 2, Under the name of holy fcrlpture, or the word of God written, are now con- tained all the books of the old and new fellament. Tbeu follows the names of the hooksy as acbwwkdged in all protefiant confejfionsy after ivbicb follow thefe words : All which are given by the infpiration of God, to be the Rule of faith and life. 3. The books commonly called apo-2TIra. Hi. i6, crypha, not being of divine infpiration, ^^^^ ^^^^* are no part of the canon or rule of the^^'^^'^'^^^ 2. fcripture, and therefore are of no autho- rity to the church of God, nor to be any otherwife approved or made ufe of, than other human writings. 4. The authority of the holy fcrip-^Pet. 1. 19, ture, lor which it ought to believed, de-^^j^ .|j ^^^ pendcth not Upon' the tcflimony of any 2Their.ii! 13' man, or church, but wholly upon God, 2 John v. 9. who is truth itfelfi the author thereof; therefore it is to be received, becaufe it is the word of God, 5. We may be moved and induced by the telUmony of the church of God, to an high and reverend elieem of the holy fcriptures ; and the heavcnlinefs of the matter, the efficacy of the dodirine, and the majefty of the itile, the conl'ent of all the parts, the fcope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God, the lull dil-. covery it makes or the only way of man't. falvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections there- oij are arguments whereby it doth abun- dantlv jS A T 9 E N D I X. dandy evidence itfelf to be the word of Johnxvi, i3,God ; yet notwithflanding, our full per- ^4_ „ fuafion, and ailurance of infallible truth, j^^^ or. 11. 10, ^j^^ divine authority thereof, is from the 1 John ii, 2o, inward work of the holy fpirit, bearing 27. witneis by, and with the word in our hearts. 6. The whole council of God con- sTira. iii. 15, ccrning all things necelTary for his own ^'' . glory? I'J^^n's falvation, faith, and life, is a. 1.8,9. either exprefly fet down, or neceflarily contained in the holy fcripture ; unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the fpirit, or traditions of men. John vi. 45. Neverthelefs wx acknowledge, the in- iCor. 11. 9, ward illumination of the fpirit of God, ^' to be necefiary for the faving underlland- ing of fuch things as are revealed in the word, and that there are feme circum- ilances concerning the worililp of God, and government of the church, common 1 Cor. xi. 13, to human actions and focieties, which are H- . to be ordered by the light of nature, and ^ ' ^ * chrlflian prudence, according to the gene- ral rules of the word, which are always to be obferved. 7. All things in fcripture are not 2Pet. iii. 16. alike plain In themfelves, nor alike clear unto all ; yet thofe things which are ne- celiary to be known, believed and ob- pr, xix. y, fervcd for falvation, are fo clearly pro- c.vix. 1 30. pounded^ and opened in fome place of fcripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due ufe of ATTEND IX. S9 of ordinary means, may attain to a fuC- ficient undcrltanding of them. 8. The old teltament in Hebrew ^Rom. ill z. which was the native language of the people oi God of old, and tiie new telta^ ment in Grcek^ which at the time of the writing" of it, was molt generally ki^own to the nations, being immediately infpired by God, and by his fnigular care and pro- vidence kept pure in all ages, are there- fore auchentical ; fo as in all controverliesira. vlii. zo. pf religion, the church is finally to appeal ^*^^ ^^* ^^' to them. But becaufe thcfe original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and in- terell in the fcripturcs, and are command- ed in the fear of God to read and fearch Jolm v. 39, them, therefore they are to be tranllated^^"^^' ^'''- ^' into the vulgar language of every nation, qqi' ^ jg. unto which they come, that the word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worlhip him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the fqriptures may ha\ e hope. 9. The infallible rule of interpreta- tion of fcripturc is the fcripture itfclf, 2 Pet. i. 20, and therefore when there is a queftion^V* about the true and full fenie of any fcrip- ^5 ^ ' ^* '' cure which is not manifold but one, it mull be fearched by other places, that fpeak more clearly. 10. The fupream judge by which all controverlies of religion are to be deter- mined, and all decrees of councils, opi- nions of antient writers, do6trines of men, and private fpirits, are to be examined, and ^^^ ^^^^r "^^^ abfolute, work- ifaiah vi. 3. iog all things according to the counfel of pr. cxv. 3. his own immutable, and molt righteous Iiaiah xlvi. yvjj]^ {q^ }^js own glory ; mofl loving, Fm'/. xxvi.4.g^3cious, merciful, long-fuifering, abun- Rom. xi. 36. dant in goodnefs and truth, forgiving Exod. xxxiv. iniquity, tranfgreiTion, and iin, the re- ^1 7- warder of them that diligently feek him; Nehix.'32,35^"'^ withal moll juil, and terrible in his i'f. 1^ 5^6! judgments, hating all iin, and who will Exod. xxiy.7. by no means clear the guiky. Neh. ). 2, 3. o. God having all life, glory, goodnefs, ^°^"ly'--^^2 bleifednefs, in and of himfclf, is alone in, ' cxix. 68. and unto himfelf all-fufficient, not ftand^ Jobxxii. 2,3. ing in need of any creature, which he Rom. XI. 34' hath made, nor deriving any glory from ^^^^- them, ATT END IX. 61 them, but only manifeiling his own glory Dan. iv. 2^. in, by, unto, and upon them, he is the ^^^- ^^-^ ^ 3 • alone fountain of all being, of whom,^^g^^''j^g^ through whom, and to whom are allpf. cxlv. 17. things, and he hath molt fovereign domi-Rev. v. iz, nion over all creatures, to do by them,^^- for them, or upon them, whatfoever him- felf pleafeth ; in his fight all things are open and manifeft, his knowledge is in- finite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, fo as nothing is to him con- tingent, or uncertain \ he is moft holy in all his councils, in all his works, and in all his commands ; to him is due from angels and men, whatfoever worfliip, fer- vice, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the creator, and whatever he is fur- ther pleafed to require of them. 3. In this divine and infinite being, John v. 7. there are three fubiiitances, the father, the Matt, xxviii. word orfon, and holy fpirit, of onefub-^9- Itance, power, and eternity, each having ^^^^y^-"* J |[ the whole divine eflence, yet the eflencejohn xiv. n. undivided ; the father is of none, neither i Cor. viii. 6. begotten nor proceeding; the fon is eter-J^^'^'-H* fi- nally begotten of the father; the l^oly q^j ^ J* 5^ ' fpirit proceeding from the father and the fon, all infinite without beginning, there- fore but one God ; who is not to be di- vided in nature and being, butdiilinguilh- cd by feveral peculiar, relative properties and pcrfonal relations ; which do6trine of the trinity is the foundation of all our isommunion with God, and comfortable depcndance on him. CHAP. da A'P T E N D 1 X. C FI A P. III. Of God's Decree. Ifa.xlvi. iG. I. God hath decreed in himfelf, from Eph.i. II. all eternity, by the molt wife and holy Heb. yi. 17. ^.Q^^cil of his own will, freely and un- ^om. • '5' ^j^^j^gg^l^jg^ ^j[ things whatfoever comes James i. 15, to pafs, yet fo as thereby is God neither 17- . the author of lin, nor hath fellowfhip I John 1. 5. ^-^j^ ^^y therein, nor is violence offered 2g^ * ^'^' to the will of the creature, nor yet is the Johnxix. 1 1. liberty or contingency of fecond caufes Numb, xxiii. taken away, but rather eftablifhed, in i^u • . - which appears his wifdom in difpoiing all ^ *^' ^"^'^' things, and power, and faithfulnefs, in accomplifhing his decree. Aasxv. 18. a. Although God knoweth whatfoever Rom. ix. II, may, or can come to pafs, upon all fup- ^^' pofed conditions, yet hath he not decreed any thing, becaufe he forefaw it as future, or as that which would come to pafs upon fuch conditions. 1 Tim. V. 21. 3» By the decree of God, for the ma- Matt, xxv. 41. i-^'ifeftati on of his glory, fome men and Eph. 1. 5, 6. ang(.[s^ are predeilinated, or fore-ordain- ^ om. IX. 22, ^^ ^^ eternal life, through yefus Clmji^ Jude 4. to the praife of his glorious grace ^ others being left to a6t in their iin to their jull condemnation, to the praife of his glori- ous iuflice. 2 Tim. ii. 19. 4. Thcfe angels and men thus predefti- John xni. iS^nated, and fore-ordained, are particularly, and unchangeably deligned ; and their number ATTENDIX. ^3 number fo certain, and definite, that It cannot be either increafed or diminillied. 5. Thofe of mankind, that are prede- Eph. 1.4,9,1 1. llinated to life, God, before the foun-^^^J^^^- Se- dation of the world was laid, according j-j^l^^^^/ ^' to his eternal and immutable purpofe, and Rom. ix. 13, the fecret council and good pleafure of 16. his will, hath chofen in Chrijt unto ever-^P^- ^^- ^''-• laftIng glory, out of his meer free grace and love, without any other thing in the creature as a condition or caule moving him thereunto. 6. As God hath appointed the eledb unto glory, fo he hath by the eternal and i Pet. i. 2. moft free purpofe of his will fore-ordain- 2^116^.11.13. ed all the means thereunto, wherefore J ^^^^''^•^- 9* they who are eledfced, being fallen in Ro*n,;viii.36. Adam^ are redeemed hy Chrifl^ are effec- -Their, ii. 13. tually called unto faith in Cbriji^ by his i Pet. i. 5^.^ fpirit working in due feafon, are jullified, J°^" T-ii"'d^ adopted, fandified, and kept by his \.l ^[ power through faith unto falvation ; neither are any other redeemed by Cbrif.