1. The Mid­wifry of the Act for Pro­pagation of the Gospell in Wales.

In the yeare 1649. There was an Act passed by the Parlia­ment, Intituled, An Act for the Propagation of the Gospell in Wales. A specious Title; But how farre cunning Heads, and bold Informers may impose upon a Parliament, and abuse a wise Councell; This one Act may be a sufficient evidence; teaching others to be more circumspect and cautelous hereafter. For some men of their own Nation, driving more at selfe ends and interests then the Glory of God, or the Propagation of Christs Gospell (as the issue of their Actions hath now fully discovered their Aymes) did represent, to the Honourable House of Parliament, the condition of Wales as most sad, and deplo­rable, overspread with Ignorance and Profannesse (as the words Run in the said Act;) I As though Wales were still a Land of Darknesse, the poore Inhabitants thereof out of Chri­stendome, sitting in the Region and shadow of Death; Which Information (though a frontlesse untruth in it selfe, and a shamelesse Aspersion upon the whole Nation, as we shall shew anon,) yet served to bring their ends about, who framed it. The Inhabitants thereof having few Representatives to make known the true state of their Country, For the Parliament in their Charity to the Countrey, and care of the publick good, Did take this Land of Darknesse into Consideration, And did put the Act above mentioned upon the Anvill to be framed and filed for the Worke, pretended and desired.

This was the Midwifry of this Act, and the manner of bringing it to the Birth.

Now for the Munagery thereof, and how it was executed, we intend herein to declare with all Plainnesse, Sincerity and Candor, and with as much Charity towards the Actors, as the truth of the Relation will permit.

2. Concerning the ignorance, and profane­nesse, cast up­on the Nation.

But wee will first speake something to the Ignorance, Hea­thenisme, and Profanenesse cast upon the Nation by those, that did owe better Offices to their Countrey, and then proceede what we chiefly intend in this Narration.

And wee say first (and speake it to Gods Glory, and not our own) That not onely our Nation was converted to Chri­stianity as soone almost as our Saviour suffered; But also the Countries of Wales are by the blessing of God, and the light of the Gospell of Christ Jesus civilized in a very good measure,1. A vindica­tion of the Laity. and in an equall degree to diverse places of England; The Gentry are Men of Knowledge, Religion, and Breeding, most of them having had their Education in the best Schooles and Uni­versities of this Land; And the Commonalty generally care­full to bring up their Children in Private Schooles. So that they are farre from that wild Heathenisme, and brutish Ig­norance, which these Men have injuriously aspersed th [...]m with.

2. Of the Mi­nist [...]ry.And in the second place for the Ministery, (To passe by many Apostolicall Martyrs, and Planters of Religion here a­mong us,) We say, That the Ministers of these Countries were not so few, nor so illiterate, nor so idle in their Function and Ministery, That any should feare the people (committed to their charge) were in a perishing state. Some of our owne Nation (for a mans worst foes are of his owne Household) Have Preached, and also Printed it for a preparative to the said Act, and to bring this Trojan horse into their Countrey; That there were not thirteene painfull Preachers in the thir­teene Counties of Wales. God is mercifull, and may pardon Pul­pit-slanders, and untruths, which are delivered openly in the face of Divine Majesty; But how great an untruth this is, we could soon evince if we were pleased (not speaking of divers most painefull and Reverend Ministers therein of former times, and in our memory) To give here a List of the Doctors, Batchelours of Divinity, Masters of Acts, and other able men of Inferiour degree in the Universities, that were lately plan­ted in these parts, whose Doctrine dropt as the Raine, and made the Mountaines of Gilboah fruitfull.

A great noise was made about the scandalous and illite­rate [Page 4] Ministers of Wales. We do confesse as in the neatest Gar­dens, there are some weeders, so there might be such in the Countrey; for there is, and ever will be in all Professions some that are scandalous to their Profession, yet there were fewer of these, then the Report made them. But there were scan­dalous Livings too in these Countries, as well as scandalous Ministers, and those produced these. There were Vicaridges of twenty Markes a yeare and under that; There were Impro­priators that would have Curats of the cheapest rate they could get, and every Parish was ambitious to have a Peculiar Mi­nister; For Pluralities of Benefices was not long since as great a sinne as Pluralities of Wives, though now an Itinerant may supply twenty; So these small meanes could have Men but of small Abilities. But those Benefices that were Presensative, and were endowad with competent maintenance, They were filled with able Teachers, whose lips did preserve knowledge, and whose Lives were consonant to their Doctrine.

