his People with whom you have thus dealt yea you shall suddenly know it the time is not long till he will crown his People in the sight of his Enemies he will crown them with Praise and with Righteousness with Honour and Majesty and he will keep them in safety even when Sorrow compasses you about his Mercy and Loving kindness shall extend towards them even when his Wrath and Judgments doth smite you and confound you O! what shall I say unto you for the deep sence thereof remaines upon my heart for when I consider how that in all Ages the Lord did avenge his Peoples Cause and when the time of their suffering was expired he brake the Bonds of Iniquty and set them free thus did he with his People Israel of old and many times it was his way with his People to bring them low by suffering and then to raise them up again in Glory and he suffered their Enemies for a season to glory over them that he might bring them down and thus he did in England in the case between the Bishops and their crew of Persecuters and the poor People at that day called Puritans Did not he confound that persecuting Crew and deliver his People And is not he the same to effect the same Work at this very day Yea doubtless and much more will he do in as much as the manifestation of Truth is more clear then it was in their dayes and in as much as the Rulers and People of this Nation have rejected a more clear Testimony then either the Papists in Queen Marys dayes or the Bishops and Prelets in their dayes even so much the more will the Lord God execute his Vengeance with more Violence in a more manifest way and all shall know that it is he that doth it and he will set his People free for he hath regarded their Sufferings and he hath said it is enough for he hath tried them and found them faithfull and all this hath been suffered to prove them and not to destroy them and like as he hath preserved them in patience and peace through it all even so will he give them Hearts to walk answerably to their deliverance and as they have abounded in Patience in their Sufferings so shall they abound in Praises everlasting in the day of their Freedom and the Earth shall be glad and shall yield the increase and blessing the Heaven and the Earth shall rejoyce and the Hearts of the Righteous shall leap for joy when the Lord hath broken the Yoke of the Oppressed and set his People free inwardly and outwardly and then shall they sing to the Lord over all their Enemies who shall be tormented and vexed in the Lord 's sore displeasure for their Reward cometh and their Recompence shall be even as work and he will give unto them Sorrow and Anguish instead of rejoycing But again when I consider the long Suffering and patience and forbearance of the Lord 's innocent People under all their Sufferings and when I looked at their innocency and at their Righteousness and Spirit of Holiness with which the Lord hath blessed them my Heart was made glad in the consideration of this and the more was my joy the more I beheld their innocency and the guiltlesness of their Cause whereby the unjustness of their suffering did the more appear and withal when I looked and beheld their increase under all their sufferings and how that the Lord had turned all these things to their good and to the overthrow of all their Enemies how that by that way wherein their Enemies intended to destroy them from being a People even thereby did the Lord most wonderfully increase them to be a great People for through all have they grown in Life and Power and in strength and in number and through it all have they been incouraged to follow the Lord with more zeal and boldness and in the consideration of this I did rejoyce with magnifying the Lord for ever that he had brought forth his Praise even through the wickedness of the Wicked and he had increased his People and exalted them through the cruelty of all their Enemies and that through all Opposition they were attained unto a happy Rest and through all the Tempest of great Trials they were arrived into the Harbour of Renown and great Glory And when I considered this how that the Lord had given them dominion and brought their life to reign over all their Enemies these things were a joy unto me and looking back into Ages seeing there was nothing nor any People for Generations that had grown and risen through all Opposition like unto these wherefore is is a Sign and a Testimony that we are the Lord's and that these things are of him and from him and by him alone that he might be praised for ever Again when I do consider how that the Lord hath raised this People even out of the Dust and them that were not a People are become a People and the Lord hath provoked Nations by them that were not a People within these few years and the Lord has carried on this Work amongst his People not by any thing of Man nor by the Arm of Flesh but in pure innocency and simplicity hath it been accomplished not by the Wisdom of this World nor by men in places of Honour and of Power in the Nations for all that has been wanting to them and what they are it is through the opposition of all this for they have had none of the great men of the Earth on their side to defend them and establish them but all have been against them and even Oppression and Tyranny executed upon them rather then any approbation or justification from men in outward Authority so that truely it may be said that there hath been nothing of man in this Work but all of the Lord by his own Power and in a contrary way to all the false Sects and false Churches hath the beginning and carrying on of these things been for we know that all the false Sects in this Nation have risen and been established through the countenance of men in Place and Power and upon man and the Wisdom of this World and Authority of the Powers of the Earth hath the rise and fall of all false Churches depended and as the Powers of the Earth have sided with them so have they been set up and at the displeasure of Authority have been cast down But as for this People they are raised of the Lord and established by him even contrary to all men and they have given their Power onely to God and they cannot give their Power to any mortal men to stand or fall by any outward Authority and to that they cannot seek but to the Lord alone who heareth their cry and will avenge their cause Wherefore let all the Persecutors bow before the Lord and let all the Saints walk humbly in his sight and let them continue in that
is insufficient to maintain his own Cause and to uphold the Rights and Priviledges of his own Kingdom Do you think that he hath need of you or a Multitude of wild and heady Men and Youth to fight in his Cause to uphold his Gospel and Ministry and Ministers Alas no you are deceived in this matter for his own Arm shall do all this and he will do it without you and not be beholding to you in this matter His Gospel nor the Priviledges of it shall not fall the true Ministry the Preaching and Dispensing of God's Word and Ordinances shall not perish though you be silent for the Lord by his own Power will maintain and carry on these things and all others belonging to his Kingdom without the help of Mortal Men or without the help of the Arm of Flesh so that you may put up your Swords and be still in this matter and leave it to God who is sufficient for these things without a multitude of men or without the Arm of Flesh For I must tell you that the faithful Teachers of God's Word and the faithful Ministry desire not your help to prosecute their Cause and the Cause of the Gospel but they trust to the Lord to be maintained countenanced and encouraged by him alone who is sufficient in that cause though its true the false Ministers and the antichristian Teachers through all Christendom for many Generations they have sought unto the Arm of flesh to set them up to maintain and defend them and their Gospel and false Church thus it is through the Popes Dominion and among some Protestants also they cry unto the Magistrates unto the Kings and Parliaments for the making cruel Laws to defend them and to the rude world they cry Help us and save us and defend us by fighting with Carnal Weapons for Heresies and Errors and such like and they stand in their Ministry in their Call to it and Maintenance of it and defence in it by the Arm of flesh and their Church is upheld thereby also but this is but Antichrists way and these are Antichrists Ministers and his false Church hereby is defended in the World and this shews that the Weapon of the Spirit of God is wanted by them which the Apostles had and it s very doubtful O ye Apprentices of London that your Ministers have prayed you and preached you into such a work as that you should stand up to maintain them and fight for them and their church against such that do oppose them but I must tell you if their Defence be not in another hand then in yours they are like to come to perpetual ruin and their Gospel and their Teaching and their Sacraments their Church cannot stand if they have not the Lord's Help more then yours And as for the Universities which you contend for alas many of you are ignorant concerning them and what Abomination is committed among them oh if you knew but the Prophaneness and Ungodliness and Ill-education that is among them it would turn your zeal for them backwards and it s not from humane Studies that the faithful Ministers of Christ come but who are so indeed are made so by the Gift of God's Eternal Spirit both in this Age and in Ages past So that O ye Apprentices Be still be still and do not ruin your selves and your City by Rage and Fury and Disorders upon such a Proceeding for your ground of Quarrel is not perfectly good nor your Endeavour in the Cause aforesaid well accepted with the Lord. But if your Quarrel be upon the account or about the matter of Church and Ministry leave that to the Lord and to your Ministers that they may defend themselves their Church and Ordinances and Worship by the Spirit of God if they have it for that is the Weapon of Ministry Church and Gospel-Warfare and not Carnal Weapons nor the multitude of an Host of Men Let your Ministers come forth in the best authority of spirit that they have and plead the cause of their Worship and Gospel and Ministry like Christians and not like Iews and Heathens for they use Carnal Weapons killing and murdering about Church and Religion that is the Papists Practice and not the Practice of the Saints So that ye Apprentices seeing you state your Quarrel against the Army upon the account of Church and Ministry my Advice is to you Proceed no further upon that ground but give your Trust to the Lord for the maintaining of all things related to his own Kingdom But the Cry is Those Sectaries those Sectaries away with them Your Trouble seems to be concerning them lest they prevail but wherefore are you troubled in this matter like as if you knew not that what the Lord purposeth must come to pass who are of God will stand this you need not doubt and who are not will come to nought and its vain for Mortal Man to oppose the Lord's Purpose but this was the Cry in dayes past How did the Bishops and Prelates in their dayes cry against the Non-conformists as Hereticks and such like even as the Ministers now cry against Sectaries But consider how did the Bishops proceed but in being the chief Cause themselves of raising War against the then Non-conformists thinking thereby to have smitten them all but you know it proved otherwise and as they thought to do unto others so was it done unto them which thing may be an Example to you For as they thought to have destroyed the then called Puritans in like manner were themselves destroyed and this may possibly fall upon you Therefore consider for I tell you as an equal man between you and them that there is more Sincerity towards God and Fear of his Name in some of them called Sectarians then there is amongst you and your Ministers though I do not here justifie the Sectarians so called in all things neither do I in every thing condemn your Ministers but this I say and do know If that you and your Ministers raise a War against those called Sectarians the effect thereof will prove your own Sorrow and their Advantage So this is my Advice to you rest and be still and that will prove your own Peace and Happiness Therefore take heed and beware lest ye oppose and gain-say the Work and Power of God which his purpose is to bring to pass in this his Day who is setting up his Kingdom in the midst of Tribulations that comes upon men The second Particular humbly desired by you is The Freedom and Priviledges of Parliaments as being the Great Charter of the People which you account very dear unto you and by which you hope to see you say a Settlement in Church and State and you humbly conceive that to be the probable means to establish the true Protestant Religion reform the Laws secure the Liberties promote Learning c. Answ. Now Friends do but truly consider and with a humble Mind what the Work of the Lord hath
it is said yea a lively stones are built up a spiritual house and where it is said 〈◊〉 Salt in your selves He asked if a mans belly must be filled with salt Mark this Expositor and his blindness and ignorance and the cause why 〈◊〉 is silent And forbears to aggravate sin is least hard thoughts should be entertained against him Let men judge whether this be not an unfaithful man to the Lord who rather then harsh thoughts should be against him in the wicked he will be silent and hide and cover sin in sinners O wickedness indeed He saith that Christ Ascended into Heaven in our nature viz in his nature and they that are one with him and he and they are proved to be in corrupt nature as they will confess it O what wickedness to hold forth that Christ is at the right hand of God in sinfull nature as his words holds forth from his own mouth Iohn Burton said That men may depend too much upon something called Christ and 〈◊〉 righteousness of Christ within He saith that the Devil Knows how to take the Childrens bread viz. Christ Jesus who only is the Childrens bread and give him to dogs O sâ—d error and damnable He said That the Devil deceives souls by bidding them follow the Light which they brought into the World with them And he confesses that Light is the Light of Christ as God O unutterible ignorance can a sober man read this and not be ashamed to hold forth that the Devil deceives souls by bidding them follow the Light of Christ as God He saith they that follow Christ aright must follow him without to the cross wiâ—… for Iustification or monut Calvery without they must seek for Iustification without 〈◊〉 the Spirit of Christ it leads to Christ without Reader see if this be not near unto Popery or enquire else what he means as if he would have people to go a Pilgrimage and this is contratry to Rom. 10. 6 7 8. He said That the soul of man is the Light wherewith every man is lighted by Christ as God and this is the Light that every man brought into the World with him and the Devil deceives souls by this Light viz. by the soul this is true from his own words let it be marked by sober men what damnable doctrines these are hardly fit to be raked in He saith further That the Devil deceives souls by perswading them to follow the Light within which he confesses is the Light of Christ and that all man hath it He saith Conscience is the Light of God and yet in another place saith Conscieâ—… defiled what concurrence is here let the Reader judge to hold forth that the Light of God is defiled his words plainly shews to say that the Law is the Schoolmaster to bring to Christ. He saith This is a frothy Argument And to make up his wickedness he said He is ruled by Scripture conâ—… whether those doctrines and lyes be not quite contrary to Scripture what is pudency is in this mans heart to say he is ruled by Scripture he saith Thy that look upon Christ no otherwayes then as he was before the World was be dare 〈◊〉 bold to say they are no Christians but Antichristians he said That Christ as he is â—…diator so he hoth not lighten every man that comes into the World though as he is God 〈◊〉 doth Mark here he would divide Christ not to be the same the Son as he is the Father yet he confesses in his Book What the Father doth the Son doth also see what contradiction here is not worth the raking in O blindness that may be felt in the grossest darkness he inhabits He saith That the Devil hath more experience of the knowledge of the eternal power and Godhead then unregenerate men Mark the word more signifies something He saith The Light of Christ 〈◊〉 God is Conscience and Nature it self Mark nature is sinful and wicked and all are children of Wrath in it so are all by the Light of Christ as God wicked and children of wrath if Ioh. Bunions doctrine be true let him make it good as he can O wonderful trash and muddy stuff unheard of before He saith The Devil deceives souls by bidding them listen within and see if there be not that which doth convince of sin Mark his doctrine well He denyes That Pauls bids listen within contrary to that Scripture Rom. 10. 8 9. He said Conscience may be hardned and seared and is naturally evill and yet saith Conscience is the Light of Christ as God see what an agreement is here the Light of Christ as God is hardened and seared and evil else Iohn Bunion must revoke his doctrine or else prove this Consider what stuff this is which is held forth by him He saith he preaches not for hire indeed he had no need to receive money for such doctrines as these He saith Christ is some four or five foot long This is more then he can tell He reckons the doctrine of Christ within a false or among false opinions He saith measureâ—or â—or manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man though Paul saith so plainly to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 12. 7. Mark here he hath spoken quite contrary to Scripture denyed that which Paul affirmed or else counted Pauls words no Scripture He saith They that are born of God do daily sin absolute contrary to 1 Ioh. 3. 9. And therefore he would give the Apostle the lye Now Reader consider whether thou wilt believe Iohn Bunion or the Apostle Iohn for they are at odds and speaks quite contrary one to the other He saith That the Light that shews thee there is a God and that this God is eternal would lead to life then might Devils be delivered from damnation and the Devils knows God as a Creator c. He saith That the Light spoken of John 3. is the man Christ Iesus and yet saith that the man Christ Iesus is not a condemning Light Mark that Scripture saith that Light was condemnation to them that did evil he saith not who must you believe He saith That the Lyar and Slanderer is an Unbeliver and his condition is sad Consider here how out of his own mouth he is condemned who is at large proved a Lyar and Slander out of his own mouth will the Lord condemn him He saith That a man cannot give a more right description of a false Prophet then the Prophets Christ and the Apostles did give Reply In this thou hast truly said Now le ts consider how thou hast confessed to thy own shame and laid open thy own nakedness the Prophets said such were false Prophets as Preached for Hire and divined for Mony and fed themselves and clothed themselves with the wool and that used their Tongues and said the Lord saith it when God had not spoken to them and that cryed peace to the wicked and Christ said such were Deceivers who had the chiefest place in
Members of one Head and mind always the Testimony of Truth its self and walk therein and you cannot stumble Have not respect to Persons but to the Truth only for Persons may change but the Truth abides for ever So let not an evil Eye look at Evil when it comes to pass to take occasion thereby against the Truth for then you stumble and fall but I say again have respect only to the pure Testimony of Truth which is sure and cannot err nor alter though man may change and err and that is the Testimony which is held forth for Salvation evon the Testimony of God with whom there is no shaddow of turning Therefore all take heed unto your selves that you give not nor receive any offence against the Lord and against your own souls but know the Seed of God in which stands the Election where the Covenant of God is sure and unalterable and a Birth you must all know to be brought forth in you which must inherit and that is it which is born of the Spirit which doth obtain the Promise it is not that birth which is of the Flesh which works by willing and running and thinking that obtains not the Promise of God neither is Salvation shewed unto it but in Patience and in Long-suffering is the Victory received over all the Powers of Darkness which make war against the Kingdom of God So all Friends dwell in that which lets you see before the World was and that stops and limits all Strife in the mind and gives you victory over it and none must glory in the Flesh for that glory must be confounded but let him that glories glory in the Lord in the Spirit and not in the Flesh And take heed that none of you abuse your liberty which is in Christ Jesus neither turn it into fleshly Bondage and thereby the Just comes to suffer and the fleshly part comes to rule above the Seed of God but dwell in the Cross which suppresseth every high Thought and whatsoever is against God in the first motion and thereby you will be preserved from the Enemy which watcheth for Evil against you and seeks occasion against the Way of the Lord but mind that which keeps you pure for it is the pure in Heart that sees God and it is him that is of clean Hands and of a pure Heart that inherits God's holy Mountain And as concerning all your Afflictions and Sufferings and Tryals and Persecutions and whatsoever is laid upon you by the Lord or by Men I say bear all things patiently and endure all things in Long-suffering these things are but for a moment and they are not worthy to be compared with the Price of God's Inheritance and if you dwell in the Counsel of the Lord all these things will be turned unto your good in all Tryals and Sufferings the Lord's Arm will be revealed and these things must come to pass that Truth may appear in its beauty in Victory over all that which doth oppose it and vengance is the Lord's and he will repay for he doth enquire after our Blood though no man lay it to heart or consider the cause or unjust Sufferings of the Innocent who are become a Prey to the Ungodly and unjust Men till God arise to plead our Cause And all Afflictions and Sufferings are but for to try and prove they are not to confound or destroy the Lord's People and therefore in patience they must be born and the Life of God felt which gives Dominion over all these things And receiving all things as from the Hand of the Lord then in all things your Peace will remain and God's Testimony will witness Peace and acceptance with God And of all Injustice and Abuses and Cruelty acted upon you by any at any time keep account of it and draw it up in short and plain words the occasion and manner of it and at every Quarter Sessions let a true Declaration of all unjust Sufferings be presented in prudency and singleness of heart to the Justices or Grand-Jury by such as are wise and faithful and appeal to the Witness of God in them in such Causes that that of God in all Men may witness for us Let this be done as cause is seen at every Sessions in the Wisdom and Authority of God that in all things Justice and true Judgment may be sought after and in Patience waited for till the Lord alone our King and Judge and Law-giver comes to reign over all his Enemies when all that now suffer for him shall reign with him A Servant to the Churches of Christ E. B. To the Elect and Chosen Seed of God in London TO the Elect and Chosen Seed of God most dear and precious who are redeemed to God and joyned in Covenant with him and have tasted and felt and heard of the Love and Peace of the Father and to all the Faithfull and Called of God who are Partakers of the Power and Presence of an Endless Life in particular unto you the Flock of God in and about London who fear the Lord and wait upon him and over whom he is the chief Shepherd The Salutation in the Father's Love by me a Brother and Companion unto all the Children of Sion and chiefly unto you a Friend in Heart and nothing more desiring for you then your encrease in God and that Grace Peace Love and Fellowship from the infinite Father of Heaven and Earth may be largely encreased and aboundantly multiplied amongst you and in all your hearts that you may shine forth in the Beauty of the Lord and the Garment of Righteousness and Truth may be spread over you all and that the Spirit of Holiness may rest upon you that the fruit thereof may greatly abound in you and spring forth from you whereby the Father who hath begotten you may be glorified through the Nation and among his Saints through the World and my Soul wisheth that the Fear of the Lord be amongst you and his terror upon all your Enemies Amen DEarly Beloved and much desired after in the Lord the Spirit of the Father in upon me to put you in remembrance of these things of the greatest price which belong unto your Peace which have been hid from you in the time of Darkness but now are reveal'd unto you whereof your Eyes have seen your Ears have heard your Hands have handled and your Hearts have perceived and now be not unmindful thereof but take heed unto the precious Treasure of Life Eternal which the Father hath given unto you I mean the Knowledge of himself who is manifest to dwell in you and to walk in you and to lead you and to guide in all his Wayes of Peace and Truth and this is that Treasure more desirable and of greater price then the Glory of the whole Earth yea it is Peace to the soul and Gladness to the heart and Refreshment to the life to feel and witness the Teaching of the Spirit of the Father
was come to search them and try them and would hew down their Idolatrous wayes and worships and works c. And in order to a fair proceeding with them the next day I was moved to write this following Paper to them by way of Queries as to lay some ground of Opposition hoping to have received their Answer that I might have joyned tryal with them for it was in my heart to search and oppose their Wayes and Practices and their whole Religion And these Queries were delivered to them in Latine though from them I have received no Answer to this day but the Queries stand upon them and my Charge they lie under charged upon them in the Name of the Lord. To all ye that profess your selves Devoted to the Service of God and Separation from the World and Mortification in your lives who are called by the the name of Fryars and Nunns in and about Dunkirk THe Mighty Day of the Lord God is come and coming upon you and all the World Awake awake ye that sleep in the Earth for the Dreadful God is arising to plead with you and to give unto all the World the Cup of his fierce Indignation because of your Idolatries and Hypocrisies and Abominations which have corrupted the Earth and are come up before him and have provoked him and the Cry of the Just who hath been smitten and laid slain is entred into the Ears of the Most High and his Sword which is the word of his Mouth is awakened to wound and slay all his Enemies And the Day of your Visitation is now come wherein the Lord is searching you and trying you that he may recompence you and this is the Word of the Lord to you Wherefore I am moved of the Lord to propound some few Queries to you for the tryal of your spirits and wayes to which I demand your Answer that all things may be brought to Light and true Judgement and that you may be judged justly and by the Spirit of the Lord cleered or condemned accorto your Deeds 1. Whether there were such order of Men and Women in the true Church of Christ in the Apostles dayes and where did Christ give Institution for such Worships Practices and manner of Life slouthful idleness and unprofitableness to God and Men as ye hold forth And whether any are bound to believe you and follow your Religion and Practices except you can prove by the Scriptures the Words of Christ or Example of his Saints and Apostles your Religion and Lives and Practices and Worships and whether you do admit of tryal in all your whole Religion by and according to the Scriptures and Writings of the Apostles yea or nay 2. Whether the World in your Hearts and the World's nature even the root of Lust the root of Pride Covetousness and the love of this World and its Vanities and the root of Idolatry is subdued in you to the Light in your Consciences I do speak and what is the root of all these things and what is it that subdues it Is it an outward abstinence by the force of Locks and Doors and Bolts or self-separation and secret Places that subdues the World's nature in Men and Women and is it by such means that Christ gives Victory over Sin and overcomes it in his People or is it not by the Power of God in the Heart onely and whether is it not damnable Hypocrisie in you to appear outwardly Holy and free from these things while yet the Nature and Root of all these things are alive in you and boyling up in the motions of them and is any outward thing the Cross of Christ and Christ crucified which mortifies to the World which the Apostles preached and rejoyced in 3. Whether is it a true denial of the World in you to deny it in one manner and place and to run into it and imbrace it in another way and place it doth not appear to me that you have denyed the World as the Apostles did For answer me where had they any such Seats in the finest and fattest Places of the Cities and Towns as ye have such great fine Houses and Gardens and such Revenues by the year as ye have staying all their dayes in a great House and spending their time in slouth and idleness as ye do they went up and down the World preaching the Gospel and had no certain dwelling Place but followed the Lamb of God in the Spirit and did not settle themselves in fat Places of the Earth continuing all their dayes as ye do therefore we judge that you are out of the Life and not in the spirit as the Apostles were in but are in the Form of Righteousness and Holiness without the Power So I demand an Answer to clear your selves if you can and to prove that you are of the true Church and that your Wayes and Practices are in and by the Spirit of God and according to the Scriptures 4. What is that Death that hath passed over all and reigned from Adam to Moses and whether it doth not reign yet in and over you and what is Moses's Ministration and whether ever through it you yet truely came and whether that part be subdued in you which the Law of God was added upon and whether are you come to Christ and know him as he was before Abraham and before Mary and how was he David's Lord and how his Son and is Christ within you born and revealed to you by whom the World was made and do you expect to be perfectly freed from Sin that ye shall not commit Sin in this Life upon Earth yea or nay 5. What is the Soul and what was its state and condition before Transgression and what is its state and condition in Transgression and whether may man come to be restored by the second Adam into the same estate while upon Earth as he lost in the first Adam yea or nay Friends I demand of you in the Name and Power of the Lord God to answer me these things in writing some of you and to subscribe your names that I may return you an Answer and query further of you for we are sent of God to visit you and to try you and if you be in the perfect Truth and would convert others to your Religion be plain with us and use your best Spiritual Weapons in your Zeal towards us and defend your Cause and appear for your God and if you doubt of your own Wayes and Practices and be not able to defend your Religion then let your Mouthes be stopped then turn from Idolatry for now is the Lord God risen that will judge ye and all the Earth righteously I am a lover of Souls but a Witness against all false Idolatrous Wayes of Antichrist and the Whore that hath reigned in the World and I am the Lord's Servant E. B. By the Scorners of the World called a Quaker These queries were sent to the Fryars in Latine ANd we were with
Poor nor the Laws regulated nor the liberty of pure Consciences altogether allowed but these Dominions are filled with cruel Oppressions and the Poor groan everywhere under their heavy Hand of Injustice the Needy are troden down under Foot and the Oppressed cry for Deliverance and are ready to faint for true Justice and Judgement the Proud exalts himself against the Poor and the High-minded and Rebellious contemns the Meek of the Earth the Horn of the Ungodly is exalted over the Lord's Heritage and they that are departed from Iniquity are become a Prey to Oppressors and the Crâ—â—â— hearted deal cruelly with the Innocent in these Nations and such whom the Lord hath freed in their Consciences from false Worships and Teachers and from the Wayes of Sin and Death are made Slaves and greedily preyed upon by unjust men through casting into Prisons and Dungeons and unjust Fines and Illegal Proceedings and Beatings and Abusings and Woundings and Bruisings hard to be expressed and large to be declared even the Hands of the People over whom thou art set to rule are full of Blood Merciless and Cruel and neither feâ—t God nor are subject to the just Rule and Government of Men and the Mouthes of many of thy subservant Rulers and Governours that have their Power from thee are as the Teeth of young Lions and the Upright and Hâ—rmless are devoured and made a Spoil of by them through Policy and Oppression both in their Persons and Estates if I perish I must speak the Truth my life is not dear to me for the Truth 's sake many who should have judged in true Justice and Righteousness the Cause of the Poor have been as Bryars and Thorns to ensnare and pierce the just Man and have perverted Judgement and â—uâ—nâ—d it backward and Equity hath hardly had place to enter most of the Prisons this day in all thy Jurisdictions have and doth testifie the unjust Judgement and the great Oppressions and Cruelties of some in Authority who have used or rather abused thy Name and made it a Cloak for their Hard-heartedness O my Heart is troubled and my Bowels pained at the remembrance of this how doth the Poor cry under the heavy Hand of Oppression and the Needy lament for want of true Judgement and the Oppressed groan for want of Deliverance And these things are thought upon by the Lord though not considered by thee as they ought to be and because of this will he arise to plead the Cause of the Innocent against him that is too strong for him and will dash to pieces his Enemies and break the Jaws of the Devourers and the Righteous shall not alwayes be a Prey to the Teeth of the Ungodly O Friend when wilt thou consider the Oppression of the Poor and hearken to the cry of the Oppressed within thee and without thee when shall it enter into thy Heart this cause of the unjust Sufferings of the Lord's People from which thou canst not altogether be excused for it is acted in thy Name though not by thee O let thy Ear be opened unto the Cryes of the Oppressed in the Prisons and let the Cause of the Innocent come before thee and let thy heart be pierced at the Consideration of these things which are come to pass in thy day contrary to the expectations of many and see if it be not contrary to thy own Promises sometimes vowed by thee let the Light of Christ in thy own Conscience answer and some of the multitude of the grievous Oppressions of which the Land is full have been laid at thy Door and brought unto thee but scarcely found an encrance upon thee and this aggravates the Crime of of thy Transgression in that thou knowest of these things and wonderful is it to consider that even thou with whom the Power of the Lord hath sometimes been should now suffer that people with whom the Power of the Lord is to be persecuted and thy name to be a cloak for it how many in all parts of this Nation have been and are at this day grievous sufferers under cruel bondage concerning Tythes that great Abomination and Idol and cause of heavy groanings the bodies of many just men violently surprized and cast into Goals and Prisons unjustly and some illegally their cruelly suffering the loss of their Liberties and the enjoyments of their Families and honest Assemblies and others have their Goods spoiled and made havock upon almost to the ruin of Families by unreasonable men through unjust Judgment and cruel dealings of some in Authority for so much unjustly challenged by the Priest or Impropriator it may be they distress five times so much to the great shame of the Government of a Christian Nation as may appear in a Book called The Cry of the Oppressed and how many are ready even to faint under the hard Oppression of maintaining Hireling Teachers and Idol-Temples many for that cause being unjust Sufferers in Bodies and Estates by cruel imprisoment and spoiling of Goods the very cry of this Oppression reaches unto Heaven against thee who suffers it and against the Idol-Shepherds who are the ground of it who make a prey upon Gods Heritage and the Lord God will be avenged upon them and they and their Staff shall utterly perish wo unto them and to the Idol-Worships of which the Land is full which they uphold which causes the hearts of the Righteous to mourn because of the Seed of God which is in Captivity under them again many are unjust and wofull Sufferers because they cannot swear on this or that occasion though in all causes they speak the truth and do obey Christ's Commands even such are trodden upon by unjust Fines charged upon them and imposed Oppressions the Example of which never went before many parts of this Land is witness of this and this is by the corruptness of some that bear rule under thee who rule not for God as they ought but turns the Sword of Justice and doth unjustly thereby and grieves the Lord and dishonours thee Again some suffer long and tedious imprisonments and others cruel Stripes and Abuses and danger of life many times from wicked men for reproving Sin and crying against the Abomination of the Tiâ—â—â— which the Scriptures also testifie against in Streets or Temples or 〈◊〉 Places some having been sent to Prison taken on the High-Way and no 〈◊〉 charged against them and others committed being taken out of Peaceable Meetings and whipped and sent to Prison without transgression of any Law 〈◊〉 or unjust wholly through the Rage and Envy of the Devil and such who have perverted Judgement and Justice and some in Prisons have suffered superaboundantly from the Hands of the cruel Goalers and their Servants by Beatings and Threatnings and putting Irons on them and not suffering any of their Friends to visit them with Necessaries and some have dyed in the Prisons whose Lives were not dear to them whose Blood will be reckoned on account against thee one day
and many more other wayes have suffered grievous things as Banishments out of Towns and Whipping and Stocking and grievous unjust Abuses and none of these for Evil-doing but for Good even because they cannot bow to the Devil but are redeemed out of the World and therefore the World hates them and some have suffered hard Cruelties because they could not respect Persons and bow with Hat or Knee and from these Cruelties canst thou not altogether be excused in the sight of God being brought forth in thy Name and under thy Power consider Friend and be awakened to true Judgement let the Lord search thy Heart and lay these things to mind that thou mayst be an Instrument to remove every Burthen and mayst at last fulfill the Will of God are they nothing to thee that such things should be brought forth under thee O be awakned be awakened and now seek the Lord's Glory and not thine own least thou perish before the Lord and Men nay if Men would give thee Honour and high Titles and princely Thrones take it not for that which would exalt and honour thee in the World would betray thee to the World and cast thee down in the sight of the World and this is God's Word to thee what shall the whole Nation be perjured Men and thou the cause of it and wilt thou transgress by building again that which thou hast destroyed Then shall the Lord and his Light in every Conscience bear witness against thee let it not be but deny thy self and thou wilt find the Lord honouring thee Give heed unto my Words and understand my Speech Be not exalted by Man lest Man betray thee the Lord give thee an Understanding in this and guide thee in his Counsel and the rather above all things let thy Heart be stirred up in thee for the Lord For now is he setting up the Dominion of his Son which never shall have an End and thy Dominion must bow under it and all the Dominions of the Earth or else be confounded and broken to Pieces the Glory of the Lord is revealing and thine shall be vailed before it and the Glory of all Flesh shall fall Therefore strive not openly nor secretly against his Way for it shall prosper there is no Enchantment against us nor any formed Weapon that can prosper knowest thou not that the King of Righteousness might command thousands of his Saints to avenge him of his Adversaries and to plead his Cause against the Rebellious All Power is in his Hand yea and the Authority and Dominion shall be in the Hands of his Saints and every one that exalts himself against them shall be brought down not by an outward Sowrd or might of Man but by his out-stretched Arm and all Crowns that are Mortal shall be troden down by him whose Crown is Immortal and never fades away Therefore be wise and learned this is thy day as thou dealest or sufferest to be done with the Lord's People so to thee it shall be done in that day when their Government shall out-reach thine and be set atop of it as thou hopest for Mercy from the Lord when his Kingdom conqueres thee and thine now deal favourably and relieve the Oppressed boast not thy self though the Lord hath used thee in his Hand but know that when he will he can cast thee a Rod out of his Hand into the Fire for in his Hand thou art if thou wilt honour him he will honour thee otherwise he can yea and will confound thee and break thee and make thee weak as Water before him his Love through my Heart breaths unto thee he would thy happiness if thou wilfully contemn it not by exalting thy self and seeking thine own glory and hardning thy Heart against the Cry of the Poor and this I was moved in bowels of pittiy to lay before thee who am thy Friend not in Flattery but in an upright Heart who wisheth well unto thee in the Lord. A Friend to the Kingdom of Christ and not of this World but an Heir of Immortality with the Son of God called E. B. The Original of this was given to the Hands of Oliver Cromwell then Protector in the third moneth of the Year 1657. For the Hands of Oliver Cromwell called Protector FRIEND I am moved to write to thee from the occasion of being with thee yesterday and I take liberty from the true love and pitty stirred up in my Heart towards thee who am thy Friend and wisheth well unto thee in the Lord even that Salvation thou mayest receive and that thy way may be blessed upon Earth and the Fruits of the Knowledge of God might more abound in thee and the Fruits of Ignorance less which doth appear which I wish might be cut off before they wholly over-grow thee and remove the Blessing far from thee in this life and in the life to come and bring upon thee Destruction for the Fruits of all Unrighteousness brings Death Sorrow and Misery and the Light of Christ in thee shall answer in all things to the justness of the Judgments of the Lord. Thou sayest in effect that thou wouldest not or thou desirest not our Persecution or that we should be persecuted by Cruelty or unjust Imprisonment now consider what the cause is that what thou desirest not to be done yet is done thou having power in thy hand onely to prevent what thou wouldest not have done is it not thine own unfaithfulness to the Principle of God in thee which beareth witness against the Persecution of the Innocent Or is it that thou mayest please men and therefore rather suffer Wickedness to abound Injustice and Oppression to be acted against the Poor making it appear thou art willing to do the false Teachers of this Nation and wicked men a pleasure then to own the People of God in relieving them and â—â—sing them of their cruel Burthens and Oppressions laid upon them by unjust men for a word of thy mouth or the shew of thy Countenance in dislike of these cruel and unjust Persecutions would bind the Hands of many blood-thirsty Men and stop the Mouthes of many Devourers and therefore because of thine own unfaithfulness doth that come to pass which thou desirest not And so I must needs say This appears to be evil in thee to say In effect thou approvest not or thou desirest not out Persecution and yet it is done when the Power is in thy Hand to remove it and this in much love and great pitty I declare unto thee in the Fear and Counsel of God Further thou sayest Thâ—n art not guilty of these Persecutions acted unjustly upon us Again consider I say Thou canst not be cleared in the Sight of the Lord God from them being acted under thee and in thy Name in the Day of the Lord the Light in thy Conscience shall answer this for there seems to be rather a favouring of them in thee and by for bearance of the Actors of Cruelty by which their
