TO His Highness the Lord Protector of the Common-wealth of England Scot∣land, and Ireland, &c.
The Humble Petition of divers Gathered Churches, and o∣thers wel affected, in and about the City of London.
THat the hand of the most high God hath been lif∣ted up, and his Arm made bare in our Land, to the amazement of Nations; that he hath caused our Generation to travel in Blood, and his Saints to breath out their souls for the appearance of his power and glory amongst them, and hath been as ready to hear, as to prepare their hearts: your Highness having been an eminent Instrument, both as a man and Christian, in the midst of these dispensations, have them so deeply written upon your heart, that would you (we are perswaded) you could not blot them out: What herein was the end of God, and what was our end, you of men have given the best account, who have told us what we also can assert; That Religion was not the thing at first contended for, but God brought it to that issue at last, and gave it to us by way of Redundancy, and it proved to be that which Page 2 was most dear to us, so that all the Moneys of the Nation would not have tempted us to fight upon such an account as we have, if we had not had hopes of liberty of Religion, both for our selves, and the ge∣nerations to come: It was the hope of that which in the late change of Government gave us comfort, it was that which drew upon your Highness the heavie burthen of our Prote∣ction; for in the 36, 37, 38. Articles of the instrument of Go∣vernment, we judge there is a iust liber•y provided for the people of God, and protection in the profession of the faith and exercise of their Religion, for the most mistaken Christian that shall desire to leade a peaceable and quiet life in Godliness and honesty. But ala•! what wil it avail us to have good Laws, if in the mean time the oppressing & bad (though abrogated Laws) shall by in∣feriour Magistrates be stil put in execution against us, and we have against them no remedy, for many of us know and o∣thers are certainly informed, that of late one Mr. Iohn Biddle, (a man, though differing from most of us in many great mat∣ters of faith, yet by reason of his diligent study in the holy Scripture, sober and peaceable conversation, which some of us have intimate good knowledg of, we cannot but judge eve∣ry way capable of the liberty promised in the Government) hath bin committed, and is now deteined in Prison without Bayle or Mainprise at Newgate, upon the pretence of the breach of an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons for pu∣nishing Blasphemies and Heresies 1648. which Ordinance (if it be in force) we humbly conceive, prostrateth us all more or less to punishment, and consequently destroies the Govern∣ment, and frustrateth us of the fruit of that liberty, whose seed hath been sown in blood.
Dearly beloved Brethren,
OUr dear Lord wel knowing that it much conduced to the benefit of his Disciples, that they should fore∣know the tribulations that would befall them after his departure; he forewarn'd them, saying, They shall put you out of the Synagogues; yea, the time commeth, that whosoever killeth you, will think he doth God service, John 16. 2. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. Ver. 4. And shall we (seeing affliction and persecution hanging over yours, and our own heads) hold our peace? The example of our Lord, love and duty to him & you, bindeth us to give you notice of approaching evil; yea, Providence having placed us near the Fountain, whence this Bitter Water begins already to bubble out, and the streams whereof have imbitter'd the peace of some; should we not be in some measure guilty if we should not call upon you to prepare your selves, either by prevention or patience? we had thought that by the casting in of this humble address, we might have stopped the further issues, and dryed up that stream: but we find our endeavours unsuccessful, and by try∣ing discover a mighty spring, the Fountain wil not be hindred the streams are like to encrease; we hoped that the wel∣spring of our former afflicton and oppression for conscience, being dryed up, we should now have enjoyed a jubilee of rest and liberty to worship God, and prof•ss faith according to Page 4 our perswasions, and that the most mistaken Christian, being sober and peaceable, should have been protected; but in stead of that, we find, that even the dregs of the cup of the last conscience-oppression is prepar'd for us to drink, what else meaneth the putting in execution that bloody▪ Ordinance the line whereof, nothing but the meer pleasure of men in power can hinder from being stretched over our lives and liberties? And wil not the severity of the said Ordinance fall first upon you, who have begun already to reject the Tradi∣tions of men, the unscriptural words & notions of Trinity in Unity, & Unity in Trinity, of three persons in one essence, of the hypo∣statical Union of two natures in one person, &c. and to profess your faith in the form of sound words that are found in the holy Scriptures; what else meaneth his Highness leaving you and us out of that liberty he pleads for to Godly men of different judgments? Speech Ian. 22. 1654. pag. 17, 18. for they are men of the same Faith with them they call the Orthodox Mi∣nistry, whom he also describes by the the term, Species of Pro∣testants, or, sound in the faith, (which we are not accounted to be) whom he intercedes for. And so he lately interpreted the words of the Instrument of Government, Artic. 37. By faith in Iesus Christ (saith he) we meant such faith as the ge∣nerality of Protestants have: And what doth the speech of one of his Favourites (rejecting us from the name of Chur∣ches) import less than persecution, compar'd with what himself said, that if we took care of keeping our societies clean by excommunication, he also must take the like care of the Common-wealth.
Ah! Our Brethren, did we not hope that the great effusi∣on of blood in our Land, for the redemption of the Saints from the bands of Antichristian slavery, would at least have had this glorious effect, that we might not have been afraid to have sought out, and having discover'd to Page 5 have professed any measure of that divine light, which long Apostacle, as wel in Doctrine, as worship and discipline, had hid from our eyes: But it seemeth the time is not yet come, when he will make (Z•on) her Officers peace, and her Exactors righteousness, violence shall no more be heard in thy Land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders, Isa. 60. 17, 18.
Isa. 49. 23.
Eph. 6. 13, 14.
Labour to be setled and established in the truth, for error wil scarce give you constant comfort in a day of temptation, Having on the brest-plate of righteousness; for ye wil never suf∣fer wel except ye have in you▪ The testimony of a good Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdome, but by the grace of God ye have had your conversations in the world, 2 Cor. 1. 12. Then wil ye be as bold as Lyons, when ye have con∣sciences void of offence towards God and men, Act. 24. 16. And your feet shod with the preperations of the Gospel of peace. A bold confession of the truth is better Armour against persecution than an hypocriticall silence: Take the shield of Faith, for that overcometh the World, and quencheth the fierry darts of the wicked one. Take the Helmet of salvation, the blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the gread God, and our saviour Iesus wil superabun∣dantly recompence all your sufferings; The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The Sheep of Christ know not the voice of strangers Joh. 10. 45. Hearken diligently to the voice of Christ, and be affraid of the devised expressions and con∣sequences of men, Praying alwayes, &c. for all Saints, for them that suffer, for them that are in danger of suffering; pray that the cry of blood which hath been shed for Religion, may not be made louder; pray that the guilt of the former mur∣thers and oppressions for conscience, may not again be brought upon this our poor wearie England; prepare your selves for the battel of persecution, and if the Lord shall ac∣count you worthy to suffer for his sake, Reioyce and be excee∣ceeding glad, for great is your reward in Heaven.