\ or efte6tualiy called, juilified, adopted, fandified, and fivcd, but the ele6t only. 7. The dodrine of this high my fiery of predellination is to be handled with fpeciai prudence, and care, that men at- i TheiT. Iv. 5, t-ending the will of God revealed in his 2 ?tt:. i. 10. word, and yielding; obedience thereunto, ^'^^^^ ^•.■ may, Irom the certamty oi their encccual ^j v^^^^ vocation, be alfurcd of their eternal Li:;<:ex. 20, eledlon ^ fo lliall this dodiine aiToid matter of praife, reverence, and admi- ration of God, and ol' humility, diligence, and 64 AT T E N D I X. find abundant confolaticn, to all that (m^ cerely obey the Gofpel. CHAP. IV. Of Creatiofi. tohn i. 1, 5. t. In the beginning It pleafed God the Heb. i. 2. father, fon, and holy fpirit, for the mani- Johnxxvi. i3£g£^^|.^Qj^ of the glory of his eternal CoH^i6° power, wifdom, and goodnefs, to create Gen!ii. i*, 2. or make the world, and all things there- in, whether vifible or invilible, in the fpace of fix days, and all very good. Gen. i. 27. 2. After God had made all other crear "• 7- tures, he created man, male and female^ Ecclef.vih29.^-^|^ j.gj^f^n^]3je ^nd immortal fouls, ren- Rom. nf 14, dering them fit unto that life to God, for 15. ' ' which they were created, being made Gen.iii. 6. ^fter the image of God, in knowledge^ righteoufnefs, and true holinefs, having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it ; and yet under a poffibility of tranfgreffing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was fubjeft to change. Gen. VI. 17. 3 Befides the law written in their iiL 8,9,10. hearts, they received a command not to ?-^ 26, 28. eat of the tree of knowledge of .good and evil y which whilll they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures. CHAP. AT 9 E RD 1 X. 6s CHAP. Vo Of divine ^rovider/ce. 1. God the good creator of all tlilngs^Hcb. i. 3. in his infinite power and wifdom,- dothJ^'^^" ^'^*^"*' iiphold, direct^ difpofe, and govern all{f^*.^j^^j^.|^ creatures, and things, from the greateftio, n. even to the leaft, by his moll wile andPf. xiii. 5, 6. holy providence, to the end for the which ^J^"- ^- 26, they were created, according unto his in^-^pji^ i „^ fallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counfel of his own will, to the praife of the glory of his wifdom, power, ^ullice, infinite goodnefs, and mercy. 2. Although in relation to the fore- knowledge and decree of God, the firft caufe, all things come to pafs, immutably iind infallibly, fo that there is not anyAasii. 23. thing, befals any by chance, or without Prov.xvi. 33. his providence, yet by the fame provi- dence he ordereth them to fall out accord- Gen. viii. 22. ing to the nature of feeond caufes, either ueceiTarily, freely, or contingently. 3. God in his ordinary providence, A^s xxvli. maketh ufs. of means, yet is free to work^^^ j^-^^ ^ without, above and againft them at hisHof. i. 7* pleafure. Rom. iv. 19^ 4. I'he almighty power, unfearchable^^- v/iidom, and infinite goodnefs of God, ^^' ^"- ^7« fo far manifeft themfelves in his provi- dence, that his determinate counfel ex-Ro!n. xi. 32, tendeth itfclf even to the firft fall, and^^-^ ^^.^ ^ all other finful a(5tions both of angels and , chron. xxi. men, and that not by a bare pGrmillion, i. ^ E which 66 AT T E N D 1 X. sKingsxix. which alfo he moft wifely and powerfully 28- ^ boundethj and otherwilc ordereth, and nl„^f^^'J°'S0vcrneth, in a manifold difpenfation to Lien. I. 20. p. Ill 1 r I - /- » Ifaiahx. 6, 7, h^s nioit holy ends * yet lo, as the Imful- 12. nefs of their acls proceedeth only from ^^'\ ^.*' the creatures, and not from God, who 1 John 11. io.|5eii;,g lyioft i^Qiy and righteous, neither is, nor can be, the author or approver of fin. 5. The moft wife, righteous, and gra* cious God, doth oftentimes leave for a feafon his own children to manifold temptations, and the corruptions of their own heart, to chaflize them for their former fins, or to difcover unto them the 2 Chn xxxii. hidden llrength of corruption, and de- 25, b'r. ceitfulnefs of their hearts, that they may ^ cS^xir^'^^ humbled ; and to raife them to a more ^^^ * ^^* clofe and conftant dependance for their fupport upon himfclf, and to make them more watchful againll all future occafions of fin, and for other juft and holy ends. Rom.viii. it, So that whatfoever befals any of his cleft, is by his appointment for his glory, and their good. 6. As for thofe wicked and ungodly men, whom God, as a righteous judge^ Rom. i. 24, for former fin doth blind and harden ; ^^' , from them he not only witholdeth his j)evitxx\x.4..S^^^^y whereby they might have been enlightncd in their underftanding, and Matt. xiii. 1 2. wrought upon in their hearts, but fome-* ^^}- "• !?• times alfo withdraweth the gifts which % \^F^"'* they had, and expofeth them to iiich Pi'.' Ixxxi. 1 1, objeds as their corruptions makes occafion ^z, of fin J and withal, gives them over to their jiT T E N D I X. 67 their own lufts, the temptations of the^ThefT. ii.io, worlds and the power of S'^?^;/, whereby ^''■' ... It comes to pafs that they harden thcm-;'2° ■^"^'^^' felves under thofe menns which God ufeth jiaiah vi. 9, for the foftning of others. '°' .. 7. As the providence of God doth in ^ ^^}' '"-'[^f' general reach to all creatures, fo after a ^rnoTix^slo.* more fpecial manner it taketh care o^ hisiraiahxHii-V church, and dlfpofcth bf all things to the 4. 5. good thereof. CHAP. XL Of she Tall of Man, of Sitf, afj 6f the ^itfiijhment thereof 1. Although God created man upright^ and perfect, and gave hiiii a righteous law, which had Been unto life had he kept it, and threatned death upon th^Gen. il. :6, breach thereof^ )'^t he did hot long abide ^ 7;.. in this honour; Satan tiling the fubtilty^"^'^^' '^'' of the ferpent to fubdue Eve, then by^ ^'^:.^^- her feducing J dam, who without an^ compUliion, did wilfully tranfgrefs the I.a^' of their creation, and the command gii^h iinto them, ih eating the forbidden fruit ^ which God was pleafed according to his wife and holy" council to p&rtnit. having purpofed to order it, to His own glory. . a. Our firli parents by this fin, fell Rom. iil. 25. from their original . righteoufnefs and ^^•.*^'^^' communioti with God, and we in them,Qen^^yj]^-*^ whereby death cam.e upon all; all be-jer. xvii.^. tbmine dead in fin, and wholly defiled in 68 ATTENDIK ai) the faculties, and parts of foul and body. Rom. iii. lo, ^, They being the root, and by God's '9' appointment, Handing in the room and I Cor! XV. 2^1,1^^^^ of all mankind; the guilt of the t^£. ' li'n was imputed, and corrupted nature Pf. li. 5. conveyed, to all their pofterity defcend- E° h^il '^* ^"? ^^^^ ^^^^"^ ^y ordinary generation, 1^0^' "*i^2Q being now conceived in iin, and by nature V. 12. children of wrath, the fervants of iin, the Heb. ii. 14. fubjeds of death, and all other miferies, fpiritual, temporal, and eternal, unlefsthe Lord Je/us fet them free. iThefT. i. 10. 4. From this original corruption^where- Rom.viii. 7. by we are utterly indifpofed, difabled, ]ani-«i^i4,ic^^"^^ made oppolite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all a 2, life and bleffed immortality: man beins'T'^; . ^^ 1 • y^\ r "^ . P Acts IV. 12. now utterly mcapable ox acceptance with [ohnviii 56. God upon thofe terms on which Adam itood in his itate of innocency. CHAP. VIII. Of Chrift the Mediator. I. It pleafed God, in his eternal pur-iraiahxlii. i, pofe, to chufe and ordain the Lord yefus^ iPer. i. 9.10, his only begotten fon, according to ^^^'iill'^'^'^\, E 3 covenant ' ' ^' ' 70 A'T 'F E N D I X. Pf. ii. 6. covanant made between them both, to be Luke 1. 33. ^YiQ mediator between God and man ^ the Heb i ^2' pi'ophet, prieft, and king, bead and iavi- Aasxvii.^i.our of his church, the heir of all things, Ifaiah liii. I'o. and judge of the world, unto whom he Johnxvii. 6 ^j^ irom all eternity give a people to be Kom.vuiso.^-^^^^^^^ and to be by him in time re^ deemed, called, jullitied, faadtified^ and glorified. 2. The fon of God, the fecond perfon in the holy trinity, being very ^nd eternal God, thebaightnefs of the father's gloryj of one fubftance and equal with him ; who made the world, who upholdeth and governeth all things he hath made, did^ Avhen the fulnefs of time was come, take I John I. 14. ^pQn hjiyj man's nature, with all the eflen-^ Rom.^viifV^^^- properties, and common infirmities Keb. ii 1*4, thereof, yet without lin^ being conceived 16,17. by the holy fpirit cofiiing down upon' iv. 15. her, and the power of tiie moft high overfhadowing her, and fo was niadeof a Luke 1,27,3 1, woman, of the tribe oi yudaJj^ oi the SS* feed of Jlhraham and David j according to the fcriptures : fo that two whole per- fed: and diflin6l natures, were infeparably joined together in cue perfon, without Rom.ix.5. converlion, compolition, or confulion ; z Tim. 11. 5. which perfon is very God and very man, yet one ChriJ^^ the only mediator between God and man. 3. The Lord ye/us in his human na- tyre, thus united to the divine, in the perfon of the fon, was fandified and ?r. xlv. 7. ^anointed with the holy fpirit above mea- A 31- fied, and died, and remained in the ilateff^^^'''"-44-' of the dead ; yet faw no corruption : on ^5; * ^^^"• the third day he arofe from the dead, Ads xfii. 37. with the fame body in which he falTcred, iCor.xv. 3,4. with which he alfo afcended into heaven: -|°^" xx.