A DECLARATION Of divers Elders and Brethren of congregational Societies, in and about the City of LONDON.  
Decrying and Disclaiming two Books; the one called A CRY; and the other Book called A MODEL OF A NEW REPRESENTATIVE.  
Wherein their Judgements touching the Qualifications of Electors, and Eligible Persons, are tendered to Consideration, in way of Vindication of themselves from unjust Aspersions.   

IN the year 1647. We being Accused by many, as if we were Patrons of Liberty to sin, and as if we denied Magistracy and Propriety in ones Estate; and as if we owned Polygamy: We were enforced to Vindicate ourselves in our Declaration then Agreed unto by our joint Consent, 
Printed for H. Overton near the Exchange.  and Published then in our Names, concerning those four Particulars charged upon us. Wherein we not only Asserted the Contrary: but have also Declared, from the Holy Scriptures, The Rule and Standard for Faith and Obedience, what Liberty, and what Community is owned, and Disclaimed therein. Which accordingly we still own, or Disclaim: and what Necessity there is of Magistracy, and what Obedience is due unto them in their places, as to an Ordinance of God. And howsoever Polygamy was practised in the Old Testament; that yet it is clearly Evinced in the New Testament, to be unlawful.  
Our Stating the beforesaid Cases, and our Evidencing of what is the Truth therein, by clear Scriptures, and by Grounds deduced thence, we do still fully Adhere unto: Howsoever some or other of the Scandals beforesaid, some formerly, and some of late, have slanderously laid to our charge.  
And now whereas of late years, the wise Providence of our God hath so Ordered it, that such readiness and cheerfulness of many Christians, that are Termed Independents, in their Adhering to the Parliament, even from the beginning of the late wars unto this day: and such faithfulness and diligence hath been expressed by many of them, in the State; and in the Army, as well under the Earl of Essex, and the Lord Fairfax, as under the Present Captain General, the Lord Cromwell; that hereby many of them have been judged worthy of Offices and Places of Trust and Preferment, as well in England, as in Wales & Ireland. And whereas this hath occasioned (though causelessly,) the Envy of many against them: and many have falsely said, That they seek to get all such places into their own hands, and to exclude all others from them. (Which expressions, though grievous to us, we did bear, as part of the Reproaches for Christ, and his Truth.)  
And whereas now of late, when some have Objected against us a Book or two, lately Published, The one called, A Model of a New Representative: The other called, A Cry— With some Cautions touching the Election of a New Representative; as if those Books were Published by us: So that we are Charged to profess therein, that which we had disowned.  
We are hereby Again enforced, thus to come forth in Public in our just and necessary Vindication; lest if now we should be altogether silent, we should indeed seem to be deeply guilty therein. A Crime that we do utterly detest and abhor, as injurious to many: And with one Consent we do thus Declare, as in the Presence of the Almighty, who is the Searcher of all hearts, before whom the Wicked and Deceitful shall be confounded at the Day of Judgement.  
First, That none of us did so much as know of the making of any such Books, until they were Printed and Published.  
Secondly, That as thus we were fare from appointing or approving of, or Consenting unto the said Books before the Publishing of them; So neither did we, nor do we Consent to, or approve of such  Limitations, as appear to be employed in the CRY pag. 9 (Though that Criers good intent towards all that fear God, be well set forth therein, pag. 5, 6, 7.) But are more fully expressed by Quere's in the MODEL'S Xth, XI, XII, and XIIIth Quere's, Namely, That the Persons to be Chosen, and the Persons to be Choosers of the New Representative, should be limited to the Gathered-Congregationall-Churches; [Herein that MODEL is more like a Jesuitical Device, to bring an Odium upon us all; then to be any Act of ours.]  
Now that we may not be wanting (what in us is,) to clear the Truth from Scripture Grounds, and to manifest our sense thereof, Touching Civil Governors, and the Choice of them, We must premise Two Propositions, from the Holy Scriptures.  