worships and Idolatrous Practices and Ordinances and in her false Ministry and false Doctrines and she was set up in Nations by the force of cruel and violent Laws and men and is upheld by Oppression and Injustice at this day and yet all this she doth under the Name of Holy Church and useth the Name of Christ as if she were his Wife and yet hath other Lovers and by such means hath this great Whore deceived the World But now the Day of the Lord is come upon her and the hour of her Judgement is at hand and all that have taken pleaâ—â—â—e with her shall mourn and bitterly lament because of her Judgements which cometh in a day but we are delivered from her Judgements because the Lord hath called us from her abominations and we can no more drink her Cup of false Doctrines and Practices all which are Idolatry and to be Judged of the Lord though she should drink our Blood as she hath done the Saints before us But I say the Lord hath led us out of this Babylon He hath delivered us from this great City and made us Spiritually free from its abominations and Idolatries though not outwardly free from her oppressions and cruelties And though this great City hath Ruled over the Kings and great men of the earth and subjected many Nations through its wickedness and violence yet certainly its ruin is near to come Else my Hope is lost my Life is smitten and the Lord hath not spoken by me And the Lord will Reward this false woman this false Church that hath deceived the Nations even according to her deeds as she hath done to others so shall others do to her measure for measure and much more might we say concerning her but the Lord hath opened our eyes and we see her abominations and she cannot deceive us And this is the loving kindness of the Lord unto us for which he is worthy to be praised by us for evermore And in that ye have received the Truth and do know the Truth live in it and walk in it in all faithfulness and be not fearful and unbelieving as though the Lord were not with you though ye suffer much for his Names sake for he is not wanting unto that man that doth fear his Name and that walks in his Way but for the deliverance of all such will he appear he will free the oppressed and the afflicted people he will save even by his out-stretched Arm Wherefore let our eye be unto the Lord in all estates and conditions whether of sufferings or otherwise for from him Salvation cometh and not from the Mountains of the Earth and keep your Meatings in your several places and be faithful in all things that your Consciences may be kept void of offences both towards God and men that no disobedience nor load of iniquity may be upon you but that in the sight of God you may feel clearness and freedom of Soul and Spirit from the burden of all transgression that you may know the Remission of all sin and all iniquity may be blotted out and no guilt of transgression may lie upon you but you may enjoy Peace in your Consciences in the Sanctification and Justification of the new man and this is the heavenly Life even upon Earth And when you are met together in the Name and Power of the Lord mind his presence amongst you for that is life and will make your Meetings profitable and full of Vertue to your Souls and the Lord will instruct you in all that which is good and Christ will be your Minister of Peace and Comfort and his Spirit will lâ—â—d you into all Truth and by his Word even the speech of God in your hearts you will be quickned in Spirit and your strength and Peace in God will be renewed day by day and walk in all Wisdom and in the fear of the Lord one towards another and towards all people that your Righteous and innocent life and your Holy Wayes and Works of Truth may have Evidence in the hearts of your Enemies that you are of God by the shining forth of your light before them and that the Devil nor all your Enemies may have ought against you saving concerning your God and the Worship of him and the matters pertaining to good Conscience and then if any suffer afflictions and tribulation by wicked men if it be for Righteousness sake and concerning the Law of your God and the matters of his Kingdom in such suffering the Lord will be with you and not forsake you but he will give you Dominion and carry you through it all in Patience and Faith which gives you Victory over all Enemies And nothing shall come to you nor happen on you in the anger of God but all afflictions shall be turned to your Comfort and by Persecutions and Tribulations the Lord will but try you and not destroy you you being delivered from his wrath and from that which is the Cause of it And therefore Friends it being much upon my Spirit I do lay it upon you to be mindful in this very thing that you walk in all Wisdom so that your Enemies have nothing against you to cause you to suffer for but onely for Truth and Righteousness sake and concerning the Law and Worship of your God and then if the wicked one take occasion against you to inflict his wrath upon you by wicked men because of the exercises of your Consciences towards God thereby shall the Lord take occasion against your Enemies to destroy them in his season and he will deliver you and for this Cause doth the Lord plead with the wicked in his wrath even because of the unjust sufferings of his People for that alwayes drew down the wrath of the Lord upon Nations and Rulers and for this Cause hath many been destroyed and in our sufferings must be filled up the measure of the iniquities both of Rulers and people in this Nation that the Lord may over-turn them with his hand when their measure of oppression is finished and the burden of its guilt falls upon them Therefore let us have Patience towards all men in all Conditions and Faith towards God at all times for therein is our Armour of Defence and our Weapons to resist all our Enemies and giving up into the Eternal Will of the Father whether in Life or Death in Tribulations or in Rejoycing and giving our Power wholly to the Lord and nor unto any other knowing That not one Hair of our Head can fall without him whose Power is over all and through â—ll So that if we Live it may be unto him alone and if we suffer and dye it may be for him and herein Peace shall be with us in whatsoever cometh to pass upon us if we can receive all things as from the hand of the Lord and Live in the feeling of that Power which doth all things or suffereth all things to be done And blessed is he that is not
against you that Imprison us for that Cause And let the Lord God Angels and just Men give their Judgment in this Case we a poor Afflicted people do appeal to you for just Sentence of Judgment between us and our Opponents Secondly Let our Neighbours give their Judgment though we do refuse to take any Oath because of the Commands of Christ and his Gospel as aforesaid yet what harm hath this ever yet been to any of our Neighbours let them speak or what detriment ought this to be to any of them they will tell you Though we cannot formally take an Oath yet we are ready at all times to do the Truth and to speak it on all good occasions as much as if we did Swear upon a Book and they can trust us upon our words as much if not more then they can do any that Swear upon their Oaths and therefore they shall give judgment that according to their best knowledge we ought not to be Imprisoned and Banished though we cannot Swear formally upon a Book being the Truth is not suppressed nor yet the administration of justice ought to be obstructed for our refusing to Swear Thus the Neighbourhood bears witness for us and against such as deal hardly by us and Persecute us because hereof Fourthly We are accused as Heinous Offenders and imprisoned because 't is supposed We do not submit to obey the known Laws of the Land but break them and will not conform to the Church pay Tythes take Oaths leave meeting together c. though we know the Laws of the Land command these things Plea First As to submitting to all known Laws of the Land this is known to God and our Neighbours that our Principle and Practice is and ever hath been to submit to every Government and to submit to all Laws of men either by doing or by suffering as at this day we resist not the greatest of Afflictions and Tribulations that can be imposed on us and this is well known to our Neighbous and all People that we are submissive to all Laws of Men by patient Suffering without Resistance even when any Law requires any thing of us which we cannot perform for Conscience sake that Law we fulfil by patient suffering resisting no man noâ— rendring Evil for Evil to any And the Judgment of the Scriptures which are according to both Law and Gospel and the Presidents of Saints justifie us in this Case in chusing patiently to suffer the greatest Penalties of the Law rather than to obey by doing any such Law as requires things contrary to our pure Consciences as in the Example of the Three Children Dan. 3. who were commanded To fall down and worship the Golden Image at what time soever they heard the sound of the Musick upon the Penalty of being cast into the midst of the burning Fiery Furnace which Commandment they could not obey nor could Truth fall down to worship the Image but rather chused to suffer the Penalty of being cast into the midst of the burning Fiery Furnace which accordingly was done unto them Again in the Case of Daniel chap. 6. who was commanded To make no Petition to any God or man for Thirty Dayes save to King Darius upon the Penalty and Affliction of being cast into the Lyons Den But Daniel did rather chuse to suffer the Penalty to be cast into the Den of Lyons than to obey the Commandment and was cast into the Lyons Den. By these Examples of holy Men with many more that might be given out of the Scriptures 't is evident That Righteous Men will rather chuse to suffer than to obey any Law of Men contrary to their Consciences So the Law of God and Example of Saints and holy Scriptures give Judgment for us in this Case of rather chusing to suffer than to obey Laws contrary to our Consciences and consequently must needs condemn such that Persecute and Imprison us because they require Obedience of us in Things against our Consciences Secondly Though we do disobey Laws and cannot actively obey every Law of man when it requireth and commandeth things contrary to a good Conscience yet herein also are we justified by the Law of God Example of Saints and holy Scriptures and they give Judgement for us and consequently against our Enemies in this Case and in particular in the two Examples before mentioned in Daniel the Three Children were expresly commanded To fall down and worship the Golden Image and Daniel was also required by the King's Decree Not to pray to any God or Man save to King Darius yet all these Holy Men of God did absolutely disobey the Law and Decree so requiring of them and did contrary to the Commandment for the three Children did not how nor Daniel cease to pray to his God but prayed as at other times and yet were justified of God in so doing Also the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 4. 18. were commanded To Preach no more in the Name of Iesus but the Apostles did disobey their Commandment and went on and preached in the Spirit and Power of Christ contrary to the Commandment of the Rulers and appealed to them Whether it were not better to obey God than man Many Examples we might collect out of the Scriptures that the Servants of God did disobey the Commands of Kings and Rulers and could not obey by doing any Command contrary to God but rather choosed to suffer Afflictions and Death it self than to obey such Laws and Decrees as required any thing contrary to a pure Conscience and this is our case at this day we cannot obey by doing any thing against our Consciences but must break the Laws of men and disobey their Commandments rather than break the Law of God and sin against their own Consciences whatsoever we suffer because hereof and yet the Examples of Saints and Scriptures justifie us in this behalf And let all our Enemies cease to cry out Rebellious and Disobedient to Laws and Government for we are not such as do wilfully and obstinately disobey any Laws of Men but for Conscience sake and that we may not sin against God nor offend his Witness in us therefore we cannot obey Laws contrary to our Consciences whatsoeveâ— we suffer which we resist not nor rebel against any in this Case So that our Principles and Practices are to obey every Law and Government either by Doing or Suffering And though we disobey such Laws as are not according to the Law of God and rather do chose to suffer yet herein we are justified by the Law of God and the holy Scriptures Thirdly And as for our Conversations among men in respect of our daily walking and converse with them in our dealing in respect of Honesty and Faithfulness and Truth and Justness in Works and Words our Neighbours shall give Witness for us We will not justifie our selves 't is God that justifies us and the Law of God Gospel of Christ Scriptures Examples of Holy Men our
and Tradition what you have studied for out of Books and old Authors you preach to people and what ye have noted in a Book that you preach by an Hour-glass and not as the Spirit of God gives you utterance and you seek out and enquire after great Benefices and much Money by the year and where there is much Tythes and Gleb-Lands and such like thither and to such a Place you go and seek after to be Minister there and there you remain twenty forty more or fewer years as you can agree with the People and while they will give you so much as will content you and maintain you your Wives and Families as you say respect not whether any be converted to God by your preaching but people remain always in blindness and ignorance generally and without the Knowledg of God for you preach other mens words and what you have collected in your Imaginations from the Saints words an Hour by a Glass leaning upon a soft Cushion and for Money and Hire preaching to the people and this is your manner of practice and Ministry in these Nations but thus did not the Apostles nor Christ's Ministers but the contrary and by your Fruits and Works it appears that you are not Followers of that Spirit that Christ and his Ministers were guided by neither are lawfull Successors of the Apostles but by your Fruits and Practice you manifest that the Lord never sent you nor Christ never called you into his Service to be his Ministers for in all your Practices and in your whole Performances of Worship you differ and do not agree but are contrary to what the Practice and Worship of Christ's Ministers and Churches were in the days of the Apostles this I charge upon you in the Name and by the Authority of the Lord God and am able to prove it against you face to face or otherwise to shew that you are not of the same spirit but contrary to the Saints and Apostles of old and so not true Succeeders of them nor lawful Ministers of Christ as to all people it is and shall be made manifest Thirdly You disagree and are contrary altogether to the true Ministry and to the Apostles in respect of your Maintenance and Wages for the Wages which Christ allowed his Ministers was into whatsoever House they entered that was worthy they might eat such things as are set before them for the Workman saith he is worthy of his Hire and the Apostles eat only of the Fruit of the Vineyard that they had planted and of the Milk of the Flock which they kept by a free gift of the People which they had begotten to the Faith and to whom they sowed spiritual things it was but as a small matter if they reaped their carnal things yet as a free gift they would do it and the Apostle said he would not make the Gospel of Christ chargeable And in this manner were Christ Ministers and Ministry in Wages and Gifts upheld and maintained outwardly in the World But your Practise and Maintenance is not such but contrary as is fully made manifest for you will have so much by the year promised to you in Tythes Money or Gleab-lands or Stipends and of Drunkards and Swearers and prophane Wordly People who are not Sheep of Christ's Flock nor Plants of his Vine-yard you will have so much of each of them and of every man in such a compass as you call your Parish and if any either out of Covetousness or good Conscience cannot pay you you sue at Law and cast into Prison for Wages and spoil their Goods and take treble nay sometimes Five double damage and through Violence and Injustice and Cruelty are you maintained in such a manner and not as the true Ministers and Apostles of Christ were but in a way and manner quite contrary as it is manifest and so herein it is proved that you are not lawful Successors of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ. Fourthly Again you follow not the Apostles and true Ministers of Christ but are contrary to them in Doctrine as this following Volumn will clearly manifest which for this very end is collected from your own Mouths and Pens that all men may see what you are and what you hold and profess and being truely laid down and answered let your selves and all sober men compare your doctrines and sayings with the Doctrines of the Apostles and they may see you agree not with them but are contrary to them And now Friends to all you that profess your selves to be Ministers of the Gospel I do hereby declare unto you in the Name and Authority of the Lord that we have a controversie with you and a great charge against you in all these things in your Call in your Practice and in your Maintenance and in your Doctrines and our Mouthes hath the Lord opened and they cannot be shut from declaring and crying against you as such whom the Lord never sent but are contrary to Christ his Prophets and Apostles in all your Ways and Practices and the Hand of the Lord is certainly against you and his Power and Dread will comeover you and lie upon your Consciences Now Reader whatsoever thou are that reads this following Volumn if thy mind be sober and thy heart right towards God thou may come to a good understanding of the Ground and cause of this great controversie between the Priests and the Professors of this Nation and us who are in scorn called Quakers for it is not unknown to Nations of this great debate and battel now for some years of continuance in this Nation no man can be ignorant what putting in Prisons and what Persecuting and what Preaching and Printing against us and what Reports and Fame hath been through this Nation for some years past and the Quakers so called have written and spoken and printed against the Priests their Worships and Ways and Doctrines and declared against them as Deceivers and false Prophets and such as never were sent of God and on the other hand thus have the Priests and more abundantly cried out against and printed against the Quakers as Hereticks and Deceivers and Witches and all what they could say that 's evil and these things being not unknown but publickly brought to pass therefore it will be good to discover unto every man the first ground and cause of this great Strife and the matter of it and its beginning so that all may know the certainty of these things and know they are not without good ground and sufficient reason on our part to wit That we have just cause to do and strive against that Generation of Priests and Teachers and that we do nothing rashly and without sufficient reason It is now about seven years since the Lord raised us up in the North of England and opened our Mouthes in this his Spirit and what we were before in our Religion Profession and Practices is well known to that part of the Country
our way to the promised Land which belongs to the Saints in Light we would eat our own Bread and Drink our Water and what we needed and keep our Consciences clear in our Generation we must to that which God hath promised and if we cannot have away God will make one for us and that you that set your selves against the Lord in the end shall be sure to know and feel though we shall never lift up carnal Weapon nor draw Sword neither use Bow nor Spear for God hath taught us to love our Enemies and out of these things we are come and to the end of Wars and to be for it yet God's purpose shall be fulfilled and he hath wayes enough to plead the cause of his people and he will do it and wo to all their Enemies And do you cry out of Popery because of cruelty and persecution And will you be found in the same Foot-steps and in the same nature Oh! let it never be said nor thought that ever the Church of God or true Christians did Drink the Blood of the Saints or cast them into prison for that is Babylon the Mother of Harlots that doth so Therefore be informed and warned set not Bryars and Thorns in Battel against the Lord neither stubble before devouring Fire for if you do a Consumption will come upon you and your Name and Memorial shall rot dye wither and melt away as Snailes and Glory shall rest with and upon the Heads of the Sufferers of Christ for ever Reading the 22. of the 12. Moneth 1662. By one who hath chosen rather to Suffer with the People of God called Quakers then to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season or to be reckoned as a Prince amongst the Uncircumcised Francis Howgil GEORGE WHITEHEAD HIS TESTIMONY AND ACCOUNT Concerning Edward Burroughs ANd as for E. B. our dear Brother and Companion in Travel Suffering and Consolation for the Everlasting Gospel's sake in his day his Testimony lives with us He was a Preacher of Righteousness and one who travelled for the Redemption of the Creature from under the Bondage of Corruption and proclaimed Liberty to the Captives in the Power and Authority of God and therein was a true Witness against Oppression and all the Antichristian Yokes imposed in the Night of Apostacy upon the Persons and Consciences of People and truly and valiantly he held sorth the Liberty of Conscience and vindicated it to the great men of the Earth in things appertaining to God in matters of Religion and Worship against the persecution and compulsion which had its Original and Rise from the Power of the Beast which hath made War against the righteous Seed that men might be left free to the guidance of the infallible Spirit of God which is not to be limitted in these matters and not be compelled nor brought under the corrupt wills of men nor their failible judgements nor invented Forms in these cases And the Name of this Minister of Righteousness is written in the Lambs Book of Life and all the Enemies of his Life can never be able to blot it out nor extinguish his Memorial Oh! the remembrance of his integrity uprightness and sincerity hath deep impression upon my heart and that tender love and affection in God's Truth which he was filled with towards all the upright who are lovers of peace and unity in the Lord is never to be forgotten by us who are yet remaining in the Work of the Lord and the Everlasting Gospel for which he hath left a glorious Testimony the glory of which shall never be extinguished but thousands shall praise the Lord our God because thereof yea even the Seed that 's yet in the lower parts of the Earth where darkness covers it and the child that 's yet unborn in many that 's curiously framed in the Mothers Womb whose Members are written in the Book of God shall glorifie the Lord on his behalf And this Testimony many have already concerning him that though his Body is dead his Spirit liveth in the immortallity of that Life that is immutable and shall never die not wax old and is felt among the Righteous who walk in their integrety and constancy to the Lord. And this faithfull Servant of the Lord and valiant Souldier of the Lamb as in his day was evidently apparent as to live to him was Christ and to die was Gain And though in his time many were the Sâ—fferings and Afflictions which his life went under and his upright spirit suffered by both from his open Enemies and Persecutors in the World because of the valour and courage for the Truth of God and from deceitfull and transforming exalted spirits which burthen the holy Seed but now his Life is caught up above them all and is out of their reach in the transcendent and unspeakable Glory in the Everlasting Habitation and Firmament of God's Power where he hath shined and doth shine among the Stars that have kept their Habitations as one that hath turned many to Righteousness and that hath overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of his Testimony with those holy Prophets and Martyrs who rejoyce over Babylon and her Abominations in whom their blood is found and against whom he was a faithfull Witness and valiant Warrier whose living and absolute Testimony therein God hath blessed made prosperous and will fulfil to the uttermost And though he be ceased from his Labours his Works do follow him which will be had in living remembrance and precious esteem among the Upright when his Persecutors shall be broken and laid low in the desolation and ruin of Babylon and all that continue in Enmity and Deceit and all the deceitfull spirits that have burdened his righteous Soul shall fall and their blossom wither and come to nought And if any of his Persecutors or Oppressors be yet so impenitent and obdurate as to triumph and be elevated in an exalted or prejudiced spirit because of his death and in their exaltation and pride of heart say He was taken away in Judgment or in Wrath. To such in Gods Fear I answer That thousands of the Servants of the Lord are of another perswasion not questioning but it was in God's tender Love as to his own particular that he was removed out of the Earthen Vessel in which he though a man as in the prime of his years endured great Travels in his time for the Truth 's sake and the gathering of many into the Way of the Lord and in which his Travel was the greater when the time of his dissolution drew near to be dissolved because of his Sufferings and the extremity of his Sickness occasioned thereby which many others were pertakers of who suffered Persecution and Imprisonment by unreasonable men in this City of London for the Cause of God and a good Conscience as chiefly for their meeting together singly in the Worship of God But this I testifie in the Lord as in him I have felt that
then they forgot God and regarded not to perform their Engagements neither to God nor his People for which cause the Lord cut them off in his sore displeasure and brought an utter Desolation upon them according to the words of his Servants and this Prophet of God lived to see their Desolation come which was sad to behold and his Prophesies were fulfilled in his own dayes And he also warned the present Rulers of this Nation to take heed of walking in the Steps of them that are gone before and for these things and for the publishing of the Truth of God and for bearing his Testimony with boldness against all Oppression and Cruelty he was hated of the men of this Generation but chiefly by some of the Rulers of the City of London He sealed his Testimony with his life in Bonds and so they have wilfully brought innocent Blood upon themselves and heavy will it lie upon them in the day of Account which greatly hastens wherein the Lord God will make inquisition for the Blood of the Innocent and reward every man according to his Deeds then will his Blood be upon you as the Blood of a thousand men and how will you bear your Sentence from the Lord of Hosts because you will be found guilty of the Blood of his Prophets Messengers and Servants which he sent unto you in love to your Souls to fore-warn you of the Evil which greatly hastens to come upon you Yet notwithstanding you have done all these things and the cry of Innocent Blood hath been heard so loud amongst you yet have you hardened your Hearts and go on in stiff-neckedness and persist in your Cruelty towards the Servants of the Lord that are left behind and are found casting them into Prison Oh wo is me for you where will a place be found for you in the day of the Lord or what Covering will you hide your selves under Or how will you appear before the Righteous God of Heaven and Earth Have you no consideration in you of your latter end Or else do you believe that the Lord sees not your Cruelty towards his People that you will not answer his requirings which is to do Justly and love Mercy and walk Humbly with the Lord and to do unto all men as you would they should do unto you surely if the consideration of these things were in your hearts or if you had any regard to keep your Consciences clear in the sight of God herein you could never do as you have done Wherefore consider these things and lay them to heart and repent speedily lest you sin your day away and place of repentance there cannot be found For this I tell you plainly that it is in vain for you to strive against the Lord or to seek to stop or hinder his Work which he hath begun for he will be too strong for you and he will make you bow and bend to his own Name and Power whether you will or no. And though he bear with you long and suffer you long yet his Long-suffering will come to an end and though you should be permitted to fulfill your envious Wills and lustfull Desires so far as to Banish or Kill or Destroy us from off the Earth yea all of us who are now in being which I do not believe ever shall be yet would God raise up another People by the same Power and Spirit in and by which we stand which should be a Terror unto you and should possess God's Everlasting Kingdom which is not of this World over your heads And in the time of his outward weakness he was heard to say That though this Body of Clay must return to the Dust yet I have this Testimony that I have served God in my Generation and that Spirit which hath lived and acted and ruled in me shall yet break forth in thousands and my faith is That it shall be even so for we have found him a true Prophet amongst us and to the Nations And this also near his departure he was heard to desire of the Lord That if it were possible to forgive Brown c. And so let all Friends be encouraged to wait upon the Lord in the feeling of the same Spirit that was in him which we know is the Saints Comforter that thereby you may be carried through all Tribulations and Persecutions with chearfulness that in the end you may all receive the Crown of Everlasting Righteousness with him and the rest of the Saints of the most High God and holy Prophets and Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so the Lord God Almighty of Heaven and Earth be with you all and keep you all in faithfulness unto the end Amen And this is my Testimony for that Man of God who hath been a Blessing to the Lord in his Generation and also to this Nation And in this I have eased my Spirit and am clear in my Conscience in the Sight of God having done that which was my duty to do Josiah Coale A Testimony of George Fox Concerning Edward Burroughs HIS Name is Chronicled in the Lamb's Book of Life a Righteous Plant Pure Chaste Clean Who can tax him for Oppressing them or Burdening them or being Chargeable to them Who through the Suffering hath finished his Course and Testimony who is now crowned with the Crown of Life and Reigns with the Lord Christ forever and ever And in his Ministry in his Life-time he went through Sufferings by bad spirits who never turn'd his Back on the Truth nor his Back from any out of the Truth A Valiant Warrior more then a Conqueror who hath got the Crown through Death and Sufferings who is dead but yet liveth amongst us and amongst us is alive George Fox A Warning from the Lord To the Inhabitants of Underbarrow and so to all the Inhabitants in ENGLAND Where it shall meet with them who holds up the false Teachers and false Worship and who beat stock stone and persecute and hale out of their Assemblies those who are sent by the Lord to speak his Word freely With an Exhortation that they haste to meet the Lord by true repentance by putting off the works of darkness lest the Lord cut them assunder by his Sword which is already drawn and put into the hands of his Servants Also a word to my Brethren and Companions in tribulation in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ who are by the World scornfully called Quakers With the manner of my passage through the dark World wherein the simple ones may see the deceits of the man of sin in his actings like the true Spirit to warn all to follow the true Light within which leads unto God and to beware of the Voice Lo here and Lo there TO all you the Inhabitants of Underbarrow profane ones and Professors you my Neighbours and Country men according to the flesh but Strangers as in the spirit to you all who are in the customary formal traditional Worship of
Law which is righteous and do witness the justness and goodness and holiness of it but if you make a Law in your own wills and judge by such a Law then you will make the Innocent suffer and oppress them who walk in the Law of God and in the exercise of a pure Conscience Christ was put to death by such a Law and the Saints in all Generations were persecuted by such Laws which were made in the will of man contrary to the Will and Law God Therefore take â—eed to your selves lest God hew you down and your Law together and condemn yoâ— by his righteous Law eternally which Law of God needs not to be made but iâ— made already and to be witnessed by the Light in every mans Conscience to Justification or condemnation and is revealed in all that love Righteousness So take heed what you do and know your place and the length and breadth oâ— your law which is committed to you which is to keep the outward man in good order and the Nations in peace and truth and from Theft and Murder and Adultry and Fighting and Quarrelling and Drunkenness and Wronging one another and such like such who acts these things walk contrary to the Light and so brings themselves under the penalty of the law but over the inward man you law which is outward hath no power to bind to limit or to tie too or from any way of worship in Religion but let Religion defend it self and lay not your laâ— upon the Conscience to exercise dominion over it for it is Christs Seat in whoâ— he will rule lest you be found Tyrants and numbred for destruction nor liâ—â—â— not the Spirit of the Lord how when where and by whom it must speak for the Holy-men of God in all Ages ever cryed against such laws as were contrary to the Law of God and did limit the Spirit of the Lord and against such Rulers as did judge false Judgment and for Gifts and Rewards and against such Priestâ— and Prophets as preached for Hire and divined for Money and sought for their Gain from their Quarter and made a prey upon the People and through Coveteousness made merchandize of souls Therefore be ye warned if such you uphold by a law which act those things which the Scripture declares against which the Holy-men of God gave forth by his Spirit the Scripture which you profess shall stand a Witness against you and the Law of God will condemn you and God will lay your honour in the dust and cast you out of the Seat of Judgment But judge the cause of the Poor and Needy of the Widow and Fatherless and joyn Mercy with Judgment and lay your Swords upon oppression and all tyrany and wrong dealing that the Land may cleansed of evil Doers and Equity and Righteousness may flow down and the Nation in good order may be kept iâ— Peace and Righteousness and so God will establish you among his Children who are taught of him alone and are far from oppression To the Light of God in all your Consciences I do speak which if you make laws contrary to it and judge contrary to it it is the eternal Condemnation of you and of your laws and judgment And remember you are warned in your life time and my Conscience is cleared to you and in the Day of the Lord you shall witness 〈◊〉 to be truâ— and this to be the Word of the Lord to you whether you will hear or 〈◊〉 â—ear Written to you by a Friend of Righteousness and true Iudgment from the Spirit of the Lord as moved of him in love to all your souls to go abroad among the Heads and Rulers and Iudges in Dublin and elsewhere through the Nation of Ireland from one who is called a Quaker by Scorners whose name in the flesh is Edward Burrough Written at Dublin the 23d of the 8th Moneth 1655. And now Oye Heads and Rulers happy had you been if you had taken the counsel of the Lord and submitted to have obeyed his Word which came to you as moved of him but in that you have neglected and have made laws in your will and exercise lordship over the Conscience and have limited the Lord and have purposed to â—e a â—error to good and strengthened the wicked and have not regarded the Will of God but have persecuted and imprisoned the Innocent and â—udged 〈◊〉 your own hearts therefore according to the Word of the Lord your blood will be upon your own heaâ—s for you have not taken Warning and I am 〈◊〉 hereof for ever An Exhortation sent to the chief Commander and his Council and the just Cause of the Innocent laid at their door WE who are Servants of the Lord of Hosts who is the Protector of Heaven and Earth we who stand in his Fear and know his Coâ—nsel are moved of him who lives for ever who is I Am and there is none besides him to clear our Consciences and our Lords Truth from the Lyes and Slanders which are cast upon us and the Good Way of the Lord which envious spirits whâ—â— are proud and know nothing that cannot abide sound Doctrine do reproach and slander us and by false 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things to our charge which we never knâ—w therefore we being innocent and clear cannot but deny and 〈◊〉 witness against all those proceedings which are â—ot according to the Law of Righteousness and equity and lay thâ—… at your door whom it nearly concernâ— Unto thee Henry Cromwel who is Commander in chief for the Affairs of Ireland and to thy Council we write We have seen two several Warrants â—â—der your 〈◊〉 dated at Dublin and in them both you say You have received information at your board of great disorders and disturbances of 〈◊〉 in the Couâ—… of â—â—rkâ— and Places adjacent by Francis Howgill aâ—d Edward Burrough This we say unto you your Informer hath declared an â—â—truth at your Board and we deâ—â—re that you may make it appear where in we have made any disturbance or disorder all these things in your Warrants we deny and do charge you in the Name of the God of Justice to send for them that so informed you that have so abused you and are so bold and impudent as to declare unto you any such thing and so have caused you to bring guilt upon your selves in sending ouâ— your Warrants to bring the Innocent before your Judgment-seat and caused us to be dragged a hundred Miles from place to place as Mâ—lefactors and as though we had done some criminal act and when we have dome before yoâ— you had nothing to lay to our charge but have endeavoured to give Sentence of Banishment of us out of your Nation who are free-born English men nor have we been burthenfom to your Nation nor transgressed any known Law of the Nation and you have judged us before our 〈◊〉 came and herein you do us great injustice and you act contrary to the Law of Equity and
all your Nation of Ireland our very Enemies to prove the contrary though otherwise we stand falsly accused and falsly reputed to be Disturbers and Makers of disorders to the breach of publique Peace and such like grievous things upon the false Information whereof a Warrant was issued out from the chief Ruler and Council of Ireland and we thereby were apprehended in the City of Corke and haled by Guards as Malefactors too before the Council in this City where none of all these false Accusations were or could be proved against us nor the transgression of any known Law could we be convicted of and though occasions were sought against us yet none could be found and though snares were laid for our feet yet were we not entrapped but were cleared in the sight of God witnessed by the Light in all their Consciences and were found innocent and without reproof in the Eye of the Lord and by our innocency were their orders of false Accusations made of none effect and we thus far proved to be guiltless before the Throne of true Judgment Yet notwithstanding contrary to the Light in their own Consciences and contrary to the just Laws of the Nations which afford freedom to the Free-born and Righteous were we committed to Prison without conviction or any guilt charged upon us or the least appearance of evil towards any man's person though falsly accused yet no true testimony given against us whereby our boldness in the Way of the Lord could be discouraged as having the Testimony of the Spirit of God bearing us witness in the Holy Ghost that in all good Conscience towards God and towards man we have lived to this day and so are without reproof in the sight of God and all just Men and though upon search and examination we were found guiltless thus far yet further hath the Enemy the Devil prevailed in cruelty against the Innocent that it is endeavoured that we be banished under the account of Vagabonds which last Accusation is the most false and unrighteous for we challenge this Of whom have we begged or to whom have we been burdensome or whose bread have we eaten for nothing or what evil have we done Where is the testimony of your Slanders But innocently do we suffer these things bearing reproaches and binding the cruelty done unto us as Chains about our necks and as Crowns upon our heads having the assurance that for well doing we suffer these things from the hands of the Rulers through the Lies and Slanders of the Teachers who are in Cain's way of persecution till they have fulfilled their measure of wickedness and be laid waste as the Wilderness And this is our cause and hereby it comes before you by the Light of Christ in your Consciences to be judged if your Hearts be not altogether hardened and your Minds wholly blinded and we lay it at the door to receive sentence from you and without respect of persons holds forth our guiltless cause before you not begging any thing from you but herein to clear our Consciences that you may save your selves from this untoward Generation whose Root is corrupt and Fruit bitterness for while we have breath from the Lord and injoyment of his Presence our duty is to serve the Lord in bearing witness against injustice and all cruelty and oppression and shall appeal to receive justice from the present power which now rules for in the Name of the Lord we challenge our priviledge of freedom as being Free-born till we be accused guilty by the just Law of Equity unto which we are subject for Conscience sake and not to any mans will but by word and writing are bound by the Law of God to bear witness against the unjust proceedings herein of the Heads and Rulers of Dublin and shall seal our witness against them and against their unrighteous Decrees sealed in their cruelty against the Innocent with our blood if thereunto we be called Edw. Burrough Dublin the 26th of the 12th Moneth 1655. A Challenge to the Priests of Dublin to try their God and their Ministry and their Worships WE the Servants and faithful Witnesses of the most High God called and chosen of him and redeemed out of Nations Kindreds Tongues and People who are Ministers of the Word of Life and Reconciliation and Messengers of Glad-tidings and Salvation unto captive and weary Souls our glorying is only in the Lord and not in our selves who are by the World in scorn called Quakers who are at this present in outward bonds for the Testimony of Jesus Christ in Dublin and who have been in the labour and travel of the Gospel of God these six moneths and upwards in this Nation of Ireland according to the Will of God ordained hereunto and moved and commanded by his Eternal Spirit into this his Work for the Seed's sake which is not of this World to the gathering of it into the Fold of Everlasting Peace and to the clearing of the Lord from the blood of his Enemies that they may be left without excuse by his Powerful Word given unto us and uttered by us and herein we are a good savour to God both in them that perish and in them that believe and for this cause have we denied our dearest and nearest Relations and love not our lives unto death that our Testimony we may finish which is committed to us of the Lord and because of this are we Labourers under many burdens and travels in many afflictions and sufferings and are abundantly reproached and our Lord's Truth of which we bear witness greatly infamed by many slandering and back-biting Tongues especially by Teachers and professed Ministers in the ears of their People and Hearers slandering us with being Jesuits and Deceivers and Seducers and Hereticks and Blasphemers and Witches and such like and we of those false Accusations being clear and our Lords Truth the Testimony which we hold wholly innocent and are willing to be tryed and proved and made manifest to the Inhabitants of this City and Nation in the sight of God This therefore am I moved to give forth and hereby in the name of our Living Eternal God of Heaven and Earth whom we serve and worship in that Way which is called Heresie to send it abroad as a Challenge to all you Teachers and pretended Ministers of what sort and form soever and to all you People whom it may really concern and especially to all you in the City of Dublin and Places elsewhere in Ireland to whom this may come that you meet us in the City of Dublin at some publique Place at a convenient time appointed by you at which place and time if the Lord permit by the permission of the Council of Ireland whose Prisoners we are we shall meet you then there to have a fair and sober Dispute in the presence of all People who may desire to be informed or satisfied concerning us and you in these things whereof you can accuse us and also of
