Gemitus ecclesiae Cambro-Britannicae, or, The candlesticks removed by the ejectment of the ministers of Wales under the power of the late act for the propagation of the Gospell there being a declaration to all Christian people and more especially the reverend ministers of England, expressing the sad condition of the severall parishes 2nd ejected ministers in that countrey.

TO ALL CHRISTIAN PEOPLE, and more eſpecially to the Dr. Jo. Owen Dr. Tho. Goodwin. Reverend Miniſters of the Goſpell, and other Commiſsioners appointed for the approbation of publick Preachers, withitn this Common-wealth of England, Grace and Peace be multiplied from the Authour thereof, Chriſt Jeſus our Saviour.

THE poore Ejected Miniſters of Wales, (who) have long borne their Griefes in ſilence, and powred out their complaints in ſecret before the All ſeeing and All-knowing God, committing their ſad condition to him alone, who ſearcheth the Heart and Reynes, and will judge their Cauſe in the ballance of his Mercy, and Compaſſion, Have taken the boldneſſe with the Power of his Bleſſed Spirit to publiſh to your Chriſtian Soules, both theirs, and the ſufferings of their ſeverall Congregations, (who have often called upon them,) and to preſent the ſame unto your publique view; That the whole Nation of England, and more eſpecially their deare Breathren and Fellow-labourers in the Truth and purity of Christs Gospell, intruſted with the ſettlement of his Church-government, may take notice of the Reformation in Wales, and learne by the abuſe and miſcariages of perſons impowred in that great Worke to diſcover Truth, and walke according to the Rule of Gods Spirit, diſcerning betweene the true Miniſters of the Goſpell, the true people of God, and Saint-like Impostors, who have masked the fouleſt intentions under the faireſt pretences.

1. The Midwifry of the Act for Propagation of the Goſpell in Wales.

In the yeare 1649. There was an Act paſſed by the Parliament, Intituled, An Act for the Propagation of the Goſpell in Wales. A ſpecious Title; But how farre cunning Heads, and bold Informers may impoſe upon a Parliament, and abuſe a wiſe Councell; This one Act may be a ſufficient evidence; teaching others to be more circumſpect and cautelous hereafter. For ſome men of their own Nation, driving more at ſelfe ends and intereſts then the Glory of God, or the Propagation of Chriſts Goſpell (as the iſſue of their Actions hath now fully diſcovered their Aymes) did repreſent, to the Honourable Houſe of Parliament, the condition of Wales as moſt ſad, and deplorable, overſpread with Ignorance and Profanneſſe (as the words Run in the ſaid Act;) I As though Wales were ſtill a Land of Darkneſſe, the poore Inhabitants thereof out of Chriſtendome, ſitting in the Region and ſhadow of Death; Which Information (though a frontleſſe untruth in it ſelfe, and a ſhameleſſe Asperſion upon the whole Nation, as we ſhall ſhew anon,) yet ſerved to bring their ends about, who framed it. The Inhabitants thereof having few Repreſentatives to make known the true ſtate of their Country, For the Parliament in their Charity to the Countrey, and care of the publick good, Did take this Land of Darkneſſe into Conſideration, And did put the Act above mentioned upon the Anvill to be framed and filed for the Worke, pretended and deſired.

This was the Midwifry of this Act, and the manner of bringing it to the Birth.

Now for the Munagery thereof, and how it was executed, we intend herein to declare with all Plainneſſe, Sincerity and Candor, and with as much Charity towards the Actors, as the truth of the Relation will permit.

2. Concerning the ignorance, and profaneneſſe, caſt upon the Nation.

But wee will firſt ſpeake ſomething to the Ignorance, Heatheniſme, and Profaneneſſe caſt upon the Nation by thoſe, that did owe better Offices to their Countrey, and then proceede what we chiefly intend in this Narration.

And wee ſay firſt (and ſpeake it to Gods Glory, and not our own) That not onely our Nation was converted to Chriſtianity as ſoone almoſt as our Saviour ſuffered; But alſo the Countries of Wales are by the bleſſing of God, and the light of the Gospell of Chriſt Jeſus civilized in a very good meaſure,1. A vindication of the Laity. and in an equall degree to diverſe places of England; The Gentry are Men of Knowledge, Religion, and Breeding, moſt of them having had their Education in the beſt Schooles and Univerſities of this Land; And the Commonalty generally carefull to bring up their Children in Private Schooles. So that they are farre from that wild Heatheniſme, and brutiſh Ignorance, which theſe Men have injuriouſly aſperſed th • m with.

