THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH To O. C. by the Twelve.
WE are ſent unto you (twelve of us) in the name of our Lord Jeſus,The Meſſage of the Twelve Brethren. and of that Church Society whereof Mr. Rogers (now priſoner for the Lord Jeſus at Lambeth) is overſeer (in the holy Ghoſt) although we be poore deſpiſed worms, and the weakeſt and unworthieſt of the Lords Number, or of the Body to which we are related, and although we be not ſo able to ſpeak, as others of our Society might have been, yet after much ſeeking the Lord to be with us, and truſting in the ſtrength and name of our Lord Chriſt, by which we are come out this Day, after the Seal of ſome promiſes upon our ſpirits in the ſtrength of the anointing) we are (as well as the Lord ſhall enable us) come to deliver our Meſſage to you from the Lord, and that,
Firſt, Becauſe the Lot of the Lord is caſt upon us,The Reaſons. (above others.)
Secondly, Becauſe the Lord hath choſen the poore, and moſt deſpiſed things to confound and appear againſt the wiſe and great ones of the world, 1 Cor. 1.27.
2Thirdly, Becauſe we are bound to ſympathiſe with the Saints in Bonds, Heb. 13.3. in the defence of the Goſpel, Phil. 17.14. and the Apoſtle blames them that ſtood not by him in his bonds, 1 Tim. 4.16, but we are reſolved (by the grace of our God) to own and ſtand by theſe our Brethren, the faithful Servants of the moſt High, and true and faithful Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, who are now perſecuted and impriſoned by you and your Powers.
Fourthly, Becauſe the Primitive Saints, who had a Primitive ſpirit (which we pray for, and are in dayly expectation of) ſpake boldly in the name of the Lord, Jam. 5. and the 10. and ſo muſt we to you, in the plainneſſe, fooliſhneſſe and ſimplicity of the Goſpel, without any Politick, ſtudied, or artificial frame of words or expreſſions after the wiſdome of the world, or the Princes of the world, 1 Cor. 2.6.8, 2 Cor. 2.17. therefore it is, we dare not give flattering titles to any man (whoſe breath is in his noſtrils) Job 32.21, 22. nor come we to make our petition to man (but to God we do) in theſe matters of our Faith and Conſciences,Nota. for which we contend this day, and for which our dear Brethren are cruelly impriſoned at Lambeth (meaning our Brother Rogers) and Windſor (meaning Mr. Feak.)
1. Wherefore in the name of our Lord Jeſus, and of that whole Society, who have intruſted us on this errand, we are to DEMAND the Lords priſoners, thoſe priſoners of hope at Lambeth and Windſor, as due to Chriſt and his Churches, whom ye have ſo unchriſtianly rent and torn from us, (we meaning the Churches) and neither we nor they know for what to this day, but we are perſwaded,The Teſtimony. In the priſon Mr. Feak, Mr. Rogers Mr. Spitle-houſe. Col. Overton Col. Allured. Adj. Gen. Allen. with many others it is for their Faith and Conſcience in the truth and Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, againſt the foul Apoſtacies and ſins of the times in profeſſours, whether in Powers, Prieſts, Armies or others, that have caſt off the true Cauſe and Intereſt of Chriſt, and have taken up the Creatures inſtead thereof, which can never ſtand. This demand we make according to Iſa 42.22.2 Chron. 28.11.
2. And laſtly, (though we never yet did it in publick, yet) ſo long as you go on thus, we dare not but joyn with our* ſuffering Brethren (viz. in what priſons ſoever) for their Conſciences, and this Cauſe of Chriſt, and declare and teſtifie againſt you (and the reſt; that adhere unto you, whether in Power or out) ſo long as you are the Enemies of Chriſt and his Cauſe at this day,3 which we muſt do with the words of truth and ſobriety;Since that M. Gen. Harriſon, Col. Courtney, Col. Rich. M. Chary, impriſoned the 16 day of this Moneth, beſides all in other contries, and Scotland thoſe there that are like to loſe their lives by bloody Trials, all theſe with many others ſuffering at this day for & with the Teſtimony of a good conſcience againſt men that have betrayed the cauſe of Chriſt: Others have been impriſoned, as Mr. Vavaſor Powel, Mr. Jo. Simſon, Col. Okey, &c. for the Lord will rend you, and all up by the Roots, that are not plants of his own planting, and the great God will appear (ere long) to confound and deſtroy this ſpirit of perſecution, injuſtice and Tyranny, which the poore (Non-Conforming) Saints feel ſo ſorely, and we pray you conſider that of Aſa, 2 Chron. 16. though a good man, and a great General, and Conquerour, when once he forſook the Lord, relied on an arm of Fleſh, and began to impriſon the Lords Prophet, the hand of God was againſt him, (and ſo on others) and ſo will his wrath be upon you, and thoſe that belong to you, if you go on thus, and if God give you not a true and timely repentance of theſe great ſins which cry (day and night) for vengeance againſt you, and yours, and ſo do thouſands of the poore perſecuted Saints (however you are made to believe) therefore we pray you ſee (if you will yet keep the Captives of the Lord) Jer. 50 33, but mark it v. 34. ſo Iſa. 29.20.21. Pſal. 102.17, 20, 21. Pſal. 37.32, 33.34. Pſal. 79.11. and ſaith Chriſt, What you did unto theſe, you did unto me, and Acts 9. Saul, Saul, why perſecuteſt thou me; ſo fee in Matth. 18.28, 30, 34. ſee v. 35. Iſa. 49, 24, 25. Mal. 2.11, 12. Now to conclude, the day of Chriſt is at hand, which will ſet them free, and will (ere long) call you, and all about you to Judgment, for all theſe things that you have done, and ſuffered to be done againſt the Lord Jeſus and all his Saints, and for all the blood of the Saints that hath been ſhed againſt this Intereſt, and theſe evil things, which you have ſet up again, to the Joy of the wicked, the grief of the godly, and reproach of pure Religion and undefiled; This is the ſumme of our Meſſage, which we are ſent to deliver to you in the name of the Lord, and whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear, we leave it with you, and to your conſcience, before God the Righteous Judge of heaven, and earth.
After long waiting, they obtained acceſſe, and all Twelve being preſent together, one, (as the mouth of them) delivered the meſſage, but the word DEMAND would not go down wel, but the Lord Cromwel told them, that Mr. Feak and Mr. Rogers ſuffered not for conſcience, but as evil-doers and buſie bodies in other mens matters. One of the Twelve then ſaid, if ſo, why were they not tryed by ſome known and juſt law, and convicted for evil doers, but4 to keep them there in ſo long and cruell Impriſonment, without ſhewing cauſe, was contrary to Gods law, and the juſt laws of men, beſides, they were ſick, and weakly men; but he ſaid he would put it to an Iſſue upon Friday or Tueſday (as he ſaid) Mr. Rogers ſhould be brought before him: On the ſixth day of this twelfth Moneth, being the third day of the week, the Brethren and ſiſters (many of them) of the Society met together, (and with much difficulty) got into the priſon to pray with Mr. Rogers, which they continued till between three and four of the clock, and then they were called away by the Gaoler to go to White-Hall, according to his Lord Protectors Order; ſo that in the name of (another) the Lord Protectour of heaven and earth, the great Jehovah (whoſe face they had ſo ſolemnly and ſo often ſought for his preſence with them) Mr. Rogers ſet out of Lambeth, along with Harding his Keeper,Febr. 6. laſt 1654. and the reſt from the Church-ſociety (twenty Brethren being the moſt) going along with him, much rejoycing as they went (according to Acts 5.41. ) that they were ſo honoured to be called before men, for the Name, Faith, and Cauſe of Jeſus, and when they came to Whitehall Bridge, others of the dear Saints of ſeveral Churches, waiting with tears and prayers, and acclamations, partly of joy, and partly of grief to receive him, and with an unamimous Suffrage, and ſignal tokens of love to him, and to this bleſſed Cauſe he ſuffers in, they prayed the Lords preſence to accompany him; ſo we paſſed by, and Mr. Rogers was by his Keeper carried into the Chamber hard by the Councel Chamber, but the Keeper onely had admittance into the long Gallery, to give notice, that the Priſoner was there, but by and by he came out again, and told Mr. Rogers and his friends, that they muſt all go down again, and go through the Guard chamber, but Mr. Rogers anſwered that was ſtrange, being come ſo near, where the Great Man was, they muſt now go down to go through the Guard Chamber, and about again, but the Keeper anſwered, they muſt do it, he had order for it, which he did, not in the leaſt reſiſting, but the main end was as they found afterwards, to try whether they were ſword-proof or no: So by force, Mr. Rogers and his friends were carried the other way, back again through the Guard-Chamber, many other people flocked about them, the Keeeper going foremoſt, Mr. 5Rogers (and his wife next to him) and his friends following cloſe after him, untill they came up to the Guard Chamberdoore, immediately was the word of Command given to the Guard, who aſſoon as they ſaw them and us coming in, fell foully upon us with their ſwords, and their Halberds, ſaying,The harſh uſage of the poore, perſecuted fiſth Monarchy-men. Keep back, Keep back, to which Mr. Rogers anſwered with all his heart he would go back, (but his Keeper would not let him) we alſo ſaid, if they would give us liberty we would go back as faſt as we could, but they wruld not hear us, but fell upon us with a word and a blow, ſlaſhing and ſtriking in a moſt violent manner, calling us Rogues, damned Rogues, and evacuating the moſt venomous words in their bellies, &c. but we told them, not one of us had a weapon, but the Bible, (in their hands ſome had) and ſo we told them, but ſome ſaid, the ſword of the Spirit would be too hard for them one day, which occaſioned them to be the more violent, who ſtruck (to chooſe) at their Bibles, hands, and heads, and ſo followed them, ſighting, ſlaſhing and beating the poore, naked Chriſtians all the way into the Court again, and there laying about them too, and ſaying they cared not for their Bibles, ſtill inculcating, inſulting, and calling us damned Rogues, and curſed dogs, and the like, but Mr. Rogers, and two or three more were ſhut in among their ſwords, whiles the reſt of the brethren were kept without in the Court, and did with very much patience bear all their railings, reproachings ſcoffs, ſcorns, flouts, jeers and injuries, offered them all the while by the Souldiers, and others of the Court-creatures, in the mean time Mr. Rogers, with two or three more, were brought into the Chamber of Henry the eighth, where were many Gentlemen of the Court complexion; ſome excuſing the aforeſaid violence and aſſault, ſaying it was by accident, to which he anſwered, he conceived it not, but that it was rather a plot, and for ought he knew, there might be a deſigne to murder ſome or other, for the word was given to fall on, and it is conceived by moſt, that they did it on purpoſe to raiſe us to a mutiny, that ſo they might have had (at leaſt in appearance or pretence) ſome (or a more) Juſt Cauſe againſt Mr. Rogers and his friends in Church fellowſhip with him, for the Guardians confeſſe they did but as they were commanded. Whileſt ſome were excuſing this affront6 put upon Chriſt and his perſecuted Churches, others ſaid it was good enough for us, and it was pity we were not worſe uſed than we were, Mr. Rogers in the interim was talking with others, and two of the Guard told him how ſorry they were their fellows were ſo rough, and drew their ſwords, ſlaſhing ſo fiercely, and what a mercy it was, no more miſchief was done, ſeeing they had the command given them to do what they did, and that it was the readineſſe of ſome amongſt them againſt us, eſpecially the outlandiſh. — There was a ſhort diſcourſe between Mr. Rogers and ſome others.
