To all that desire the lifting up of the Name of the Lord Jesus in sinceritie, the poore despised Churches of God in London send greeting, with prayers for their farther increase in the knowledge of Christ Jesus

Wee question not but that it will seeme strange to many men, that such as wee are frequently termed to be, lying under that calumny and black brand of Heretickes, and sowers of division as wee doe, should presume to appeare so publickly as now wee have done: But yet notwithstanding wee may well say, to give answer to such, what David said to his brother, when the Lords battell was a fighting, 1 Sam. 29. 30. Is there not a cause? Surely, if ever people had cause to speake for the vindication of the truth of Christ in their hands, wee have, that being indeed the maine wheele at this time that sets us aworke; for had any thing by men been transacted against our persons onely, wee could quietly have sitten still, and committed our Cause to him who is a righteous Judge, who will in the great day judge the secrets of all mens hearts by Jesus Christ: But being it is not onely us, but the Truth professed by us, wee cannot, wee dare not but speake; it is no strange thing to any observing man, what sad changes are laid, not onely by the world, that know not God, but also by those that thinke themselves much wronged, if they be not looked upon as the chiefe Worthies of the Church of God, and Watchmen of the Citie: But it hath fared with us from them, as from the poore Spouse seeking her Beloved, Cant. 5. 6, 7. They finding us out of that common road-way themselves walke, have smote us and taken away our vaile, that so wee may by them be recommended odious in the eyes of all that behold us, and in the hearts of all that thinke upon us, which they have done both in Pulpit and Print, charging us with holding Free-will, Falling away from grace, denying Originall sinne, disclaiming of Magistracy, denying to assist them either in persons or purse in any of their lawfull Commands, doing acts unseemly in the dispensing the Ordinance of Baptisme, not to be named amongst Christians: All which Charges wee disclaime as notoriously untrue, though by reason of these calumnies cast upon us, many that feare God are discouraged and forestalled in harbouring a good thought, either of us or what wee professe; and many that know not God incouraged, if they can finde the place of our meeting, to get together in Clusters to stone us, as looking upon us as a people holding such things, as that wee are not worthy to live: Wee have therefore for the cleering of the truth wee professe, that it may be at libertie, though wee be in bonds, briefly published a Confession of our Faith, as desiring all that feare God, seriously to consider whether (if they compare what wee here say and confesse in the presence of the Lord Jesus and his Saints) men have not with their tongues in Pulpit, and pens in Print, both spoken and written things that are contrary to truth; but wee know our God in his owne time will cleere our Cause, and lift up his Sonne to make him the chiefe corner-stone, though he has been (or now should be) rejected of Master Builders. And because it may be conceived, that what is here published, may be but the Judgement of some one particular Congregation, more refined then the rest; Wee doe therefore here subscribe it, some of each body in the name, and by the appointment of seven Congregations, who though wee be distinct in respect of our particular bodies, for conveniency sake, being as many as can well meete together in one place, yet are all one in Communion, holding Jesus Christ to be our head and Lord; under whose government wee desire alone to walke, in following the Lambe wheresoever he goeth; and wee beleeve the Lord will daily cause truth more to appeare in the hearts of his Saints, and make them ashamed of their folly in the Land of their Nativitie, that so they may with one shoulder, more studie to lift up the Name of the Lord Jesus, and stand for his appointments and Lawes; which is the desires and prayers of the contemned Churches of Christ in London for all Saints.

Subscribed in the Names of seven Churches in London.

• William Kiffen. Thomas Patience.
• John Spilsbery. George Tipping. Samuel Richardson.
• Thomas Skippard. Thomas Munday.
• Thomas Gunne. John Mabbatt.
• John Webb. Thomas Killcop.
• Paul Hobson. Thomas Goare.
• Joseph Phelpes. Edward Heath.