tunity of one of the Magistrates, the next morning very early, I shewed them to him, having a promise I should have my motion for a dispute granted, under the Secretaries hand.

The Conclusions were as followeth.

The Testimony of Iohn Clarke a prisoner of Iesus Christ at Boston in the behalf of my Lord, and of his people, is as followeth.

1. I Testifie that Iesus of Nazareth whom God hath raised from the dead, is made both Lord and Christ; This Iesus I say is the Christ, in English, the Anointed One, hath a name above every name; He is the Anointed Priest, none to, or with him in point of attonement; The Anointed Prophet, none to him in point of instruction; The Anointed King, who is gone unto his Father for his glorious Kingdom, and shall ere long return again; and that this Iesus Christ is also The Lord, none to or with him by way of Commanding and ordering (with respect to the worship of God) the household of Faith, which being purchased with his Blood as Priest, instructed, and nourished by his spirit as Prophet, do wait in his appointment as he is the Lord, in hope of that glorious Kingdom which shall ere long appear.

2. I Testifie that Baptism, or dipping in Water, is one of the Commandements of this Lord Iesus Christ, and that a visible beleever, or Disciple of Christ Iesus (that is, one that manifesteth repentance towards God, and Faith in Iesus Christ) is the only person that is to be Baptized, or dipped with that visible Baptism, or dipping of Iesus Christ in Water, and also that visible person that is to walk in that visible order of his House, and so to wait for his coming the second time in the form of a Lord, and King with his glorious Kingdom according to promise, and for his sending down (in the time of his absence) the holy Ghost, or holy Spirit of Promise, and all this according the last Will and Testament of that living Lord, whose Will is not to be added to, or taken from.

3. I Testifie or Witness, that every such believer in Christ Iesus, that waiteth for his appearing, may in point of liberty, yea ought in point of duty to improve that

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Talent his Lord hath given unto him, and in the Congregation may either aske for information to himself; or if he can, may speak by way of Prophecie for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of the whole, and out of the Congregation at all times, upon all occasions, and in all places, as far as the jurisdiction of his Lord extends, may, yea ought to walk as a Child of light, justifying wisdom with his ways, and reproving folly with the unfruitfull works thereof, provided all this be shown out of a good conversation, as Iames speaks with meekness of wisdom.

4. I Testifie that no such believer, or Servant of Christ Jesus hath any liberty, much less Authority, from his Lord, to smite his fellow servant, nor yet with outward force, or arme of flesh, to constrain, or restrain his Conscience, no nor yet his outward man for Conscience sake, or worship of his God, where injury is not offered to the person, name or estate of others, every man being such as shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and must give an account of himself to God, and therefore ought to be fully perswaded in his own mind, for what he undertakes, because he that doubteth is damned if he eat, and so also if he act, because he doth not eat or act in Faith, and what is not of Faith is Sin.

These Conclusions being seen at least by one of the Magistrates, notwithstanding the Message to the prison, answer to my self in the Chamber, promise by him that came for the Conclusions, common report abroad that a disputation was granted, the Court broke up, and did nothing; and the next second day following, a Messenger was sent to the prison from the Magistrate, with a release to the keeper, which having received he speedily put me forth; The words of the release follow.

To the Keeper of the prison.

By Virtue hereof you are to release and set at liberty the Body of Mr. Iohn Clarke, and this shall be your discharge for so doing. Given under my hand the 11th. of. the 6th. Month, 1651.

WILLIAM HIBBINS.

To be brief, &c. Vnderstanding that some friends had laid down the Money, although contrary to my Counsell, when formerly at severall times, and by severall persons I was moved thereunto, and perceiving now that the Countries expectation (which was not a little raised) touching a disputation was utterly frustrate, and being sensible that it was an easy matter to lay the blame on me, being a person condemned, and also absent, I drew up the former motion, and added thereunto these words following.

Whereas through the indulgency of tender hearted friends, without my consent, and contrary to my judgment, the Sentence, and Condemnation of the Court at Boston (as is reported) have been fully satisfied on my behalf, and thereupon a Warrant hath been procured by which I am secluded the place of my imprisonment, by reason whereof I see no other call for present but to my habitation, and to those neer relations which God hath given me there, yet lest the cause should hereby suffer, which I profess is Christs, I would hereby signifie, that if yet it shall please the honoured Magistrates, or generall Court of this Colony, to grant my former request under their Secretaries hand, I shall cheerfully imbrace it, and upon your motion shall through the help of God come from the Iland to attend it, and hereunto I have subscribed my name,

11th. 6. 51.