Why did you come up there?
We were ſent for, and commanded to come; yea, brought by force upon you,Nota. and by your Maſters Command, who fell a ſlaſhing us with your ſwords, ſo that it is probable, it was a Deſign againſt us on purpoſe; elſe why ſhould peaceable men, that had no kind of weapons in their hands (or about them) without ſword or ſtuffe, but onely the Bibles with us poore naked men, and women be forced (by Order and command to come before your Maſter) and be thus abuſed, affronted, ſlaſhed and driven into dangers, but the Lord is righteous who will judge!
But why came you with ſo many?
We were ſent for and commanded, and thoſe that came are Chriſtians, and Church-members, no wayes uncivil or diſor•drly.
Well, its well it was no worſe!
It was the Lord that made it ſo,For ſo it was to to the late King and his court when his Meſſengers, and Guardmen fell upon the Citizens with their ſwords at the gate, there was his blood ſhed. in whoſe name we came, and he hath delivered us from your Fury, and the rage of the ſword, for they ſtruck with rage, fury and high purpoſe, to do more miſchief than they did, but it is Heb. 11. By faith they obtained promiſes, eſcaped the edge of the ſword, &c. and ſo-have we eſcaped Yours. (though ſome do bear the mark, but the Lord Jeſus will reward them when he comes.)
And you ſee Gentlemen, your ſword cuts bluntly, and doth little execution upon the poove fifth Monarchy men, though they be but naked, and unarmed, and it may be, this buſineſſe will be ominous to you in this place.
We wonder to ſee ſo many women, and what they meant.
And are ye ſo fearfull? It may be, it is true then what we hear, that the barking of a dog lately (running about the yard) gave you a very great alarm, ſeeing the ſight of a few women hath frighted you ſo pitifully, as to draw your ſwords upon them and hurt them: alas poor hearts! you are pitifully affrighted it ſeems! what would you have done then at the ſight of weapons, if a few white aprons makes you flie to your ſwords and Halberds;
but by and by came a Gentleman Meſſenger to Mr. Rogers, ſaying, that his Lord was at leaſure to ſpeak with him, but the Keeper at the doore ſuffered none to go in with him, ſave whom they liſted. One of the Twelve that was ſent for, going in with Mr. Rogers, a Guard-man ſtanding by, took him by the ſhoulders in a very Hoſtile manner, and tore his cleak off his back, and abuſed him, but Mr. Rogers, and three or four more, went into the Chamber where their Great Maſter was, to whom ſome of his Court-Sycophants had told ſuch tales, as they uſed to do, to juſtifie themſelves, and complained firſt, which is the Machiavillian Policy, and Principle, as if we had intended a tumult, which was a thing our ſouls abhorred, and a moſt impudent untruth, for there was not one had a weapon or ſtaffe with them, or ſpake one uncivil word; but after Mr. Rogers, with three or four more were brought into the Room by Serjeant Dendy, the Great man had with him two Gentlemen more, who ſtood by the fire-ſide, and a Piſtol lay prepared at the Window, where he himſelf at firſt was, then he came to the fire-ſide in great Majeſty, without moving or ſhewing the leaſt civility of a man, though all ſtood bare to him, and gave reſpect; by and by he ſpake, and bid one call in two or three more of the Church-Saciety, or of the Twelve that had been with him before, when the DEMAND was made; whiles they were gone for them, ſaith he,
I ſent for ſome of you; Mr. Rogers and ſome more of the Church, but you bring with you about 250 men to make tumults and riſings; therefore ſend them away, or I will not ſpeak one word,
to which Mr. Rogers anſwered, and to give him a civil reſpect, ſaid my Lord,
You are ruled much by informations which you take upon the reports of them about you, whether true or fulſe, which brings the Lords people into ſo much trouble by you, but there is no ſuch matter.
Hi! You will talk I ſee, although it be nothing to purpoſe, who ſpeaks to you! with that he turns to one of his Creatures, ſaying, What ſay you, is there not ſo many?
Servant, His Servant anſwered yes, and it pleaſe your Highneſſe, there's above 100. below, and it is to be feared, they might have made a Tumult.
If they muſt be believed, they muſt, yet this I may ſay, I think there are not thirty men that belong to us, and beſides, they are all peaceable Chriſtians, related to us in the Faith of the Goſpel, all unarmed, apprehending your order and command to reach them, and they are onely thoſe with us, as have been this day together, ſeeking the face of the Lord, and now according to your Order at four a clock attending here.
But by this time Company was coming in apace into the room,The Room fills with the Courtiers. at both doores, but all were Court-Creatures, to the number of fourſcore or more (as we conceive) either of the Councel, Army men, Lawyers and Counſellours, or of his Creatures that were his Miniſters, or new made Gentlemen, or the like, but not one of them related to Mr. Rogers, or that Church-Society, till at laſt with much adoe, two or three more were crowded in of them, but all the reſt were left waiting below in the Yard, abuſed, ſcoffed, hiſſed and whooted at by ſome of the Souldiers, as will appear by and by.
I promiſed to ſend for you,He begins his long Speech with manifeſt reproaching, and manifold untruths. for ſome of your friends came and ſpake ſharply to me, as it I had Apoſtated from the cauſe of Chriſt, and perſecuting godly Miniſters, naming Mr. Rogers, and Mr. Feak, and ſpake other things that were ſharp enough, you might have had patience in your words.
Now you have liberty to ſpeak to thoſe things, but do not abuſe your liberty, you told me Mr. R. ſuffered ſon the Goſpel, I told you he ſuffered as a Railer, s a Seducer, and a Buſie Body in other mens matters, and a ſtirrer up of ſedition, which Rulers (led by juſt principles) might ſuppreſſ, I told you Mr. Rogers ſuffered juſtly, and not for the Teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt, and indeed in ſome degree it is Blaſphemy, to call ſuffering for evil doing, ſuffering for the Goſpel, and if he ſuffers for Reailing, and deſpiſing thoſe that God hath ſet over us, to ſay this his ſuffering•for the Goſpel, is making Chriſt the Patron of ſuch things, but9 if it were ſuffering for the Goſpel, ſomething might have been ſaid, yet not ſo much, as ſaying uncharitably, he ſuffered for evil-doing, ſo that I ſay, this is the thing in Scripture, and if we ſhew you, that you ſuffer for tranſgreſſion, then you abuſe that Scripture which I have often thought on, that it is to make a man an offendor for a word: I wiſh it were better underſtood in the plainneſſe of the ſpirit, for to interpret that Scripture, it was the evil of thoſe times,And is it not the evil of theſe Times? ſo that he is condemned out of his own mouth, as in Luk. 19.22. which was to he in wait for words on purpoſe to catch at words without actions, and that is a finne, but ſome words are actions, and words are conjugall with actions, for actions and words are as ſharp as ſwords, and ſuch things I charge you with, and you ſuffer not for the teſtimony of Jeſus Chriſt; I ſpeak, God is my witneſſe, I know it that no man in England, does ſuffer for the Teſtimony of Jeſus**It ſeems when he ſaid ſo, be called God to witneſſe, M. Rogers tiffed up his hand and his eyes, appealing to witneſſe alſo, at which Poſture he was offended. nay do not lift up your hands and your eyes, for there is no man in England which ſuffers ſo; there are thoſe that are far better than Mr. Rogers, though compariſons are not good, and not near his principles, yet if they ſhould ſuffer for the Teſtimony of Jeſus: But there is ſuch Liberty, I wiſh it be not abuſed, that no man in England ſuffereth for Chriſt, and it is not your Fancy, you muſt bring ſtrong words to acquaint me of your ſharp expreſſions.
After he had ſpake, and all were ſilent, Mr. Rogers deſired to know of him whom he expected to reply, whether himſelf or ſome other, the anſwer to, who would.
Do you expect me to anſwer, I will promiſe this before I ſpeak further, I have been twenty ſeven weeks a priſoner, my (brother Feak above a year) and there hath been no Charge againſt me; but now I am brought before you, I deſire to know in what capacity I ſtand before you, as a Priſoner, or as a Freeman, as a Chriſtian to a Chriſtian with equall Freedome that others have, or as a ſlave.
A Priſoner is a Free man, as Chriſt hath made you free, and ſo you are a Free man.
