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<DATE>2012-10-02</DATE>
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<NAME>Colm MacCrossan</NAME>
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<P>A DECLARATION Of &s;everal of the Churches of Chri&s;t, AND GODLY PEOPLE In and about the Citie of <HI>LONDON;</HI> Concerning The Kingly Intere&s;t OF CHRIST, AND The pre&s;ent Suffrings OF His Cau&s;e and Saints in <HI>England.</HI></P>
<P><HI>LONDON,</HI> Printed for <HI>Livewel Chapman,</HI> at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley. 1654.</P>
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<HEAD>A DECLARATION Of &s;everal of the Churches of Chri&s;t, And Godly people: Being a few of the de&s;pi&s;ed <HI>Remnant</HI> in and about the City of <HI>London,</HI> that yet cleave clo&s;e to the <HI>Cau&s;e</HI> and <HI>Intere&s;t</HI> of our Lord <HI>Je&s;us,</HI> &s;o much di&s;owned and rejected in the&s;e times of <HI>Apostacie,</HI> and in this hour of our great <HI>Tribulation</HI> and <HI>Temptation.</HI></HEAD>
<P><HI>IN the Name of</HI> Jehovah-Ni&s;&s;i, (Exod. 17.15.) <HI>our</HI> Lord Chri&s;t, <HI>Protector of his</HI> People, King <HI>of</HI> Saints <HI>and</HI> Nations: <HI>To all that are</HI> &s;anctified <HI>in</HI> Je&s;us Chri&s;t, <HI>whether</HI> in Churches, <HI>or</HI> out, <HI>that partake of the &s;ame</HI> Faith <HI>(with us) of our</HI> Lord Je&s;us, <HI>e&s;pecially the</HI> &s;ealed number <HI>now upon their</HI> watch, <HI>that have not defiled their</HI> garments, <HI>who&s;e</HI> robes <HI>are wa&s;hed with the</HI> blood <HI>of the</HI> Lamb, <HI>that are</HI> redeemed <HI>from among men, and fellow
<PB N="2" REF="3">the</HI> Lamb <HI>whither &s;oever he goeth, in the&s;e</HI> three Nations, <HI>or el&s;ewhere. We their unworthy</HI> Brethren, <HI>one with them in the pre&s;ent</HI> Sufferings <HI>of our</HI> Lord Je&s;us, <HI>and his</HI> Saints, <HI>in the behalf of our &s;elves, and many others, Do from the bottom of our hearts, wi&s;h like</HI> Faith, Grace, Zeal, Light, Joy, <HI>and</HI> Peace, <HI>which we enjoy from</HI> God <HI>the</HI> Father, <HI>and</HI> Je&s;us Chri&s;t <HI>our</HI> Lord. Amen.</P>
<P>_FOra&s;much as we believe many <HI>godly people</HI> in the&s;e three Nations and el&s;ewhere, are <HI>deceived</HI> (and therefore <HI>un&s;atisfied</HI>) concerning <HI>us</HI> in the matters of our <HI>faith,</HI> relating to the mo&s;t precious <HI>Cau&s;e, Intere&s;t,</HI> and <HI>Monarchy</HI> of the Lord Chri&s;t, (which we cleave unto) through <HI>mi&s;repre&s;entations</HI> and <HI>fal&s;e reports</HI> made of <HI>us</HI> and <HI>our Principles,</HI> by <HI>per&s;ons,</HI> and <HI>Letters</HI> po&s;ted about the Nations for that purpo&s;e, full of <HI>er|rors, mi&s;takes, unchri&s;tian cen&s;ures, uncharitable reproa|ches</HI> and <HI>invectives,</HI> wherein the Adver&s;aries have all the advantage again&s;t us, that <HI>worldly power</HI> can po&s;|&s;e&s;s them with: but now, that we may no longer (by a <HI>forced &s;ilence</HI>) be a <HI>di&s;&s;atisfaction</HI> to our Friends, <HI>grie|vance</HI> to the Truth, <HI>offence</HI> to the Saints, a <HI>trouble</HI> to our own Con&s;ciences, and <HI>advantage</HI> to the Adver&s;a|ries, or be &s;o much the <HI>&s;ubject</HI> (as we have been) of our Enemies malice, to forge their lyes, jealou&s;ies, or evil reports upon, nor yet be <HI>&s;u&s;picious</HI> to many, and for <HI>&s;ignes</HI> and <HI>wonders</HI> to mo&s;t in the Common|wealth; as if we were <HI>mon&s;ters,</HI> and not <HI>men; infidels,</HI> and not <HI>believers; enemies</HI> to Government, and not <HI>orators</HI> for it day and night, as God hath appointed it; We &s;hall therefore (in the behalf of thou&s;ands more (we hope) one with us herein) in all <HI>faithfulne&s;s, meek|ne&s;s,</HI>
<PB N="3" REF="3">and <HI>clearne&s;s,</HI> declare unto you, (and to all the world) how far we are <HI>engaged</HI> in this mo&s;t glorious (though crucified) cau&s;e of Chri&s;t, (maugre all oppo|&s;ition of Men or Devils) in as little room as this &s;hort Narrative will allow us; being awakened thereunto every day. Yet it cannot be expected, that in this Paper we &s;hould relate <HI>all</HI> our Grievances, lay down <HI>all</HI> our Grounds, or an&s;wer <HI>all</HI> Objections, (which we hope to do hereafter) but onely &s;o far as may make obvious to any <HI>unbya&s;&s;ed</HI> eye or under&s;tanding, the ju&s;t <HI>ri&s;e</HI> of our Di&s;contents, Troubles, and Di&s;&s;atisfacti|ons, and as may exonerate our &s;ouls in the &s;ight of Heaven and Earth.</P>
