Courteous Reader;
It is no wonder if it seem strange to thee, that we should publish a confession of our faith, who are frequently termed to be Heretics and Schismatics, and what not, though unjustly; neither is it any discouragement unto us, though this sect (as they call the Anabaptists) is everywhere spoken against (Acts 28:22), and in that we are charged (for Christ’s Name sake) with the same things our Lord Jesus Christ, and his Apostles were accused of; it’s a mercy, an honor, and a comfort unto us, when we remember what our Lord has said unto us, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:11–12). “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” (Matt 10:24–25). “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know Him who sent me.” (John 15:18–21; Acts 21:28, 30–31; 14:22); “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,” (2 Tim. 3:12); “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13).
Our Lord Jesus was accused to be a seditious and mutinous fellow (Luke 23:25): Paul was called a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition, and a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarenes (Acts 24:1, 5–6); Saying, Away with such a fellow, for it is not fit he should live; Saying, This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the Law (Acts 18:13): and our Lord Jesus Christ was accused of perverting the people, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar (Luke 23:2, 14); and that He and His Disciples did teach novelties, and break the traditions of the Elders (Matt. 15:1–9). Christ was accused to have a Devil, and to be mad, saying to the people, Why do you hear him? (John 10:20) Paul was esteemed to be mad: also they said, What will this babbler say? And that he taught new doctrine (Acts 17:18–19; 26:24–25): and Christ was accused to speak blasphemy, and they all condemned Him to be guilty of death (Mark 14:64). So some are offended at us for meeting in houses to preach, and would have us punished for it; notwithstanding, it was Christ and His Apostles practice to do so, whose example we are to follow. Christ taught upon a mountain, and in a ship (Matt. 5:1–2; 13:2). Paul preached from house to house (Acts 20:20); also the church met together in an upper room, where Peter preached (Acts 1:13, 15–16; 2:2); and Paul preached, and converted Lydia by the River side (Acts 16:13–14); the Disciples met together in the night in an upper room (Acts 20:7–9); Paul preached two years in an hired house, and received all that came unto him. If he had lived in these days and done so, it’s to be feared some would have petitioned against him (Acts 28:30–31): So some accuse us to be disturbers of the peace of the Common-wealth; yet all that know us can testify for us, that we meet together and depart in a peaceable manner: And from Acts 17:5–7 it will appear, what persons they were that disturbed the public peace, it’s fit such persons should be taken notice of and accordingly punished.
So we are blamed, because we frequent not their Temples; we dare not trust in lying words, saying, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord are these; we know the most High dwells not in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48; 17:24–25); and that we are the Temple of the living God (1 Cor. 3:16); and that our bodies are the Temples of the holy Ghost (1 Cor. 6:3, 19); and that Christ’s Church is not built with dead stones (1 Peter 2:4–5; John 4:20, etc.). And because there are but a few of us, some conceive we are in an error, and that the least number should yield to the greater; then it seems, if the number of the papists or atheists exceed the number of the protestants, they must forsake their religion. God in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways (Acts 14:16; Exod. 23:2); there was but one true Prophet to 400 false (1 Kings 22:6–7, etc.). After three years preaching and working miracles by Christ, there was but a small number (Acts 1:14–15). Christ calls His, a little flock (Luke 12:32; Matt. 7:13–14): the Scripture declares the greatest number followed after the beast (Rev. 13:7, 16–17). Also those that preach among us, are esteemed as the Apostles were, to be unlearned and ignorant men (Acts 4:13). Apollo was instructed more perfectly in the way of God by Aquila, a tradesman, and Priscilla his wife (Acts 18:1–3, 26): but the Scripture says; “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:” (1 Peter 4:10, 12). Also some say of us, that we be of several sects, and that we cannot agree among ourselves. Pilate and Herod agreed together to crucify Christ (Luke 23:12); we dare not agree as the Jews did that if any did confess that Jesus was the Christ, he should be put out of the Synagogue (John 9:22; 1 Cor. 1:10–11). The union Christ prayed for, we desire (John 17:21), and for such an agreement as agrees not with the truth, we may not agree unto, therefore we desire it not; yet the Paedobaptists differ more among themselves than we do, and if this their reason have any strength in it (Eph. 4:3–17), it is against themselves: the several sects of Paedobaptists, be Papists, Arians, Nestorians, Pelagians, Donatists, Eutychians, Grecians, Lutherans, Arminians, Episcopans, Nicolaites, Calvinists, Zwinglians, Hussites, and above twenty other several sects, which are all baptizers of infants, and notwithstanding, for other points, are all asunder, and have all rent one from another, therefore we send them to follow the counsel of Christ (Matt. 7:3–5).
As the Watchmen dealt with the Spouse of Christ, in her seeking her beloved (Songs 3:2, 5; 5:6–7), so they deal with us, they finding us out of that common and broad way themselves walk in, they smite us, and take away our veil, and veil us with reproaches, and odious names; to incense all, both good and bad, against us, that we may appear vile in the eyes and hearts of all that behold us, or shall hear of us, which they endeavor to do, both in Pulpit and print (Acts 16:19), not fearing to charge us, with holding freewill, falling from grace, denying election, original sin, children’s salvation, the Old Testament, and men’s propriety in their estates, and censuring all to be damned that are not of our judgement and practice; all which we disclaim, because they are untrue. And as for the other things, whereof we are accused, we refer those who desire further satisfaction to the answers of them: yet by reason of the many accusations that are cast upon us, although they cannot prove the things whereof we are accused, yet the generality of the people are incensed against us, and are encouraged, and set on by such, to seek out the place of our meetings, which are the more private, not because they are private, but because we have not any more public places; but if any shall please to procure us more larger places to meet in, we are willing to embrace them with thankfulness and joy, although no man should speak for us to those in authority, from whom one word were enough to protect us, from the violence we should be subject unto; but as it was then, (Acts 17:5–7) so it is now; yet must we bear all the blame; but our God will in His time clear our innocence, although now many stand looking upon us as a people (holding such things) not worthy to live, and are in danger by the rude multitude gathering together to stone us: and had it been against our persons only, we would have held our peace, and committed our cause to God; but considering it is the truth that we profess that suffers, we may not, nor dare not be neuters in matters of so high a nature, but come in and speak to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
Therefore to free ourselves, and the truth we profess, from such unjust aspersions, that it may be at liberty, though we be in bonds, we have published a brief confession of our Faith, (which we conceive most void of contention in these sad and troublesome times) the thoughts of our hearts as in the presence of God we here declare, that it may appear to the consciences of them that fear God, what wrong we suffer from some who have ability to cast mists, and dark clouds, which overshadow the glory of the truth, and them that profess it (Jude 14–15). And although they acknowledge with us, that the truth is not fully discovered, yet they will tie all future discovery to a former light, and conceive they do well in so doing. But God will by His truth shew their error, and exalt Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone, which the builders so much reject. And lest this should be thought to be the judgement of some particular persons, this is done by the consent and appointment of seven congregations or churches in London, with the names of some of each of them subscribed in the behalf of the whole. And although we be distinct in our meetings, for convenience; yet are we one in faith, fellowship, and communion, holding Jesus Christ for our Head and Law-giver, under whose Rule and government we desire to walk, and to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes, that when our Lord and King shall call us to account, we may be found ready and worthy to be received into our Master’s joy. Until which time we desire to spend these few days we have here to remain, to the glory of God, the honor of the gospel, the saints comfort, and our countries good, to our own account at the great day when Christ shall come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess. 1:8). Subscribed by us in the behalf of seven congregations or churches of Christ in London. As also by a French congregation of the same judgement.
