[THE Christian Commonwealth is here reprinted from a transcript which Thomas Aspinwall, Esq., American Consul in London, caused to be made from a rare copy of the original edition, in his library, and presented to the Historical Society.

The following extract from the Records of the General Court, Vol. IV., p. 370, will show the proceedings which took place in this colony in relation to this subject, after the restoration of King Charles the

Second.

At session of May 22, 1661.

"This Court taking notice of a booke entituled Christian Comonwealth, written, as is expressed in the said Booke by M' John Eliot of Roxbury in New England, which in sundry passages and expressions thereof is justly offensive and in speciall relating to kingly Gouernment in England, the which the said Mr Eliot hath also freely and fully acknowledged to this Court. It is therefore ordered by this Court and the Authority thereof, that the said Booke be totally suppressed and the Author's acknowledgment recorded; and that all persons whatsoever in this Jurisdiction, that haue any of the said Bookes in theire Custody shall on theire perrills within fowerteene dayes after publication hereof either cancel and deface the same or deliuer them vnto the next Magistrate or to the Secretary, whereby all farther divulgment and improovement of the said offensiue Booke may be prevented. And it is further ordered, that Mr. Eliot's acknowledgment & the Court's order for the calling in of those Bookes be forthwith transcribed by the Secretary and caused to be posted vp in Boston, Charlestowne, Cambridge, Salem and Ipswich, that so all persons concerned therein may take notice of theire duties and act accordingly. All which was done accordingly.

"Mr. Eliot's acknowledgment, word for word.

"Boston this 24 of y° 3d mo. 1661.

"Vnderstanding by an act of the honored Council, that there is offence taken at a booke, published in England by others, the copie whereof was sent ouer by myself about nine or tenn yeares since and that the further consideration thereof is commended to this honnored Generall Court now sitting at Boston, Upon pervsall thereof I doe judge myself to haue offended & in way of satisfaction, not only to the Authority of this Jurisdiction, but also vnto any others, that shall take notice thereof, I doe hereby acknowledge to this honored Court.

"Such expressions as doe too manifestly scandalize the Gouernment of England by King, Lords and Commons, as Antichristian, and justify the late innovators, I doe sincerely beare testimony against, and acknowledge it to be not only a law full but, an eminent forme of Gouernment.

"2. All formes of Ciuil Gouernment deduced from Scripture either expressely or by just consequence, I acknowledge to be of God & to be subjected vnto for conscience sake.

"And Whatsoeuer is in the whole Epistle or booke inconsisting herewith I doe at once for all cordially disoune.

"JOHN ELIOT.""]

;

To the Chosen, and Holy, and Faithful, who manage the Wars of the Lord against Antichrist, in great Britain, and to all the Saints, faithful Brethren, and Christian people, of the Commonwealth of England: Grace and Mercy, with Peace and Truth be multiplied, through Jesus Christ our Soveraign Lord and King.

EVER HONOREd, and BeloveD IN CHRIST,

The late great Changes, which have fallen out in great Britain and Ireland, have so amazed the most of men; and the black, and confused Clouds, which have overspread the whole Land, have so darkened the way of those wheels of Providence by which Christ is coming to set up his Kingdom, that they whose eyes the Lord hath begun to open, to see Christ coming, in power and in great glory, according to his Promise, do also see the other part of his Word verified, namely, that the coming of Christ is in the Clouds of darkness; by means whereof it is long ere all men can see him, or be perswaded that it is he, who is now coming; though afterwards, they shall see that even those Clouds were needful, a while to obscure the bright appearance of his design.

Lately reading a Book called a Plea for Non-subscribers, or the grounds and reasons of many Ministers of Cheshire and Lancashire, &c. though I had before heard of the sad differences, distances of spirit, and dissatisfactions among the people of the Lord: yet then my heart bled to see such precious holy men, pleading (as they believe) for God, with a pure and sincere Conscience, and yet in so doing strongly to speak against the glorious work of the Lord Jesus, in casting down Antichrist, and setting up his own Kingdom foretold in Scripture, and now

fulfilling, as also strongly and sharply speaking against those whom the Lord hath pleased to employ, and improve as his Instruments in accomplishing thereof.

On the other side, those writings which that Book Answereth, have so missed the Principles on which the Cause standeth, whereby the Consciences of others should be satisfied, who oppose; as that the Answerers have clearly the upper ground of them in many things: and therefore stand firme in that which they suppose to be a right Cause, and weaken those who have indeed a right Cause in hand, insomuch as that hereby the difference is exceedingly encreased and sharpened.