I. The Former Proposition is this.  
That all People in Every Nation as well Members of Churches, as others, ought for Conscience sake, to Honour such, as by the wise Disposing Providence of God, are their Present Rulers; and are to submit to the Civil Commands, not only of such Rulers as are faithful, but even to Infidels.  
Thus the Apostle Paul Commands us from the Lord, Rom. 13.1. to 8. vers. (with 1 Cor. 14.37.) Let every soul be subject to higher Powers. For there is no Power, but of God, etc. And thus the Apostle Peter also, in 1 Pet. 2.13. Submit yourselves to every Ordinance of Man for the Lords sake: Whether it be unto King as supreme; or unto Governors. Thus they wrote, when all the Rulers Generally were Infidels. And Note; The Chief in Rule or Government, in what Political State soever, are styled King in the Scripture phrase; though he were not a King, according to our Vulgar expression. Thus Moses, that Judged Israel, is called King in Jesurun, in Deut. 33.5. And when it's said, There was then no King in Israel, it intends, there was then no Judge in Israel; Thus Jud. 17.6. & Jud. 18.1. & 19.1. & 21.25. And thus in Rev. 17.9, 10. The 7 Heads are 7 Mountains;- And they are 7 Kings: Five are fallen, (- &) one is, & the other is yet to come. 11 And the Beastis the Eighth, and is of the seven; and goeth into Perdition. 12 And the ten Hornesare ten Kings. 16 They shall hate the Whore, and make her Desolate. Here speaking first of the great City, that reigned over the Kings of the Earth, ver. 18. that is Rome, which stands on seven hills; He saith, They are 7 Kings, five are fallen, etc. The meaning seems to be this; That City, which before John's time, had had five sorts of chief Rulers fallen, and had another sort, the sixth, then, viz. Caesar's. The seventh, the Pope, was to come; who also is the Eight, (by his Exercising of so great power; first Ecclesiastically, and then Civilly also;) That same City is the City spoken of in Rev. 17. Now that Rome had then had 5 sorts of chief Rulers fallen, and that Caesar's ruled in John's time, is Evident by Historians: So that Cornelius Tacitus, a Heathen, (that lived in John's time,) in the very beginning of his Annals, thus reckons them up; In the City Rome at first were Kings; then (2) Liberty & (two) Consuls. 3. (one) Dictator (added to them.) (4) Decemviri. (5) Tribuni [plebis; [that is, the Government by Ten. And then by Three.] (6) the Power fell to Caesar. And as for the Ten Kings that should hate the Whore, be it generally expounded to include England, and the Netherlands, as well as others that forsake Rome. Thus by Kings, in Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. Rev. 17. We are to understand such, as are Chief in Rule, in any Nation.  
Rulers, and Laws, are for the Nations good. This Salus Populi is the End, and to be most aimed at, and sought after. When those of the Netherlands, by the Spanish King, were Tyrannised over, the States cast off the Tyrant, and have Governed since. And when King Charles left the Parliament, and prepared war against it; the best Ministers in London, and elsewhere stirred up the People to Contribute and Act to their utmost, to raise and maintain an Army against his Proceeds. And by the Army, (which was empowered by the Authority of the Nation to their utmost to seek for the End beforesaid) there hath been such subduing of Enemies and Obstacles, as that by the wise Providence of God, we are now reduced to a Commonwealth, wherein the Rulers, are now to be Honoured. For if Caesar, and Pagan Rulers under him in Judaea, and elsewhere, were to be honoured and submitted unto; as both Christ taught, and his Apostles, (Matth. 22.21. Mark. 12.27.) (And yet they came in by the Sword, and kept God's Church in Bondage;) How much more should our Governors be Honoured by all people in our Nation?   

II. The Second Proposition is this;  
That all that profess themselves Christians, or God's people, aught to endeavour, so far as their place and power reacheth, that all Rulers amongst them, should be men truly fearing God.  
Our Ground is, the Express Charge of the Almighty. 2 Sam. 23.3. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke unto me; HE THAT RULETH OVERDO MEN, Must be JUST, RULING IN THE FEAR OF GOD.  
Secondly, Suitable thereto, is that in Exod. 18.21. Provide out of all the People, Men of ability (or Courage,) such as FEAR GOD; Men of Truth; hating Covetousness. These should be preferred, before all other Qualifications, of Birth, Riches, or Parts; as we will Answer it before the Great JEHOVAH.  
Thirdly, The fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom, Psal. 111.10. Prov. 1.7. These will Pray, and God will give them Wisdom, Jam. 1.5, 6. Prov. 2. 1.-4.  
Fourthly, Because when men Fear not God, they are more obnoxious and liable to all wickedness, Injury, Tyranny, Oppression, Rom. 3.11. They-seek not after God-Their Throat is an open Sepulchre. Their feet are swift to shed bloud-Destruction and misery are in their ways, and the way of Peace they have not known. And what's the Root of all this? There is no fear of God before their Eyes. Hence when Abimelech asked, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? Abraham said; Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; therefore they will slay me, for my Wife's sake, Gen. 20.10, 11.  
These two being premised:   