Its true indeed (my Lord) and yet I muſt ſay, as ſome Gentlemen here preſent know I did before I was impriſoned) and when they would have had me meet in Colemanſtreet to diſcourſe our Principles, upon which we ſuffer) that it is unreaſonable to deſire it at the diſadvantages we meet with, ſeeing they10 who are our Antagoniſts have the advantage of a Law new made,Mr Rogers told him, that Ordinance making Treaſon for words was ſuch us Q. Mary her ſelf (as bloody as ſhe was) would abhor, as appears in Hollinſhed in the 1. year of her reign, which made their Tyranny worſe than the Roman Tyranny. which they call an Ordinance of Treaſon, (to laſh us with) as a Maſter hath his rod in his hand over-awing his School-boyes, ſo that it is a very unjuſt and unequall thing, that they ſhould ſpeak as Free men, and we as ſlaves, under an over-awing: but if that Law be repealed, though but pro tempore, during ſuch debates, and we be reſtored to our juſt and equal liberty with the Adverſaries, ſo as to engage on even ground, we are ready to argue it with them, when and where they will, but till then it is unreaſonable, for every word we ſpeak, may be a ſnare to us.
I know not what ſnare may be in this — Are you ſo afraid of Snares? what need you fear, that will ſpeak ſo boldly?
I bleſſe the Lord, I fear them not, nor the force of any men or Devils in theſe matters of my Faith and Conſcience, for which I ſuffer, yet I ſhould be loath to run into Snares, which Diſputes have been to the people of God; for Stephen Acts 6. before he was tryed for his life, he was firſt enſnared by Diſputes, and then brought to the Councel, tryed and arraigned for his life, and they murthered and deſtroyed him: and in Queen Maries dayes, before they put any to death, they begun it cunningly with enſnaring diſcourſes in the Convocation-houſe, and ſo gathered matter to take their lives away, and murther them.
You are afraid of Snares and advantages taken for your life, when there is no ſuch thing, but I tell you upon your Friends Petition I ſent for you to ſaisfie them, that you ſuffer, as an evil-doer.
Say you ſo (my Lord) that is more than ever I heard before, nor dare I take this liberty upon that account of Petitioning, for it, but that I believe the Lord will help me by his own Spirit to anſwer, as indeed I have not ſtudied a Form of words for you, though you have prepared Matter**That they ſeemed to do all this in juſtice, and by appeal and free Courts. At this they were next and look on one another. againſt me (I hear) but I am in the ſtrongth of the anointing) ready to anſwer. O. was troubled at that word, and ſaid Preparation ha! what? but it is well known what for ſeveral dayes were the Informations (ſome lay on the Table) a gathering againſt him, and the priſoners (put in for plotting) had by one Meaſie a Charge to get all their papers reade upon the 30. day of the 11. month laſt, who were very buſie to get them, and are we bear a gathering more; for when Mr. Rogers is forced to preach out at the Window to the Members of the Church, and thoſe that come to bear him, theſe wicked and bloody beast-like men, have liberty to come into a room under him to write what they can catch or forge, or patch together, though all the week long they are in an other room, at the further end of the houſe day and night ſinging, ſwearing, ranting, drinking, fidling, blaſpheming day and night, to go out in the night, yea without a Keeper, to carry on the deſigne.
Ab we know you are ready enough.
Yea, although I have made no other preparation, than Faith in the promiſes (however ſome may ſcoffe at them) yet I have (I bleſſe the Lord) the comfort of them, and hope I ſhall have the benefit of that promiſe, (which I have the Seal of in my heart) in Mat. 10. Take no care what to ſay, for in that houre, ſhall it be given unto you; therefore I doubt not, but to ſpeak to you and them about you, in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and in the demonſtration of his holy Spirit. [be was interrupted.]
Take head you do not abuſe the Scripture, if you be ſuch a Diſciple, then that promiſe ſhall be made good unto you, and then you may ſay, you ſuffer for Chriſt.
I doubt not but that will appear, that I am his Diſciple, who made me that promiſe, and if we be not able to make it out to unbyaſſed man, that we ſuffer for Chriſt and a good conſcience ſake, by Gods holy word, then chop off my h•ad: but indeed (my Lord) we can clear it to all the World, would they hear us, and not handle us ſo roughly as you do, for we have had a very dangerous paſſage to you, this day, an ardua via through Swords and Halberds.
Indeed? ſayes he (〈◊〉a ſcoffe) and I pray who was wounded?
It was a mercy there were no more hurt, though many were bruiſed, beaten and hurt, and among others my Wife, but who the reſt be, (as yet I know not.)
No ſo I think! but I have no time to diſpute thoſe things.
Why then, I ſay, as I ſaid before, my way muſt be clear, before I can proceed further, for if they petitioned I have done, and dare not anſwer a word on that ground, becauſe I repreſent thouſands of the poore Saints, who are one with me in this cauſe, whoſe Truſt I cannot, I dare not betray.
Then we have done; — for I tell you, you came here by adeſire, I told them I would put it to the iſſue this meeting, and that I would prove it you ſuffered for evil-doing.
That will not be ſo eaſily done, But (my Lord) I ſpeak as I hope, I am a civil man, and in ſome meaſure a rational man, and12 I truſt through grace, I am a Chriſtian, nor doth Chriſtianity deſtroy civility, and yet I muſt ſay again that I care hither by the Deſire or Requeſt of my friends. I ſhall not, I will not ſpeak a word any farther, than to tell you my reaſons; For I would not have any friend petition for me, where in and to whom I cannot with a good conſcience petition for my ſelf, now in the matters of faith and truth for which we ſuffer) we cannot petition to you, for we are not Debtors to man, but to God, who is the Law giver, and only proper judge therein, and therefore we petition to the Lord Jehovah our Judge, then 2. If they did ſo, they did not anſwer the truſt, the Church, whereto they are related, repoſed in them; for it was ſet upon their hearts as an incumbent point of duty to Chriſt and his Churches to make Demand of the Lords priſoners in the name of the Lord Jeſus, whom you and your powers have ſo unchriſtianly, and indeed with worſe than Roman Tyranny rent and torn from the Churches, ſo that if they made a petition to you, I am ſilent, and ſhall ſay no more, as I ſaid before.
(One of the Twelve) I ſhall lay open the whole ſtate of the buſineſſe, for we are intruſted with a Meſſage from our Society, and did but according to our truſt, make the Demand, and bear our Teſtimony, and made no requeſt at all to you, but when you ſaid, our Brother Rogers ſuffered as an evil-doer, we ſaid then, why do you not make it appear, and you ſaid, you would on Friday or Tueſday, and this was all.
Well! Who ſayes it is more? who ſayes you Petitioned? I told you he ſuffered as an evill doer, as a Railer, as a Seducer.
But your words are not proofs, my Lord! but yet ſeeing my way is more clear now, I ſhall ſay ſomewhat more: there is no law of God nor yet of man, that makes me ſuch an Offender: But yours which is worſe than the Roman Law and Tyranny, that makes a man a**See their Ordinance for Treaſon. Traitor for words.
Who cals you a Traitor? I call you not: ſee, I believe you ſpeak many things according to the Goſpel; but you ſuffer for evil-doing.
The Goſpel of the Kingdome may occaſionable be ſo accounted and judged, for as Chriſt our Saviour ſaith, I came not to ſend peace but the ſword, the doctrine of Chriſt by the powers of the world hath ever been reputed, ſedition, railing, lying and ſpeaking evill of dignities.
I grieve that you call this the goſpel, for every one is ready to come and ſay, this is the goſpel, with words in their mouths; and ſay, this is the meaning of the Scripture; but there wants the power of godlineſſe: for Chriſt and his Diſciples will not ſpeak evill of no man.
Yea, they did ſpeak againſt ſinners as ſinners, which is no evill ſpeaking: But who made you the Judge of the Scriptures (my bord?) what ever you ſay it ſhall never appear (I truſt) to the Saints, or unbyaſed diſcerning men, that I ſuffer as an evill doer, what ever you ſay, or ſuppose; I can make it appear, it is an eſſential, Fundamental Principle of Faith, which is now under Perſecution,What the teſtimony is they ſuffer in. and for which we ſuffer, viz. The Kingly Office of Chriſt, and thoſe that deny that truth (for, & in which we ſuffer) are indeed Hereticks (and not we:) It is true, this preſent teſtimony, for Chriſts Kingly Intereſt hath two parts, viz. The Poſitive and the Privative; now for the laſt it is we ſuffer, and not for evil-doing.
Why, who will hinder you Preaching the Goſpel of Chriſt? yea,How knows be that, for he hears him not preach? his Perſonal Raign? who will hinder? you ſpeak of high Nations, but you do not preach the goſpel to build up ſouls in Chriſt.
I know my Lord, that you are a Sophiſter,**With that the Officers and them preſent ſcoffed & ſome gnaſhed with their teeth at the Priſoner. and ſo it ſeems for a part of the truth, we may preach, but not the whole, not the Goſpel of the kingdom preached for a Witneſſe, as Mat. 24.14. to witneſſe againſt the crying ſins of men in power, or out of power; for that ſeems to ſtrike at your Intereſt too much.
Why, what intereſt is mine?
A worldly intereſt which God will deſtroy.
Ha! — and do you judge me?
Yea, by the word of the Lord in the maj•ſty, might, ſtrength, power, vigour, life and Authority of the Holy Ghoſt, I can do, and dare. Judge you and your actions, 1 Cor. 2. The ſpiritual man jugdeth all things, whileſt he himſelf is judged of no man; Beſides, I am called by the Holy Ghoſt, which hath appointed me to preach the Goſpel to judge ſins.
And who will hinder you to preach the Goſpel, or to do ſo? ſpeak againſt Sin as much as you will.
