Declaration and Vindication of the Carriage of Edward Barber

BEing earnestly desired by diverse of the Inhabitants of the parish to come to hear Mr. Callamy at the Morning lecture, they promising that I should have • i • erty to add to what he should deliver, or contradict if erroni • us, he being to be there upon the 14 of July. At which time, according to their desire and my duty I came, and having heard him all his Sermon without interruption, wherein • is chief discourse was concerning Moses rodd, which being done, I desired him and the r • st of the audience, to permit me to add some few words to what he had delivered, conceiving he had not so much as touched upon the very quintecence of the text, which did most nearly concern the people, to wit, The Lord Jesus the great Ensign of the Gentiles; Isa. 11. 10. upon which he desired me to forbear till he had concluded, & I might speak, upon which I did forbear till he had done and pronounced his blessing: and then desired that as he had prayed that the Gospel might be sent forth in the right order, that I mieht have liberty to speak according to St. Paul's exortation, 1 Cor. 14. 29. 30. Let the Prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If anything be revealed to another that siteth by, let the fi • st hold gi • peace. For ye may all prophecy one by one, that all may learn and all may be comforted. &c. Which freedom was practiced in the Sinagogues as Acts 13. 15. where After the reading the Law and the Prophets, the R • lers of the Si • agogues were so far from denying this privilege that they sent unto Paul and Barnabas saying, ye men and brethren if ye have any word of exortation for the people say on. not coun • ing their speaking, to be making a disturbance as Mr. Callamy did, who con • rary to his promise, when according to his desire I had forborne till he had done, instead the • of giving me leave said he wond • ed that any that pr • fect the Gospel would come to make a disturbance in the Church of God, dealing with me as formerly he had done with Mr. K • ffin, Mr. Knoles and Mr. Cox concerning the public dispute that should have been at Aldmanbury meeting house, or at least discovering his malice or ignorance of the Gospel practice, as Acts 15. 13. where it is written, after that Paul and Barnabas had spoken and held their peace James answered saying, &c. compared with P • t. 1. 4. 10. Upon which his denial of this Gospel privilege, I told him and the rest of the audience, that as I had been a long dweller in the parish, where I had been a diligent observer of the traditions of their fathers, those popish practices of paying tiths, and infants sprinkling &c, bu • being now better enlightened, and also by authority of Parl. enjoined in that place with the rest of the parish to take the protestation a thing enjoined up on the whole Kingdom, wherein I was enjoined to protest against all popery, and popish innovation: & this tying of the spirit of God only is the mouths of the Black co •• es, b • ing one of the grearest innovations that ever was invented, as to raise, so to uphold the Kingdom of Antichrist: and so long as it is upheld, it shall never be raced, nor the libe • ty of the Gospel obtained, which we are all enjoined to en • e • v ••• the overthrow thereof; and therefore desired the audience to consider these Scriptures as I sh • uld nominate, as Acts 2 4. And they w • re all filled with the Holyghoast and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utteranes. comp. Numb. 11. 26. with 29. Joel 2. 28. Upon which the Assembly was filled with confusion, like the whole City of Ephesus, Acts 19. 29. and 22. 22. Where Pau • declaring the liberty of the Gospel, which was by him to be preached to the Gentl • s, The Jews giving him audience unto that word, and they lift up th • ir voices and said, away with such a fellow from the earth, for it is not fit that he sh • uld live, crying out, casting off their clothes, and throwing dust in the Air. &c.

So these being in this confusion, some crying one thing some another, some crying lay hold on him, some throw him down, others kill him, others pull him limb from limb, some kiking him, others pulling off his coat, another his hat, some saying he is mad, others he is drunk, women scraching me by the face, where I might have been both robbed and murdered, had there not been a Constab • e there, who Centurian like rescued me, there being Mr, Calamy Mr. Clanford, Mr. Clarke and some eight more of them, and not one endeavoring in the least to stop the rou • ; but 3 or 4 • 0 following me in this tumultuous manner to my own house much abusing me, thronging about the door as they of Sodom did to Lots, Gen. 19. 9. Mr. Callamy and the rest never showing so much aid or humanity as Gamaliel Acts 5. 34. 35. or the Captain of the band that rescued Paul from the rude multitude, Acts 21. 30 31 &c. they showing more wisdom and morality then any of these did though at lest • o in number; but I confess your condition being like Demetrius and the rest that made silver shrines for Diana, at this time ingreat danger, I canno • blame ye to look about you; for if the liberty of the Gospel be obtained, your Kingdom will fall like Dagon before the Ark to the ground.