^5, and there fitteth at the right hand of ^j^j-k xvi 1 6 his father, making interceffion ; and fhallAds i. 9, 10, return to judge men and angels, at then- end of the world. Heb *Ix"* ^^' 5. The Lord Jt^fus^ by his perfect ^^^,"^^^.2^'^* obedience and facrifice of himfelf, which Rom. xiv.9, he through the eternal fpirit once offered 10. up unto God, hath fully fatisfied the^"^^- ^^* ^4. juttice of God, procured reconciliation, j^^^^ ^- M- and purchafed an everlafting inheritance 26/ E 4 in iii. 72 AT T E N D IX. Tdhnxvii. 2 in the kingdom of heaven, for all thofc; Heb. IX. 15. ^vhom the father hath given unto him. Heb.'^'iv^ 2!^ 6. Although the price of redemption 1 Pet. i. 10, was not adually paid by Chti^^ till after li. his incarnation, yet the virtue, eiScacy, and benefit thereof were communicated to the eled in all ages fuccellively, from the beginning of the world, in and by thofe promifes, types and facrifices where- in he was revealed and lignified to be the Jtev.xIH.8. feed which fhould brulfe the ferpent'-s Heb. xiii. %. i^ead ; and the Iamb llain from the foun- dation of the world : being the fame yefterday, and to day, and for ever. 7. Chrifi in the work of mediation afteth according to both natures^ by each nature doing that which is proper to it felf, vtt by reafon of the unity of the John iiL 13, perfoii, that which is proper to one Ads :cx. z%, nature, isfometimes in fcripture attributed to t/)c perfon denominated by the other nature. 8. To all thofe for whom Qmfi hath John vi. 37. obtained eternal redemption, he doth X. i5»^^- certainly, and effeftually apply imd com- Pnn.'^J";^' municate the fame: making interceflion johnxvrii. 6. lor them; unitmg them to himlelf by isph. i. 9. his fpirit, revealing unto them, in and by 1 johR V. 20. the word, the myftery of falvation, per-^ .votn. vHi. 9»f;3a^i:qg them to -believe, and obey, go- Ff. ex. 1. verning their hearts by his word and iCor. XV. 25. fpirit, and overcoming all their enemies !?6- ^ \^y l^js almighty power and wifdom ; in E^h^T's^* fuch manner and ways, as are moll con- " *' ' .*, ionant to his w^onderful and unfearchable difpenfation ; AT "P E N D IX. 73 difpenfation ; and all of free and abfolute grace, without any condition forefeen in them, to procure it. 9. This office of mediator between . God and man, is proper only to Cbrifl-j who is the prophet, prieft, and king of i Tim. ii. 5^ the church of God ; and may not be either in whole, or any part thereof transferred from him to any other. ' 10. This number and order of offices is neceflary ; for in refpedl of our igno-Johni. x8. ranee, we ftand in need of his prophetical office ; and in refpedl of our alienation from God, and imperfection of the bell of our fervices, we need his prieflly office, Col. i. 21. to reconcile us, and prefent us acceptable ^a^- ^- *7- unto God : and in refpe(5t of our averfe^ nefs, and utter inability to return to God, and for our refcue, and fecurity from our fpiritual adverfaries, we need his kingly John xvi. §, office, to convince, fubdue, draw, uphold, f|^^^j^^^.^^ deliver, and preferve us to his heavenly^ kingdom, CHAP. IX. OfFree-WilL 1. God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power ofMatt.xvH.is. ading upon choice, that it is n-ither]^^^^y^J|^ forced, nor by any neceflity of nature de- termined to do good or evil. 2. Man in his Itate of innocency, had freedom, and power, to will, and to do,^cclef.vi?.29. that which was good, and well-pleafing^^" '" ^' ^4 A"P "PE N D I X, to God ; but yet was unliable, fo that he might fall from it. 3. Man by his fall into a ftate of lin, Kom.v. 6. hath wholly loll all ability of will to any viii. 7. fpiritual good accompanying* falvation ; fo Eph.il. X, 5- as u natural man, being altogether averfe ?ohn"vi^ 44?' ^^^^ ^^^^^ good, and dead in fm, is not ^ ' able by his own ilrength, to convert him-^ felf, or to prepare himfelf thereunto. Col. i. 13. 4' When God coiiverts a linner, and John viii. 36 tranflates him into the ilate of grace, he Phil, ii 13- freeth him from his natural bondage un- Rom.yii. 15,^^^ ^-^^ and by his grace alone, enables him freely to will, and to do that which is fpiritually good, yet fo as that, by reafon of his remaining corruptions^ he doth not perfectly nor only will that which is good, but doth alfo will that which is evil. Eph. iv. 13. 5- The will of man is made perfedly-j and immutably free to good alone/ in the llate of glory only. CHAP. X. Of effcaual Callivi. Rom.viii.30. '^- Thofe whom God hath predeft^ xi. 7. nated unto life, he is pleafed in his ap- Eph.i.10,11. pointed and accepted time effed:ually to 2Thcfr.iii.i3,^.,^lll3^ his word and fplrit, out of that Eph.ii. 1,6. ^^^^ ^f ^^^ and death, in which they are A6lsxxvi.'i8. by nature, to grace and falvation by "Jefus 'B.^h.i.j, iS.ChriJf y enlightning their minds, fpiritu-» Ezek.xxx.26. jjUy^ and favingly, to underiland the ^cut. XXX. •^v^jj^gg q£ QqJ ^ taking away their heart AT T E N D 1 X. ys uf ftone, and giving unto thenn an heart Ezek. xxxvi. of Belh \ renewing their wills, and \>y his^^'j^ . almighty power determining them to that p^? '^^ *^* which is good, and effedually drawing Cant. *i. 4, them to J ejus. Cbri[i \ )'et io as they come molt freely, being made willing by his grace. 2. This cf^eftual call is of God's free 2 Tim. i. 9. and fpecial grace alone, not from ^"7 f^J^or";}^', thing at a^U forcfeen in man, nor from '^^yYL^^'ii'^]^^\ power^ or agency in the creature, being John v. 25. wholly pallive therein, being dead in linsEph. i. 19, and trel'paffes, until being quickned and^^- renewed by the holy fpirit, he is thereby enabled to anfwer this call, and to em- brace the grace offered and conveyed in it, and that by no lefs power than that which railed up Cbrijl from the dea.d. 3. Eled: infants dying in infancy, arejohniii. 3,5, rege^erated and faved by Chriji thro' the^*^- fpirit ; wl o worketh when, and where, and how he pleafeth : fo alfo are all other eled perfons, who are uncapable of being outwardly called by the miniftry of the word. 4. Others not clefted, altho' they may Matt. xxii. 4. be called by the miniftry of the word, xiii. 29,21. and may have fome common operations ^^^^-^'M* 5- of the fpirit, yet not being effectually ^^/^ ^^"^^' drawn by the father, they neither will, i John ii. 24, nor can truly come to Chrifl: ; and there- 25- fore cannot be faved : much lefs can "len, ^^^"^^7- '^• that receive not the Chriftian Religion be-'^ "x^j.^^. faved ; be they never fo diligent to frame their Uvcs according to the light of na- ture 7^ JIT 7 E N D 1 a: tyre, and the law of that religion they do profefs. CHAP, XL Of yujiijicatioft, Rom. ill. 24 I. Thofe whom God efFedbually calleth^ yiii. 50. he alfo freely juilifieth, not by iofuling *^' 5* righteoufnefs into them, but by pardon- Epli. i. 7' ^"S ^I^cir iins, and by accounting and ac- 1 Cor. i. 30, cepting their perfons as righteous, not 31. for any thing wrought in them, or done Kom. V. 17, )^y them, but for Clm/l*s fake alone ; not pj^^-'ljij 8^^. by imputing faith itfelf, the adl of be- Eph. ii. 8,*9,lieving, or any other evangelical obedi- 10. ence to them, as their righteoufnefs ^ but by imputing Cbriji's aftivc obedience un- to the whole law, and pallive obedience in his death, for their whole and folc John!.! 2. righteoufnefs, they receiving and refting Rom. V. 17. on him and his righteoufnefs by faith ; which faith they have not of themfelves, it is the gift of God. 2. Faith thus receiving and refling on Rom. iil 28. C-^r//?, and his righteoufnefs, is the alone inllrument of Juftification, yet it is not Gal. V. 6. alone in the perfon juftified, but is ever lT^'26 '^' accompanied with all other faving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love. 3. Cbrlfl by his obedience and death, did fully difcharge the debt of all thofe that are juftified, and did by the facrifics of himfdfj in the blood of his crofs, under- ATT ENDIX, yy undergoing in their ftead, the penalty Hcb. x. 14. due unto them, make a proper, real and^ P€t.i-i8,i9« full fatisfadion to God's juitice in their Rom.viii.^32! behalf; yet inafmuch as he was given byaCor. v. 21." the father for then!, and his obedienceRom. iii. 26. and fatisfadion accepted in their Head,^?^- !:^» 7- and both freely, not for any thing in "* ^" them, their juilification is only of free grace, that both the exad juflicc and rich grace of God might be glorified in the julliHcation of finners. 4. God did from all eternity decree to juflify all the eled:, and Chnji did in the Gal. iii. 8. fulnefs of time die for their iins, and rife ^ ^^f* ^•.?* again for their luilification ; neverthelefs J, ^"^/ "' ' P ' n- r 1 r 11 -1 1 KOm. IV. 2C. they are not juitmed perionally, until thecol. i. 21,22, holy fpirit doth in due time actually ap- Tit. iii. 4, 5, ply Chriji unto them. ^'"• 5. God doth continue to forgive theMatt.vi. 12. iins of thofe that are juftified, and altho^John i. 7,9, they can never fall frorn the date of jufti-J°Y^*.^^' ficaiion, yet they may by their fins fall y,'/;^'''''''- 5'* under God's fatherly difpleafure; and in xxxi;.5,5i„ that condition, they have not ufually the Matt. xxvi. • light of his countenance reilored unto 75- them, until they humble themfelves, con- fefs their fins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance. 6. The juilification of believers under q^] \\\^ ^, the old teftament was in all thefe refpedsRom. iv.'224 one and the fame with the juilification of ^^• believers under the new teilament. CHAP, CHAP. XII. Of Afoptio/f. \jrai. IV. i^, 3. KiJ.v.'Va 111) ALiKu ixjL Liio laivs^ KJX. mo '-'iiij -iv^»^ John. i. 12, yefus Chriji^ to make partakers of th( Rom, viii.i7.gj.