You do from preaching that part of the Goſpel which decries the publike ſins of the times or of men in Powers, Armies, &c. neither is it as you ſay, a rayling, lying, or ſpeaking evill of dignities; for the word rayling in Jude 9. is〈…〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, now this is14 no blaſphemy to ſpeak the truth or againſt evils, nor is it railing to call a man as he is, to call a drunkard, a drunkard, is no rayling; to call a Whore-maſter,What ſort of informers will ſerve against 5th Monarchy-men. a Whore-maſter, is no rayling; to call a Thief, a Thief, to call an Apoſtate, an Apoſtate, is no rayling; but to call one ſo, that is not ſo is rayling.
To call an honeſt man a thief is rayling, to call an honeſt man a Whore-maſter is rayling; though I do know you have truths of Chriſt in you, yet I will prove you ſuffer for rayling, lying, and as a raiſer of ſedition; and I told them that I would have you ſent**He ſaid there was no ſuch word in his Speech, but ſee it p. 13. It is ſome ſatisfaction, if a Commonwealth muſt periſh that it periſh by men and not by the hands of perſons, (ſpeaking of the plotters) differing little from beaſts. for, to ſatisfie them.
If that you ſay, can be made to appear, it is fit I ſhould ſuffer; but as Reygnold ſaid, Nihil eſt quin male interpretando poſſit depravari.
This will appear in the Informations that are upon the Table there, what a rayler you are; and therefore let them be read (ſayes he to ſome by him) for there be many of them, the Witneſſes and the Evidences all are ready, it will appeare eaſily, and out of the Priſon ſuch Informations, Evidences there are brought in, let them be read.
Your Informations will not make it appear (ere the more) to juſt men: I looked to have had a fair tryal or a Chriſtian debate; But this is otherwiſe, ſeeing men that are hired or any other wayes baſely ſuborned do inform againſt me: as for them out of Priſon, it is a ſigne that your cauſe is not very good, that needs ſuch Informers; as the Priſoners at Lambeth, they are ſuch as you your ſelf have put in for plotting againſt you, left they ſhould cut your Throat, and of whom you (your ſelf) have ſaid in your laſt Speech, that they differed little from Beaſts,**Meaning, now another Paper of informations of what was preached at Thomas Apoſtles, that alſo lay upon the Table with the other out of Lambeth-priſon At whoſe confidence Mr, Rogers with admiration lifted up his eys & hands and yet you can take their Informations againſt me, yea, drunkards, ſwearers, whoremongers, Cavaliers, Ranters, any men that make nothing to lye, ſwear, drink, curſe and banne, whore and blaſpheme, day and night, and what not? and yet theſe muſt inform againſt me to take away my Life, theſe are but bad Evidences (my Lord) and beſides, were they honeſt men, it were illegal.
Nay they are honeſt, godly men that mourn over you, and that are troubled for you, that will witneſſe theſe things againſt you.
I hardly believe honeſt men will accept of ſuch an office, to inform againſt the poor people of God, and to ſeek the blood of any one of Chriſts little ones, but I rather believe, they are ſome of your〈2 pages missing〉
17hired men, who ſeek for any ſtuffe to gratifie your Ears; But might I but ſtand on even ground with equal freedome, I would undertake to any unbiaſſed Chriſtian to make it appear that the ſubject matter of our ſuffering for the truth and teſtimony of Jeſus (our infirmities excepted, which the Lord knows are many) and therefore we muſt overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of the Teſtimony, Rev. 12.
Nay, but I know you well enough, I know you, and what your principle is too, I know you that you never preached the Covenant of Grace, yea, I know it, I have had ſome diſcourſe with you formerly, I know you are ignorant of the Covenant**This being ſpoken in ſuch confuſion of others, & the Great mans heat together, he was hardly heard but onely of them who stood nigh and wrote. One of his Courtiers made anſwer, but he went on in his heat. nay for all your lifting up your eyes, it is ſo.
That is ſtrange you ſhould judge ſo; my condition were uncomfortable then indeed, if I did not know the Covenant of grace, yea, fruition, whiles it may be ſome, have a National diſciplinary or barely intuitive knowledge, there be many can teſtifie whether I am ſo ignorant or no of the Covenant (of Chriſt) who have been my hearers long ago, it is for a branch, yea a principal branch of the New Teſtament-Covenant, that we are perſecuted as Acts 2.30. viz. that part that God hath ſworn unto, to exalt Chriſt over all his enemies, and to make him King over al Nations; this Covenant of the Father to the Son, makes us grapple with the Beaſt, and conteſt ſo as we do with the Powers of the world, though others are ignorant of the Covenant.
Nay I tell you I know you well enough, and I know your principles though you are but a young man, yet you have been in many places, and are known well enough.
Yea, I am ſo I hope, known of Chriſt too, and amongſt other places, I have been in the Field too againſt the common enemies, (that are now gotten ſo high again) where (I think) I have done more for nothing, in meere conſcience for the Lord Chriſts ſake, (never ſeeking wages, as your mercenary men) than any of your Colonels can ſay. **Raiſing men, arming himſelf and others, ingaging in the field in England and Ireland ſpending his eſtate, Killing his cattel, for the Army freely expoſing his perſon to great dangers freely.
You talk of that is nothing to the purpoſe.
I cannot ſee my Lord, there will be any danger to have thoſe papers read, we deſired to hear how it appears that Mr. Ro. ſuffers as an Evil doer, and if it pleaſe your Highneſſe, let thoſe informations be read, that are brought in there, that we may hear how it appears as your Highneſſe ſayes.
Ah! ſo I ſay, let them be read.
My Lord,Which Gentleman was Mr. Kiffen, who ſince with ſome of his Members) hath ſlandered him behind his back. that Gentleman ſpake very ſmoothly, but we know now by experience, the greateſt Snares are couched under the ſmootheſt words; ſo there is a great Snares in his for he deſires them to be read, that they may judge therby whether I be an Evil-doer or not; ſo that I thank the Gentleman for his charity, he ſeems beforehand reſolved to judge me according to them, whther right or wrong, true or falſe, or whatever they be, and whoever informs, and whether they can be proved or no againſt me, but I perceive by him he is ſome mercenary man, that hath ſome dependence upon you, and from ſuch I look for no other: But the moſt (my Lord) that can be ſaid againſt me, is but an evil-ſpeaker (which by Gods aſſiſtance I truſt in this matter, ſhall never be proved againſt me neither) and not an Evil doer, for not withſtanding your former words, I can prove that the very heathens themſelves abhorred to make words matter of fact as you do.
It is matter of fact you are queſtioned for,Mark it out of his own mouth. for ſpeaking evil of Authority, raiſing falſe accuſations; or if they were as Nero, you are not to ſpeak evil of them, for what hath the Devil his Name for, but becauſe he is an accuſer of the Brethren, and it is not for your good deeds that you are puniſhed, for what ſaith Chriſt, for which of my good deeds do you puniſh me, and ſo you ſay, but you ſhall hear if theſe be read, whether it be for your good deeds, or for evil-doing.
And as they anſwered Chriſt then, ſo do you us, it was not for his good deeds they would ſtone him, but for his blaſphemy, and ſo pretended to do it legally, for the Law would have a blaſphemer ſtoned, but that which they called blaſphemy was indeed the truth, and good, and ſo it is now, what you call evil is good and the Devil (my Lord) hath his name from calumniating, ſlandering and lying, and accuſing the good**So that the accuſers of she good and grace of God is on that ſide by the informers and perſecutors. or grace of God, but not for accuſing evil, or declaring againſt ſin, the evils of Apoſtacy, perſecution or the like, but if you will read the Articles you may, yet expect not a word of anſwer from me, unleſſe it be in an open and legal Court, before a competent and fit Judge, which you are not (my Lord) nor thoſe about you, but thoſe things which are my due Right) granted I am ready to anſwer them in Weſtminſter-Hall, (where I believe the Lords remnant who are one with me in this cauſ will ſtand by me) and at laſt you can have but a poor carcaſſe (that19 is every day dying) yet I am reſolved (with the help of God) not to throw a way my life, nor to betray this bleſſed cauſe, ſo as to anſwer to I know not what Spurious and forged informations, or charge in a Chamber, (grounded on malice, or that which is worſe) nor will I be tried in Hugger-mugger, but if I have offended, it is fit I ſhould have open Juſtice.
Who tries you? and who ſayes it is a Charge? who calls it a charge? I ſay not ſo, and ſee! before you bear them, you call them Spurious
[with that he takes up one that was titled from Lambeth, and was going to read ſomewhat.] One Abdy the chief informer, that very day be came with his Keeper to look for his reward he was ſtabbed in Fleetſtreet, being impriſoned — for Blaſphe any, Adultery Ranting, Atheiſme, and the moſt horrid ſins that ever were beard of.
Yea, and I have good grounds ſo to do, ſeeing they come from ſuch kind of Informers as they are.
Then O.P. read one Article from Lambeth, as that he ſhould call him Oliver Cromwel, that great dragon that fits at Whitehall pull him cut, &c.
There is ſuch ſtuffe as I abhor to have in my mouth, but I ſhall for bear to anſwer, and for that it is not worth the anſwering to.
Theſe things will be proved.
(One of the Twelve,) We deſire the things our Brother Rogers ſuffers for may be publickly known to all, for we apprehend he ſuffers for the Truth, and the things which you hear, you may that be miſinformed in.
Therefore let me have a fair Hearing in a legal Court, and I hope the Lord wil make me ready for what ever I muſt ſuffer right or wrong, if it muſt be ſo, but yet I tell you my Lord, I fear not any thing that you can lay againſt me juſtly and honeſtly, but the truth is, you take up any thing, that your Informers can handſomely patch together, who like the devil take a bit here, and a bit there (that makes for their turn) and you take it (as it lies) for granted preſently. O my Lord I cannot but mourn for you, and your condition, which is ſad and to be bewailed, and the rather, for that you have ſo many about you, who for their own ends, to get the world into their hands, do deceive you, but the Lord will judge righteouſly (ere long) I am ſure, and let appear whether you or we have the beſt bottome to bear us up, for I bleſſe the Lord the comforter is with me! I think my condition (through grace) though a poor priſoner a great deal better than yours, I would not change with you.