<P>O our <HI>bowels,</HI> our <HI>bowels!</HI> our <HI>hearts</HI> even ake, and are pained within us, to hear the doleful and daily <HI>groans</HI> of Gods people, crying out, O where are our <HI>Deliverers</HI> and <HI>Saviours!</HI> The <HI>Reeds</HI> that we leaned upon, have <HI>pierced</HI> our hands, and we <HI>bleed!</HI> And af|ter our eyes <HI>fail</HI> with looking for <HI>Freedom, Peace,</HI> and <HI>Light,</HI> behold <HI>Darkne&s;s, Oppre&s;sion,</HI> and <HI>Distraction!</HI> and what hope is left us? And all this, through the declen&s;ion of the <HI>Armies</HI> fir&s;t Principles, and former Declarations, extant to the view of the world: wit|ne&s;s p. 14, 15 of the Remon&s;tr. <HI>Albans,</HI> &amp; p. 66. They urge it upon the grounds of <HI>Common Right, Freedom,</HI> and <HI>Safety,</HI> that Parliaments be by a <HI>certain &s;ucce&s;sion, Annually,</HI> or <HI>Biennially.</HI> And in their Declar. <HI>June</HI> 14. 1647. p. 8, 9. they declare this &s;o <Q REND="inline">e&s;&s;ential and fun|damental to Freedom, as that it cannot, nor ought it to be denied or withholden from us: and that arbitrary or ab&s;olute power in any per&s;on or per|&s;ons during life, doth not render that State any bet|ter then Tyranny, nor the People &s;ubjected thereto
<PB N="4" REF="4"> any better then Va&s;&s;als.</Q> And therefore they &s;ay, p. 9. <Q REND="inline">We are &s;o far from de&s;igning or complying to have an ab&s;olute or arbitrary power &s;igned or &s;etled for continuance in any per&s;ons what&s;oever, as that (if we might be &s;ure to obtain it) we cannot wi&s;h to have it &s;o in the per&s;ons of any whom we could mo&s;t confide in, or who &s;hould appear mo&s;t of our own opinions or principles, or whom we might have mo&s;t per&s;onal a&s;&s;urance of, or intere&s;t in; but that the Authority of this Kingdom in Parliament may ever &s;tand, and have its cour&s;e.</Q> Yet for all this, were not the la&s;t Parliament di&s;&s;olved, for that they would rule as <HI>Saints,</HI> (or part of the <HI>fifth Monar|chy,</HI> for Chri&s;t) and for doing that the former Par|liament neglected, &amp; therefore were di&s;&s;olved? and for doing that which the <HI>Army</HI> and <HI>good people</HI> had many yeers declared to be their duty to do? <HI>viz.</HI> Remon&s;tr. p. 20. And have not &s;ome by <HI>Printing</HI> opprobriou&s;ly and injuriou&s;ly <HI>abu&s;ed</HI> tho&s;e precious members that &s;tood for the Magi&s;tracie and Mini&s;tery of the <HI>Go&s;pel,</HI> or <HI>Unction,</HI> as if they would have had <HI>no</HI> Government, <HI>no</HI> Mini&s;ters, nor Propriety at all? and, after all their <HI>integrity,</HI> ca&s;t an <HI>Odium</HI> upon them, and upon the name of <HI>Saints,</HI> yea, and upon the <HI>Interest</HI> of Chri&s;t, again&s;t which they have opened the mouthes of many thou|&s;ands to <HI>bla&s;pheme?</HI> O the&s;e are the &s;words which pierce our hearts! Be&s;ides, doth not this <HI>Per&s;onal In|terest</HI> now up, look too much alike that which God hath <HI>confounded</HI> and <HI>&s;tamped upon</HI> before our eyes? in the &s;ame predicament of <HI>Pride, Profane&s;s, Per&s;ecution</HI> of Saints, and <HI>Oppre&s;sion,</HI> with them that went before? Oh! are not the <HI>Wicked</HI> exalted on every &s;ide, and &s;uch taken up again, (Malignants and others) as not
<PB N="5" REF="4">long &s;ince they mo&s;t declaim'd again&s;t? and are not the <HI>Saints</HI> (and them onely, or mo&s;tly) afflicted, ca&s;t out of their A&s;&s;emblies from praying and preaching? and &s;ome of the faithfulle&s;t of them in all the&s;e Wars, now clo&s;ely impri&s;oned (for their Con&s;ciences and this Cau&s;e of Chri&s;t) from the <HI>common air,</HI> yea, ca&s;t among Malefactors condemned; threatned, re|proached, and trampled on? Oh! can we have hearts &s;o hard, as to mention the&s;e, and (many more) &s;uch like <HI>effects,</HI> without yerning and mourning? Be&s;ides, are not the new Court of <HI>Tryers</HI> at White|hall for Mini&s;ters, of like make with the Bi&s;hops <HI>High-Commi&s;sion-Court?</HI> The Graven image of the <HI>worldly power,</HI> creating a <HI>worldly Clergie,</HI> for <HI>worldly ends,</HI> highly &s;candalous, and again&s;t the Rule of the Go&s;pel, and Faith of Chri&s;t, and as much to be ex|ploded as the <HI>Pope</HI> and <HI>Prelate?</HI> notwith&s;tanding they a&s;&s;ume the title of <HI>Orthodox,</HI> and <HI>&s;oundne&s;s</HI> of opinion to them&s;elves, and upon that account charge others (that are not one with them in their Carnal and Anti|chri&s;tian Intere&s;t) with <HI>Errours</HI> and <HI>Ra&s;hne&s;s.</HI> But, as the Declaration of the Army to <HI>Scotland,</HI> (p. 15) &s;aith, <Q REND="inline"> This hath been found in all ages of high advantage to them that a&s;&s;umed it, that it were &s;trange if tho&s;e <HI>(Civil Tryers)</HI> &s;hould not have u&s;ed it to &s;mite them withal, whom they would render odious, and de&s;troy.</Q> And is not <HI>This</HI> again&s;t their own Declar. to <HI>Scotland,</HI> p. 16. where they &s;ay, <Q REND="inline">That that Church-Government which is of God, Gods own means, <HI>viZ.</HI> his Word, mu&s;t e&s;tabli&s;h, without a bu&s;ie medling with, or engaging of the authorities of the world?</Q> And the Lo. General <HI>CROMWEL,</HI> in his Letter to the Kirk-a&s;&s;embly from <HI>Dunbar,</HI> p. 11.
