power and in his love sweetness and meakness We are not to take wayes according to our own wisdom but there must be a strict watch set in the Life least that get up again nor must we speak such words as mans wisdom would call wise nor may we go in our own will to seek any but the Lord must go before nor may we make use of our own strength but feel his arm in our weakness nor may we go forth in that love sweetness or meakness which is pleasing to the fleshly mind but we must be true to God handling the sword skilfully and faithfully judging and cutting down the transgressor in the power and authority of God and when the meek the lowly the humble thing is reached and raised then the true love the sweetness the tenderness the meekness must go forth to that The Lord God is rough with the transgressor and all along the Scripture heweth and judgeth him and if we come forth in the same spirit we shall find the same leadings where we meet with the same thing for the Lord God will never be tender there nor can that which comes from him lives in him is lead by him be tender there wheâ—e he is not Now the very root of this severity is good and of God and hath love and sweetness at the bottom of it yea in pitty love and bowels do we use the sword It is in pitty to the poor captived creature that that might be cut down which keeps it in bonds and captivity And though we seem enemies to all sorts of men for the Lords sake yet we are not enemies nor could do the least hurt to them any way but are true freinds to their soules and bodies also and our only controversie is with that which captives and maks them miserable for we fight not at all with flesh and bloud but with the principallity and power which led from God and rules in it against God to the poor creatures ruine and distruction Yea if we had all the powers of the earth in our hands we could not set up our own way if after the manner of men I may so call it or so much as disturb others in their way thereby but should wait in patience till God gave us an entrance by his power Now let not men run on in heats against us but let them seriously consider whether we be of God or no and let them consider not with the reason and understanding which is alienated from God but with the witness which lies hid in the heart There is one great palpable argument that we are of God which is this all the World is against us the Worldly part every where lights with us the Worldly part in every sort and Sect of men opposeth us the rage of man every where riseth up against us But those that are so hot against us if at any time they become but meek and calm patiently considering our cause and consulting there upon with the testimony that they find in their own hearts concerning us they soon become pacified and see that we are no mans enemies against no righteous Law not against Relations not against Governments not against any thing in the world that is good but only against that which is evil and corrupt And of a truth the corruption of things God hath shewed unto us and daily cals us forth after an immediate manner to witness against Therfore let men be sober and take heed what they do least they be found fighters against God for the reproaches the scoffs with other persecutions which seem to be cast at us light on him It is not as we are men but as we are obedient to him as we stand witnesses for him that we meet with these things Now as it is not we our selves that do these things but the life and power of God in us so it is not we that are struck at but the Life and Power if it were not for that we might be as acceptable as other men It is because we are not of the World but God hath called us out of the World that we are so hated of the world This is the true cause though the world will no more now acknowledge it then it would in former ages Yet I do not speak this for my own sake to avoid my share in the Cross for the reproach of Christ is our riches yea far greater treasure then is to be found in the pallace of Egypt Yea the Presence of God the sweet power of Life makes up all our losses so that we have no cause to complain It is very sweet pleasant and profitable for us to be found Sufferers for God but we know it will not be profitable for you to be found Persecutors and this is told you in true love and good will by one who wishes no evil to you for all the evil that ye have exercised towards the dear and pretious People of God for these many years O that God would open your eyes that ye might see whom ye have opposed and against whom ye have hardened and strengthened your selves that ye might bow to him and receive life from him and not perish in your gainsaying and opposition Isaack Penington Grounds and Reasons why we deny the worlds Teachers FIrst they are such shepheards that seek for their gain from their Quartâ—rs and can never have enough which the Lord sent Isaiah to cry out against who bid all come freely without money and without price and was not hired but spake freely and these make marchandise and a trade of his words and therfore we cry out against them and deny them Isa 56.11 and 54.1 They are such Shepherds that seek after the Fleece and cloath with the wooll and feed on the fat which the Lord sent Ezekiel to cry wo against who made a prey upon us and the Lord said he would gather his Sheep from their mouths and that we should be a prey to them no longer and we do witness the promise of the Lord fulfilled and therfore we deny them Ezek 54.34 They are such Priests as bear rule by their means which was a horrible and filthy thing commited in the land which the Lord sent Jeremiah to cry out against while we had eyes and did not see we held up such Priests but the Lord hath opened our eyes and we see them now in the same estate that they were in which Jeremiah cryed out against who did not bear rule by his means and therfore we deny them Jer. 5.31 They are such Prophets Priests that divine for money and preach for hire which the Lord sent Micah to cry against and whilst we put into their mouths they preached peace to us but now wâ— do not put into their mouths they prepare war against us and therfore we deny them Micah 3.11 They are such as are called of men Masters call men Masters and have the chiefest place in the Assemblies and stand