Whereupon, you not giving the least liberty of the Gospel of Christ, I could not but protest against that Antichristian practice, and told them that as they and their tribe had been the stirers up of the people of the Kingdom to these unnatural and bloody wars, yet pretend, they are the Ministers of Christ, and all the members of their Church Christians, though they thus kill one another, their practice being like Ahab's Prophets, 1 King. 22. 22. And those unclean Spirits like Fr • ggs. as Revelation. 16. 13, being confident, that these wars will never be ended, nor a well grounded Peace settled, till they, as well as their Fathers be discovered, and the Kingdom of Antichrist, Root and Branch destroyed: As Mat. 15. 13. they being Plants nev • r planted by Christ's 〈…〉

Now I beseech all rational men to consider, whether Paul made the • proar, Act. 19 or Demetrius and his silver shrine-makers, and the rude multitude, Act. 20. 1. and 21. 38. and so for the Assembly. And inasmuch as Mr. Calamy, Mr. Cranford, Mr. Cawton, Mr. Cace, Dr. Burgess Mr. Love▪ &c. have often since the Parliament, before them, and others, much envied and Railed against Sectaries, Schismatics, Anabaptists, and never by the wordshewing who they are, much less confuting them, but in gross as their Fathers against the Calnenists, Lutherens, Zwinliant, Protestants, and Presbyterians, &c. Although they I believe practiced according to their light in those dark times; & we according to the institutions of Christ▪ and premitive practice, but they pass all over in gross, never opening the terms, much less confuting of it by the word, looking upon it as a great sin, that any should question what they deliver, though never so false, but take all they deliver as an oracle, by which their doings, they sow the very seed of division, hatred, persecution, & blood shed, as much as in them lies contrary to the Doctrine & practice of all the Ministers of the Gospel of Christ.

But how▪ God hath answered their plottings and underminings, with Judgments I would the State and all men would take notice of, as when you have gotten Ordinances Saul like, Acts 9. 1. for the punishing by imprisoning of people for Conscience, thereby entrenching upon the prerogative royal of King Jesus, then immediately God hath sent some eminent trouble to the State and Kingdom, as hath been noted by divers, &c.

And where as some old men and women in the Assembly, out of their ignorant zeal, would have had me gone home in private to Mr. Calamy to be satisfied, let them know that I am satisfied already, that they are all of them the Ministers of Antichrist, and seek as to uphold his Kingdom, so to keep the people still in ignorance, & as it was said of Israel, so it may be said of them, Isai. 9. 14 15, 16. Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel, head and tail, branch and rush in one day. The ancient and honorable, he is the head: and the prophet that teacheth li •• , he •• the tail, For the leaders of this people cause them to • rr • , and they that are led of them are destroyed. And therefore as the Apostle exhorts, Tim. 1. 5. 20. that those that sin are to be rebuked before all, that others also may fear.

Now if this be not a sin to cause men to swear with their hands lift up to the most high God, protesting and covenanting against all Popery, and Popish Innovasions, and without respect of persons to endeavor the extirpation of Popery and Prelacy, that is Church-Government, by Arch-Bishops, Bishops, their Chancellers and Commissaries, Deans and Chapters, Arch decons, & all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending upon that hirarchy, &c. now if not to perform this by such as have sworn, it be not perjury I know not what is, and Eceles. 5. 4 5. Solomon saith, when thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in foo • es, pay that which thou hast vowed: Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, then that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Now whether Mr. Calamy, with the rest of them that received their Ordination from the Bishops, who ha • [their] Ordination from Rome, & formerly prayed for them as their right, reverend, and reverend Fathers, wearing their Surplus, having Altars at their Comm • nds, and cringing to them, &c. be not depending on that hitarchy▪ I leave to every understanding experienced protestor and Covenanter to judge, seeing it is said, Iobe 14. 4 who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean, not one, and Dr. Burgess before the Committee confessed that the Bishops were as truly Antichristian, as God's word was God's word. Although 400l. per Annum of the same meaner, and the Dean of Paul's his house in his account be not, but could swallow greater things then these.

I shall now declare what I would have then said, had they given me liberty, which he so much spoke of from Exod 17. 5. 11. And 1. we are to consider what Moses that Messenger of the Lord, that ruler and deliverer of the Israelites, that tipe of Christ was, to wit, a poor mechanic Sheapheard, yet learned in all the wisdom of the Egiptions, and refusing to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season, &c. Paul-like Phil. 3. 7. 8. counting those things that were gain to him loss for Christ.