<PB N="4" REF="5">&s;aith, <Q REND="inline">It is worth con&s;idering, how tho&s;e Mini&s;ters take into their hands the in&s;truments of a fooli&s;h &s;hepherd, that meddle with worldly policies, or earthly powers, to &s;et up that which they call The Kingdom of Chri&s;t; which indeed is neither it, nor, if it were, would &s;uch means be found effectual for that end; and neglect, and not tru&s;t to the Word of God, the Sword of the Spirit, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></Q> Is not this all true in the <HI>Tryers?</HI> And is not this al&s;o again&s;t their own Remon&s;tr. <HI>Albans,</HI> pag. 20. where they de|clare it the Parliaments part, <Q REND="inline">to protect religous men, and take away all the corrupted Forms of out&s;ide-Religion, and <HI>(National)</HI> Church-&s;tare, whether impo&s;ed without Law, or rooted in Law in times of Popi&s;h ignorance or idolatry, or of Go|&s;pels dimmer light; and al&s;o to take away the de|pendence of the <HI>(National)</HI> Clergie in Civil Laws and Eccle&s;ia&s;tical affairs, which they had upon the King; or that intere&s;t of the Clergie in Civil Laws and Affairs, which the craft of both in length of time had wrought for each other: But that the King's part was to di&s;countenance the Godly, or a|ny con&s;cience obliging above or again&s;t humane or outward Con&s;titutions, &amp; to uphold and maintain the Civil dependence of the Clergie, and their Church-matters, under him.</Q> Our bowels are &s;o moved at the&s;e things, that we cannot refrain from <HI>bewailing</HI> our condition, after &s;o va&s;t a &s;tream and trea&s;ure of the blood, tears, prayers, lives, and &s;poils of our deare&s;t relations. O did we ever think to &s;ee &s;o many <HI>hopeful In&s;truments</HI> in the Army, Churches, and el&s;ewhere, to be &s;o fully <HI>gorged</HI> with the <HI>fle&s;h</HI> of Kings, Captains, and Nobles, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> (<HI>i. e.</HI> with their
<PB N="7" REF="5"><HI>Lands, Mannors, E&s;tates, Parks,</HI> and <HI>Palaces</HI>) &s;o as to &s;it at <HI>ea&s;e,</HI> and comply with Antichri&s;t, the World, Worldly Church and Clergie. Oh! how hath the Cup of the <HI>Whore</HI> foxt and inchanted men! <HI>viz.</HI> with the wine of the wrath of her fornication, to commit &s;in with her daily, (which the <HI>&s;ober</HI> blu&s;h to &s;ee) and to <HI>paint</HI> her over afre&s;h, for <HI>New Lovers</HI> to lie down with, to their utter ruine! O the <HI>My&s;tery of Ini|quity</HI> works apace! This &s;ubtil <HI>&s;pirit</HI> and <HI>&s;oul</HI> of An|tichri&s;tiani&s;m (in a new <HI>body</HI>) hath bewitched many of the <HI>Common &s;ort,</HI> and is wonderful cunning to de|ceive; although by this univer&s;al <HI>falling away</HI> a|mong&s;t us, the <HI>Man of &s;in</HI> is (ble&s;&s;ed be Jehovah) more di&s;covered then ever, who mu&s;t be <HI>de&s;troyed</HI> with the <HI>breath</HI> of Chri&s;t's mouth, and the <HI>brightne&s;s</HI> of his coming. Yet under a &s;ad &s;en&s;e of &s;o many <HI>fre&s;h</HI> a&s;&s;aults which the Saints meet with daily by <HI>outward Violence,</HI> and <HI>Eccle&s;ia&s;tical Tyranny,</HI> and in a clear apprehen&s;ion of that <HI>heavie Doom</HI> and <HI>Precipice</HI> hard by (we verily believe) upon all tho&s;e <HI>Powers</HI> and <HI>Interests</HI> of men, which keep warm the Seat of the <HI>bloody Beast</HI> for the <HI>Mother of harlots:</HI> And after many <HI>Solemn Meetings,</HI> and &s;eekings of God for a <HI>&s;pecial pre&s;ence,</HI> rolling our &s;elves onely on his <HI>Arm,</HI> having no <HI>carnal confidence,</HI> (ble&s;&s;ed be our wi&s;e God) now left us to look upon, we are fully per&s;waded in our &s;ouls, that he who hath hitherto mo&s;t eminently appeared, and plainly owned this <HI>ble&s;&s;ed Cau&s;e</HI> (which the <HI>Apostates</HI> of the times have ca&s;t a&s;ide, and we yet cleave unto) in <HI>England, Ireland, Scotland,</HI> and el&s;e-where, according to the <HI>faith</HI> and <HI>prayers</HI> of his <HI>poor de&s;pi&s;ed people,</HI> that he will <HI>yet appear,</HI> and that more eminently, (and terribly too) to &s;ave, then ever, and
<PB N="8" REF="6">witne&s;s to the <HI>righteou&s;ne&s;s</HI> of his own <HI>Cau&s;e,</HI> and the <HI>innocencie</HI> of his <HI>&s;ervants</HI> that <HI>&s;uffer</HI> therein, in great mercy and pity, pa&s;&s;ing by the failings and infirmi|ties of us his poor creatures. Therefore though we are &s;ure that <HI>God</HI> will vindicate <HI>his own Name</HI> to pur|po&s;e, ere long, under &s;o much reproach; yet, in the <HI>dread</HI> of <HI>that Name,</HI> we appeal unto the <HI>LORD,</HI> who will be a <HI>&s;wift witne&s;s</HI> again&s;t us, if we utter the&s;e things in <HI>hypocri&s;ie,</HI> or for ba&s;e ends, or for any carnal <HI>Per&s;onal Interest</HI> what&s;oever, if we are not in the <HI>&s;in|cerity</HI> and <HI>&s;implicity</HI> of our hearts (&s;o far as we have one grain of true <HI>grace</HI> in us) for Chri&s;t alone, and his poor rejected <HI>Cau&s;e</HI> and <HI>People,</HI> that we may ea&s;e and exonerate our &s;elves in the <HI>&s;en&s;e</HI> we have of our <HI>duty</HI> herein, and be withdrawn (to the eye of all) from partaking in the <HI>crying</HI> &s;ins and Apo&s;tacie of the Times; with all faithfulne&s;s, holy awe, and humility, we <HI>profe&s;s</HI> and <HI>declare,</HI></P>
<P N="1">1. For this <HI>Cau&s;e</HI> and <HI>Kingly Interest</HI> of our Lord Je&s;us, in <HI>England, Ireland,</HI> and <HI>Scotland,</HI> or el&s;where, according to the &s;everal Declarations of the Army, &s;ealed to with the blood of thou&s;ands of the <HI>precious Saints,</HI> the cry of who&s;e blood is <HI>for Christ,</HI> accord|ing to the Declaration of the <HI>Army</HI> to <HI>Scotland,</HI> p. 36, 37, 38, 39. who declare, <Q REND="inline">They were &s;tirred up by the Lord to a&s;&s;i&s;t the Parliament again&s;t the King, for this end, To bring about the de&s;truction of Antichri&s;t, and the deliverance of his true Church and people; &amp; upon this &s;imple account was it, that they engaged in the Wars of the three Nations, a|gain&s;t all Oppo&s;ers of this work of Je&s;us Chri&s;t; having the&s;e things &s;ingly in their eye, <HI>viz.</HI> the de|&s;truction of Antichri&s;t, and advancement of the