^^g of adoption ; By which they an Eph. i. -. ^^^ thofe that are jiifiified, God vouch'^ Gal. iv. 4, 5. fafed in, and for the fake of his only foil " le are Re^/iiiVUr^^k^^ into the number, and enjoy the U« Koni.viii. i5.berties and privileges of children of God; Gal. iy. 5, have his name put upon them, receive Eph.^11. 18. ^i^g fpirit of adoption, have accefs to the Prov.^xiv 26. throne of grace with boldnefs, are en- i Pet. V. 7. abled to cry Jhha Father;. are pitied, Heb. xii. 6. protected, provided for, aiid chaftened ifa. liv.^8, 9.^^ him, as by a father ; yet never cafl Eph. iv. 30. ^ff> but fealed to the day of redemption^ Heb. i. 14. and inherit the prdmifcs, ^.s heirs of ever« ahd wi. 12, Ming falvation. CHAR XIIL Of San^ification. Aasxx. 32. I. They who are united to Chrift^ ef^ Rom. VI. 5,6. fecStually called, and regenerated, having John XVII. 1 7. / ^ 'j /- • -^ ^ J • Eph iii 16 ^ ^^^ heart and a new Ipirit created m 17, b'r. * them, thro' the virtue of Cbrift's death iTheff.v. 21, and refurreftion, are alfo farther fandlified ^^'* . really and perfonally, thro' the fame vir- GaL v!^24.'^' ^^^ by his word and fpirit dwelling in Col. i. 1 1, them ; the dominion of the whole body of 2 Cor. yii. i . fm is deilroyed, and the feveral lulls there- Heb. xiu 14. of are more and more weakened and morti^ fied ; and they more and more of Chrift in their hearts, and is ordinarily Lake xvli. c, wrought by the miniftry of the word ;i Pet.ii. 2. by which alfo, and by the adminillrationAasxx. 32. of baptifm, and the Lord's fupper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increafed, and ftrengthencd. 5^. By 8o A9TENDIX. Aa&xxiv.i4. 2. By this faith, a chriftian believeth Pf.xix. 7,8, to be true, whatfoevcr is revealed in the ^^' . word, for the authority of God himfelf ; and alfo apprehendeth an excellency therein, above all other writings, and all things in the world, as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excel- lency oiChrift in his nature and offices, and the power and fulnefs of the holy fpirit in his workings and operations ^ iTim. h 12. and {o is enabled to call his foul upon the John XV. 14. truth thus believed; and alfo adteth dif- ^^^l^^y^^* ^' ferently upon that which each particular ?^j^*j^*jj^' paiTage thereof containeth ; yielding Aasxvi.31. obedience to the commands, trembling at Gal. ii. 20. the threatnings, and embracing the pro- Afls XV. 1 1 . mifes of God, for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal ad:s of faving faith, have immediate relation to Chrijtj accepting, receiving, and rcft- ■ ing upon him alone for juflification, fane- tification, and eternal life^ by virtue of » the covenant of grace. 3. This faith although it be diiTerent in Heb. V. 13, degrees, and may be weak, or ftrong, yet 14- . it is in the lead degree of it, different in ^^^•J^;/J^'the kind, or nature of it, as is all other 20. ' ' faving grace, from the faith aqd common 2 Fet.i. 1. grace of temporary believers; and thcre- Eph vi. 16, ^-Qj.g f[^Q^ ij. j^-j^y }q^ many tinnes affailed, Heb.'l^! fl!^"^ weakened, yet it gets the vidory, 12. ' growing up in many to the attainment of Col. ii. 2. a full alfurancc thro' Chrill^ who is both Heb. xii. 2. ^^^ author and finiilier of our faith. CHAP. AT T E N D 1 X. »i CHAP. XV. OJ Kepeijtance unto Life and S ah at i on. 1. Such of the ek<5t as are convertedTit. iii. 2, 5, at riper years, having fomc times lived in^^* the Itate of nature, and therein ferved diverfe lufls and pleaiuies, God in their eiiedlual calling giveth them repentance unto lite. 2. Whereas there is none that dothEcclef.vii.20: good, and fmneth not, and the beft of men may, through the power and deceit- fuhiels of their corruption dwelling in them with the f)rcvalency of temptation, fall into great lins and provocations, God hath in the covenant of grace mercifully provided that believers lb iinning, and falling, be renewxd thro' repentance untoL«kexxH.3i, falvation. 32. 3. This favlng repentance is an evan- gelical grace whereby a perfon being byzech.xii. lo. the holy fpirit made fenlible of the mam- Ads xi. 18. * fold evils of his fin, doth, by faith in Cbrijl^ humble himfelf for it with godly Eze.xxxvi, forrow, detellation of it, and felf abhor-31. rency, praying for pardon, and ftrength^^°^-vii. u; of grace, with a purpofe and endeavour pr. cxix. 6 by fupplies of the fpirit, to walk before 128. God unco all well-plealing in all things. 4. As i-epentance is to b: continued thro' the whole courfe of our lives, upon the account ot the body of death and thQ motions thereof; fo it is every nun's du:y, Luke x\x. 8. F to* '^^ni, i. 13, '5- 82 ATTENDIX. to repent of his particular known fins, particularly. 5. Such is the provilion which God hath made thro' Cbrift in the covenant of grace, for the prefer vation of believers unto falvation, that altho' there is no fin fo fmall, but it deferves damnation ; yet Rom. vi. 23. there is no fin fo great, that it ihail bring Kaiahi. 16, damnation on them that repent, which ^^' makes the conftant preaching of repen- ^' ^' tance neceffary. CHAP. XVL Of good Works. Micah\n. 8. !• Good works are only fuch as God Heb.xiii. 2i.hath commanded in his holy word, and Matt. XV. 9. not fuch as without the w^ arrant thereof, ^^"''^'"'^•'^aredevifedby men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intentions. Jamesil. 18, 2. Thefe good works done in obedi- ^2. . ence to God's commandments, are the .cxvi. 12, fj-uji-g ^^^ evidences of a true and lively ijohnii. 3,5. faith, and by them believers manifeft zPet.i. 5.ii.their thankfulnefs, ftrengthen their aflli-' Matt. V. 16. ranee, edify their brethren, adorn the 1 P« u' iV proi^ffi^i^ of ^^^ gofpel, flop the mouths Phil. i. i\. of the adverfaries, and glorify God, whofe Eph.ii.io. workmanfhip they are created i«n Chriji Rom. vi.22. yefus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holinefs, they may have the end eter- nal life. 3. Their ability to do good works, is not at all of themfelves, but wholly from thii AT "P E ND I X. 8| the fpirit ofchriji'^ and that they may be John xv.4,5. enabled thereunto, beiides the graces they haTe ah'eady received, there is neceffary an actual influence of the lame holy fpirit to work in them to will, and to do of his 2 Cor. iii. 5. good pleafure, yet are they not hereupon ^^^^* "* ^^' to grow neghgent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unlefs upon r "z^^-: a fpecial motion of the fpirit, but they^^^* ^^.- ^^*^ ought to be diHgent in llirring up thcjfa' ixiv. 7. grace of God that is in them. 4. They who in their obedience attain Job ix. 2, 3. to the greateft height which is poffible^^^- ^- }7' in this life, are fo far from being able to^^^^''''"''^* fupererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall ihort of much which in duty they are bound to do. ib. ^. We cannot by our beft works merit pardon of,lin 6r eternal life at the hand of God, by reafon of the great difpro- portion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite diltanceRom. iii. 20. that is between us and God, whom byEph. ii. 8, 9, them we can neither profit, nor fatisfy,^^"^- ^^ * for the debt of our former lins ; but when ■ we have done all we can, we have done bat our duty, and are unprofitable fer- vVants, and becaufe as they arc good, theyCal.v. 2?323: ->^roceed trom his fpirit, and as they are li"^- l^iv; ^•; ^wrought by us they are defiled, andmix-^^'^ "V'?'^ ed with fo much weakneis and imperfec- tion, that they cannot endure the feverity of God*s judgment. •vf 6. Yet notwithftanding the perfons of 5^elievers being accepted thro' Cbri/ty their *good vvorks alfo are accepted in him ^Eph. i. 6. F 2 not 84 AT T EN D IX. I Pet. ii. 5. not as tho' they were in this life wholly Matt.xxv.2i,unblameable and unreproveable in God's Heb vi 10 ^'g^^' ^"^ ^^^^ ^^ looking upon them in his fon, is pleafed to accept and reward that which is lincere, altho accompanied with many wxakndles and imperfedi- ons. 7. Works done by unregenerate men, ilCingsx 30. altho' for the matter of them they may^ iKingsxxi. ^e things which God commands, and of r * ^^v good ufe both to themfelves and others ; Heb! xi. 4,6.7^^ becaufe they proceed not from a heart 1 Cor. xiii.' I. purified by faith, nor are done in aright Matt. vi. 2,5. manner according to the word, nor to a Amos V. 21, j,ig{^t ^^^ ^}^^ g|0j,y Qf QqJ^ ^-J^^^ ^j.