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So far as I can look into mine own heart , for thee only have I left houses and lands ! I am sure I go out like Abraham , not knowing whither to go . "
After labouring for twenty years in the ministry at the Chapel in Bowl-Alley Lane , Mr . Charles was at length imprisoned , on which occasion he writes thus in his diary : u A prisoner for Christ ! Good Lord , what is this ^ for a poor worm ! Both my degrees
at the University have not set me so high as when I commenced prisoner for Christ" His labours at Hull were remarkably successful ; and his upright and honourable conduct procured him the respect of the magistrates of that place . But . the
Earl of Plymouth coming thither in the year 1682 , after having been appointed governor of the place , sent for the mayor and aldermen , and with great vehemence forbade them , under pain of the loss of their charter , any longer to suffer the meetings of the Dissenters .
One of the aldermen ( Duncalf ) told the Earl , " by many years' observation 1 have found the Dissenters pious , peaceable men , and loyal subjects to their king ; and , therefore , being an oltl man and going into another
world , I will have no hand in persecuting them . " Mr . Charles and Mr . Ashley ( Mr- Richard Astlei / , according to TickelFs History , chosen pastor of the above-named Baptist Church in 1669 ) , were , notwithstanding , sent for under the influence of the Earl ' s
threats . The latter , having timely warning , made his escape into the country . Mr . Charles made his appearance immediately , in obedience to the summons . The following is the principal part of his own lively and instructive narrative of this interview , which may be seen in the Nonconformists' Memorial .
Mr . Charles being called before the magistrates of Hull , February % 1682 , the following dialogue took place : — Mr . C I am here , my masters , in obedience to your warrant . What is your pleasure with me ? But I pray
you consider before you do any thing , that imprisoning the ministers of the gospel is the devil's work , and I do not think you can do his work and escape his wages .- —Aid * Mr- Charles , we expected a different salutation
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from you ; you are to preach the gospel of peace , —Mr . C . I am so , and also the terror of the Lord to all wicked and impenitent sinners , and hard-hearted hypocrites . —Aid . Yoii
are so—Mr . C . But , my masters , are there no malefactors in Hull , but two ministers of the gospel , Mr . Ashley and myself ? Are there no drunkards , no Sabbath-breakers , no swearers ?—Aid . Mr . Charles , have you taken the oaths of allegiance and supremacy ? - —
Mr . C . I am ready to take them . — - Aid . Are you in holy orders according to the Church of England ? Do you preach ?—Mr . C . You can tell as well as I . But , gentlemen , before you pass any ugly sentence , consider the dying votes of the last Westminster Parliament of immortal honour :
Resolved , * ' That the execution of the penal laws against Dissenting Protestants is , at this time , grievous to the subject—a furtherance to Popery—a weakening of the Protestant religion , and dangerous to the kingdom . "
Aid . Do you call the execution of the king ' s laws an ugly work ?—Mr . C « But before you execute the king ' s laws , ( God bless him , and send him to outlive me , ) I pray you hear me this one thing ; there have been some persons in England , who have made
as great a figure as any in Hull , whp have been hanged for executing the king ' s laws . But if you will execute the law , pray do not outdo the law , for it is severe enough upon us . — Aid . If we do , you may look for your
remedy—Mr . C . Remedy ! I had rather never be sick than be put to look for my remedy . —Aid . We did not send for you to preach to us .- ? - Mr . C . I doubt you want one to tell vou the truth . — -Aid , We have a
Protestant church and a Protestant ministry . —Mr . C . Long , long , long may you so have ! Yet , 1 pray , let me acquaint you with this : the Jews had a church established by God ' s law , and a ministry established by law . Yet their silencing , imprisoning ,
and murdering a few poor fishermen , that were commissioned by the Redeemer of the world to preach the everlasting gospel , cost them so dear , that God has not done reckoning with them to this day , and it i » above 16 OO years ago Aid . It was not for silencing the apostles ; it was for crucifying •' -Cbrist * - *~ ttf r « > C . It was so
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N 666 History of Dissenting Meetiny-House , Bowl-Alley Lane , Hull .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1818, page 666, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2482/page/2/
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