our ability, in our places, to join our hearts and hands with the rest of our • Proteftant brethren, for the preservation ' of the Proteftant religion, and the liberties of the nation.'

THIS affembly did publish a confeffion of faith, which was the fame, without any alteration, with that published in the year 1677, which I mentioned, but omitted there, defigning to exhibit it in this place. They did prefix thereto, under their hands, the following certificate, viz.

WE the minifters and meffengers of, ⚫ and concerned for upwards of 100 congregations in England and Wales, denying Arminianifm, being met together in London, from the third day of the 7th month, to the 11th of the fame, 1689, to confider of fome things that might be for the glory of God, and the good of these congregations, have thought meet, for the fatisfaction of all other Chriftians, that differ from us in the point of baptifm, to recommend to their perufal the confeffion of our faith, which confeffion we own, as containing the doctrine of our faith and practice; and do defire that ⚫ the members of our churches, refpectiveFly, do furnish themselves therewith.

This was figned by 37 perfons, and it is added, in the name and behalf of the whole affembly. I have placed it in the Appendix, No U.

ANOTHER

ANOTHER general assembly of the elders Anno and meffengers of the baptized churches 1691. from divers parts of England and Wales, was held in London from the second of June, to the eighth of the fame, 1691, in which I find the fame methods used for the happy fettlement, firm peace, and well-being of all those churches for which they were immediately concerned; and therefore fhall not mention any of the particulars in this affembly tranfacted.

In this year was published by fome baptized congregations in the Weft, in the county of Somerset, or near adjacent, who did ftedfaftly deny the doctrine of Antinominianifm, and perfonal reprobation, a foort confeffion, or a brief narrative of faith. The fame contained 27 articles; the which I have placed in the Appendix, Vol. IV. No 1. In their Introduction they fay, 'It is not for any ambition of our attain'ments above others, neither for want of an understanding that there have been fufficient faid to these things already, by 'fuch pens as we prefer and honour; as being far more able to fet forth the great truths of the gofpel than ourselves. 'Neither do we hereby pretend to be bringing forth of new things; but to 'bear our teftimony to the faith once delivered to the faints, in which we trust, through grace, we are established; but

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our

⚫ our reasons why we thus publickly ap

་

pear are,

1. WE are, on these articles of faith, ' united together as one people, to worship and serve the Lord, with one mind ⚫ and confent (until we fee just cause to relinquifh) holily and refolvedly, in the ftrength of the Lord, to perfevere therein

unto the end.

2. BECAUSE we are looked upon as ' a people degenerated from almost all other baptized congregations, at least in our parts of the nation; fo that they are not only unfree, but are even afraid to to have affinity with us in the work, worship, and service of the Lord; which ' did incline us to appear in publick after this manner, to give a fhort account of our faith, in the great things of the gofpel; fo that, if poffible, we may ⚫ have more acquaintance, acceptance, and fellowship with these churches of Jesus Christ, that we believe are one with us, in the most material things of the gospel, 'both relating to matters of faith and practice; who, it may be, do carry themselves ftrange for want of a right understanding of our faith. But if, when all is done, it do not answer the end for which it is intended; but we muft, notwithstanding, be looked upon as a bye people, and be rejected, or laid afide, we truft we fhall keep close to

• the

the Lord in the things that we at pre• fent understand, until we are by fome divine authority convinced of fome religious mistakes therein, &c. and now we shall proceed to explain ourselves by ⚫ those brief articles of faith following.

WE have in this fhort narrative ta<ken care to place the fcriptures, such as are most plain and pertinent to every <article, not in words at length, but only <refer to the chapter and verfe for brevity ‹ fake.'

Grantham

IT was about this time that the malice Thomas of the implacable enemies of the Baptifts flandered.. vented their abominable flanders againft Mr. Thomas Grantham, a faithful minister of the gofpel, a gentleman fo endowed with all moral and christian virtues, that many of his acquaintance were perfuaded that he was equalled by few, and exceeded by none that lived in his day; and yet this pious and useful man could not efcape the perfecution of the tongue. Some faid he was a drunkard; others, a whoremonger; fome, that he was a Jefuit; others, that he was a thief, and stole sheep and hurdles; and not only of the common people, but men of reputation too; one was a gentleman, called Mr. Toathby, that had been a perfecuting magiftrate, though out of commiffion, when he vented this flander against Mr. Grantham at Norwich.

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wich. Another was one Mr. John Willet, rector of Tattershal in the county of Lincoln, who declared in writing under his hand, that he faw Mr. Grantham stand in the pillory two hours at Louth in Lincolnshire, for caufing his man fervant to fetch up seven sheep of one of his neighbours, and to brand them, with his own brand, &c.

On the 6th of October, 1691, this vile priest, before Thomas Blofield, Efq; mayor of Norwich, did with great humility confefs his wickednefs; and that all was falfe which he had faid, and subscribed against Mr. Grantham; and he did over and over, with crying and bended knees, and wringing of his hands, defire forgiveness of him; which he, like a good chriftian, readily granted, though the worshipful mayor declared, that it was the fouleft thing that ever he heard; and faid, it was next to the taking Mr. Grantham's life, and rebuked the flanderer for his wickedness, which was fuch as deferved fevere whipping; and further faid, if Mr. Grantham forgave him, it was a very great kindness; and commanded his clerk to make a record of his confeffion; and ordered that the Aandering prieft should fign and feal it; which was done accordingly, and is as followeth, viz.

Norwich,