Read the Covenant. Read the Covenant, if not as evil doers, yet as buffe bodies, more precious in the : Above Aboue four year fince, having not long before received Presbyterial Impofition of hands; Providence caft me into the company of one of the chief of that Presbytery, we being private, he and I only in company, he delivered me an open book into my hand, with a leaf turned down, against the argument. for the imparity of Minifters, drawn from the divers inftitutions of the twelve Apoftles, and feventy Difciples, which he willed. me to read, confider, and give him my thoughts upon it, I did all but the latter, which ftrook me into horror and amazement; I could as cafily have given him an Empire, as my prefent thoughts upon it, for neither of them were in my power; but God made a way for me to escape the tentation, other brethren coming in to vifit him in the mean time, diverted us into other difcourfes; neither did he again require it at any time afterwards. Who was the author of this book I know not, it was a small imperfect piece in 16. without either beginning or ending; which I only faw at that time, for one quarter of an hour, and never afterwards. But though I was free of him, I could not fo rid my thoughts of it; many were the reasonings, and fearchings of my Spirit why it was propofed unto me, and what ufe I was to make of it, now it was propofed. Sometimes I feared it was offered to try my refolution, or irrefolution in my late engagement, but I foon overftrid this block, not finding any caufe for its laying before me, either in my intentions or actions, because what I had done hitherto was in the fimplicity of my heart, and I alwaies went with the forwardeft in obedience to the commands of that Society. Sometimes I doubted, least it were a Sathanical illufion to unfix my thoughts, fince it perpetually haunted me for many noneths, and I did a thousand times adjure it, to furceafe its folicitations ere I fet Pen to paper. But it would not leave me, and at laft I could not leave it. This wondrously perplexed me, how to difmifs it I could not tell, and how to follow it, Ifaw not, but over innumerable precipices; Epifcopacy being then thrown out, and the extruding force, being as to humane appearance more united than ever, for this caufe I fafted, prayed, and wept before the Lord, beseeching him to clear up his mind unto me, and refolve me whether he would have me to defift, or go forward, my will being preft to yield obedience either way, according to the intimation of his plea fure. Ipretend no revelation, only took the ordinary way to quiet and fettle my Spirit, but the more I fafted, and the more I was reAust folved, 134/ Lapor folved, that a neceffity was laid upon me to study this contro- ་ leaft 4 leaft hopes of being reftored in the Church of England, ('twas at Richard Cromwels entrance upon the pretended Protectorian Government, & the book is dedicated unto him he faith.It is eas fie to fee,that Epifcopacy is neither fuch an upstart thing, nor defended Fivedifwith fuck contemptible reafons, as that the controverfie is like to dye putations. difwith this age, undoubtedly there will be a learned and godly party put. 3. cr an for it, while the world endureth, unless God make by Illumination defirable for Epifcopacy or Revelation, fome wonderful change upon the fons of men. That the reformatiI think few men do expect. And certainly we should do the best on, prefervawe can to prevent a perpetual dissention in the Church. Were there tion, and not one prælatical man now alive, it were eafie to foresee there Churches L.) would foon be more. Thus he. peace of the 14. London. Some nay object, my former contrary engagement to dif- 1659. inable me from this fervice. But therein they fhall only repeat my own objections to, and against my felf; I thought, and do think my felf unfit for this imployment, for that and many other reasons. laknow my understanding is little, my acquired parts are othing, and my means to acquire them but one remove Afrom nothing. I fee prejacent difficulties, great, and welnigh infuperable, this controverfie being the Acheldama, and Golgotha of Polemick Divines, what, whereof the falfe reports of the wicked fpyes concerning the land of Canaan, is exactly verified. Namely it eats up its Inhabitants; God knows I did not go upon this errand, without many cold fweats and fhrinkings, I often wifhed fome body else had been fent, and was ready to fay to God, with Mofes, Lord, fend by the hand of him whom thou wilt fend. But go I muft, I found no remedy, my comfort was, and is, I did not feek it; But if a neceffity be laid upon me, and against my will, a difpenfation is committed to me. Who am I to refift God? were paft oppofition a baire against all future fubmiffion to truth. Chrift would never have prayed for Peter after he had denied, and forfworn him, nor would the other Apostles have received him into their fociety, much lefs would the holy Ghost have made him his mouth in his life time, and he being dead, yet speak to the Church in his writings. Indeed Chrift after his Refurrection bids the women go and tell Peter what they fam, but although that relation primarily belonged unto him, yet ifit do not fecondarily import our Saviours readiness to receive others guilty of D Saint ارم Saint Peters fault, I know not how to make sense of what St. Paul faith Rom. 15. 4. For whatever things were written afore time, were written for our learning, that we through patience, and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. We read that Saul the perfecutor, became St. Paul the preacher, and God raifeth up Barnabas to work the brethrens affection to him, who before refufed to joyn themselves unto him Act. 9. 26. 27. Would men of greateft graces confider how many Talents are forgiven them, they would never rigouronfly exact pence from their delinquent brother, who profeffeth penitence. St. Pauls expreffions to the high flown Corinthian Church, is worthily remarkable. I Cor. 5. 9, 122 110, 11. Know ye not that the unrighteous fhall not inherit the Kingdom of God? be not deceived neither fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor Adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themfelves with mankind, nor theeves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God? And fuch were some of you; and Were God as man is, inexorable for one or many faults, all men mid-be damned, and deprived of the glory of God, because all men have fin ned, and come short of it. Let not therefore thofe fins which drave me to the Lord to feek his pardon, be accounted unpardonable by men: Muft we not all stand at Gods judgment feat? who art thou that judges another, mans fervant? to bis own mafter he ftandeth or falleth, yea be shall be holden up, for God is able to make him to ftand. Would I cover my fin with Adam I could retort this objection, and fay, the worft which can be charged upon me will come far fhort of their crime, who fo lemnly took their corporal oaths to defend Epifcopacy, and yet were the most active enemies to extrude it; that I now fay truth, I dare refer me to the judgment of any moderate Reader. And I could, fay more, but thefe Fig-leaves are too dry and rotten to cover a finful nakednefs, they have finned, and I have finned, our fins do not extenuate one anothers, the Lord grant us all repentance unto life. Let the righteous fmite me, it Shall be a kindness, and let bim reprove me, it shall be an excellent oyl, which shall not break my head, for yet my prayer fall be in their calamities. Let Gods ordinances be precious, I cannot be too vile, for I feek not my own honour, but theirs. Thus Ihave given a faithful, and free account of my motives and ends in this great undertaking All which I commend (Dif fenter) rothy ferious perufal, and confideration; look off the |