^ Rom. ix. i6.t)^^^^fore liaful and cannot pleafe God, Tit. iii. 5, nor make a man meet to receive grace Job xxi. 14, from God \ and yet their negledt of them W' is more linful and difpleafmg to God. Alau.xxv.41, ^ ° "^'i^^y^ CHAP. XVII. ^ Of ^erfeverance of the Saints. ■go I. Thofe whom God hath accepted m the beloved, effcdually called and fan6ti- fied by his fpirit, and given the precious faith of his eledl utito, can neither totally nor finally fall from the Hate of grace, John X. 28, but iliall certainly perfevere therein to the 29- . end and be eternally faved, feeing the '^- ^' • gifts and callings of God are without re- , johnii. iQ.P^^^^^ce, whence he Itill begets and nourifneth in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the fpirit unto immortality, and tho' many {lorms and A'P 7 E N D I X. 8i and floods arife and beat againll them, yet they Ihall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock, which by faith they are faflened upon notwithftand- ing, thro' unbelief and the temptations of Sat arty the fenfible li-ght of the light and love of God, may for a time bePrixxxIx.31, clouded and obfcured from them, yet he 3 2. is ftill the fame, and they ihall be fure ^|^j^^j;j^'|^' to be kept by the power of God unto falvation, where they Ihall enjoy their js purchafed pofTeflion, they being engraven l upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity. ' 2. This perfeverance of the faints, de- fends not upon their own free-will, but upon the immutability of the decree of Rom. viii. 20. eledion, flowing from the free and un-^"^- ^^' ^6- changeable love of God the ^^ther upon J^^^;;;-;^:^^^ the efficacy of the merit and intercellionHcb. vi. 17. of ycfus Cbriji and union with him, the i John iii. 9. oath of God, the abiding of his fpirit,J*^^-xxxii.4o. and the feed of God vvirhin them, and the nature of the covenant of grace, from all which arifeth alfo, the certainty and infallibility thereof. '^ • 3. And tho' they may, thro' the temp- tation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the negleft of means of their prefervation, fall into grievous lins, and Matt, xxvi, for a time continue therein; whereby they 70, csv. incur God's difpleafure, and grieve his^^^^^^^^'^-^' holy fpirit, come to have their graces and ^'u • ._ comtorts impaired, have their hearts pr. li. ,0,' 12 - . F 3 hardened xxxii. 2,4' 8^^ AT T E N D I X. 2Sam.xii. 1 4. hardened, and their confciences wounded, Lukexxii.32.j^^^^ and Icandalize others, and bring tbmporal judgments upon thcmfclves, yet they fhall renew their repentance and be preferved thro' faith in C/?r/// Jefus^ to the end. CHAP. XVIII. Of the AJJlirance of Grace and Salvatiom^ I. Altho* temporary believers, and other unregenerate men, may vainly de- ceive themfelves with falfe hopes, and carnal prefumptions, of being in the fa- :v^vour of God, and itate of falvation, .ir.,.T; -■ '^"y^hjch hope of theirs fnall perilli ; y^X. Job vlii. 13, fuch as truly believe in the Lord ^efus^ 'I .. ^^ and love him in fincerity, endeavouring to .. ' * "''vvalk in all good confcience before him, may in this life l>e certainly allured, that J John ii. 3. tlicy are in the Hate of grace; and may _.j"; 1 4»^^/; rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, ^^fkux-i which hope ihall never make them a-^ ^.^^Txx! fhamed. K^b.vf;¥i, ■. 1. This certainty is not a bare con- 1 7, fffr. jedtural aiyJ probable perfualion^ ground-*- ^Pct.i. 4> 5'Vd upon a fallible hope, but an infallible affurance of faith, founded on the blood and righteoufnefs oichrifi revealed in the Rom. viii.15, gofpel ; ^nd alfo upon the inward evi- ^^' ... dence of thofe graces of the fpirit unto 1 Join 111. ^»yrY^\^\^ promifes are made, and on the teflimony of the fpirit of adoption wit^ neiling with our fpirits, that we are the 'diildren of God, and as a fruit thereof keep- 2> 3. JVT E N D I X. 87 keeping the heart both humble and holy. 3. This infallible aflurancc doth not fo belong to the effcnce of faith, but that a true believer may wait long and conflict Ifaiah I. 10. with many difficulties, before he be par-^^- ^^.^^^^ii- taker of it; yet being enabled by the ^'^^vn. 1,12. fjpirit, to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may without extraordinary revelation in the right ufe of means attain thereunto : and therefore i John iv.13. it is the duty of every one, to give all^^^-^^- ^^ diligence to make their calling and elecfti-'^* on fure, that thereby his heart may beRom.v.1,2,5. enlarged in peace and jo^' in the holy p. ^*^' *7- fpirit, in love and thankfulnefs to God,p^oj^^^v[ j^^. and in llrength and chearfulnefs in the Tit.ii, 11,12, duties of obedience, the proper fruits ofH- this allurance ; fo far is it from inclining men to loofenefs. 4. True believers may have the afTu- rance of their falvation diverfe vvays fhaken, diminifl:ied, and intermitted ; as by ncg-^'ant.v.2,3,6, licence in preferving of it, by falling ^^'^^•^.*^^'*'^* mto lome Ipecial lin, which woundeth ixxvii.7,8. the confcience, and grieveth the fpirit, by xxxi. 22. fome fudden or vehement temptation, by ^^^' 7- God's withdrawing the light of his coun- { ^^^^^"^^^^^^ tenance, and fuftering even fuch as fear \^^ xlii. ^c]\T, him, to walk in darknefs, and to have no Lam. iii. 26, light ; yet are they never dellitutc of the 2?' 3*- feed of God, and life of faith, that love of Chriji^ and the brethren, that lincerity of heart, and confcience of duty, out of which, by the operation of the fpirit, this alfurance may in due time be revived, F 4 and 88 AT T E N D I X. and by the which in the mean time they arc preferved from utter defpair. CHAP. XIX. Of the Law of God- Gen. 1. 2y. I. God gave to jidam a law of unlvcr- Ecclef.vu.29.fal obedience, written in his heart, and a, particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil ; by which he bound him, and all his Rom. jc. 5. pofterity to perfonal, entire, exact, and Gal.iii.io,i2p^j,pg|-u^l obedience ; promifed life upon the fulfilling, and threatning death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it. -A' Rom. ii. 14, 2. The fame law that was firfl written *5- in the heart of man, continued to be a perfed: rule of righteoufnefs after the fall, Deut. X'. 4. and was delivered by God upon mount Sinai ^ in ten commandments, and written in two tables ; the four iirft containing our duty towards God, and the other lix, cur duty to man. , 3. Beiides this law, commonly called? moral, God was pleafed to give to the people of Iff ad ceremonial laws, contain- Heb. :i. 1. ing feveral typical ordinances, partly of Col. 11. 17. vvorihip, prefiguring Chrifi^ his graces;^, adions, fuiferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth diverfe inftrudions of moral aCor. V. 7. duties, all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformati-f X)n, are by "Jefus Cbrijl the true MefTia-h Colli. 1 4, 16, and only lawgiver, who was furnifted '^'^' with AT T E N D IX:^ 8^ %vith poorer from the father, for that end Eph.ii. 14,1^ abrogated and taken avvay. 4. To them alfo he gave fundry judicial laws, which expired together with the Hate of that people ; not obhging any now by virtue of that inflitution, their i Cor. ix. 8,9, general equity only being of moral ufe. ^^♦ 5. The moral law doth for ever bind Rom. xiii. ^, all, as well juftified perfons as others to 9' i<^-.. the obedience thereof; and that not onlyJ^'^"'^^ ^' in regard of the matter contained in it, but alfo in refped of the authority ofVIatt. v. jj, God the creator who gave it; neither l^^* '9:. - doth Chr'ip, in the gofpel any way diffolve, ^^' ^^^' ^ but much ftrengthen this obligation. 6. Altho' true believers be not under the law, as a covenant of works to beRom.vi. 14. thereby iuftified or condemned, yet it is^^^- "•.'.^• r ' r 1 11 \ ^\ Rom. viii. t» or great uie to them, as wtJI as to others, ^ in that, as a rule of life, informing them iii. 20. of the will of God, and their duty, it vii. 7, 5sft. dired:s and binds them to walk accord- ingly ; difcovering alfo the finful polluti- ons of their natures, hearts, and lives, fo as examining themfelves thereby they may come X.o furrner conviction of humi- liation for, and hatred againil lin \ to- gether with a clearer light of the need they have of Chriji^ and the perfection of his obedience. It is likewife ot ufe to the regenerate, to reftniin their corrupti- ons in that it forbids fm ; and the thrcat- nings of it ferve to ihew what even their fins deferve, and what affli(5lions in this life they may expert for them, althd* freed fron) the curfe and unallajed rigor thereof :m JT 9 E ND I X. thereof. Thefe promifes of it Hkewifc Ibew them God's approbation of obedi- ence, and what bleffings they may exped: upon the performance thereof, tho' not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works ; fo as man's doing good, and Rom. vi. 12, i^efraining from evil, becaufe the law en- fjc' courageth to the one, and deterreth from rPet.iii. 8, the other, is no evidence of his being '^- under the law, and not under grace. GalnLzr. J* Neither are the forementioned ufes Ezek. xxxvi.of the law contrary to the grace of the ^^ gofpel, but do fweetly comply with it, thefpirit oi Chrijl fubduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God revealed in the law, requireth to be done. CHAP. XX. Of the Go/pel^ and of the Este^t of tb& Grace thereof I . The covenant of works being broken by fin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleafed to give forth the pro- Gca. iii. 15. mife o? Chriji^ the feed of the woman, as the means of calling the eled:, and begetting in them faith and repentance ; Rev. xiii. 8. in this promife the gofpel, as to the fub- ftance of it, was revealed, and therein elfedual, for the converlion and falvation of fmners. Ilom.i. 17. 2. This promife ofCbrifij and falvation by him is revealed only by the word of God J neither do the works of creationj or ATTEKDIX, y * or providence, with the light of nature Rom- x- 14» make difcovcry of Chrijt^ or of grace by ^5» »7- him, fo much as in a general or obfcure way; much lefs, that men deftitute ofprov.xxix.i8 the revelation of him by the promife or Isaiah xxv. 7, gofpel Ihould be enabled thereby, to at- ^^- ^' 3- tain faving faith or repentance. 3. The revelation of the Gofpel unto finners, made in diverfc times, and by • - fundry parts, v^ith the addition of pro- mifes, and precepts, for the obedience required tlicrein, as to the nations, and perfons, to whom it is granted is merely of the fovereign will and good plealure of God; not being annexed by virtue ofPr. cxivii.io. any promife, to the due improvement ofAdsxvi. 