WE should be stupid and senceless, if we did not deeply resent those black obloquies and reproaches cast upon those of our profession and practice in the point of Baptism, by oc­casion of the late most horrid Treason and Rebellion in this City of London.

We most sadly see and feel that among many it is become enough to render any [Page 6]man criminal to be called an Anabaptist, or at least a ground sufficient to question his Loyalty and fidelity to the Kings Ma­jesty.

We may not therefore be so negligent of our duty unto God in respect of our profession, or unto our selves and families, as silently to suffer our names and profes­sion to be buried under such causeless in­famy: neither may we be so much wan­ting of our duty to our King, as by such sullen silence to offer his Majesty just oc­casion of being jealous and suspicious of our Loyalty and Obedience, or to leave him without all possible rational security of our humble subjection and fidelity to him. We acknowledge that the Histo­ries of Germany relate most dreadful things of the impious opinions and practices of some reputed Anabaptists destructive to all Government and humane Society. Al­though its to be observed what Cassander, a learned and moderate Papist, relates in his Epistle to the Duke of Gulick and Cleve, [Page 7]to this purpose. That there were certain people in Germany bearing the denomi­nation of Anabaptists, who resisted and op­posed the opinions and practices of those at Munster, and taught the contrary Do­ctrine, Whereby (in his opinion) they ap­peared to be incited by a Godly mind, and rendred themselves rather worthy of pity then persecution and perdition. And that in Holland those who have succeeded them, do in Doctrine and practice adhere to the same peaceable principles, is publiquely known. But the misguided zeal of some (otherwise minded in the point of Baptism) hath frequently, though unduely, imputed the like impious opinions, designs and in­tentions unto all that are called by that name; although their souls abhor the very memory of such impious doctrines, and their bloody consequences. That such evil opinions and practices are no natural or necessary concomitants or consequences of the Doctrine about Baptism, nor of any possible connexion with it, is easie to be discerned; yet by the like mistake we now [Page 8]suffer under jealousies, through the wicked Treason, Rebellion and Murder, of a few heady and distempered persons, pre­tending to introduce a Civil and tempo­ral reign and Government of Jesus Christ by their swords, and to subvert all Civil Government and Authority.

Yet we cannot imagine a reason why their bloody tenents, and tragical actings, should reflect upon those of our perswa­sion, the persons not being of our belief or practice about Baptism, but, to the best of our information, they were all (ex­cept one) assertors of Infant-Baptism, and never had communion with us in our As­semblies; nor hath there been any corre­spondence, or converse between us: but contrariwise, in their Meetings, they have inveighed bitterly against us, as worship­pers of the Beast, because of our constant declaring against their conceited, wild in­terpretations of dark Prophecies, and en­thusiastical impulses, and professed and practised our duty of subjection to the Civil Magistracy.

And it is notoriously known, the very same persons, or at least the Leaders, and the most of them, formerly advanced their pretended Standard of Jesus Christ, as much against us as against any others. And it is as publiquely known, that e­ven in this their Rebellion, such of us as were called thereunto (which were many) were ready to hazard our lives to suppress them.

And if such a constant continued op­position unto the impious tenents and practices of these persons both in our Doctrine and Lives, will not be esteem­ed a pregnant and cogent evidence of our unspotted innocence from their Treason and Rebellion, and satisfie every man, that our Souls never entred into their secrets, we can only appeal to the All-seeing God, the Judge of all the earth, to vin­dicate us in his righteous judgement, who we are assured will judge and doe rightGen. 18.23.. In whose presence we Protest, that we neither had the least foreknowledge of the said late Treasonable Insurrection, nor [Page 10]did any of us in any kind or degree what­soever, directly, or indirectly, contrive, promote, assist, abet, or approve the same: but do esteem it our duty to God, to his Majesty, and to our Neighbour, not only to be obedient, but also to use our utmost industry to prevent all such Treasons, Murders, and Rebellions; and to use, in all our Assemblies, constant prayers and supplications for his Maje­sty.