2. Of the Miniſt • ry.And in the ſecond place for the Miniſtery, (To paſſe by many Apoſtolicall Martyrs, and Planters of Religion here among us,) We ſay, That the Miniſters of theſe Countries were not ſo few, nor ſo illiterate, nor ſo idle in their Function and Miniſtery, That any ſhould feare the people (committed to their charge) were in a periſhing ſtate. Some of our owne Nation (for a mans worſt foes are of his owne Houſehold) Have Preached, and alſo Printed it for a preparative to the ſaid Act, and to bring this Trojan horſe into their Countrey; That there were not thirteene painfull Preachers in the thirteene Counties of Wales. God is mercifull, and may pardon Pulpit-ſlanders, and untruths, which are delivered openly in the face of Divine Majesty; But how great an untruth this is, we could ſoon evince if we were pleaſed (not ſpeaking of divers moſt painefull and Reverend Miniſters therein of former times, and in our memory) To give here a Liſt of the Doctors, Batchelours of Divinity, Maſters of Acts, and other able men of Inferiour degree in the Univerſities, that were lately planted in theſe parts, whoſe Doctrine dropt as the Raine, and made the Mountaines of Gilboah fruitfull.

A great noiſe was made about the ſcandalous and illiterate Miniſters of Wales. We do confeſſe as in the neateſt Gardens, there are ſome weeders, ſo there might be ſuch in the Countrey; for there is, and ever will be in all Profeſſions ſome that are ſcandalous to their Profeſſion, yet there were fewer of theſe, then the Report made them. But there were ſcandalous Livings too in theſe Countries, as well as ſcandalous Miniſters, and thoſe produced theſe. There were Vicaridges of twenty Markes a yeare and under that; There were Impropriators that would have Curats of the cheapeſt rate they could get, and every Pariſh was ambitious to have a Peculiar Miniſter; For Pluralities of Benefices was not long ſince as great a ſinne as Pluralities of Wives, though now an Itinerant may ſupply twenty; So theſe ſmall meanes could have Men but of ſmall Abilities. But thoſe Benefices that were Preſenſative, and were endowad with competent maintenance, They were filled with able Teachers, whoſe lips did preſerve knowledge, and whoſe Lives were conſonant to their Doctrine.

If the Gentlemen of the Eccleſiasticall Commiſſion, had trim'd the Lampes of the Church, or ſnuff'd the Candles that burnt dim, if they had ſpur'd up the Lazy, and ſharply admoniſhed thoſe that were fallen, if they had winnowed the Chaffe from the Wheate; purged out the ſcandalous Miniſters onely, they had done God and the Church good ſervice, but wee have found their ends and aimes to be farre more miſterious; Satan deſiring not to Winnow out the Beneficiaires, but the Benefices, not Miniſters, but their Livings.

3. The managing of the Act.

But to returne from this Digreſſion into the Road, where we left. And to ſhew how the ſaid Act was managed, and put in Execution.

For the better Propagation of the Gospell in this Countrey, the Miniſters of the Goſpell muſt be extirpated. This was Reſolved on by ſome of the Commiſſioners (intruſted for that Worke) before hand; we could name the place, where they entred into this holy League; And their owne Tongues diſcovered their Reſolutions.

For one of them, and one of the higheſt forme too, and who indeed was (Eccleſiæ peſtis & fundi nostri calamitas) the Ruine of our Church, could ſay to a Petitioning Miniſter,Major Gen. Harriſon. That his face was against all of the Order.

Another could ſay, That All of them muſt be taken off from their Cures, and this man was the Hand of this Committee, as the other was the Mouth. A third (when a Miniſter did crave his favour) ſaid, it was in vaine to ſtrive, for All were to be Outed firſt or laſt. And a fourth, (and he a Preaching Property, belonging to the Worke) Did often Preach, That the Son of the Bond woman, must not inherit with the Son of the Free-woman, which Text he hath ſince more cleerly expounded, by putting this in practice, and caſting them out of their Inheritance.