<PB N="9" REF="6">Kingdom of Je&s;us Chri&s;t, and deliverance and reformation of his Church, and the e&s;tabli&s;h|ment of Chri&s;ts Ordinances according to his Word, and the ju&s;t Civil Liberties of Engli&s;h|men. And this, they declare, with the lo&s;s of many precious Saints, p. 38. That they en|gaged again&s;t the late King and his Monarchy, as one of the ten horns of the Bea&s;t, guilty of the blood of the Saints: which act <HI>(they &s;ay)</HI> they are confident God will own again&s;t all Kingdoms or Nations that will oppo&s;e them, and that will not &s;uffer Je&s;us Chri&s;t to be King.</Q> So page 39. they declare, <Q REND="inline">they value the Churches <NOTE N="(a)" PLACE="marg">Then owning the Congregated Churches, as appears by Letters written to Mr. <HI>Feak,</HI> and Mr. <HI>Simp&s;on,</HI> and the Churches that walk in fellow&s;hip with them, and others.</NOTE> of Chri&s;t, who are the lot of Gods inheritance, a thou&s;and times beyond their own lives; and that it is their duty to per&s;evere therein to the utmo&s;t hazard of their lives: and that the Lord made them in&s;truments to vex all in his &s;ore di&s;plea&s;ure, that take coun&s;el again&s;t Chri&s;t, whom the Lord hath anointed and decreed King: and that they were not meerly the &s;ervants of man; and that they were not meerly the &s;ervants of man; and that they not onely proclaimed Je&s;us Chri&s;t, King of Saints, to be King, but that they would &s;ubmit to him (alone) upon his own terms, and admit him (onely) to the exerci&s;e of his Royal authority.</Q> Therefore &s;ay they, in pag. 40. <Q REND="inline">We be&s;eech you, in the fear of God, look about you: for our Lord Je&s;us is coming, <HI>&amp;c.</HI></Q> Now accordingly we have and do declare for this <HI>Royal Interest</HI> of
<PB N="10" REF="7">Chri&s;t, which ought to be &s;et up, which &s;o much blood hath been poured out for, like water, in the three Nations.) This Cau&s;e of Chri&s;t was magni|fied by God, in an&s;wering the <HI>Dunbar</HI>-Appeal again&s;t the King of <HI>Scots:</HI> The Engli&s;h Army appealing to God, according to the Act of Parliament, 1648. de|claring it <HI>High trea&s;on</HI> to &s;et up <HI>Charles Stuart,</HI> or <HI>Any other per&s;on,</HI> Chief Magi&s;trate in <HI>England,</HI> or <HI>Ireland,</HI> or any of the Dominions thereunto belonging. And as our Appeal was for <HI>No King but Je&s;us,</HI> (by which were the greate&s;t Victories obtained that we had) the Scots Appeal, on the other &s;ide, was for <HI>A King,</HI> or <HI>Per&s;onal Intere&s;t</HI> of <HI>Man,</HI> &amp;c. God's an&s;wer was &s;o full and wonderful on the <HI>No King</HI>'s &s;ide but <HI>Je&s;us,</HI> and according to the Act of Parliament, (upon which the Army marched again&s;t the King of <HI>Scots</HI>) that <HI>all Scotland</HI> was given in in few months, and their armies de&s;troyed: and, to u&s;e the very words of the Act of Parliament, <HI>Die Martis,</HI> 17 <HI>Septemb.</HI> 1650. <Q REND="inline">This an&s;wer was enriched with &s;o many remarkable cir|cum&s;tances, as is to be admired at by &s;ucceeding generations; evidencing &s;uch a divine pre&s;ence, as the Commonwealth can never be thankful enough for: and that it was given in as a Seal or Confir|mation from heaven, of the ju&s;tne&s;s of this Cau&s;e, after &s;olemn appeals made on both &s;ides to God him&s;elf, the righteous Judge in this War between <HI>England</HI> and <HI>Scotland:</HI> and that God did &s;o de|cide the Controver&s;ie, (him&s;elf) was of &s;uch value and high con&s;equence, that Generations to come may ta&s;te the &s;weet of it <HI>&amp;c.</HI></Q> Be&s;ides all this, much more we might mention (of their own) for this <HI>Cau&s;e</HI> and <HI>Kingly Intere&s;t</HI> of Chri&s;t; which
<PB N="11" REF="7">we are re&s;olved to adhere to, and (if the Lord will enable us) never to recede from, but to live and die in it. Neither is it a <HI>Re&s;i&s;ting of Government,</HI> (as &s;ome &s;ay of us) but a <HI>Reforming</HI> of it (which our Principles lead us to) according to the <HI>Word.</HI> And &s;eeing the <HI>Army</HI> and <HI>Parliament</HI> have often declared, as pag. 7. of Declar. <HI>June</HI> 14. 1647. <Q REND="inline">No re&s;i&s;ting of Magi&s;tra|cie, to &s;ide with ju&s;t Principles; upon which Ma|xime they a&s;&s;i&s;ted the Parliament again&s;t the King: and that it is one witne&s;s of God in the world, to carry on a te&s;timony again&s;t the inju&s;tice and un|righteou&s;ne&s;s of men, and again&s;t the mi&s;carriages of Governments, when corrupted, or declining from their primitive and original glory.</Q> We u&s;e their own words. 'Tis true, <HI>Every &s;oul</HI> mu&s;t be <HI>&s;ub|ject to the higher powers;</HI> and it is in <HI>obedience</HI> thereunto, that we are &s;ubject to Chri&s;t, and &s;tand by this his Cau&s;e (as we do) &s;o long as the Controver&s;ie is not now (with us) between Man and Man, (as was wont to be in other ages) but it is between Chri&s;t and Man. Which of the&s;e two then &s;hall have the ab&s;olute power of Government in the Nations? and who are the re&s;i&s;ters of the higher powers which are of God, tho&s;e that <HI>own,</HI> or tho&s;e that <HI>oppo&s;e</HI> Chri&s;t's claim? Judge ye!</P>
<P N="2">2. Becau&s;e the <HI>Boutefeu</HI>'s of the Times are ever blowing up the <HI>flames</HI> upon us, and incen&s;ing the pre|&s;ent worldly powers and others again&s;t us, with their lying accu&s;ations, and evil &s;urmi&s;ings, as the adver|&s;aries did, <HI>Ezra</HI> 4. and <HI>Nehem.</HI> 6. again&s;t <HI>Iudah</HI> and <HI>Ie|ru&s;alem,</HI> (to render them odious to <HI>Artaxerxes</HI>) that they intended to <HI>rebel</HI> when they had done their buil|ding; and that if he &s;uffered them to go on, it would
