to the Reader. xvii our Lord fhould have been forbidden by the lawful fo- vereigns of the kingdoms and common- wealths of the world to preach the gofpel, and baptize, they should in obedience to them have forborn ; which Mr. Hobbs plainly, without a blufh, infinuates, when he lays, page 311. Our Saviour gave his apofiles power to preach and baptize in all parts of the world, fuppofing that they were not forbidden by their own lawful fovereigns. Had they not their Commifiiion from their Matter in molt ample form, without any the leaft, either dire& or indire &, in- timation of fuch an exception or limitation ? Matth. 28. 19, 20. Go ye therefore (lays he to them) and teach aI nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Gho f , teaching them to obferve all clhiwgs whatfoever I command you ; That is, of whatfo- ever nature they be, whether they he clear by the laWr of nature, or be divine pofitives, whoever forbid or com- mand you to the contrary : And, Atark 16. v. 15. Go ye (faith he to them) into all the world, and preach the gof- pel to every creature; which accordingly they did, y. 20. .find they went forth and preached every where : Not only where they were not forbidden ; Did they not preach the Gofpel at 7erufalem, notwithftanding they were fe- verely, not without threatnings, forbidden by their own fovereigns the council ? and tell them plainly, That they ought to obey God rather than men, wherein they could not obey both : Alledging, that they could not but fpeak the things that they had heard and feen, without any fuch regard (as might impede them in their work) to the flrait threatnings and prohibition, to fpeak at all, or to preach in the Name of yejus : And, left any fhould fay, or think, that this was more than they had warrant for, we are told, after the inhibition to preach, and after their imprifonment for contraveening, from which they were miraculoufly let free ; that the angel of the Lord, who had opened their prifon- doors, charged them thus, Go, and (land, and fpeak in the temple to the people (whatfoever the rulers think of it, and notwithftaiíd- ing they have inhibited and imprifoned you) all the words of this life ; of all which the divine hiftorian gives an account in the 4. and 5. 'chapters of the "ills of the d 4a?le, i
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