2. He being a Sheapheard, endeavored to get his own bread, laboring with his own hands, and not only with the brain▪ as some now pretends, getting into rich men and women's houses, that so their feet being under their Tables, thereby to uphold themselves in their Idleness, contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and practice, Acts 20. 34. Thes. 2. 3. 6. 7. 8. 3. This Rod of Moses tipisied, or held forth that B • nner or Ensign of God's love, Jesus the Anointed, as Isa. 32. 1. Behold a King shall reign in righteousness, with Acts 2. 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ, and not only King, but Priest and Prophet, and where Christ is not thus received in his offices but divided, he becomes no Christ to the devider. Now examine and see which of the ministers of these times can say with Paul, Acts 20. 26. 27. I take you to record this day that I am clear from the [blood] of all men; for I have not shuned to declare unto you all the council of God.

4 This Ensign as it was to be lifted up as was noted, to signify God's power, promises and experiences, so I shall add that Christ is to be lifted up as an Ensign to the Gentles▪ in the administrations of the Gospel, as Isa 5. 26. & 11. 10. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an Ensign of the people, to it shall the Gentiles seek, and his rest shall be glorious compare with Isa. 49 6. & Matt. 12. 21. Acts 13 47. 48. and Rom. 10. 15. This is clearly laid forth unto us, Mark. 16. 15 16. the partition wall being broken down that stood between Jews and Gentles. Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature, he that believeth and is dipt shall be • saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned, compare with Mat. 28. 19. 20. & Luk. 24. 47.

W • i • h Commission of Christ, is unviolably to be kept by believers, under the penalty of a curse without alteration unto the end of the world, as Heb. 10. 28. 29, He that despised Moses Law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God &c.

5. This Ensign Christ is to be lifted up in his natures as he was God, and as he was man: Also in his Offices as he was the Priest, Prophet, and King of his Church; the Priest by whose • offeting he hath perfected forever all th • m that are sanct • fied. Heb. 1 • . 14. compare wi • h verse 10. the prophet whose voice only we ar • to hear, Deut. 18. 15. Acts 3. 22. 23. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your, brethren like unto me; him shall you hear in all things whansoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to p • sse that • very soul that will not hear that Pro • het shall be destroyed from among the people. 3. The only King and Law-giver to his Church▪ as, Isae 33. 22. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our Law giver, the Lord is our King, he will save us, compared with Psa. 89. 27. 1 Tim. 6. 15. Rev. 17. 14. & 19. 16. John 12 32. 33. And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me.