<PB N="12" REF="8">hinder his <HI>Revenue,</HI> &amp;c. and &s;o <HI>Sanballat</HI> &s;ent <HI>Nehe|miah</HI> word, that he and the Jews intended to rebel, when they had done with the walls they were about: and all this, to weaken the hands of them that had a minde to work. Therefore, to avoid &s;uch Jea|lou&s;ies and Fears, We do freely declare again&s;t all Carnal Plots, Devili&s;h De&s;ignes, or Ungodly Com|binations of men what&s;oever, as incon&s;i&s;tent with tho&s;e gracious Principles which have (we hope) car|ried us (and yet do daily) into a <HI>&s;piritual warfare</HI> and <HI>hot conte&s;t</HI> for this Cau&s;e of Chri&s;t, by the Word, Faith, Prayer, and Solemn appeals unto our God, the righteous Judge of heaven and earth. And in|deed, being (thus) armed with <HI>the whole armour of God,</HI> we dare (as before) wre&s;tle with Principalities and Powers; and, through the grace of our God, we are not afraid of their <HI>Armies</HI> or <HI>Numbers,</HI> but (al|though we have not the lea&s;t reliance on any arm of fle&s;h, yet) we can bid defiance unto all the enemies of this glorious Cau&s;e of Chri&s;t contended for by the Saints, with tho&s;e means that God's Word leads us unto; for which, our dear brethren are <HI>impri&s;oned,</HI> and <HI>&s;uffer per&s;ecution</HI> at this day. Therefore, in a ju&s;t and ne|ce&s;&s;ary defence of what is dearer to us then our lives, (bought with the price of the blood of Chri&s;t, and thou&s;ands of his deare&s;t Saints) we call heaven and earth to witne&s;s between us and our brethren that have denied us and this Cau&s;e! For in Ca&s;es not clearly or properly under mans judgment, or where it is not ea&s;ie for man to give a certain judgment, the engaged, upon &s;ure Principles and Pretences, do centre in appeals to God for judgement: and &s;o did the two tribes and a half, <HI>Jo&s;h.</HI> 22. for that it is then
<PB N="13" REF="8">the proper work of God to bear witne&s;s, and give righteous judgment: which as he hath always done, &s;ooner or later, clearer or darker, after the Appeal is made to him; &s;o in this <HI>la&s;t age</HI> and <HI>part</HI> of the world he hath made more <HI>ha&s;te</HI> then formerly to <HI>judgement,</HI> and given it more quickly, &s;peedily, and terribly, and made his <HI>own Arm</HI> &s;o bare therein, as all men might &s;ee it: witne&s;s the afore&s;ad <HI>Appeal</HI> at <HI>Dunbar.</HI> In the &s;ame <HI>Cau&s;e</HI> the <HI>Appeal</HI> is now made (by us) a|gain. All which hath induced us to take up the Word of God, Faith, and Prayer (by Solemn Ap|peals to the ju&s;t Judge of Heaven and Earth) in the like and the &s;ame Cau&s;e. A few particulars of the Matter whereof, take as followeth.</P>
<P N="1">1. About their <HI>Vows, Declarations, Promi&s;es, Engage|ments,</HI> made unto God for <HI>Chri&s;t</HI> and <HI>his Interest,</HI><NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>P&s;al.</HI> 66.13, 14. <HI>Deut.</HI> 23.21. <HI>Eccle&s;.</HI> 5.3, 4. 5.6.</NOTE> in time of their <HI>great distre&s;s:</HI> all which, are they not broken, both as to <HI>Magistracie, Mi|nistery, Churches, Liberty,</HI> and the <HI>Right</HI> of the <HI>Saints</HI> of the mo&s;t High? We appeal to God.</P>
<P N="2">2. Whether an e&s;pou&s;ing of the <HI>&s;ame</HI> or a <HI>like in|terest</HI> with that which God hath de&s;troyed before our eyes, and rejecting this <HI>ble&s;&s;ed Cau&s;e</HI> of Chri&s;t, King of the Nations, for a <HI>Per&s;onal Cau&s;e</HI> of Man, as we now conceive, <HI>Jer.</HI> 3.1, <HI>Mal.</HI> 2.11. be not a provocation of God in the highe&s;t degree, and too full a te&s;timony of the foule&s;t hypocri&s;ie and &s;elfi&s;h|ne&s;s in them, who&s;e former Profe&s;&s;ion and Declara|tions obliged them to the contrary?</P>
<P N="3">3. Whether a <HI>per&s;ecuting</HI> and <HI>impri&s;oning</HI> &s;ome of of the choice&s;t and holie&s;t &s;ervants of Chri&s;t, in the pre&s;ent <HI>light,</HI> and <HI>work</HI> of this Generation, whil&s;t the
<PB N="14" REF="9">Wicked are <HI>exalted</HI> on every &s;ide, and &s;uch as were ca&s;t by, taken up again, <HI>I&s;a</HI> 49.24, 25. <HI>Ier.</HI> 13.17. be of God, or no?</P>
<P N="4">4. Whether the <HI>violence</HI> and <HI>force, flattery,</HI> or any other wayes which are u&s;ed to compel any of us, a|gain&s;t our Con&s;ciences, to pro&s;trate to mens <HI>carnal interests,</HI> and to &s;in again&s;t the light, be according to their former pretended Principles, or the Word of God?</P>
<P N="5">5. Whether their <HI>unju&s;t</HI> and <HI>unchristian accu&s;ations</HI> of us in the face of the world, are not full of <HI>loath|&s;ome</HI> and <HI>cruel lyes,</HI> whiles they &s;pread about, That we are <HI>again&s;t Magi&s;tracie, Mini&s;tery, Propriety, Ordi|nances,</HI> and the like? Whether it be &s;o or no, we ap|peal to him that judgeth righteou&s;ly.</P>
<P N="6">6. Their <HI>vexing</HI> and <HI>ri&s;ing up again&s;t</HI> the Spirit of God, which they call an <HI>Impo&s;tor,</HI> and the <HI>fal&s;e, de|vili&s;h, fanatick &s;pirit</HI> of <HI>Black-Fryers,</HI> or <HI>Alhallows</HI>-meeting; &s;peaking bla&s;phemou&s;ly again&s;t it, and that frequently: wherein we appeal to the Lord to judge, Whether that Spirit that is among them, leading to Pride, Pomp, Worldline&s;s, Carnallity, Lying, Per&s;ecution, and Bla&s;pheming; or that Spi|rit which leads us day and night to the duty of Faith, A&s;&s;embling, Praying, Preaching; Exhorting, and Building up in the <HI>pre&s;ent Truth</HI> conte&s;ted again&s;t by them, and to Comforting Coun&s;elling, and Quicking up one another every day, to hold fa&s;t our profe&s;&s;ion without wavering; to Self-denying and Morification, that we may not minde the pre|&s;ent World, nor the vanities thereof: Whether this Spirit, our <HI>infirmities</HI> excepted, or theirs, which acts them, be of God; and which is the <HI>devili&s;h,
<PB N="15" REF="9">wordly,</HI> and <HI>deluding &s;pirit.</HI> I&s;a. 63.10. 2 Pet. 2.7, 8.</P>
<P N="7">7. Is not <HI>pomp, pride,</HI> and <HI>vanity</HI> in <HI>Court</HI> and el&s;e|where, now up again, (in &s;ome re&s;pects more then ever) &s;o much conte&s;ted and inveighed again&s;t for &s;o many yeers together, by them&s;elves and others? Whether by the&s;e (among&s;t other things) they have not opened the mouthes of the <HI>Enemies</HI> to bla&s;pheme Chri&s;t and his Spirit? to reproach his Cau&s;e, and to harden their hearts? And whether they have not given advantage to <HI>Charles Stuart</HI> or &s;ome others, to <HI>invade</HI> us, our lives, our relations, afre&s;h, by open Wars, Inundation of blood and Mi&s;chief, &s;o as &s;eems to make void and uneffectual many yeers Wars, with va&s;t trea&s;ure, expence and blood?</P>