sit-upon the Throne unto the Slaves and Bond-men that are made a prey The Lord's Controversie is against you and the mighty terrible Day of the Lord is coming upon you wherein he will plead with you because of your Transgressions which cannot be numbred but do exceed theirs in former Generations who were cut off by his outstretched Arm. Therefore thus saith the Lord Now also will I arise as a mighty man of War and will appear in my Majesty to gather the Nations and to fan them and to try them in the wind of my Wrath and to purge them and to refine them in the Furnace of my Fire of Indignation and Jealousie And this from my mouth is a Warning to you and a Sound in your ears by authority from my Spirit To thee Oliver Cromwell called Protector THus saith the Lord My Controversie is against thee because thou hast not been faithful to the end in my Work but hast taken thy rest and ease and pleasure upon thy high and lofty Mountain of Pride and vain Glory and hast set up thy self to be worshipped exalting thy own Horn and hast not fully given Glory and Honour to me of that which I have done by thee but in thy heart boasts thy self against me who hath hewed with thee and made thee an Instrument in my Hand to do my Will upon my Enemies and now thou performest not thy Vows made to me in the day of distress but thou hast broken Truce with me and now thou sufferest grievous and hainous Oppression and Cruelty and Tyranny to be acted in thy name upon my People whom I have chosen and elected to exalt my Name by by unjust Imprisonments and grievous Persecution do they suffer in thy name which the Cruel-hearted make a cloak of for their cruelty and even such who have been thy Enemies thy name is a cloak unto to hid their cruel intents and wicked purposes against my People whom they tread upon and this is not unknown to thee and therefore the less excusable art thou in my sight and the greater will my Judgments be upon thy head which suddenly I will bring upon thee except thou repent and return to thy first integrity which if thou dost I will honour thee next unto my Chosen and give thee the necks of Princes to tread upon and their Dominions for thy Inheritance otherwise thus shall it be done unto thee if thou wilt not hear and obey my Voice saith the Lord. To all ye his Council THus saith the Lord My Controversie is against you because ye are one with him and every whit fully guilty of his Transgressions and feed him and your selves in the valleys of vain glories with vain shews and hopes and your endeavours are more to secure your selves from Mischief and Plots and wicked Intentions which remain in the hearts of the Rebellious against you then to defend and preserve the Innocent for you neglect to take off Oppression and to ease the Oppressed but make your Fingers as heavy as your Fathers Loynes who were cast out before you and the same Laws stand still in force by which Tyranny and Oppression is acted and the same false Prophets you establish by a Law which deceive the Nations and flatter you by subtil Speeches and there is no pure Reformation wrought in the Earth but you with your power joyn with the first Beast who was wounded by a grievous blow of fury to make War against the Lamb and his Followers and you seek to set up that which I am about to throw down and you are not ignorant of the grievous Cry of the poor under the burthen of oppression laid upon them by your Laws by which they unjustly suffer the imprisonment of their Bodies and the spoiling of their Goods and you suffer this wickedness to be done and shut up your compassion and the hands of Evil-doers hereby are strengthened through your forbearance they are hardened in their cruelty and because you profess more of the Name of the Lord then some that have gone before you and perform as little the greater is your abomination and the deeper is your hypocrisie and the greater will my Judgments be upon your heads except you speedily repent and walk in my Counsel which if you do honourable in Counsel will I make you and your Renown shall Generations to come exalt otherwise if you refuse my Word to hear I will make you a Reproach and a Curse to Ages for ever To all ye Iudges and Lawyers and your Train and to all that handle the Law THus saith the Lord My Controversie is against you because of your abominations for you are the very Actors of the allowed Oppressions and in judging for Gifts and Rewards and Bribery some of you have exceeded all that ever went before you and many just Causes of the Poor have been neglected for want of a large Gift and many unjust Actions of the rich men have you pleaded against Equity for advantage to your selves your Council have respected Persons and in Bribery and Gifts have you delighted and thereby have made your selves as Lords in the Earth and have set your selves upon high Hills and you have followed the counsel of your own heatts and your human wit and learning in seeking out the justness of a Cause and in judging thereof and my righteous Law of Justice have you not regarded to be your Rule but through the policy and craft have you hidden the simplicity of the Law from the Ignoraâ—… in unknown Languages and obscure Sentences and your wills many times have been your Law and true Judgment have you turned backward and made a Feâ—… against Equity that it could not enter Some of you are guilty in a high degree of that cruelty and tyranny which of late years hath been acted upon the Innocent yea you have grinded the face of the Poor imprisoned the Harmless and laid heavy burdens and oppressive bonds upon the Guiltless who have not transgressed any Law much less the Law of Righteousness you have made my free-born Children your Slaves and have highly attempted to sit Lords in my Thrâ—… of Conscience and some of them have deeply suffered by some of you for the exercise of their pure Consciences because they could not Swear or worship and respect your Persons nor pay Tythes that grievous Oppression nor bow to your wills and lusts in things of the like nature of Cruelty And you are guilty in a gross sum of upholding the false Prophet which prophesieth Lyes and falsly with flattering words of guile and he covers himself under your shadow and under your unjust Law which is his staff and strength and he riâ—… upon the Beast till you be both taken alive and cast into the Lake of everlasting Indignation The Cup of my Vengeance will awaken you and my Law 〈◊〉 for ever condemn you and my Counsel of Equity shall plead against you in the Court of Justice and my eternal Judgment from my Throne of
He findeth all little enough For shame cover thy Lips and stop thy Mouth thy stuff stinks with raking in who sayest That men cannot be sufficient Ministers without Arts and such poor blind stuff of which I am ashamed and pass by it as not worth the mentioning Then thou goest on in the matter of Tythes seeing the Rule and Law of Scripture will not fully bear thee out in thy wicked practise of pleading for Hire 〈…〉 goest to the Law of the Nation and so the Gospel which you preach will not maâ—…n you according to the Apostles Doctrine but by a Law are maintained through the grievous oppression of the Innocent as is witnessed in this Nation and thou art put to all thy shifts though but beggarly some of them to blind Peoples eyes so that you may have your Hire and in thy Arguments thou pleadest That Tythes are no mans own but the Ministers c. But I say if poor men did not labour and improve their time and strength and money you could have no Tythes so that if the Land was not tilled through poor Peoples labours you might go without so Tythes are not paid out of the Land but out of mens labours thereupon and so you rob poor mens labours and not the Land that you may live in filthiness And thou sayest Care is taken for you already many hundred Years before you were born in setting an Estate c. Yea the Pope settled Tythes upon his Priests whose Generation you are of a poor shameless shift to plead such things leaving the Rule of the Scripture and defending your selves both in your Ministry and Maintenance by a Popish â—aw which was the supreme Power in the Nation when Tythes were first established in England but neither the Rule of Scripture nor of the National Law will make your works justified all People shall see your nakedness and God will make you ashamed of your way And as to particular Had we lived in the primitive Churches when the Magistrates were Heathens c. This I shall answer by a Question Doth not the works of some of the Magistrates in England I do not say all prove themselves rather to be Heathens than Christians by their unjust imprisoning of the Innocent without â—…ch of any Law and so to be rather Destroyers of the Church which is the Body of Christ then careing to preserve it and also in giving treble dammage to the Hirelings for Non-payment thereby wasting and making havock of poor mens Estates as is in many places to be witnessed and these are they who are most zealous for you some of them I leave this Question to be answered which being but truly answered will discover whether you who by oppression take Tythes 〈…〉 â—ho oâ—â— of the exercise of a pure Conscience cannot pay Tythes and so are Sufferers and you Oppressors are Carriers on of the designs of Hell and Rome as in thy eleventh Page thou speakest Then thou sayest So much for the Ministers Maintenance c. Yea more then enough but that thou mightest lay open thy own folly therefore wast thou allowed that thy shame might be fully laid open and thou uncovered who hast acted thy part as others of thy Brethren before thee in pleading your own unjust cause of Idolatry to uphold your grievous Oppression of Tythes and set Maintenances under which at this day many thousands do sadly groan and not pittied by you but though you regard not the Lord God doth and will avenge their Cry upon your heads who have made your Ministry and Religion the most grievous Oppression in this Common-wealth and so are fallen into greater abomination than the Heathen and are higher than they in ungodliness and deeper in subtilty and go to the Heathens and they will shame you and take thy own counsel and practise it as in thy tenth Page And much more of thy stuff I pass thus much is sufficient to discover thy deceit in this particular Then thou goest on and from thy Text thy observation is this It hath been of old and it is the practise still of the Prince of Darkness to transform himself into an Angel of Light c. To which I answer It is proved by the Scripture that it hath been of old his practise and it is proved upon thee that it is still his practise and thou art the man upon whom thy observation stands true who art in thy good words and fair speeches and pretences transformed only in the appearance and not in the ground out of gross wickedness into secret hypocrisie and so makest an Image without Life and so as Iannes and Iambres art resisting Truth yet art thou seen and comprehended though thou sayest Satan is never less seen then when he acts as an Angel of Light which I suppose thou speakest by experience as being acted therein undiscovered to the Simple because of thy hypocrisie In thy Page thirteenth thou sayest that The Scriptures are the true Light Here thy blindeness and error is discovered who speakest herein contrary to the Scripture which saith Christ Iesus is the true Light 1 Iohn 9. Here thâ—â— wouldest exalt the Scriptures in the Seat of Christ and thereby deny him in saying the Scripture is that which he only is and nothing else to wit The trâ—â— Light of the World which lighteneth every man that comes into the World and the Scriptures are a Declaration of him and not him And thou goest on and sayest Because these Quakers â—each People they must do justly do no body wrong nor Lye c. some take it for granted they come from Christ c. But this thou snuffest at and makest light of by which is easily discerned of what spirit thou art the Scripture witnesseth He is a Minister of Christ that turâ— from Darkness to Light and from sin unto God and could we but wink at sin and cloak it as you do and cry Peace Peace to them that walks after the imaginations of their own hearts then should we be loved and not hated of the World And in thy fourteenth Page Thou reckonest us with the Fryars and Popish Generation but them and thee we do deny and that holiness and righteousness which is in the will of man for because we cannot run to the same excess of riot with you you think it strange and therefore thou accusest us as with a matter of fact That we drink water and fast and wear no Lace c. That which thoâ— wouldst make us abominable in by the sight of men doth our innocency and uprightness appear in in the sight of God and his Children Then thou goest on in thy confused language and in that which thou callest thy use Take hâ—ed that you be not deceived To whom dost thou speak to them that are in the Truth If thoâ— speakest to thy own flock thy word might have been Search lest you be deceived for we know the whole World lies in wickedness and this Generation under the deceivableness of
the Foundation or Fundamental Principle of the Religion which is not in Form but in Power agreeing in the Foundation and in the whole building But Friends you seem to charge the late Powers of the Nation if not your selves yet some part of your Body which now are in power with great things with no less then to be Satans Seedsmen for if allowing difference in Forms be the dangerousest and fruitfullest Seed that ever was sown by the envious One as you say it is then who do you blame either the fore-going Parliaments of which some of you have been and so cannot be clear from that evil or the Protector himself and this seem to be a very great charge upon him whose judgment is appearingly to give allowance unto difference in Forms to be the Seedsman of Satan or to allow the envious One to sow the Seed which you call dangerous it is not Christians that are divided but the Sects and false Opinions men of corrupt minds Thus much in answer to the words as they are laid down but I rather chuse to speak to the mind or intent of the Penmans spirit of your Declaration which implieth an inclining to be against many Forms and to bind up all into one Form of Worship and so thereby though some which is evil would be shut out yet would the true spiritual Worship of the Saints above all assuredly thereby be excluded and the tender spirits of People who truly seek God would be oppressed But keep your selves from that evil I warn you lest you be broken and never bound up and lay no Law nor make no Law upon Religion but let Religion defend it self only lay your Law upon Peace-breakers and violent men and bind not mens Consciences to a Worship by your Precepts either made already or by such as may be made if you ease the Oppressed so God will establish you in peace if you fulfil his Will herein Again you say In not being fully sensible though the Lord in the depth of his wisdoms and righteous Iudgments hath for some years last past been overturning several Authorities in these Nations and hath as it were been pouring them from Vessel to Vessel he hath been pleased ever since his people publickly contended for his Truths still to set up Rulers who have allowed them the free exercise and profession of them Answ. Indeed you are not sensible of the righteous Judgments of God in overturning several Authorities in the Nation and therefore you go in the same abominations as they did who were overturned till you also be overturned as they were But take heed to your selves lest you be more then poured from Vessel to Vessel even spilt in the dust of misery and never more gathered again Your last part of this particular is false for we that are in the pure Religion and in the Exercise of our pure Consciences have not from some of you our Liberty but are cast into Goals and Dungeons and banished out of yoâ—â— Towns and Cities some of us by some that have been Rulers set up if this be doubted by you examine through your Nation true testimony may be given so that here you have spoken better of the Rulers then indeed it is and would make the Nation believe untruths to establish you though I condemn not all but my words are towards the Guilty that they may repent lest they perish in their iniquities and be cut off in their transgressions and the Curse be upon you all for the sake of some Again you say In that Athiestical and luke-warm Spirit too commonly aâ—…gst you whereby not only the Form but also the Power of Godliness is reproached and accounted as a vain thing but also too many have fallon from their first love and others esteâ—… themselves rich whilst they are miserable poor and blind and naked sins which â—…e the highest aggravated by being committed in Countries where the glorious Light of the Gospel shinâ—s clearest Answ. This you have confessed truly to your own shame in the sight of other Nations your spirit is not only luke-warm unto Righteousness but it is too â—â—mmon among some of you to be zealous and hot in persecuting the Way of Righteousness and indeed many of you are grosly fallen from your first Love and Integrity and thereby the Power of Godliness is not only reproached by you but persecuted and counted vile and they that live in it oppressed such is your zeal in your dead Form some of you that even you count the true Way and Worship of God madness and you are the men that esteem your selves rich while you are miserable and blind and naked and your sins are aggravated the more and higher because God gives you warning daily by the mouth of his Servants who hold forth the Light of the glorious Gospel and bears witness unto your faces against your Abominations and Idolatries committed by you yet for all this you continue in your iniquities and evil entreat the Messengeâ— of Peace unto you souls and are the men indeed which are Athiestical evâ—â— many by their work saying in their hearts there is no God and as truly as yoâ— have confessed your sins so must you confess the justness of the Judgments of God upon your own heads if you return not unto the living God and own the day of your Visitation Again you say In being more dissatisfied that you have not obtained all you aimâ—d 〈◊〉 then thankful that you have obtained so much as you now enjoy Answ. Verily this is not the least of your sins but exceed some others fâ—r you aim at that which you shall never obtain till you be thankful and walk worthy of what you enjoy and this is the way Ease the Oppressed and take oâ—f the yoke of the Poor and Needy and of the Lord you may be heard and seek not your own honour for that is the ground of dissatisfaction and unthankfulness among you and the cause why you abuse the Mercies which you do enjoy having lost the sence of the former dealings of the Lord with you Further you say All which with other the grievous sins of these three Nations caâ—â— aloud upon all the good People in them to lie low in the sight of our offended God and bâ— Prayer and Humiliation away which in our deepest distresses we have found both our Dâ—ty and Comfort to tread in to seek to appease his Wrath and that he would be pleased fâ—… his own Names sake to remove whatever accursed thing there is found amongst us and the as he is our God so we may be his People Answ. Indeed many more grievous sins are highly abounding in these three Nations your own oppressions and self-seeking honours and vain glories in your self-performed righteousness with your persecution of the Innocent by grievous unjust Fines and Imprisonment not regarding the cry of the Poor which lie under the heavy hand of Oppression of you subordinate Rulers these aboundantly add to the
Leaf and as an ungirded Vessel full of strife and distraction fears and jealousies eveâ— among your own selves unsetled in your Wayes and Thoughts in Truth Mercy and Peace but in Gainsayings and Oppositions and Confusions stand tottering like a rotten Hedge and the Proud are exalted and the poor are despised and they that love Sion are set at nought and verily you go not the way to settle the Nations upon the true Foundation but backslides from the Way of Truth Which is the Foundation upholding of iniquity and establishing the false Prophets and Diviners by a Law and such whom the Lords wrath is against who upholds the horrible filthy thing and abominations of the Earth and confusion is upon them till they be overthrown never to deceive the Nations more Therefore hear ye Deaf and look ye Blind and understand ye Hard-hearted love Truth and Mercy and Peace in your own hearts and and depart from Iniquity and cast away your Idols and cease from evil and learn to do well and put away the evil of own doings and turn to the Lord in this the day of your Visitation and to the Light of Christ Jesus wherewith he hath lightened you take heed thereby to be guided every one in particular in fear and tenderness towards God and towards man not ruling in Tyranny and Oppression nor making Laws in your own wills according to your own thoughts as some that went before you have done till they were cut off as you are Witnesses who were made in the Hand of the Lord their Executioners and if you follow in any measure their Example of Wickedness take them for an Example in a cursed end in love to all your Souls this I write and not to shame you in your wickedness but rather that you may repent and that you may know how to exercise your selves in the Law of God towards the Nations and that every Burden may be removed and the Oppressed may go free and the Bands of Iniquity may be broken and this is the Fast accepted of the Lord required of him from you which if you observe with your whole hearts a Blessing will the Lord made you unto the Nations in this present Age and unto your selves for evermore but if you hearden your hearts against the Lord and tread in the steps of your fore-fathers and seek to limit the Holy One or to bind the tender Consciences of the People of God then shall you fall into their perdition and be swallowed up in everlasting confusion and your Memorial shall stink in Generations to come and shall be a hissing among the Heathen Kingdoms and deliverance will God bring another way unto his People to your overthrow if you walk not in the Counsel of the Lord. And whereas upon the considerations and purposes aforesaid you have ordered that a Day be observed and kept for solemn Humiliation and seeking the Face of God through the mediation of Christ in England Scotland and Ireland To which in much tenderness of spirit I desire to say That if you seek his Face in the hardness of your hearts and in the way of your own precepts while the yoke of the great Oppressions in the Nations are not broken from off the neck of the Poor his Face you shall not behold though you seek it but in vain shall you weary your selves and shall travel without issue as to that which you desire and his Countenance shall be hid from you till he shew his Face for evil against you and not for good and to you it shall be said To what purpose are your Oblations and your solemn Meeting Who hath required it at your hands even your own doings and appointed Altars of Inventions which the Lord cannot accept from you Therefore give ear ye Mountains and listen ye tall Cedars if you establish the false Prophets which makes a prey upon the people through covetousness and which acteth the abominations of Israel in preaching for Hire and divining for Money and in crying peace to the wicked by a Law and maintain them through the oppression of the Poor in the crying Oppression of Tythes or otherwise imposing such things upon the tender Consciences by any Act or Statute made or allowed by you God shall not hear your cry nor answer your request nor ever establish you in peace nor the Nations over which you are set likewise if you make a Law or allow such a one to be acted which any way may tye or limit the Spirit of the Lord in any of his Servants from reproving the abominations of the Times in Rulers Teachers or People in your Streets or Temples or places otherwise at any time whatsoever the Lord will not hold you guiltless nay assuredly if you do but hide your face from the Suffering of such who through the wickedness of some under you may be afflicted upon such an account you shall not be altogether Innocent but Gods hand shall be upon you likewise If any for Conscience sake deny to Swear upon any account according to the former vain Customs of the Nations trained up thereto in ignorance and blindness in humane traditions and thereupon suffer Imprisonment or Fining or otherwise howsoever by any Order from you or any subordinate Powers you shall be guilty in the sight of God of that suffering the Innocent in such a cause much more shall you be guilty if by any means in any cause upon any condition men be compelled by any Authority of this Nation to swear likewise if any suffer for not bowing the Hat or Knee to any of you or any of your Judges or under Officers and thereupon be accounted Transgressors the Lord shall account such things Oppression from your hands and Tyranny and Cruelty and you shall not escape unpunished as the Lord lives these and many more Abominations cries for Vengeance against some of you who have had your hands deeply dipped in such Oppression and therefore to you this is a Warning to break off these sins by righteousness and these evils by true repentance lest your Fasts prove only for Strife and to smite with the fist of Wickedness Clear your selves and wash you hands from these Abominations lest the fruit of them be given you to eat for Food and let this oh ye Rulers be acceptable councel unto you that the dayes of Happiness may appear and the long expected and waited for day of Liberty may yet dawn through this dark night of Bondage which overshadows your heads that you cannot behold the glory of the Son and herein shall you be established and we shall have cause to bless the Lord for you and with you otherwise you shall never be renowned but all your counsels and purposes shall fail and be cursed of the Lord and evil shall be upon you and upon the Nation for your sakes And all you that fear God listen and give audience and let the fear of the Lord be before your eyes and keep your selves pure from
hope of Salvation and his Shepheard to feed him and perserve him at all times though he may be tempted yet he is not overcome for God is his strength though he may be tryed yet he is not forsaken of the Lord though he may be cast into the Fire it is not to consume him for the Lord is with him all things he receives as from the Hand of God and all Creatures he enjoyes in the Covenant with God and Peace is in all his ways for it is the Lord that works in him both to will and to do of his own Good Pleasure and this is the state of the new man brought forth in Conversion which is a turning of the Creature from the power of Satan which rules in every man before Conversion to the Power of God which is the Ruler of every man that is truly converted and this is the Truth as it is in Jesus which I have received from God he that can receive it let him and if any have an Ear let him Hear what the Spirit saith this Conversion of the Creature is wrought by the Spirit of God through the Ministry sent of him and even for this cause have we received the Ministry of God through the Holy Ghost that we might publish these things abroad that all people may come to the knowledge of them and may taste and handle and feel of the same Word of Life in themselves which will reveal the Knowledge of these things to them that they may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with the Son And now be it known to all the World and to all people in it that the Lord hath raised up a People and brought forth a Seed to bear witness of his Name and of his Dominion and Power in all the Earth and of these Truths with many more which are but one in Christ Jesus hath God given us the perfect Knowledge of even wrought them in us and revealed them to us by the eternal Spirit and as that same Spirit doth and shall move in us do we and shall we bear witness of these Truths unto all People upon Earth whatsoever both by Doctrine and Conversation holding forth the Testimony unto others which we have received of God that Christ may be exalted and his Kingdom set up in the World And in comparison of this that we may serve God in our Generation by bearing witness of these things which we have heard and seen nothing of this World our Liberty our Life not any other thing whatsoever is dear unto us yea even for this cause that the Name of the Lord may be testified of do we give up our selves continually to suffer all manner of evil in words or works and we love not our lives unto death that Truth and Righteousness may be exalted and this is the cause wherefore we pass through many Dangers on every hand and are in perils often and we are not nor cannot be afraid of the face of any man even that the Lord alone may be exalted whose name and Honour and Truth is more dear unto us than any other thing and for it have we forsaken all and counted it as nothing in comparison of the Knowledge of Christ and his Truth herein declared and witnessed to the whole World to whom it shall come and the Light of Christ in every one shall give testimony to it unto which I do onely commend my self and these truths to be witnessed And know ye assuredly that God who is just and righteous in all his Ways it is he that setteth the Way of Life and the way of Death before every man and he hath appeared in this Generation and he hath caused his voyce to be heard in the Earth and he hath set the way of Death and the Way of Life before you and all that perish it is through unbelief and because they do despise the Way which God hath prepared who hath prepared a Way for life and Salvation unto 〈◊〉 People that all may come to Life and Salvation and may not perish and he hath not shut out any Creature before he was brought forth into the World but giveth to every one that cometh into the World a Day of Visitation and a time 〈◊〉 Repentance and Returning that healing may be received from the Lord wâ—â— is the Restorer of lost man and there is not another so that if man perish 〈◊〉 is of himself and not of God who hath so loved Mankind that he hath giveâ— his Son his own Wisdom and his Power into the World that all that doth receive him Christ Jesus may have everlasting Life and they that receive him not they perish because of unbelief whereby they are hardened for destruction and unto such our Gospel the Gospel of God is hid whose Eye iâ— blinded by the God of this World that they cannot see the things which be eternal nor believe in him from whence Life comes and such are stumbling at Chriâ—â— the Foundation and therefore shall be broken and must not inherit the Kingdom of God and unto such though they be wise in the Kingdom 〈◊〉 this World are we become Fools for Christs sake and our Testimony cannot be received by them nor approved of them even them that seek after a Sigâ— and them that seek after Wisdom to such we are not known nor can our Testimony be acceptable to them which is not with enticing words of mans wisdom 〈◊〉 in the demonstration of Gods Spirit and in simplicity of Truth which is of grâ—â—â— Price with the Lord even above knowledg and all wisdom which is of this Worâ—â— which comes to nothing but the Lord will confound that and bring it to nothing for the World by its wisdom doth not know God neither can it receiâ—â— the things of God but is Foolishness in the Sight of God and the wisdom of tâ—â— World Must be offended in him and in the Testimony which is given of him 〈◊〉 the Princes of this World and the Wise men must stumble and fall the poweâ— of the Earth must be offended at him that they may be confounded and brougâ—â— to nought all the Heathen shall rage and the People shall imagine a vain thing But what of all this the Testimony of the Lord is true which he hath given us 〈◊〉 bear of his Name of it we are not ashamed before the face of the whole World and we are armed to suffer for it and not onely to subscribe to the truth of 〈◊〉 with our hand or to declare of it with our Tongue and Pen but also if we 〈◊〉 called to it may seal it with our blood Wherefore this is sent among you all Rulers Teachers and People in all the World this is sent among you as to giâ—â— you the certain knowledge of what we hold and bear witness to which is received of us from God and born witness of to you by his Spirit even those thingâ— with many
others which we have not received from man but from God are 〈◊〉 purposed in the Lord to declare abroad and he hath put it into our hearts to 〈◊〉 his Will herein for he hath spoken who can but prophesie and he hath given 〈◊〉 word and many are they that publish it in faithfulness against the kingdom 〈◊〉 the Man of Sin which hath long been exalted in the Earth over the Seed of 〈◊〉 which the Lord is now a gathering and establishing his Covenant with and Ierusalem that hath long lain waste shall be made the praise of the whole Earth 〈◊〉 the Gentiles which hath polluted her shall be cast out and the Saints shall Rejoyâ—â— over all their Enemies And know you assuredly from us who know the Lord that God is doing greâ—â—â— things in the Earth he is begun to work and his arm shall bring it to pass he will overturn and overturn till he come to reign whose right it is who will change times and things even that which cannot be believed though a man declare it unto you is the Lord bringing to pass the Eye shall bless that sees it and the Heart shall praise that can understand and behold the Lord comes quickly and they are blessed that wait for him whose Reward is with him and his glorious Work is before him to be wrought by his own hand without the help of any other who needs not the help of man and he that doth oppose him shall be overthrown confounded and destroyed And again All ye Kings Princes Rulers and People whatsoever know ye assuredly that we are not Enemies against but Friends unto all Civil Government and to all just and righteous Orders and Decrees and wholsome Laws and Customs of any Common-wealth and no way are we destructive to or Destroyers of the Peace and Welfare and wholsome Laws which is according to God of any Nation whatsoever But are Preservers of the Peace of all people and wait in patience for the establishment of Justice and true Judgement and that Righteousness may spring forth and the Government of all Nations may be according to the Law of God Neither are we such who makes void the just Government of any Nation or City Neither are we such who through evil purposes plot or conspire or contrive Evil in our Hearts against any Governours or Government whatsoever but wish Peace and Truth and the Fear of the Lord unto all men and Nations and desire not the overthrow or evil to any people or their Government but are subject to just Government everywhere by obedience to it and subject to evil Government by suffering in patience under it so that righteousness alone we wait to see set up through the World and for that cause suffer patiently under our Enemies not seeking revenge against them nor envying the persons of any but pity our enemies and desire their Repentance rather than their Destruction Yet this we give all to know that the Lord will be avenged on all them who hate the Way of Righteousness and all that oppose the Lord and his Way and despise his Truth which he hath revealed they shall be confounded and broken to pieces and shall confess to the Lord and his Way and his Truth in the day of their Destruction Again let all the Earth know that against all unrighteousness injustice oppression whoredom murder and drunkenness and all sin whatsoever we do declare and acknowledge our selves to be Enemies against all sin and they that commit it and we cannot hide Sin and Iniquity in any but give our testimony against it and against all that live in it whatsoever without Respect to men or places and cannot flatter any man in his Transgressions but say that Lying Swearing Drunkenness Covetousness Jniustice Dissimulation Hypocrisie Murder and Envy Lust of the Flesh Pride and Wantonness and all the works of the Flesh whatsoever are contrary to God and of the Devil and they that lives in them and brings them forth are the Servants of the Devil and must not inherit the Kingdom of God who brings forth those works which grieves the Spirit of God and vexes his righteous Soul and this is that Government onely which is the Government of Sin and Death which we declare our selves Enemies to which is of the Devil and not of God and this is that Government which we testifie against and war against by the Sword of the Spirit of God and by his Power and not by the carnal weapons or subtil conspiracies or violent Insurrections for this way and by this means shall not the Government of Satan be overthrown or the Kingdom of Christ ever exalted Again let all the World know that we are not such as disanul or makes void the Covenant and bond of Relations or teach any so to do or give any example by our practice to any subjects to be rebellious to their Governors or children to be disobedient to their Parents or that servants be undutiful to their Masters But on the contrary do say and affirm it that it is the duty of Subjects to be obedient and subject in the Lord to their Rulers and Governours whether Kings Dukes or others who have rule over them and also that Children should be obedient to their Parents and Servants to be dutiful and subject to their Master in the Lord in all things and that Husbands and Wives live in all unity and peace in the Lord Provided onely where Rulers Parents or Masters or Husbands require of their Subjects Children or Servants or any other whatsoever requiring of their Relations that which is unjust and contrary to God and his righteous Law in such a case we say that Subjects Children Servants and all other whatsoever are free and we say where man requires any thing contrary to God and God requires another thing contrary to man the obedience to God is rather to be chosen and the obedience to all mâ—… is to be denyed and this is our judgement which is acording to truth and iâ— the mind of God concerning subjection and obedience and the duty of Relations one to another And lastly Know ye assuredly that we do not hold and maintain any thing by conversation or doctrine but the very same Truth in word and practice 〈◊〉 all our fore-Fathers did but bears witness of the same Salvation by the same Christ as they did and are not setters forth of strange gods for no other God is worshipped by us than he which Abraham Isaac and Iacob and all the rest of the servants of the Lord in every generation worshipped served and obeyed neither are we such as do maintain Heresie Error or Idolatry or the worship of any strange god though hereof we are accused falsely yet against us cannot it be proved truly and this we give the whole world to know that no other end or purpose or design is in our hearts but onely to fulfil the will of God in all things as it is to us made manifest Even
in the day of the Lord Is your answer ready or will not your mouthes be stoped and you speechless when righteousness it self pleads against you And what can you plead for fining men and imprisoning them for not respecting your persons and bowing with hat and knee and because they could not swear this hath some of you done will you have any thing to say in the cause of these things when Christ Jesus comes to reign and his Saints with him unto whom the government and the authority and rule shall be given though now they are persecuted and as the refuse of men accounted by you unto whom they are become a prey to act your oppression and cruelty upon and because they render nor evil for evil therefore is the impudency of some men the more encreased and their hardness of heart enlarged and because judgment is not speedily executed therefore are the hearts of some men set in them to do evil O! what a sad reckoning in that day and what large indictments and verdicts for your oppression will be read against you and proved to be just in the sight of God and men a sad thing will it be upon you when laid to your charge by the Lord for causing men to suffer because they could not swear nor respect persons nor uphold the deceits of false Worships and Teachers nor cease to cry against sin in your Towns and Steeple-houses O! be stirred up out of your security you Heads and Rulers and Judges and Officers even all you be awakened who have turned your sword against the peaceable and been a terror to righteousness as much as you could which you ought not to have been and so your power you have abused and subverted it to another end than wherefore it was committed to you instead of defending the upright you have offended him and instead of being a terror to the wicked his hand hath been strengthened through your wicked presidents this is the truth as the Light in all your consciences shall witness in the day of the Lord O! how hath justice and true judgment been neglected and oppression and cruelty abounded the like in Generations past hath not been known but the Lord is now arisen and hath said I will ease mâ— of my Enemies and take vengeance upon my Adversaries who have done wickedly against him and his people till the patience of the Lord is near an end and his long suffering finished and his judgments will he make known upon his Enemies in this Generation that Ages to come forever may be warned not to oppress the Innocent as these have done by false accusations and unjust judgments and wicked proceedings and because of it the wrath of the Lord is kindled and his viols of indignation shall be poured upon the Beast and upon the false Prophet and all their power shall be smitten in one day And O what wickedness hath abounded in the people also to help up the measure of the Rulers sins that they may receive their recompence together how have the people of all sorts abused the innocent lambs of Christ whom he hath called What beatings and stonings and bruisings and other abuses in Towns and High-ways and Steeple-houses its hard to be expressed and large to be declared some have been wounded nigh unto death others bruised till blood have gushed out and others cast down in the dirt and punched with feet and troden upon and many have been in danger of their lives some have been knocked down with staves and their cloaths-rent and their hair torn off their heads and some have been pursued after with throwing stones and dirt at them and many haled and tumbled and lugged and hurried up and down in cruel manner to the danger of life and oppression of the creature and others have been whipped and lashed and put into cruel torment of their Bodies by Engins framed of purpose to torment the Bodies of the harmless as Chester and Carlile may witness and others have been haled before Rulers and falsly slandered to the taking away of life if the Lord had not prevented more than the mercy of men and having been unmercifully and unjustly sent to prison there have they suffered cruelties from the Goalers or their servants by beatings or punishings or threatnings or cruel words and casting into Dungeons and great abuses shamefully acted upon them and other Prisoners have made a prey upon them by taking away their cloaths and meat and beating of them and abusing them divers ways Murtherers have had more priviledge of freedom in prisons and in tryals than these who are Innocent and those things thus acted contrary to their own Law have passed without reproof from many in Authority though it hath been brought to their Door and in this manner have the Children of God the Lamb and his Followers been persecuted without cause or any evil works brought forth by them and legally proved against them but for well-doing and not for evil have the wicked vented their malice against them that the more the Beast and his power hath fulfilled wickedness the sooner may be his destruction And O what scorning and reviling and lying and slandering and evil speeches with mockings and cruel words of envy and tearms of cruelty against the Innocent hath this Generation brought forth in this day wherein the Dragon with his Angels hath joyned battel against the Prince of Righteousness and they that follow him and whole Gog and Magog is gathered together to compass the Camp of the Saints about and to fight against the beloved City the Judges and Rulers with their train of subservant officers as Bayliffs Clarks Goalers Constables with all that to those belonged have with a high hand persecuted and laid oppressions by hard-heartedness upon the backs of the poor and distressed and the Scorners and â—iers and prophane wretches have bent their tongue against the Just in uttering lies slanders reproaches back-biting nick-naming and false-accusing and all manner of evil speeches and false reproaches and the just have been burthened by all this and thus they that have been departed from iniquity have been a prey to Rulers to act their injustice upon and to the people to utter their slanders and to do cruelty against and the teeth of evil-doers have been set on edge to bite and devour and to satisfie their maliciousness upon the sufferings of the upright people and from the Judge upon his throne to the begger upon the high-way all have had their hand dipped in this cause of cruel and unjust persecution and the Lord hath considered and harkened from his holy Habitation and numbered up the sum of all your iniquities that he may repay and recompence upon your heads wo unto you unjust Judges and corrupt men who have abused your power And wo unto all that do oppress by hard dealing who have offended the just and defended the unjust Wo unto all you scorners lyers back-biters and repoachful tougues the Lord is
