BUNYAN. I said that I would prove that it was lawful for me, and
such as I am, to preach the word of God.
KEELING. He said unto me, By what scripture?
BUNYAN. I said, by that in the first epistle of Peter, fourth
chapter and eleventh verse, and Acts eighteenth, with other
scriptures; which he would not suffer me to mention, but said, Hold,
not so many: which is the first?
BUNYAN. I said, This: "As every man hath received the gift, even so
let him minister the same unto another, as good stewards of the
grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of
God."
KEELING. He said, Let me a little open that scripture to you. As
every man hath received the gift; that is, said he, as every man
hath received a trade, so let him follow says Crosby, "to perpetual
banishment, in pursuance of an act made by the then parliament."
This sentence was never executed, but he was kept in prison for more
than twelye years.
Subsequently to this year, 1660, several oppressive acts were
passed, as the Corporation act, 1661, the act of Uniformity, 1662,
the Five-mile act, 1665, the Conventicle acts, 1666 and 1671, and
the Test act, 1673. The act of Uniformity required that every
clergyman should be reordained; should declare his assent to every
thing contained in the Book of Common Prayer, etc.
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