J. WILSON. 545 A. See again the stubbornness of this arrogant fool! But I tell thee, thou may and shalt subscribe unto it. W. And I answer, that, by the help of God, I neither may, nor ever will, subscribe unto it. Such unmerciful and cruel dealings are too bad among professing christians. The Lord grant me patience, and I shall be satisfied. A. I always thought what a stir we- should have with him. But thou persuadest people to meetings and private conventicles. W. My lord, you now remind me of a duty which I have hitherto neglected; but by the grace of God I will remember it hereafter, and will exhort the people of God to meet together, and to edify and comfort one another with what they have learned. And this, by the help of God, .1 mean to do ; though I hear that for so doing, one of the Lord's servants is committed a close prisoner. A. Will you then defend his doings to be lawful ? W. Iwill defend the lawfulness of God's people meeting together, to confer upon the points of religion or the doctrines taught them out of the word of God, to sing psalms, and to pray together. I hear of no other things for which he was committed. And I am sure your grace will not deny these things to be lawful. A. But he gathered night-assemblies, contrary to law. Will you defend them also ? W. Certain religious householders requested him and others to meet at night in their houses. Shall we then say that he collected night-assemblies ? I do defend by the word of God, that to meet together for the abovepurposes, whether in the night or the day, is lawful. Yet I would have per- sons to satisfy the law of the realm, as much as they can with a good conscience. A. Ifwe follow him thus, we shall never come to an end. Will you subscribe the bond ? W. I have answered that already. I refuse not to do any thing that is lawful. If you can prove out ofthe word of God, that I may do it with a good conscience, I am ready to yield ; otherwise I cannot, and I will not, subscribe. I will be bound, however, to leave your province in a fortnight. S. You had then better go out of his grace's province to make your submission. W. That is more than I say, Mr. Swinborn : but I would rather go out of his province and twenty others;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=