People to save them or his Enemies that he should not recompence them but know ye assuredly that the Lord is the same and all those things are written in a Book and remembred by him and he will judge justly and righteously in his dreadful day Ah let it enter into your hearts serve not your selves altogether in the pleasures of this World but serve the Lord and this he requires of you let the oppressed go free and break every bond whereby the Innocent do suffer and this the Lord requires at your hands Oh but I feel great hardness of heart and rather a strengthening of cruel bonds than a breaking of them and you appear rather to be given up to work wickedness and to fullfill the largest measure of them that went before you than otherwise unrighteous Decrees are rather established than disannulled Oh what will be the end of these things and what will be your judgment when the Lord awakens himself as out of sleep who hath left you to follow your own spirits to try you that it might be known unto all what is in your hearts and behold perverseness lodges in them and while the Lord hath looked for justice amongst you even the cry of oppression hath been heard even a grieveous cry of unjust persecution and violence against the Seed of God and once you would have been ashamed of those things which now you act without shame so that which is in your hearts is poured forth in the sight of the World Oh ye Rulers of England the Rulers of the Heathen shall rise up is judgment against you even they that never professed so much as you have done they shall be rather justified than you whose wayes have been more equal than yours and less cruelty brought forth by them than by you unto their subjects and this makes your sin more great in that many of yoâ— were raised from low estate and you have exalted your selves more than is meet and have caused your very equals to groan under you by the heavy yoak which you have prepared for them well but the Lord hath listned and heard and a Book of remembrance is written and he will repay into your bosoms the time is not long when the Lord may scatter you and give you unto the will of your Enemies therefore be awakened and warned the day of your visitation is upon you all OH England that thou hadst known in this thy day the things that belong to thy peace Oh that thy Rulers and people had known how that the Lord hath called unto them Oh that they had considered-how that his hand hath been stretched forth all the day long and he would have gathered them as a Shepherd doth his flock but they have nâ—… known neither have they considered and therefore that which belongs to their peace will the Lord hide from their eyes the day of their visitation is spending apace and the night will come and no man shall be able to work and because the Lord hath called and you have not heard therefore shall you cry and the Lord will give no answer Oh Nation thou art filled with oppression and griveous iniquities and from the Head to the Foot thou bearest marks of great abominations in thee is found lamentable oppression of the Poor and great and grieveous Idolatries and Gods Rightous Soul is vexed in thee day by day the Just groans and mourns under the heavy hand of oppressors many of thy Goales do witness it where many Innocent and Upright People have suffered unjustly the loss of their Freedom without any ground or charge of evil laid upon them Oh what have thy Rulers done Judgment and Justice have they turned backward the cry of the Poor hath not been regarded and equity hath not found a place to enter Who would have thought that you who have been so high in Profession of the Scriptures should thus have dealt with them who are in the Life of the Scriptures this agravates your sin in that none hath been like you in profession of Religion and in pretences of Righteousness and yet you have exceeded others in persecuting and suffering of it the servants of the Lord but it is now made Manifest what lodgeth in your hearts under your fair covers of promises words and shews what deep Hypocrisie is this that you should profess Liberty of Conscience and yet have persecuted hundreds for the exercise of their pure Consciences Is not this to be taken notice of that you should profess that which you do not perform and will not the Lord plead with you because of it in his dreadful day which is hastening upon you as a thief in the night and the wicked shall not escape do you not think that he whom you persecute in his Members and his Members shall surely reign over you do not you know that he is sufficient to avenge himself of all his Enemies and do not you believe that he could command thousands of thousands to fight for him and to revenge his Cause Hath the consideration of these things no room in your hearts or are your hearts wholy shut up from all compassion towards the Lords people Surely to Vengeance will the Lord be awakened and he will tread you down as mire in the streets and as you have done and suffered to be done to the Lords people even so shall it be done unto you THere are only two Seeds in the World and there are but two and no more to wit the Seed of God and the Seed of the Serpent and these two are contrary one to the other in their bringing forth in their time and in their ends they differ in their Nature in their fruits and works and in their reward and these two are at continual enmity one against another and never was is or shall be reconciled the life of one is the death of the other and where the one doth live the other doth dye and where the one rejoyceth the other is made sorrowful and where the one is in Freedom the other is in Bondage and where the one is Ruler the other is a Slave and in Captivity and thus are they contrary where the one brings forth fruit the other is barren and the one is rewarded with the overthrow of the other and the one of these is ruling in every creature man and woman and growing and bringing forth fruit from it self through the Creature and the fruits of the one is blessed for ever and the fruits of the other are cursed for ever and betwixt these two there is no concurrence or agreement in any thing whatsoever but they differ in likeness and their fruits differ in appearance the fruit of the one is love and peace and unity the fruit of the other is hatred and envy and trouble and enmity the fruit of the Seed of God in the creature is truth and righteousness and faith and patience long-suffering and temperance and joy and peace in the Lord with all
not to bow to any Likeness Exod. 20. And we read Iames 2. the Apostle exhorts not to have the Faith of 〈◊〉 Lord Iesus with respect of Persons but condemns that practice of respeâ—â—ing such as are in goodly Apparel and gay Cloathing and have gold Rings above a poor man in vile Raiment and he saith plainly They that have respect to Persons commits sin and we read that the Pharisees said of Christ he respected no mans person and he is our Example And we read that the three Children were cast into the fiery Furnace with indignation before the King being bound before him and cast into the Furnace Daniel 3. And we read that Paul and all the Servants of God did Thou Kings and Princes and Rules and they spoke plainly to all men and durst not give flattering Title to any as you may read in Iob 33. so that all people may see their Practice in denying to respect Persons and in speaking plainly without flattering Titles to any man or denying to pull off the Hat or bowing to men iâ— gay Clothing or giving place to such that wear gold Rings and have goodly Apparel before such as have vile Raiment is justly according to the Scriptures though people stumble at such Practices and the People of God may claim to be maintained in this Practice of their Religion seeing it is proved to be commanded in Scriptures not to respect the Person of any man and also it was the Saints practice and therefore herein they ought not to be condemned but justified as being a practice in Religion agreeing with the Scriptures And as concerning their denying Obedience to Magistrates in some Cases this is according to Scripture also for we read that the Rulers commanded the Apostles and straitly charged them to speak no more iâ— the Name of Iesus yet the Apostles did not obey Magistrates herein neither did they cease to Preach in the Name of Jesus and though Christ was commanded or besought to depart out of their Coasts yâ—â— he did not obey their request and we read that the three Children werâ— commanded to worship the great Image yet they did not obey this Command of the King so that all people may see it is lawfull for the Saints to disobey Commands of Kings and Rulers where they command that to be done or spoken which God doth not but the contrary And I say again Where Kings or Rulers Parents or Masters doth command or require any thing of them that are under them which is not according to God in such causes Subjects or People and Children and Servants are free and not required of the Lord to subject to any thing which is not justly according to him but yet we say That Subjects and People and Children and Servants ought to subject to them that have rule over them in all things which is according to God in Truth and Righteousness and by the Law of God all People are bound to obey those that have Rule over them not to disobey them in any thing which may stand with the Exercise of a good Conscience to God so that though the People of the Lord now do deny to depart out of a Town or Place and though they will not cease to declare against sin and wickedness in Teachers and People though a Magistrate command it this is but according to the Scripture for the Apostles went on boldly declaring the Name of the Lord after they were forbidden And thus the Servants of the Lord do now they freely declare the Way of Salvation and call People to repent and reprove Iniquity in all sorts of people though wicked men command them to the contrary and falsely charges them that they are disobedient to Government and Authority though they are not no more then the Servants of God and Apostles of Christ who in the same causes did the same things and the Lord hath commanded to crâ—â—â—â—ud and not to spare but to tell people of their Transgressions and therefore many of the Lords Servants do deny to be silent or to cease from declaring against sin though a Magistrate command it And Christ hath commanded not to swear at all and therefore many do deny to swear upon any account in any place though the Magistrates do command it for the Servants of the Lord do deny to put off a Hat or to Bow in respect of any mans person though a Magisttate command it for the Scripture doth say He that respects Persons commits sin so that all people may see that what the Servant of the Lord doth in these things are not contrary but according to the Scriptures for all these things were commanded and practised by the Saints in former Ages and they said It was better to obey God then man and we ought to do it in all things and that according to the Scriptures too So that in all these practises in Religion the Scriptures justifies them and are as Witnesses to them and they might claim protection in the exercise of them by the Protectors Oath but if they be not maintained but persecuted for the practice of these things then will the Light in every mans Conscience witness the Oath is broken and not kept for it extends to uphold and maintain the practice of Religion which is according to the Scriptures as these are proved to be And as concerning their Doctrines which the World stumbles at yet their Doctrines are according to the Scripture though they say Christ is the Light of the World and lighteth every man or hath given light to every man that cometh into the World this is according to the Scripture as you may read Iohn 8. 12. and 1. 9. and though they turn people from Darkness to the Light of Christ within them and exhort people to hearken to that within them and not to seek a Christ without them to ascend or descend to fetch him these Doctrines are perfectly according to the Scripture for you may read Acts 26. 18. Pâ—… saith He was sent to turn People from Darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan to the Power of God and Rom. 10. you may read the Apostle saith What saith it The Word is nigh thee in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach and they were not to say Who shall ascend or descâ—… to fetch Christ. And though they tell people They must witness Christ in them 〈◊〉 else they cannot be saved This also is according to the Scriptures as you may read 2 Cor. 13. the Apostle saith Iesus Christ is in you except ye 〈◊〉 Reprobates And though they say Christ is the Word of God and do deny the Scriptures to be the Word by which the World was made This Doctrine also is according to the Scriptures for we read Rev. 19. 13. That the Name of Iesus is called the Word of God And Luke 1. of the Scriptures it is saâ—â— They are a Declaration by those which were Eye-witnesses and Ministers of
and not reconciled to God upon whose shoulders the Government lies and the execution of the Law in their power who cannot minister true Judgment nor discern of different Causes amongst Men. And therefore all Magistrates are to weigh and be considerate in all these things and so to act and judge among men as they may give a good Account unto God and all men and when a Cause is brought before them to give Judgment of or any accus'd unto them that they should execute the Law upon they should by the Spirit of the Lord first try into the Ground and Nature of such matters to know whether it be a wilful and supposed Wrong or Injury done between man and man or it be of Ignorance or want of better Knowledge or such like or whether it be a Matter of Conscience or about Religion or the Worship of God whereupon the Controversie dependeth and if it be a matter of wilful and purposed Wrong or of Ignorance then good Reason and Iustice will teach a Magistrate to defend the Innocent from Wrong or to restore his Wrong by true Judgment that his Person and Estate be freed and preserv'd from all Wrong and that the Wrong-dealer be restrain'd and punish'd and judg'd justly according to his Offences but if it be a matter of Conscience about Religion or the Worship of God then the Magistrates with their Law ought not to meddle therein or to judge of such Matters for these things concerning the things that are Spiritual are out of their Jurisdiction and not in their power to judge of And if the Controversie between man and man depend about such Causes not having reflection upon Persons or Estates but only about Spiritual Matters then Magistrates with their Laws ought not to judge in these Causes but Spiritual Men ought only to give their Judgments hereof as they have receiv'd from God And though men be in controversie about Religion and the Worship of God yet if they be men of Peace not wronging one another in their Persons and Estates they ought to be both protected in a good Government by the just and righteous Laws And here the Sword of Justice is laid only upon the Evil-doer to be a Terror and a Punishment to him and to limit and restrain him from Wrong-dealing and this is the End wherefore it was ordain'd of God to be among men and not to be laid upon the Conscience to oppress and afflict the tender Consciences of the Upright whose Minds are exercis'd in the Law of God for such should have Praise that do well by the Sword of Justice while it is a Terror to all Evil-doers whatsoever and this is the perfect End wherefore the Law was added and the practice of it herein by faithful and just Executors is Well-pleasing and Acceptable to the Lord. And now as concerning this one thing which is Oppression in the Nation brought forth through the unjust and false Execution of the Laws whereby many tender Consciences are afflicted and not for any Wrong or Evil-doing but for the Exercise of a pure Conscience Whereas many for a pure Conscience sake do deny and cannot pay any thing to maintain a Steeple-House or Place of Worship which the people of the World do worship in and where they commit Idolatry neither can they for Conscience sake pay any thing to uphold such Worship and such a Ministry and Ministers which are not of Christ nor ever were sent of him but of Antichrist and such by which the people are led in Blindness and Error as manifestly doth appear through the whole Land And yet the Magistrates some of them being as blind and ignorant as the people do compel many people by their Writs and Orders and Judgments to maintain a Priest and Steeple-house which for Conscience sake they deny to maintain and yet by Authority from the Magistrates are the innocent Men's Goods spoyl'd by Distress and great Oppression Exercis'd upon many poor People to maintain and uphold the Ministry and Worship of this Generation which is not of God but against him and many hereupon are cast into Prison and others have their Goods taken from them by Violence and great Havock is made in the Countries about this matter Now first it may be consider'd That to deny to uphold and maintain a Steeple-house and Place where ignorant people in Tradition do meet to Worship is not a matter of wilful and purpos'd Wrong-dealing or the breach of any Bargan or Contract between man and man but it is a matter of Conscience to the People of God and for a good Conscience sake they cannot do such a thing as to maintain a place of Worship which Abomination is committed in by ignorant and rude people who are without the Fear of God as daily is manifest and it is not manifest that by denying of this they injure any man's Person or Estate in any thing which belongs unto him by lawful Bargan and Contract or otherwise Neither is there any Reason or Equity in this matter That any should be forc'd and compell'd by Injustice and Oppression to uphold a house of worship which others worship in and not they and they knowing that worship to be Abomination to the Lord also and not the True Worship of the True God and there is no Justice nor Religion in it that any should be caused by force to uphold a House for other people to commit and practice Idolatry in if the house were for any good purpose or honest practice as for poor or impotent people to dwell in or such like who had not Houses of their own because of their poverty then that were a deed of charity to uphold it and the people of God would not deny it but could freely give their money to such a use or end but because it is not to such a use but only a place to commit Idolatry in and to worship God ignorantly in superstitions therefore it is a matter of Conscience unto many and for a good Conscience sake they rather suffer the spoiling of their Goods and affliction upon their Bodies then to pay their Money for such a use or end and herein the Magistrates do great injustice in the sight of God and his Saints and contrary to Reason and a good Conscience in causing innocent mens Goods to be spoiled by cruelty to uphold a place of idolatrous worship contrary to mens tender Consciences for as I have said they do no wrong to any man but only peoples wills are offended and their blind zeal turned into rage and fury against the Just who worship God in Spirit and in the Truth and cannot uphold the Houses of false worship and it is a shame unto the people and Ministers themselves who cannot uphold their own worshipping Houses and it is a reproach upon their God and their Religion who cause others to maintain their worshipping Houses by injustice and great oppression and will not themselves maintain their Houses where they
partake of his Works or Labours neither hath any benefit thereby but rather loss and disadvantage because of his labours which he doth for others and not for him nor by any order from him for he knows his Labour to be nothing but Vanity and a Cheat and deceiving of People and for him to be compelled to maintain such a man in such ill imployment against his Conscience this is unjust and unreasonable and what man in the World would do it or be compelled thereunto without crying out of great Oppression as to maintain a Man with great Wages as his Labourer and Servant who doth not Labour for him nor serve him but labours against him as much as is possible and this is the very cause between the Priests of England in their Maintenance in claiming of it and receiving of it and the people of the Lord who do deny to maintain them or confess any lawfull due they have to challenge any of them And also it is a very shame to the people of this Nation for whom such Ministers do labour who cannot maintain their own Ministers themselves who labours for them and of whose labours they do partake but others are compelled by injustice to maintain them who do not partake of any of their labours nor set them to labour but denies them and their labour on that account and yet are forced to pay them Wages and this is unjust and unreasonable that men should be constrained by force to pay other mens Servants which works and labours for other and not for them and what man in the World having reason in him would do it or be forced to do it without complaining of heavy injustice as to maintain another mans Servant with Wages who works for others and not for him neither was hired by him nor set on work nor receives any benefit by him but another hires him and partakes of his labours and yet he is compelled against all reason and equity to give him his Wages all will conclude this were unjust and not according to God but against him and this is the very cause between the people of God who cannot pay to maintain false Teachers and the people of the Nation who hires such Teachers and receives of their labours and teaching and yet compells others to give them Wages contrary to good reason and Justice and against the excercise of a pure Conscience And above all the Magistrates blindness and Ignorance and the unjustness and wickedness of some of them doth appear to their shame by whose authority these things are done reaching out their power in those things further than they have received power from God and abusing the Law and just government and subverting it to another end then wherefore God hath ordained it for the Magistrates power and authority is not to be laid on mens Consciences to Oppress and Imbondage the tender Consciences of the Lords people in forcing things to be done contrary to good reason and against a good Conscience and by these things is the Land filled with violence and oppression and the Innocent and Just do deeply groan till the Lord arise to plead their cause and to bring deliverance unto them through the destruction of all their Enemies and he will break down all the bonds of Cruelty and Oppression and will take away every yoak that doth burden and oppress the upright that his people may be a free people from all unjust men and the people of the Lord do claim this as their Priviledge belonging to them by the just Laws of God and men to Worship God in Spirit and in Truth and to uphold and maintain that Worship onely without being compelled by force to maintain any other whatsoever and they claim as right unto them to maintain what Ministers and uphold what ministry as they know is sent of God by which people are profited and which they have received the knowledge of God through by his Spirit and to be free to maintain how and as the Lord leads them unto without being forced by any Law or unequall authority to maintain the false Prophets and Hirelings and Deceivers who live in pride and excess through the Oppression of the poor and Innocent and such as Ministers of the Gospel of Christ the people of the Lord cannot maintain but rather give themselves to suffer heavy and cruel things by unjust and wicked men who violates the just Laws of God and man and the suffering is for a good Conscience sake and for righteousness sake and not for any wrong or Evil-doing and for a Testimony that they are of God and for a witness against their Enemies that they are of the Devil who do his works and these make war against the Saints and the Lamb and the Beast seeks to kill all that will not worship him for he hath been great in the Earth and his seat upon Nations and who have been able to make war against him for many Generations again there is another suffering great and grievous which is unjustly laid upon the people of God which suffering is not for Evil-doing but for a good Conscience sakes as is manifest as because many are moved of the Lord by his Spirit to go into the Steeple-houses and Meeting-places or other places to reprove sin and among people or to exhort them unto good and to follow Christ and to deny the wickedness of this World or such like as they are moved some are moved to reprove a Hireling Teacher who deceives the people and walks in the steps of the false Prophets and lives in Pride and Vainty and evil contrary to the Doctrine and Practise of Christ and the Apostles and this Practise of the Servants of the Lord in reproving evil and exhorting to good is called a disturbance of the Peace and an unlawfull Practice and such like it is falsly judged by unjust men who know not the Spirit of the Lord nor the moving thereof and because of this many innocent men are caused deeply to suffer contrary to a good Conscience and some are sent to the House of Correction there suffering cruel things from hard-hearted men and some are put in the Stocks and Whipped and others Fined and cast into Prison and such like Sufferings are unjustly imposed upon them and not for Evil-doing as I have said for though they reprove sin in Teachers or in People or exhort them to good whether in Steeple-houses Markets or other Places yet they do not hereby wrong any mans Person or Estate neither is this any matter of wilfull wrong or to such an intent neither doth it disturb the Peace nor is any unlawfull Practice but onely out of a good Conscience to God and man is it done and it is a matter of Conscience to the Servants of the Lord to do so and they cannot leave it undone lest they would transgress the Law of God in their own Consciences because they are commanded of God so to do that people may
be instructed in the right way to God and be converted out of every false Way and this is the very end of their work and their intent in doing it and they ought not in justice to suffer for it for it is according to the Law of God and in Reason and a good Conscience and the Lord justifies them in it then that Law and Judgment must needs be corrupt and unjust which condemns the People and Servants of the Lord as for Evil-Doers for obeying the Commands of God and for the Exercise of their pure Consciences and no mans Person or Estate being wronged or injured but onely Sin and Wickedness reproved and exhorted from and hereby thus is the Law perverted and true Judgment turned backward and the guiltless is condemned guilty and the guilty is set free and the obeying the Commands of God and the Exercise of a good Conscience is unjustly judged a Transgression and this is a shame and will be great condemnation to such in the Day of the Lord by whose Authority this is done even that the Exercise of a good Conscience even reproving of sin and exhorting unto that which is good to follow that and to forsake all evil should be judged and punished as a hainous Transgression in a Nation and Common-wealth professing Christianity and pure Religion and this makes the sin much more great and unpardonable because the practise and faithfull excercise in Chistianity and in the pure and true Religion is adjudged Transgression and condemned by such who profess the same thing in words and yet persecute and punish the Exercise of it in others and this shews them unjust Judges and Hypocrites who cause the Servants of the Lord to suffer for the practice of that which themselves profess in words to wit Religion and Christianity for I affirm against all Opposers whatsoever that it is a Practice in Religion according to the Scriptures to go into the Steeple-Houses Meeting-places Markets High-wayes or other places and reprove sin and wickedness and cry against evil in Priests and people and exhort to good and to forsake evil and therefore it ought not to be prosecuted and punished but defended and maintained by the Just Government of a Common-Wealth and by Just Laws and Magistrates for this the Lord requireth that Justice and Truth and true Judgement be exalted and the Innocent and Unright defended in all their wayes of a good Conscience and that Evil-doers and Sinners and Transgressors be condemned and righteously judged Also many of the Servants of the Lord do deeply suffer and is deeply afflicted by injustice for the exercise of a good Conscience in other things as because they cannot put off their Hats and bow in respect to mens persons according to the vain customs of the Heathen and because they cannot Swear upon a Book by kissing it and laying the hand upon it according to the idolatrous form and for such like causes because many cannot fulfil the lusts and wills of men that live in pride and evil wayes in these and other things therefore are the people of God put to great sufferings though they deny not the honour due to all men in the Lord without bowing the Hat nor to affirm the truth in every cause in faithfulness without an Oath now to keep on the Hat which is a cover for the head to keep from cold or heat for healths sake before any man whatsoever though never so great or noble is not any wrong or injury to the mans person or estate before whom it is done but onely the high minde and the proud nature and that which is exalted above the fear of God which would be Lord over his fellow creatures that same is offended and troubled which bears not the Image of God but of the Devil as Hamman was and would be bowed to and had in honour and respected because of knowledge or parts and proud gestures or apparel and the Children of the Lord cannot do it nor give honour to him nor be subject and pleasing to that man who is of that spirit and of that nature which is not of God but exalted in pride and vain-glory above the fear of God and against him and would be worshipped and had in honour and reverenced of his Fellow-creatures who hath not so much riches in this World as he nor is so proud in apparel as he and because of that he looks to be bowed unto with Hat or Knee and is offended if he be not and then in his pride he rages and is vexed and seeks revenge against such as cannot honour him and respect him in his pride and vain-glory but as I said this is not done as a matter of wrong unto any though the Hat be not bowed or put off but it is a matter of Conscience unto the people of God and for a good Conscience sake they do deny and may not give obedience and honour and respect out of the fear of God to proud flesh and to men which is not in the fear of God which expects reverence out of the Lord and they know it is nothing else that is offended but proud flesh and an exalted mind and a man that fears not God neither walks in his ways I say it is nothing else nor any besides that is offended or troubled because the Hat is not put off and bowed and the people of God are not careful to please or offend that in men and men as such for they know nothing of God nor any man that truly Fears God will be offended at the want of a Hat bowed to him and thus it is a matter of Conscience unto many and for a good Conscience sake they do deny to honour and subject themselves by obedience to any man as he is a man out of the fear of God and in the glory of the vain World expecting reverence out of the Fear of God and contrary to his Law which forbids the respect to persons and all honour which is not according to God for who doth fear to offend a man as a man without the Fear of God and doth obey and honour any man by putting off the Hat before him or otherwise and not onely in the Lord such are Servants to the wicked one and not unto God who fears the wrath of the wicked and subjects in honour to please the wicked by putting off and bowing the Hat and such like and such knows not the excercise of a pure Conscience to God so this is a matter of Conscience to deny to honour and to please wicked men as such by bowing the Hat and no man in justice ought to be made to suffer because oâ— it for the Law of God justifies it and that Law and Judgement is corrupt and perverted which condemns it And likewise though many deny to swear at all though not to testifie the Truth yet they do not wilfully wrong hereby to any mans Person or Estate but it is a matter of conscience unto
their Countries and Relations and wandred up and down the World from Town to Town and from one Country to another even as the Servants of the Lord do by the same Spirit at this day who can no more be truly judged for Vagabonds and Rogues c. than Christ and his Apostles could be who were a perfect example to us in these things For it is a lawful occasion in the Sight of God whatever you judge of it to travel up and down not being burthen some or chargeable to any to beat witness for the Name of the Lord and against all Sin and Iniquity that people may be reformed and instructed in the right way Therefore you must make a special distinction in your Judgement between such as are Rogues and idle and dissolute persons who are hurtful to the Creation and such as are innocent and harmless and not of evil behaviour though you may through prejudice otherwise judge of them this is to inform you herein that your Judgments may be according to God and not according to man neither with respect of persons Also you have another late Act for the Observation of the Lord's-Day wherein is inserted That none shall wilfully maliciously or of purpose disturb or disquiet the publick Preacher or to make any publick Disturbance in the Congregation Now the Law is good and it is right that all such be punished who do malitiously wilfully or of an evil purpose disturb or disquiet any man or people to the danger of breach of publick Peace and let all such be punished according to their desert But yet you must take heed in this cause for many of the Servants of the Lord are and may be moved by the Power of the Lord to come into a Congregation or an Assembly of People to declare against Sin and Iniquity and the Wayes of Wickedness in People or to ask a Question soberly of the Teacher or to instruct People to Edification in the Way of the Lord or such like may they do as they are moved â—nd yet not maliciously nor wilfully nor of wicked purpose for it was the Apostles Practice and the Practice of the Saints to go in the Synagogues and Meeting-places and to dispute with the Teachers on the Sabbath-days and sometimes they spoke to the people by way of Exhortation and the people bid them speak on and yet these were not Disturbers of the Assembly neither were they malicious men or wilful neither did they these things to any evil purpose and it was the Practise of the Saints that all may speak one by one in the Church when they were assembled together and this is the Practise of the Servants of the Lord now and yet they cannot justly be condemned by your Law though they come into your Assembly as they are moved of the Lord to object or reprove or exhort for they do it not in malice towards any but in love towards all and they can no more justly be condemned than the Apostles and Saints in the Primitive times who were unto us a just example in these Practises as you may read in the Scripture and you may as justly condemn them as us who are guided by the same spirit in the same things Therefore you have need to take heed of condemning the Innocent by a Law lest you bring innocent blood upon you and you must make a perfect difference between such as comes among you Wilfully and maliciously and on evil purpose to disturb and molest any man or Congregation and such who comes in the Name and Fear of the Lord who are moved of him contrary to their own wills anâ—â—h love to all people And in these causes you have need of discerning and sound judgement lest you condemn the guiltless and abuse your power and subvert the Law and so bring condemnation upon your selves And as you will answer it before the Lord in his dreadfull day cause not any to suffer through your envy and surmizings or false suspition through over-reaching the words of the Law to a wrong sense and to a wrong end Also it is inserted in the same Act against many evil things 〈◊〉 drinking in Taverns Inns Ale-houses Strong-water-houses or to Tipple unnecessarily or any other house c. and also against travelling and walking on that day vainly and prophanely c. Now the Law is good that evil exercise be prevented and prophaneness in every respect on that day and on every day and that such be punished that are found in any evil exercise whatsoever But yet you must take heed that none of the Innocent suffer hereby for many of the people of God may and do travel on that day to meet together to worship God and to wait upon him to find his presence and to receive of his refreshments to their souls But this cannot be judged an evil practise or prophane travelling or breach of the Sabbath For we read of a Sabbath-days Journey Acts 1. and 12. where some of the Servants of the Lord returned from Ierusalem to Mount Olivet which is a Sabbath-dayes Journey so that such who now travels to wait upon the Lord on that day though it be several Miles to and from the place of Meeting cannot justly be judged to be Sabbath-breakers no more than the Apostles who travelled a Sabbath-days Journey in obedience to the Lord to wait upon him So that you must take heed and make a noted distinction betwixt such who travel on a profane and an evil exercise or about the affairs of this World and such who travel on a good exercise to wait upon the Lord and to serve him For the Law it self excepts such from being taken up or judged Sabbath-breakers So take heed that you subvert not the Law and abuse your power through false judgement through your own envy and so you smite the guiltless and brings destruction upon your selves For herein we own the Law of God to walk by and the Apostles for an example though we may suffer unjustly by you Also there is a late Act for Discovering and Repressing of Popish Recusants by presenting to such as are Popish or Popishly affected an Oath as is therein described To renounce the Pope's Authority and to deny all his Doctrines and to testifie against the Authority of the Church of Rome and against any Licence given thereby to bear Arms or raise Tumults or by Violence to hurt the chief Magistrate or Government of these Nations c. And such as deny the taking of that Oath are to be adjudged Popish Recusants and to be proceeded against accordingly Now that Law is good That such who are adherent to the Pope and by his Authority would raise Armies and Tumults and offer Violence to the Hurt of the chief Magistrate or Government or people of these Nations c. as it is signified in the said Oath should be discovered and repressed But yet you must take heed and wait for sound Judgment in the Prosecution of the same For
you and sealed unto you by the Eternal Spirit And again Friends feel the Life of God in your own particulars even the Bread of Life which comes down from Heaven which nourisheth the Birth which is immortal unto eternal Life never to taste of death and therein have Fellowship in the Covenant of Life and be at peace with God and one with another for that is blessed of the Lord where Brethren dwell in unity shewing love kindness and subjection one to another being of one spirit and like-minded serving one another in love not exalting your selves nor accounting your selves above another for that must come down with shame but every one approve your selves to God in all things and be known to him and not unto the World but let his Spirit witness for you and approve you and not man and the work of the Spirit springing through you let be the Evidence unto all people that you are by Grace what you are and this is well-pleasing unto God that his Spirit witnesseth for you and that Love Unity and Humility be amongst you and none think of themselves above what the Spirit of the Lord witnesseth and worketh in them and this a sweet savour will be amongst you to the Lord you being kept in his Wisdom and Counsel in good order and subject unto him walking as Examples of Righteousness to edifie one another and to be a strength one to another and in all your Conversations to be manifest to God's Witness in all people and thus shall you have praise of God and be approved of him and he will justifie you in the sight of all your Enemies I write this unto the Faithfull who do not minister Self but Self your Servant for Jesus sake And as concerning disorderly spirits who are not subject to the Wisdom of God nor to the Law or Christ such have no part with us but are judged with the Life of God and cast out and such as are not faithfull in the Lord's Treasure and hear the Word but do it not having the words without power and hold the Truth in unrighteous such have no reward in God but their iniquity stands uncovered and their transgression is manifest and not hid for Death reigns through disobedience and they are not circumcised in heart but live in the flesh and their portion is of this World and the Inheritance of Life is not their Heirship for the birth which should inherit is not brought forth but an untimely birth which receiveth not the Possession of Life But Friends dwell in the dominion over such and in peace abovâ— them and be not troubled but believe in the Truth and bear all things patiently and be not offended in Christ though hitherto you have seen occasion of stumbling yet the Lord will remove them and the Path of Life hath been plain before you for to such as walk in the Light there is no occasion of stumbling but Offences are seen through and beyond and the ground thereof judged and therefore be diligent in the Work of God that is his Work which his Spirit calleth you unto and that is his Worship which his Spirit leads you in which exerciseth your hearts always to God and keep your Meetings in the dread of the Lord over all your Enemies that the Weak may be strengthned and the Lambs sed and watch over one another as the Family of God among whom his dwelling is who is the good Shepherd that keeps his Flook and feedeth them into eternal Life whose Presence and Arm be amongst you for evermore Feel Christ the Power and Wisdom of God to reign in you and govern you all Farewel E. B. This is to be read in the Fear and Wisdom of God in all the Meetings â—f Friends in and about London TO â—harles Fleetwood Steward Robert Hatton Recorder Sackford Gunstone Henry VVilcock Bailiffs Being Judges in the Court of Kingstone upon Thames â—he state of the Controversie laid before you depending in your Court between Richard Mayo Plantiff and Edward Burrough Defendant FRIENDS THE Innocency and Truth of my Cause doth lift up its Head unto all People and stands justified in the sight of God and all just Men and in Justice and Righteousness it cannot be conâ—emned or judged guilty by any man And it is upon me yet once â—ore to state it before you that you and all men may see the counteâ—ance and favour thereof for it dares shew its Face unto you and all â—eople though much already hath been written and spoken about it which you have not taken notice of as you ought to have done but â—et many are informed in the truth of the matter and what hath been â—poken is not in vain though my just Cause lies always at the Stake and hardly thought upon by you and vilified and evil spoken of before you â—y my Adversary who alwayes seeks false Judgment against me to â—stifie himself in his iniquity and to condemn the Guiltless But the Lord knows and just Men know and the Witness of God in your Consciences may shew you That I have not wronged Richard Mayo â—or spoken of him any thing saving the truth and because thereof â—nd without any other Cause am I thus prosecuted by him in his â—leading before you and begging of you for false Judgment which if â—e should obtain it and you should give it yet should I be clear in the â—ight of the Lord though by you I may deeply suffer And your own â—nrighteous Judgment if it proceed from you will return one day upon your own heads and the weight of your own Iniquity shall the Lord â—ay upon your own Consciences in the Day when he judges the secrets of all Hearts And to God I have appealed in this thing who justifieth me because of Truth and then who shall condemn me while Truth is on my side and I not convinced to the contrary Therefore in the Fear of the Lord God I say unto you Take heed what you do in this Matter but deal impartially in the sight of the Lord in the Examination thereof and try whether I have spoken the Truth or whether I have spoken Falsly and hearken to my PLEA which I have often asserted before you and do yet once more lay before your view and I do appeal to the Light of your Consciences and let that justifie me or condemn me And this I testifie as my sufficient Plea unto you which no man hath truly answered before you That I have spoken nothing but the Truth of Richard Mayo my Adversary to this I stand to be justified and if I be condemned it is for this this resteth with me forever and if I fall I fâ—… for it viz. For speaking the Truth and if I stand I stand by it and no man whatsoever can convince me to the contrary and hereof am I invincible and if you condemn me for this to wit For speaking the Truth it will be upon you and I am clear And