<P N="8">8. Whereas they &s;ay, we are <HI>all for Wars,</HI> and would have <HI>no Peace</HI> with the Nations round about; we appeal to God therein, whether we are not for the be&s;t, &s;afe&s;t, and la&s;ting (godly) Peace? and, were it God's will, could wi&s;h no more blood might be &s;hed! Although we would not willingly &s;ee a <HI>peace</HI> (wor&s;e then <HI>War</HI>) made with the <HI>nations,</HI> again&s;t the <HI>Word of God,</HI> Safety and Liberties of the <HI>good peo|ple,</HI> (for which &s;o many have bled both by Land and Sea) and upon &s;uch terms too, as makes more for the intere&s;t of <HI>&s;ome men,</HI> then for the <HI>Publick;</HI> or upon &s;uch Articles, (as might make us blu&s;h for &s;hame, <HI>at this time of the Day,</HI> and after &s;o many <HI>out-goings</HI> of God in the mid&s;t of us) as have not &s;o much as one Article for the <HI>Lord Je&s;us,</HI> or his <HI>Saints,</HI> that are in the <HI>pre&s;ent work</HI> of this generation, concerning <HI>Chri&s;ts Kingdom</HI> or <HI>Intere&s;t,</HI> to &s;ub&s;cribe unto, <HI>Numb.</HI> 33.52, 53. to the end. <HI>Exod.</HI> 23.32, 33, and 34. chap. 12.13.</P>
<PB N="16" REF="10">
<P>Upon the&s;e (and many other) grounds, we are <HI>in|duced</HI> (and are <HI>re&s;olved</HI> in the &s;trength of Chri&s;t) to keep up the Altar <NOTE N="*" PLACE="marg"><HI>Io&s;h.</HI> 22.34.</NOTE><HI>ED,</HI> and continue our <HI>Appeal</HI> until the Lord doth an&s;wer in <HI>ju|&s;tice,</HI> and yet in much <HI>mercy,</HI> to his poor little <HI>remnant,</HI> (which we are per&s;waded will be <HI>&s;peedily</HI>) as <HI>Luke</HI> 18.7, 8. And if men will (yet) needs blinde their eyes, and harden their hearts (we could wi&s;h it be not to their de&s;truction) yet we do ble&s;s our <HI>heavenly Fa|ther</HI> that hath <HI>opened our eyes,</HI> and <HI>kept our feet from fal|ling,</HI> (with them) that we can <HI>&s;o comfortably</HI> &s;ee the things that concern our (be&s;t) <HI>Peace,</HI> according to the <HI>Law</HI> and the <HI>Testimony,</HI> in the <HI>&s;ure Word of Pro|phecie.</HI> Ble&s;&s;ed be JEHOVAH. Amen, A|men.</P>
<P N="3">3. But thirdly and la&s;tly, for that we finde much <HI>Mi&s;under&s;tanding</HI> among <HI>&s;ome,</HI> and <HI>Mi&s;repre&s;entations</HI> among <HI>mo&s;t,</HI> of the <HI>Fifth Monarchy,</HI> or <HI>Kingdom of Christ in the Nations,</HI> which the holy Scriptures, both in the Old and New Te&s;tament, do clearly and plen|tifully declare, with a po&s;itive period to the <HI>Worldly, Heatheni&s;h Laws, Ordinances</HI> and <HI>Con&s;titutions</HI> of men, as they are now executed in the <HI>Nations</HI> of the <HI>world:</HI> And whereas it is al&s;o upon the hearts of many of the <HI>choice &s;ervants</HI> of God, that in this pre&s;ent Age the Lord JEHOVAH is &s;etting up the fifth King|dom, (as <HI>Dan.</HI> 2.44. &amp; 7.22, 26, 27. <HI>Zech.</HI> 21.) which &s;hall not be <HI>left to other people,</HI> but <HI>&s;hall break in pieces all the four kingdoms, and remain for ever and ever;</HI> and that (at this time) whenas the fourth Monarchy is partly broken in the&s;e Nations, that Chri&s;t may be the <HI>onely Potentate,</HI> the <HI>King of kings,</HI> and of all Na|tions, 1 <HI>Tim.</HI> 6.15. <HI>Micah</HI> 4.7. <HI>Zech.</HI> 9.9, 10. <HI>Col.</HI> 1.16.
<PB N="17" REF="10"><HI>Heb.</HI> 2.8. <HI>Rev.</HI> 11.15. &amp; 17. Chap. 14 &amp; 19. Chap. 15.16. Now finding this (the <HI>pre&s;ent Truth</HI>) &s;o much oppo&s;ed by the <HI>National Rulers</HI> and <HI>their Clergie,</HI> yea, and by &s;ome <HI>godly people</HI> and <HI>Church-members,</HI> ac|counted Orthodox, who cannot <HI>endure</HI> the day of Chri&s;ts coming; We therefore are re&s;olved, ac|cording to the <HI>pre&s;ence</HI> and <HI>a&s;si&s;tance</HI> of the Lord with us, to entertain a <HI>&s;erious Cen&s;ideration</HI> and <HI>Debate</HI> for the benefit of all others, touching the premi&s;es, <HI>viz.</HI> of the <HI>Laws, Subjects, Extent, Ri&s;e, Time, Place, Offices</HI> and <HI>Officers</HI> of the <HI>fifth Monarchy,</HI> or Kingdom, whereby the <HI>World</HI> mu&s;t be governed according to the Word of God, without the <HI>mixture</HI> (as now is) of <HI>Mens Laws</HI> and <HI>Inventions,</HI> whether in re&s;pect of <HI>Magistracy</HI> or <HI>Mini&s;tery, Church</HI> or <HI>Civil affairs:</HI> which Debate we intend to hold <HI>once a week</HI> in this City of <HI>London:</HI> and we de&s;ire our <HI>beloved brethren</HI> which are one with us in the <HI>pre&s;ent Truth</HI> and <HI>&s;uf|ferings,</HI> whether <HI>in</HI> Churches or <HI>out,</HI> whether in City or Country, (that are enlightned) to take &s;pecial notice of it, for this <HI>end,</HI> that they may enjoy the like <HI>fredom</HI> with us in tho&s;e <HI>Meetings</HI> and <HI>Debates,</HI> as often as they plea&s;e to come. And if the Lord give us the <HI>liberty,</HI> we do purpo&s;e to proceed with the <HI>De|bate</HI> of it from <HI>this day</HI> onward, until we have taken up a <HI>full</HI> and <HI>clear Narrative</HI> thereof (&s;o far as &s;hall appear to us) out of the Scriptures, fit to <HI>publi&s;h</HI> to the <HI>view</HI> of all men, that our Principles in that point of the <HI>fifth Monarchy,</HI> may be fully known; with de&s;ire to know what any of our <HI>Adver&s;aries</HI> (now again&s;t us) &s;hall have to &s;ay to <HI>us</HI> or to <HI>our prin|ciples</HI> therein; who are contented with all our &s;ouls (the Lord knows) to be <HI>convinced</HI> of any <HI>Errour</HI>
<PB N="18" REF="11">or <HI>Mi&s;takes</HI> by the Word of Truth: But we think not Impri&s;oning or Per&s;ecuting us, a competent or fit way to convince our Con&s;ciences; if we were in errours, as they pretend.</P>