7. men's natural abilities, by virtue ot" com- mon light received, without it ; which Rom. i. iS, none ever did make or can fo do, and^'^- therefore in all ages the preaching of the gofpel hath been granted unto perfons and nations, as to the extent, or Itreight- ning of it in great variety, according to the council of the will of God. 4. Altho' the gofpel be the only out- ward means, of revealing Chrtji and faving grace, and is as fuch, abundantly fuificicnt thereunto ; yet that men, who are dead in trcfpaiics, may be born again, Pr. ex. 3. quickened, or regenerated, there is more-1. ^^^ "• '4- over ncceifary an effcdual infuperable ."f, ''*.*9'^°' work ot the holy Ipjrit upon the whoIe2Cor.iv.4,,6- foul, for the producing in them a new fpiritual life ; without which no other means will efedt their converlion unto ^od. . CHAP. ■^S AT T E N D 1 X, CHAP. XXL Of Cbrijlian hihrty^ and Liberty of Con" fcience. I. The liberty which Chriji hath pur- thafed for believers under the gol'pel, Gat iii. 13. conlifts in their freedom from the guilt of *-.4- fin, the condemning wrath of God, the A^sxxvi.i8.j,jg^j, and curfe of the law, and in their ^"^Vln. 28. being delivered from this prefent evil 1 Cor. XV. 5 5, world, bondage to Satan^ and dominion ^^' . of fin, from the evil of affliftions, the R^mviii*r'f^^^ and fling of death, the vidory of ll^tTjl^'^^^ grave, and everlafting damnation; I jo'iniv. 1 8. as alio in their free accefs to God, and Gal. iii.9>i4 their yielding obedience unto him, not out of flavilh fear, but a child-like love, and willing mind. All which were com-- mon alfo to believers under the law for the fubllance of them; but under the new teflament, the liberty of chriftians is fur- ther enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial lav.', to whicii Johnvij. 38, the Jewf/h church was fubjeded, and in 3.9- greater boldnefs of accefs to the throne ideb. X/19, of gi-ace, and in fuller communications of the free fpirit of God, than believeEs Under the law did ordinarily partake of James iv. 12. 2. God alone is Lord of the confci- Kom. xiv. 4. gj^^g^ ^„^ j^ath left it free from the doc- Aftsiv. ig^ trines and commandments of men, v/hich iCor. vii!2*3.are in any thing contrary to his word, or Matt. XV. 9, not contained in it. So that to believe fuch A'PT ENDIX. ^ fuch dod:rInes, or obey fuch commands Col. ii. 20; out of confcience, is to betray true li-^i; ... berty of confcience; and the requiring of ^ cor.i? 24I an implicit faith, and abfolute and blind obedience, is to deftroy liberty of con- fclence, and rcafon alfo. 3. They who, upon pretence of chri- ftian liberty, do pradife any lin, or cheriih any linful luft ; as they do thereby pervert the main defign of the grace of the got- pel to their own deltrudion, lb thcyRom. vi. i,fc wholly deftroy the end of chriftian li-Gal.v. 13. berty ^ which is, that being delivered ^t ^ ^^t- ": l^« of the hands of all our enemies, we" * •'< might ferve the Lord without fear, in holinefs and righteoufnefs before him, all the days of our lives. CHAP. XXII. ,c Of religious fforjhip, and the Sahhatb-day. .i%. The ligKt of nature fhews that there is a God, who hath lordihip and fove- reignty over all ; is juft, good, and doth good unto all ; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praifed, called upon, truft- ed in, and ferved, with all the heart, andjer. x. 7. all the foul, and with all the might. But Mark xii. p* the acceptable way of worlhipping the ^^"'•^^^•5^' true God, is inftituted by himfelf, andfo limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worfhipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or theExod.u,4,5,6 fuggellions of Satan^ under any vilible reprefentations, or any other way, not prcfcribed in the holy fcriptures. 2. Re- 0 ATT END IX. Matt.iv.9,To. * !• Religious worihip is to be given to John vi. 23. God the father, fon, and holy ipirit^ and • U^ti. xxvui. ^^ i^jj^ alone; not to angels, faints or any i Rom. i. 25. Other creatures; and lince the fall not Col. ii. 18. without a mediator, nor in the mediation Kev. xix. 10 of any other but Chrift alone. Jdin XIV. 6. 2^ Prayer with thankfgivinff beine; one part 01 natural worihip, is by God re- pr. xcv. 1,7. quired of all men. But that it may be Ixv. 2. accepted it is to be made in the name of John XIV. 13, ^j^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^jp ^f ^l^^ ^pj^,.^,^ accord- Rom. vlii. 26. i"g to his will, with Underftanding, re- t John V. 14. verence, humility, fervency, faith, love, iCor.xiv. 1 6, and pedeverance ; and when with others, ^7- 4n a known tongue. fTim. ii.i,2. 4* Prayer is to be made for things law- 2Sam. vii 29.ful, and for all forts of men living, oi' xii.2i,e5'r.that fl:iall live hereafter, but not for the I John V. 16.^^^^^ nor for thofe of whom it may be known, that they have finned the lin unto death. 1 Tim. iv. 1 3. 5- The reading of the fcriptures, 2 Tim. iv. 2. preaching and hearing the word of God, Lukeviii. 18. teaching and admonilliing one another in Eph v'* iV P^^^"^^5 hymns, and fpiritual fongs, finging Matt, xxviii. wit:h grace in our hearts to the Lord, as 19,20. alfo the adminiib'ation of baptifm, and iCor XV. 26t[-ie LotdWupper, are all parts of reli- ll y^-^^' ' 'gious worfliip of God to be performed in Joelli. 12. t? r ^ ^ n T Exod. XV. I, <^^t)cdience to him vvith undcritanding, &c. faith, reverence, and godly fear ^ more^ Pi. cvii. over, foleiun humiliation, with fallings and thankfgivings, upon fpccial occa]ions, ouo-ht to be ufed in an holy and religious manner. ^^^^^^"^ 6. Neither ATTENDIX. 95 6. Neither prayer, nor any other pait of religious worihip, is now, under the gofpel, tied unto, or made more accept- able by any place in which it is perform- ed, or towards which it is diredfced^ but John iv. 21. God is to be vvorfliipped every where in Mai. i. u. fpirit and in truth ; as in private families ^J^'^-^'- ^' daily, and in fecret each one by himfclf,j^j,tt ;j ^^^^ fo more folemnly in the publick a{lembhe«,pi; ly. ly. which are not carelefly nor wilfully to be Matt. vi. 6, negleded or forfaken, when God by ^is^^^-.?^'^5. word or providence calleth thereunto. 7. As it is of the law of nature, that in general, a proportion of time by God's appointment, be fet apart for the worfhip of God, fo by his word in a politive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men in all ages, he hath par- v^ -:r^ ticularly appointed one day in feven for ExiDd. xx; ^ a fabbath to be kept holy unto him, which from the beginning of the world, to th« refurredion of Chrifl was the lall day of the wxek, and from the refurredion of Chnjl was changed into thefiril day of the iCor.xvi.i,s, week, which is called the Lord's day ^ and ^^ ^^- 7- is to be continued to the end of the world, as the chriitian fabbath \ the obfervation of the lalt day of the week being aboliflied. 8. The fabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men after a due pre- paring of their hearts, and ordering theirrraiahlviii.15 common affairs aforehand, do not only Ne^^. xiii..i^ obferve an holy rell all the day, from ^3- their own works, W9rd?, and Ui oughts, about their worldly employment and re- creations, but alfo are taken up the whole time j)5 AT T E N D I X. Matt. xii. I, time in the publick and private exercifes »5- of his worfhip, and in the duties of ne- ceility and mercy. CHAP. XXIII. Of lawful Oaths and Vows. Erod. xx. 7. Deut. X. 20. I. A lav/ful oath Is a part of religious jer. IV. 2. worfliip, wherein the pcrfon fwearing in zz^ 23. truth, righteoulneis, and judgment, fo- lemnly calleth God to witnefs what he fweareth ; and to judge him according to the truth or falfenels thereof a. The name of God only is that by which men ought to fwear ^ and therein it is to be ufcd with all holy fear and re- verence ; therefore to Iwear vainly or Matt. V. 24, ralhly by that glorious and dreadful namc^ 37. ' or to fwear at all by any other thing, is Jf^^y- ^2. ilnful and to be abhorred ; yet as in mat- zCo/i L ^^^ of weight and moment, for confir- Nch.xiii. 25. motion of truth, and ending all flrifc, an oath is warranted by the word of God ; fo a lawful oath being impoled by lawful authority, in fuch matters, ought to be taken. 3. Whofoever taketh an oath warrant- ed by the word of God ought duly to conlider the righteoufnefs of fo folcmn an ad:, and therein to avouch nothing ILei'.xix 12. but what he knoweth to be the truth ; Jer. xxiii. lo.for that by rafh, fali'c and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land niourns: 4. An A T 7 E N D I X. yf 4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common fenfe of the words, without Pf. xxiv. 4, equivocation, or mental refervation. 5. A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to bePf- Ixxvi. u. made and performed with all religious ^^^"^^^^"*- care and faithfulnefs. But popifh ^o- ^qqt.yiI. 2,g. nailical vows, of perpetual fmgle life,Eph.iv. 28. profcflcd poverty, and regular obedience,Matt. xix.is* are fo far from being degrees of higher perfedion, that they are fupcrftitious, and linful fnares, in which no chrillian may intangle himfelfl CHAP. XXIV. Of the croil Magijirate. i. God the fupreme Lord and King of all the world hath ordained civil magi- ilrates to be under him over the people, for his own glory, and the publick good, Rom. xiii. i. and to this end hath armed them with the power of the fword, for defence and en- couragement of them that do good, and for the punifhment of eVil doers. 