If the Gentlemen of the Ecclesiasticall Commission, had trim'd the Lampes of the Church, or snuff'd the Candles that burnt dim, if they had spur'd up the Lazy, and sharply admonished those that were fallen, if they had winnowed the Chaffe from the Wheate; purged out the scan­dalous Ministers onely, they had done God and the Church good service, but wee have found their ends and aimes to be farre more misterious; Satan desiring not to Winnow out the Beneficiaires, but the Benefices, not Ministers, but their Li­vings.

3. The mana­ging of the Act.

But to returne from this Digression into the Road, where we left. And to shew how the said Act was managed, and put in Execution.

For the better Propagation of the Gospell in this Countrey, the Ministers of the Gospell must be extirpated. This was Re­solved on by some of the Commissioners (intrusted for that Worke) before hand; we could name the place, where they entred into this holy League; And their owne Tongues dis­covered their Resolutions.

For one of them, and one of the highest forme too, and who indeed was (Ecclesiæ pestis & fundi nostri calamitas) the Ruine of our Church, could say to a Petitioning Minister,Major Gen. Harrison. That his face was against all of the Order.

Another could say, That All of them must be taken off from their Cures, and this man was the Hand of this Committee, as the other was the Mouth. A third (when a Minister did crave his favour) said, it was in vaine to strive, for All were to be Outed first or last. And a fourth, (and he a Preaching Pro­perty, belonging to the Worke) Did often Preach, That the Son of the Bond woman, must not inherit with the Son of the Free-woman, which Text he hath since more cleerly expoun­ded, by putting this in practice, and casting them out of their Inheritance.

Thus according to the Westphalian Law, their Judges had past their Sentence upon them, before any offendor was brought to the Bar, their Profession was declared Antichristi­an, and unlawfull, and their Calling a Crime; For many were Ejected, and they know not as yet, wherefore, but because they were Ministers. Eusebius complaines, that Dioclesian tooke away the Presbyters, But Julian the Presbytery; So here the Ax is laid to the Roo [...] of their Calling, to hew down, and levell the very Function; If it were not so meant, surely some of the old Clergy might have been thought worthy and fit to keepe their Stations. For all had not corrupted their wayes, all were not scandalous, nor illiterate, nor dumbe Dogs, as their common phrase and application was before their Eject­ment.

Now as in the case of Naboth, though his Vineyard was al­ready forfeited in Ahabs thoughts, who was resolved to have it, yet to compasse it more plausibly, there must be legall pro­ceedings to condemne his person: Sons of Belial must be h [...]d to prove the pretended Crime, that so he might commit. Mur­ther and Robbery, in the habit of a Judge: So here in their bu­sinesse, though their Judges had already prejudged them, and others had already cast Lots upon their Inheritance, and divi­ded the spoile, (which was the chiefe Propagation of the Go­spell, that some aimed as, and the onely thing that made [Page 6]them all criminall) yet to give the matter some glosse, and tincture of Justice, it must be carried on in the forme of a Legall Proces.

4. The Itine­rants became Captaines.

Observe how warily they proceede. That the Action may be better countenanced, and attended, Commissioners are obtained by such as were to be Itinerants, Gospell Preachers (as they are termed) and some of them approvers nominated in the Act. They raise Horse and Foote in most Counties, e­specially in South-wales, with which they suppresse the poore Ministers, and discourage, and affrighten their severall Con­gregations from following and assisting them; That this great Worke may goe on, and be more vigorously put in execution, with such Instruments, the cry of the Children Sacrificed unto Moloch, must be drowned and suppressed, wee believe they have left but few other Monuments of their valour unto poste­rity. We could name their persons, and Counties, and Acti­ons, but that we are resolved neither to digresse, nor stigmatize them.

The first thing they doe, is to disarme the Ministers, by dis­abling them of any meanes of defence; And to performe this the better at a private meeting of some of the Commissioners; All Tithes in generall were sequestred in the County of Rad­nor, before any of the Ministers are questioned; Thus they are sent to the Field without weapons, They may sue and Appeale, but they shall do it, sub formâ Pauperum, poore Men, they are exposed to ruine without Mercy, being utterly deprived of any means either of subsistence or defence.

