is bringing about in our Day, though many do not, and many will not fee it, because it is indeed in a Way different and contrary to Man's Wifdom, who are now defpifing Chrift in his inward Appearance, because of the Meannefs of it; as the Jews of Oid did him in his outward: Yet notwithstanding there were fome then that did Witnefs, and could not be filent, but muft teftify that he was come. Even so now are there Thousands, that can set to their Seal, that he hath now again the fecond Time appeared, and is appearing in ten Thousands of his Saints; in and among whom, as a Firft-fruits of many more that fhall be gathered, he is reftoring the Golden Age, and bringing them into the holy Chrift's re Order and Government of his own Son, who is ftoring the ruling, and to rule in the Midft of them, fetting Age. forth the Counsellors as at the Beginning, and Judges as at firft; and establishing Truth, Mercy, Righteoufnels, and Judgment again in the Earth: Amen, Hallelujah!

Golden

Cafe of

Thirdly, Thefe Meetings take Care in the Cafe 3. To take of Marriages, that all Things be clear; and that Care in the there may nothing be done in that Procedure, which Marriages. afterwards may prove to the Prejudice of Truth, or of the Parties concerned; which being an outward Thing, that is acknowledged in itself to be lawful, of the greatest Importance a Man, or a Woman, can perform in this World; and from the fudden, unwary, or diforderly Procedure whereof, very great Snares and Reproaches may be caft both upon the Parties, and the Profeffion owned by them; therefore it doth very fitly, among other Things, when it occurs, come to be confidered of by the People of God, when met, to take Care to preferve all Things right and favoury in the Houfhold of Faith. We do believe our Adverfaries, that watch for Evil against us, would be glad, how promifcuodfly or diforderly we proceed in this weighty Matter; that fo they might the more boldly accufe us, as OverG 2

turners

1. Our

Testimony

turners of all human and Christian Order: But God has not left us without his Counfel and Wisdom in this Thing; nor will he, that any fhould receive just Occafion against us his People: And therefore in this weighty Concern, we, who can do nothing against the Truth, but all for, and with a Regard to the Truth, have divers Teftimonies for the Lord. And

Firft, That we cannot marry with those that walk against not in, and obey not the Truth, as being of another Marrying Judgment, or Fellowship; or pretending to it, walk Unbeliev. not fuitable and anfwerable thereto.

with the

2. By the

Prieft.

3. In for.

grees,

Secondly, Nor can we go to the hireling Priefts, to uphold their falfe and ufurped Authority, who take upon them to Marry People without any Command, or Precedent for it from the Law of God.

Laftly, Nor can we fuffer any fuch Kind of Marbidden De- riages to pass among us, which either as to the Degrees of Confanguinity, or otherwife, in itfelf is unlawful, or from which there may be any juft Reflection caft upon our Way.

Teft. 1.

As to the first two, they being Matters of PrinciAgainftUn ples received and believed, it is not my Work here believers. to debate them; only fince they are received and

owned as fuch, for which we can, and have given
our fufficient Reafons elsewhere, as for our other
Principles, we ought to care, how any, by walking
otherwife, bring Reproach upon us. Yet not to pafs
them wholly by, as to the firft; befides the Testimony
of the Spirit of God in our Hearts, which is the
original Ground of our Faith in all Things, we
have the Teftimony of the Apostle Paul, 2 Cor.
vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together, &c. Now
if
any fhould think, it were much from this Scrip-
ture to plead it abfolutely unlawful in any Cafe to
join in Marriage with any, however otherwise
fober, because of their not being one with us in alļ
Things; I fhall speak my Judgment. To me it

appears

appears fo, and to many more who have obtained Mercy; and we think we have the Spirit of God. But whether it be lawful or not, I can fay positively, it is not expedient, neither doth it edify; and, as that which is of dangerous Confequence, doth give justly Offence to the Church of Chrift: And therefore no true tender Heart, will prefer his private Love to the Good and Interest of the whole Body.

*

tions.

As to the fecond, in that we deny the Priefts their Teft. 2. Against the affumed Authority and Power to Marry, it is that Prieft's which in no wife we can refile from, nor can we ufurpa own any in the doing of it; it being a Part of our Teftimony against the Ufurpations of that Generation, who never yet, that I ever heard of, could produce any Scripture-Proof, or Example for it. And feeing, none can pretend Confcience in the Matter, for they themfelves confefs, that it is no Part of the Effence of Marriage; if any pretending to be among us, fhould through Fear, Intereft, or Prejudice to the Truth, come under and bow to that Image, have we not Reafon to deny fuch flavish and ignoble Spirits, as mind not Truth and its Teftimony?

forbidden

nity, and

&c.

