Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners [63]
in the first epistle of Peter, chap. iv. 10, 11, and Acts xviii., with other Scriptures, which he would not suffer me to mention. But said, Hold; not so many, which is the first?
BUN. I said this: AS EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT, EVEN SO LET HIM MINISTER THE SAME UNTO ANOTHER, AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD. IF ANY MAN SPEAK, LET HIM SPEAK AS THE ORACLES OF GOD, ETC.
KEEL. He said, Let me a little open that Scripture to you: AS EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT; that is, said he, as every one hath received a trade, so let him follow it. If any man have received a gift of tinkering, as thou hast done, let him follow his tinkering. And so other men their trades. And the divine his calling, etc.
BUN. Nay, sir, said I, but it is most clear, that the apostle speaks here of preaching the Word; if you do but compare both the verses together, the next verse explains this gift what it is, saying, IF ANY MAN SPEAK, LET HIM SPEAK AS THE ORACLES OF GOD. So that it is plain, that the Holy Ghost doth not so much in this place exhort to civil callings, as to the exercising of those gifts that we have received from God. I would have gone on, but he would not give me leave.
KEEL. He said, We might do it in our families, but not otherways.
BUN. I said, If it was lawful to do good to some, it was lawful to do good to more. If it was a good duty to exhort our families, it was good to exhort others; but if they held it a sin to meet together to seek the face of God, and exhort one another to follow Christ, I should sin still; for so we should do.
KEEL. He said he was not so well versed in Scripture as to dispute, or words to that purpose. And said, moreover, that they could not wait upon me any longer; but said to me, Then you confess the indictment, do you not? Now, and not till now, I saw I was indicted.
BUN. I said, This I confess, we have had many meetings together, both to pray to God, and to exhort one another, and that we had the sweet comforting presence of the Lord among us for our encouragement; blessed be His name therefore. I confessed myself guilty no otherwise.
KEEL. Then, said he, bear your judgment. You must be had back again to prison, and there lie for three months following; and at three months' end, if you do not submit to go to church to hear Divine service, and leave your preaching, you must be banished the realm: and if, after such a day as shall be appointed you to be gone, you shall be found in this realm, etc., or be found to come over again without special licence from the king, etc., you must stretch by the neck for it, I tell you plainly: and so he bid my jailor have me away.
BUN. I told him, as to this matter, I was at a point with him; for if I were out of prison to-day, I would preach the Gospel again to- morrow, by the help of God.
ANOTHER. To which one made me some answer: but my jailor pulling me away to be gone, I could not tell what he said.
Thus I departed from them; and I can truly say, I bless the Lord JESUS CHRIST for it, that my heart was sweetly refreshed in the time of my examination, and also afterwards, at my returning to the prison. So that I found Christ's words more than bare trifles, where He saith, I WILL GIVE YOU A MOUTH AND WISDOM, WHICH ALL YOUR ADVERSARIES SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO GAINSAY, NOR RESIST. Luke xxi. 15. And that His peace no man can take from us.
Thus have I given you the substance of my examination. The Lord make this profitable to all that shall read or hear it. Farewell.
THE SUBSTANCE OF SOME DISCOURSE HAD BETWEEN THE CLERK OF THE PEACE AND MYSELF; WHEN HE CAME TO ADMONISH ME, ACCORDING TO THE TENOR OF THAT LAW, BY WHICH I WAS IN PRISON.
WHEN I had lain in prison other twelve weeks, and now not knowing what they intended to do with me, upon the third of April 1661, comes Mr Cobb unto me (as he told me), being sent by the justices to admonish me; and demand of me submittance to the church of England, etc. The extent of our discourse
BUN. I said this: AS EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT, EVEN SO LET HIM MINISTER THE SAME UNTO ANOTHER, AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD. IF ANY MAN SPEAK, LET HIM SPEAK AS THE ORACLES OF GOD, ETC.
KEEL. He said, Let me a little open that Scripture to you: AS EVERY MAN HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT; that is, said he, as every one hath received a trade, so let him follow it. If any man have received a gift of tinkering, as thou hast done, let him follow his tinkering. And so other men their trades. And the divine his calling, etc.
BUN. Nay, sir, said I, but it is most clear, that the apostle speaks here of preaching the Word; if you do but compare both the verses together, the next verse explains this gift what it is, saying, IF ANY MAN SPEAK, LET HIM SPEAK AS THE ORACLES OF GOD. So that it is plain, that the Holy Ghost doth not so much in this place exhort to civil callings, as to the exercising of those gifts that we have received from God. I would have gone on, but he would not give me leave.
KEEL. He said, We might do it in our families, but not otherways.
BUN. I said, If it was lawful to do good to some, it was lawful to do good to more. If it was a good duty to exhort our families, it was good to exhort others; but if they held it a sin to meet together to seek the face of God, and exhort one another to follow Christ, I should sin still; for so we should do.
KEEL. He said he was not so well versed in Scripture as to dispute, or words to that purpose. And said, moreover, that they could not wait upon me any longer; but said to me, Then you confess the indictment, do you not? Now, and not till now, I saw I was indicted.
BUN. I said, This I confess, we have had many meetings together, both to pray to God, and to exhort one another, and that we had the sweet comforting presence of the Lord among us for our encouragement; blessed be His name therefore. I confessed myself guilty no otherwise.
KEEL. Then, said he, bear your judgment. You must be had back again to prison, and there lie for three months following; and at three months' end, if you do not submit to go to church to hear Divine service, and leave your preaching, you must be banished the realm: and if, after such a day as shall be appointed you to be gone, you shall be found in this realm, etc., or be found to come over again without special licence from the king, etc., you must stretch by the neck for it, I tell you plainly: and so he bid my jailor have me away.
BUN. I told him, as to this matter, I was at a point with him; for if I were out of prison to-day, I would preach the Gospel again to- morrow, by the help of God.
ANOTHER. To which one made me some answer: but my jailor pulling me away to be gone, I could not tell what he said.
Thus I departed from them; and I can truly say, I bless the Lord JESUS CHRIST for it, that my heart was sweetly refreshed in the time of my examination, and also afterwards, at my returning to the prison. So that I found Christ's words more than bare trifles, where He saith, I WILL GIVE YOU A MOUTH AND WISDOM, WHICH ALL YOUR ADVERSARIES SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO GAINSAY, NOR RESIST. Luke xxi. 15. And that His peace no man can take from us.
Thus have I given you the substance of my examination. The Lord make this profitable to all that shall read or hear it. Farewell.
THE SUBSTANCE OF SOME DISCOURSE HAD BETWEEN THE CLERK OF THE PEACE AND MYSELF; WHEN HE CAME TO ADMONISH ME, ACCORDING TO THE TENOR OF THAT LAW, BY WHICH I WAS IN PRISON.
WHEN I had lain in prison other twelve weeks, and now not knowing what they intended to do with me, upon the third of April 1661, comes Mr Cobb unto me (as he told me), being sent by the justices to admonish me; and demand of me submittance to the church of England, etc. The extent of our discourse