SInce nothing can be dearer unto poor Christians, then Liberty, for the Free Exercise of their Iudg­ments and Conscience, which hath kindled that Fire in the Bowels of the three Kingdoms, which all the pretious Blood that hath been shed, during these late Troubles, hath not been able totally to extinguish: And since many of us, whose Names are affixed, were so profitably Instrumental in these late Combustions, as appears all along in our Sermons, before the Honorable House of Parliament, in the Years, 1642, 43, 44, 45, 46. in exciting the good People of this Nation, to seek and maintain their Christian Liberty, against all Prelatical and Antichristian Im­position whatsoever. And considering, that the little Finger of Apo­stacie, from our first Love, would be a greater Burden upon our Tender Consciences then the Loyns of Episcopacy, we being more bound in Honour then Conscience cannot totally desist; Neither need any man fear, or so much as suspect, lest any inconvenience or Altera­tion should happen in Religion by the great diversity of Opinions, Tongues and Languages, tolerated amongst us, unless in the great Babel of Episcopacy that may possibly be pull'd down and destroyed by this our notable Confusion: For if the Gospel was wonderfully disseminated and spread abroad by every mans speaking in his own Language, and the very Enemies thereof astonished and miraculously wrought into a belief of it; how is it likely to be now obstructed in the free exercise of our Spiritual Gifts with these our cloven and di­vided Tongues?

And since many Worthy persons (from whom we might little ex­pect it, but far lesse deserve it) out of their Goodnesse and Clemency, [Page 2] are pleased to incline to some Libertie, did not some persons, Aliens and Strangers to the Commonwealth of Israel take up a reproach against us, as persons reprobated into an unpossibility of submission to Principles of Concord, Peace, and Order in Church or State, never being able hitherto to come to any Consistency amongst our selves the Ark of God having for twenty years together been expo­sed to High-wayes Streets, and worse places, for want of an agree­ment amongst our own Brethren, where to rest it, or how to enter­tain it.

If this be our Case, and could we be sure of so much favour as Saul once desired of Samuel, That the Bishops would but honour us before the People, we would in a private Christian way lay our hands upon our hearts, and acknowledg the hand of God and the Iustice thereof, in turning us out of his Vineyard as wicked and unprofit­able servants, and to suffer the iniquity of our heels to overtake us, Crying out with Reverend Mr. Calamy, The Ark of God is justly departed from us: But being not yet thus assured, do hope the peo­ple will yet believe these to be only Bears Skins lappt about us by Episcopal hands: And therefore, to the end that a Consistencie and Onenesse of Iudgment of the whole separating Brethren, and their Moderation may be known unto all men, and that the world may know, there is a spirit of Rule and Government resting in us,

It is humbly Proposed, That the sole power of Granting Li­censes and Indulgences for Liberty of Conscience within the Kingdome of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Barwick, may be Vested in the Persons under-named, for the Terme of Seven Years, under the Farm Rent of An hundred thousand Pound per annum, to Commence from the 25^th. day of March next, under such Rates and Qualifications as are hereafter specified.

• Mr. Edmond Calamy
• Mr. Tilham, late of Colchester
• Mr. Philip Nye
• Mr. Feake.
• Mr. Stanley Gower of Dorchester.
• George Fox, Executor of the last Will and Testament of James Nailor deceased.
• Doctor Lazarus Seaman
• Mr. Dell, late of Cambridge.
• Doctor Owen
• Mr. Bryan, late of Coventry.
• Mr. Matthew Mead
• Mr. John Coppin
• Doctor Manton
• Mr. Kiffen
• Mr. William Jenkins
• Mr. Fisher, late of Kent.
• Doctor Thomas Goodwin
• Mr. Hammond, late of Newcastle.
• Mr. Peter Sterry
• Mr. Bridges, late of Yarmouth.
• Mr. Joseph Carroll
• Mr. Tombes, late of Lemster.
• Mr. Leigh, late of Lumbard street.
• The Executor of Mr. Venner lately Executed.
• Mr. Thomas Case
• Mr. Reynor, late of Lincoln.
• Mr. Raph Venning
• Mr. Rogers
• Mr. Benn, late of Dorchester.
• Mr. George Griffith, late of Charter-house.
• The Executor of Hugh Peters lately Executed.
• Mr. George Newton, late of Taunton.
• Mr. Dan Dyke, late of Hertford-shire.
• Mr. Mayo, late of Kingston.
• Mr. Joshua Sprigg.
• Mr. Henry Jessey.
• Mr. Newcomen of Dedham in Essex.
• Doctor Tuckney of Cambridge.
• Doctor Cornelius Burges.
• Mr Zachary Crofton
• Doctor Holmes.
• Mr. John Cann
• Mr. Thomas Brooks.

