Conclusion

These things (O ye Sons and Daughters of Men) we verily believe to be the Lords will and mind, and therefore cannot but speak, and if herein we differ from many, yea from multitudes, from the learned, the wise and prudent of this World, we (with Peter and John) do herein make our solemne, and serious appeale, namely, whether it be right in the sight of God, to hearken unto men, (of a contrary perswasion) more than unto God? Oh let the judicious, judge righteous judgement! Acts 4.19, 20.

And in the beleife, and practise of these things, (it being the good old Apostolical way) our souls have found that rest, and soul-peace, which the world knows not, and which they cannot take from us; of whom then should we be afraid? God is become our strength, our light, our salvation; therefore, are we resolved (through grace) to seal the truth of these things in way of suffering persecution, not only to the loss of our goods, freedomes, or liberties, but with our lives also (if called thereunto.)

Moreover we do utterly, and from our very hearts, in the Lords fear, declare against all those wicked, and divillish reports, and reproaches, falsly cast upon us, as though some of us (in & about the City of London) had lately gotten Knives, hooked Knives, & the like, & great store of Arms besides what was given forth by order of Parliament, intending to cut the throats of such as were contrary minded to us in matters of Religion, and that many such Knives, and Armes, for the carrying on some secret design, hath been found in some of our houses by search; we say, from truth of heart, in the Lords fear, that we do utterly abhor, and abominate the thoughts thereof, and much more the actions; and do hereby challenge both City, and Country (in our innocency herein) as being not able to prove the things whereof they accuse us; and do for evermore declare the Inventors of such reports, to be lyers, and wicked devisers of mischeife, and corrupt designs: God that is above all will justifie our innocency herein, who well knows our integrity, in what we here declare, the Lord lay it not to their charge.

In the time of building the decayed House of God, Sanballat, & Tobiah, (wicked Counsellors) hired Shemaiah to make good Nehemiah afraid; and laboured against him, that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach him, & hinder the building of the house of God, Neh. 6.12. For I have heard (saith the Prophet) the defaming of many; report, say they, and we will report it, Jer. 20.10.