Wherefore we humbly beseech his Ma­jesty, and desire all our fellow subjects, that our Actions, Doctrines and Lives, may be the only glasses through which they will look into our hearts, and pass judgement upon us, and that the te­nents or opinions of others, either in this or foreign Kingdoms, may not be im­puted to us, when our Doctrines and Lives do declare our abhorrency of them: We believing, that Jesus Christ himself, his Apostles, and Christian Religion, did consist with, and obey the Impe­rial Government that then was in the [Page 11]World, and that we ought to obey his Majesty not only for wrath, but for consci­ence sake.

We desire therefore that it may be considered without prejudice, whether our perswasion in the matter of Bap­tism, hath any connexion with these Doctrines against Government? Or whe­ther these can be the probable conse­quences or inferences from our Do­ctrine concerning Baptism? And we pray that it may be seriously conside­red, whether it be rational, just, or Christian, to impute all the errors and wickedness of any Sect of Christians in one age or Country, to the persons of another age and Country, called by the name of the former? especially when these errours or impieties gave not the name to the Sect, (as in our case) nor can be reasonably supposed to be the consequences of that opinion from whence the Sect had its denomina­tion.

It would not be holden just to aver [Page 12]every Protestant to believe Consubstantiati­on, or absolute Predestination and Reprobation, because Luther was zealous in the one, and Calvin in the other; why therefore should the errors and impieties of others, be imputed to us, whilst we earnestly contend against them? And as to our Doctrine of Baptism, we hope every Christian that hath searched the Scrip­tures, knoweth, that there wants not so much evidence, at least for our opinion and practice, as Christian charity may well allow, though in some mens judgements we should be esteemed mis­taken; and it will be easily granted by the Learned, that there is no impiety in our Doctrine of Baptism, nor opposition to Civil Government, or his Majesties Au­thority; neither can the injury of our Neighbour be the natural consequence of it.

And therefore we humbly hope, That the Omnipotent power of Heaven and Earth will so dispose his Majesty and his Peoples hearts, that we may worship [Page 13]God in peace and freedom, according to the Faith we have received, living a peace­able and quiet life in all godliness and ho­nesty.

FOrasmuch as it hath been our portion all along to suffer, not only some hard things in many of our persons, but also very much in our reputati­ons, through the unjust aspersions and calumnies of our adversaries, and such, who, though they dayly behold our inoffensive conver­sation, and do or may know our Faith and Do­ctrine, will not yet be delivered from those ground­less and injurious reports, which they have, without proof, concerning things or persons, taken up, but contrariwise continue in press, pulpit and common discourse, industriously to divulge things tending to our defamation, and more especially for that purpose watching the opportunity of all revoluti­ons and changes of persons exercised in Govern­ment, which hath often hapned in these Nations of late years.

And inasmuch as the design of our adversaries therein hath appeared to be the rendring of us obnoxious to those that have had most power in their hand to offend and harm us, and have for that purpose invented such calumnies as might best accomplish that design, which although they have been various, and sometimes manifestly cross and contradictory one to another, yet ha­ving no other ground (that we know of) then the forementioned evil purpose; they have therefore both one and other, even all of them, been gene­rally accompanied with the charge of disobedi­ence to Magistracy and Civil Government.

We have therefore been necessitated (as altera­tions in Government have hapned) to renew our vindications in this publique manner, having very seldome opportunity otherwise to inform either Magistrates or people of the injuries done unto us, and which is much more, to the truth we do pro­fess. And that in this present conjuncture of af­fairs, the mis-representation of us, either formerly or now, may not take impression upon any to the damage of us and our profession, we have thought it requisite not to bring to light any new matter, but only to extract out of our former Confessions of Faith, and Declarations, our constant Principles to which we have been (and shall alwayes endea­vour (the Lord assisting us) that our practice may still be) conformable in this great point concern­ing Magistracy and civil Government, as by these extracts following may appear.

That Civil Magistracie is an Ordinance of God, Consession of Faith of those Churches in London, which are commonly, though un­justly, called Auabaptists, Art 47. prin­ted in the se­veral years, 1651, 1646, 1644, &c. Declaration concerning a publique di­spute printed in the year 1645. p. 4. set up by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well, and that in all lawful things commanded by them, subjection ought to be gi­ven by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but for conscience sake; and that we are to make supplicati­ons and prayers for Kings, and all that are in Autho­rity, that under them we may live a peaceable a quiet life in all godliness and honesty.