Thus according to the Weſtphalian Law, their Judges had paſt their Sentence upon them, before any offendor was brought to the Bar, their Profeſſion was declared Antichristian, and unlawfull, and their Calling a Crime; For many were Ejected, and they know not as yet, wherefore, but becauſe they were Miniſters. Euſebius complaines, that Diocleſian tooke away the Presbyters, But Julian the Presbytery; So here the Ax is laid to the Roo • of their Calling, to hew down, and levell the very Function; If it were not ſo meant, ſurely ſome of the old Clergy might have been thought worthy and fit to keepe their Stations. For all had not corrupted their wayes, all were not ſcandalous, nor illiterate, nor dumbe Dogs, as their common phraſe and application was before their Ejectment.

Now as in the caſe of Naboth, though his Vineyard was already forfeited in Ahabs thoughts, who was reſolved to have it, yet to compaſſe it more plauſibly, there muſt be legall proceedings to condemne his perſon: Sons of Belial muſt be h • d to prove the pretended Crime, that ſo he might commit. Murther and Robbery, in the habit of a Judge: So here in their buſineſſe, though their Judges had already prejudged them, and others had already caſt Lots upon their Inheritance, and divided the ſpoile, (which was the chiefe Propagation of the Gospell, that ſome aimed as, and the onely thing that made them all criminall) yet to give the matter ſome gloſſe, and tincture of Juſtice, it muſt be carried on in the forme of a Legall Proces.

4. The Itinerants became Captaines.

Obſerve how warily they proceede. That the Action may be better countenanced, and attended, Commiſſioners are obtained by ſuch as were to be Itinerants, Goſpell Preachers (as they are termed) and ſome of them approvers nominated in the Act. They raiſe Horſe and Foote in moſt Counties, eſpecially in South-wales, with which they ſuppreſſe the poore Miniſters, and diſcourage, and affrighten their ſeverall Congregations from following and aſſiſting them; That this great Worke may goe on, and be more vigorouſly put in execution, with ſuch Inſtruments, the cry of the Children Sacrificed unto Moloch, muſt be drowned and ſuppreſſed, wee believe they have left but few other Monuments of their valour unto poſterity. We could name their perſons, and Counties, and Actions, but that we are reſolved neither to digreſſe, nor ſtigmatize them.

The firſt thing they doe, is to diſarme the Ministers, by diſabling them of any meanes of defence; And to performe this the better at a private meeting of ſome of the Commiſſioners; All Tithes in generall were ſequeſtred in the County of Radnor, before any of the Miniſters are queſtioned; Thus they are ſent to the Field without weapons, They may ſue and Appeale, but they ſhall do it, ſub formâ Pauperum, poore Men, they are expoſed to ruine without Mercy, being utterly deprived of any means either of ſubſiſtence or defence.

5. Regiſters, Sollicitors, choſen.

This being done, and All obſtacles Removed, Registers are named, Articles muſt be exhibited, Sollicitors muſt be appointed to receive Accuſations, and Witneſſes muſt be examined with all cloſeneſſe, and ſecrecy without their knowledge or privity; Yet there is neither Commiſſioner, nor Regiſter, nor Sollicitor, nor any other Officer ſworn, nor any ſet Examiner of all: And who are their Accuſers, ad Witneſſes againſt them?

6. Who are Accuſers, and Witneſſes aagainſt them.

Truly they, who enjoyed their Houſes, or Glebes, or Tithes (A tender of a good bargain of any parcell of their Tithes, being made to ſuch as would joyne with them to doe this great Worke they had in hand.) And judge you, whether that Helliſh Aphoriſme was not put to the uttermoſt? Calumniare fortiter, & aliquid inhærebit.

They are Reſolved to brand them deeply, That their Markes may appeare, being ſpitefull Accuſers to ſuggeſt any thing, And ſuch bold Witneſſes, that no want of proof might fruſtrate the Ejectment.

1. They laid to their charge things that they knew not Pſal. 35.11. Contrary to all Verity, ſtruunt de proprio calumnias innocentiæ. 2. They wreſted their words, Pſal. 56.5. contrary to all Ingenuity. 3. And they preſſed the very rigor of the Letter of the Act againſt them, being not the intent and ſenſe of the Enactours, contrary to all Equity.