John Clarke.

Both these the next morning I delivered to the keeper to deliver to the Magistrates, who were to meet at the Commencement at Cambridge, which being accordingly performed it was noised abroad the motion was granted, and the writing was in Mr. Cottons hand, who was thereby judged to be the man, and best of all approved of by my self for that same purpose, he being the inventor and supporter of that way, in these parts, wherein they walk, and thereupon I took the thing for granted, and to that purpose wrot to my friends who sent to visit me in prison, but upon the fift day, a little before their Lecture at Boston, I received a writing subscribed with five of the Magistrates hands, which when I had perused, and saw that they waved the motion, and instead thereof laid two or

three snares before me, I drew up an Answer to their Writing, being hopeless of a disputation, desired the Iaylor to deliver it to the Magistrates, took my leave of my friends, and so departed to go towards the Iland, having ten miles that night to travell. Here followeth their Writing, and my Answer also,

Mr. John Clarke,

We conceive you have mis-reported the Governours speech in saying you were challenged to dispute with some of our Elders, whereas it was plainly exprest, that if you would confer with any of them, they were able to satisfie you, neither were you able to maintain your practice to them by the word of God, all which was intended for your information, and conviction privately; neither were you enjoyned to what you then were Counselled unto; nevertheless, if you are forward to dispute, and that you will move it yourself to the Court, or the Magistrates about Boston, we shall take order to appoint one who will be ready to Answer your motion, you keeping close to the questions to be propounded by your self, and a moderator shal be appointed also to attend upon that service; & whereas you desire you might be free in your dispute, keeping close to the points to be disputed on, without incurring damage by the Civill Iustice, observing what hath been before written, it is granted; the day may be agreed if you yeeld the premisses.

11th. of the 6th. 1651.

Iohn Indicott, Governour.
Tho. Dudley, Deputy Govern.
Rich. Bellingham.

William Hibbins.

Encrease Nowel.

My Answer followeth, superscribed,

To the Honoured Governour of the Mathatusets, and the rest of that Honorable Society, these present.

Worthy Senators,

I Received a writing subscribed with 5 of your hands by way of answer to a twice-repeated motion of mine before you, which was grounded as I conceive sufficiently upon the Governours words in open Court; which writing

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of yours doth no way answer my expectation, nor yet that motion which I made, and whereas (waving that grounded. motion) you are "pleased to intimate, That if I were for"ward to dispute, and would move it myself to the Court, "or Magistrates about Boston, you would appoint one to "answer my motion, &c. Be pleased to understand, That although I am not backward to maintain the Faith, and Order of my Lord the King of Saints, for which I have been Sentenced, yet am I not, in such a way so forward to dispute, or move therein, least inconvenience should thereby arise, I shall rather once more repeat my former motion, which if it shall please the Honoured General Court to accept, and under their Secretaries hand shall grant a free dispute without molestation or interruption, I shall be so well satisfied therewith, that what is past I shall forget, and upon your motion shall attend it; Thus desiring the Father of Mercies not to lay that evill to your charge, From Prison this 14. 6. 51.

I remain your

Well-wisher,
Iohn Clarke.

This Answer with the motion for a dispute upon these fair termes the third time repeated, (being a thing also generally desired, and longed for) was (as I said before) by me delivered to the Keeper, and by him presented to the Magistrates, and so to the General Court, yet was there no answer returned: what made the obstruction considering the equity of the Case, the former consent and grant of the Magistrates, and the peoples earnest desire thereof, I know not, neither will I too readily conclude (lest it should savor of prejudice) that it was either an apprehension it would be disgracefull, first to Iudge and Condemn the persons, and afterward to have the matter examined, or else a fear and jealousie lest upon the examination thereof by the word of God (which is a quick & powerful divider asunder of the Soul and Spirit, and of the joynts, & marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart) their standing (in reference to the worship of God) should appear false, and evill, and the way by wch. they maintayn the same with a forcing of others thereto, should appear far worse; surely, the stand