2. It is lawful for chriftians to accept and execute the office of a magillrate when called thereunto; in the manage- ^Sam.xxiii.^. ment whereof, as they ought efpecially ^^ "'3'+' to maintain julVice, and peace, according to the wholefome laws of each kingdom and commonwealth ; fo for that end they may lawfully now under the new tellament Luke iii. 14-. wage war upon juft and neccflary occafi* ons. G 3, Civil ^8 ATTENDIX. 3. Civil magiftrates being fet up by God, for the ends aibrefaid^ fubjeftton in all lawful things commanded by them, Rom. xiii. 5, ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, ^» 7- .. not only for wrath but for confcience fake; '^?^- "; ^7- and we oueht to make fupplications and iTim.u. 1,2. r^ 1 • t 11M prayers, for kmgs and all that are m au- thority, that under them we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinefs and honeflye CHAP- XXV. Of Marriage. Gen. ii. 24. I. Marriage is to be between one man Mai. ii.15. and one woman, neither is it lawful for Matt. XIX. 5, ^j^^ j^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^j^g^ jjQj. for any woman to have more than one husband at the fame time. Gen. ii. 18. o. Marriage was ordained for the mu- ^' ^.?- tual help of husband and wife, for the 1 o^-^"-2» jj^^j,^^^^ of mankind with a legitimate iffuc, and for preventing of uncleannefs* Ileb. xiii. 4. 3. It is lawful for all forts of people to ^ J'^^'iY-^^rnarry, who are able with judgment to iCor. vii.39.^.^^^ their confent ; yet it is the duty of chriftians to marry in the Lord ; and therefore fuch as profefs the true religi- on fhould not marry with infidels, or Neh. xiii. 25, idolaters ) neither ihould fuch as are ^^- g ATTENDIX. Col i. i%. ^ 4. The Lord Jefus Cbriji is the head ^1^%^^^"^* oi the church, in whom, by the appoint- Epk iv 1 1 ^^^^ of the father, all power for the 12. ' calling, inilitution, order, or government 2Their.ii.2,9 of the church is invelled in a fupremc and fovereign manner, neither can the pope of Romcy in any fenfe, be head thereof, but is that Antichrift, that man of lin, and fon of perdition, that exalteth himfcif in the church againft Cbrifiy and all that is called God; whom the Lord fliall dellroy with the brightnefs of his coming. 5. In the execution of this power wherewith he is fo intruded, the Lord yefus calleth out of the world unto him- felf, through the miniflry of his word, John X. t6. i^^ i^jj, fpirit, thofe that are given unto Matt^xxviii. ^'^^ ^y ^"^is father that they may walk be- 20. fore him in all the ways of obedience, which he prefcribeth to them in his word. Thofe thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular focieties, or ^^^"•^5'^^- churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that publick worfhip, which he requireth of them in the v/orld. Rorn, 1. 7. g^ y^^ members of thefe churches arc faints by calling, vifibly manifeiling and evidencing in and by their proicllion and walking, their obedience unto that call ^f Cbrifi ; and do willingly confent to walk together, according to the appoint- ment of Cbriff^ giving up themfelvcs to the Lordj and one to another, by the will ATTENDIX. ixsi will of God, in profciTed fubjedion toAftsn.4.1,42. the ordinances of the Gofpcl. Y* ^V i4- 7. To each of thefe churches thus^^'^'' '^- *5- gathered according to his mind, declared in his word, he hath given all that power Matt.xviii. 17 and authority, which is any way necdfuh^- for their carrying on that order in wor- J o^-v-4'S» Ihip and difcipline, which he hath in-^Cor.ii.e,?, Itituted for them to obferve, with com- g. mands and rules, for the due and right exerting and executing of that power. 8. A particular church gathered and compleatly organized, according to the mind of Chrijfy conliils of officers and members ; and the officers appointed by Cbrift to be chofen and fet apart by the church, fo called and gathered,* for the peculiar adminiltration of ordinances, and execution of power, or duty, which he intrufts them with, or calls them to, to^^'^^x. 17, be continued to the end of the world, are 28. biihops or elders, and deacons. P^i^- '• ^• 9. The way appointed by Chriji for the calling of any perfon, fitted and gifted by the h#ly fpirit, unto the office of bilhop, or elder in a churdi, is, that he be chofen thereunto by the common fuf-Aa?xiv. 23% frageof the church itfelf; and folemnly ^^''^^ '^'^' O'''^^' fet apart by falling and prayer, with ini-^Yim.iv. 14. polition of hands of the eldcrihip of the Aaivi.3,5,6. church, if there be any before conlli- tuted therein. And of a deacon, that' he be chofen by the like fuffrage, and fet apart by prayer and the like impoiition of hands. G 3 10. The 102 JTTENDIX. 10. The work of pafiors being con- flantly to attend the fervice ofChriJi^ in his churches, in the minlllry of the word, and prayer, with watching for their fouls, Aa% vi. 4. ^s they that mull give an account to him, Heb. xiii. 17.it is incumbent on the churches to whom they miniiler, not only to give them all due refped:, but alfo to communicate to them of all their good things, according jTim. V. i7,to their ability, fo as they may have a '[?' . comfortable fupply, without being them- ^ yji^^'lj ' J'fclves intangied in fecular affairs; and I Tim. iii. z.T^'^J ^^^o be capable of exerciling hofpi- iCor,ix.6,i4.tality towards others; and this is required by the law of nature, and by the exprefs order of our Lord yefus^ who hath or- dained, that they that preach the gofpel ihould Uve of the gofpel. 11. Altho' it be incumbent on the bi- Ihops or pallors oi the churches, to be inftai.t in preaching the word by way of oiiicc, yet the work of preaching the .,-,. .. the word is not fo peculiarly confined ^c.b XI. 19, ^^ tj-jem, but that others alfo gifted, I Pet. iv. 10, and ntted by the holy fpirit for it, * i- and approved and called by the church, may, and ought to perform it. iThciT.v. 14. 12. As all believers are bound to join zTheiT. iii. 6, themielves to particular churches, when '4» 15- and where they li^asce opportunity fo to do ; fo all that are admitted unto the pri- vileges of a church, are alio under the cenlures and government thereof, accord- ing ::j the rule )i Chrijr, , . 13. No ATTENDIX. 103 13. No church members, upon any offence taken bj them, having performed their duty required of them towards the perfon they are offended at, ought to difturb any church order, or abfent them- felves from the aflemblies of the church, or adminiflration of any ordinances, upon Matt, xviii, the account of fuch offence at any of their* 5'^^- fellow members, but to wait upon Chrijf^^^^' *^* ^* ^* in the further proceeding of the church. 14. As each church, and all the mem-Eph. vi. 18. bers of it, are bound to pray continually^^* ^^^^^' ^' for the good and profperity of all the churches oi Chrift^ in all places, and upon all occafions to further every one within the bounds of their places dnd callings, in the exercife of their gifts and graces ; fo the churches, when planted by the providence of God, fo as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought Rom.xvi 1,2. to hold communion amongft themfelvess Jo^nviii. 9, for their peace, increafe of love, and mu- ^°' tual edification. 15. In cafes of difficulties or differences, either in point of dodrine or adminiflra- tion ; wherein either the churches in ge- neral are concerned, or any one church, in their peace, union, and edification, or any member, or members, of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in cenfures, not agreeable to truth and order : It is according to the mind of Chrijt^ that many churches holding communion together, do by their meffengers meet toAdls xv. 2, 4, conlider, and give their advice in or about 6. G 4 that IC4 JTT E ND IX. Aftixxii. 23, that matter in difference, to be rcpdrtcd *5' to all the churches concerned \ howbeit thefe mcflengers afiembled, are not intrufl- ed with any church power properly fo called ; or with any ju'rifdidtion over the churches themfelves, to exercife any cen- z Cor. ;. 24. fures either over any churches, or perfons ; ijohniv. i. or to impofe their determination on the churches or officers, CHAP. XXVIL Of the Communion of Saints* 1, All faints that are united to yefus I John i. 3. Chriji^ their head, by his fpirit, and faith, John i. 16. altho' they are not made thereby one Rom vi W P^^^^^ ^^^^ ^'^"^> ^^^'^ fellowihip in his Eph/iv. 15, g^^^^s> fufferings, death, refurccftion, and i6. * g^oJ^y> ^nd being united to one another iji ^ 9.?'' ^"-7 love, they have communion in each o- jr^]J;^';^[' therms gifts, and graces, and are obliged ,4. '* 'to the performance of fuch duties, pub- Rom. i. 12. lick and private, in an orderly way, as do * M"'"-»7» conduce to their mutuni good, both in Gal vi • ^^^ inward and outward man. 2. Saints by profefTion, are bound to maintain an holy fellowihip and communi- on in the worihip of God, and in per-* ^cb. X. 24, forming fuch other fpiritual fervices as ^5-... tend to their mutual edification; as alfo aa" vjf'.l^'in relieving each other in outward things, Acts XU. 29, ,, O 1./- iTM'- J 30. accordmg to their feveral abihties and ne- ccflities ; which communion according to Eph. vi. 4. the rule of the gofpel, though efpecially 2Cor„xiLi4, ^q 37. ATT E N D I X. 105 tjo be exercifcd by them in the rclatioii wherein they ftand, whether in families or churches, yet as God offereth opportu- nity, is to be extended to all the houfliold of faith, even all thofe who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jefus^ neverthelefs/ their communion one vvrithAftsv. 