The ſmaleſt offences of 20 or 30 yeares ſtanding, were freſhly Arraigned as Capitall Crimes, and their leaſt Infirmities were unpardonable, without any reſpect, had either to their Abilities, fidelity in their Callings, or ſubmiſſion to that preſent Government.

Thus they purſued them ſo hard, That they could not give them over, as long as they had any thing worth the looſing.

Sic Reus omnis orit, de quo victoria lucro Eſſe potest—Ovid.

When they or their diſtreſſed Wives came to the Doores, either to Petition, or to heare their accuſation (though their good Names, and Being lay at the ſtake) yet they are violently thruſt back, or ſcornfully abuſed, and trampled upon by the Itinerants Souldiers, prepared for theſe inſolencies.

How then could they chooſe, but be found Guilty, when they had beene long before condemned; And ſo by this formall kinde of Judicature (this pompe and Ceremony of Juſtice) they thought they had ſufficiently ſatisfyed the people, though wee confidently believe, they had either lulled aſleepe, or ſeared up their own conſciences.

But to make up the Sceane and ſolemnity of this Aſſize, A Preacher Va Powell preaches a railing Sermon. muſt come in to Act a part, and that truſt be the D • vells part, To be an Accuſer of the Brethren, Rev. 12.10. and to do that, which Michael durſt not do againſt the Accuſer himſelfe, that is, bring a rayling accuſation againſt him; And that in the Pulpit, and in numerous Aſſemblies and concourſe of people come together from ſeverall Counties,Jud. 9. Reviling them as the worſt and vileſt of men, and condemning them for unſavory Salt, Mat. 5.13. fit onely to be throwne into the Dunghill, and to be troden upon. When wee call to minde King Davids enemies, whoſe Tongues were Speares and Arrowes, and Razors, and ſharpe Swords, as though their Mouthes had been an Armory or Magazine; This man was not inferior to them for ſuch Artillery, and was as free of them as they were, which he ſhot at all of the profeſſion, without any diſtinction, There was not one Grape of the cluſter good and ſound.

O Modeſty and Charity, where are yee fled? O the mercy, and goodneſſe of God, and the cruelty of men?

His chiefe Aime and taske was to Murther their good names, and to poſſeſſe the people how juſtly they were diveſted of all their fortunes, putting them in all the deformed ſhapes he could invent, to ſtirre up the people to a hatred of them and their calling, accounting them (as another of that ranke did.) To be men, forſaken of God and man.

Thus as the Ancient Chriſtian Martyrs, they are tranſformed into other ſhapes, and clad in the Skins of wild Beaſts, that they might be ſooner faſtned upon, and torne in pieces.

But we will paſſe over this hired Balaam, for which hee received the wages of unrighteouſneſſe; And when you heare that he railed for that, you may ſuppoſe he did it to ſome purpoſe, though hee was a ſtranger in the Countrey, where hee Preached, and knew not one of the Miniſters (by face) hee did ſo roundly raile againſt: but we finde now, it is his Pocket-Invective, through which hee travaileth, ſeeing his preſent Highneſſe the Lord Protector, his ſage Councell, the Commanders, Officers and Souldiers, have not eſcaped him; what could the poore Miniſters, (whoſe calling he accounteth uſcles and Antichriſtian) expect at his hands.

This was the courſe and Method of the Propagation of the Goſpell in Wales.

7. The Poverty of the ejected Miniſters.

And now their Perſons b • ing thus defamed, and their Meanes S • queſtred, they are expoſed to Poverty and want in their old Age, and are like to bring their gray haires with ſorrow to the Grave, moſt of them having not as much as a Houſe to put their heads in, but during pleaſure, which was but a ſickle Tenure, conſidering the affection and quality of their Landlords, they could nor be Tenants to their meanes, they were denyed not onely their Tithes, but alſo their Gleabes and Houſes upon Rent. Nay a Command was given by the Commander in chiefeMajor Gen. Harriſon. (then) among them, for the Tumbling of them out of their Houſes, to uſe his owne words, of which command many felt the execution; And ſo were unhouſed, as well at unchurched. The Prophet Jeremy compained that his Countreymen, Dranke their Water for money, and their Wood was ſould unto them, that is,Lam. 5.4. they were faine to pay for their owne, But theſe found harder uſage then they: They could not have their owne for Money.