the contrary that I have no malice in me against any man and I love your Souls better then that you should endanger them to destruction and to everlasting burning by giving Iudgment upon your Oaths against me upon this Verdict in this Cause which is thus unjust and unequal in it self and in its Proceeding also for if the Jury had tryed whether I had spoken the truth or whether I belyed Richard Mayo then it would easily have been known whether I spoke maliciously for if I belyed him and if his Doctrine be true and sound and not Error then may it be easily judged that I spoke maliciously because I spoke not the truth but if his Doctrines alleadged by me be not true and sound Doctrine but damnable Doctrine and Error then I have not belyed him but spoken the truth in love and not maliciously for Truth and Malice goes not together and till this be tryed to wit whether I have spoken truly or falsly who shall be able upon their Oathes without forswearing themselves to give it upon their Oathes that I spoke maliciously nay how shall any men lawfully swear that one speaks malitiously it is a hard cause to swear that any man speaks in malice for who enters into the heart of another man to know the thoughts save God and his Spirit And this I say at least and safely too that that Jury which gave into the Court upon their Oaths that I spoke my words maliciously against Richard Mayo have greatly endangered the forswearing themselves and the breach of their own Oaths and some of them know before this day that they did transgress therein against God whom God suddenly after cut off with Judgment and took off the Earth by death and though they that are yet living may be insensible of their own wickedness yet let all good men fear to dye out of this Body with that burden upon their Consciences as some have and others of them may have in this particular for breach of Oaths and though they have given it to you upon their Oaths that I spoke maliciously yet â—wo will be unto you if you shall upon your Oaths justifie they have done well and condemn me falsly upon their false Verdict and if you do condemn me it is upon their false Verdict because I spoke maâ—iciously against Richard Mayo and you cannot do that but you forâ—wear your selves and act contrary to your trust who are set in place to â—udge justly by what doth appear to your view and cannot nor dare not I know upon your Oaths say that I have spoken falsly and maliciously against Richard Mayo but and if you do one day you will feel that you have spoken against your own Oaths and Consciences and against God and against your own Souls And this is all that I can lay before you as to this Particular to warn you that you do judge justly and that you condemn not the innocent and just Cause of the Upright but that you may save your selves from the anger of the Lord who will be avenged upon all false Swearers and Unrighteous Judges that judges not in righteousness the Cause of the Poor and of the Stranger and the Cause yet remains before you to shew your selves just or Unjust Righteous or Unrighteous Judges in this Matter And whereas Richard Mayo and some of your selves spake to me to confess I have wronged him and would have me to acknowledge that I am in a fault and that I have spoken wrong of him yea it was said to me if I had not wronged him could I not confess that I had to preserve my self c To this I must answer Nay I cannot confess contrary to a good Conscience and contrary to Truth that I have wronged him if my life stood upon it as it is but my liberty at most for God hath given me to make Conscience of my words and to keep it void of offence towards him and all men and to confess that which is false to be true would stain a good Conscience in the sight of God and his People and that I may not do no not for my own preservation and the Lord deliver me from the Judgment of such who would have me confess that which I am not guilty of for that is all one to say I am clear when I am guilty as to say I am guilty when I am clear and I rather chuse to suffer what may be imposed upon me then to transgress the Truth in my own Heart and if I should say his Doctrine were sound and true Doâ—â—rine and not Damnable and Error I do believe the Witness in your own Consciences would rise against me and many more would say I then spoke falsly then doth now for I hardly ever heard any no not your own selves say that his Doctrines alledged by me against him are sound and true Doctrine neither can you in good Conscience say it So I say I cannot lye against my Conscience what ever comeâ— of it for to walk with the Lord and to have his Peace and not to lose his Presence is of more worth to my Soul that is immortal theâ— all the Sufferings that you can lay upon me can be dammage to my mortal Body for my life and soul you cannot touch but therein am I free though outwardly entangled amongst Bryars and Thorns which woâ—… pierce me and seek to catch me and if there be no other way for me to be preserved but by confessing contrary to my Conscience that I have wronged Richard Mayo I freely give up my self to suffer rather then to be preserved by such means and you do evil in putting such a thing upon me and expecting it from me which I cannot give bâ—… transgress the Law of God and offend him and my own Conscience and if you defer the determination of the Matter upon such hopes that I may confess that I have wronged Richard Mayo I desire you would not defer it one moment longer but let me be quitted of your Temptation for it is your Temptation and not true love for I cannot confess any such thing though I do acknowledge it hath now depended in your Court and at your door near two years and I should be glad that it were ended justly because I am not a man given to Suits of Law neither do I love it though it be so that I am fallen into it to offend any man or be offended in that way by any yet may I not use any unlawful means or any indirect way to obtain an end of this business but the rather I am content with what the Lord suffereth to come to pass though it be the very greatest Malice of my very devouring Enemies and because I would have Peace with all men and have all men reconciled to God and one to another to live in love and unity one with another upon that account I would this business were ended and though I do not doubt my Cause nor am
Truth and turned from it and were unfaithfull to the Lord. FOrasmuch as in these our dayes the God of Truth hath made manifest his Name and Truth in the hearts of his people and hath gathered the minds of thousands into it to worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth in which he is accepted and of this Truth which is but one and there is not another are we made Witnesses and Ministers of and hath the Testimony in our selves that we are of God and are a good savour unto him in them that believe and in them that perish and we have the Testimony that he that is of God heareth us and we know the whole World lies in wickedness and who are in the Truth in the Light and in the Life have followship one with another in Holiness and Righteousness in that which comprehends the World and condemns all the works thereof which are evil and this Truth and Worship and Fellowship stands in Christ Jesus the second Adam whose Kingdom and Rule is not of this World but from Heaven who according to his Promise in his Counsel hath made known his Power to the raising up a righteous Branch a royal Priesthood a peculiar People zealous of his Name to shew forth his Praise and Glory in Justness and Righteousness in Love Mercy and Peace and works of Purity having our Conversation in Heaven and since that Day of the Manifestation of this Truth of the Gospel of Peace and Salvation which is the same now as was in the beginning which is in Christ Jesus the Light of the World who is the same to day yesterday and forever and changeth not I say since that very day hath the Lord prospered his Truth to the renewing of many into his Image and Likeness and to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from Satans power to God by the Mouthes of his Ministers and through great Sufferings and Tribulations and Afflictions and Labours hath the Lord honoured his Name and his Truth in Nations and given it a praise among all that fear him and hath honoured it and exalted it in the sight of the Heathen to the confounding of the Wise and Mighty and to the bringing out of the Captivity of Darkness Sin and Death wherein in times past all have walked while Strangers from the Life of God so that thousands who have received the Truth are established in it and cannot be moved nor shaken but are built upon the sure Foundation their Faith standing in the Power of God with whom the Arm and Presence of the Lord God is defending and preserving continually and unto such the Truth is precious and the Way of the Lord and his Name and Honour is dear yea more then life or liberty or any other thing which passeth away who for the Truth 's sake as is it in Christ Jesus do daily give up themselves to suffering and to reproach for well-doing and not for evil and loves not life unto death that the Lord God and his Name and Truth may be honoured so that in the Truth which is received and learned of the Father daily do we walk in all Purity and Holiness of Life answering the Mercy and Love of the Lord in the exercise of a good Conscience both towards God and man in Patience and Long suffering and Wisdom towards all to the putting to silence of Gainsayers rendring love and mercy toward our Persecutors and are set in our hearts to fulfil the will of God in all things And now whereas that the Scriptures may be fulfilled some may and have denied the Truth which once was received and loved to the making shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience abusing the Mercy and Grace of God which to them appeared and follow the counsel of their own hearts and not the Lord having lost the feeling of the Spirit of the Father and are and may be separated from us in the self-separation through an evil heart of unbelief that it may be made manifest they are not of us though they arise from among us and may by disorderly walking contrary to the Truth cause the Truth to be evil spoken of giving occasion thereby to the Enemies of God to blaspheme his Name and Truth in the Earth and may be a stumbling to the weak and an offence to the Way of the Lord before the Simple through their Disorders and Confusions raising the rage of the wicked against the Lambs of Christ being not led in the Wisdom of God but in the Confusions taking liberty to their own hearts desire ful filling the will thereof without the Fear of God above the Cross of Christ in the nature uncrucified and speaking high Words in the presumption and not in the Light and Power of God and acting in the vanity of the Mind in the pretence of Truth and moving of the Spirit such things as Truth and the Children of it who are guided with the Spirit cannot justifie but is judged and denied and cast out from among the Children of Light who walk in the Truth and do try the Spirits whether they be of God Therefore in the Fear of the Lord God this is written to go abroad among Friends and others to inform and shew unto all that the Truth and we that are in it and Ministers of it do stand clear from all such who act and speak out of the Truth and contrary to it in the Disorder and Confusion and not in the Fear and Counsel of God and with the Truth such are judged and denied and fellowship with them we have not nor of their works do approve though such once owned us and were convinced of the Truth and received the Seed of the Kingdom into the unprofitable Ground yet being separated from us and gone out from the Truth and are not subject to it and its Government but are unruly and disorderly we and the Truth do such deny and the spirit that rules them being not the Spirit of Christ Jesus and such have done evil against their own Souls and against God and are Troublers of the Righteous Seed and have and do dishonour the Lord and his Truth in the sight of the Heathen causing the right way to be reviled and reproached and evil spoken of through the offence by them to the making sad the hearts of some whom God hath not made sad and even more especially in that they pretend to the Truth in their words but in works deny it and profess to be in it yet secretly condemning and openly reviling the Ministers of Righteousness which God hath blessed and doth daily bless with his eternal Power to the turning many unto God and to the strengthning of the weak and feeble which we with many others do witness to be the Ministers of Life and Reconciliation and there is no other and are established in it and cannot be moved by the temptations of the Devil though the wicked one may revile for a moment to
but one the same to day yesterday and forever who is the Foundation of God and abides forever was preached unto you all to be the Way the Truth the Life and Salvation and there is none besides him why then are there Divisions amongst you and some for one and some for another And herein are you carnal and your minds abroad and not'staid upon him which gives the increase and all this is to be judged with the Life of God Wherefore I beseech you in the Fear of the Lord as you love him and his Glory yea as you love your own souls Come to the Light which lets you see all this and condemns it and strive not one with another nor exalt not your selves one above another but let all that be condemned and all your evil Surmisings and foolish Jealousies separate Worshippings Backbitings be brought to Judgment and let condemnation pass upon it all never more to appear to hinder your Fellowship with the Lord and know the Life of God in you all which is but one which is not at strife nor divided and let that arise that all Vails may be taken off and Hardness of heart judged and the Countenance of the Lord may shine upon you when that exalted spirit which has appear'd in some is brought down of which I charge you all to beware lest there be a total departing from the Lord and his Name be reproached through you among the Heathen and it had been better for such they had never been born Therefore I say unto you all lay it to heart till the Judgments of the Lord take it away and purifie your hearts from all these things which ariseth out of that which is not of the Father that my joy may be renewed who have been in travel for you tell Christ be formed in you that he alone may rule in you over all those things which are at enmity against the Life and hinders your growâ—â— And if you yet harden your heart against Reproof who are stubborn well the Lord will ease him of his Adversaries and break you as a Potter's Vessel And though you oppress the Life of God for a moment yet my Peace with him â—â—â—ll these things never take away but over all these things I tread am not offendâ—â— in him who is my Peace forever And though those things cause sadness of heart yet the Lord giveth no cause of Sorrow to them that are faitful to him but will arise to confound all Deceit and Deceitful Workers who err from his Way and count the Knowledge of his Wayes a Burden and of you all though you perish I am clear who am not hated of the Lord though falsly judged by his Enemies over whom I trample as the Dust and the Living God gives Victory over you all I am not of this World E. B. Something of TRUTH Made Manifest In Relation to a Dispute at Draton in the County of Middlesex in the first Moneth last In Opposition to the False Account given of it by one Philip Taverner in his Book stiled The QUAKERS ROUNDS OR A Faithful Account c. FOrasmuch as one who hath I suppose ambitiously stiled himself Mr. Philip Taverner hath taken in hand to set forth to the view of the World an Account and Relation of a Dispute hapning in the eleaventh Moneth last at Draton near Colebrook to which Relation I am a little engaged to write something by way of answer thereunto that all people may know the Truth and being the Truth is somewhat concerned herein that is the Reason wherefore I have taken in hand to write a little by way of answer to his Relation being without any prejudice towards the man as concerning any Wrong he hath done to me though me as well as the Truth he hath wronged as may appear to such who desire to know the Truth It 's true a publique dispute I had the time and place mentioned with a company of Priests and this same Philip Taverner was one of them and the occasion of the Dispute was thus I being a few weeks before at a Meeting with some Friends in the said Town one Richard Goodgroom in his relation mentioned was present at the hearing of what was spoken but at that time did not object any thing though afterwards in London and other places he went up and down in a backbiting manner and gave forth That I had held forth blasphemous Doctrines or the like whereupon I much desir'd a Dispute for the tryal of those things and it was accomplished and that day the Truth was much made manifest and Deceit confounded And as to all the things objected against me by Richard Goodgroom which he would have seemed to have taken great occasion thereby as if some great matter of Heresie and Error had been utter'd by me I say the very Truth of all these things was demonstrated according as I had laid them down and his Arguments against them made of none effect And though such as hardened their Hearts might go unsatisfied and in greater Unbelief then they came yet I am sure the Upright-hearted and such as desired the knowledge of the Truth were wholy satisfied and this many can give Testimony of with me And though by his Relation it may appear otherwise to some yet wherein he hath related falsly it shall fall upon his own head and his Folly shall truly more appear in the End then he would have or seem to cause any in me to appear at this present and so he might with more Credit to himself been silent then to have meddled in that wherein he hath shewed himself so imperfect For I believe That this same Philip Taverner hath given a Relation of four times as much as he did speak at that Meeting and hath related as though he spake that which he never uttered by so many times fo much as I have said and hath not related so much by many times as was spoken by me and them of my part as many may witness Which Work of his seems not to be perfect neither yet altogether honest as sober Men may judge but such a thing must redown more to his own Dishonour then to the Truth 's Disadvantage And first As to the Title of his false Relation which is stiled The Quakers Rounds or A Faithful Account c. To this I answer That the very Frontispiece and Title of his Book savours of a vain light scornful spirit and so every Spiritual Man may judge of it to be so But why dost thou Philip Taverner say A Faithful Account but that to confirm Falshood with audacious words having a shew of Confidence upon it thereby the more easily to enter ento the Hearts of the People as if it were irreprovable coming also from the hand and under the hand of a Mr. Philip c. having so stil'd thy self to make thy Fame great and to publish thy Work under a seeming Authority but hadst thou had more Humility less
Lamb's Wife and she â—â—th appeared in much Beauty with a Golden Cup in her hand in which the Wine of her Fornications and the Filthiness thereof hath appeared and which she hath caused the Nations to drink and by her Sorceries and Witchcrafts she hath deceived the World and with her false Miracles and Shews and Images and false Ministers which she hath set up she hath corrupted the Earth and all this she hath done by the Beast's power that hath carried her who received his Authority from the Dragon and from the Devil And thus Antichrist the Beast and the Whore have ruled in the World in great Authority for many Generations and the World hath been as a Wilderness â—y them and waste and barren of all good Fruit and Truth and Faith â—â—th been departed from amongst men and Love and Peace â—â—th been far away and Murders Thefts Wars Strifes and all Injustice and Wickedness hath abounded in Nations and thus the whole Earth hath been corrupted through the Whore and false church who hath deceived Kings and Rulers and Peoples by her Inchantments and Sorceries which she hath caâ—â—ed them to receive at her hand and out of her Golden Cup of Abominations out of which they have drunk false doctrines and practices to the deceiving of their Souls and Bodies But now the Day of the Lord is come and coming and the Lamb's Kingdom is to be set up and the kingdoms of this World must be changed and 〈◊〉 covered again and will become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and the Marriage of the Lamb is come again and the Day of Glad-tidings 〈◊〉 to the Poor and to the Distressed and the Lamb's Wife shall be adorned 〈◊〉 her Husband she shall be clothed with the Sun and shall be covered with her former Beauty and shall be led out of the Wilderness and the Earth shall be refreshed and deliver'd from the Oppressions and Tyrannies of Antichrist and the Whore for the Hour of her Iudgments are come and the Darkness of the Night of woful Apostacy which hath clouded the World is passing over and the Light of the Lamb is risen and the Day-star hath appeared in the hearts of people and the Man of Sin which hath sate in the Temple and sheweâ—â—â—mself to be God and falsly exercised the Bodies and Consciences of deceived people in false ways and worships is discovering and destroying by the Spirit of 〈◊〉 Mouth and by the Brightness of the coming of Jesus and the Beast and the false Prophet shall be taken alive and cast into the Lake of Fire and the 〈◊〉 and false Prophet shall be tormented day and night forever for the Breath of Life from God is entred into the two Witnesses and they shall again Propheâ—y and the Light of the glorious Gospel that that long been hid must again be preached to Kindreds Tongues and Nations and the Kingdom of Christ Iesus 〈…〉 set up and these things is the Lord God Almighty bringing to pass And he will confound and destroy Antichrist and all that have worshipped him and 〈◊〉 that have worshipped the Beast a nd drunk the Cup of Fornication and commited â—â—â—latry with the great Whore they shall be taken and cast into the Bed of Torment and shall Weep and Houl because of the great Destruction of Babylon that great City who hath been the Glory of kingdoms and made rich her Merchants 〈◊〉 false Ministers with Deceiveableness whom God will overthrow That great 〈◊〉 City of Confusion the false church that great Whore the Mother of 〈◊〉 Abominations the â—ord God is risen against her to enquire for the Blood 〈◊〉 Martâ—rs and Prophets and Righteous Men that is found in her and she shall be rewarded according to her wayes and as she hath given others to drink 〈◊〉 Cup of Fornication so in like manner shall she drink the Cup of fierce 〈◊〉 of the Lord's Wrath from his Saints and she shall no more deceive the Nations by her Sorceries but the Earth shall be deliver'd from her and the Kingdom of the Son of God shall be exalted over all and the Light of the Lamb 〈◊〉 be the Light of all Nations and all that are saved shall walk in the Light of 〈◊〉 and Truth shall reign and the Fruit of Righteousness shall abound and all people shall glorifie God their Maker and the whole Earth shall be refreshed with the Mercy of him that made her Wherefore all ye Kings Princes Parliaments and Rulers through thâ— whole Christendom this is a Request unto you all of a Lover of your Immortâ—â— Souls That you will cease to commit Fornication with the great Whore and that you will not any longer drink her Cup of Iâ—â—â—atries neither that you will cause Nations to drink it neither that you will carry the great Whore any more nor receive her Sorcâ—ries 〈◊〉 Inchantments to deceive your Souls and Bodies And this the Lord God Almighty who ought to be the Fear and Dread of all Nations requireth of you and 〈◊〉 is a Charge to you in the Presence of the Lord God That 〈◊〉 do not any loâ—gâ—â— defend the great City Babylon and the false Church with your Weapons 〈…〉 and Oppression neither that you will ever any more oppress the persons and Consciences of people on her part and on her defence but that 〈…〉 〈◊〉 â—â—st off the Whore and not suffer her to sit upon you and 〈◊〉 you will not be Servants to her to execute her Cruelties upon the Bodies 〈◊〉 Consciences of People For these things have you done and therefore 〈◊〉 Lord displeased with you and therefore deliver your selves from the Aâ—… of the false Church and receive not her Delusions neither imâ—… 〈◊〉 upon the people under you for now the Judgments of the great Whore â—… and the time that the Lord will reward her according to her wayes 〈…〉 shall have the Fruit of her doings And if you will yet uphold her 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Fornication with her and compel the Nations to drink of her 〈◊〉 and cause all people to worship the Beast and to receive his Mark as it 〈◊〉 â—â—en Then the Lord shall execute his Vengeance upon you and you shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wise â—e delivered Wherefore I say again unto you Arise out of Darkness and come to the Brightness of the Light of the Morning even to the Son's Appearance and receive his Kingdom and lay down your Crowns at his Feet for the Lamb is risen whose Crown is Immortal and ye and all your Glory and Greatness and 〈◊〉 and Power is but as Dust and Ashes before him and he can break you 〈◊〉 and never build you up again And come out of great Babylon and 〈◊〉 your City for the Day of the Lord will suddenly come upon you for great Babylon is come into remembrance before the Lord to reward her with great â—â—dignation Wherefore this is a Call unto you Lay aside your Inquisitions your Goals and Houses of Correction and Prisons and all your Torturing
this Nation that fear God have not intrusted them therein But if it be so said I in my heart if this Wickedness be intended and if they do so greatly abuse their power they shall leave their Names as a Reproach to after Ages and their Memories shall Rot and their Wickedness shall lie upon them for evermore But I considered that we having given our Power to the Lord from him we have found unto this day and do alwayes seek defence and to be carried on and by him we stand and to him we fall and not to Mortal Men who are as Clay in the Hand of the Potter Wherefore let the Wise in Heart consider these things and lay them to mind for if they shall proceed to that Wickedness the Nations shall they never settle in Peace nor shall their Rulers receive a Blessing but they shall be a Curse unto themselves and to all under their Authority And this is a Testimony to all sober People shewing unto them all where our Confidence is and in what it remains And nevertheless If the Heart of the Wicked be strengthened against us and their hands made strong to deal violently yet shall the Righteous Rejoyce and be exceeding Glad For the Day of Redemption and Everlasting Peace is come unto his People that do and have waited for him and all under him shall bow and bend and he will make his Peoples Cup overflow and spread their Table even in the sight of their Enemies and they shall Fear and the Terror of the Lord shall lie upon them and when they have executed their Violence then shall the Lord deal violently with them E. B. A CRY of Great Iudgment and Vengeance upon the Wicked near to be Executed as it was received from the Lord into his Servant ON the eighteenth Day of the first Moneth as I was travelling in Warwick-shire my Meditations being upon the Lord and upon the Cause of his People in this Nation and how Unjust and Unrighteous their woful Sufferings have been executed upon them within these few years even when I' was pondering of these things in the deep consideration thereof it came upon me from the Lord and the Cry went through me The Lord will be avenged the Lord will be avenged upon his Enemies and he will avenge the Cause of his People And this Cry stuck close upon me for some Hours That the Lord would surely execute his Judgments upon the Oppressors of his Heritage who have spoiled and troden it down and sought to destroy it And I considered and took into full view in my spirit how grievous how sad and how unjust the Sufferings of God's People have been within these few years and my Heart was even broken therewith and my Spirit even melted and it came upon me from the Lord saying Write unto the Rulers and yet once more warn them of that Recompence and of that Indignation which is at hand upon them even a just Recompence for all their Deeds and as they have done even so shall it be done to them as they have sought to destroy the Generation of the Righteous even so shall they be destroyed from off the Face of the Earth and as they have unjustly judged and condemned the Innocent so shall they be condemned and justly judged of the Lord and as they have cast the Bodies of the poor Lambs of Christ into Prison and been a Snare upon them even so shall they be insnared and into Captivity shall they go And as they have caused the Goods and Possessions of the Innocent to be spoiled and made a Prey even so in like manner shall the Curse of the Lord spoil their Substance And as they have done so shall it be done unto them and as they have mete to others so shall it be mete to them again And I saw a great Misery and Desolation nigh at hand even the Sword of the Lord and it should slay them and I beheld it was made ready for the slaughter and in the sense of these things a sadness fell upon my spirit considering the Desolation and the Judgment that is at hand to be executed upon the cruel Oppressors Wherefore all ye Rulers and all ye that have troden down the Heritage of God and ye that have disregarded these many Warnings that ye have had I say unto you all in the Power of the Lord God in his Dominion and by his Spirit this is once more a Warning to you from the Lord and that these things must surely come to pass and be fulfilled in their Season and no man shall be able to deliver his Brother but every Man shall bear his own Burthen and drink his own Cup prepared for him and though it hath been counted a light thing amongst you and you have dispised the reproof and gone on without fear yet in as much as the Lord hath spared you and not speedily executed Judgment upon you but rather waited for your return yet the dealing of the Lord towards you in sparing of you you have not accepted and therefore shall his Judgments be the greater upon you For if you do now come to the Witness in your own Consciences What evil have this People done Whose Ox have they taken or what have they desired of you or what have they sought from you or wherein have they been a burthen to you Saving that they have reproved you for your Iniquities and desired your Redemption Would you but now at last come to consider this and confess the truth in your Consciences will not that tell you that they have suffered patiently all things that you have cruelly imposed upon them and have not they walked peaceably towards you and humbly meekly justly among their Neighbours and have they not been meek and innocent even as Lambs and as the Sheep before the Shearers and have they wrought offences towards any have they sought the overthrow of the Government or have they sought vengeance against their Enemies or what injury have they done to any man's Person or Estate saving to Satan and his Kingdom Have they not sought to reform and reclaim the Ungodly from their Wayes and have they not pittied and prayed for their Enemies and have they not in all things walked in good conscience toward the Lord and towards all men Yea my Friends in the day of the Lord when the Witness in your Consciences shall not be limitted but shall speak plainly and when the Impartial Judge shall appear upon his Throne then shall you acknowledge these things Wherefore I say unto you receive the Judgment of the Lord to purifie you otherwise the Judgment shall destroy you and now come to be more wise that some of you may be as a Brand pluckt out of the Fire and be reserved from being consumed for the Visitation of the Lord is near an end when his Loving kindness will be shut from you and his Long-suffering turned into fury and he will make you know that we are
very Land groans under the Oppression of this Church and Ministry which lies as a heavy Burden upon both Persons and Estates and Consciences of many good People even of your dearest Friends and though the Lord doth manifestly even from Heaven shew signal Tokens of his Displeasure against them and the Servants of the Lord they also cease not to warn you concerning them their own doings are sufficient Testimony of the Malice of their hearts against you and all good men in the Nation yet nevertheless some of you seem to shut your eyes as if you would see no Evil in them but are crying up your godly Ministers some of you utterly despising the man as not worthy to live that doth but speak against them and thus are you blinded and perceive not where the Cause lieâ— of your Interruption to bring forth Righteousness I say It is the favouring of that interest which stops the issue of Good Things and while you oppress peoples Persons and Estates and Consciences to uphold this Ministry and Priesthood aforesaid the Lord shall never prosper you nor make the Nations â—â—ppy under your Charge and this you shall witness eternally Wherefore I do say unto you it is high time for you to lay aside the interest of this oppressing Clergy so much leavened and tasted of the Whore of Rome your selves do know that the spirit of the Romish Clergy was in the late Bishops which you cast out for their Wickedness and the very spirit of those Bishops is entred into these Priests and bears rule in their hearts and thus by succession hath the Whore of Râ—â—e leavened the Clergy of England from one Generation to another with her taste and savour and there is the remainer of her Murders and Cruelties in those mens Brests and at every opportunity it breaks forth as of late in this Rebellion you have full Testimony and if you do not curb it speedlly it will grow over you to your undoing Therefore clear your selves do not any longer drink the Whore's Cup neither be ye Carriers of her to execute her Wickedness upon the Bodies and Consciences of people for it is written The Beast hath carried the Whore and we see it hath been thus as Iohn saw it was to come to pass and so clear your selves from her Tyrannies and Oppressions and leave this false Church and Ministry to themselves and if God will not uphold them by his Power why should you do it If these Priests have not yet planted Vineyards that will yield them Fruit and if their Flock will not yield them Milk freely why should you unjustly impose upon peoples Consciences and compel Tythes and Money from them for the maintenance of these men Ye ought not to do it for while ye Compel and Force People by Violence contrary to good Consciences to Maintain and Uphold this Ministry and Church and Worship you do but cause people to drink the Whore's Cup and you are but them which carry the Whore viz. the false Church and this is Plain-dealing to tell you the Truth whether you will reject it or receive it wherefore cast them off and let them not lurk under your Wings for one day they will rebel against you and another day flatter with you and for a season they will shew forth much Love and Kindness in Hypocrisie even while they are hatching Mischief against you and to bring the Nation into Blood and they will cry out Heresie and Error of others that themselves may seem clear while as the same lodgeth in their own Hearts wherefore I say do not make a false Peace with them nor do not flatter with treacherous minds for you had better have them your open Enemies then deceitful and flattering Friends you had better be in a just Opposition against them then in an unjust Peace with them I know it appears to many of you a thing very hard to be born What! to forsake our Godly Ministers think ye to hear tell of laying them aside is an amazement to some of your minds was it not the same concerning the King and Bishops was it not as much terrible to him and his Lords and Council to think of the overthrow of the then called Godly Fathers and Bishops but better had he cast them off and saved himself then to have perished with them and so I say unto you better were it for you to lay these men aside and their Flatteries and feigned Prayers and to save your selves from their Flattery then to perish with them and the one of these will come to pass For it s decreed of the Lord If you uphold them and oppress People's Persons Estates and Consciences on their behalf and in their evil Cause for Tythes and Wages to them ye shall fall with them and none shall be able to deliver neither you nor them For I tell you again That the very spirit of the old Idolatrous Bishops long since cast out is entred into the hearts of these men and there is as great a measure of Tyranny and Injustice and Abomination lying upon these as once was upon the Bishops and these are no less free from any Abomination then they were and these are nigh as ripe for Vengeance and Overthrow as the others were and it will as surely come upon these as it did upon them wherefore take heed unto your selves and be wise and learn and do us Justice or else God will do us Justice upon you if ye will not take off our Burdens and ease our Oppressions the Lord God will ease us of you and the Earth shall not be oppressed with you and if ye will uphold this Priesthood against Equity and Good Conscience the Lord will free Good Consciences both from you and them And this is the Word of the Lord God to you The open Enemy hath not prevailed against you but the secret Hand of the Lord will not miss you By a Friend to Righteousness E. B. A Visitation and Warning PROCLAIMED And an ALARUM Sounded in the Pope's Borders In the Name and Authority of the Lord Almighty and the LAMB Being the Account of a Journey to Dunkirk and the Proceedings there among the Iesuits and Fryars and Papists with some particular Queries and also some Propositions sent unto them Which may be Satisfaction to many who may behold the Difference in part between the Papists and the People of God and between the Idolaters and the True Worshippers The Particulars and the Heads laid down 1. The Account of the Iourney 2. A Letter to the Deputy Governour and the Officers of the English Army 3. Queries to the Fryars 4. Propositions as a Charge against the Romish Church with a Letter to the chief Jesuit Rector in Dunkirk 5. A Warning to the Officers and Souldiers of the English Army 6. Some Propositions to the English Priests in Dunkirk with some other things ACcording to the Will of the Lord and being moved of him in Spirit and as it lay
Church come up in the Apostacy and these things we have to argue with them if the Heads of them will admit dispute otherwise to charge these things upon them from the Lord and by his Authority and if they do any of them receive our Testimony and turn from their Idols and be converted unto the Truth they may be happy but if they shall reject our Testimony and not believe the Truth then shall they the more be fitted for Destruction and the Day of their Destruction the sooner approacheth and the Lord shall be clear of their Blood and our Reward shall be with us from God for our Testimony shall not return to us in vain but shall accomplish its end wherefore it is sent and the Word of the Lord by us shall either convert to God and to the Truth that they may be saved or shall through rejecting of it harden the Heart against God and against the Truth that they may the more justly be condemned and the Lord and his Servants be the more clear and no other thing saving this do we promise to our selves as the success of our endeavours and not so much in relation to the men of our English Nation are we come though the Gospel of Salvation is freely come to them also that they may be freed from the Captivity of Sin and Death and we may not work nor cause any disturbance or grief to any of them further then what they may take at us for the Truth 's sake or for declaring it in the fear of God and without any just cause given by us to any of you or them though we dare not promise to you nor our selves what we will do or what we will not do onely this we say if the transgression of any just Law can be charged upon us we refuse not to suffer what shall be imposed and this we do believe that the Lord will so keep us and order us by his Spirit of Truth and carry us in Meekness and Righteousness towards you while we stay amongst you be it weeks or moneths that you will have no just occasion against us by any Offence justly ministred by us and if you do take occasion against us without any just cause given be it upon your selves to your own Shame and Condemnation in the sight of God and men for we are clear onely this we do give unto the Lord and cannot unto Men the exercise of our Consciences and to be obedient unto the Teachings of his Spirit in all things as he shall guide and lead us and if he commands to do or not to do any thing and you the contrary we must obey him though we disobey you for its better to obey God then Man and when he bids speak in what Place or Season soever we may not be silent for to keep our Consciences clear in the sight of God in all things by Obedience to him is our care and study and that which we are given up to do and if you set your selves to gain-say this it will turn to your own destruction for no other promise then this can we make for our selves but to do and speak amongst you as the Lord our God shall move us and lead us and this Testimony we do bear for the Lord he doth not move us nor lead us to any thing saving to what is Just Good and Holy which may tend to the Happiness and Peace and Welfare of your Souls and Bodies also and in the Father's will we stand and as we came in his Will so we cannot submit to stay or go at any Man's will save the Lord 's alone And as concerning our coming and staying and Work here this is a sober account to you which may satisfie you and any sober and reasonable men And as concerning our being with you yesternight many things passed from some of you and your Ministers chiefly to which I had a great desire to have answered and to have cleared the things objected against us but time and his patience afforded not the opertunity therefore now this I do propound about the Call to the Ministry which was the thing in dispute to which I then could freely have spoken whether he will give me and us a fair meeting in some publick Place that is convenient for your selves to hear and be judge between us to discourse this Matter viz what the true Call to the Ministry is which is truely according to the Scripture and that to be laid down first and then to compare his Call to his Ministry and also his Call to Dunkirk with what the true Call is which is allowed of and approved in the Scriptures and also to compare our Call to the Ministry and even our call to Dunkirk with what the true Call of Christ s Ministers was as declared in the Scriptures that it may be seen whether his Call or our Call is the most different from or agreeable to the Scriptures and even the Light in your own Consciences shall be Judge between us in this Cause and upon such an Issue upon a just Determination would we gladly joyn tryal and such a Meeting upon such Grounds and Proceedings may tend to satisfie your selves and many more and such a Meeting I do fully desire with your consent and concurrence who may preserve the people in Peace and Soberness that all may be â—dified in the things of so great moment as this is For if he can prove his Call to the Ministry to be such as was the Apostles and Ministers in the true Christian Churches before the Apostacy then shall we own him and not deny him but if he cannot do this and if we can do it on our own behalf in the Power and Spirit of the Lord then may you and all men judge who are the true Ministers of Christ and who are the Deceivers And this manner of proceedings would deside all Doubts in you about us and we shall be clear in manifesting the Truth concerning the true Ministry and the false and the difference between them in their Call in their Practice and in their Maintenance And this is sent to you to read and consider of in the Fear of God as the Testimony of our Love to you and the Truth that you may take heed to your wayes and we would receive first your Answer whether you do consent and will allow such a Meeting and secondly his Answer whether he will undertake such a Dispute and we further are ready to clear all Doubts that may remain in you about us who are your Friends and desire your Prosperity and Faithfulness in what the Lord calls you unto By Edward Burroughs Samuel Fisher. And the same day we went to the Capuchine Fryars and had some Discourse with the chiefest of them in their Garden concerning the Light of Christ that every man is lighted withal and we did declare to them of the Mighty Day of the Lord that was at hand upon them and the Lord