6. Christ is to be lifted up in the administracion of the Gospel, according to the beginnings of the foundation of the doctrines of Christ, in the constitutions and maintenance thereof; the Churches of Christ being to be so gathered after the apostasy, as planted in the primitive times, to wit, by repentance from dead works, faith towards God, the doctrine of dippings, & imposition of hands, as H • b. 6. 1. 2. it being according to the great Charter of the Gospel of Christ and primitive practice, as Acts 2. 38. to 43. & 8. 12. 36. 37, 38. & 10. 46. 48. which practice would soon discover the falsnes or Na • ionall holiness, fetherall holiness, Church privilege to natural infants, Parish Priests and Assemblies, taking Tithes and Alters, &c. From whence you may observe the danger of all such as shall add to the word of God, or diminisheth there from, as Mat. 5 19. comp. with R • . 22. 18. 19 7. Christ being thus lifted up it will discover those that pretend themselves ministers of Christ, and are not; Re. 2. 2. Nor yet content with his wages, that he hath left them, and in his own way, and not to trouble the Civil Magistrates nor the people, by the violent taking away there goods from them, and troubling them with unjust suites, contrary to the rule & their Protestation & Covenant, whereby if you will not be perjured, you can neither take tithes nor they pay them. &c Consider L • vi • . sons those sons of Belial Sam. 1. 2. 13. That came with their fl • sh▪hook with three teeth which they struck into the pan or kettle, & all that which the hook took up, the Priest took for himsel • by force; but ver. the 36 their condition is declared when they shall come and crouch for a piece of silver & a morsel of bread, saying put me I pray t • e • into the Priests Office that I may eat a piece of bread. 8. This discovers the folly of those as having drunk of the wine of Babels golden cup, whereby they still seek to uphold their popish traditions, though to the overthrowing of the glorious institutions of Christ and the drawing down the wrath of God upon the nations, yet pretend themselves ministers of Christ, yet seeking by violence and compulsion to set up the Gospel, a thing contrary to the very nature thereof, and Christ and his disciples practice. But let them know they are not the men that God will give his people deliverance by, neither is that the way which they take, they having received as their power and authority so their practice from the beast, Re. 13. 16. & therefore must be rooted up, as Mat. 15. 13. & Ier. 51. 25. 26. Behold I am against the O destroying mountain, &c. 9. Let this inform the people of God not to stay in Babel in that state, it being not their resting place as Mich. 2. 10. 11. Arise ye and depart, for this ie not your rect, because it is polluted, &c, Mar. 8. 37. 38. & 2 Cor. 6, 14. to 18. where the Apostle showing the disagreement betwixt light and darkness, believers with unbelievers, righteousness with unrighteousness, he that believeth with an Infidel, the Temple of God with Idols believers being the Temple of God in whom he will dwell and walk, being their God and they being his people; Wherefore he saith, Come out from among them saith the Lord and be ye separate &c. And in this reformation to have a word for their warrant, and not to make reformed Churches their pattern, as Germany Scotland &c. But rather the Primitive Institutions, as Ezra and Nehemiah did in their Reformation, and as the Apostle exorts, Col. 2. 8, Beware lest any man spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit, &c. for as Christ saith, Mar. 8. 36. 37. For what shall it profit a man if h • shall gain the whole world and loose his own soul, &c. & John 1. 3. 2. the Apostle saith, Beloved now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 2 Tim. 2. 11. 12. It is a faithful saying, for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him, if we suffer, we shall also rain with him if we deny him, • e also will deny us. 1 Cor. 2. 9. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. Rev. 7. 14. 17. These are they which come out of great tribulation, and have washed their Rebes, and made them white with the blood of the Lamb • : therefore they are before the Thrown of God, and serve him day and night in his Temple, and he that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them, they shall hunger no more, nor thirst anymore, neither shall the Sun light upon them, nor any heat for the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living Fountains of waters, & God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Reasons 1. We may take notice that God will be found in his own way, and by his own means his ways & thoughts being h • gher then men's, Isa 55. 8. 9. compared with Luke 16 31. where Abraham tells Dives that •• his brethren would not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead. 2. It matters not how weak the • nst • ument is, that God works by the work being his, as Judges 7. 16. 17. 18. Also Amos a head man, Joshua Moses his servant, Nehemiah a Courtier the Kings Butler, David a Sheapheard, Peter Andrew James and John Fishermen. Paul 2 Tentmaker, Acts 18. 3. yea Christ himself a Carpenter, Mark 6. 3▪ 3 This should teach all the Servants of Christ not to undervalew the gift of God in any, nor • ye up the Tongues of those whose mouth • s the Lord shall open by his spirit, but to give liberty and freedom to them, as Acts 2. 4. where they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake as the spirit gave them utterance, and Acts 15. 7. 13. compared with 1 Cor. 14. 29. to 33. 1 Pet. 4. 10. when Christ assended upon high, he led Captivity Captive, and gave gifts unto men for the gathering ed • fying and perfecting of the Saints, (not Arts and Sciences) le •• ned at the Universities. 5. God is now about his great marvelous work, and a wond •• in overthrowing the State of Antichrist, root and branch, Isa. 2 • . 9. to 15. saying, stay yourselves and wonder, cryye out, and cry they are drunck, but not with wine, they stagger, but not with strong drink, for the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes, the Prophets, and Rulers, the Seers hath he covered, and the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, read this I pray thee, and he saith, I cannot for i • is s •• led, and the book is delivered to one that is no • learned, saying, read this I pray thee, and he saith, I am not learn • d, wherefore the Lord s • id; forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, & with their l • ps do h • nor me, but have removed their hearts far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts of men, therefore behold I will proceed to do a marvelous work amongst this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent men shall be hid, woe unto them that seek deep to hide their Council from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say who seeth us and who knoweth us, surely your turning things upside down shall be esteemed as the Potters clay, Cor. 1. 1. 18. But it may be said, of these at this time as it is said, Ezek. 33. 31. 32. 33. they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words but they will not do them, for with their mouths they show much love, but the • r heart goeth aft •• their covetousness, And loe, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of on • that hath▪ pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument, for they hear thy words, but they will not do them: but when this cometh to pass, loe it will come, then shall they know that a Prophet hath been amongst • hem

Thus what I would have then spoken, I have written and committed to public view and sensure of all being thereunto constrained, necessity being laid upon me, desiring the Reader to receive • t as favorably as it was truly intended for the glory of God, and the exaltation of the Gospel of King Jesus.