8. The fift either denyed or undervalued.

And to compleat their M • ſeries to the uttermoſt of their endeavours, Though there was Proviſion made by the Act for Propagation, for a Fift part towards the maintenance of their Wives, Children and Families, yet by the undervaluations made by the mercileſſe Sequeſtrators, and their Farmours, and the tedious Petitioning to the Commiſſioners for the obtaining thereof (which wearied them and their poore Wives, with many hopeleſſe journeys, and doubtfull Anſwers.) They brought it to nothing, but labour and expence unto them, ſo that their Condition herein being like thoſe Inhabitants of a Towne in Holland, who upon ſurrending were promiſed their lives by the D. of Alva but after delivery they were ſtarved to Death, they were R • ſolved (having ſpent the Water in their Bottles) to lay downe their Wives and Children before the Lord, lifting up their voyces and weeping before him,Gen. 21.15, &c. hoping that the time of their Deliverance is at hand.

9. The Appeal a remediles courſe.

But you will ſay they were justly and legally outed, and ejected, otherwiſe why did not they take the benefit of Appeale?

It was a remedy worſe then the diſeaſe, The manner of their proceeding, according to the ſaid Act being as followeth.

1. Five Commiſſioners Examine and Eject. 2. Twelve, upon the Ejected's Complaints, were to Review and Determine. 3. The twelve Commiſſioners upon the Ejecteds Appeales, were to transfer and Certifie the proceedings to the Committee for Plundred Miniſters.

Now the Twelve did ſeldome meete, living remote, the one from the other, and the time and place of their meeting, was not uſually publiſhed, nor generally knowen.

And ſuppoſe that the twelve did meete: was it probable That they who adjudged the Cauſe would transfer and certifie againſt their owne Judgements? And there was no Proviſion in the Act to inforce them, in caſe they refuſed: But ſuppoſe they ſhould transfer and certifie the Proceedings, yet the Act diſabled the Appellants to examine any more Witneſſes (whereas many of their depoſitions might be laid down contrary to the examinants intentions; moſt of them being illiterate perſons, and ignorant of the Engliſh Tongue) and were thereby made uncapable of their juſt defence; ſo that being once ejected, they receive ſmall benefit by their Appeales.

Nay if any that conceived himſelfe aggreived therein, did ſeeke any Remedy in Law, which is afforded to all others the free People of the Nation: The Commiſſioners named in the ſaid Act (as they were Commiſſioners of Indemnity,) Had Power to inforce Obedience, and Submiſſion to their Orders, ſtop all the proceedings of the ejected Miniſters: And Indemnifie themſelves, and their Agents for any thing done by colour of the ſaid Act.

Who can finde out a Clue in ſuch a labyrinth to lead him forth? This we may boldly ſay, That the Profoundeſt ſubtilities of the ambiguous, and intrapping Articles of ſome former projects (which we leave to your thoughts) cannot out-bid the Invention and Contrivement of this remediles Dilemm of Appeale.

10. They are commanded not to preach.

But this is not all, They are thought not to be ſufficiently puniſhed, by being deprived of their meanes, but they muſt be robbed of their calling alſo; Being ſtraightly threatned and commanded not to ſpeake at all, nor teach in the name of Jeſus; ſo that for their Talents what over they are, They are charged to lay them up in their Napkins, or bury them under ground, for with their leaves they muſt not uſe and imploy them, though they earneſtly did, and doe deſire to continue their paines in Gods Vineyard freely, expecting their reward from the Lord of the Vineyard onely, but it would not be granted.

11 Keepe Schoole.

Nay when ſome of them reſolving by Gods Aſſiſtance to obey God rather then men, did hold forth the word of truth unto thouſands of people, who to this day endure a Famine thereof; They were drawn by the neckes out of the Pulpits, abuſed, threatned, and impriſoned: and when others went about to keepe private Schooles, for the ſupport of themſelves and Families, they were ſtraitly commanded to ſuperſede from that imployment: And we muſt tell you, it was not ſafe to diſobey ſuch Ruling Maſters.