Well, well you are known well enough, and what ſpirit you are of,20 we know you, and to call your ſufferings for Chriſt, when they are for evil-doing is not wel, yea it is blaſpemy, yea I ſay blaſphemy again, (for all your**M. Rog. amazed at ſuch language again lifted up his band and eys towards heaven, appealing to God to judg righteouſly. lifting up of your eys) and I tell you, yea you, that in a good box of ointment, a little thing, a dead flie may ſpoil all, yea a little flye.
I dare not (my Lord) juſtifie my ſelf in my infirmities, but I bleſſe the Lord I can apply Chriſts merits; I beſeech you ſpeak not ſo reproachfully of the ſpirit of God, to call it fanatick or an evilſpirit, for that is blaſphemy ſo to do, (& ſee Iſa. 63.10. ) neither call evil good or good evil, for that is prevarication, Iſa. 5.20. that which you judge Evil-doing, the Lord judgeth well doing and my duty, yet I muſt tell you the Lord never made you a Judge over our Faith, nor of his Scripture whereof you take upon you.
Well, you know that the time was, there was no great difference betwixt you and me; I had you in my ey, and did think of you for imployment (and preferment) you know it well enough.
True my Lord! and then you could ſay to me, you thought no man in England ſo fit, but ſince, the caſe is altered indeed; but I pray conſider, who it is, is changed: ſurely, it muſt be conſcience that makes me ſuffer then: through ſo many temptations, as I have met with: and I have often ſaid, let me be convinced by good words, that I am an Evil-doer, as you ſaid; and I would lay my Neck under you feet for mercy; but till then, I muſt keep my conſcience.
One of the Grandees (as we take it, it was G. Desborough) ſaies, let the Informations be read, let them be heard; and then Scobell was called to read them (not thoſe from Lambeth, but) thoſe that were * brought in from Tho. Apoſtle,The Informations from Tho. Apoſtles read. from what Mr. Rogers prayed, what he preached, and what they ſang in Hymnes, what he prayed, was for the Priſoners of the Lord at Winſor, and againſt the Tyranny of all Antichriſtian Powers, and to that purpoſe; and that God would haſten his Vials, out upon them. What he preached was out of Mat. 5. Agree with thine adverſay (Chriſt) quickly;The Articles againſt Mr Ro, as well as they could be taken. and be obſerved, Appoſtateadulterate profeſſors muſt agree quickly with Chriſt their Adverſary: applying it to the preſent Powers as ſuch; proving they break the 10. Commandements: As the 1. In ſetting up Idols again, a golden Calf; ſo the Army and fleſhly ſtrength and the like are idolized, whileſt men ſay theſe are the gods that brought us up out of Egypt.
212. Command. is, Graven images, and ſo are the Tryers, and high Court Commiſſioners, ſuch the inventions and graven images of mens making, with their Seals, Parchments, black boxes, and pick-locks,**Theſe Articles are many of them ſalſ for matter and form, as can be made appear by hundreds. Padlocks, and Keys, for your Hog-ſties, Pig ſties, and Gooſe-ſtals.
3. Command. Take not my name in vain, &c. Such as have broke all their Declarations, Ingagements, and abuſed his Attributes, uſing that name of God, for their own ends, are guilty of this.
4. Command. Remember that thou keep holy the, &c. ſpeaking of ſoul-reſt, and ſaying, that the preſent Powers, kept not the Sabbath, that reſted in their pleaſures, ſleſh, &c. and not in Chriſt, but did their own work.
5. Command. Honour thy father and mother, &c. They brake this commandement in their diſobedience to God the heavenly Father.
6. Thou ſhalt not murther, &c. Murtherers are of many ſorts, ſuch as have betraied the Blood that hath been ſhed againſt this kind of Government, &c. And then he converted his diſcourſe againſt Informers that come for blood, & ſaid, to hate a brother without a cauſe is murder.
7. Thou ſhalt not commit adultery, &c. This they did with others, as Army, Lawyers, Prieſts intereſt, and that which they before deſtroyed.
8. Steal not. Now there are great thieves, and little thieves; great ones are now in preſent Powers, and Army thieves, Clergy thieves, Lawyers thieves, and the great thief now in White-hall. But the other two he left to another time: When he had done, he read a Letter from Mr. Feak, where was a Dialogue between him and the Governor, and then he commented upon it: and ſaid, It is worſe now then it was with the Romans, for then Paul might preach, though a Priſoner, but now we are**Now is Mr. Rogers forced to preach out at the iron bars of the priſon on Lordſdaies. denied it. After that he ſung an Hymne and the people joyned with great alacrity) againſt oppreſſion and perſecution, &c.
After this Information was read, Mr. Rogers ſaid, My Lord, I had a purpoſe not to anſwer one word hereto, this being no ſutable place or time to anſwer a charge, and no witneſſes appearing againſt me to make it good; but yet I ſhall tell you this, for I will not (with the Lords help) ſpeak a word but what I will own to your face; for I love to appear in the ſincerity of my ſoul and conſcience, for my Lord and Maſter Jeſus Chriſt plain to all men; and to lay open my principles which I have no cauſe (though grace) to be aſhamed of, the matter of this is much of it true: but as to the form, there is a great deal of patching & botching put in by your mercenary hirelings, which I will not own, but as to much of the matter of it, I muſt dare, and22 with the Lords grace) I will, though I dy for it, and without you ſhould cut my tongue out of my head, I ſhal continue the teſtimony up, and tell you moreover (with the reſt about you here) that I regard your laws in the matters of my God no more than ſtraws, for Imperia Divina non ſunt ſubjecta Magiſtratui, ſaith one of the Martyrs, and tell you, that I will not be accomptable to the Magiſtrate, nor ſubmit to his judgment in the matters of my Faith, which the Civil law can take no due cognizance of.
One of his Councel ſaid, Ha! Imperia Divina.
So I ſay, Imperia Divina.
Saith he, are theſe ſpurious Articles now? put in by drunkards, and ſwearers, and whoremongers too? are they not? Ha! — Ha! —
My Lord,They would fain have ſhiſted off them from Lambeth (as it ſeems) as if they were aſhamed of them. I know what I ſay? Thoſe which were ſent from Lambeth, put in by the Priſoners there, thoſe I ſay: a•e ſuch, I did not ſay all, but thoſe that I ſee there, which lie upon the Table titled from Lambeth; and beſides, there is Serjeant Dendy knows this, that I ſay for hehimſelf (I thank him) ſent in their Informations againſt me to M. Thurloe, which he cannot deny. S. Dendy, I delivered him none my Lord. Ro. I ſay not, you delivered them, but you ſent them by your man, who delivered them according to your directions.
But my Mother, my Lord, this was my Mother, for ſhe Catechized me, my Lord, and I told her.
So that is true, as I ſaid before, that thoſe from Lambeth-priſon are ſpurious, wicked & illegal.
Pray, my Lord, let M. Rogers have a copy of his charge, for the law allows it him.
No, this is not his tryal.
Why then, let me have it as you are a Chriſtian, for is it fit I be denied a ſight of my accuſation againſt me?
[but be turned away and would not hear.]
Then, my Lord, let us, have liberty of conſcience; will you not give us ſo much liberty as the Parliament gave?
[with that he turn'd about in anger]
I tell you, there was never ſuch liberty of conſcience, no, never ſuch liberty ſince the dayes of**He confeſſed that Antichriſts government is now up in England, yet ſo that no wonder the Priſons are ſo full of precious Saints. Antichriſt as is now; for may not men preach and pray what they will? And have not men their liberty of all opinions?
It is true, there is liberty enough, and too much too, for drunkards, ſwearers, and men of vile debauched principles and evil lives, Common-prayer-men, and ſuch like (we know) round the Nation.
[then his creatures about him ſcoffed.]
Ha! — Are Drunkenneſſe, Swearing, opinions then?
I ſay not ſo, but I ſay, ſuch men may have their opinions whiles we are23 perſecuted for the truth. But why do you not my Lord, let out my brother Feak at Windſor, with my ſelf (ſeeing we ſuffer in one cauſe, for one teſtimony, and (I truſt) by one Spirit of Jeſus Chriſt) let us both out to anſwer for our ſelves joyntly together? and to make it appear to all unintereſſed Chriſtians, that we are no evill doers, in the matters we ſuffer for, which if we do not then, let us ſuffer.
M Feak, truly M Feak, (I think) leſſe evill may be ſaid of him than of you: but there are many of different opinions, that come to me, and they know they have all their liberty of their opinions.
Yea, every man almoſt that talks with you, is apt to think you of his opinion, my Lord, what ever he be?
[his creatures ſcoffed again.
Nay, you**But ſome of that opinion do, as Mr. T.G. and others, do not (ſaith he) in anger?
[his creatures ſcoffed and laughed again.]
Some of this Judgment do, think you ſo, although as I ſaid before the the Privative — (or negative) part of the Teſtimony you cannot bear.
Piſh! here is a deal of poſitive and privative to ſhew you are a Scholer, and 'tis well known what you are, and where do you find that diſtinction? They thought Mr. Rogers to be an antick, becauſe he ſpake in power and goeat zeal.
In Logick.
Ha!
I muſt tell you in the Name of the Lord Jehovah that your condition is very deſperate, and if you conſult the holy oracles, you will find it for the next vial which is to be poured out, is the ſcorching hot one, and muſt fall upon the Apoſtate profeſſours that have forſaken and betrayed the cauſe of Chriſt, and look to it, it is like to fall heavy upon your heads, and thoſe that are about you, I pray, think of that in Hoſea 1.4. the blood of Jezreel ſhall be upon the houſe of Jehu, though Jehu did obey the Lord in doing Juſtice on Ahab and Jezabel, yet becauſe he fell into the ſame predicament of ſin, walking in the ſame ſteps of evil which Ahab walked in (the very blood of them ſell upon his head.
