A Confession of My Faith and a Reason of My Practice, Title page – To the reader
A Confession of my Faith, And A Reason of my Practice: OR, With who, and who not, I can hold Church-fellowship, or the Communion of Saints. Shewing, By diverse Arguments, that though I dare not Communicate with the open Prophane, yet I can with those visible Saints that differ about WATER-BAPTISM. Wherein Is also discoursed whether that be the entring Ordinance into Fellowship, or no.
I believed and therefore have I spoken.
Psal. 116.10.
London, Printed for Francis Smith, at the Elephant and Castle without Temple-bar. 1672.
TO THE READER.
SIR,
I Marvail not that both your self, and others do think my long Imprisonment strange (or rather strangely of me for the sake of that) for verily I should also have done it my self, had not the Holy Ghost long since forbidden me. 1 Pet. 4, 12. 1 Joh. 3.13. Nay verily that notwithstanding, ad the adversary but fastened the supposition of guilt upon me; my long tryalls might by this time have put it beyond dispute: for I have not hitherto been so sordid, as to stand to a Doctrine right or wrong; much less when so weighty an argument, as above eleven years imprisonment, is continually dogging of me to weigh and pause, and pause again, the grounds and foundation of those principles, for which I thus have suffered: but having not only at my tryall asserted them, but also since, even all this tedious tract of time, in cool blood, a thousand times by the word of God examined them, and found them good; I cannot, I dare not now revolt or deny the same, on pain of eternal damnation.
And that my principles, and practice may be open to the view and judgment of all men (though they stand, and fall to none but the word of God alone) I have in this small treatise presented to this generation, A Confession of my Faith, and a Reason of my Practise in the Worship of God; by which although it be brief; Candid Christians, may I hope, without a violation to faith or love, judge, I may have the root of the matter found in me.
Neither have I in this relation abusively presented my Reader, with other doctrine or practices, then what I held, professed, and preached when apprehended, and cast in Prison. Nor did I then, or now retain a Doctrine besides, or which is not thereon grounded. The Subject I should have Preached upon, even then when the Constable came, was, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? from whence I intended to shew, the absolute need of Faith in Jesus Christ; and that it was also a thing of the highest concern, for men to inquire into, and to ask their own hearts whether they had it or no.
Faith, and Holiness, are my professed principles, with an endeavour, so far as in me lyeth, to be at peace with all men. What shall I say, let mine enemies themselves be judges, if any thing in these following doctrines, or if ought that any Man hath heard me preach, doth, or hath according to the true intent of my words, savoured either of heresie of rebellion. I say again, let they themselves be judges, if ought they find in my writing or preaching, doth render me worthy of almost twelve years imprisonment, or one that deserveth to be hanged, or banished for ever, according to their tremendous Sentence. Indeed my principles are such, as lead me to a denial to communicate in the the things of the Kingdom of Christ, with ungodly and open prophane; neither can I in, or by the superstitious inventions of this World, consent that my Soul should be governed, in any of my approaches to God, because commanded to the contrary, and commended for so refusing. Wherefore excepting this one thing, for which I ought not to be rebuked; I shall I trust in despite of slander and falsehood, discover my self at all times a peaceable, and an obedient Subject. But if nothing will do, unless I make of my conscience a continual butchery, and slaughter-shop, unless putting out my own eyes I commit me to the blind to lead me, (as I doubt is desired by some) I have determined the Almighty God being my help, and shield, yet to suffer, if frail life might continue so long, even till the moss shall grow on mine eye-browes rather then thus to violate my faith and principles. Will a man leave the Snow of Lebanon, that cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters, that come from another place be forsaken? Jer. 18.14. Hath a Nation changed their Gods which yet are no Gods? For all People will walk every one in the name of his God, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. Micah 4.5.
Touching my Practice as to Communion with visible Saints, although not Baptized with Water; I say, it is my present Judgement so to do, and am willing to render a farther reason thereof; shall I see the leading hand of God thereto.
Thine in Bonds for the Gospel. J. B.