such are a terror to evil-doers and for the praise and encouragement of those that do well and such bear not the Sword in vain but stand in the Will of God which is cross to their own wills and they Rule for God and not for themselves and this Government is of God and not of Man nor after the will of Man neither takes hold of any tender Conscience nor oppresses it but stands in the place where it is set and some such Magistrates there hath been in the Northern parts of this Nation who witness the Law of God set up in their hearts and feared God and hated covetousness and testified against those who did not and so corrupt Magistrates sought to put them out so let all who are single-hearted judge who are destructive to true Magistracy and Government Concerning SUPERIORITY and HONOUR BREEDING and MANNERS also of the Word THOU to any single Person In the beginning when God made Man he made him to be Lord over all creatures Gen. 1.26 27 28. but not man to be Lord over man Yet he was to be servant of God and when he had disobeyed the command of God God spoke to Adam and Adam spoke to him and God thoued Adam and Adam thoued him and here was the plain language betwixt God and Adam And when God appeared to Moses in the Bush God thoued Moses and Moses thoued him and this was the plain language which ever passed betwixt God and his people in all Ages and thou that disdains to be thoued would exalt thy self above God who thous God in thy formall prayers and scornes to take it thy self therefore thou must come down as Lucifer did but it is Lucifer in thee that is exalted who must not be honoured but must be cast down into the pit and it is he who is head in man who would be honoured and would be superior and would be above God and calls this Manners and Breeding to bow to him and honour him and he hath vented wayes whereby he is honoured and exalted aâ—d worshipped and he calls this Manners and Breeding and who can honour him the most and exalt him the highest those he saith is the best bred and of the best breeding and those he calls Noblemen and Gentilmen and the other he calls Yeomen and common People and Inferioâ—rs though they all honour him but they observe it not so much as the other but their mindes is more set upon the Earth and Earâ—hly things to get wealth and riches and those he calls providenâ— carefull people but he that seeks preferment in the world and would be exalted and set up seek to get his breeding in as excellent manner as he can that so he may get in favour with Lucifer that sits in the Courts and high Places and so long as he pleases Lucifer he will set him up but both he and Lucifer must be cast down into the pit together Obad. 3 4. and here is the ground of the worlds Superiority Nobility Gentility Honour Breeding and Manners and here they Lord over one another by their corrupt wills and here is the ground of all Tyranny and Oppression Rackings and Taxings and Wars and Imprisonments and Envy and Murder and the Persecutions of the righteous all arises from proud Lucifer the Lust in man who would be honoured and all this is in the Fall and under the Curse but Mordechai could not bow to him in Haman and therefore he sought to destroy him and informed the King against him and all the Jewes in the Nation and said they were a scattered people and â—heir Lawes were diverse from all people neither did they observe the Law of the King then he set up a paire of Gallows for Mordechai Esth 6.1 2. but Haman was hanged on his own Gallows and is cast down to nothing and Mordechai is exalted in his stead so there is a time that Mordechai is despised and Haman exalted and there is a time that Haman is cast down and Mordehcai exalted and there is a time that Esau reignes over Jacob and there is a time that the Elder serves the Younger Gen 25.3 and there is a time that Pharoah rules and oppresses the Israelites but there is a time of Israels deliverance and Pharoah drowned in the Sea Exod. 11.9 So there is a time that Antichrist sits in the Temple of God as God and saith he is God 2 Thes 2.4 and Christ lyeth low in the Manger but there is a time that he must be cast into the Pit Rev. 19. and Christ alone exalted He that can receive it let him But in all Ages the children of God could not bow to Lucifer nor his Image and this was the cause why Shadrach Mesech and Abednego was cast into the fiery Furnace Dan. 6. and this was the cause why Daniel was cast into the Lyons den but by the hand of his God whom he alone worshipped and honoured he was delivered and exalted and his Adversaries cast down in his place and this was the cause why the Prophets were alwayes persecuted and imprisoned and the Apostles Acts 7. vers 6. who came to turn the World upside down And this is the cause now why the Ministers and Messengers of Jesus Christ are imprisoned stoned stocked whipped and shamefully entreated whom the Lord is pleased immediately to call from their outward Callings and Countries and sends them abroad into seveâ—al Countries to preach his Name no more after the flesh but after the Spirit and who knows him must know him no more after the flesh but after the Spirit And those come to turn the World upside down being crucified to the World and the World to them and these cannot honor Lucifer nor bow to Lucifer nor worship his Image though there was a time when they did but that was done in Egypt when they knew not God but now Lucifer and his Image is cast down and Christ alone exalted and the pure and perfect Law is witnessed which respects no mans person but God alone honoured and exalted and this we witness For amongst us there are no Superiours after the flesh but Christ is the Head and all the rest fellow-servants And he that would be the greatest should be the least and he that respects persons commits sin And the Angel would not suffer John to bow to him but said he was his fellow-servant and this we witness who are redeemed out of the Kingdom of the Devil from amongst the Children of this World into the Kingdom of the Son who are crucified to the world and the world to us by the Spiritual Cross of Christ in which we joy and glory amongst whom there is no partiallity nor respect of persons but all in union in one though ten thousand and here God alone is King and he alone is honoured exalted and worshipped no more after the flesh but after the Spirit for we have no other God in whom our hearts delight and here proud
