The Anabaptists late Protestation. Or, their RESOLUTION To departed the City of LONDON. Wherein is set forth, The full proceed of a great number of Anabaptists, at a late Conventicle near Oldstreet. Together, with their several Debates, and Consultations at the said Meeting, concerning the City of London, and the Kingdom of ENGLAND.  

Printed in the happy Year,  
When Sectaries durst not appear.    

The Anabaptists last Good-night. BEING A RELATION OF The proceed of divers Anabaptists at their late Meeting near Oldstreet, March 18. 1647.  
UPon the 28. day of the last Month, there were assembled together near Oldstreet (at a zealous Conventicle) divers persons, of several degrees and functions, for the laying open their sad grievance, and heavy oppressions (as they term them) occasioned by the late good Votes of the honourable Houses of Parliament, for the putting down, and abolishing of all Sects and Sectaries, within the Realm of England, etc.  
And after some hours spent in disputation, they generally resolved to persist on, and adhere to the Rules of the● own reformed Churches, protesting and (ingeniously professing) not to revo●● in the least from their Opinions which they were now grounded in; saying, that if Liberty of Conscience would not be allowed of with in this Kingdom, they would become Strangers to Foreign Princes; and take their leave of this their native Soil, But notwithstanding the late Ordinance of Parliament, they still proceed on in their Meetings and Conventicles, using their own Form of Worship, contrary to the Discipline of the Church of England.  
But (indeed) they are up-held by many strong Agents, and animated and encouraged on by those who have broached most ●ntollerable thins of late years against the high and honourable Court of Parliament; the grand and chief Ringleaders being now in custody, for endeavouring to sow the Seed of Discord within the Bowels of this Kingdom, both by their several Writings, and printed Papers, which hath inflamed the hearts of many thousands within this Kingdom: therefore, I may say, A lame Hand, is better than a lewd Pen: Therefore to show much courage in a bad matter, is rather a token of a desperate folly, than any badge of a magnanimous mind. For, is it not apparent, to all true Christians, that this kind of people hath for these two or three years practised and endeavoured to raise a division, and to stir up strife and envy in the hearts of the people, against the most high and supreme Council of this Kingdom.  
Therefore, what a woeful course hath this people ran into, not only through their own lewd practice, but also their infecting of others; so that even the sins of thousands they must give a● accost for.  
But it is apparent, that since the creeping in of so many Sects within the Church of England, many sad disasters have arose thereby; for where there is toleration of too many sorts of Opinions, there ariseth nothing but strife and contention for superiority, and every one that hath gained a little experience in the Scriptures, takes upon him the great Office of a Minister, and admististers the Word; by which means, too many poor souls are ensnared and deluded: therefore, believe not every one that taketh upon him to be a Preacher, but try the Preachers, whether they are of God, search the Scriptures daily, and see whether those things are so, that such preachers say, prove all things, and receive that which is good, ● John. 4.1.  
Christ himself saith, that if the blind doth lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch, Matth. 15.14.  
Nay further, the Lord himself saith, the Leaders of this people, that teacheth them Errors and false Doctrines shall cause them to err, and they that are led of them are destroyed, Esa 9.14, 15.  
And vers. 16, Therefore shall the Lord have no pleasure in their young men, ●●ther have pity of their fatherless and widows; for they are altogether Hypo●●i●●s, and wicked, and all their mouths speak folly: After all this, is not the Lords wrath ceased, but yet his band is stretched out still.  
Thus may we see, and plainly discern the wonderful and horrible things which hath been done in this Land, by the wicked Seducers of our times, by their false and erroneous Doctrines, and their changing and altering of the sacred Scriptures.  
Oh the sad things which are now broached: How is the Church of England defiled, She is become black and bespotted; nay her beauty which formerly shined throughout all Europe, is now eclipsed, because of the too many diversity of Opinions, which are crept within her very bowels.  
But now the beauty of our Church beginneth (once again) to shine in its full lustre, the Curtain is drawn, the Clouds are dissolving, and all Sects and Schisms now vanquishing.  
So that now it is hoped, the Church will enjoy her former purity, and that by the vanquishing of these Sects and Heresies, she will become undefiled, and without spo● or blemish, and appear in the full beauty of all her Members.  
God grant that all such wicked Seducers of the people may become new Christians, and reform; and if not, God give the people grace to know them, to shun them, and to fly from them.  
FINIS.