IT being a matter of the greatest con­cernment to every mans conscience that loves Christ, not to uphold any Ministry, under any pretence what­soever, which is not sent by Christ; therefore take heed, as you tender a pure consci­ence, to give liberty herein, that there be no forc­ing to uphold any one soul that say they are Mini­sters; but that every one herein make proof of his Ministry, and so shall every mans reward be as his [Page 2] work: And you Majestrates, shall not need to medle in this thing, seeing God never required it at your hands, to force a maintenance neither under Law nor Gospel.

But if any say this will open a gap to all sin, and make men Heathens. I answer, it will be the on­ly way to cut down sin, as will appear to any rea­soneable understanding: First, a Law being made to punish sin without exception, this takes hold of the Heathen, and the Hypocrite shall not escape, under what form soever, and liberty of conscience being given, you will presently see into whose hands to commit the Execution of that first Law: for who hath not a principle of God to guide to his wor­ship without constraint, can never execute any just Law for God, but for self ends: And so you should chuse men fearing God, to bear the Sword of God; And till then make what Laws you will to preserve innocency, yet by them the innocent is sure to suf­fer; for how can he whose conscience is forced as to the worship of God, use a good conscience to­wards men, or own a pure conscience in another, to preserve it, who hath made shipwrack of it him­self.

And for making Heathens, I say it will but dis­cover Heathens that are hid: for he that hath not a principle of God in himself to carry on in his wor­ship, without forcing, is a Heathen, and knows not God, and his worship and prayers is abominate to God, and he that forces him is guilty with him, for such was never forced, but admonished, till they came to be won by the word, or without the [Page 3] word by a godly conversation, and till then, to be ordered by the Law of the Magistrate, which is made for such, till the promised seed be owned to guide in the works of the Spirit; for without that Law, the Parish preaching will not order such, as is manifest in the Nation, and hath been for many years: and such being declared to be Heathen, would be ashamed, and being convinced in their own consciences, might come to be saved, which now pass under the name of a profession.

But if it be said this is the onely way to root out the Ministers of Christ, I answer, its the onely way to manifest the Ministers of Christ, from the Mi­nisters of Antichrist, and it will root out none but such whose care is first for their bellies, who minde earthly things, whose Ministry stands and falls by carnal things, who would be sure of wages before they do their work; yea many of them have taken wages these forty or fifty years, but yet no work done, nor any brought out of sin, and these cry the workman is worthy of his wages, and call for wages from such as for whom they do no work: but these are none of Christs workmen, who seek for their wages from the world, for his he sends freely into the world, who never asked any thing of the world: but first planted a Vineyard, then eat the fruit of it, first sowed in hope, and then were partakers of their hope, and where they had sowen spirituals, and the seed came up, there they reap­ed carnals, and so lived of the Gospel and not of the world: and I demand of any one who owns the Scriptures to prove a forced maintenance, either [Page 4] under the Law or Gospel, but they were freely to bring it. But who art thou that sayes the times are not so now, thee I deny, and thy Ministry, which follows the times and not Christ, nor the Saints practise in Scripture, stop thy mouth for ever be­ing counted a Minister of Christ, who art not con­tent with his allowance, as his have always been, for God is not charged, nor his Worship, nor Wor­shippers. But if you say this will soon bring the Ministers to be poor; I say you know not God, nor his care for his, who so argues, for never was the righteous nor that seed, begging bread: against that dispiteful mind do I bear witness, who were sent out without bag, or scrip, or money, into the most bruitish parts of the Nation, where none knew me; yet want I nothing, in prisons, in wan­drings, in beatings, in stoneings, in mocking, my joy I would not change, for all the Personages in the world, nor shall any hireling partake of it: And you that would have others forced to maintain thy Teachers, but would not be forced to maintain others who differ in judgment, though nearer the Scripture then thine, how dost thou fulfil the Law of Christ, in doing as you would be done by, what is this but to Lord it over the conscience of thy brother.

That there be no forcing any to uphold the high places of the Nation, seeing many that truly fear God, connot worship in them, without sin; but that liberty be given herein, and that every people may repair t [...]eir own meeting places. I know many out of a blind zeal to those places will be offended, but [Page 5] what is that which would not do to others, the same that you would have them to do to you, is that rea­son, equity, or conscience, would thou be content to be forced against thy conscience, to repare the houses of others which they meet in who differ from thee in judgement, and that upon good ground from Scripture, who meet in private or hired houses for conscience sake, refusing those places which have been consecrated to Idols: And if you look upon such as brethren of free born subjects; is there not the same reason in it: but if thou say, must the House of God go down. I answer, Houses of God they are not, conveniency is the best you can plead for them, and of all men, you who stay in those houses, have least cause to find fault, with such as go out, seeing they leave you the houses you so much esteem of, wholly to your selves, with all that belongs to them, and you have them for re­pairing, and they that go out, betake themselves either into the fields, private houses, or some con­venient place, not chargeable to any.

That there be no forcing any to swear, who makes conscience of an oath, seeing the plain com­mands of Christ, and his Apostles doth so often forbid it, which some dare not break for all the world, who are come into the everlasting oath and Covenant of God, and into the practise of the Saints, which never used any such things; but if any say, how should true evidence he had in mat­ters of controversy, between man and man, that true judgement may be given. I answer, God ap­pointed witnesses in such cases, but never forced [Page 6] them to swear. In the old Covenant, when swear­ing was an Ordinance; how much more now, when Christ hath said swear not at all; but if any say men will not matter what they say, if they be not forced to swear: I answer, such will not matter what they swear neither, were it not for fear of an outward Law; but if you make an equal punish­ment of false witness, as unto imprisonment, banish­ment, and taking away life or estate, or what ever should by the Law, befal the person accused, (which is but just) you shall soon have them more afraid to lye then over they were to forswear, and hereby come to cleanse the land of all false accusers and accusations.

Thus in faithfulness to God, and in love to you, with whom I have served for the good of these Na­tions, betwixt eight and nine years counting no­thing to dear to bring the Government into your hands in whom it is, as many can witness with me herein. And now my prayer to God for you is that you may lay down all your Crowns at his feet who hath Crowned you with victory, that so the Lord being set up as King in every conscience, all may be subject to your Government for consci­ence sake: And so God may establish you, and the hearts of his people, praise him in your behalf, and [Page 8] so to you I have unburthened my conscience herein, and let none be rash in judging, but search the Scriptures, and see if I have not laid before you the Saints practise, by the same spirit by which they were guided.