Lucifer and his Image is cast out and here all his honour is thrown down and his breeding and manners and fashions and customs and words and wayes and worships which are after the flesh and not after the Spirit whereby he sets up himself and causeth his Image to be worshipped and this is the cause he rages in his Kingdom wheresoever we come and saith we are destructive to all Superiority and Magistracy and Ministry and Honour and Breeding and Manners and turn the world upside down for he knowes where Christ comes he comes to take his Kingdom from him and cast him down into the pit and there he must be tormented quick and all who bears his Image or his Mark and these are some of his marks which he calls Nobility Gentility Honour Breeding Manners and Civility But true Nobility we own the Seed of God is noble wheresoever it is born up and who can witness to the head of the Serpent bruised and the Seed of God born up to reign and rule there is true Nobility there is true Gentillity no more after the flesh but after the Spirit and this is to be honoured for honour is due to this both in Magistrate or Minister Fisherman or Plow-man Heards-man or Shepherd wheresoever it rules without respect of persons and hear fear to whom fear and honour to whom honour and this is no more after the flesh but after the Spirit And here all the true Prophets of God were Noblemen and Gentlemen sprung of the Noble Seed though of the Nobles and Great ones of the Earth they were disdaind and reproached because according to the world they were of lower degree some of them Plow-men some Heards-men some Shepherds and therefore they persecuted them and destroyed them yet they were gentile and bore all Christ was Noble sprang of the Noble Seed though of the Great ones and Nobles of the Earth he was disdained reproached and scorned to be the King of the Jewes because according to the World he was of low degree and supposed to be a Carpenters Son so they spit upon him and disdained him and crucified him yet he was gentile and bore all The Apostles were Noble sprung of the Noble Seed though of the Nobles and Great ones of the Earth they were despised and disdained and reproached because according to the World they were of low degree some of them Fisher-men and the like and came to turn the World upside down so they were despised pâ—asecuted and killed yet they were gentile and bore all But those were all noble sprung of the noble seed and so is all now who are of the same seed and those were all gentile sprung of the gentile seed and those have the nature but not the name and to those belong the true honour not after the flesh but after the Spirit Acts 7 for they denyed the honour of the World and therefore Christ said I receive not honour from men and said to his Apostles Be yee not called Masters neither call any Master upon the earth and though the Princes of this world exercise dominion one over another yet it shall not be so amongst you but he that would be the greatest amongst you let him be your servant Mat. 23.8 9 10 11. and said he How can ye believe which receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God onely John 5.44 and here the true honour is no more after the flesh but after the Spirit and here you who are giving and receiving outside earthly honour you are in the unbelief out of the doctrine of Christ cringing and bowing and honouring and exalting the Devil and worshipping the Beast and his Image which all the world wonders after and worships Rev. 13. And as for Manners and Breeding Courtesie and Civility Learn to do us you would have all to do to you and speak every one truth to his neighbour And let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but such us is good for the use of edifying for evil communication corrupts good manners but let your yea be yea and nay be nay for whatsoever is more is evil Mat. 7.12 Ezek. 8.16 and breed your Children so and here is good Manners and Breeding Curtesie and Civility and who are of the right noble Seed hath this Manners and this Breeding but the Nobles and Great ones of the Earth want this Manners and this Breeding and both Priest and People of all sorts according to the World And here is the ground of all true Nobility Gentility Majesty Honour Breeding Manners Courtesie and Civility no more after the flesh but after the Spirit for the natural man mindes natural things and the spiritual man spiritual things but the natural man receives not the things of God and this we own and witness and the time is coming and now is that before this Seed every knee shall bow and every tongue confess and the Kings and Nobles of the Earth shall be bound in chaines and fetters of Iron and here is also the ground of the Nobility Gentility Superiority Honour Breeding and Manners of the world which is after the flesh but not after the Spirit sprung from proud Lucifer the lust that reigns in man and are not yea and nay but calls it manners to say nay and take it or do it and so they have the name but not the nature and so are Bastards and no Sons who are not sprung from the noble gentile seed and to those Honour is not due neither can we bow unto them for if we should we should set the Devil in the room of God and give unto him that which is due to God which when we were in blindnesse through ignorance we did and so worship the Beast and his Image which all the world worships and wonders after for they that are proud and lofty which is the Image of the Devil for the Devil is the Father of Pride and in gay attire those the world worships and wonders after and extols and exalts into high places but since the Lord hath opened our eyes this we cannot do but testifies against it wheresoever we come both in words and actions and so we are destructive to the worlds Superiority Nobility Gentility Honour Breeding and Manners which is after the flesh and not after the Spirit therefore the Devil hates us in the Nobles and great ones of the world but we give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar and unto God that which is Gods Mat. 22.21 but we cannot give unto Caesar that which is Gods but fear to whom fear honour to whom honour is due He that hath an eare to hear let him hear and understand For saith the Lord if I be a Master where is my fear If I be a Father where is my honor Mal. 1.6 Concerning the Word THOU or THEE First concerning the word thou or thee which all those which are their Priests and Teachers knows