5. Registers, Sollicitors, chosen.

This being done, and All obstacles Removed, Registers are named, Articles must be exhibited, Sollicitors must be ap­pointed to receive Accusations, and Witnesses must be exami­ned with all closenesse, and secrecy without their knowledge or privity; Yet there is neither Commissioner, nor Register, nor Sollicitor, nor any other Officer sworn, nor any set Exa­miner of all: And who are their Accusers, ad Witnesses against them?

6. Who are Ac­cusers, and Witnesses a­against them.

Truly they, who enjoyed their Houses, or Glebes, or Tithes (A tender of a good bargain of any parcell of their Tithes, being made to such as would joyne with them to doe this great Worke they had in hand.) And judge you, [Page 7]whether that Hellish Aphorisme was not put to the uttermost? Calumniare fortiter, & aliquid inhærebit.

They are Resolved to brand them deeply, That their Mar­kes may appeare, being spitefull Accusers to suggest any thing, And such bold Witnesses, that no want of proof might frustrate the Ejectment.

• 1. They laid to their charge things that they knew not Psal. 35.11. Contrary to all Verity, struunt de proprio calumnias innocentiæ.
• 2. They wrested their words, Psal. 56.5. contrary to all Ingenuity.
• 3. And they pressed the very rigor of the Letter of the Act against them, being not the intent and sense of the Enactours, contrary to all Equity.

The smalest offences of 20 or 30 yeares standing, were freshly Arraigned as Capitall Crimes, and their least Infirmities were unpardonable, without any respect, had either to their Abilities, fidelity in their Cal­lings, or submission to that present Govern­ment.

Thus they pursued them so hard, That they could not give them over, as long as they had any thing worth the loosing.

When they or their distressed Wives came to the Doores, either to Petition, or to heare their accusation (though their good Names, and Being lay at the stake) yet they are vio­lently thrust back, or scornfully abused, and trampled upon by the Itinerants Souldiers, prepared for these inso­lencies.

How then could they choose, but be found Guilty, when they had beene long before condemned; And so by this formall kinde of Judicature (this pompe and Ceremony of Justice) they thought they had suffi­ciently satisfyed the people, though wee confidently believe, they had either lulled asleepe, or seared up their own consciences.

But to make up the Sceane and solemnity of this Assize, A PreacherVa Powell preaches a railing Ser­mon. must come in to Act a part, and that trust be the D [...]vells part, To be an Accuser of the Brethren, Rev. 12.10. and to do that, which Michael durst not do against the Ac­cuser himselfe, that is, bring a rayling accusation against him; And that in the Pulpit, and in numerous Assemblies and con­course of people come together from severall Counties,Jud. 9. Re­viling them as the worst and vilest of men, and condemning them for unsavory Salt, Mat. 5.13. fit onely to be throwne into the Dung­hill, and to be troden upon. When wee call to minde King Da­vids enemies, whose Tongues were Speares and Arrowes, and Razors, and sharpe Swords, as though their Mouthes had been an Armory or Magazine; This man was not inferi­or to them for such Artillery, and was as free of them as they were, which he shot at all of the profession, without any distinction, There was not one Grape of the cluster good and sound.

O Modesty and Charity, where are yee fled? O the mercy, and goodnesse of God, and the cruelty of men?

His chiefe Aime and taske was to Murther their good names, and to possesse the people how justly they were divested of all their fortunes, putting them in all the deformed shapes he could invent, to stirre up the people to a hatred of them and their calling, accounting them (as another of that ranke did.) To be men, forsaken of God and man.

Thus as the Ancient Christian Martyrs, they are transform­ed into other shapes, and clad in the Skins of wild Beasts, that they might be sooner fastned upon, and torne in pieces.

But we will passe over this hired Balaam, for which hee re­ceived the wages of unrighteousnesse; And when you heare that he railed for that, you may suppose he did it to some pur­pose, though hee was a stranger in the Countrey, where hee Preached, and knew not one of the Ministers (by face) hee did so roundly raile against: but we finde now, it is his Pocket-Invective, through which hee travaileth, seeing his present Highnesse the Lord Protector, his sage Councell, the Comman­ders, [Page 9]Officers and Souldiers, have not escaped him; what could the poore Ministers, (whose calling he accounteth uscles and Antichristian) expect at his hands.

This was the course and Method of the Propagation of the Gospell in Wales.