That the Persons aforesaid, may be constituted Grand Commissio­ners, and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience, within the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick, and may be im­powred to set up one Publique Office within the City of London and to nominate and elect a convenient number of Registers Clerk, and other Officers: And for the more certainty of all Certificates to be granted as is hereafter appointed, The said Grand Commissioners and Farmers may form a common Seal to be known, and called by the name of The Publique Seal of the Grand Commissioners and Far­mers of Liberty of Conscience engraven. An Ass without Ears, Bray­ing, with this Motto incircled Star pro ratione libertas: And the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers, or any 24 of them in the said Office assembled, may from time to time, compound and agree for Li­berty of Conscience, with any person or persons, under such Rates and Qualifications, as are hereafter specified.

That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers, or any 24 of them, may constitute and appoint, under the Publique Seal of the Office, Sub-Commissioners, and other Officers, for every Countie within the said Kingdom, not exceeding the number of 12. for each County whereof 7 to be a Quorum, who may compound and agree for Liberty of Conscience, with any person or persons, select Congre­gations, Cities, Towns Corporate, Parishes Hamlets, and Villages, by the great, or otherwise, within their respective Countries, not ex­ceeding the Rates hereafter mentioned.

That any person or persons gifted for any the Particulars above­said, may have liberty therein either as an Itinerate, in private or Publique, at the Rates abovesaid.

That no person or persons be admitted to compound for Liberty of Conscience, until he or they have first taken and subscribed the So­lemn Protestation following, before the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers, or their Sub-Commissioners respectively.

That no person within the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Barwick, may, from, and after the 25 day of March next, use or exercise any manner of Liberty of Conscience, except per­sons standing conformable to the Church of England, untill such per­son or persons shall first take the Solemn Protestation, and shall com­pound with the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers for Liber­ty of Conscience, nor shall he be admitted or permitted to be a Spea­ker or Hearer, in any Meeting or Assemblies whatsoever.

That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience, may have power to constitute under the Publique Seal of the said Office, a convenient number of Spiritual Gagers, who may have and exercise all such Powers, Priviledges, & Authorities, as the Gagers for Excize of Beer and Ale, have, or ought to have and enjoy, and may at any time, in case of Suspition, enter into any house or place, publike or private, to gage and try the Spirits and Affecti­ons of any person or persons; and by Praying, Preaching, or other good Exhortation, disswade from Episcopacie, and the Common-Prayer, the better to fit and prepare them to compound for Liberty of Conscience.

That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience, may have power to fine any person or persons (not ex­ceeding the sum of 20 l. for every offence, who shall, after Composi­tion for Liberty of Conscience, and subscribing the Solemn Protestati­on, [Page] be present in any Church or Chappel, within the Kingdom of Eng­land, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick, in the time of any part of Divine Service, unless at the Funeral of his Father or some other like occasion: or, if being present at any such occasion, he shall either respond, be uncovered, or carry himself reverently, in the time of Divine Service aforesaid.

That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience or any 24 of them assembled at the Office aforesaid, may have and exercise a Iurisdiction of Appeal in all matters relating to Liberty of Conscience, within the said Kingdom of England, and shall have a conclusive power in all matters brought before them, by way of Appeal as aforesaid.

That for the better management of all such matters as shall be brought judicially before the said Grand Commissioners & Farmers of Liberty of Conscience by way of Appeal the said Grand Commissi­oners and Farmers, shall have power to constitute and appoint Mr. Oliver St. Johns, and such others as they judge fit for their said Ser­vice, to be of Standing-Councel with the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers: And the said Mr. Oliver St. Johns, being so constitu­ted and appointed under the Publick Seal of the said Office, shall, and may be exempted and discharged from being in any Publike Of­fice, or place of Trust or Profit, for the said term of 7 years, any thing to the contrary notwithstanding.

That if any person or persons shall happen to be proceeded against in any of the Ecclesiastical Courts of the Bishops of this Kingdome for Contumacy, for Non-Conformity, for non-payment of Tythes, and other Church-Duties, for publick rayling against the Bishops, the Common-Prayer, or the Government of the Church of England, or shall speak Oprobriously or Scandalously against the Doctrine or Disci­pline thereof, as Antichristian, or shall maintain any Positions or Doctrines contrary thereunto: Every such person producing a Certifi­cate from the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers under the pub­like Seal of the said Office, that such person or persons are under Com­position for Liberty of Conscience, shall actually be discharged, and all further proceedings stayed; Any thing to the contrary notwithstand­ing.

That if any persons shall happen to be Indicted or Criminally pro­ceeded against in any of His Majesties Courts at Westminster, or else­where within the Kingdom of England, either for Treasonable Spee­ches or Practises, for publike rayling at the Government, or for Scan­dalous words against either or both Houses of Parliament, or for Trans­gressing any of the Penal Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom; Eve­ry such person or persons producing a Certificate from the said Grand [Page] Commissioners and Farmers under the publike Seal of the said Office, that such person or persons are under Composition for Liberty of Con­science; and that such words or practises were not spoken or acted mali­tiose, but were only the natural and proper effects and product of Liber­ty of Conscience, shall be discharged, and all further proceedings stayed; Any thing to the Contrary notwithstanding.