Laftly, Seeing, if any walking with us, or go- Test. 3. ing under the fame Name, fhould haftily or difor- Againft derly go together, either being within the Degrees Degrees of of Confanguinity, which the Law of God forbids, Confangui or that either Party fhould have been formerly un- Pre-ender any Tye or Obligation to others, or any other gagements, vaft Difproportion, which might bring a juft Reflection upon us from our Oppofers; can any blame us for taking Care to prevent thefe Evils, by appointing that fuch as fo defign, make known their Intentions to these Churches, or Affemblies, where they are moft known, that if any know juft Caufe of Hindrance, it may be mentioned, and a timely Check put to the Hurt, either by ftopping it, if they can be brought

Viz recede, or go back from.

What kind

cannot

bear the

of Truth,

brought to condefcend; or, by refufing to be Witneffes and Concurrers with them in it, if they will not? For we take not upon us to hinder any to Marry, otherwife than by Advice, or not concerning ourselves; neither do we judge, that fuch as do Marry contrary to our Mind, that therefore their Marriage is null and void in itself, or may be diffolved afterwards: Nay; all we do is in a holy Care for the Truth. For if the Thing be right, all that we do is to be Witneffes; and if otherwise, that we may fay for our Vindication to fuch as may upbraid us therewith, that we advised otherwife, and did no ways concur in the Matter: That fo they may bear their own Burden, and the Truth and People of God be cleared.

Now I am confident, that our Way herein is fo of Perfons anfwerable to Reafon and Christianity, that none will blame us therefore; except either fuch, whose goodOrder irregular and impatient Lufts cannot fuffer a ferious and Chriftian Examination, and an advised and moderate Procedure; or fuch, who watching for Evil against us, are forry, we fhould proceed fo orderly, and would rather we fhould fuffer all manner of Irregularities and Abominations, that they might have the more to fay against us. But the folid and real Reasons we have for our Way herein, will fufficiently plead for us in the Hearts of all fober Men; and moreover, the Teftimony of God's Spirit in our Hearts, doth abundantly confirm us both against the Folly of the one, and the Envy of the

4. Our

other.

Fourthly, There being nothing more needful than Care for to preferve Men and Women in Righteousness, after reftoring they are brought into it; and also nothing more ceror feparating Offend. tain, than that the great Enemy of Man's Soul feeks

ers.

daily, how he may draw back again, and catch thofe, who have in fome measure efcaped his Snares, and known Deliverance from them; therefore do we alfo meet together, that we may receive an Oppor

tunity

tunity to understand, if any have fallen under his Temptations, that we may reftore them again, if poffible; or otherwise separate them from us. Surely, if we did not fo, we might be juftly blamed as fuch, among whom it were lawful to commit any Evil unreproved; indeed, this were to be guilty of that Libertinifm, which fome have falfly accufed us of, and which hath been our Care all along, as became the People of God, to avoid; therefore we have fought always to keep the House clean, by faithfully reproving and removing, according to the Nature of the Offence, and the Scandal following thereupon; private Things privately, and publick Things publickly. We defire not to propagate Hurt, and defile People's Minds with telling them fuch Things as tend not to edify; yet do we not fo cover over or smooth over any Wickednefs, as not to deal roundly with the Perfons guilty, and caufing them to take away the Scandal in their Acknowledgment before all, to whofe Knowledge it hath come: Yet judge we not ourselves obliged to tell that in Gath, or publish that in the Streets of Afkelon, which makes the Daughters of the Uncircumcifed rejoice; or ftrengthen Atheists and Ranters in their Obduratenefs, who feed more upon the Failings of the Saints, than imitate their true Repentance. And therefore where we find an unfeigning Returning to the Lord, we defire not to remember that, which the Lord hath forgotten; nor yet to throw Offences in the Way of the Weak, that they may ftumble upon them.

And therefore I conclude, that our Care as to thefe Things alfo, is most needful, and a Part of that Order and Government, which the Church of Chrift never was, nor can be without; as doth abundantly appear by divers Scriptures heretofore mentioned.

SECTION