principally occasioned from those general rumours which are in the mouths of many, that since this late alteration of government in these three nations, there is raised up in many amongst you a spirit of great dissatisfaction and opposition against this present authority, insomuch we hear it is your resolution to make a public protest against it, to show your dislike thereof; the report of which is indeed no small occasion of trouble to us, fearing lest thereby the glorious name of Christ will suffer, the hands and hearts of those who we have cause to believe are strongly engaged to lay the foundation of justice and righteousness in the three nations will be discouraged, and the common enemy rejoice. We trust, therefore, that you will better consider of this matter, and consult with that blessed rule of truth which you profess to be your guide; and then we question not but you will thereby see that your resolutions are not of God. For that expresseth no other thing, to Christians, but exhortations to be subject to all civil powers, they being of God, and to pray for all that are in authority, that under them we may live a godly and quiet life in all godliness and honesty. And, truly, it is more unlovely for us to be found contending against powers than any others, because we profess ourselves to be dead with Christ, being buried with him in baptism, and to be raised with him to this end, that we may walk in newness of life, and, as strangers and pilgrims, declaring we seek another city, even that whose builder and maker is God. Therefore the apostle concludes this, as that which should be in every Christian spirit, in 2 Cor. x. 3, that though we are in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; a Christian's warfare being another thing, to another end. It is possible the occasion of taking these resoluions may arise from some misunderstanding of the state of things here; for truly we cannot think, if you had been here and taken an observation of the great disesteem that all power began to be in, by reason of the ill management of it in the hands of those where it was; which,in an ordinary way; hadit been so continued, would soon have brought in a spirit of great wickedness through the nation, every man and woman, yea, children, taking upon them to judge and contemn that great ordinance which God hath set in the world to bound and restrain that spirit of wickedness which was like to be amongst the sons of men. And this we are clearly satisfied in, [that] the principles held forth by those meeting in Blackfriars, under pretence of the fifth monarchy, or setting up the kingdom of Christ, to which many of those lately in power adhered, had it been prosecuted, would have brought as great dishonour to the name of God, and shame and contempt to the whole nation, as we think could have been imagined. For, under these two heads, the substance of all their preaching consists: 1st. That it was the duty of the magistrate to own their power to be received immediately from Jesus Christ. From this consequence would have unavoidably followed, that they were only accountable to Christ for their actions, and not to men. And would not this have been the same with the late king, who being persuaded by his prelates that he received his power immediately from God, was not accountable to the people's representatives? But the second thing held forth with great zeal by those friends was, that the great rule by which they were to act in their proceedings [The parties referred to were a Mr. Feake, Mr. Vavasor Powell, Mr. Simpson, and others. The change of government was bitterly inveighed against by them at their meeting house in Blackfriars. Feake and Simpson were independents, Powell was a baptist. An intercepted letter, dated December 22nd, 1653, states that "Mr. Powell and Mr. Feake, having spoken somewhat largely their thoughts of this present change, were yesterday taken into custody." They were both examined by the council, and committed to the custody of the serjeant at arms. "Major General Harrison being treated with, to know if he could own and act under this present power, and declaring that he could not, had his commission taken from him." Thurloe, i. 641.] towards the making of war or peace with the nations, should arise from a spirit stirred up, as they say, by God, to throw down potentates and powers, rather than those prudential rules of justice and righteousness, in the doing to all men as they would men should do to them. We write not these things to cast a blemish upon them, but to let you see to what a condition in an ordinary way we were running into, that you may be satisfied of what great necessity there was to interpose for the prevention of those unavoidable dangers which were even at the door, ready to seize upon us; and we have ground to be confident, that for the prevention of the dishonour that was like to fall upon the profession of the gospel, if things had gone on in that way they were going, my lord protector hath taken upon him that great burden to govern these three nations; from whom we may expect protection and shelter from all injuries, and worship the Lord in that way our consciences are convinced of is most agreeable to the will of God, a mercy not usually enjoyed by saints in any age before, and, we have cause to fear, not prized by saints. We do therefore beseech you, for the Lord's sake and for the truth's sake, that it be not evil spoken of men, seriously weigh these things; for surely if the Lord gives us hearts, we have a large advantage put into our hands to give a public testimony in the face of the world, that our principles are not such as they have been generally judged by most men to be; which is, that we deny authority, and would pull down all magistracy. And if any trouble should arise, either with you or us, in the nations, which might proceed to the shedding of blood, would not it all be imputed and charged upon the baptized churches? and what grief and sorrow would be administered to us, your brethren, to hear the name of God blasphemed by ungodly men, through your means. This we can say, that we have not had any occasion of sorrow in this matter from any of the churches in this nation, with whom we have communion; they, with one heart desiring to bless God for their liberty, and with all willingness to be subject to the present authority. And we trust to hear the same of you, having lately received an epistle written to us by all the churches amongst you, pressing us to a strict walking with God, and warning of us to take heed of formality, the love of this world; that we slight not our mercy in the present liberties we enjoy. Which we thankfully receive from you, as knowing that such counsel we have need of. And we daily pray, that the same spirit be with power upon all our hearts, that we may more and more show forth the virtues of Christ in all good conversation and godliness, which is and shall be the truest prayers of, Your unfeigned brethren in the Lord, 1 ["As to your grand affairs in Ireland, especially as to the Anabaptist party, I am confident they are much misconceived in England. Upon the change of affairs here was discontent enough; but very little animosity. For certainly never yet any faction, so well fortified by all the offices, military and civil, almost in the whole nation, did quit their interest with more silence. Some two or three were at the very first imprisoned for plots and libels, which caused such a general compliance, WILL. KIFFIN, that should a stranger arrive here now, he would never believe there had been any difference, unless upon the sabbath a congregation may be discerned, of which Mr. Patient is pastor from whose church those of profitable employment daily (though not per saltum, yet by degrees), do decline." Intercepted Letter in Thurloe, ii. 213.] 8 [This correspondence took place in June, 1653. It may be seen in Rippon's Register, App. p. 13, also Ivimey's Hist. i. 240.] THE HUMBLE REPRESENTATION AND VINDICATION 9 Of many of the Messengers, Elders, and Brethren, belonging to severall of the BAPTIZED CHURCHES IN THIS NATION, of and concerning their Opinions and Resolutions touching the CIVILL GOVERNMENT of these Nations, and of their Deportment under the same. LONDON, Printed by R: I. 1654. Many of the messengers, elders, and brethren of the baptized churches, having from several parts of this nation met together in the city of London, to consider how and which way the affairs of the gospel of Christ, so far as it concerns them, might be best promoted, and all divisions and offences contrary thereunto removed or prevented; have also thought it necessary to publish and declare their judgments and consciences touching the civil power of the nation, partly to vindicate themselves from some aspersions hereabout unduly and without cause cast upon them; and partly to rectify all men's misapprehensions of them. It hath been, indeed, as well matter of grief to them as of prejudice to the way of truth professed by them, to hear themselves frequently, and upon all occasions, misreported |