Your ſpirit is to Judge, but I regard not your words, look you to your Conſcience, and I will look to mine, yet for that of Jehu, Why, what was that for? it was for fear leſt the people ſhould go back again to the Houſe of David (and ſo he was running into the ſtory of Jeroboam) and to Jeruſalem, but he was corrected. Then Kiffen ſaid, it is ſo, then ſaid Mr. Rogers it is not ſo of Jehu, but of Jeroboam, which he ſpeaks of; then he corrected himſelf, and ſaid, well; but Jehu, can you parallel it now? Why his heart was hypocriticall, and by policy clave to the ſame ſin of his Predeceſſors, and Baal again to pleaſe the people.
True my Lord, and is it not ſo now?
Hah — ſaith he; and turned about to his Army men, and ſo he ſpake of the Army too, what can you ſay of them?
I ſay they are an Appoſtate Army, that have moſt perfidiouſly betrayed the cauſe of Chriſt, broken their faith in ſo many Declarations and Engagements, and are odious to the Saints; yea the very name of them will be odious to the children that are yet unborn.
[With that the Army-men (for many Officers were by) were ſorely vexed, ſome grating their teeth, and laying heads together]
I tell you (ſaith he, in a chafe) I tell you, and you! that they have kept them all to a tittle, not one of you can make it appear that they have broke one Declaration or Engagement, or a tittle of one, prove it if you can, any of you.
Mr. Rogers did earneſtly preſſe for liberty, to inſtance in ſome, and with much ado, ſaid: My Lord, if you would have patience, I would inſtance in many: [they ſcoff again.
Am I impatient? then let them that ſtand by ſee! nay, it is you are ſo full like the Pamphleters.
They that write Pamphlets now, never printed more lyes and blaſphemies ſince the world ſtood.
I think ſo too.
But my Lord, if you pleaſe to let me ſpeak, for if I be extream, is not paſſio concupiſcibilis, as we ſee in ſome men, who ſpeak all for themſelves, whileſt we ſeek onely for Chriſt and his kingdome, but rather a paſſio iraſcibilis (which it may, is my weakneſſe, but ſure it is my indignation to ſin and ſelf, and that which I ſee ſet up inſtead of Chriſt: but if you**For there were many poſtures〈◊〉actions tending to disturb and interrupt him. will give me leave, I will inſtance in Declarations, as that in 47. for one, page 9. where they Declare againſt any Authority or Abſolute power in any Perſon or Perſons what ſoever during life; ſaying the people ſo ſubjected were meere Slaves, and that you would not have it ſo in any; no, not in any of your own Army; or of your own Principles; nor yet of whom you might have moſt perſonall aſſurance? and that it was no reſiſting of Magiſtracy, to ſide with juſt principles; and much more to that purpoſe: Beſides, in ſeverall others, as in Albans: and that when the Army went to Scotland againſt the Clergy and Tithes.
[But Maſter Rogers was interrupted and not ſuffered to inſiſt on any others.
And who? Hear me: Who? — Who? I ſay, bath broken that? Where is an Arbitrary or Abſolute power? (nay, hear me) Where is ſuch a Power?
Is not the Long-ſword ſuch? By what Law or Power are we put into priſon, my brother Feak above theſe 12 months, I above 28 weeks (and ſeveral others of our Brethren) and we know not for what to this day: which, I ſay again, is worſe, yea worſe then the Romane Law: And is not this Arbitrary? And is not your Power, with the Armies, Abſolute? to break up Parliaments, and do what you will? But if you pleaſe, let me inſtance in others.
(But they would not ſuffer him.)
One of the Army, ſome ſay, L.C.W. Sir, (ſaith he to Mr. Ro.) you ſay the Army have broken all their Engagements.
Yea, every one of them: and if they make another Declaration, they will hardly be believed again, by good people.
But I pray by what Rule do you reſiſt Powers ſet up of God?
Sir, you are miſtaken, we do not reſiſt ſuch as are ſet up of God; but we reſiſt ſin in all men: and as Luther ſaid, Invaniar ſane ſuperbus, &c. I may be accounted proud, mad, or any thing: but be it ſo ne modo impii ſilentii arguar, dum Chriſtus patitur; rather then I be guilty of the ſin of Silence .**But Mr. Ro. was interrupted, and forced to break off. whiles O. P. proceeded..
Now for the Army, they are reſolved not to reſt, till they have performed all they engaged; and they are about it, as faſt as they can do it in order.
And much to that purpoſe he ſpake. But then Mr. Her. deſired to ſpeak.
I deſire to ſpeak a word.
Well, do.
That Gentleman (meaning L.C. W.) asked by what Rule we reſiſt powers: We deſire then to be ſatisfied, by what Rule you reſiſted the King, and warred againſt him and his adherents, and deſtroyed the Governments before, ſeeing they were accounted too a lawful Authority. And conſider how much blood cries under the Altar, How long, O. Lord, holy and true!
Would undertake to anſwer, by a long Narrative of the peoples grievances, the Kings abſolute power, and his ſeeking to deſtroy his ſubjects, till they were forced to take up Arms for their own defence; ſo that it was a defenſive War and the former powers had broken their Engagements, and forfeited their truſt.
Much more was ſpoken by one or other thereto. But ſaith he, looking upon Mr. Ro. Ha!
I ſee he is full to ſpeak.
Yea. my Lord, I am: for (ex conceſſis) our controverſie is decided, and the Caſe is plain on our ſide, and ſeems ſo now more then even;The Controverſie cleared, out of their own mouthes. for do not the poor people of God ſeel a Preragative-intereſt now up? As the old Non conformiſts, or the good old Puritans were perſecuted, impriſoned, reproached, and denied protection from men, and therefore were forced to flie to God by faith and prayer, and tears day and night,1. (not ceaſing, till the vial of wrath was poured out upon the beads of the King and his Prelates: ſo, I ſay, the new Non-conformiſts are abuſed, diſowned, and denied protection; perſecuted, impriſoned, baniſhed, and forced day and night (yea thouſands of them in City and Country) to their faith, tears, prayers, and appeals; which are the Bombar da Chriſtianorum, and will prevail (as ſure as God is in heaven) to bring down the next hot ſcorching vial of his wrath upon theſe new Enemies and Perſecutors.
Beſides,222. in your own Declaration, p. 7. of that — 43, you ſay it is no reſiſting of Magiſtracie to ſide with juſt principles. And is it not juſt to ſide with that Intereſt which the blood of ſo many thouſands of the Saints hath ſealed to, in the three Nations; and ſo many Declarations, Vows, and Engagements have been made for, viz. for the Lambs, and againſt this your Intereſt, which we have all engaged, prayed, bled, and fought againſt? Now, my Lord, let the loud Cries of the blood ſhed againſt theſe things you have ſet up, be heard; and make reſtitution of that blood, thoſe lives, tears, bowels, faith, prayer, limbs, and skulls, of us and our relations left in the fields, and laid out againſt this kinde of Government, whether in Civil or Eccleſiaſtical; or elſe let us have what they were laid out for: otherwiſe we muſt and will, with the Lords help, ſide with thoſe juſt Principles that have been ſo ſealed to, and owned by the Lord. And this will be a moſt apparent defenſive war as ever was in the world, to defend what the blood, and bones, and eſtates of ſo many thouſands of the Saints of God have bought at ſo high a rate, which they are wronged: for they never thought of ſetting up this. And therefore I ſay, (my Lord) if our God the Lord Jehovah do give his Call, I am ready, for one, amongſt the Lords remnant, to ſide with juſt Principles, in the ſtrength of the Anointing, whether it be pradicando, pracando, or praeliando; by preaching, praying, or fighting.
Said you not praliando?
Yea, ſays Mr. R. in the Spirit of the Lord: for the Caſe was never ſo clear as now it is in the ſtate of the Controverſie. For the Controverſie is not now between man and man,The ſtate of the Controverſie is between Chriſt & O.P. Chriſts Government & Mans. one Government of the world, and another Government of the world, or King and People; but it is now between Chriſt and you (my Lord) Chriſts Government and yours: and which of theſe two, are the higher powers for us to ſide with, and be obedient unto, judge ye.
Ha! Why who denies the Caſe to be clearer now? But I heard indeed,This ſpeech ſeemed to trouble them all. it is ſome of your principles to be at it: you long to be at it; you want but an opportunity.
The remnant of the womans ſeed muſt be at it when they have the Call. For I beſeech you, my Lord, conſider how neer it is to the End of the Beaſts dominion, the 42 months, and what time of day it is with us now.
(But Mr. Ro. was interrupted.)
Talk not of that; for I muſt tell you plainly,An Ignoramus brought in very honeſtly. they are things I underſtand not.
It ſeems (my Lord) ſo, elſe ſurely you durſt not lay violent hands upon us, for the testimony and truth of the day, as you do.
Why then do you impriſon others for the light, if you your ſelf be ſo ignorant?
(But then ſome of the Court-creatures pull'd him by the cloak, and laid violent hands on him, and call'd him ſtinking baſe fellow, ſaying he knew not whom he ſpake to, nor where he was; giving him many uncivil words. But afterward one of them ſaid to him, Ask for Mr. Ro. out of priſon; a•k for him, and my Lord will let him out. But B. D. anſwered, No, Sir, we came not for that.
Great men are not always wiſe.
See! (ſays he, looking upon his Army-men.)
They are not always wiſe with the wiſdom of God, though they may have much carnal policie, ſubtilty, and reaſon of State. But the ſeed of the woman ſhall break the Serpents head.
(Which Mr. Ro. ſpeaking with a high voice, and great alacrity, it made the Courtiers ſcoff at him, as if he were a Mad-man.
