A CONFESSION OF FAITH

Of seven Congregations or Churches of Christ in London, which are commonly (though unjustly) called

ANABAPTISTS

PUBLISHED
For the vindication of the Truth, and information of the ignorant; likewise for the taking off those aspersions which are frequently both in Pulpit and Print unjustly cast upon them.

But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
Acts 24:14–15

for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.
Acts 4:20

Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”
John 18:23

“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.
Matthew 5:11–12

To the Right Honorable the Lords, Knights, Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament assembled.

Right Honorable and most Noble Patriots,

In as much as there has been a book lately presented unto you, [Margin: Doctor Featley’s book dedicated to Parliament] in whose dedicatory epistle there are many heinous accusations unjustly and falsely laid against us, we conceived it necessary to make some declaration of our innocence, and (to the end) humbly to present unto your view this our Confession of Faith: Here we unfeignedly declare, what in our hearts we judge, and what we teach, and according to this rule we desire and endeavor, through the grace of God, to lead our lives. This Confession of our Faith we send forth to speak the truth for us, and so to make our innocence to appear; desiring the same light may guide others also to the same way of truth and of obedience both to God and to the magistrate, who is the minister of God to us for good. We hope your Honors will permit us to speak with modesty in our just defense. And when any shall provoke you to lift up a hand against us, we desire you may seriously consider Gamaliel’s counsel in Acts 5. We take no thought for ourselves, for the Lord our God is all-sufficient; but we desire and pray that you may do nothing against Christ, neither in His members, nor in His ordinances, that there be no wrath upon you from the Lord, but that you knowing the innocent and protecting them according to the will of God, may for the same be famous unto all generations, and the memorial of your names may be precious among the saints till the coming of King Jesus.