12 The Pariſhes not ſupplied.

Among all this their Complaintes, wee may not forget thoſe of their reſpective Congregations, who are forced to pay their Tithes more exactly then ever they did before; And yet have nothing in lieu thereof, neither the comfort of Praying, and Preaching, nor Sacraments, nor viſiting the ſick, nor of any decency of Buriall, for few or none are ſu • ſtituted to theſe Offices in the roomes of thoſe that performed them: And for the number of the Itinerants in each County, (whoſe Fathers had deſigned them to other vocations,) they do goe up and down the Countrey to preach where, and when they pleaſe themſelves: ſo that men are glad to hear a Sermon in ſome places once in a twelve moneth, and in moſt places once in a moneth; That were wont to have one at leaſt, every Lords Day.—Ei ſuccus pecori & lac ſubducitur agnis.

The Children crie for Bread (the Bread of life) and there is none to give it them, or elſe inſtead of Bread they have but a Scorpion, and are fed with Poyſon inſtead of Manna, and wholeſome food, to wit, the poyſon of falſe Doctrine, Hereſie and Sedition, being leavened with the ſowreſt Tenets of Anabaptiſme, and whoſe wayes (as is now too apparent) are deſtructive to Magiſtracy, as well as Miniſtery, which they boldly vent among their hearers.

And this is a plaine and briefe Account of the Proſecution, and Managery of the Act for the better Propagation of the Goſpell in Wales; and let all Chriſtian people judge What Propagation this was.

13. Concluſion.

But if this Relation ſtagger any mans Faith, or may ſeeme to him like thoſe Marandæ auditiones of Aristotle, more like a fiction Sen. then reall truth (Majora veris monſtra vix capiunt fidem) wee make bold to proteſt with the Apoſtle, That wee take God to Record upon our Soules, wee have delivered nothing but truth, paſſing by many Indignities, and Affronts, with diverſe Acts of cruelty, unfit to be acted by any towards their fellow Creatures, much more towards their fellow Chriſtians; And ſince they will not give them leave to Preach, They will take leave to pray, That ſince they have no part nor portion left them in the Land, That God would be their Lot, an their Portion, and then they ſhall not want, that he would grant them to runne with patience the Race that is ſet before them, looking up to Jeſus the author and finiſher of their Faith. 1 • . Tim. 1.13. Heb. 12.20. And that hee would bleſſe their Widowed Congregations, and guide them with his Holy Spirit, That they may hold faſt the forme of Doctrine, which was once delivered unto them; And that the great Shepheard of the Sheepe, would continually Leade and Governe them, To whoſe Gratious care and Protection, they doe heartily Recommend them in their Prayers.

1. That the reverend Miniſters of England would commiſerate the Miniſters.And doe earneſtly beſeech you (the Reverend Miniſters of the Gospell of Jeſus Chriſt in England) to lay to heart, and be grieved for the affliction of your poore Joſephs, the ejected Miniſters of Wales. And to be a meanes (at leaſt) that their Wives and Children may enjoy a competency of liveli-hood, and ſubſiſtence, and that they may underſtand what hath beene laid to ch • ir Charge, and be made capable without expence (being wholy diſabled) to make their anſwer thereunto.

2. And Churches of Wales. O! mou • ne for the affliction of your diſconſolate Siſter: Is it nothing to you that paſſe by? Behold and ſee if there be any ſorrow like unto he ſorrow. All beauty is departed from her Sion,Lam 1.12. the Lord hath taken away the Tabernacle, deſtroyed his places of the Aſſembly, and cauſed the ſolemne Faſt, and Sabbaths to be forgotten among them: Lam. 2.6. Is this nothing to you?

O! Shee is your little Siſter, and ſhee hath (now) no Breaſts, Can. 8.8. What will ye do for your Siſter in the day when ſhe ſhall be spoken for?

O comfort her by the Comfort, 2 Cor. 1.4. wherewith yee your ſelves have been Comforted of God; Plead her cauſe, as the Lord hath pleaded yours. For if it had not been the Lord, who was on your ſide (may now the Miniſters of England ſay) if it had not been the Lord, who was on your ſide, Pſal. 124.1.2. when their Enemies roſe up againſt you alſo; Then they had ſwallowed you up, and thoſe proud Waters had overwhelmed, and gone over your ſoules.

But prayſed be God, who hath raiſed you a Mighty deliverer in the Day of your tryall, and praiſed by the God of your Salvation.

FINIS.