<P>And although we need no Law of men to allow us this Liberty, it being our Birth-right in Chri&s;t a|mong Chri&s;tians, and &s;o fully warranted by the Word of God, and practice of Primitive Saints; yet if we &s;hould conde&s;cend to the <HI>Captious</HI> of our times, we could tell them, The <HI>In&s;trument,</HI> intituled, <HI>The Government of the Common-wealth of</HI> England, Scotland <HI>and</HI> Ireland, in the five and twentieth Arti|cle declares, <Q REND="inline">That Liberty &s;hall be given to di&s;co|ver and confute Errour and Here&s;ie, and what&s;oe|ver is contrary to &s;ound doctrine.</Q> All which the Engager, fol. 46. hath promi&s;ed in the pre&s;ence of God to <HI>ob&s;erve,</HI> and <HI>cau&s;e to be ob&s;erved</HI> to his power; &s;ub&s;cribed, <HI>O. CROMWEL.</HI> In the mean time, men would do well to take heed of Bla&s;pheming, Re|proaching Chri&s;t, his Spirit, and his Monarchy, as they do daily, (for which our hearts are grieved within us) and to &s;earch the Scriptures whether the&s;e things be &s;o or no. For as the Lord <HI>Cromwel</HI> writes, in his own Letter to the Kirk of <HI>Scotland,</HI><Q REND="inline"> The Word of the Lord may be to &s;ome a word of judgement, that they may fall backward and be broken, and &s;nared and taken; there may be a &s;piri|tual fulne&s;s, which the world may call drunken|ne&s;s, (or giddine&s;s) <HI>Act.</HI> 2.</Q> O that we might be&s;eech &s;uch in the bleeding Bowels of Chri&s;t, (crucified be|fore our eyes) to think it po&s;&s;ible they may be mi&s;ta|ken! Though the Great Ones, and Wi&s;e Ones, Prie&s;ts and Rulers, Scribes and Phari&s;ees, and Orthodox
<PB N="19" REF="11">Profe&s;&s;ors (&s;o accounted of the times) were all on their &s;ide; yet a little handful of the weak ones may have the Truth (though but the de&s;pi&s;ed per&s;ecuted Truth) on their &s;ide. And we do in the tenderne&s;s of our hearts and affections to all that are faithful, beg of them in the Name of the Lord Je&s;us (who is com|ing to raign righteou&s;ly and gloriou&s;ly) that they will have nothing to do with them that are guilty of &s;o great &s;ins, le&s;t partaking of their &s;ins, they partake al&s;o of their plagues. And we hope the Lord will enable us to undergo the &s;harpne&s;s of this day, for our dear Chri&s;t and his Cau&s;e, through the Reproaches, Impri&s;onments, Per&s;ecutions, unju&s;t Charges, unci|vil Railings, or un-Go&s;pel Carriages, which we have, or are like to meet with, whether le&s;s or more, &s;o we may drink out of Chri&s;t's Cup, and pledge our Ma&s;ter, who fir&s;t drank to us the bitter Potion.</P>
<P>We &s;hall clo&s;e at pre&s;ent with our heartie&s;t prayers and &s;upplications, That God the Father of our Lord Je&s;us Chri&s;t would in his due time ca&s;t down all tho&s;e carnal, earthly, cruel and political combinati|ous of men (of all &s;orts) that would not have him to <HI>Reign</HI> over us, but &s;et up them&s;elves, and their own corrupted intere&s;ts, in the room of that Scepter of righteou&s;ne&s;s which he hath given into the hands of his dear Son; that he would by his Spirit (re&s;ting and abiding upon you and us) keep up all our hearts in a con&s;tant and patient waiting for his coming till he comes: Even &s;o <HI>come quickly,</HI> Lord Ie&s;us <HI>come quickly.</HI></P>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="list of signatories">
<PB REF="12">
<PB REF="12">
<HEAD><HI>ORDERED</HI> by this <HI>A&s;&s;embly,</HI> (mentioned in the la&s;t branch of the <HI>Declaration</HI>) That <HI>150</HI> (and no more) of the Names <HI>&s;ub&s;cribed</HI> to the <HI>Declaration,</HI> be tran&s;cribed out of the <HI>Origi|nal Copie,</HI> and publi&s;hed in the name of the re&s;t: And that a &s;hort Word to the <HI>Reader</HI> be drawn up and printed, to &s;ignifie &s;o much.</HEAD>
<OPENER><DATE>The 30 day of the &s;ixth month. 1654.</DATE></OPENER>
<LIST>
<HEAD>Of the Church that walks with M. <HI>Feak,</HI> now clo&s;e pri&s;o|ner for this cau&s; of Christ at <HI>Win&s;or</HI>-Ca&s;tle.</HEAD>
<ITEM>EManuel Runwel</ITEM>
<ITEM>Will. Bathoe</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Jones</ITEM>
<ITEM>Philip Hieron</ITEM>
<ITEM>Miles Petty</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Greene</ITEM>
<ITEM>Tho. Cartwright</ITEM>
<ITEM>Robert Shepherd</ITEM>
<ITEM>Peter Kirby</ITEM>
<ITEM>Peter Chamberlain</ITEM>
</LIST>
<LIST>
<HEAD>In the name of the whol Church that walks with Dr. <HI>Chamber|lain.</HI></HEAD>
<ITEM>John Light</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Spittlehou&s;e</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Davies</ITEM>
<ITEM>Richard Ellis</ITEM>
<ITEM>Richard Smith</ITEM>
<ITEM>Robert Feak</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Rogers</ITEM>
</LIST>
<LIST>
<HEAD>In the name of the whole Body that walks with Mr. <HI>Rogers,</HI> now pri&s;oner for this Cau&s;e of Chri&s;t at <HI>Lam|beth</HI>-pri&s;on.</HEAD>
<ITEM>Henry Bridges</ITEM>
<ITEM>Glid. Beaumont</ITEM>
<ITEM>Gregory Garth</ITEM>
<ITEM>Hur Horton</ITEM>
<ITEM>William Medley</ITEM>
<ITEM>Chri&s;toph. Crayle</ITEM>
<ITEM>Samuel Rutter</ITEM>
<ITEM>Edward Grove</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Saunders</ITEM>
<ITEM>Gregory Kirby</ITEM>
<ITEM>William Ru&s;&s;el</ITEM>
<ITEM>Benjamin Rutter</ITEM>
<ITEM>Francis Young</ITEM>
<ITEM>Abel We&s;cot</ITEM>
<ITEM>Humphrey Talbot</ITEM>
<ITEM>James Gre&s;ham</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Fuller</ITEM>
<ITEM>Nicolas Spencer</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Ridel</ITEM>
<ITEM>Jo&s;eph Jefferies</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Bernard</ITEM>
<ITEM>James Hicks</ITEM>
<ITEM>William Righton</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Palmer</ITEM>
<ITEM>David Morris</ITEM>
</LIST>
<PB REF="13">
<LIST>
<HEAD>Of the Church that walks with Mr. <HI>Raworth.</HI></HEAD>
<ITEM>Richard Bland</ITEM>
<ITEM>James Wil&s;on</ITEM>
<ITEM>George Rickets</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Selbie</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Waltham</ITEM>
<ITEM>Daniel Ro&s;ier</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Swetnam</ITEM>
<ITEM>Robert Aske</ITEM>
<ITEM>Philip Rickards</ITEM>
<ITEM>Robert Young</ITEM>
<ITEM>George Law&s;on</ITEM>
<ITEM>Jo&s;iah Car&s;ewel</ITEM>
<ITEM>John More</ITEM>
