THE TESTIMONY OF Our Reverend BRETHREN, Ministers of the Province Of LONDON. To the Truth of JESUS CHRIST, And our Solemn League and Covenant, etc. ATTESTED By other MINISTERS of CHRIST in the County of Northampton. John 8.17. It is also written in your Law, that the testimony of two men is true. may .11 th'. LONDON, Printed for John Wright at the King's Head in the Old Bayley. 1648. The Testimony of our Reverend Brethren, Ministers of the Province of London, to the Truth of Jesus Christ, &c Attested by other Ministers of Christ in the County of NORTHAMPTON. IT is the Word of God a Deut. 19 15. alleged, and averred by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ b Mat. 18.16. That in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established; We therefore (whose names are hereunto subscribed) having seen a Book (entitled, A Testimony to be truth of Jesus Christ) subscribed by many of our Reverend Brethren within the Province of London, and considering that Jesus Christ was borne, and came into the world that he might bear witness to the truth, c John 18.27 and that not only the Apostles in their times, d Act. 1.8 but all the Ministers of Christ in the several Ages and successions of the Churches, are called Witnesses, e Rev. 11.3.7. have thought it our duty, to Artest their Testimony, for as much as the grounds and motives of that their undertaking (as we conceive) were not Provincial only, but of a N●tionall, if not an Universal influence. For ought not God's glory, and the presence of his grace, the government of Jesus Christ, and all his standing Ordinances, the authority of Scripture, and power of godliness to be dear and precious unto all? Are not all the Ministers of Jesus Christ in every Congregation and County of this Kingdom, set for the defence of the Gospel? f Philip. 1.17. and bound to mark them which cause divisions, and dissensions contrary to the doctrine which they have learned, and to avoid them? g Rom. 16.17. Are they not charged to Preach the Word, to be instant in season, out of sea on, to reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering, and doctrine; because the time is come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but (after their own lusts) will heap unto themselves Teachers, having itching ears, and do turn away their ears from the truth, and are turned unto fables? h 2 Tim 4.1, 2, 3, 4. Are not all the Elders of the Church (as well as those of Ephesus) i Act. 20.17. ver. 28 29, 30. to take heed unto themselves, and to all the flock over whom the Holy Ghost hath made them Overseers, to feed the Church of God; which he hath purchased with his own blood? Especially when they see, that grievous Wolves are entered in among them, not sparing the flock, and that of their own selves, men do arise speaking perverse things, to draw away Disciples after them? For though this Kingdom is not yet form into Provinces throughout, as London is, yet are we set in the Church, k 1 Cor. 12 28. and so in the body, l Heb. 13.3. and bound to all endeavours for preventing Schism, m 1 Cor. 12 25. and have upon us the care, not only of our own particular Congregations, but in some sort likewise, of all the Churches; n 2 Cor. 11 28. And though we cannot but acknowledge, that we have been much provoked, and put on to what we do, by our Reverend Brothers zeal, o 2 Cor. 9.2 yet are we many other ways engaged and obliged to it; for can our solemn League and Covenant so lately sworn, and so successfully engaged in by both the Kingdoms, be so soon laid aside, forgotten, and thought invalid, and out of date? Is the unquestioned Doctrine of the Church of England contained in the Creeds, and nine and thirty Articles (wherein the said Errors are adjudged and discovered) of no authority? Have not our Reverend Brethren, now fitting at Westminster, by authority of Parliament, in that learned, pious, orthodox, unparallelled Confession of Faith, (presented by them unto the Parliament, and since published) spoken our very thoughts, and in that, and their Advice concerning Church-Government, and Ordination of Ministers, made an ample, seasonable, and full supply of those things wherein before this Church and Kingdom were defective. Wherefore we do not think our Brothers Testimony, or this our Attestation of it, to be needless or unseasonable, but a necessary & proper confession and profession of our former manifold Obligations & Engagements. We therefore that have hereunto subscribed our names, for the clearing and acquitting of ourselves, the encouraging of our Brethren, who have gone before us in the work, the supporting of the weak, settling of the wavering, and reclaiming of the wandering; Do assert, and sign this our Attestation, not doubting but by the blessing of God upon our innocency and sincerity therein, it may do good: for howsoever Errors are not here discussed and disproved by way of Argument, yet they are noted, and called Errors by proper Judges, and of unsuspected integrity and interests: that, as many have been seduced and led away by the sole authority and practice of some they valued, so they may be reduced by the concurrent judgement, testimony, and authority of many others; yet (with our Reverend Brethren) we do not think all Errors equally destructive and