We who are falsly called Anabaptists, being as rea­dy to obey our Civil Magistrates, as to profess our sub­jection to them in all lawful Commands, what­ever is preached or printed of us, by any to the contra­ry, and whosoever have or shall accuse us, either to the Magistrates or to the common people, that we will not obey Authority, do falsely accuse us.

Declaration by the several Congregatio­nal societies in and about the City of London, in way of vindi­cation of themselves touching Li­berty, Magi­stracy, &c. printed, 1647. p. 7. S. 3. & 4. And however it be a thing very desireable to godly men to have such to be their Governors as fear the Lord, inasmuch as together with their moral Princi­ples, they are under more solemn bands of engage­ment as Christians, to execute Judgement and Ju­stice, and faithfully to discharge their Trust; and in­asmuch also as they will be more ready to protect godly men which generally are the hated of the world, and to propagate the Gospel in their Territories, then other men will be; yet what ever the Magistrate is in point of Religion, he is to be reverenced and obeyed in all those commands of his, which do not intrench upon, or rise up in opposition to the commands of God.

And we do freely acknowledge that Kingly Government established, guided and bounded by [Page 18]just and wholsom Laws, is both allowed by God, and a good accommodation to men.

That all people in every nation, Declaration of divers El­ders and Bre­thren of Con­gregational Societies in and about the City of Lon­don the 10th of Nov. 1651. Declaration of several of the people cal­led Anabap­tists in and about the Ci­vie of Lon­don, Decemb. the 12. 1659. The answer to the first Cri­mination. as well members of Churches as others, ought for conscience sake to honour such as by the wise disposing providence of God, are their Rulers, and are to submit to the Civil Com­mands, not only of such Rulers as are faithful, but even to Infidels.

Although we cannot answer in justification of eve­ry individual person that is of our profession in mat­ters of Religion, no more then our Christian friends of other perswasions can do in behalf of all of their perswasions, yet we can say this, and prove it to all the world, that it hath been our profession, and is our real practice to be obedient to Magistracy in all things Ci­vil, and willing to live peaceably under the Govern­ment established in this Nation: For we do believe and declare Magistracy to be an Ordinance of God, and ought to be obeyed in all law fulthings.

These things we have herein recited, the rather because that such judgement as shall be made by any concerning us, may be fairly and duly taken and calculated from our own writings, and not from the aspersions unjustly cast upon us by such who have not only rendred many guilty for the offence sake of some one person, but also called others after the same name given to us, with whom we have had or held no correspondency or agreement, endeavouring to blemish our profes­sion, by charging the whole party, not only with the guilt of many strange unsound opinions, such [Page 19]as were never received or allowed by them, but also with many actions wherein they have been least of all, if at all concerned. And as for those things wherein any of us, or other of our judge­ment have been actually concerned, we hope it hath proceeded from a due regard to those invari­able Rules given in the holy Scripture for the or­dering our conversation with respect unto Magi­stracy, according to the best judgement could be made of them, and pursuant thereunto, done in ob­servance of those publique Edicts and Declarati­ons, whereunto the most universal obedience, and constant adherence hath been required by those that have had the power over us, and who have ad­mitted us the least of any people to dispute the reason of Governments and laws.

And for that the subjection yielded by us to the powers that have been over us, hath proceeded from a conscience not daring to disobey, unless in such things which we could not understand to be lawful, and the affections that have been manife­sted therein have arisen from the enjoyment of that due liberty and protection which we have had in matters of Religion; we do hope and de­sire that none of us upon the re-establishment of the present Government, shall now be adjudged criminal by our present Governors, but that we may notwithstanding, reap the benefit of that fa­vour that hath been declared and tendred by the Kings Majesty, and be protected from all injury and violence whatsoever, equally with others his [Page 20]Majesties Subjects, in the quiet and peaceable en­joyment of our Religious and Civil Rights and Liberties, we desiring and endeavouring to be­have our selves in all good conscience towards God and man, remembring that Rule of our Lord, that we are to render unto Caesar the things which are Caesars, and to God the things which are Gods; and that we, as well as Rulers, must certainly at the great day be accountable to the Just and Righteous Judge of all the earth, for all our doings.