That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers of Liberty of Con­science, may have power from time to time to Ordain Pastors, Elders, and Deacons, or any other Officers under any Administration whatso­ever, by the laying on of the publique Seal of the Office: Which said Imposition of the said publique Seal being received with a Certificate, shall be as lawful an Ordination, as if every such person had received Imposition from the hands of the Presbytery, Any late Vsage or Cu­stome to the contrary notwithstanding.

That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers may have power from time to time, to set apart dayes for publique Fastings, and Hu­miliation and Thanksgiving; on which dayes it may be lawful for any person or persons appointed to Officiate before the said Grand Commis­sioners and Farmers, to stir up the people to a holy Indignation against themselves, for having by their want of Zeal and Brotherly kindnesse one towards another, lost many pretious enjoyments; and above all, the never to be forgotten Losse of the late Power and Dominion, which with the Expence of so much Blood and Rapine, was put into the hands of the Saints. And to take up for a Lamentation and great thoughts of heart, the Divisions of Ruben, That having our Sacks full, such an evill spirit should be found in the midst of us, as to fall out by the way; might it have beén with those that abode by the Stuff, as with those that went out to the Battel, it had not beén with us as at this day. Some starting aside, like a broken Bow, in the year 48; others conti­nuing to bear the burthen and heat of the day untill 60, being harness'd, did then turn their backs in the day of Battel; as was most sweetly handled at the Fast kept Yesterday at Mr. Beale's, by Mr. Callamy, Mr. Baxter, and others.

That the twentieth day of April next, commonly called Easter-Mon­day, be kept as a day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation, for a Bles­sing upon these Gospel—Vndertakings, and that Mr. Edmond Calamy, Mr. Peter Sterry, Doctor Lazarus Seaman, and Mr. Feake, be desired to carry on the Work of the Day in Prayer and Preaching, be­fore the said Grand Farmers, and that the particulars following, be recommended to their Consideration in the Work of the Day.

• [Page 9]1. To Bewail,
  • 1. All our Court Sins.
  • 2. Our Bishops Sins.
  • 3. Our Monk Sins.
  • 4. Our Common-Prayer Sins.
• 2. To Divert,
  • 1. Westminster-Hall Iudgments.
  • 2. Our Old-Bayly Iudgments.
  • 3. Our Tower-Hill Iudgments.
  • 4. Our Charing-Cross Iudgments.
  • 5. Our Tyburn Iudgments.

Lastly, For deliverance from the Hand of Dun, that uncercumcised Philistine.

That the said Grand Commissioners, and Farmers of Liberty of Conscience, may have power to build Churches and Chappels in any place or places, except upon such Ground only where Churches or Chappels do already stand, in regard of the inconvenience of setting up Altar against Altar; And forasmuch as the Custom of Reading some part of the holy Bible before Sermon, commonly called first and second Lessons, hath been found fruitless, That therefore the said Grand Commissioners & Farmers may have power to appoint instead thereof, the Annual reading of those Sermons preached by many of the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers, before the Parliament, Vpon special Occasions of Thanksgiving and Humiliation, from the Year 1641, to the Year 1648: Which said Sermons may be called, The Homilies of the separating Churches.

That the said Grand Commissioners and Farmers may have power to require Mr. Gilbert Millington, and Mr. Luke Robinson, the lame Evangelist, to deliver up all such Articles, Orders, Books, Papers, and other Writings, as were transacted before the late Committee for plundered Ministers; and likewise, all such as were passed and transa­cted before Mr. Philip Ney, and some others of the now Grand Com­missioners and Farmers, and heretofore called Commissioners or Spiri­tual Tryers, to the end, the said Articles, Orders, Books, and other Papers may be Printed and Published, and may be kept at the said Office upon Record for ever, and appointed to be the Book of Canons of the separated Churches.

All this being done, we may upon Scripture Grounds expect, that the door of Hope may yet be open to Vs, and Our Children after Vs, to [Page 10] see the travell of our Souls, and to lett Vs into the promised Land, and to reap some of those Clusters of the Grapes of Canaan, which with so much Labour and Toyl of Body and Mind were planted, especially in the Years of 1641, 42, 43, 44, 45. by many of Vs, and other pre­cious Saints and Ministers of the Gospel, who are since fallen asleép, and have, We hope, reaped the Fruits of those Labours, the Lord ha­ving in that Day put a mighty Spirit into Vs, & set Vs as Watchmen upon the Towers of Israel, to cry mightily, Curse ye Meroze, Curse ye bitterly; the Lord Grant, That those Heart-breaking Labours of Ours, those King-destroying Labours, these Kingdom-ruining Labours, those Gospel-scandalizing Labours, those Church-subverting Labours, those Soul-confounding Labors of Ours, may never be forgotten, but may be written as with the point of a Diamond, upon the Heart of the King, upon the Hearts of the Bishops, upon the Heart of the Parliament, and upon the Hearts of all the People from Dan to Beersheba, that so in Gods good time we may receive our Reward seven fold-into our own Bosomes, and that the Generations to come may hear and fear, and do no more so wickedly.