III. Our Third Proposition is this;  
That in our days, wherein Persons truly fearing God are of divers Forms, dissenting in Church-Government, etc. Some that are termed Presbyterians, some Independents, some Anabaptists, and some that are not so resolved with any of these: the Power of Choosing Rulers, or of being Chosen, should not be limited to any one of those Forms or Persuasions, to the Excluding of others: [excepting such, 
See p. 1. lin. 3.  who either deny Propriety, or Magistracy, 
See the first Declaration.  or who assert carnal Liberty, or Polygamy: whom we have witnessed against in our former Declaration.] Or such as have opposed, or do not own this present Government.  
Which Proposition,  
1. We Explain thus,  
Such Persons do Fear the Lord, that endeavour to keep a good Conscience before God, and before men: Such as through grace Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present World, Tit. 2.12. Now among such whose Fathers had all been drunk with the Babylonish Cup, and the dregs and darknesses thence, are not quite dispelled from us. And but by Degrees do we attain to further knowledge of the Mystery of Christ and of Antichrist) there are no doubt many such persons, so fearing God as is beforesaid, that have not all attained to the same degree: and they must all be fully persuaded in their own minds, in what they practise. Now if merely for Conscience sake, & for their so practising or not daring to practise, if any such should therefore be Excluded from being Chosen, or from being Choosers: or if the Chosen, and the Choosers should be so limited that all of them should be only of one sort and size, excluding all the rest; This might be a great wrong, both to God and to Men.  
2. We Confirm this Proposition thus.  
First, This course is a wrong to God, when his Children, whom he loves so dearly, and who are so accepted of him, are for his sake so rejected by men: As in Isa. 66.5. Your brethren that cast you out for my Names sake, etc. And this is a wrong to Jesus Christ, who is in all his: and will say to such as so reject them, at the great Day, on this wise, In as much as ye did it to the least of these that believe in me, you did it to me, Mat. 25.45, 46.  
Secondly, Repl. This Course were also a wrong to Men.  
First, To the Persons so rejected, that upon the like Ground and Principle are liable to be Persecuted by them, and worn out, so as to occasion the Exile of many out of our Nation, as it fared with many of our Brethren here under the Prelacy.  
Secondly, It were a Wrong, or Damage, to the Persons that so alone are fully Empowered to Choose, and to be Chosen: Whereby they are most liable to such a Temptation, as is to be Prayed against by Tender Souls, as Wise Agur did against being Enriched, Lest I be full and deny [or belly] thee, Prov. 30.9. The Coveting of such a Monopoly, were a Coveting an evil Covetousness to himself, when it is to the wronging of others of their due, that have equal right, Habak. 2.9.  
Thirdly, Thereby it may be a Wrong to that City or Nation: where,  
1. Many being partakers of the Sin, are like to partake also of the Punishment due thereunto; even the Sin and Punishment of Babylon and Antichristians, Rev. 18.4. One of their Sins being this, Persecuting of Saints for not Conforming to them; rigorously pressing to Uniformity.  
2. Hereby many others are the More hardened against all Professors and Profession, when they see Professors so opposing Each other.  
Thirdly, How little cause there is for any of these to seek the Excluding of the other, may further appear by these Considerations.  
1. All those that fear the Lord amongst us, are all the Children of one God and Father.  
2. They are the Redeemed of one Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath loved them, and given himself for them.  
3. They have the Holy Spirit their Sanctifier and Comforter.  
4. They have One Faith, and hope of their Calling, Ephes. 4.4, 5.  
5. They have all of them one and the same Inheritance, which is immortal, undefiled, uncorruptible, which fadeth not away, which is reserved in Heaven for them, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4.  
6. They have the same Common Enemies to them all; the Flesh, the Devil, and the World: and in the World not only Pagans, Turks, and Papists abroad, but generally all persons that are in their Natural, Carnal, and Corrupt estate at home.  
7. All these have also the very same Weapons and Arguments, wherein they all generally with one mind agree together against all those their Common Enemies, etc. These have More with them then are against them, 2 Kings 6.  
8. The Time is coming, and we hope is near at hand, when all that fear the Lord shall be of one mind and of one heart, and shall worship him with one consent. Zeph. 3.9. Then they shall have such external Visible Union and Communion that shall Convince the World (that are not convinced by internals) that the Father hath loved them all, as he hath loved his Son; as our Lord Jesus prayed: and therefore it shall certainly be effected, because the Father always heard him, John 17.21, 23. John 11.41. Therefore should all these be far from excluding each other, either from being Choosers or from being Chosen unto places of Power or Authority.  
Thus have We with one Consent Declared ourselves touching the Books aforesaid, being such as we never consented unto, nor owned: and also our Grounds and Reasons why We are far from approving of them. And the sincerity of our Hearts in what We have Declared herein, We take the Almighty God to Record upon our Souls.   
The IX. Month called Novemb. the Tenth Day. 1651. 

William Greenhill.  
Richard Shute.  
John Simpson.  
Thomas Hutton.  
Robert Turpin.  
Thomas Brooks.  
Christopher Feake.  
Richard Woollaston.  
Thomas Sherman.  
Henry Jessey.  
Emanuel Middelton.  
Samuel Nash.  
John Foche.  
Hanserd Knolly's.  
William Kiffin.  
William Consett.  
T: Harrison.  
Thomas whaley.     

LONDON, Printed by M. Simmons for L. Chapman, at the Crown in Popes-head Alley. 1651.