7. The Poverty of the ejected Ministers.

And now their Persons b [...]ing thus defamed, and their Meanes S [...]questred, they are exposed to Poverty and want in their old Age, and are like to bring their gray haires with sor­row to the Grave, most of them having not as much as a House to put their heads in, but during pleasure, which was but a sickle Tenure, considering the affection and quality of their Landlords, they could nor be Tenants to their meanes, they were denyed not onely their Tithes, but also their Gleabes and Houses upon Rent. Nay a Command was given by the Commander in chiefeMajor Gen. Harrison. (then) among them, for the Tumbling of them out of their Houses, to use his owne words, of which command many felt the execution; And so were unhoused, as well at unchurched. The Prophet Jeremy compained that his Countreymen, Dranke their Wa­ter for money, and their Wood was sould unto them, that is,Lam. 5.4. they were faine to pay for their owne, But these found har­der usage then they: They could not have their owne for Money.

8. The fift either denyed or undervalued.

And to compleat their M [...]series to the uttermost of their endeavours, Though there was Provision made by the Act for Propagation, for a Fift part towards the maintenance of their Wives, Children and Families, yet by the undervalua­tions made by the mercilesse Sequestrators, and their Far­mours, and the tedious Petitioning to the Commissioners for the obtaining thereof (which wearied them and their poore Wives, with many hopelesse journeys, and doubtfull An­swers.) They brought it to nothing, but labour and ex­pence unto them, so that their Condition herein being like those Inhabitants of a Towne in Holland, who upon surren­ding were promised their lives by the D. of Alva but after delivery they were starved to Death, they were R [...]solved [Page 10](having spent the Water in their Bottles) to lay downe their Wives and Children before the Lord, lifting up their voyces and weeping before him,Gen. 21.15, &c. hoping that the time of their Deliverance is at hand.

9. The Appeal a remediles course.

But you will say they were justly and legally outed, and ejected, otherwise why did not they take the benefit of Appeale?

It was a remedy worse then the disease, The manner of their proceeding, according to the said Act being as fol­loweth.

• 1. Five Commissioners Examine and Eject.
• 2. Twelve, upon the Ejected's Complaints, were to Review and Determine.
• 3. The twelve Commissioners upon the Ejecteds Appeales, were to transfer and Certifie the proceedings to the Commit­tee for Plundred Ministers.

Now the Twelve did seldome meete, living remote, the one from the other, and the time and place of their meeting, was not usually published, nor generally knowen.

And suppose that the twelve did meete: was it probable That they who adjudged the Cause would transfer and certi­fie against their owne Judgements? And there was no Pro­vision in the Act to inforce them, in case they refused: But suppose they should transfer and certifie the Proceedings, yet the Act disabled the Appellants to examine any more Wit­nesses (whereas many of their depositions might be laid down contrary to the examinants intentions; most of them being illi­terate persons, and ignorant of the English Tongue) and were thereby made uncapable of their just defence; so that being once ejected, they receive small benefit by their Ap­peales.

Nay if any that conceived himselfe aggreived therein, did seeke any Remedy in Law, which is afforded to all others the free People of the Nation: The Commissi­oners named in the said Act (as they were Commis­sioners of Indemnity,) Had Power to inforce Obedience, and Submission to their Orders, stop all the proceedings of the ejected Ministers: And Indemnifie themselves, and their Agents for any thing done by colour of the said Act.

Who can finde out a Clue in such a labyrinth to lead him forth? This we may boldly say, That the Profoundest subtilities of the ambiguous, and intrapping Articles of some former projects (which we leave to your thoughts) cannot out-bid the Invention and Contrivement of this remediles Dilemm of Appeale.

10. They are commanded not to preach.

But this is not all, They are thought not to be sufficiently punished, by being deprived of their meanes, but they must be robbed of their calling also; Being straightly threatned and commanded not to speake at all, nor teach in the name of Jesus; so that for their Talents what over they are, They are charged to lay them up in their Napkins, or bury them under ground, for with their leaves they must not use and imploy them, though they earnestly did, and doe desire to continue their paines in Gods Vineyard freely, expecting their reward from the Lord of the Vineyard onely, but it would not be granted.