the Lord's Purpose is concerning you onely this I do know The Lord hath a love to the men of our Nation and there is a spirit in them most fitting for such a work even the Zeal of the Lord hath appeared and is beginning to appear against Babylon and against Rome the Seat of the Whore and the Kingdom of Antichrist shall be thrown down and the Righteous People shall go free and Nations shall worship the Lord but there are many Mountains in the way wherefore hew down the Tops strike at the Branches make way that the Ax may be laid to the Root of the Tree that your Sword and the Sword of the Lord may neither leave Root nor Branch of Idolatry Oppressions and Tyranny which the Nations are held in slavery under and oppressed withal to the grieving of the Righteous Soul and vexing of the Spirit of the Lord. Oh how great is their Idolatries you see a little part thereof amongst you oh what false feigned deceitful and hypocritical Services do they practice their Images their Pictures and their praying before them which is Idolatry their Candles burning and their Organs and Instruments of Musick and feigned singing all this is Idolatry and Superstition and a vexation to the Lord and that Law which imposeth them upon people contrary to a good Conscience and that Law which condemns others as Hereticks that will not worship thus and that Power that kills and destroyes those that act against those Worships Laws and Powers ought ye to make war against and to claim a disanulling of all such Laws and Authorities by which this Idolatry is imposed upon Peoples Consciences and established in the Nations and by which many are destroyed and condemned who cannot bow to their Idolatries such Laws are not to stand before you for these be the Bryars and Thorns which cover the great Mountains whom the Whore sitteth upon which the Lord will judge did you but know all their Unrighteous Laws Murders and all Cruelties which are abounding among them and they have a despensation to commit Unrighteousness those Laws ought to be judged and destroyed and your Sword is to be lifted up against them It is the Lord's Work I know to make men truely religious but yet the Lord may work by you to break down the Bryars and Thorns and Rocks and Hills that have set themselves against the Lord and which keep People under the Chains of Idolatry so that they commit Idolatry and are compelled to it and defended in it even by a Law but the Lord will confound all this either by means or without means for such is their Oppression in their Ecclesiastical State and their Unjust Laws whereby their Church is established and defended that it causeth the very Earth to mourn and the Spirits of the Righteous to faint and their Hearts to fail because of Oppression to Murder and Steal and Rob and to commit Adultery these are counted little Sins amongst them they are even tolerated and pardoned by the Pope for a little Money and if they slay a Man and wilfully murder him they can run to their Altar there they can have a Dispensation of a wicked Pardon and here is a Law that tolerates Murder and the greatest Sins wherewhereby it is hard for any that fears God for to be amongst them and Blood blood lies upon their whole Dominions and the Guilty go free and uncondemned and the Innocent suffer unjustly for if any diminish from about their Mass-houses to the value of a Peny that is death by their Law while Murder is tolerated and here is nought but Tyranny and Oppression abounding even great Mountains which must be thrown down and for which the Sword of the Lord must come upon them and God will make their Riches and their falsely consecrated Vessels and Treasures even a spoil and a prey unto you if you be faithful unto the Lord wherefore all you Officers fear the Lord God and be not ambitious nor vain-glorious nor seek not your selves to gain unto your selves Kingdoms to exalt your own Horn for if you go in this way and if this be your end then your end shall be frustrated and you shall not prosper for the Lord will lay you aside with shame unto you but let it be your work and your aim to require and demand the disâ—nulling of their Inquisitions and cruel Laws both in their Church and civil State and that Christ alone may exercise the Peoples Consciences neither be ye as Lords nor Tyrants over your poor Soldiers but be ye loving and meek towards them I say unto you Officers and to all you that bear rule in the Army Be loving and kind and gentle unto all under your Authority and be not as Tyrants nor Oppressors over your poor Soldiers but be Examples of all goodness unto them and give them no evil Example in your lives and conversations but lead them in the Fear of the Lord and know a measure of his Wisdom in you whereby you may walk before them and they may possess their freedoms in their Conditions and may not be as Slaves to you but as Servants to the Lord in their places and herein shall you be blessed as you fulfill that which the Lord requires And likewise unto all the Soldiers I say That ye may be sober and moderate and faithful to the Lord and not go in the Excess and Superfluity of this Creation but may be all kept low in your Hearts and tender towards God and obey them that have power over you in all things which are just and be not deboist nor given to Vanity but all of you both Officers and Soldiers live in that which keeps your Consciences void of offence and that you may be clear and free in your own spirits from the Abominations of the Nations and then you will be a Terror to the Evil in all People wheresoever you come and being clear and free in the sight of the Lord having no sin lying upon your Consciences then shall you face your Enemies with courage and not fear death but shall be ready to lay down your lives for a Testimony of Jesus in a good Cause and upon good Engagements and if the Lord be your Fear then no man can make you afraid but you will be in that which overcometh the Unrighteous Power within you and without you also and here is the true honour and in this it doth consist in victory over all that which is contrary to God and here is the true Way to Happiness and Prosperity in this Life and in the Life to come by seeking his Glory and not your own and all of you come to the Light of Christ that Christ hath lighted you withall and that will teach you all things what you ought to do and what you ought not to do for that Light of Christ within you ought to be the Guide of all the Children of Men in every State Place and Condition and upon this you
and hazarded Life and Liberty for Conscience sake to enjoy Liberty of Conscience which they cannot now possess because of thee but are cast out for the Exercise of their pure Consciences this Thing the Lord is grieved with and with thee because of it For thou didst not obtain this Victory of Peace and Freedom by thy own Sword then why should it be thus improved to thy own Ends Consider of it for this makes the Nations more unhappy and less blessed when such who delight in true Justice and Judgment are cast out of their Places and so deprived of giving their Judgment among men and absolutely this will make thy Army less prosperous and more unblessed when such who fear the Lord and against whom thou canst not justly charge Evil are cast out and despised and this in time thou mayst see to thy Sorrow And as thy Friend I â—ay this before thee and do in plainness tell thee If thou thus utterly denyst the People of God in the day of thy Prosperity and thus wholy cast them out of thy service they cannot stand by thee nor own thee in the day of thy Trouble and such as thou cleavest unto may be a broken Staff in thy time of need Ah Friend these things do shew that thy heart is not right in the sight of the Lord and that Justice and true Judgment Righteousness and Truth is even despised in this Land and not sincerely owned by thee when as such who fear the Lord are thus cast out of Judicatories in thy Government and out of Defence in thy Armies What! is this the end of that long travel in Wars and of so many fair Promises of Liberty of Conscience that just Men should thus be dealt withal The Heathen Kingdoms may Mock at this that while some have pretended Liberty of Conscience are become Persecutors of such whose Consciences are justly exercised and as I have sometime said to thee much Injustice and great Oppressions and cruel Persecutions continue daily to be acted in thy name which is numbred up against thee upon account because of hiding thy Face from the Cry of the Poor as one without Bowels of Compassion unto such who have truly served with thee in a faithful Service for the Common-Wealth who many of them now are grievous Sufferers under thee Consider of these things and search what will be the End of them the Lord open thy Understanding that more of the Wisdom of God may guide thee and less of the policy and wisdom of Man which will betray thee of God's Kingdom and may in the end cast thee down in this World also E. B. The Original of this was delivered to his Hands in the Fifth Moneth 1657. FRIEND IT is upon me and also I am pressed in spirit thereunto to give thee even unto thee Oliver Protector the perfect measure of thy Dominions and how they stand in relation to thee as concerning the Affections of the people towards thee whereby thou mayst understand thy own Condition and the state of thy Government as I have viewed it in true Judgment and marked it upon serious consideration and what I write is in perfect Love unto thee however thou mayst judge of it and of these things it will be well fâ—â— thee to consider now while it is time ere it be too late Many Enemies thou hast which watch over thee for Evil and not for Good who would Rejoyce in thy Overthrow And first There are a People scattered through all these Nations who are full of Wrath and ravening Envy towards thee in whose hearts to this day there is continual Hatred and evil Surmiâ—â—ng lodgeth against thee and all thy Off-Spring and I believe without any further knowledge that daily Advantage they seek against thee by subtil Conspiracies and secret Plottings of Maliciousness in their Hearts seeking by all means if it be possible how to be revenged and not slipping any Advantage how to revenge themselves and promote their Cause and of these scattered under thy Goverment are not a few but rather the greater number who thus stand in Affections to thee with no better purpose of good towards thee then to destroy thee by any means if it were in their power and to take away thy name in Reproach such is the Cruelty and Desperateness of some of them their own lives are not dear unto them to take away thine I have felt the strength of their Rage against thee which carries them above sence or fear to fore-go any Danger that they might see their desired End of thee Their Malice towards thee is so seated in their wrathful Hearts that it cannot easily be quenched I know the Lord hath blasted them and their endeavours to this day and thou hast had Dominion and Power given thee of God to bruise and to break them to pieces for because of the Wickedness of that Generation which was grown to the full did the Lord raise thee up as a Plague upon them because of their Unrighteousness Oppression and Tyranny and they were made as Slaves and Bondmen under thy Power and without the Lord can they not at any time do any thing against thee but what and if for thy Wickedness in the Sight of God he should make them Instruments in his hand to accomplish his Wrath upon thee even like as he made thee once his Instrument to overthrow them and such hath been the Lord's Doings even to overthrow his Enemies one by the other and to use the Wicked as a Rod in his hand to break them one against another like Potsherds and by that which comes to pass in these Nations thou seemest no less then to tread in their steps and in a measure already goest on in their way in Oppressing through Tyranny or suffering it the People of God whose Cause the Lord will assuredly plead against thee one day who now suffer under thee in Patience and who can tell the Purpose of the Lord or what he may bring to pass concerning this thing in raising up the Wicked to be a Plague to Wickedness and in suffering the Oppressors to overthrow Oppressions This is by me in Love to thee in sincerity declared and by thee with Soberness and in the Fear of God it is to be considered Again there is another People scattered through all these Dominions who are not thy Friends nor Wishers well unto thee or thy Government who secretly murmer against thee and envy thee and even seek God against thee and thy Government which they judge to be not according to God and bow not to it in Love though they are forced to submit for a time hoping continually if not hatching other wayes of Rule and Government to the overthrow of thee and thine and these are more Honest and Upright and Just in the Sight of the Lord then the former and indeed they are not nor their Purposes accursed of the Lord for many of them have been Sufferers and faithfully served their Nation
with perfect purpose of Freedom to the Lord's People and they have at this day this perfect Zeal for God and for his Wayes though not altogether according to Knowledge yet some of them are not far from the Kingdom of God though they seek it not wholly in the right Way nor look onely with a single Eye yet doth not the Lord hate them altogether because of their Integrity towards him and Zeal for him who some of them have suffered Imprisonment for Truth and Righteousness sake as they have wholly thought and their Sufferings have not been altogether slighted by the Lord and these are they known by Name of the Fifth Monarchy of whom there are more then a few with them that wish well unto them who will rise up for them rather then for thee many of whom propound well in their minds though they have not power to effect it because their intent is not altogether according to the Lord yet are many of them free from that whereof thy self is guilty and some of them are cast out and wholy rejected without any just Cause as they suppose and these things have grieved their spirits and not only kindled their Rage and Envy but moved their Sincerity and Honesty against thee wherefore they are not thy Friends but rather thy Enemies and would not stand by thee or with thee in thy need but rather I suppose would arm themselves against thee and thy Power who highly charge thee as they suppose justly too with Unfaithfulness and such like for they see that is not accomplished which hath been promised by thee but the contrary even one Finger is become as heavy as was once the Loyns and their spirits are grieved against thee for such Causes and who knoweth but that the Lord may take the occasion to try thee and prove thee by them for their Hearts are high against thee and thy Government and that upon good Ground as they sincerely think Again There is through thy Dominions a People gathered and gathering daily by Multitudes who are called and chosen of him and faithful to him who have owned him above all things and whom he hath owned and will own in the sight of the whole World and will encrease them to a Numberless Number according to his Promise and even those the Lord is making many who are redeeming out of the World into the Government and Kingdom of Jesus Christ and these thou knowest are great and grievous Sufferers by many hard and cruel Oppressions from those who are in Authority in thy Government even unjust Imprisonment and Fines and burdensome Taxations in many things hard to be expressed and they undergo grievous Persecutions under thy Government and wholy Unjustly in the sight of God and also are cast out of all Power and Place in it and almost out of all Subjects-Priviledge too many of them being counted as vile amongst men though they are not so in the Sight of the Lord Justice and Righteousness and true Judgment they cannot have in all these Nations not from thy self nor Sub-servant Judges of whom hardly can their Cause be heard but are deprived of their proper Right and of Subjects-Freedom in Judicatories and exposed to all Wrong that may be by Unjust Men through Unjust Judgment and these things are not unknown to thee and therefore art thou inexcusable in the Sight of the Lord and guilty of their Sufferings in his Presence who hath Power to prevent it but doth it not and these thus suffering in thy Goverment and under it how can they stand for thee and thy Government or out of pure Love be subject thereunto though be it known to thee that we the People of God do not envy thy Person or Government in the least neither have Purpose of seeking Advantage against thee or it to hurt or betray you by secret Plotting or turbulent Arising as others may yet Friend the want of our Prayers to God for thee is worse to thee then the secret Plotting of all Wicked Men. And how can we mention thee in our Prayers to God except it be to be delivered from thee who are daily cruel and unjust Sufferers by thee or because of thee as I have said Or how can we be Friends to that Government or subject to obey that Power under which we daily suffer such hard and cruel things as the loss of our Liberty and Estates and danger of Life also Let that Light in thy own Conscience judge though for all these things we do rather pitty thee and desire thy Repentance then Conspire against thee or wish thy Destruction yet oughtest thou to consider of these things with a humble Heart and what a Condition thou art in who art hated of the Wicked with a deadly Hatred and not loved of the Saints because thou lovest not the Lord Also it might make thy Heart to tremble to consider how that thy Dominions are thus divided and the Affections of the People thus dis-united and few of them thy real Friends some having real Offence given by thee wherefore they are forced to loath that Government which is unjust and others verily supposing of great Wrong sustained from thee wherefore they are turned against thee Moreover and besides all this greatly it may be suspected that even they in whom thou dost repose confidence who seem to cleave unto thee may not be altogether true unto thee though in appearance subject yet may have secret Hypocrisie hatching of evil in their minds if it were possible to uncover thy Nakedness and some others also there may be who may make use of Places under thee which may have no more Affection to thee nor Service for thee then while their own Ends of great Advantage are served under thee by their subjection to thy Government And now Friend these things being justly considered and viewed by thee in Righteousness how are thy Dominions as a broken Vessel that cannot easily be bound up and as a bruised Reed not to be confided in by thee and these several sorts of people being substracted out of the whole how few is it that thou wilt find that are thy Real and Faithful Friends who may stand by thee in a needful time Some out of Envy cannot be subject to thee and others for the Fear of the Lord's sake cannot own thee in such a Government whereby he Just suffer even all men are ready to stand a far off from thee and because thou hast denyed the People of God therefore cannot he be thy Trust and verily thy state and the state of thy Dominions are truly to be lamented thou hast so much sought thy self that thou hast lost almost all people and their Affections every one judging themselves to be the greatest Sufferers under thee Ah consider for thou art but the Head of a Disjoynted Body which may not easily be bound up to thee and thou art lost for lack of true Knowledge for the Lord hath done many thing for thee though
these things that you should have bin awakened to true Iustice and Iudgâ—â—â—â— and this the Lord requires of you though the guiltless Sufferers have born all these things without complaining yet ought you to have judged justly according to their deeds such as caused such Cruelty and unjust Sufferings that for time to come the like might not have been brought forth but the free Subjects might live in Peace and Rejoyce under the Government and all Perverâ—ers of Iudgment and Iustice might stand in awe and be afraid so should you be a Praâ—se to Ages after you And likewise many who are at this present remaining in Prisons in divers parts of this Land some upon one false Accusation and evil Surmising and some upon another for a good Conscience sake the Cause of whom hath often been laid before you which seemed for the present to have some entrance upon you yet little is brought forth by you as ought to be in that cause for though none of any such do complain unto you who have and do unjustly suffer yet the Lord doth require you to set the Oppressed and Falsly-Imprisoned at Liberty and to bring true Judgment forth upon their Persecutors Also There is another Suffering great and grievous growing upon many if it be not prevented Many faithful and approved Men are dispossessed of their Freedom which truly belongeth to them by the Law of God and man in divers Cities and Corporations because for Conscience sake they cannot Swear by kissing the Book and laying the hand upon it according to the vain Tradition in such Causes formerly used though to deal justly towards God and man in their Craft and Science they are bound by the Law of God yet because they will not Swear and so break Christ's Commands are they threatned and their Windows shut up and dispriviledged of their Trading whereby they should maintain themselves and Families in the Creation and this one thing tendeth to the Destruction of many as in this World and no little hurt will thereby grow to the whole Nation in a Generation of time and it is required of you by the Lord to prevent these Sufferings though many can fore-go their own Freedom in this World and their Lives also rather then break the least Command of Christ and thus are many faithful People made a very Prey to their Enemies and in divers manners it is brought forth upon them For many also suffer deeply in the House of Correction for reproving Sin and others are grievously spoiled in their Estates because for Conscience sake they cannot pay to maintain a professed Minister or uphold a Steeple-house for it is a common thing for a Priest to take or have it done Four or Five times so much by Distress as any way he can prove a pretended Due And many other Sufferings there are which are only for Conscience sake as because some cannot put off a Hat to a Magistrate or the like which give an ill savour to the Government in which they are acted without Reproof Ah my Friends Be awakened to Justice and true Judgment to relieve such unjust Sufferers and to throw down all such hainous Oppressions and Oppressors that the Lord may yet make you and your Government blessed after his Long-suffering to you which hath been great for Justice and true Judgment in a Government is the Happiness thereof and the Foundation for a long continuance and on the contrary Cruelty and Injustice and Oppression being brought forth the more is the Government unhappy and accursed and the sooner will the Lord overthrow it and bring it to a desolate End And therefore my Friends let this great Enemy to your Persons Government and whole Nation to wit Persecution for Conscience sake be speedily removed lest the Anger of the Lord break forth against you and repentance be too late for this know In all Ages the Lord stretched forth his Hand and in his time he quickly avenged himself for his People's sake after their Innocent Sufferings born by them for a season and he is the same and changeth not and the same will he bring to pass Therefore I say again Be awakened and let that deadly Enemy be removed out of the Land as you tender your own Safety and Honour and the Glory of the Name of the Lord and his People's Peace even this very Enemy to wit Persecution for Conscience sake for it doth and will obstruct all your good Purposes at Home and Abroad it eats away the Affections of all good People from you and it eats out your Strength and Valour and it consumes the Weakness of all your Enemies verily it is an Enemy that will work your Destruction speedily both in this World and in the World to come that of God in you all shall witness me in the Day of the Lord. I am your Friend and these things do I write as a Friend unto you as to warn you of that secret enemy so much reigning and rebelling in this Nation which indeed may work a greater Destruction upon you then any forreign Invader and this in time you may witness to your Grief and Sorrow If something by you be not done to suppress it all health and peace I wish unto you in the Lord and thus far am I clear from the blood of you and all men come life or death E B. The several Coppies of this were delivered to Oliver and his Counsel in the 12th Moneth in the year 1657. To the Protector Friend THe Salutation of my life wisheth well unto thee in the Lord and most especially that thy precious Soul may be redeemed out of death to God and live that thou mayst have a Rest and Habitation in him when this World is no more Now whereas it is a general out-cry among the Teachers and People of this Nation and also is doubted and hath been sometimes objected by thy self That the People called Quakers are Deluded and Deceived and in Error and such like And now if it be possible that thy self and others may be resolved concernus put therefore all thy Objections and Doubting into plain Positions or let the wisest of thy Teachers do it for thee and whatsoever thy self or any for thee can object against us or what thou doubtest of or stumblest at either in respect of our Doctrines or Practice let the matter be stated in plain words in Positions or Queries and if God permit a sufficient answer thou mayst receive to remove all conscientious Scruples and to confound all subtil Alledgments and Evasions whereby hereafter forever thou mayst be altogether inexcusable of all doubting or speaking against us or suffering evil to be done or spoken against us upon that account And this am I moved to give forth and send to thee that thou mayst be satisfied and all things tried and made manifest in the sight of all men and that all rash judgment and false supposition which lodgeth in the hearts of many may be confounded and brought to
moved of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to be written for thy Instruction from Him THere is a Great and Mighty and Innumerable People come and coming up out of Egypts Land travelling towards the Land of Rest promised of the Lord 〈◊〉 them to be obtained and enjoyed by them and they do and have sojouâ—ned Strangers in these Nations over whom thou are called to Rule and appointed â—â—ief Governour this seven years and greatly are and have they been afflicted and oppressed and even trodden down through unjust Judgment and unrighâ—… Dealing by the Rulers and Inhabitants of the Land and all the dayes of thy Father the late Protector they were held in great Captivity and Bondage and unrighteous men made them a Prey and laid heavy Yoaks of cruel Sâ—â—â—â—rings upon them and daily increased their Task and something thy Father did for them in their Journey of great Distress yet but a little of what the Lord required of him and what the Lord looked for that he might have done for Pâ—â—er was in his hands given him of the Lord but he was not fully obediâ—â—â— and therefore was the Lord's Hand stretched out somewhat against him 〈◊〉 his Family and he was smitten of the Lord and suddenly taken away in Judgment for he hearkened not to the Counsel of the Lord concerning that People neither did fully relieve them from Oppression but slighted many Warâ—â—â—â—â— from the Lord and the Day of his Visitation passed over and Death took 〈◊〉 away in Disobedience while this People were yet under great Oppressions for he left above a hundred of them in Prisons unjustly suffering for right eousness sake and not for Evil-doing and in this he fulfilled not the Will of God but left his Name and Glory somewhat stained because of these things and though the Lord chose him and shewed Love unto him gave him Power over his Enemies and made him an Instrument in his Hand to break down great Oppressions yet he was not obedient to the end to do my Will saith the Lord but left something â—â—â—one which he was truly called unto Now this innumerable People that is come and coming up as aforesaid are them called Quakers and this Egypts Land is that great Darkness Ignorance and Wickedness and false Wayes and worships in the Apostacy and fleshly bondage to sin and death which all the World and Kindreds and Multitudes that are unconverted to God live and walk in and that Land of Rest promised to which they travel is the peaceable and quiet dwelling with the Lord free from the heavy oppression of Sin and Iniquity and cruelties of men and free in the exercise of their pure Consciences by the Spirit of the Lord as it shall move and lead them into all Truth and their sojourning as Strangers is their denying and despising the World and all its glories and walking in the daily Cross of Christ whereby they are crucified to the love and respect and renown and honours of the world and are come â—â—t of Kindreds Tongues and People counting the reproach for Christ great Riches not respecting men but the Lord altogether in all things and also their suffering unrighteously false imprisonment and spoiling of their goods for Righteousness sake this is their sojourning as Strangers And that something that thy Father did for them is he released many of them divers times out of Prifons where they were unjustly cast and he signified sometimes his displeasure against them that made them suffer and shewed love to them in hearing their Innocent Cause with some respect thereunto and that which he did not which he might have done is He took not away Tythes that Cause of great Oppression to many nor the Unrighteous Laws wholy as he ought to have done and as the Lord required of him And know thou from the Lord That this same People are the People of the Lord and beloved of him and as dear to him as the Apple of his Eye and his Presence is with them and he leads them as a Flock by his Spirit into all Truth and who shall Bless them shall be Blessed but he that acts against them shall not prosper but be smitten of the Lord for their Cause will the Lord plead in his Judgments and avenge them of their Enemies and the Dread of the Lord God shall fall heavy upon the heads of their Persecutors and though they are hated of all men and under great Afflictions yet are they a Just People and Innocent seeking the Good of all men and are Peaceable towards all and receiving all manner of Wrongs and Evil and Speakings against them by Ungodly Men but they render to no man Evil for Evil but bless them that curse and do good to their Enemies and bear all things from all men in Long-suffering and Patience for they are learned in the Practices in doing and suffering of the Holy Apostles and Prophets and are of the Seed of Abraham who was the Friend of God and they were thy Father's Friends and are not Enemies to thee nor to righteous Government but wish well unto thee in the Lord and that thou mayst not be destroyed in Wickedness but be established in Righteousness and Peace in thy Government to rule in God's Authority over all Wicked Men that may seek thy hurt And we desire for thee that the Lord may give thee Wisdom and a perfect Understanding and the Spirit of just and sound Judgment to judge Righteously in all things and to settle the Government in true Judgment that the Principle of God in every man may answer to it in defending preserving and protecting all that walk in Truth Righteousness being a Terror to all Evil-doer for for that end is Rule and Government ordained of God amongst men to be a Praise to all that do Well and a Terror to all that do Evil. And now the Lord having suffered it to be brought to pass that thou art set up in thy Father's stead to be chief Ruler amongst men this the Lord God Almighty requires of thee as thou hopest to prosper and be blessed in this Life and to enjoy Life Eternal when this World is passed away and this is the Word of the Lord God unto thee Be Humble Meek and Lowly in Heart and exalt not thy own Horn nor seek not this World's Honour but seek the Lord with thy whole Heart and let Justice and true Judgment and Righteous Government which is according to the Law of God be set up and exalted in the Nations and come to know in thy self the Dominion and Authority of the Lord God over Sin and Transgression and to keep down and condemn all that which is contrary to God in thy own Heart and that will make thee a Dread and a Terror to Men and Nations and then the Lord will be thy Crown and his People will rejoyce in thee and lift up their Hearts to God for thee If thou throwest down and abolishest all Unrighteous
Innocent make no Laws to limit the Lord nor his Spirit nor his People but make such of no effect lest ye be confounded like as with a Whirle-wind by the Breath of the Almighty I am the Lord and my Name is dreadful to all Flesh mine Arm is stretched forth over the Nations and I will scatter them at my Pleasure I kill and I make alive I break down and I build up fear ye me and tremble at my Presence bow before me and have my Name in Reverence and my People in Safety and let them be free from all Oppressions and Tyranny lest I correct you with the Rod of my Judgments saith the Lord For I will rule Nations with an Iron Rod and the Governments shall be mine through the Kingdoms of the World and my People shall inheriâ— the Possessions I will beat the Mountains to Powder and strike Terror in the Hearts of the Mighty and I will Judge among the Judges and Rule amongst the Rulers of the Earth who are but Dust and Ashes before me therefore do ye the thing that pleaseth me and have my Cause and my People's Cause in respect amongst you and be ye low and humble in my Sight lest I wound you and you never be healed lest I scatter you and you never be gathered I am the Lord that doth whatsoever he will Dreadful and Mighty is my Name in the Earth and my People are my Inheritance wherein I delight spare them and afflict them not that I may spare you and not destroy you and take you Counsel at my Spirit and at my Servants that you may prosper and hurt not the Innocent nor touch my Anointed Ones lest I come suddenly upon you saith the Lord and break you to pieces for I will make you know that my People are mine and beloved of me and that I care for them and will Fight for them and revenge their Cause and deliver them from the hands of their Enemies speedily this ye shall know when my Vengeance is extended forth to all my Enemies and upon all such as do oppress my People and are Spoilers of my pleasant Heritage and now am I arisen saith the Lord. Edw. Burroughs This was written to the Parliament which began to sit in the Eleaventh Moneth 1658. which Richard Cromwell Dissolved in the Second Moneth 1659. To Richard Cromwel and to Henry Cromwel FRIENDS YET once more hath the Lord given me somewhat to say unto you in Love to your immortal Souls You had a glorious Day of Visitation and many precious Warnings from the Mouth of the Lord by his Servants but you rejected the Counsel of the Lord against your own Souls and made no account of the Servants of the Lord which were sent unto you but caused them and suffered them to be persecuted by your Power and they were made a Spoil and a Prey to their Enemies all your dayes and you sought your selves and your own Honour and you were exalted in Pride and Vain-glory and forgot God who raised you up from a low Estate and you had no respect to the Cause of his People and therefore is this justly come to pass upon you from the Hand of the Lord not that I rejoyce in it and glory over you because of it only I tell you what is justly happened unto you that ye may learn the Lora's just Iudgments in these things like as formerly I warned you of it for it could not otherwise be but that the Lord would avenge the Cause of his People upon their Persecutors and the Injustice done unto them upon you in whose Name and Power it was acted for in every Generation he hath had respect unto his People's Cause and did avenge their Cause in his season And this I well remember I was once moved to speak in the Name of the Lord unto your Father That these things that came to pass in his days that Cruelty and Oppression of the Lord's People would be recompenced and repented of in his Children's dayes For I saw that the Cruelty and Injustice that was done in his Name upon the People of God could not escape un punished in a Generation and it is now come to pass in a measure and will be more and more even for his Transgressions and your own for all of you had a Day and a Time wherein you might have done something for the Lord and for his People and you had a Price put into your hands that you might have improved to the Lord's Glory and to your own Renown to have been a Blessing unto your selves and to the People of God in these Nations but your Day is over and Night is come upon it and your Price is taken from you and given to others and you cannot now work nor act on the Lords behalf as once you might have done and you have sought honour to your selves and you reap Reproach and because you have despised the Counsel of the Lord therefore the snare hath caught you which was laid for others These things I say unto you in pitty for you rather then in boasting over you neither do I commend that spirit which acteth in too much severity towards you which upraids you rather then seeks to amend you that is not my way For your Father served the Lord in his Generation and was once the Instrument in his Hand to the accomplishing of good things till that an ambitious spirit got power over him and betrayed him and the Work was lost which God called him unto And as for these that are now in Power if they shall tread in your steps and shall not relieve the Oppressed much more then any before them shall they be overthrown and brought into Contempt And as for you Come into the Fear of the Lord God that your Iniquities may be pardoned and seek Peace with God and Reconciliation and seek after the Kingdom that eâ—dures forever and while ye have time seek after a Crown Immortal and wait to know that which will make you Heirs of that Inheritance which never fades away the Light in your own Consciences which Christ hath enlightened you with which lets you see Sin and convinceth you of your Evil Deeds that Light in you must you own to be your Teacher and must become subject unto it in all things or else you have no part in the Kingdom of God and cease from your lying Prophets who have flattered you in your Iniquities and deceived your Souls and cryed Peace unto you and Safety and said You should Prosper and they have hardened your Hearts and been a Snare to you till the Lord's Anger is broken forth against you and they found Lyars So now consider and do not alwayes reject Love but and if you do I am clear and your Iniquities will be upon your own Heads and though rejected by you yet a Friend to your Souls whom the Lord hath made often to warn you and happy had you been if you had or can now prize
the Day of your Visitation Edward Burroughs This was delivered to them in the Fifth Moneth 1659. TO THE PARLIAMENT Of the Common-Wealth OF ENGLAND The present Authority of these Nations Assembled at WESTMINSTER A Presentation by a faithful Friend to the Nations in the Name and by the Spirit of Jesus Christ King of Righteonsness and Peace That you may take off Oppression and free the People from all their Cruel Bonds that have been imposed upon their Bodies Estates and Consciences in the dayes of the Reign of Antichrist that Truth Justice and Righteousness may come nigh unto us and the Kingdom of the Son of God set up among us that you and we may at last be free Subjects of Christs ' Kingdom where Righteousness Truth and Peace may run down and be established in the Earth for evermore FRIEND IT is acknowledged that the Lord God who rules over all in the Kingdoms of Men hath done Great and Honourable Things by you and with the Face of your Authority in your dayes and since your first appearing on the Throne Mighty Things have been brought to pass in our Nations by the Hand of the Lord insomuch that many Mountains have been abased and many sturdy Oaks have been cut down and many cruel Laws have been made void and even the Way of the Lord and the Way of the coming of his Kingdom hath seemed to be prepared For the kingdom of Antichrist and the Beast and the Whore the false Church hath in many things received a mortal Wound in this Nation and there hath been divers times the fair Blossoms of the Glorious Appearance of Truth Righteousness and Peace and there have been many fair Promises and Pretences made by many of you like as if the Kingdom of Jesus had been at our Door ready to have entred our Nations whereby many good Hopes we have had to have been made a perfect free People ere this day from the Chains of Antichrist and the Whore the' false Church and from every Branch thereof and that we might have sitten together in Peace and Unity and in Freedom from all the Opressions of our Enemies But Alas alas This Glorious Work of Reformation hath bin interrupted before our eye and the precious Buds and good Appearance of Glorious Fruits have been withered and blasted in our sight so that our good Hopes have perished and our Freedom hath been intercepted through the Evil-dealing of many unfaithful men so that Antichrist's kingdom hath not been utterly rooted out nor the oppressive Laws of the Whore the false Church wholy broken down but the rather have seemed to be revived again and the Kingdom of the Son of God hath been warred against and Truth Righteousness and just Judgment hath been kept out of the Throne and the Lamb and his Army and Followers have been opposed by open and secret Rebellion so that though there hath been appearances of good Things now and then yet ever and anon Clouds and Darkness have overshaddowed the Nations again and the good Hopes of Faithful People have been driven backwards and Reformation stopped and your own Vows Promises and Pretences have remained unfulfilled and we are yet an Oppressed People and the Cause of this hath been from some unfaithful men that have neglected the good Work of the Lord once intrusted with them and have sought themselves and their own Honours and Interests and have sitten down at Ease and Rest in the Flesh glorying in the Spoil of their Enemies and thereby have they become unfaithful and unprofitable in carrying on the Lord's Work for some have been of a sincere Mind for a season and made a good Progress towards the attaining a Kingdom of Righteousness and the removing of all Oppressions yet when they have begun to seek themselves in this World and to take unto themselves the Honours and Titles and possessions of their Enemies whom the Lord cast out before them and so have become guilty of their Enemies Sins then they have been choaked and the good Work of the Lord by them could not prosper but it hath fallen in their hands even because of their Apostacy whom the Lord hath removed in his Wrath which to you all may be Examples that ye follow not their steps For for these Causes I tell you hath the True Reformation been turned backward and the Work of the Lord remained unfinished insomuch that Oppression Injustice and Tyranny yet remains upon the People and Ten Thousand lie groaning under the Yoak and Bondage of Antichrist and of the Whore the false Church in Persons Estates and Consciences and are ready to depart out of all good Hope and Confidence That they shall never see through you the finishing of that long since begun good Work of Perfect Reformation and Freedom from all Oppressions And amongst the many Great Oppressions and Cruel Burdens yet remaining in our Nation there is at this day one particular Oppression abounding under which Thousands of the free People of the Lord of these Nations lie unjustly suffering in their Bodies Estates and Consciâ—nces to wit This way of forced Maintenance of the Ministry by Tythes and Money and Yearly Stipends which many are violently forced to pay through Oppression and contrary to Equity and because hereof is God not well-pleased with you but his Wrath is kindled already for the Cry of the Unjustly Afflicted under this one Oppression hath entred into his Ear and he will be avenged speedily even because of the Oppression of his People in this very particular who cannot out of a Good Conscience pay Tythes or Money or any other thing contrary to Equity to the maintaining of this Ministry and these Ministers which they receive no benefit by neither are under their Ministry And forasmuch as this way of maintaining Ministers and Ministry by Force is wholy Antichristian and of the Whore the false Church and never was in the true Churches of Christ in the Apostles dayes neither did ever Christ or his Apostles give Institution or Example for such way of Maintenance to Christ's Ministers but being that this way of forced Maintenance by Tythes and Money and Yearly-Stipends is come up long since the Apostles dayes and is the very Institution of the false Church of Rome and was first practized by her Authority in our Nation and by the same Spirit at this day this Oppression remaineth amongst us and likewise it is wholy unreasonable That one sort of people should be compelled to maintain anothers Ministers whom they do not hear nor receive their Ministry And also this way of maintenance is one of the greatest Oppressions in our Nation and many Hundreds of my Brethren have suffered great Oppression thereby some the loss of Estates and many the loss of their Liberties some the loss of their Lives also insomuch that this Oppression is fully ripe to be cut down and removed out of our Land Wherefore it lies upon me from the Lord to request it of you and to