4.. another as faints doth not take away orEph. iv. 28. infringe the title or propriety whjgh each man hath in his goods and pofleffiQus. CHAP. XXVIII. Of Baptifm^ and the Lord^s-fuppsr* 1. Baptifm and the Lord's-fupper, arc ordinances of politive and fovereign in- flitution appointed by the Lord Jefus theMatt.xxviii. only lawgiver, to be continued in. his 19, 20. church to the end of the wof Id. » Cor. xi. 26. 2. Thele holy appointments are to be Matt, xxviii. adminiftred by thole only who are quali-19- fied and thereunto called according to the * C^^-*^* ^• ^ommilfion ot' Cbrtjf, C H A f . XXIX. Of Baptifiu I. Baptifm is an ordinance of tho new Rom .71.3,4, teftament, ordained by yefus Cbrifly to be^ unto the party baptized a lio-n of his fel-^°^;"..^^' lowlhip With him, m his death and lefur-M.rk i. 4. -^ redion ;^of his being ingraited into him; Aftsxxvi,i6 of rcmilfion of fjns , and of his giving up ^^^- ^'^^ *f-i unto tQ6 AT T E N D 1 X. unto God thro' Jefus Cbrifl^ to live and walk Jn newnefs of life. Markxvi.!6. ^. Thofe who do adually profefs rc- Aftsviii. 38, pentance towards God, faith in, and obe- 37* dicnce to our Lord Jefus Cbrifty are the only proper fubje6ts of this ordinance. Matt, xxviii. 3. The outward element to be ufed in ^Px ^^•■- « ^^^is ordinance is water, wherein the party ^ IS to be baptized, in the name ot the father, and of the fon, and of the holy fpirit. Matt. iii. 16. 4. Immerfion, or dipping (ff the perfoa Johniii. 23. in water, is ncceflary to the due admini- Uration of this ordinance. CHAP. XXX. Of the Lord's'/tipper. 1. The fupper of the Lord yejus was inllituted by him, the fame night wherein he was betrayed, to be obferved in his churches unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and fliewing iCor. xi. 23, forth the facrifice of himfelf in his death, ^^' confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their fpiritual nourifliment, and growth in him, their further engagement in, and to all duties X. 16, cs^c. which they owe unto him ; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other 2, In this ordinance Cbrift- is not offered up to his father, nor any real facrifice made at all for remiiTion of fm, of the quick AT T E N D I X. xor quick or dead ; but only a memorial of that one oftering up of himfelf, by him- felf upon the crofs, once for all ; and a fpiritual oblation of all poffible praife un-Heb. Ix. 25, to God for the fame. So that the popiih^^- facrifice of the mafs, as they call it, isj!|^°*"-^^' H- molt abominably injurious to Cbrifi's own ,^5^ 27. ^^' only facrifice, the alone propitiation for all the fins of the eled. 3. The Lord ye/us hath in this ordi- nance appointed his minilters to pray, and blefs the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to fet them apart from a common to an holy uie, and to take and break the bread, to take the cup, and, they iCor. xl, 23, communicating alfo thcmfelves, to give^^. both to the communicants. 4. The denial of the cup to the people, worfliipping the elements, the lifting thtmMatt. xxvi. up, or carrying them about for adoration, 26, ^r. and referving them for any pretended ^^- 9- religious ufe, are all contrary to the na- ^° .xx.4,5. ture of this ordinance, and to the inllitu- tion of Cbrijl. 5. T.*he outward elements in this ordi- nance, duly fet apart to the ufes ordamcd by Chriji^ have fuch relation to him cru- cified, as that truly, altho' in terms ufed figuratively, they are ibmetimes called by ^ Cor. xi 27. the name of the things they reprefcnt, to xi. 26, 2S- wit, the body and blood oiChrtfi^ albcif: in fubftance and nature thevilill remain truly and only bread and vvine, as they vvcre before. 6. That dodlrine vvliich maintains a change of the fubilance of bread .ind io8 A9 T E N D 1 X. Aasiii. ti. wine, into the fubftance of Cbrifl's body Luke xxiv.6,^nd blood, commonly called tranlubflanti- ? Cor xi 21 ^^^^"' ^y confccration of a pricft, or by ^r ' ' any other way is repugnant not to fcrip-? ture alone, but even to common fenfe and rcafon, overthroweth the nature of the ordinance, and hath been, and is, the caufe of manifold fuperftitions, yea of grofs idolatries. 7. Worthy receivers outwardly par- taking of the vifiblc elements in this or- dinance, do then alfo inwardly by faith^ I Cor. X. 16. really and indeed, yet not carnally and xi. 23, 26. corporally, but fpiritually receive, and feed upon Cbriji crucified, and all the be- nefits of his death ; the body and blood of Cbrljt being then not corporally or car- nally, but fpiritually prcfent to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the ele- ments themfelves are to their outward fenfcs. 8. All ignorant and ungodly perfons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with -ConvL iJ^yChrift^ io 2LXC they unworthy of the Lord's •5- tabfe, and cannot, without great fin a- gainft him, while they remain fuch, par- ? Cor. xi. 29. take of thefe holy mylleries, or be ad- ^latt. vii. 6. fj^itted thereunto : yea, whofoever ihall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drink- ing judgment to themfelves. CHAf, ATTERDIX. 10^ CHAP. XXXI. Of the State of man after Death, and of the Refurre3ion of the Dead. I. The bodies of men after death re- Ccn. iii. 19. turn to dufl and fee corruption; but their Aftsxiii. 36. fouls, which neither die nor fleep, having an immortal fubfiilence, immediately re- return to God who gave them : The fouls Ecclcf. xii. 7. of the righteous being then made perfeft in holinefs, are received into paradlfc, ing for the full redemption of th^ix^^^^^^^^' bodies, and the fouls of the wicked arejude6»7. caft into hell, where they remain in tor-i Pet. iii. 9, ment and utter darknefs, referved to the^"^^ '^^^li judgment of the great day ; belides thefe^'^* /' - two places, for fouls feparated from their bodies, the fcripturc acknowlcdgeth none. 1, At the lall day, fuch of the faints as i Cor. xv.^r, are found alive fhall not fleep, but ^c^^hfT* changed ; and all the dead Ihall be ralfed Jq^ xixl^zo^ up with the fclf-famje bodies, and none 27. other; although with different qualities, iCor. xv. 42, which fhall be united again to their fouls ^^* for ever. 3. The bodies of the unjuft ihall, by A^s xxlv.15. the power of Chriji, be raifcd to dif-Nin^;.28,29. honour; the bodies of the juil, by his^^'^' '''* ^'• Ijpirit, unto honour ; and be made con- formable to his own glorious body. CHAP. no ATTENDIX. CHAP. XXXII. Of the loft yudgment. Aasxvii.^i. I. God hath appointed a day wherein Johnv.22,27 he will judge the world in righteoufncls 2 Cor. V. 10. "judgment is given of the father ; in which Ecclef.xii 14. day not only the apoftate Angels fhall be Matt. xii. 36 judged, but likewife all perfons that have Rom.xiv.io,'ii^,gj upon the earth, ihall appear before Matt.xxv.32.ti^e the tribunal of Chnfl^ to give an ac- ^c, count of their thoughts, words, and deeds^ and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil. 2. The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifeflation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal ialvation of the eled: ^ and of his juitice^ in the eter- Hom.ix. 22.nal damnation of the reprobate, who are 23- wicked and difobedieiit; for then fl-iali the righteous gq into everlafting life, and receive that fuJnefs of py and glory, with everlafting reward in the prefenco Matt.xxfv.2i,of the Lord : but the wicked, who know 34- not God, and obey not the gofpel of ^Tim.iv. 8.^^ ^^ .. ^^^^Ij ^ ^^ -^^^ eternal Matt. XXV. 46. J J J ^ . -n 1 • 1 1 a- Mark ix. 48. torments, and punilhed with evcrlaiting 2Thefr. i. 7, dellrudlion, from the prefence oi the ^^' Lord, and from the glory of his power. 3. As Chrif: wo'^ld have us to be cer- tainly perfuplied that there ihall be a 2 Cor. V. 10, ^^y Qf judgmentj both to deter all men from 1 1. ATT ENDIX. Ill from fin, and for the greater confolation 2 TheS: i. 5, of the godly, in their advcrfity, fo will^^- he have that day unknown to men, that they may fhake off all carnal fecurity, and be always watchful, becaufe they knowMarkxIii.35, not at what hour the Lord will come,^**. and may ever be prepared to fay, Come5^^^^^"*-3?» Lord JefuSy come quickly. Amen, \^^_^ xxii.20. FINIS. THO^ THOMAS CROSBT AND JOHN ROBINSON, Upon Horfe -ly-dovvn in Southwark, B OARDS Young Gentlentlem and tcachetli them Arithmetic, NAVicAtiON-, Algebra, Geography, Geometry, Astronomy, And other Parts of the Mathcmaticks. The Italian Method of Book-keeping, call'd Merchants Ac- compts, with the other Methods oi Book-keeping, as pradlifed by Merchants, Shop -Keepers, and others. They alfo Sell all Sorts of ArtificersRuIes, and Ma- thematical Inilruments, both for Sea and Land, and Cafes of Inilrumcnts fitted for the Pocket. And ail. Sorts of Mathematical and Sea Books^ Pilots, Sea Charts, both plain and Mercator, for all Parts of the known World ; Paper, Paper Books, either for Shops or Compting-houfcs ; the bell Ink, Ink-Powder, and all other Stationary Wares. And alfo Globes of 3, p, 12, and 16 Inches Diameter^ and Weather-glaifcs carefully fitted up and made portable. Like wife all Sorts of Books in Divinity, Law, Hiflory, and of a^ny Subjedt. And alfo the bcfl Spectacles, Reading-* glaiies, Telefcopes, Microfcopes, and oh cr Op tic Glafles. p ^ ^"^^ '^^'WV mrvm»fi^!ka!i ya^^wssr/ajfei j i^^ ^^^QPJ^k^ l^^*^ ^i '^.^^ ^JH4>4^ .# f y^i f '^ f m -^ -^ 1 m T "v f w f '-'ii' f ^m f f.# k#,>», v-f-/" ^^.A'^A^^Jt^Jk.^tA^AMAMJ:.^ . '