</LIST>
<LIST>
<HEAD>With M. <HI>Knowls</HI></HEAD>
<ITEM>John Withinbrook</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Franklin</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Perkins</ITEM>
<ITEM>John Dunton</ITEM>
<ITEM>Robert Ma&s;on</ITEM>
<ITEM>David Towler</ITEM>
<ITEM>Io&s;eph Heather</ITEM>
<ITEM>Simon Wyld</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Hewet</ITEM>
<ITEM>Nathaniel Aske</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Harri&s;on</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Webber</ITEM>
<ITEM>Daniel Ingold</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Wilkes</ITEM>
</LIST>
<LIST>
<HEAD>Of the Church that walks with Mr. <HI>Sim&s;on.</HI></HEAD>
<ITEM>Ieremy Wright</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Sealy</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Turner</ITEM>
<ITEM>Will. Shrewsbury</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Coombe</ITEM>
<ITEM>Arthur Jones</ITEM>
<ITEM>Peter Kidd</ITEM>
<ITEM>Daniel Hackman</ITEM>
<ITEM>Io&s;eph Cleaver</ITEM>
</LIST>
<LIST>
<HEAD>Of the Church that walks with Mr. <HI>Je&s;&s;e.</HI></HEAD>
<ITEM>George Barret</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Clarke</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Pier&s;on</ITEM>
<ITEM>William Minchin</ITEM>
<ITEM>Nathaniel Hewet</ITEM>
<ITEM>Io&s;hua Rickards</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iames Allen</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Berry</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iames Rich</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Iones</ITEM>
<ITEM>Io&s;eph Makreth</ITEM>
<ITEM>George Ewbanck</ITEM>
</LIST>
<LIST>
<HEAD>Of the Church that walks with Mr. <HI>Barbone.</HI></HEAD>
<ITEM>William Morris</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Thorne</ITEM>
<ITEM>Peter Soone</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Green</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Iack&s;on</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Trouer</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Richard&s;on</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Raymond</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Luxford</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iames Willow</ITEM>
<ITEM>Chri&s;topher Cope</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Tufnel</ITEM>
<ITEM>Hugh Griffen</ITEM>
<ITEM>Samuel Bradleigh</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Young</ITEM>
<ITEM>Caleb Nicolas</ITEM>
<ITEM>Robert Smith</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Crundal</ITEM>
<PB REF="13">
<ITEM>Iohn Franklin</ITEM>
<ITEM>William Lucas</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iames Ma&s;on</ITEM>
<ITEM>William Mort</ITEM>
</LIST>
<LIST>
<HEAD>Of the Church that walks with L. Col. <HI>Fenton.</HI></HEAD>
<ITEM>William Seale</ITEM>
<ITEM>Edward Farmer</ITEM>
<ITEM>Humphrey Bache</ITEM>
<ITEM>Samuel Gilbert</ITEM>
<ITEM>Ferdinando Adam</ITEM>
<ITEM>William Smart</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Wheeler</ITEM>
<ITEM>Lawrence Ran&s;on.</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Hill</ITEM>
<ITEM>Matthew Turner</ITEM>
<ITEM>Robert Steele</ITEM>
<ITEM>William Iohn&s;on</ITEM>
<ITEM>Mihil Miles</ITEM>
<ITEM>Thomas Baker</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Hayward</ITEM>
<ITEM>Will. Burrow&s;ton</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Glover</ITEM>
</LIST>
<LIST>
<HEAD>Of the Church that walks with Ju&s;tice <HI>High|land.</HI></HEAD>
<ITEM>Lewis Honyburne</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Allen</ITEM>
<ITEM>Philip Thomas</ITEM>
<ITEM>Ralph Willis</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Nicks</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Low</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Read</ITEM>
<ITEM>Anthony Cooper</ITEM>
<ITEM>Robert Woodard</ITEM>
<ITEM>Nich. Water&s;on</ITEM>
<ITEM>Ieremy Wright</ITEM>
<ITEM>William Bate</ITEM>
<ITEM>Iohn Marlow <HI>&amp;c.</HI></ITEM>
</LIST>
</DIV1>
<DIV1 TYPE="to the reader">
<PB REF="14">
<PB REF="14">
<HEAD>To the Reader.</HEAD>
<OPENER><SALUTE>Chri&s;tian Reader,</SALUTE></OPENER>
<P>THou art de&s;ired to take notice, that the <HI>End</HI> of this DECLARATION being to <HI>witne&s;s</HI> to the ble&s;&s;ed <HI>Truth,</HI> with the per&s;ecuted <HI>Cau&s;e</HI> &amp; <HI>&s;ervants</HI> of the Lord <HI>Je&s;us,</HI> the&s;e <HI>NAMES</HI> publi&s;hed are thought &s;ufficient. Fewer, might have <HI>render'd</HI> it an <HI>incon&s;iderable Testimony,</HI> and given <HI>Men</HI> ad|vantage again&s;t us (and Chri&s;t's <HI>Cau&s;e</HI>) on that &s;ide. The Multitude, or <HI>More</HI> (either tho&s;e which we have, or the which we might have hereto) might probably <HI>repre&s;ent</HI> it far more evil, <HI>formidable,</HI> or dangerous to them, (that are too ready, the Lord knows, to receive any <HI>Charge</HI> again&s;t us for our <HI>Faith</HI> and <HI>Con&s;ciences,</HI> in the&s;e matters of <HI>Christs Kingly Interest.</HI>) Now to <HI>obviate</HI> this <HI>Ad|vantage,</HI> al&s;o, which men might have taken, <HI>Order</HI> is taken for <HI>the&s;e Names</HI> onely, and no
<PB REF="15">more, to be <HI>publi&s;hed</HI> herewith; and that &s;e|veral <HI>other Churches</HI> be&s;ide, whom we might mention, be forborn. And for <HI>&s;ub&s;criptions</HI> out of the <HI>Countries</HI> (notwith&s;tanding the hundreds out of <HI>Kent</HI>) they are al&s;o <HI>all</HI> omit|ted, on purpo&s;e, to leave it to the <HI>Churches</HI> in their &s;everal <HI>Counties</HI> to bear their own <HI>Te&s;timony</HI> to this &s;uffering <HI>Cau&s;e</HI> of Chri&s;t and his Saints, as in <HI>di&s;charge</HI> of our <HI>Duty</HI> (with the <HI>comfort</HI> of our Con&s;ciences, ble&s;|&s;ed be our heavenly <HI>Father</HI>) we (who are judg'd to be in the <HI>fir&s;t place</HI> concern'd) have done, and DO this DAY, in the &s;ight of <HI>hea|ven</HI> and <HI>earth;</HI> and GOD IS OUR RECORD.</P>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
</DIV1>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