lay it upon you as being the present Authority that have Power to do it That you speedily order the removing of this Oppression of forced Maintenance to Ministers out of the Nation and that no man henceforth be compelled or forced to maintain Ministers and Ministry by Tythes or Money or otherwise but that every man be left free to give what and how much as he pleaseth to what Minister as he will only if any do hire a Minister and promise so much then it is Equity that he that is hired have the benefit of the Law to receive what he is promised by force if he cannot freely But let not any people be forced by your Law to hire Ministers neither one sort to maintain another peoples Minister but let every sort of people live under what Ministry and hear whom they please and also maintain their own Ministers that labour for them and this is reasonable and would content all the Faithful People for it is wholy unequal that any people should be forced and compelled to mantain another peoples Minister which doth no work for them and it is also wholy inconsistent with the good Government of a Common-wealth and absolute contrary to Christian-Liberty and is a very Chain of Antichrist upon the good People and the main Cause of Heart-burnings and Strifes and Envyings among Subjects and one of the chief Props of Deceivers and false Ministers that covet to run after great Benefices and care not for Souls and also the God of Heaven is vexed with this Abomination and it is certain that you and these Nations shall never be established in true and perfect Peace and Unity while this Oppression remaineth nor till that in all things Conscience be let free to the Exercise of the Spirit of God Wherefore I am come to your door on the behalf of the Lord all his People and I cry ten thousand with me in Spirit of the free People of your Nation Let this Unreasonable Oppressive and Antichristian Practice of forcing Maintenance to Ministers be speedily removed out of our Land and let the Persons Estates and Conscionces of your faithful Friends be freed from this cruel Burden that they have long born by your and their very Enemies And also I lay it upon you that you clear and free your selves in all things from the false Church and be not Servants to her drink not her Cup of Fornications neither in any thing carry the Whore and hereby should that long born and heavy Yoak of Antichrist be removed that hath laid upon the good People's Persons Estates and Consciences and false Ministers that run for Hire and not to win Souls who are Oppressors should hereby be limitted and the Faithful Ministers of Christ who are sent of him would be the more encouraged to minister freely who have received freely and this would be the way to bring Blessings and Peace amongst us and to rejoyce the Hearts of the Righteous and to stop the spirit of Oppression and hereby you would be made Honourable and the Lord himself glorified and his People a free People So that for these Causes it is upon me to demand it of you that you remove the Oppression aforesaid of forcing Maintenance for Ministers and leave every sort of people free to maintain their own Ministers as the Lord shall lead them For this was the Way in the true Churches The Ministers ' of Christ did eat of the Milk of the Flock which they kept and of the Fruit of the Vineyard which they 〈◊〉 planted Freely given them and they reaped carnal things where they sowed Spiritual yet as a Free Gift unto them and not by Force nor as a Debt for this way of forcing Maintenance was never in beeing among the true Churches but is of the false Church both in its Original and in its standing to this day and out of her Cup who hath made Nations drunk hath our Nation drunk this Abominâ—tion and Oppression and it is the remainder and one of the strongest parts of the Whore of Rome yet left in England and it is full time to be removed clean away from us and if you do it then shall we have cause to believe that you intend well to the Nations and our long decayed Hopes concerning you will be again revived and our Faith will be encreased that you will yet suffer Righteousness and Mercy to flourish if you take off every Oppression and make the People free but if you do it not but will be the Imposers of Unrighteous things upon the People under you and will carry the Whore and yet drink her Cup and compel others to drink it Then the Lord will break you to pieces and bring Freedom to this Nation some other way and you and they and the Beast and the Whore and your Oppressious shall all fall together and sink as a Stone into the Sea and your Remembrance shall be blotted out and perpetually perish and these are the Words of the Lord God unto you wherefore that you may live in true Honour and not Perish in perpetual Shame and that the Lord may bless you and not make you a Curse and that the Lord's People may pray for you and not against you I say consider in the Fear of God and with a willing Mind grant this my Desire and in so doing you fulfil the Will of the Lord and thereby be established over all your Enemies Many things more on the Lord's behalf I have to demand of you but this for present from a Lover of Righteousness and a Friend to this Nation London the 12th of the 7th Moneth 1659. Edward Burroughs A MESSAGE TO THE Present Rulers OF ENGLAND VVhether Committy of Safety so called Council of Officers or Others whatsoever Delivered unto them by an Ambassadour from the only right Heir of the Government whose Right alone it is to Rule And by special Authority and Commission from him this is sent unto them that they may hear and fear and learn Wisdom and may deliver up the proper Right of the only King unto him that they may be blessed but on the contrary dependeth their DESTRUCTION THese things were upon me to deliver even by Speech and word of Mouth to the present Men in Power that they might be warned lest they Perish But no way being made for me so to do I have written what was upon me even as short as possibly I could and in as little compass as might be having hinted at things which might more largely been spoken to And I order this to be Printed and given to their particular hands with speed FRIENDS MY Master is a High and Mighty and Powerful Prince and very Honourable and Fear Reverence Respect and Subjection belongs to him alone from you and all Mankind he is Wise and Understanding and of great Strength and his Dominion is from Everlasting to Everlasting and he can do whatsoever he will in Heaven and Earth for he rules with his
present Rulers be looked upon as great Traytors and Tyrants in your dealing towards them and doubtless the men of that part will seek Vengeance against you even by preâ—câ—ing and 〈◊〉 and they will curse you in the Name of their God and seek continually yoâ—â— destruction as such as have taken away part of their strength and cast down their 〈◊〉 but alas all this is nothing for the Lord doth not account as men For these things must needs thus come to pass for the furtherance of the Kingdom and Government of Iesus Christ that it may arise through all and if you were but faithful to what the Lord requires of you in your proceedings what you have done â—â—to them should not be reckoned on account against you neither by God nor good Men. But and if you of the Army be alwayes Treacherous and Disoâ—edient towards him and abuse your Power and dis-regard your Price that God hath given you and trifle away your Hour about Places of Honour and such self-seeking matters and the Cause of God be neglected by you and his People continued Oppressed Sufferers under you as they have long been Even then shall you be cast aside with shameful Disgrace and the heavy Hand of the Lord shall be upon you in Iudgment and you shall be smitten more then any before yâ—â— your Estates shall not be spared from the Spoiler nor your Souls from the Pit nor yâ—… Persons from the Violence of Men no nor your Necks from the Axe for if you be unfaithful and continually Treacherous to the Cause of God then shall you be left to the Will of your Enemies and they shall charge Treachery and Treason upon you and your Persons and Estates shall be given for a Prey to your Enemies and you shall 〈◊〉 deliver your selves neither will the Lord deliver you from the Execution of Merciless Men for my Lord shall leave the Cruel-hearted to plead with you Wherefore that you may be warned I advise you to be faithful let not the Cause of God fall nor the Cause of his Enemies prosper before you for there is no other way whereby you can be preserved nor no other Defence shall you ever find from the Wrath of the Lord and from the Fury of you Devouring Enemies then your Faithfulness in God's Cause and therefore relieve the Oppressed and take off all Oppressions break down all unjust Laws and set all People free from unjust Burdens and let all Oppressions cease both in Church and Civil State and even all Oppressive Laws and Unjust Judges and Evil Men in Power let all this be removed and the Nation clean quitted and discharged even from all Men and Laws whatsoever that have held under Oppression the Persons Estates and Consciences of the Good People of this Land and let the Nation be corrected and all Orders and Places of men and Laws and Decrees be purified for this my Lord the Great King requireth and he will suddenly have it brought to pass in the Nation if not by you then contrary to you and to your utter Destruction and this is the very substâ—â—ce of my Message to you that my Master hath given me to say unto you and on his behalf I am come to claim of you my Master 's long lost Right let him have his Right from which he hath long been banished I demand it of you all ye whatsoever that seem to bear rule in the Nation I charge you in his Name let him have his Title and Prerogative let him be Lord and King wholy in his own Kingdom let him have the Exercise of his People's Consciences by his own Spirit in all things related to his Worship and Service and let him have the full Authority by his Spirit in all things pertaining to Church and Ministry and Faith and Religion and let his Spirit have the alone Authority to perswade and diswade People from or to such or such Ministry Worship and Practices of Religion and let all forced Maintenance to Ministers and Tythes be speedily taken away and let all Laws and Decrees whatsoever made and practized in the days of Antichrist upon the Bodies Estates and Consciences of the People in Oppression and Unjustness about Church and Worship and Religion be utterly repealed and made void and never more be in force in this Nation But let my Lord be sole Ruler and Governour and have the full Authority in his own Kingdom in all things whatsoever pertaining thereunto and let no man henceforth hereafter be intrusted with the Liberties of the Members of Christ's Kingdom as they are such nor to judge over them in any matters of Faith and Worship but give that Right and Priviledge wholy unto the Spirit of Jesus Christ for unto him onely it pertaineth to be whole Judge and to have full Power in his own Kingdom and until you give him the Right and deliver up unto him his own Kingdom and the Exercise of Peoples Consciences in all things about RELIGION you shall never Prosper nor none that cometh after you that shall in any measure abridge my Master of his proper RIGHT from which he hath long been Banished as I have said and till his Right be given him in the case aforesaid He will dash one man against another and none shall ever be established but Horn after Horn shall be broken and one Power after another brought into Câ—â—â—â—sion And therefore ye men Do not strive with him in this matter but yield unto 〈◊〉 the Exercise of your own Consciences by his Spirit in you and let him do 〈◊〉 â—â—to all others even as ye hope to prosper and upon the Penalty of his sore Dâ—â—â—leasure upon you in this World and in the World to come and let Jâ—â—â— Men and Righteous Men and Meek Men and Men that have the Fear and Wisdom of God in them without Exceptation of Birth or otherwise 〈◊〉 such men have the Power and Judgment committed to them to determine in things between Man and Man Down with all the false-hearted Flatterers that 〈◊〉 ruled for Man and not for God and for themselves and not for the good of the People cast all such out from among you for the Good among you is choaked by them Down with all that Judge for Rewards and away with 〈◊〉 Hireling Rulers that execute the Law for Money and will not plead 〈◊〉 Cause of the Poor without great Fees And down with all that will not 〈◊〉 places of Trust without so large Stipends away with all these things out of the Land for they are hainous Oppressions unto men and great Aboâ—…ons in the Sight of God and the Land hath long groaned under the wâ—ight and burden of these things and the Earth is weary of them and my Lord â—…iers their utter Dissolution as being Iniquities fully ripe and having the gâ—ilâ— of so much Cruelty Injustice and Oppression lying upon the Nation because hereof therefore is the Lord's season to destroy them and remove them out of
of that People even till my Lord hath confounded them and brought them into Confusion for there is the weight of Blood of Tyranny and Oppression lying upon the Nation in that People's Cause and my Lord will revenge them in his Season and though they are not weary of their Sufferings but are in the Patience which beareth all things yet the Nation can never be happy nor its Government ever blessed while this People are held in Bondage and their Sufferings are deeply considered of the Lord and the Season thereof is expiring towards an 〈◊〉 aâ—d when this cometh to pass then Wo unto the kingdom of Antichrist and to the Whore and false Prophet even when their strength is dryed up by which they have made War against the Lamb and his Followers yea Wo unto them Great Fearfulness shall be upon all the World when the King of that People Reigns upon the Earth and the time is at hand blessed is the Man that waitâ—â—◠〈◊〉 it and blessed is he that is not offended in his Coming but is preparâ—◠〈◊〉 receive him in his Appearing which suddenly cometh upon all the World And thus I have told the Lord's present Message unto you which I received from him and thus far I am clear and whether you accept it or reject it my Peace and Reward is forever with him who am a Subject of his Kingdom and a Frieâ—â— to this Nation however otherwise judged by ignorant Men. Edw. Burroughs The 9th Moneth 1659. To the PRESENT DISTRACTED AND Broken Nation OF ENGLAND And to all her INHABITANTS A Presentation and Declaration from the Seed of God and from the People called Quakers with their Sense and Knowledge published concerning the present Divisions and Confusions come to pass in the Land with Mourning and Lamentation over it because of its Breaches and the Causes thereof laid down and discovered And also Good Counsel and Advice held forth how Peace and Unity may be restored and how the present Troubles may be Removed OH poor distressed Nation and full of Troubles How art thou broken and divided How hath Divisions and Distractions compassed thee about and entred into thy Bowels And how are thy Inhabitants and thy People divided even to hatred one against another and how are they filled as with Mischief one towards another even as it were thirsting for the Blood of one another Oh! How are thy Rulers and thy Subjects thy Great Men and thy Poor confounded amongst themselves And how is the Wisdom of thy Wise men turned into Folly and their Union into present Contention and how do they seek the Overthrow one of another and how do they lie in wait to be avenged one against another And how are the Hearts of many filled with Envy Contention and Revenge and Love Peace and Unity are far away Meekness Patience and Long-suffering which ought to be among thy People seem to stand afar off And oh Nation this is the Day of thy Trouble and the beginning of thy Sorrows And forasmuch as it hath pleased the Lord God Almighty to bring and suffer things thus to be brought to pass as if he would make our Nation a Heap and suffer Destruction upon it and having suffered the Rulers and Great Men to overcome and break down one another and to rend and tear one another from oâ—â— the Throne pulling down others and setting up themselves even through their Ambition and Vain-glory and for corrupted Ends to themselves whereby this our Nation is brought into present Confusion and many are begotten through these â—hings into Fury Heart-burnings and Maliciousness as if men were ready to devour each one his Neighbour and their Brother about Government and Ruâ—e being greatly divided and distracted in this matter some crying up one way of Religion and Church and Civil Government and some crying up another way being each one sort of People seeking themselves and the prosperity of their own Interests and to have their own desires accomplished but few seeking the Lord and to advance him in Truth and Righteousness And because of this there is no Establishment in the Earth but Strife and Contention and Heart-burnings in the Bowels of the Nation and great want of True Love True Unity and True Peace and all the contrary doth abound among the people because of which the Nation is subject to present Misery even to Blood-shed and Murders and liable also to greater Judgments which may also come upon it because of these things all which we have deeply considered â—â—th Mourning and with Breakin gs of Heart on the behalf of the Nation the Land of our Nativity We have seen we have seen the Cause of thy Distractions to be the Sins of thy Rulers and People and we have seen the effect of them to be doleful and miserable unto thee except the Hand of the Lord turn it backward And oh How do we Mourn and Laâ—ent to see the Out goings of Men and the present Condition of the People and Rulers in this the Day of their Trouble Alas they do not behave themselves towards the Lord that his Judgments may be turned away they do not seek him in Truth and Righteousness they do not turn unto him with all their Hearts neither do they tremble at his Word but they the rather reject his Counsel and despise his Visitation and they seek themselves and exalt their own Horn and love the Honour of this World and their hearts are hardened and the great men seem to be utterly insensible of what the Lord is a doing but seek great things for themselves and each one rejoying of another's Fall and glorying in their Advantages one over another one sort being first down and another sort comes up boasting themselves over the Fall of their Enemies and not knowing that their time also is but very short And thus is our poor Nation tossed to and fro through the Ambition of men who even make a Prey upon the poor peoples Persons and Treasure for their own corrupted Ends and thy Rulers have not had respect unto the Counsel of the Lord but seem to refuse the Way of Peace and even add Fewel to the Fire of God's Wrath by heaping up one Transgression upon another and they receive not the Instructions of the Almighty Behold Oh Nation Great Trouble is upon thee and the Men that should Rule thee and which have pretended to Govern thee they do not walk in the Way of thy Peace neither do they bring healing to thee These things we have considered and thus we Lament over thee and over thy present State Oh Nation how art thou like an ungirded Vessel that is ready to fall one piece from another and how art thou like a Body without a Head and all thy Ioynts out of order and what Confusion art thou fallen into which is thy present state and art even as a Widdow without a Husband and art even left comfortless unto this day and ready to devour thy self through the Envy
that lodgeth in thy own Bowels Though thou hast had Kings over thee and chosen thee Parliaments and set up Protectors and Committees and Councils have been created in thee to have been as a Defence upon thee and to have born the Scepter of thy Government but alas all these have left thee and thou art now as alone and left comfortless even as a Widow unto this day and the Staff of thy hand hath pierced thee and thy strength and confidence hath betrayed thee and them whom thou hast chosen have wrought no deliverance at all in thee even the men that thou thoughtest should have healed thee they have made thy wound more incurable and they in whom thou hast reposed trust they have been deceitfull and treacherous in thee for many have sought themselves and who should be the greatest and they have trisfled away many precious hours in vain contentions about Government what it should be and who should govern while as no good thing hath been effected by them but in the mean time of their delayes and while they have been making themselves rich with the Nations Treasure and loved this worlds perishing honor and vain titles the Nation hath starved for want of mercy and just judgment and the cause of its necessity hath been forgotten and mercy and truth and the freedom of the people neglected and the Cause of the Fatherless Widow and Stranger and the Cause of the afflicted people have they not respected Oh Nation the men that have sitten on thy Throne they have left thee groaning under great Oppressions wounded with the Spirit of Tyranny yet un-cast out and thy people are yet unhealed but the breach hath been made wider even by that Spirit which hath possessed thy Parliaments thy Protectors thy Councils thy Committees who hath proved Physitians of no value but have bin the increasers of thy grief and even because of their iniquities and the sin of their Ambition and Oppression hath the Lord dealt thus with them and suffered them to dash one another in pieces and through Judgment unto themselves and thee Oh Nation are they at present ceased from thee and thou art left alone and without a Deliverer in the Earth full of Troubles and Distractions Oh that thou wouldst now look unto the Lord and seek him in Righteousness that he may heal thee for there is none of all them that do pretend to rule thee that do rightly proceed in the way of thy Deliverance they do not apply healing Balm unto thy Wound they rather add unto the cause of thy Sorrow then remove it from thee their hearts are not aright before the Lord and how then should they prosper in their doings All these things have we viewed and pittied the condition of our Nation and thus we do declare the very cause of these things that are come to pass in thee is in that oh Nation thou hast sinned thou hast sinned and the cry of thy Iniquities is come up before the Lord even the sins of thy Rulers and thy People is the Cause of God's Displeasure against thee and he is provoked through their Transgressions in thee is found the Blood of the Innocent in thee is found the Murder of Souls in thee is found Treachery against God and Hypocrisie Dissimulation with God and men in thee is found Pride Oppression Whoredom and Drunkenness Stealing and Murder in thee is found the very burden of Iniquity the full measure of Transgression even the transgression of God's whole Law deceit is found in thee unsoundness of heart unconstancy in all good things multitude of hypocritical Fastings Prayers and Services in thee is found even destroying Sins of all sorts do abound and thou hast provoked the Lord God by thy Abominations thy Rulers have been Oppressors thy Teachers Deceivers of Souls and thy People are froward and perverse against the Lord in thee is found the men that judge for Rewards and the Priests that preach for Hire and the Prophets that divine for Money thy Sins are like Israel's of old for number and greatness and thou hast lost God's Favour and gained his Fury by thy own doings and thou art the very cause of this Misery and hast brought it upon thy self and because thou art departed from the Living God by thy Transgression therefore hath he confounded thee and turned thy Wisdom into Folly and he is departed from thee and out of thy Councils and men are left to the counsels of their own hearts and as it were ready to destroy one another Ruler against Ruler and Neighbour and Friend full of strife one against another and this is happened unto thee as a Judgment for thy Iniquities who hast also nelected a gloririous Day of Visitation thy Rulers and Inhabitants have been warned and the Cry of Repentance hath been sounded towards them all by a despised people but warning hath not been regarded but the word of the Lord rejected by thy Rulers and People and lo what wisdom is there in them not so much wisdom from God as can preserve them but it may be just with the Lord to suffer them to drink the blood one of another even because they have sinned against God and rejected his counsel therefore is this come to pass in the Nation for hadst thou oâ— Nation walked in the Light of the Lord it had been better with thee had every one obeyed the Light in his own Conscience and had every one sought the Lord and not himself had thy Rulers ruled for God and had thy people been ruled of God then this day had not been a day of Trouble but it had been a day of Joy and Sorrow and Anguish had been removed far from thee and blessings had filled thy Habitations And now whereas many wise men have been advising and consulting the peace of this our Nation and they have given in their counsel for removing these Troubles yet Peace and Unity seems to be far away and though they have sought Peace for this Nation yet they have not walked in the perfect way thereof for innocency truth and simplicity have bin wanting which God only will bless and by flatteries and deceits and the pollicy and wisdom of this World have they thought to make up thy breach but it cannot be for in the way of that proceeding will not the Lord be found in a needful time and his presence hath been wanting in their counsels and therefore the fruit of peace is not yet grown up this we have seen and therefore thus we do declare O Nation the inward cause of thy destractions must be removed even thy iniquities must be forsaken and thy transgressions repented of thou must forsake thy former wayes and doings that are not right thou must leave off thy hypocrisies and flatteries with God and men thou must repent thee of thy profaneness and of thy profession also thy sin and thy righteousness must thou put away which are both Abominations unto God thou
People by all sorts of men yet we are a people loved of the Lord and his Presence is among us and his Dread filleth our hearts and though we are â—…ed as a cast-out people yet are we dreadful unto the Wicked and must be their Fear for we have chosen the Son of God to be our King and he hath chosen us to be his People whose Kingdom is not of this World neither is his Warfare with carnal Weapons neither is his Victory by the murdering and killing of mens Persons but we are given up to bear and suffer all things for his Name 's sake and our present Glory and Renown therein stands till the appointed time of our Deliverance without the Arm of Flesh or any multitude of an Host of men this we declare And oh Nation though we have born thy Reproaches these many years and have passed under the Rod of thy wicked Ruâ—â—â—s and People and have been afflicted through their Hard-heartedness though we never have provoked thee otherwise then by our Well doing and though Perâ—… Imprisonments Whippings Banishments and all hard things have been out Portion from thee yet this hath been for Righteousness sake and not for any Evil-doing and we have born all these things in much Patience and we are not now provoked against thee to seek thy Hurt or to work Evil is thee and though thou hast smitten us yet would we have thee to be healed and though thou hast sought to destroy us yet would we have thee to Repent and be saved and we are at this day thy Mourners and are afflicted for thee in our hearts even because thou hast provoked the Lord against thee though we do rejoyce in the Judgments which smites thee yet we mourn for thee who hath deserved such wofull Stripes and also because thou refusest the Way of Peace and countest them that reprove thee even thy Enemies and hardnest thy heart against God's Instructions and counteth his free-born people thy Bondslaves who hath not any large Portion nor great places of honour in this Nation nor any thing to glory in from thee but Sufferings Afflictions and Tribulations Where is the place in this Nation that we have not been reproached In what Street have we not been reviled And in what Prison have we not been unjustly imprisoned And among what sort of people have not we been hated And what one of thy Judges Rulers can clear themselves before the Lord from the guilt of our unjust Sufferings O Nation our Portion in thee for these many 〈◊〉 hath been thy cruel reproaches our greatest place of honour in thee hath been under thy cruel Oppressions and these things and the guilt thereof will God charge upon thee and reward thee for one time or other yet notwithstanding all this our present desires for thee are good and not evil that thou mayst be saved and not destroyed healed and not wounded unrecoverably and we would not add unto thy grief by any just provocation through any evil towards thee neither would we work offence in thee further then what thou takest for Righteousness sake and for the exercise of our pure Conscience And though there hath been in this Nation divers and sundry overturnings of 〈◊〉 days and some have been turned out and others brought into place each one sort of them crying against the evil of another and promising to accomplish such and such good things in this Nation yet alas what is there effected unto this day What Freedom and true Liberty to Subjects more then was many years ago What Oppressions taken off from the people what establishment in Government Alas not any of these things are accomplish'd neither see we a right thing prâ—…ded rightly prosecuted by any party yet appearing but the cause hardly yet appears carryed on by any among them which can be said of it This is of the Lord and is perfectly right and the Lord will prosper it for the most of the men that have yet appeared on the Throne they have rejected the Word of the Lord and his Counsel and what Wisdom is there in them only the Policy and Subtilty and Wisdom of this World wherein they build but the Lord throweth 〈◊〉 even before it be finished and they consult therein and the Lord dasheth to 〈◊〉 they set up but he pulls down because they want his Spirit and Wisdom and his Authority amongst them and they are as the Potsherds of the Earth that the Iron Rod must break in pieces And this we declare The Men yet seem not to appear in all these parties which are worthy to handle the Lord's Scepter and to be Crowned with the Honour of Authority in his Government but even this Part and the other Party seems to be unworthy to Rule for the Lord for they appear to be choaked with the Honour of this World and corrupted thereby and uncapable of receiving that Anointing that Men must have that shall truly Rule for God And though many in our dayes that have ruled over us have promised great Things to the Nation yet we see all hitherto have wanted Power to perform and have not been blessed with the Presence of the Lord so as this Nation hath not been healed and redeemed by them and we are utterly out of all Hopes of this Party or the other Party of this Man or that Man to bring Salvation unto this Nation from all its Bonds and Oppressions for we know whatsoever men profess to do yet they cannot perform any good Thing nor Rule for God in our Nation till that themselves be reformed and ruled by him and have the Spirit of God pourred upon them for such a Work And this we declare Till that a man or men be ruled of the Lord they can never rightly rule for him nor bring Deliver once and Freedom to an oppressed Nation though men may and have promised much yet their Fruit is but little and thou O Nation hast long been deceived by such men who have flattered thee with the multitude of fair words and promised thee deliverance and hereby mightest thou learn Wisdom O England never more to rest under the shadow of such men make no more a Mountain to cover thy self rest no more under the shadow of dead Trees that want the Vertue of God but now look at the Living God and wait for that King of Righteousness and Peace whose Right alone iâ—â—s to Rule for he alone can bring Salvation to thee he alone can heal thy Breaches even Iesus Christ whose coming is at the Door and in the mean time O Nation while he is absent thou art dry and barren and empty thou art tossed and shaken and thou art tossed and perplexed and canst not be rightly comforted for men shall not be a Rest unto thee but one after another shall they be overturned for it is the Lord alone and under his Government shall People find Rest and Freedom from all Oppression For What is a King and what
it in our Prayers and Desires yea and otherwise even that which hath the Image of our God upon it whenever it shall appear we shall rejoyce therein and be glad to see it prosper For for the establishing of Righteousness in the Earth have we laboured and it cannot be charged upon us That we have sided with one or another for we have beheld all hitherto out of the Right Way as we have said but we truly seek the general Good of our Nation and though we are accounted so and so yet we have not lost true Reason nor Understanding but we well know what is wrong and what would be right even in way of Government but the time appears not to be yet when Innocency and Simplicity of Heart can be embraced for men are yet too wise in their own wisdom and cannot receive the Counsel of the Lord that they may prosper and therefore are they and must they be confounded amongst themselves and dashed one against another till they learn the Way of Righteousness and Truth The substance of this was given forth the Twentieth Day of the Tenth Moneth 1659. being moved of the Lord by his Spirit thereunto through Edward Burroughs A PRESENTATION TO LONDON Being an Answer to the Young-Men and Apprentices returned to some part of their Petition and Address directed by them to the Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council Assembled And this is directed to them for their better Information and to the Citizens of London for their better Satisfaction if the Lord shall so work upon their Hearts as to bring them to Moderation and the Spirit of Meekness fit for his INSTRUCTIONS WHereas you say It hath pleased the God and only Wise God for yours and the Nation 's Crying-Sins to manifest his Displeasure for many years together against these Nations and yet you say this Honourable City hath been no great Sharers in the Calamity which your Brethren in other parts have suffered c. Answer Friends it s very true because of yours and the Nations Crying-Sins the Lord's Displeasure is against you and the Nation and his Judgments bang over your City and the Nation even because of your Crying-Sins O! the Pride the Hypocrisie and Double-dealing and Wantonness and all other the abominable Wickedness which abounds among you which are your Sins which indeed is the Cause of God's Displeasure against you and the Nation which he will shew one way or other upon you for Iniquity is full But seeing that your Sins have provoked the Lord is it not now time to come to Humility and Repentance and to forsake your Sins that the Displeasure of the Lord may be turned from you or Is it a time for you to be envious and to seek Revenge upon Men and to make Insurrections and Tuâ—â—lts and Bloodsheds and so to add Sin unto your Sins It s not a time for you to proceed thus for hereby you will gain God's Displeasure more unto you and not turn his Wrath away And its true this City hath been wonderfully preserved from the Miseries and Calamities which have come upon some in this Nation and therefore its time for you to answer the Lord's Love unto you by Meekness and Fear and Righteousness and not to abuse his Mercies by opposing the Work of the Lord and setting your selves to fight as against him in his Proceedings though the time is at hand even because of your own multiplyed Iniquities when you may bring Calamity and Misery upon this City and it may partake of the Nation 's Tribulations and Sorrows And then you complain of the general decay of Trading But what can you attribute that unto but to your Sins also For there hath been so much Double dealing Deceit and Wickedness in the way of your Trading that it is just with the Lord to turn your former Mercies into a present Judgment in that respect but in this case you ought to be contented and to be still and not to murmur against God nor against any others in the Nation but the rather to Repent that the Wrath may be turned from you And whereas you seem to make an Appeal to your Lord Mayor Aldermen Common-Council-Men of this City as if they should be Instruments for the settling of the Three Nations and for the removing of the Troubles and for the Peace of the Church c. Answ. Alas my Friends These Troubles Distractions and Miseries that are approached and which further may ensue is the Fruit and Effect of yours and the Nations Sins and cannot be removed nor remitted but as you and the Nation repenteth and turneth from your Sins so that you take a wrong course to remove the Judgments of the Lord from you and this Nation for its certain That Repentance from sin that removes the Judgment for sin and it s not adding one sin to another neither is it in the hand of those to whom you do appeal to remove the Judgments of the Lord for what are they but Mortal Men like your selves and Transgressors with your selves and have a part in the Sins acted by you and must have a part in the same Judgments though you stir them up to improve themselves and their Tallent for the Peace of the Church as you say whenas alas its Jesus Christ only that must keep his Church in Peace by his good Spirit and not Mortal Men with Mortal Weapons Though you say The Discharge of their Trust may make these Nations Happy or leave them Miserable To which I say If they be faithful to their Trust then they will keep your City in Peace and doubtless they would be blessed therein but yet the Happiness of these Nations dependeth not upon them nor upon what they can do for while many are supposing that they improve their Trust its possible they may be persecuting Righteousness under the Name of Heresie and persecuting Christ in his People under the Name of a Deceiver false Prophet this hath often come to pass in this City and Nation men have improved their Power and Places to the Dishonour of God and the persecuting Christ in his Members while as they have been thinking they have been punishing Sin Heresie and Error and in such cases some have improved their Tallents not truly for God but rather against him But whereas you say You humbly present That the Priviledges of the Gospel the Faithful Preaching and Dispencing of God's Holy Word and Sacraments with the Labour of so many of his Faithful Servants in the Ministry and you humbly desire the Ministry may be Countenanced and Encouraged the Universities upheld and maintained c. Answ. Alas my Friends What do you think concerning the Lord God Surely you have low Thoughts of him and little Belief in him Do not you think he will maintain the Priviledges of the Gospel and the faithful Preaching and Dispensing of his Word and his faithful Ministry without you Do you think that he hath forgotten to be Gratious or that his Power
been in these Nations for divers years and how he hath proceeded to overthrow and overturn Powers and Authorities Princes and Rulers and made them of no account before him and though the Instruments which God hath used in that matter in plucking down Men and Powers have been as much corrupted as those that have been overturned and whenas the measure of Iniquity in one was filled up the Lord threw that Power down even as it were by the Iniquity of another and because of the Oppressions of Rulers amongst us the Nation hath groaned and been left without a Comforter from any man and could not repose Confidence in its Princes and Rulers and this was that the Nation might look unto the Lord and that through him they might be saved and expect healing from him alone and in all these Overturnings you need not fear but the Hand of the Lord hath been in them and his Arm hath suffered and even brought these things to pass and therefore why should you murmer against God be unsatisfied in what he hath done for it s he alone and not another that must settle a happy and lasting Peace both in Church and State and he that must establish true Religion and reform the Laws and secure our Liberties and preserve our Lives and encourage all Vertue it is the Lord that will do all these things for this Nation and it s not any other in whose Hand the Salvation of a Person or a Nation is and how he shall do this and by what means leave that to the Lord limit him not to or from any thing for if the Nation can be but patient and still he will bring to pass these things in his day and season Wherefore O Nation and City Be still be still and be patient under the Hand of God which is upon you combine not Mischief one against another nor desire the overthrow one of another but be still be still this is the Word of the Lord to you be at quiet in your spirits and wait upon the Lord to receive what he brings forth For O ye Apprentices and Young-Men of London your rude proceedings in these causes will but destroy your selves and your City if you proceed any further for what is a multitude of men but as Bryers and Thornes in battel before the Lord if he purpose a Work you cannot prevent it and if he prevent a Work its vain for you to endeavour it these things are in the Hand of the Lord and Nations are unto him as Clay in the hand of a Potter but now I do not speak as your Enemy for I love your City wish it well Alack neither will I justifie the Army nor the men that you oppose in opposition to you for their ways are corrupted I know and their own Ends they seek and they are for Condemnation some of them and their Iniquities are fully ripe and God will bring them down but yet let you them alone the Lord will deal with them and he can execute his Judgement with his own Hand without you and if you can be but quiet for a little season it will make for your Peace hereafter but if your spirits rage and swell you may work Misery unto your selves and to your City but you cannot redeem it from Misery So do no talk of the Church as if you would Fight to uphold it leave that to the Lord for Christ will look to that to Govern it and Preserve it out of all and from all its Enemies and it belongs not unto you but that which the Lord requires of you is Patience and Submission to his Will and to be still till he appears with Salvation and Deliverance to this City and Nation to deliver them from all Oppression and Oppressors whose Coming is at hand and blessed are all they who are found in Patience at his Coming London the 10th Moneth 1659. TO THE Present Assembly MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AT WESTMINSTER The Consideration of a Servant of the Lord upon the Present State of Affairs presented unto you for to read and consider as Informations unto you concerning present Proceedings in this Nation FRIENDS ALL these Overturnings and almost wonderful Changings that do come to pass in this Nation they are all effected through the Justice of the Lord's Hand and his Hand and Power is in and over all these things and it all Particulars which have happened since your first appearing on the Throne were accompted what hath come to pass but hath been accomplished and suffered to be by the hand of the Lord But particularly of the present state of things and this last Interruption which happened unto you Was it not a just Reproof upon you from the Lord though effected in Ambition and by corrupted Instruments For have you not promised great things unto this Nation in matters of Freedom and Liberty But what have you done Even left this Nation travelling under great and sore Vexations and undelivered from the Bondage of Oppressions though you have had time oftentimes put into your hands wherein you might have done good things for the Lord and for this Nation and Righteousness might have been established amongst you and in the Nation but you neglected many precious dayes and effected not many good things It would be large to instance the particular Oppressions that yet remain almost upon all sorts of people in this Land which might have been removed long ere this day had you bin faithful to God But because from day to day you have been rather careless and served your selves more then the Lord therefore hath he suffered you to be interrupted once and again and reproved by a Generation of men as unfaithful as your selves Well But to pass all this though much may be said you are now again at the stern of Government and on the Throne and I dare not but say it is of and by the Lord and that he hath done it contrary to the expectations of many and what his End is in it remains with him but I am sure one Cause is that you may execute part of his Wrath upon that Treacherous Generation of Hypocritical and Deceitful men some of the Army I mean some of whom have been deceitful to God and treacherous to the Nation and who have been fearful Hypocrites by a shew of Religion more then others and have mocked God as it were and his People I need not say to you how that many of them were raised up from a low Estate and instead of servnig the Nation became their Lords and Oppressors they have abused the Lord's Mercy to them and exalted themselves and became as great Oppressors and as grievous to the Nation as ever they were that went before them and some of them took the very Titles and Estates of their Enemies and followed their evil spirit also though the Lord was Long-suffering to them and gave them a day and put opportunity into their hands wherein they might have done good
