A Beam of Light, Title page – Errata
A BEAM OF LIGHT, SHINING In the midst of much Darkness and Confusion: Being (With the Benefit of Retrospection) An ESSAY toward the stating (and fixing upon its true and proper Basis) The Best Cause under Heaven: VIZ.
The Cause of God, of Christ, of his People, of the whole Creation, that groans and waits for the manifestation of the Sons of God.
By CHR. FEAKE, Preacher of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
The Light shineth in Darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not, Joh. 1.5.
Unto the upright, there ariseth Light in the Darkness, Psal. 112.4.
LONDON, Printed, by J. C. for Livewell Chapman, at the Crown in Popes-head Alley. 1659.
THE PREFACE, TO All the Children of Light, who are not yet so wise in their Generation, as are the Children of this World. Grace, Mercy, and Peace, &c.
AS the Light of the Day dispels the Darkness of the Night; so the day of Truth and Wisdom, returning upon the world, beings to chase away before its face, the Night of falshood and folly.
The Dragon, the Beast, the false Prophet, the Mother of Harlots, the Kings of the Earth, who commit Fornication with her, have had a long time to act their part upon the face of the earth: but their time, and their Domination are both Bounded, and must ere long expire.
The Lion of Judah's Tribe, the Lamb of God, (that takes away the sins of the world) the True Prophet, sent from God; the Bride, the Lambs wife; The Kings and the Priests which are to reign upon the Earth, will take their opportunity to supplant the supplanters, and put them all out of possession: behold, it will shortly come to pass. Amen. Halleluiah.
For the Lord is returning to visit and Redeem his people. Luk. 1.68, 69.He is raising up an Horn of salvation for us, in the house of his servant David, &c. Now though these good words and these comfortable words were primarily intended for the Jewes, that waited for the Messiah; yet we Gentiles may plead for a portion also: Rom. 3.29.for, is the Lord the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? yes, of the Gentiles also. 15.12.As it is written, There shall be a Root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in him shall the Gentiles trust. And again, he saith, Rejoyce ye Gentiles with his people.
We, who dwell afar off from Judea, in these Islands of the Sea, have seen, in our Daies, very strange and extraordinary Mutations and shakings, as if the old Heaven and Earth were giving place to the new Heavens, 2 Pet. 3.13.and to the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. But suddenly, a sentence of Death seems to be passed upon all our hopes, by a violent Hurry back again towards our House of Bondage. In which Hericane, many professors, both Ministers and people, have made shipwrak of Faith and of a good Conscience. The true Disciples have obtained a check upon the winds and the seas, and there begins to be a great calm. In this happy interval, some of us desire, before the next storm ariseth, to be searching out those rich commodities, which in the late tempest were almost heav'd over-board, and to be securing them in a place of safety.
That which maketh manifest, is Light: And therefore, in our search after the Glorious Cause pleaded in these Nations, it was judged necessary to bring Matters of Fact into publick view, in order to a distinct understanding of that particular Interest which God himself hath owned and pleaded over and over, upon his British Stage.
It's hoped, that what is written, may be somewhat usefull in such an hour as this is. Some, it may be, will take offence; but blessed is he that is not offended at the Prince of Princes, nor with his Cause. The Army cannot recal their words.The Word is passed out of the Armies Mouth, it cannot be recalled.
There are a People, resolved to improve their Declarations, which they themselves, for ought appears, have no heart to improve or promote for the present; the language of their late papers, being as a Barbarian to their Papers nine or ten years since.
Some other passages, it may be, will be look'd upon, as not so sober and so serious, as they ought to have been: but to deal ingenuously, we must needs say, that the Ridiculousness of the spirit of High Presbytery, The Spirit of High Presbytery very ridiculous.was such, at some certain times and seasons, as that we could not, but laugh it to scorn, even as before the Lord: for, was it a Time, when the promised Liberty of the Sons of God was coming forth in power and great glory, for our equals to design a Superintendency over us, more strict and rigid, then that of the late Episcopacy? No, no, we could lawfully laugh at that folly: they expected to have been the Domineering Prelates Heirs and Successors, and so to have reigned in their stead, as Lords over Gods Heritage: but stay, Sirs, 1 Pet. 6.3.that must not be: Lordly Prelacy was not thrown out of the saddle, that High Presbytery might be mounted like a Knight with his gilt spurs. The Honest Sectaries could not dream of becoming so tame a Beast, as to be ridden and spur'd by their fellow-sufferers: we could tell them, (with good reason too) No more Sectaries then themselves. But, as for those Brethren of the Classical-way, who are of a modest, sober spirit, and who live in true Self-denial and tenderness of Conscience, (being altogether unquainted with the workings of a pert, imposing Disposition) We are one with them in the Centre and Root of Brotherly Love. And, if Misunderstandings could be removed, are ready to live and die with them for the Lords sake, and his Cause sake, &c.
The reason of mentioning the Meeting of some Sectaries at Alhallows and Blackfryers, in the time of the Armies Declination; is, because there was, in those Assemblies, kept up and maintained a publick Testimony to that very Cause which they had declared for, and afterward turned their back upon: and we are perswaded, it was of great use to the faithful Remnant, who had escaped the corruptions which were in the world through lust, and did love the Lord Jesus Christ and his Cause, in sincerity.
One principal Reason of penning the ensuing Treatise, was the great silence in that noble and notable cause contended for; little or no mention being made, in any of those many Papers which have passed through City and Countrey of late daies, concerning it; and therefore it was agreed among us, that something for the Name and Interest of the Approaching King of Saints, should be published to the world.
It's more then probable, Gal. 4.13, 14.that as Paul preached the Gospel to the Galatians through the infirmity of the flesh, so we shall be found to plead this Cause, with much of Humane frailty intermingled: but as they did not despise his temptation which was in his Flesh, because of the excellency of the message which he brought; so it is to he hoped, that for the Cause sake, which is in it self so very glorious, the children of the Free-woman, will over look and wink at, those Imperfections and Impertinencies which may be found in the Instrument that serves the providence of God in this matter. However, all is submitted to the deliberate Judgement of him that is spiritual, who being of perfect age, hath by reason of use, his senses exercised to discern both good and evil. And the Lord do with us, and with this Essay, as seemeth good in his own eyes.
London, 20. 3. m. 1659. Signed in the Name, and on the behalf of a little Remnant of the Lords People, CHR. FEAKE.
THe Author and the Printer are very unwilling the Reader should be hindered by any faults or mistakes that usually and unavoydably do occur in all Books that pass the Press: Wherefore it is desired, the Amendments following may be observed and inserted, as is directed.
Page 8. line 30. for proceeding, read proceedings. pag. 19. l. 1. &c. read Model. p. 20. l. 16. for of Wales, read in Wales p. 31. l. 5. for mens, read men. p. 31. in the Margin, last line save one, for them, read that. The intelligent Reader will observe the Points, and every defective Parenthesis, as he meets with them.