pernicious, but, on some we have compassion making a difference; others we would save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, p Judas 22 23. and instruct all with meekness, who oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil, who are taken captive by him at his will, q 2 Tim. 2.25, 26. only we are careful and solicitous, that our tenderness and mildness towards the truly weak, and really conscientious, and scrupulous, encourage not the wilful and engaged, and expose not our serious and affectionate endeavours unto contempt and scorn, and therefore would be glad to borrow and besprinkle this our Attestation, with so much of our Reverend Brothers animosity and zeal, as may make our gentle Physic work. Paul doth compare himself, and others of his Fellowlabourers in the work of God, to Nurses, r 1 Thes. 2.7. and was as tender, compassionate, and fellow-feeling as any other; Who is weak (saith he) and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? s 2 Cor. 11 29. yet when truth staggered, t Gal. 2.5 ver. 11. ver. 14. and men of place and worth began to be engaged in unwarrantable condescensions, and compliances, his meekness vanisheth, and the only jewel he adorns himself with, is plain dealing, not only withstanding the great Apostle of the Circumcision to his face, but recording that Encounter, and Contest to all succeeding Generations; and when he finds an Elymas withstanding him, and seeking to subvert his Hearers, u Act. 10 8 ver. 9, 10. Joh. 1. ●9. he is impatient, and dips his Pen in Vinegar. Our Saviour was the Lamb of God, before his shearers dumb, x Act 8.32 anointed to preach the Gospel to the poor; y Luk 4.28 and thought a friend to Publicans and sinners, z Mar. 11.19. yet when he meets with Scribes and Pharisees, disdainful, proud, dissembling, hypocritical deceivers, and seducers of the people, he is a Lion, a Rev. 5.5 and can b Mat. 23.13 ver. 33. thunder woes, and talk of Hell, and of Damnation to them. The Lord in mercy grant, we may in both endeavour imitation, and being sent forth as Sheep in the midst of Wolves, we may mingle wisdom with simplicity, c Mat. 1●. 16. and so affect the meekness and gentleness of Christ in some cases, d 2 Cor. 10 1. as not to forget his resolution and zeal in other, e John 2.15, 16, 17. wherein as we are assured to approve ourselves to him (which is our comfort and encouragement in what we do) so we hope we shall, and desire we may, to all who love him in sincerity, f Eph. 6.24. which is the aim, design, and expectation of Your Friends, and Servants in the Gospel. IOhn Winston, Pastor of Cannons Ashby Thomas Whitfield, Minister of Bugbrooke. William Spencer, Minister of Scaldwel Benjamin Tomkins, Minister of Christ in Harpole. Andrew Perne, Minister of Wilby Richard Truman, Minister of Brompton Thomas Martin, Minister of Houghton parva Thomas Ball, Pastor of Alhallows in Northampton Richard Gifford, Pastor of the Church in Gayton Robert Shilborne, Minister of Grendon John Bullyvant, Minister of Abbingdon Francis Markham, Minister of Greaton Francis Atterbury, Minister of Milton John Palmer, Pastor of Ecton Will. Barlee, Pastor of Brockhall Tho. Burroughs, Minister of God's Word at Cottesbrooke Lionel Goodrick, Minister of Overston William Ponder, Minister of Cortenhall Will. Holmes, Minister of God's Word at Guilsborough William Gilpin, Minister of Hardingston Thomas Harris, Minister of Brackley John Baynard, Minister of Burton Latimer John Bazeley, Minister of Broughton Thomas Templer, Minister of Weston cum Sutton Thomas Balgaye, Minister of Stoake Albany Robert Hocknell, Minister of Barton Segrave Moses Hodges, Minister of Isham John Howes, Minister of Earles Barton Henry Willes, Minister of Loddington Frederick Schloer, Minister of Ould Edmund Morgan, Minister of Upton Richard Owsley, Minister of Cottingham William Spadling, Minister of Rothwell Samuel Aynsworth, Minister of Kelmarsh Will. Cley, Minister of Sywell John Cave, Minister of Middleton Cheney Robert Allen, Preacher at Norton by Daventry William Bird, Minister of Morton Pinckney John Warren, Minister of Flower Vincent Copper, Minister of Paulisperry Edmund Spinkes, Pastor of Caster Thomas Andrew's, Minister of Wellingborow John Ventris, Minister of Pisford William Shortgrave, Minister of Harlston Jasper Symonds, Minister of of the Gospel William Pain, Minister of Grafton Regis William Clewer, Minister of Ashton William Hart, Minister of Dallington Theophilus Hart, Pastor of the Church at Wapenham Joshua Hall, Minister of great Billing William Tabor, Minister of Stooke-Bruren. Timothy Perkins, Minister of Evenly John Eyre, Minister of Marston Laurence Richard Fisher, Minister of Sulgrave Josias Bunn, Minister at Turnweston John Price, Preacher of the Word at Towcester Ralph Richards, Minister of Helmden William Wilding, Minister of Plumpton Richard Hooke, Minister of Rands Samuel Glover, Minister of East Findon Henry Pheasant, Minister of Higham Ferrer Arch. Symmers William Hensman, Minister of I●tlingbrough Henry Levit, Minister of Odell in Bedfordshire Simon King, Minister of Creek Samuel Martial, Minister de Dodford Thomas Dawkes, Minister of Badby cum Newnham Anthony Scattergood, Minister of God's Word at Winwicke John Lion, Minister of God's Word at Barnwell FINIS.