Page:1644 Anabaptist Confession of Faith.djvu/3



TO The lifting up of the Name of the in sinceritie, the poor Churches of God in London send greeting, with prayers for their farther increase in the knowledge of.

EE question not but that it will seeme strange to many men, that such as wee are frequently termed to be, lying under that calumny and black brand of Hereticks, and sowers of division as wee do, should presume to appeare so publickly as now wee have done: But yet notwithstanding wee may well say, to give answer to such, what David said to his brother, when the Lords battell was a fighting, 1 Sam. 29.30. Is there not a cause? Surely, if ever people had cause to speake for the vindication of the truth of Christ in their hands, wee have, that being indeed the maine wheele at this time that sets us aworke; for had any thing by men been transacted against our persons onely, wee could quietly have sitten still, and committed our Cause to him who is a righteous Judge, who will in the great day judge the secrets of all mens hearts by Jesus Christ: But being it is not onely us, but the Truth professed by us, wee cannot, wee dare not but speake; it is no strange thing to any observing man, what sad charges are laid, not onely by the world, that know not God, but also by those that thinke themselves much wronged, if they be not looked upon as the chiefe Worthies of the Church of God, and Watchmen of the Citie: But it hath fared with us from them, as from the poore Spouse seeking her Beloved, Cant. 5. 6, 7. They finding us out of that common road-way themselves walke, have smote us and taken away our vaile, that so we may by them be recommended odious in the eyes of all that behold us, and in the hearts of all that think upon us, which they have done both in Pulpit and Print, charging us with holding Free-will, Falling away from grace, denying Originall sinne, disclaiming of Magistracy, denying to assist them either in persons