Now though I am the most unmeet of all men, to undertake to interpose and speak unto such learned, grave, holy, and eminent persons, every way beyond me in all accomplishments for the Lords work, and in a Cause so much above me; yet was I pressed in my spirit, considering whose Cause I plead, to take the boldness to propound that unto them, which I believe to be the true state of the Cause, and which (by the blessing of God) may reach to their satisfaction; when they see that they, into whose hands the Lord (to the wonderment of men) hath been pleased to put power, do follow the Lord, and accomplish his Word, aim at the fulfilling of his ends and design, denying themselves, that they may advance Christ Jesus in the Throne, and let him reign over them. The prayers, the expectation, and faith of the Saints in the Prophecies and Promises of holy Scripture, are daily sounding in the ears of the Lord, for the downfall of Antichrist, and with him all humane Powers, Polities, Dominions, and Governments; and in the room thereof, we wait for the coming of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus, who by his Divine Wisdom, Power, Government and Laws, given us (although hitherto sealed up in a great measure) in the holy Scriptures, will reign over all the Nations of the earth in his due time: I mean, the Lord Jesus will bring down all people, to be ruled by the Institutions, Laws, and Directions of the Word of God, not only in ChurchGovernment and Administrations but also in the Government and Administration of all affairs in the Commonwealth. And then Christ reigneth, when all things among

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men, are done by the direction of the word of his mouth: his Kingdom is then come amongst us, when his will is done on earth, as it is done in heaven, where no Humane or Angelical Policy or Wisdom doth guide any thing, but all is done by Divine direction (a); and so it shall be on earth, when and where Christ reigneth.

It is Prophesied, Dan. 2. 34, 35, &c. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out, without hands, which smot the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image, became a great mountain and filled the whole earth, &c. Which Prophecie doth clearly foreshew the forenamed I points for there is an epitomy of all the Monarchies, Governments, and Polities of men who have had their Humane Glory in this world; the last, and strongest of all which Dominions is the Roman; so mixed and interwoven in many States, by the combining of that dirty Roman Religion, with civil Powers, as that when that Stone Christ, by his faithful Instruments, shall overthrow, and beat in pieces that Religion, they must and shall, according as it is written, beat down withall the strongest Iron sinews of civil States, which are propugnators, and supporters thereof, whether professed or secretly.

Yea, moreover, when Christ that stone, shall by his chosen Instruments, smite in pieces all the Romish Religion, and civil States, which are complicated with it, and supporters of it, (who though they greatly care not for it (b), yet for their own ends they are supporters of it) then, down cometh the whole Image from top to bottom; all Dominions and Governments of man, by Humane Policy, formes of Government and Laws in all places whatsoever, in Gods order and time; who by their fall

(a) Psal. 103. 20. Angels do his commandment; hearkening to the voice of his word. (b) Dan. 2. 43. They shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixt with

clay.

shall be so dashed in pieces, that though they were before, a terrour to men, yet now they shall be light and contemptible things, of no more account with men then dust or chaff: because Divine institutions, both of Government and Laws, arising in the room of Humane, they will be quite darkened, even as the Stars are by the rising-Sun: for in the room of them shall arise the Government of the Lord Jesus, who by the Word of his Mouth, written in the holy Scriptures, shall order all affairs among men; And great shall be his Dominion: for the Stone Christ shall grow to be a mountain filling the whole earth: all men submitting to be ruled by the Word, in civil, as well as Church affairs.

Now it seemeth to me that the Lord Christ is now accomplishing these things in great Britain. The faithful Brethren in Scotland gave the first blow at the dirty toes, and feet of this Image; with whom the faithful brethren in England, presently concurred. But the Iron of the Civil State, stuck so fast to the miry clay, that according to the Word of Christ, they are (beyond all the thoughts of men) both fallen together; they are fallen, they are fallen, they are both fallen together: Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord, for his faithful Word, and goodness; for his mercy endureth for ever! and all his faithful Word shall be accomplished. Amen, Amen.

There be many other Prophecies of holy Scriptures touching these things (as the Saints well know) the application whereof to what is now done in England, I will not undertake, it being a worke rather for a Treatise then a Preface. Yea, some Prophecies, (as I apprehend) do more particularly describe what is now done; but I shall not mention them, hoping that others will do it, according as the Lord shall please to open that door.

Now these things being so, it doth deeply concern those holy and faithful ones of the Lord, who have been Instruments in his hand, to accomplish these great and glorious works, whether by Councils or Wars, or otherwise, to be wise, and discerning of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, in this great work of bringing about the Kingdom to David, to lay the Government upon his shoulders: that after all these clouds and storms, the peaceable