Ha! and thus they talk of the Miniſtery, and Commiſſioners for Approbation, and ſay they are Antichriſtian .**See your Ordinance, March 20, 1653. the ground is upon Patrons right to preſent to cure of ſouls; the creator, is your L P. Cromwel; the matter, men of corrupt principles and practices, and most of them of the National Church; the end is, to fill Pariſh-cures, and get Tythes: all Antichriſtian..
Yea, my Lord, we do ſay ſo, and they are ſo, as to their ſtanding upon a wrong, un-Goſpel foot of account; and I will prove36 them and your Tryers (I ſpeak not as to their perſons, but as to their ſtanding) Antichriſtian for matter, and form, and rule (by which they ſit) and end for which they ſit.
You fix the name of Antichriſtian upon any thing.
Pray (my Lord) make no Law againſt that name; let it not be treaſon to uſe the name Antichriſtian: for that name will up yet higher and higher; and many things that you think good and Chriſtian, will be found Antichriſtian ere long.
Being angry, look'd on his Army-men: See! ſaid he, and ſo all is Antichriſtian, and Tythes are ſo too with you; but I will prove they are not.
My Lord, you were once of another minde, and told me you'd have them pull'd down, and put into a Treaſury.
Did I ever ſay ſo?
Yea that you did, in the Co•k-pit (the round place there;) and ſaid moreover, that the Poor ſhould be maintained and put to work, with what remained of them, that we might have no begger in England.
Ha! there be many Gentlemen know that I have been for them, and will maintain the juſtneſs of them.
But, my Lord, how can that be, that the National Miniſtery is not Antichriſtian?
See now! how you run! It is not a National Miniſtery that is now eſtabliſhed, nor can you make it appear they are Antichriſtian.
Yea, my Lord, without any difficulty, out of your own Law which hath conſtituted theſe Tryers and High-Court-Commiſſioners to eſtabliſh a worldly Clergie.
I tell you, you and you, that you cannot; for they ordain none.
No: but if the Pope, Prelate, or Devil ſhould ordain them, they muſt approve of them, ſettle them in their Pariſhes, get them their Tythes, and what not? if they be but conformable to
— He is interrupted.
I tell you, I tell you, it is their grace they judge of, and not for parts or learning, Latine, Greek, or Hebrew.
And who made them judges of grace, my Lord? At moſt, they can but judge of the fruits of grace; and how dare they take37 upon them to be judges over Grace? It is not you, but the Lord Jeſus, that can make them ſuch judges.
[With that, he turned away, as very angry.
My Lord, we are very much diſſatiſfied with what you have done againſt theſe priſoners of the Lord Jeſus, for ſo they are, and we muſt count them ſo: for you have given us no ſat is faction at all, in what you pretend them to be as evil doers.
I cannot tell you then how to help it.
For my part, I muſt declare againſt you, and will venture my life, if I be called to it, with theſe our brethren that ſuffer.
As for thoſe Articles, we have heard them read, againſt our bro. Ro. out of his Sermons preached at Tho. Apoſt. and from what he prayed at Th. Apoſt. Set aſide but what is put in by your Informers, which we wil take our Oathes that heard them (all preached) were never ſpoken by him: (only, I ſay, that excepted) we will live and die with him upon thoſe Articles, & will own him with our lives.
— Yea, ſaid Mr. Ro. and I believe an hundred will, that heard and writ them.
Well, (ſaith he) I'll ſend for ſome of you ere long: but I have loſt this time, and have publike buſineſs upon me at this time: I had rather have given 500 l. I tell you, there wants brotherly love; and the ſeveral ſorts of Forms would cut the throats one of another, ſhould not I keep the peace.
Thoſe you call Fifth Monarchy-men, are driven by your Sword to love one another.
Why I tell you there be Anabaptiſts (pointing at Mr. Kifſin) and they would cut the throats of them that are not under their Forms; ſo would the Presbyterians cut the throats of them that are not of their Forms; and ſo would you Fifth Monarchy-men. It is ſit to keep all theſe Forms out of the Power.
Who made you (my Lord) a Judge of our Principles? You ſpeak evil of you know not what. For that Fifth Monarchy-principle (as you call it) is of ſuch a latitude as takes in all Saints, all ſuch as are ſanctified in Chriſt Jeſus, without reſpect of what Form or Judgement he is. But, Judiciuns fit ſecundum vim intellectualis luminis
— [He was interrupted.
What do you tell us of your Latine?
Why (my Lord) you are Chancellor of Oxford; and can you not bear that Language?
My Lord, we have great comfort by the Miniſtery of our brother Rogers, and great miſs of him; and therefore we have demanded his Liberty, and deſire to know whether he ſhall be at liberty, or no.
I will take my own time: you ſhall not know what I will do.
Then let us have liberty to hear him preach.
It cannot be, my Lord: for I have many priſoners and 'tis dangerous**And yet for all S. Dendy's baſeneſs to the poor perſecuted people of God, And his readineſs to prevent the great mans anſwer, he can let in as many as will come, to the drunken profane priſoners & plotters; ſo that friends are glad to uſe their names (if they know any of them) that come to ſee Mr. Rogers. .
Pray, my Lord, conſider that place in Iſa. 49.24, 25, 26. for the Lord will deliver the lawful Captive in that day which is coming: you can but have my blood at laſt; and you had like to have had it already in the Priſon ere this: two of my children have died there ſince my impriſonment, and I have been at Deaths-door.
It is unreaſonable our brother Ro. ſhould be kept priſoner ſo, in ſuch a place, and at ſuch a charge as is (for him) above 200 l. per an. and we know no cauſe for it, but his conſcience.
Then S. Dendy was ſpoken to, to anſwer for himſelf.
Now, my Lord, I ſee one of my Accuſers. I never demanded a peny of Mr. Ro. nor of my Aunt his wife, who is one of Sir Robert Payne's daughters.
I knew her father very well.
But they have (my Lord) three rooms, and it cannot be allowed.
No more room then one priſoner had before, being divided into three little rooms, and but one chimney in them All. The Plotter that went out before I came into them, had them All. And for the Fees, though you in perſon demanded them not, yet your man (old Meaſey) did, for you, ſeveral times, viz. 4 l. 4 s. per week; which he did before witneſs, as I can prove under their hands: and he ſaid I ſhould not go out till the Sergeant had it. And what beſides I was to pay you, I was not to know till I went out.
Mrs. Ro. ſaid to Sergeant Dendy, It's true, you have had but 5 l. yet of it.
Why he is your Nephew, who was accounted one that loved the people of God.
So were others as well as he, till this trial.
My Lord, will you not give us the liberty to hear him in the Priſon then, ſeeing you will not let us hear him abroad?
Is that the liberty you ſought for? (ſays he, in a ſcoff.)
Yes, Sir, and that which we demand.
But then the Great man would be gone: and as he was going out, Mr. Ro. deſired him to remember he muſt be judged, and the day of the Lord was neer, and that he would, (ere long) and thoſe about him finde them that now he and they counted falſe Prophets, in Windſor and Lambeth, true Prophets; and what they have ſaid, they ſhould finde come to paſs ere many yeers yet: for that the righteous Jehovah, who ſitteth on high, heareth all our prayers, ſighs, groans, and tears. But away he went, and would not hear.
As ſoon as we came out of the room, Sergeant Dendy in the Gallery threatned what he would do, and how he would ſend them further off, and order them ere long; Mr. Rogers receiving the threatning without impatience, or one word of reply unto him.
That very night, a ſtrict Order was ſent after him to Lambeth-priſon, that no more then ſix may come to ſee Mr. R. at a time, (no ſuch Order being made for any of the other Priſoners, who have of lend company as many as they will at a time.) And ſince that, the Gaoler hath been ſo ſtrict, (eſpecially upon the Lords days) according to his Orders from Whitehal, that he will not ſuffer one brother to come in to ſee him, or to pray with him, that is ſent from the Churches of Chriſt, (upon thoſe days, if he knows him) to keep a holy reſt with Mr. R. In the mean time, the Contumelies, Contempt, and opprobrious abuſes, the members of Mr. Peak's, Mr. Rogers's, Mr. Raworth's and of ſome other Churches, met with below in the yard, during the foreſaid Diſcourſe with O. Cromwel. But to paſs over that and leave it to the Judge of heaven and earth, who (we are ſure) will not overpaſs it.
During this Diſcourſe between Mr. R. and the Great man above, the Brethren that were below in the yard, had their ſhare of reproaches and abuſes. For the members of the Churches of Chriſt who could not have acceſs with Mr. Ro. were kept below, and encompaſſed about with divers of the deboiſt Souldiers; who when they heard us declare againſt thoſe barbarous actions which the Guard ſo cruelly acted with their Swords, againſt our naked brethren and friends, thoſe aforeſaid Souldiers began to queſtion the occaſion of our being there: which when we had told them, they began to ſet up their voices, (many of them) hooting and hiſſing at〈…〉as if we had not been Chriſtians, or creatures of the like make40 with themſelves; telling us we had often riſen, and they had allayed us, and they made no queſtion but they ſhould alſo allay us at this time, if we intended to riſe. To whom we anſwered, that there was no ſuch thing in cur eye now, as to avenge our ſelves by or with external weapons: but ſaid, We have here Swords (ſhewing our Bibles) which we believe will, in God's appointed time, (being guided and accompanied by his Spirit) deſtroy and cut in pieces your Swords, which now you draw againſt us and it.
Afterwards we further obſerved, that whilſt we were waiting belowe in the open yard, for the return of our friend, and friends, there being of us (as neer as we can remember) betwixt fourty and fifty perſons, (men and women) that we could finde no place in the aforeſaid yard, where we might have any quiet, or be free from the uncivil reproaches, ſcoffing, jeers, blaſphemous nicknames, and what not? which ſome of the aforeſaid Foot-guard threw upon us, with great contempt and ſcorn, telling us, Bridewel and ſuch-like places were ſitter for us,So that we believe, the Lord bath a little remnant in the army alſo, whoſe ſouls do ſecretly mourn for theſe Abominations: and it is obſervable, that the Lord hath by degrees pull'd the choiceſt of them out of this Apoſtate-army, that they might not partake of their plagues; as, M.G. Hariſon, col. Rich Col. Okey, col. Alured, Adj. G. Allen, M.G. Overton, Maj. Wiggens, Dr. Day, and many others. then to be there?