11 Keepe Schoole.

Nay when some of them resolving by Gods Assistance to obey God rather then men, did hold forth the word of truth un­to thousands of people, who to this day endure a Famine thereof; They were drawn by the neckes out of the Pulpits, abused, threatned, and imprisoned: and when others went about to keepe private Schooles, for the support of themselves and Families, they were straitly commanded to supersede from that imployment: And we must tell you, it was not safe to dis­obey such Ruling Masters.

12 The Pa­rishes not sup­plied.

Among all this their Complaintes, wee may not forget those of their respective Congregations, who are forced to pay their Tithes more exactly then ever they did before; And yet have nothing in lieu thereof, neither the comfort [Page 12]of Praying, and Preaching, nor Sacraments, nor visiting the sick, nor of any decency of Buriall, for few or none are su [...]sti­tuted to these Offices in the roomes of those that performed them: And for the number of the Itinerants in each County, (whose Fathers had designed them to other vocations,) they do goe up and down the Countrey to preach where, and when they please themselves: so that men are glad to hear a Sermon in some places once in a twelve moneth, and in most places once in a moneth; That were wont to have one at least, every Lords Day.—Ei succus pecori & lac subducitur agnis.

The Children crie for Bread (the Bread of life) and there is none to give it them, or else instead of Bread they have but a Scorpion, and are fed with Poyson instead of Manna, and wholesome food, to wit, the poyson of false Doctrine, Heresie and Sedition, being leavened with the sowrest Tenets of Ana­baptisme, and whose wayes (as is now too apparent) are de­structive to Magistracy, as well as Ministery, which they boldly vent among their hearers.

And this is a plaine and briefe Account of the Prosecution, and Managery of the Act for the better Propagation of the Gospell in Wales; and let all Christian people judge What Propagation this was.

13. Conclusi­on.

But if this Relation stagger any mans Faith, or may seeme to him like those Marandæ auditiones of Aristotle, more like a fiction Sen. then reall truth (Majora veris monstra vix ca­piunt fidem) wee make bold to protest with the Apostle, That wee take God to Record upon our Soules, wee have delivered nothing but truth, passing by many Indignities, and Affronts, with diverse Acts of cruelty, unfit to be acted by any towards their fellow Creatures, much more towards their fellow Christians; And since they will not give them leave to Preach, They will take leave to pray, That since they have no part nor portion left them in the Land, That God would be their Lot, an their Portion, and then they shall not want, that he would grant them to runne with patience the Race that [Page 13]is set before them, looking up to Jesus the author and finisher of their Faith. 1 [...]. Tim. 1.13. Heb. 12.20. And that hee would blesse their Widowed Congregati­ons, and guide them with his Holy Spirit, That they may hold fast the forme of Doctrine, which was once delivered unto them; And that the great Shepheard of the Sheepe, would continu­ally Leade and Governe them, To whose Gratious care and Protection, they doe heartily Recommend them in their Prayers.

1. That the re­verend Mini­sters of England would commi­serate the Mi­nisters.And doe earnestly beseech you (the Reverend Ministers of the Gospell of Jesus Christ in England) to lay to heart, and be grieved for the affliction of your poore Josephs, the ejected Ministers of Wales. And to be a meanes (at least) that their Wives and Children may enjoy a competency of liveli-hood, and subsist­ence, and that they may understand what hath beene laid to ch [...]ir Charge, and be made capable without expence (being wholy disabled) to make their answer thereunto.

2. And Chur­ches of Wales.O! mou [...]ne for the affliction of your disconsolate Sister: Is it nothing to you that passe by? Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto he sorrow. All beauty is departed from her Sion,Lam 1.12. the Lord hath taken away the Tabernacle, destroyed his places of the Assembly, and caused the solemne Fast, and Sabbaths to be forgotten among them: Lam. 2.6. Is this nothing to you?

O! Shee is your little Sister, and shee hath (now) no Breasts, Can. 8.8. What will ye do for your Sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?

O comfort her by the Comfort, 2 Cor. 1.4. wherewith yee your selves have been Comforted of God; Plead her cause, as the Lord hath plea­ded yours. For if it had not been the Lord, who was on your side (may now the Ministers of England say) if it had not been the Lord, who was on your side, Psal. 124.1.2. when their Enemies rose up against you also; Then they had swallowed you up, and those proud Waters had overwhelmed, and gone over your soules.

But praysed be God, who hath raised you a Mighty deliver­er in the Day of your tryall, and praised by the God of your Salvation.