But in the midſt of their uncivil, unchriſtian-like, and very leud language to us, we cannot but remember that ſpirit of remorſe and pity which ſeemed to be in ſome of their Officers, to ſee us ſo abuſed: inſomuch as ſome of the ſaid Officers told us they were ſorry to ſee ſuch things, namely, the uncivil carriage of ſome of their Souldiers: yet (ſaid they) we cannot expect better, where it is not.
Thus, for the ſpace of divers hours, we were barried up and down, not being ſuffered to be in quiet in any one place, without the company of divers of thoſe unruly fellows, whom we ſhould have been content to let hear our diſcourſe, would they have ſuffered us to ſtand ſtill or in quiet: But they ſo uncivilly & moſt ungodlily ſhew their obſcene and ſilt by ſpeeches and actions; yea, they pulled and haled divers of the women and maids that were there of our friends, and ſaid that we made no conſcience of our ways, and that they were of light principles, uſing ſuch words and geſtures to them and us, as we are aſhamed to utter or expreſs; beſides manifold more provocations, revilings, and filthy ſpeeches, and threatnings, and ſinful actions, wherein they ſeemed to take great delight.
But after Mr. Rogers and the Brethren that were with him came down into the Yard, many friends gathered about him. Whiles41 Mr. R. (being remanded again to priſon) was going to take water with his Keeper, he heard M.G. Hariſon, Col. Rich, Mr. Carew, Qu. M. Gen. Courtney, Mr. Ireton, Mr. Squib, with many others, were there, in the yard: ſo that Mr. Ro. went to them. And after joyful Salutations, he told them he was going to Priſon again•and that there were Articles put in by wicked men out of the Priſon againſt him, which he excepted againſt as illegal, and as given in by Plotters, and men given to drinking, ſwearing, and ſuch-like ſins; and ſome others, which were read againſt him, from Tho. Apoſtles. But as he was telling this, he was interrupted by one that cried out, That is falſe, it is falſe. Upon which, he was ſilent, to look upon the man that ſo ſaid: and it was Mr. Kiffen, (who had crowded among us, to liſten for tales to carry to his Maſter) who then ſaid, They were not Articles put in by Drunkards, that is untrue, &c. but by honeſt Godly men that heard you at Tho. Apoſtles. To which Mr. Ro. replied, that the Articles were of two ſorts: thoſe read, were from Tho. Apoſtles; but thoſe unread, (which he excepted againſt) were from Lambeth, given in by ſuch leud men, and he ſaw them upon the Table: and that his Lord Protector (beſides) ſaid they had Informations from the Priſon, and moreover read one of them, viz. that of the Great Dragon; and Sergeant Dendy ſent them to Mr. Thurloe, as was proved: ſo that it was not falſe, but very true. At which Mr. Kiffen was ſo ſilenced, that he could not ſay a word for himſelf. Which ſome of the Gentlemen by, ſeeing, reproved him for his raſhneſs: and ſo Mr. Ro. and they parted, perceiving people to flock about them and without doubt, to have ſomewhat to inform their Great Maſter againſt Mr. Ro. or ſome of the poor Saints; for that is the principle and practice of ſelf-ſeeking Sycophants and Court-Paraſites, to make themſelves, and not care how they murther others, or what they inform againſt them.
Whiles Mr. R. was carried away to priſon again,M.G. Hariſon, Col. Rich, Mr. Carew, Mr. Squib, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Ireton, & many others, continued up the Teſtimony & the Demand to O. P. the very ſame night. the foreſaid Gentlemen (of much merit, and ſingular honour amongſt the choiceſt Saints, for their unſpotted ſanctity, and integrity to the betrayed Truth and Cauſe of Chriſt) went up to the Great Man; although before they could have any acceſs, the Sword was drawn at them alſo, and ſet at Mr. Carey's breſt: but after eight or ten of them had liberty to O. P. they brought him the ſome kinde of Meſſage from42 Jehovah, that was before delivered him by the Twelve; making a Demand of the Lord's Priſoners, and bearing their Teſtimony to his face, againſt Him and his Government.
In the mean time, Mr. Kiffen belowe had got a company together (in Mr. Rogers's abſence) railing upon him, and ſaying he was a wicked man, and had told what was not true of the Articles, and ſpake againſt his Lord. But Mr. G. (a precious godly Chriſtian, and a member of the Church at D.) then ſpake aloud to Mr. Kiffen (as Mr. K. did before to Mr. R.) ſaying, That's falſe: for I can (ſays he) no more be ſilent for Mr. Rogers, then you can be for your Lord Protector: What Mr. R. ſpake was truth, as he made it appear to your face; (and then he told him how.) So that poor Mr. K. was ſilenc'd again the ſecond time, and could not go on, till a more private and clandeſtine meeting among his own kinde of Time-ſervers and Self-ſeekers, where he might tell his untruths againſt Mr. Mr. R. M.G. Hariſon, and others, without control, (as we hear he, with ſome that belong unto him, have done at large) and have them taken upon the truſt and credit of his word at a venture: it is but reaſon and gratitude to his Great Maſter, to poſſeſs all he can againſt the poor perſecuted Saints, in the behalf of him to whom he is ſo highly obliged, (above any one man almoſt in England) for his large favors, & beneficial Patentees. But ere long the Merchants who were made Rich (by compliance with Babylon) ſhall weep and wail, and ſay, Alas, Alas! Rev. 18.15, 16.
It is to be obſerved,ſomewhat obſervable. that very day the Sword was drawn twice at the Witneſſes and Womans Seed. The Providence is alſo admirable, at that very juncture when Mr. R. and the Brethren were before him, to maintain the Teſtimony and Demand made by the Twelve, that on that very day (many Aſſemblies of the Saints in ſeveral places, being hard at the Throne) the Lord ſhould call out one (unknown to any of us) whole Meeting of the praying number (being about 34 men) to go to Whitehal, and bear their Witneſs alſo.
The concurrence of the Teſtimony and the Demand is no leſs conſiderable, ſeeing one had not the knowledge of the others Meſſage, that M.G. Hariſon, Mr. Carew, and the reſt, ſhould ſecond the aforeſaid Twelve, by a meer hand and call of God, which they were obedient unto; (which is very exemplary and encouraging43 to all the Saints and Churches in England, who are faithful to the Cauſe of Chriſt) ſeeing ſo leading and calling a Providence.
The Demand and the Teſtimony is of a ſudden gotten to a high pitch,The Teſtimony up at a high pitch. which doth mightily raiſe up the expectations of the believing remnant.
It is not meet for us to publiſh the matter of their Testimony, (being of the ſame nature with this Narrative) neither can we do it ſo accurately and faithfully as we hope ſome others will; The preſent work of the Day, (to gag the miſreports thereupon) for the quickning and ſtrengthning them that are to follow us, calling for the publication thereof without delay, where-ever it lies. And the rather, for that Thoſe choice ſervants of the Lord Jeſus,M.G. Hariſon Mr. Carew, & Mr. Courtney, ſent away with a Troop of horſe to priſon, we know not whither, the 22 day of the 12 month M.G. Hariſon, Col. Rich, Mr. Carew, and Col. Courtney, are ſo cruelly uſed for their Teſtimony and the Truths ſake, (having no fact (but their faith) to charge them with) and hurried away to Priſon with a Troop of Horſe, and we know not whither. So that the man muſt needs be wilfully blinde indeed now, that will not ſee and ſay, The Saints are under Perſecution.
Therefore let not the good People of the Nation be ſo ſhamefully abuſed and deceived as they have been,A word of Caution. with lying Pamphlets and Informers, whiles the Truth cannot, muſt not, date not be printed, for fear of offending the men in Power, and ſuffering a Priſon, or worſe. Of all, beware of that Abominable Oracle the late Ironmonger (but now Pariſh-Preacher)**A man ſo baſe and ſcandalous, as makes him horrible, and his Name to ſtink among the Churches, as very unfit matter to be a member of a Church, but rather fit to be excommunicated, & exploded the ſociety of all the Saints, for bringing ſo foul reproach upon Religion, which he hath formerly pretended to; till he followed this Trade of Merchant for Lyes. Walker, (his Weekly Proceedings) whoſe forehead hath for many yeers been plated and brazened in the Trade and Art of Lying, making it his Calling and his Living (except the Tryers help him more eaſily to the Pariſh-Tythes.) This drives the poor man to ſo much pitiful ſoraping among the Court-Clerks for a few Lyes to ſell every week at an eaſie rate, that he and his family may live comfortably upon the lying ſlandering, and traducing the Lords peculiar ones, who are as the apple of his eyes. How lamentably he hath abuſed Mr. Feak, Mr. Rogers M.G. Overton and many others, is well known, and one day he muſt anſwer before the juſt Judge of all hearts, with a wan countenance, and woful conſcience, however he thinks to palliate it at preſent with a So't was told me. But as Solomon ſays, Prov. 17.44 4. A lyer giveth ear to a naughty tongue; and the curſe is threatned not onely to them that make, but them that receive and report Lyes, Rev. 21. Therefore (Exod. 23.1.) Put not thy hand to an unrighteous witneſs.
Theſe things are publiſhed in meer love to the Truth and deſpiſed Saints of God, for whoſe ſake we are contented to become a reproach in the world, and to ſuffer any thing (by his Grace) that man can inflict upon us, ſo our dear Lord Jeſus may but reign, his Truth triumph, and his Kingdom be exalted. Amen. Amen.