them The third Particular consisteth about the Magistrates Power in matters of Faith and Worship and the Authors say Though they greatly prize Christian Liberty yet they profess utter dislike and abhorrency of an Universal tolleration as being contrary to the mind of God in his Word Answ. It appears the Authors are lovers of themselves and prizers of their own Liberty but not of the Liberty of others but do utterly dislike and â—â—ber the tolleration of others which may indeed be more righteous then themselves and this is no less then the very Principle of the Whore of Rome which Promotes her own Liberty and makes others Slaves and ahhorâ— tolleration to any but themselves and they plead Scriptures as well as you for proof of their Religion and they will say all that differs from them are contrary to the Scriptures even as you say when as there is very little better foundation in the Scriptures for your Religion then there is for theirs and it is doubtful to many what Religion this day extant is perfectly according to the Scriptures but yet thus much may be said That Church and that Religion which are not in the same Spirit as gave forth the Scriptures are not according unto the Scriptures and he that can distinguish of this and who it is that hath the same Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures is only able to judge what Religion is according to the Scriptures But can the Authors shew plainly out of the Scriptures that their Religion is only according thereunto and all others the contrary and until they prove this why may not the Rulers that are of may be in this Nation give Tolleration unto other sorts of People as well as to the Independants the supposed Authors of this Paper The fourth Particular consisteth concerning Tythes and say they The taking away of Tythes for Maintenance of Ministers until as full a Maintenance be as equally secured and as equally settled tends very much to the Destruction of the Ministry and Preaching of the Gospel in these Nations Answ. Alas for you poor ignorant Creatures ye foolish men that seems to have no understanding of the Ministry and Gospel of Christ Do you indeed think that the true Ministry of Christ and the Preaching of the Gospel depends upon Maintenance by Tythes Oh ye Robbers of God who have secretly dishonoured him in your hearts and publickly disgraced him as much as in you lyes to the Nation as if he were not able to save his Ministry and the Preaching of his Gospel from destruction if Tithes be taken away Surely you err in your Judgements and have no acquaintance with God nor with his Ministry nor Gospel who have thus dishonoured him in setting up that Maintenance by the forcible and unjust oppression of Tythes to be the preserving of Ministry and Gospel and as if Tythes were the uphold ing of Ministry and Gospel and you have thus falsly and wickedly measured God his Ministry and Gospel by the wickedness of your own hearts who seem to be indeed of those Hirelings that cheat Souls for money and run for the gift like Balaam and for the lucre like the evil Beasts and Slow-bellies and so I do believe that your false Ministry indeed and your feigned pretence of preaching the Gospel do depend upon great sums of money and upon large Maintenances and we believe that indeed is the chief Reason of your Preaching and of your Ministry and it is very possible that your Ministry and Preaching may fall which is Antichristian when Tythes and Hire is taken away which Ministry dependeth thereupon but the true Ministry and preaching of the Gospel will God maintain and uphold though the oppression of Tythes be vanquished and I hope some of the Rulers of this Nation and Officers of the Army will not believe your advice but yet you seem to be willing to renounce Tythes if you could have as full a Maintenance setled another way so that however great maintenance comes you regard not so you can have that whether by this way of Oppression or the other it s your Maintenance you love and follow after and seek unto the Powers of the Earth for that end and how equally and legally Tythes have been setled which you seem to affirm let all good People judge given they were and setled first in our Nation by the Popes Authority to be the Maintenance of that Whore's Ministers and the Laws that gave them and setled them have been Antichristian and Oppression in the Nation and there is the guilt of Blood and of cruel unjust sufferings lying upon this Nation in that very cause of Tythes and the Hand of the Lord is gone out against it and against all Contenders for it and God will redeem the Nation from â—â—der it though you be putting your strength to uphold it through your hypocritical Prayers and Preaching and Flatteries with God and man The fifth particular is these Authors desire that countenance be not given unto nor trust reposed in the hands of Quakers being persons of such Principles that are distructive to the Gospel and inconsistent with peace and civil society Answ. Here your wickedness and the malice of your hearts is let forth against the dispised People for their righteousness sake and this spirit of yours would not only discountenance them but destroy them from the face of the Earth if it were in your Hands and you are worse then Baalam ever was and far more blind then he for you are as it were seeking inchantments against the People of God for Money and you see not the goodly tents of Iacob as he did nor the People that are altogether blessed Oh! ye envious persons that are even a preparing as much as in you is the destruction of a peaceable People and that would keep them in slavery under you and you would have the countenance of the powers of the Earth but they must not and you would Monopolize all the places of trust for advantage to your selves and you would hardly allow the People of God a place on the Ground Oh! ye sinful Hypocrites and Flatterers and Slanderers of the just but what need you have made such preparation against them do they seek places of honour among you do they delight in great places among men do they love to be great in this World nay their Kingdom is from above and they reject the countenanance of the Beâ—â—â— Authority and they reject any confidence that the Dragon and unjust poâ—… can repose in them and you need not have been afraid in this matter and thereupon slandered us and have back-bited us to the powers of the Earth what do you fear even the thing which you fear will God in a judgement bring upon you and there is a Government to be set up in this Nation even that which is of the Lamb and your Antichristian Monarchy the Beast with all his Heads and Horns shall fall to the Ground and the Lord may
not first challenged us to Disputes I had not had this Occasion thâ—â— to proceed now and in what I have done I refer it to the Iust Witness of God in the honest People in Reading and to all elsewhere FOrasmuch as great hath been the Debate for these divers years of late between the Lamb and his Followers and Antichrist and his Followers and the one of them hath been opposing the other in their own Power and Authority and great is the Debate at this day between these two Kingdoms which is endeavouring the Overthrow one of the other and all the strength and power of Antichrist is put forth in Defence of his kingdom by Persecution Injustice False-Imprisonments Beatings and Whippings and Spoiling of Goods and Persons and Railings Accusings Slanderings Reproachings by these wayes and proceedings doth Antichrist strive at this day for the upholding and maintaining his own cause and kingdom and by this means and these Weapons mentioned doth he seek to defend himself his Church and Ministry and Ordinances these are his Weapons and Armour by which he opposeth and fighteth against the Lamb and his Followers whom the Lord hath raised up for this end and they have within these few years more then ever for many Generations made an Invation and Inroad upon Antichrist his kingdom and government and the great City Babylon and the Seige is raised that hath long been laid against the Holy Seed and the great City Babylon is taken her Walls are scaled and her Gates broken and her Strength defeated and her Merchants spoiled of their goodly Treasure for the Day of the Lord is come and the holy Seed is he leading out of the spiritual Sodom and Egypt and Mystery Babylon the Great hath God remembred for her Iniquities and her Cruelties and Mercilesness and all her Abominations will God avenge upon her head and this doth come to pass and not by the multitude of an Host of men nor yet by humane Policy and Wisdom nor yet by carnal Weapons nor by Goals nor Prifons nor Persecutions these are not the Lamb's Weapons but these are Antichrist's and the Dragon's Armour and Weapons which he makes War by against the Lamb and his Followers even at this day in every Nation But the Lamb's Weapons are Truth Patience Long-suffering Meekness and down-right Sincerity of Heart and Tongue and by these things shall Antichrist be slain and these Weapons shall Conquer his kingdom Love shall overcome Hatred Meekness shall overcome Wrath Truth shall overcome Deceit and Falshood and God shall overcome the Devil But more particularly Great hath been the Opposition and Debate made one against the other and the Battel between Christ and Antichrist hath principally been held forth between the Ministers of the Church of England on Antichrist's part and the People called Quakers on the other part no man in the Nation can be so Ignorant how the Controversie hath depended betwixt these two and what Weapons they have used the one against the other and also it is in part known the Success of them both and how the one of them to wit the Ministers so called have had on their part the strength of Men the Magistrates Power the Rude Multitude and Humane Craft and the Serpent's Policy not any of these things have been wanting to them but yet a little Seed hath sprung up in the Nation on the other part unexpected by many which hath had Sincerity and Truth in it and the Lord hath been with it and he hath blessed it though but little and very small in its beginning yet it is prospered into a Kingdom for God's Might and his Authority dwelleth in it before whom all Nations of the Earth must Fear and Tremble But yet more particularly my present Occasion of demonstrating these things are as followeth and the Engagement that lies upon me hereunto is not out of any Personal Enmity that I have against any but my Intent is For the Discovery of the Truth that men may imbrace it and for the laying open the Deceits of Antichrist and his Kingdom that men may come out of Babylon and may not partake of her Sins nor of her Plagues and this matter now in hand chiefly concerns the people of the Town of Reading for their Satisfaction concerning the Wayes Practices Doctrines and Proceedings of Christopher Fowler one of their Ministers with whom I have been joyned in opposion two several times in dispute with him and the third time was appointed for our meeting upon Discourse as hereafter is related but he not appearing at the time and place according to appointment and he notwithstanding yet continues in opposition to and Reproaching of the Truth of the Gospel which I profess and contend for therefore upon this account do I thus eâ—gage with him and not for Centention sake but for the open vindication of Truth and Righteousness and sound Faith and Doctrine held forth by us and opposed and gain said by him The first opposition that fell out between him and me was at a meeting challenged by himself in that Town about the ninth Month in the year 1657 and I shall at present forbear his detestable and Abominable Practices and Spâ—â—ches against me and the Truth at that Meeting for indeed the remembrance of it is much passed from me but many in that Town may well remember to 〈◊〉 day how he hooted and clapped his hands in the Palpit as if he had been Hâ—nting on a Mountain and also his ungodly speeches and revilings towards me as calling me Dog and Villain and such like names and when some of his own people reproved him for such words he said The worst words he had in his Mouth was to good for me and indeed such was his carriages and words towards me at that time far off civility and not like a sober Heathen much less like a Christian or Minister of Christ and here follows what was written to him and to the Major and whole Town and sent the next Morning after the dispute which is some account of that dayes proceeding and finding a Copy of it by me I thought meet here to infert it Friends Rulers Priests and People of Reading A Few words to clear my Conscience to you all in the sight of God I send among you occasioned by this dayes Meeting ye people be ashamed of your Priests and ye Priests be ye ashamed of your People and all of you together cover your Lips and hide your Faces and be ashamed of your Profession in Religion or to make mention of the Name of the Lord in that nature in which you stand whose Lightness and Foolishness and Rudeness and Wickedness exceeds some others yea many with whom I have â—ad to do in Disputes you excel in unreasonableness in words and Behaviour manifesting your selves some of you not to be Civil Men much less Christians and this very day much of your Vanity Bruitishness and Unâ—â—vility appeared to your shame in the Sight of all
of Answer for the end that People may be satisfied concerning things doubtfull which are in controversie this day among many for it is well known the Controversie hath been long and is grown very high between us and you concerning Church Ministry and Religion and divers things in your Exhortation are doubtfull unto many and that all doubts may be removed if possible therefore I do return what follows as an answer unto you Whereas you say You are not ignorant of the prejudices and prepositions wherewith the carnal World is leavened concerning you Calling Office and Doctrines and what Clamors and fiery Contentions abound for them every where that pleads Christ's Cause in the Gates c. Answ. As for your Calling Office and Doctrine there is much to be said against them in and by the Spirit of the Lord for your Calling and Office is not according to the Example of Scriptures though the Calling and Office of Ministers of the Gospel hath Example in the Scripture yet as you are called into your Office that is not according but rather contrary to the Scriptures And as for your Doctrine it is in some things unsound also Now as for Seasonable Exhortations of Ministers to People I do acknowledge that it is a Duty which ought to be done but how seasonable and sound your Exhortations are that remains to be tried and it is not onely the carnal World as you speak that are doubtfull concerning your Calling and Office but it the best of the people whose eyes the Lord is opening to see and behold the false immitations of the Calling and Office of Ministers as you have stood for many Generations and it is true them that pleads Christs Cause they are cryed out upon and contended with but this fully belongs not to you though you apply it to your selves but it pertains more to others for the World speaks well of you as it use to do of false Prophets And you say We the Ministers of the Gospel in the City of London do with earâ—…ess exhort the people of this City to awaken as out of Sleep and to lay to heart the great dangers that threatens you which you represent under a threefold consideration 1 The fear of the return of Popery 2 The distracted estate of Religion amongst us 3 Other symptomes of Gods wrath hanging over your Heads Answ. That you are Ministers of the Gospel this is doubtful unto many and many more testimonies might be given to the contrary then can be given for it But this is not the present debate and therefore no more of it And what is the people of your Congregations yet asleep Have not you awakened them in so many years time Have you been preaching over them and taking their Money so long and are they yet to awaken as out of Sleep Will not the blame of this and the condemnation of it fall upon you their Watch-men who hath not yet awakened them And may not they say that you have dealt unjustly by them who are left as asleep under all your preaching and are yet unsensible of the danger that threatens them Oh Friends will you consider and your people with you what you have been preaching and what they have been hearing for so long a time seeing you now acknowledge they are yet asleep and unawakened Now as to the first of your considerations The fear of the return of Popery for which you lay down divers things to make the people believe it First The union of foreign Popish-Powers Secondly The vast numbers say you of Popish Emissaries and Jesuites that swarms amongst you Thirdly The vending and printing of so many Popish Books every year c. Answ. As for Popery I know it is Idolatry and their Church and Worship and every part thereof abomination to the Lord and the spirit that leads them is not the Spirit of Jesus and as for Popery it was never yet truly cleansed out of the Nation but there hath been and are great remainders yet standing which may indeed easily recover its former strength For is not the most part of the worship of the Church of England made up of such things as was first instituted and practised amongst the Papists witness the making Ministers by natural learning at Schools and Colledges and their maintenance by Tythes and yearly Stipends and their way of Parochial settlements are not all these things Papistical and witness sprinkling Infants calling it the Baptism into the Visible Church and witness the singing of Davids Psalms as now they are sung among you these things for the most part are of Popish institution and many other things also pertaining to your Church Religion and Ministry so that Popery was never clean cast out of the Nation though the Lord hath wounded it yet there is the remainder of it yet standing in great force so that while Tythes are pleaded for by you and those things practised by you it may indeed be feared the return of Popery seeing you stick so fast in those Practises which were of Popish institution and the cause of fear lies at your Door and upon your selves principally and if there be vast numbers of Popish Priests and Jesuites swarming amongst you if you be Ministers of Christ why do you not discover Wolves in Sheeps cloathing and fright them away Why do you not lift yp your Spiritual Weapons if you have them as the Apostles did whose Weapons were powerful and mighty through God and who shall bear the blame but you if Wolves in Sheeps cloathing tear your Flocks that is a sign you are lazy idle Shepherds and that your want the Power and Authority of God and when the Powers of the Earth fails you and your carnal Weapons are all broken then you are like to be overcome with the swarming of Popish Priests and Jesuites if there be any such among you look you to it for I know not any and if you know any by name and where they are you ought by your Law to discover them Now you say they are acting under the disguise of Sectaries and subtilly insinuating many of their Doctrines as teaching Iustification by Inherent Righteousness Perfection 〈◊〉 lawfulness in joyning in your Ordinances and nullity of your Ministry c. Answ. Now these that you call Sectaries may truly plead against you against your Church Worship Ministry Practises upon good grounds as for Justification by Inherent Righteousness it is a Doctrine of the Church of Christ that the Saints witnessed Christ and his Righteousness within them and that none are justified by any righteousness without them but who witness Christ revealed in them for all are Reprobate that do not witness Christ in them 2 Cor. 13. 5. And as for Perfection that is the Doctrine of the Gospel and of Christ for the Apostles spake wisdom to them that were perfect 1 Cor. 2. 6. and Christ commanded them to be perfect Mat. 5. who never commanded impossibilities You might better have charged
the many horrid and hideous Errors which for some years past have abounded amongst us against the Authority of Scriptures the Deity of Christ the holy Ghost Trinity of Persons Immortallity of Souls Doctrines of Repentance Humiliation Sanctification Resurrection from the Dead the Eternal recompence of Heaven and Hell yea divers Sects encreasing every day in numbers power and malice and under the name of Quakers Ranters Seekers c. oppâ—gning the received Doctrine and unquestionable interest of Christ Iesus amongst us Answ. That many horrid Errors have abounded amongst you that is very true as in many particulars might be instanced But why do you maliciously charge the Quakers with opposing the Interest of Christ Jesus The Lord shall judge you in his Day when he makes it appear to all the World that those whom you charge with the contrary are the very Friends of Christ's Interest and have been patient Sufferrers for his Name sake under the wickedness of your Generation and as for the Ranters Seekers and others whom you have reckoned up together with the Quakers it is well known that we are in opposition in spirit unto all these and have given large testimony in the Fear of God against them though it is certain that there is many as upright and sincere men towards God among these Sects you have mentioned as any of your Congregations and though in some things they are condemnable yet in some things they are as justifiable as you are before the Lord And what the Seekers Ranters Familists and the rest mentioned by you do hold as in these things you have charged them with I will leave that for I am not now pleading their cause but the Cause of God and his People whom you in scorn call Quakers and though you have joyned them in Accusation with others yet I must separate them from others in my Answer and must tell you in the fear of the Lord that you have belyed them and falsly accused them out of your malicious hearts for they do not deny the Authority of the Scriptures but gives that authority to them which the Spirit of God that gave them forth hath formerly given neither do they deny the Deity of Christ but do say In him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead neither do they deny the holy Spirit nor the Father Son and Spirit but say there are three and these three are one but as for your Trinity of Persons that is language beside the the Scriptures and we do affirm the Soul is Immortal and as for the Doctrines of Repentance Humiliation Sanctification Resurrection from the Dead the eternal Recompence of Heaven and Hell these Doctrines are publickly held forth by them in words and also in practice more then by your selves therefore with what face you could charge them with the denial of these things it is almost wonderfull and there are thousands of your Congregations that are and have been sometimes hearing in your City that shall bear witness against your Accusations and give Evidence that they have heard them whom you call Quakers give faithfull witness of and for all these things which you charge them with denial of Do you think that your Congregations are all so blind as to receive for truth what you have herein spoken nay I must tell you some of them are offended with you because hereof First in that you have reckoned the Quakers with Ranters and others between whom there is absolute opposition and not agreement neither in Doctrine nor Practice Secondly That you should charge the Quakers with such things as they are altogether clear of and known to be so by many but this is that your folly and weakness might appear and as you speak of encreasing every day in number power and malice some part of this is true for the Lord doth encrease his People daily in number and power by his Spirit but not in Malice and that is your torment the encrease of the Quakers which as they have begun to encrease so the Lord will continue them and you nor mortal men shall not be able to hinder neither the Magistrates Persecution nor the Ministers Instigation thereunto though you have joyned hand in hand against them for the Lord is with his People and his Authority and Power is theiâ— Defence and they are not in empty Forms as you say but in the Power of Godliness and as for your Ordinances and Ministry of which you speak something I have said to it already and more I shall say to it hereafter Your third Evidence is The odious Scandals of those that profess themselves to be the People of God as their self-seeking their unparallell'd breach of all civil and sacred Oathes whereby the Mouth of Iniquity is opened and the reverence of Religion abated so that to us say you there appears no visible way of repairing the credit of strict profession but by a severe punishment of Professors c. Answ. It is true many that do profess themselves the people of God but are not but by their lives and practices gives odious Scandals and are Self-seeking as you say but upon whom the guilt of this may be truly charged that remains to be sought out doubtless it lies as near your doors as any others for is not your pride and oppression by taking Tythes suing people at Law for Wages and casting them in Prison because for good Conscience sake they cannot pay you your seeking for your gain from your Quarter and your taking great sums of Money and preaching for hire taking so much yearly are not these odious scandals and very self-seeking practices which you are guilty of while you pretend publick good as for Breaches of Oaths and Covenants I wish you to search your own hearts for that Iniquity doth lie as near your Generation as any others witness that you and your Brethren have from time to time engaged to such and such things As first Did not you engage for the Government to be without King and House of Lords And did not you then cry up the Protector contrary to your Engagements and now cry up another And thus it is very evident that the guilt of breach of Oathes and Covenants lies near unto your selves which indeed opens the Mouth of Iniquity for the very Cavaliers and Prelates say you were once strict in your Way but now you have struck hands with them and are now your selves doing that which you cried out against in them And thousands in this Nation is abated in their affections from your Church and Ministry as knowing them to be upon a false Foundation and to be of Babylon and not of the Heavenly Ierusalem And what do you mean by severe punishment of Professors Do you mean to set up Ecclesiastical Laws again and that all must be forced to your Church Way and Religion Is it in your hearts to drive the Nation by force and if they will not to punish them with Fire and Fagot and Prisons If
especially in this day wherein there are so many Ways and Professions of Church-Ministry and Worship and yet all professing the Scriptures are their Rule of Faith Worship and Practice and seeing that all Sects do profess Proof from Scripture for what they hold forth what Ground have the people to believe you more than others or others more than you for where people receive Doctrine or Religion by Report from others without the Evidence of the Spirit of God in their own Hearts this is not receiving of the Truth unto Eternal Life wherefore I exhort your Congregations That every one amongst them may wait upon the Lord to have a feeling and discerning in their own hearts and that each one may be led and taught oâ— the Spirit of God which leads into all Truth that they may deny all false Ministers and false Worships and may worship God in Spirit and Truth though the ministration of his own Spirit in their Hearts and Consciences and thereby will they discern between Truth and Error and will love the one and hate the other Thirdly You exhort That they keep themselves unspotted from the prevailing Corruptions of these back-sliding Times c. Answ. Concerning the Times many are ignorant but this is certain at the present Time wherein we are is the Lord disquieting of men and its the latter dayes of Antichist's Raign and Government that hath been in full Power and Authority for many Generations and Babylon that great City her Ruin is threatned because of her Abominations that have been many and great for the whole Earth hath been corrupted as it s written and now the Call of the Lord is That every man come out of Babylon and deliver himself that he may not partake of their Plagues and happy are they that are made clean unspotted from their Sins that they may not be found covered with her Garments for the Day of the Lord is come and coming upon Babylon and all Back-sliders from God and his Wayes Now Babylon is that great City which hath ruled over the Kings of the Earth and in her hath the Blood of Souls and of all just Men been found Fourthly You exhort To endeavour a Healing of those sad Breaches and Divisions which have been amongst you c. Answ. Now the sad Breaches and Divisions which are indeed at present in this Nation cannot be healed but as the Cause and Ground thereof be removed which is the Sins of Rulers Teachers and People and this is the Cause wherefore the Lord hath brought Distraction amongst them Oh what Ambition and Self-seeking hath been among the Rulers What judging for Gifts and Rewards What neglect of Mercy and Judgment amongst them And oh how have they oppressed the Poor and trodden down the needy and because hereof is the Righteous God vexed And oh what Covetousness and Greediness of Gain â—re the Teachers guilty of How do they Preach for Hire and Divine for Money How have they unreasonably caused men to be imprisoned and their Goods to be spoiled for Wages and Tythes and Hire Oh how hath Covetousness and Idolatry and Superstition abounded amongst the Teachers in this Nation Oh abominable have been their Sins their Oppressions and Self-seekings and because of these things hath the Lord brought Distractions amongst People and the Sins of Rulers and People cry for Vengeance from the Lord and till these Iniquities be removed by Repentance and forsaken the Fruit and Effect thereof shall never cease but Breach upon Breach will the Lord make till the Rulers and Priests repent them of their Iniquities God's Hand will be upon them both in Judgment and for their sakes that divine for Money and preach for Hire and judge for Rewards will the Lord make the Nation as Heaps and as a Ploughed Field Therefore let all people Repent of their Iniquities and return to the Light of Christ in their own Consciences and become Followers of the Lamb and this is the perfect Way of healing of all Breaches inwardly and outwardly Fifthly You exhort To be diligent in the Spiritual and Conscientious Performances of Family-Duties c. Answ. Men must first be awakened and enlivened unto God before they can act for God in Holy Duties and as for Duties performed in pretence unto God traditionally and without the Teachings of the Spirit of God is but Idolatry and the Nation is weary of such a Religion which they have received and held traditionally for thereby the Soul Immortal cannot be nourished unto Eternal Life and while you teach Duties towards God by that Rule while you teach Praying Singing Repeating Catechizing by Tradition and Immitation without the Leadings of the Spirit of Christ in them you do but teach Idolatry as long hath been taught in the Christian Nations the doing and performing such and such things as Christian-Duties and Practices and the Forcing and Compelling of doing such things upon People in the unregenerate state and unconverted nature this Religion and such Performances of Duties have been of Babylon and of Antichrist and a Cheat upon Peoples Souls whereby many have been murdered and slain in that great City and the Form of Godliness without the Power hath been practiced while Duties have been performed unto God without the Teachings of the Spirit of God and such their Consciences are blinded and the Lord abhors their Sacrifices And people must first come to feel the Word of God in their Hearts to regenerate them before they can perform any acceptable thing to God and therefore do not teach People to be Hypocrites do not teach them such and such Performances in the corrupt Nature without the Teachings of the Spirit of God in their own particulars for if you do you make them but two fold more the Children of the Devil and such Duties performed in that nature shall not cover nor hide from the Wrath of the Lord which is coming upon all Hypocrites Sixthly You exhort That they would cause their Children and Servants to submit to Catechizings and train them up in the reverence of Godly Ministry c. Answ. It may be enquired into what you mean by cause them to submit how cause them by Force and Imposition upon their Consciences by outward external personal Punishments or Threats Is this your Meaning Will you set up Religion by Violence And must Children and Servants be compell'd by Restraint and Force This is not the right Way to promote Religion and the Worship of God nor to make Children and Servants truly Religious it was the Beast that received power from the Dragon that caused all to worship both Small and Great Children and Servants and this causing to worship was in the time of the Apostacy when the true Church was fled into the Wilderness and all the time ever since have Nations been caused and compelled to such and such performances and practices of Religion and Worship and such causing I am jealous your Meaning is whereby you would force and compel such manner
may stand and never be moved from the hope of Eternal Life and feel the renewing of your inward man even the increase and growth of the Immortal Life in you that you may live in that unto the Lord God and Covenant with him may be preserved whereby you may be a praise and a glory to him in your Generation in the sight of the whole World even all you who have tasted of the Presence and Power of the Lord and who have known his Mercies and Judgements and been acquainted with him that you may be kept faithful unto the end and not be subverted by the wicked one nor drawn from the Obedience to the Truth nor loose your Crown of Immortality neither by the flattery nor terrour of the ungodly but that you live in the Dominion of Immortal Life which keeps above all Mortal Temptations and Mortal Terrour and gives Authority over all And this Life is blessed where the Glory and Peace of this World and the Troubles and Sorrows of it also are seen over and felt beyond and nothing of it can move the Heart nor disquiet the Spirit nor work any Separation from the Fathers Love and in the Seed of God where it lives above mortal is this enioyed by us and all the Faithful But if the mans part live above the Seed of God that will be drawn aside by the love or by the terrour of this World for that is changable and the evil one hath a part in it so that part is to be kept in subjection in you under the Seed of God it must bear the Crosâ— of Christ always else you will be overcome of the wicked for in that part the mâ—… part which is of this World the Devil hath somthing a place to receive â—im pâ—â—t to obey him but in the Seed of God he hath nothing neither place nor part And so Friends live in the Seed of God for in that is your Victory and heavenly Dominion and also your Election and Assurance for ever even in the second Birth begotten of the Father for that is the Heir of God and thereiâ— doth man inherit Eternal Life and Rest and Peace to his Soul and therein is Bleâ—â—â—â—gs and Peace and Life inwardly and outwardly and all fulness is enjoyed where the Lord is the Teacher the Father the Shepherd the Master the King and Judge and is become to us the all in all and the Kingdom deliveâ—â—◠〈◊〉 him and all subjected under him even God with us the Substance of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—d of all and all the contrary put under even the Lion and the Lamb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 together and man lives in Peace according to the Promise and the Mountain of the Lords House is established on the top of all in which nothing can destroy or hurt the pure Life but Life is in Dominion over all and 〈◊〉 is swallowed up of it Oh Friends this is the mark that is before you press on towards it that you may obtain the final end of all your Travel and Waiting of your Obediâ—â—ce and Suffering and the end of your Hope and Patience and the very end of the Messâ—ge sent of God and delivered to you by us The end of all is this Thâ—â— you may dwell in God and he in you and be gathered up to him to be ever with 〈◊〉 and that he may be your all in all and you may be to him an honour and praise â—â—â—â—ghout the World in your Generation even he your onely God and you his onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Friends certain it is that the Way of Life and Peace and of Salvation is mâ—de manifest unto you and you know wherein everlasting Peace and Reconciliation with God standeth and you also know what the cause is of all troâ—â—le and sorrow and condemnation the Lord hath opened many Hearts and given unto many a good Understanding And seeing you know this live in the Way of Peace and escape the other that you may not come into condemnation for it is a fearfull thing to fall into the Condemnation and Wrath of the Almighty And for this cause That men should be saved from Wrath and have Peacâ— with God the Message of Life and Salvation hath the Lord sent abroad plentifully in this Nation and you have received it and believed the Report though many have rejected it to their Destruction whose Judgment will be upon them but you have tasted handled and fâ—lt of the Word of eternal Life by which the Lord hath wounded you and healed you again and many hath he slain and made them alive even through his Word and Power which hath entred into many hearts which killeth the Enmity and quickenâ—th the Seed and which breaketh off from all the World's followship both in Transgressions and Righteousness and makes all void all Covenants with Death and Hell and marrieth unto the Lamb and the Marriage of the Lamb is câ—me unto many even unto all in whom his innocent and heavenly Naâ—â—re is begotten and brought forth for this is of his Flesh and of his Bone 〈◊〉 here is his Wife that hath made her self ready and is prepared for the Bridegroom and blessed are ye if ye know thesâ— things and are Witnesses of thâ—â— even the Marriage of the Lamb and the making ready of his Elected in you 〈◊〉 the receiving and quickening of his Flesh and of his Bone for this is the 〈◊〉 unto whom he is joyned that hath put away all other Lovers and loveth the Lord with all the Heart and with all the Soul who is clothed with perfect Beaâ—ty and Innocency and covered with divine Righteousness in which there is no Spot being delivered out of the Wilderness and freed from her mournâ—â—g state and is no more separated from her Husband but she again quickâ—â—t into Life and adorned with Beauty and married to the Lamb to live with him â—or evermore Oh Friends wait upon the Lord that ye may possess these things for to kâ—ow thâ—â— and be in them is everlasting Treasure and Riches the Possession of them are Riches to the Poor Bread to the Hungry and Clothing to the Naked and Life to the Dead And if ye know these things lay them up in your hearts as your most precious Treasure and let none spoil you of it And if ye are married unto the Lamb then are you the True and onely Church even his Body and living Members of it for such onely are the True Church that are married to Christ and United to him in his own nature and all such are false Churches and are even of the great Whore that hath taken upon them the name of Churches of Christ but were never lawfully married unto him and such are deceived and Deceivers of others with the very Name of Christ calling themselves by the Name of his Church while they are in the nature contrary to him nor they ever lawfully married unto him and this is the great Whore who commits lewdness though Nations in all false
may prove to be a just Judgment from the Lord upon the Unfaithful and Treacherous and Unjust Rulers and Teachers and People which I have mentioned and the Lord may justly avenge himself upon them who have abused his Mercies and not improved his Deliverance to his glory but preverted the end wherefore they were at first raised up I say the Lord may justly be avenged of them by this means of this mans coming in and he may be in the hand of the Lord a very smiting Rod to correct and rebuke and may be a heavy Judgment upon many in this Nation even from that cause and for that end as before I have expressed Quer. 2. Whether you or any of you do adjudge is Reasonable and Equitable that â—e should come and inherit the Nations of which he is born the right Heir Or whether or 〈◊〉 it is just or unjust to God and men that he would Reign King over these Nation If you walk and judge by the Law of God which is Equal then judge of this whether he hath been kept out this many Years and now is brought in again Reasonably and Iustly or Unjustly and contrary to Reason Answ. That he should come in is Reasonable and Equitable because through the purpose of the Lord his coming in is accomplished who effecteth nothing but what is Equal and Reasonable and there is cause in God sufficient wherefore it should thus be and there is Sufficient cause and Reason appearing to us in this matter and upon the very account as laid down in my Answer to the first Query it is Equal as in the Lord that he should be restored who hath been removed and cast out by such as have pretended to Govern and Rule better than he but have ruled in Oppression and Injustice and not answered the cause wherefore he was cast out and that he should come in to be a Scourge upon these this is just and in this particular doth lye the Reason and Equity of his coming in to inherit this Nation And as for Reigning justly over this Nation that may better be answered when we have had experience of his Reign for if he Reign and Rule in Truth and Righteousness in Mercy and in Justice and by and according to the Just Law of God if thus he Reign then he Reigneth justly and it is just to God and men that he should Reign and this the Law of God which is Equal judgeth by which we walk in all things and do judge of all things And as for his being kept out this many years we do judge that the hand of the Lord is in these matters and they were done and suffered to be done by him in which he will be glorified yet thus far I say they that have kept him out in pretence that they would Rule better than he and yet have ruled in Oppression and Injustice as much more may be then he would have done they have dealed unjustly and contrary to reason both to him and much more to the People of these Nations while they have made and had new Names and Titles of Government and Governors but have continued the old oppressions and not releived the oppressed according to their own vows and promises which they have broken and it is but just they should be punished for it but if he render not evil for evil he doth well Quer. 3. Whether or no ye can judge that his Reign and Government shall be blessed to himself and these Nations or the contrary Or whether shall Peace or Trouble be in the Land in his days And shall his days be many or shall his time be short if this be revealed to you let us know Answ. We do judge that his Reign and Government may be blessed to himself and these Nations or not blessed and peace may be in the Land or trouble in his dayes and his time may be long or it may be short according as he walketh in the fear of the Lord or as he walketh wickedly and according as his Reign and Government is in Righteousness Mercy and Truth or in Oppression and Injustice accordingly do I judge may he be blessed and may have Peace and long dayes or the contrary if he walk in the way which brings contrary effects and we take not upon us to judge any thing before the time but as thorow time he discovers himself so we may judge of him for we desire well for him and all men thâ—â—â—e mâ—y so Reign and Govern as to be a blessing to himself and these Nations that Peace may be in his dayes and his Time may be happy And this we certainly know that there is an eternal God who is over all and that can do whatsoever he will even set up and pull down whomsoever he will and though his strength now be great and his number very many yet there is an Eternal God above all who is mighty to save and mighty to destroy and if he please not God in his ways and in his Reign but be an Oppressor and walk in evil wayes we certainly believe he cannot be blessed nor have Peace nor long time but the Lord may bring to pass the contrary for as the Scriptures say it is by him that Kings Reign he makes Kings blessed or miserable the Scriptures gives much evidence concerning the good and the bad Kings of Israel they that were good men and Ruled well they were blessed and had long dayes and people were happy under them and to the Kings that were Idolaters and Oppressors and walked in wickedness and vexed the Lord it was contrary for the Lord cut them off and destroyed them and delivered the oppressed and God is the same now as he was then as powerful to save the Righteous and as mighty to destroy the wicked and we rather desire that he may follow the example of the good Kings of Israel that the good effects may follow and that he may not follow the evil example of Tyrants and Oppressors But and if he do the effect and reward will certainly be upon him and the Lord will rebuke him and this we know by the Spirit of the Lord. Quer. 4. Whether may be justly forgive or avenge himself of his and his Father's Enemies and if he do avenge whether or no can that be called persecution and if any or many suffer death or otherwise on that account because they destroyed his Father and sought to destroy him also do such suffer for righteousness and good conscience or no if some of you suffer for that cause shall you have Peace with God in it or is it for the name of Christ as ye often say Answ. He may justly in the sight of God forgive his and his Father Enemies and he will be the more blessed if he do it for it is a happy thing to forgive Enemies and it is Christ's Doctrine also to forgive Enemies and it would be a good report unto him among his Friends and
it would win his Enemies or be a good means towards it if he do forgive all Enemies and it will be a good beginning of his Government to remit Offences though yet in his heart he may be perswaded that he and his Father have been much injured yet I say justly he 〈◊〉 forgive all in the sight of God and also in the sight of men as many wayes may appear even in asmuch as his Father and he did flee to the Sword to determine their Controversie in this Nation and the Sword went against them and did determine the controversie even against them and that whereby they thought to stand they did fall and that which they chused for their defence did destroy them and who then shall they blame for that which befel them seeing the Sword destroyed them which themselves did chuse and thought thereby to stand but it determined the Controversie against them and if you cannot own it as that the Hand of the Lord went against you in Battel yet you must confess that the fortune of War as some call it went against you and must such now suffer because hereof nay they ought not but may rather be spared by the King and inasmuch as he is restored again without blood or loss of lives it may be very just for him not to take away any mens lives but it will be more just to pass by all old things and if he have a deliverance let him turn it into the praise of the Lâ—â—d in holiness not into the shedding of blood in the way of a fierce revenge and let him leave it to the Lord to avenge himself upon such as have been his Enemies and upon such as â—â—ve cast out King and Kingly Government and pretended to a better Government 〈◊〉 to Govern more Righteously and yet have been Oppressors and not answered their pretences pretences and engagements but broken them and acted contrary by their Unfaithfulness and Hypocrisie and in that doth lie the justness of punishment if it come upon them and if they be punished with death or otherwise if they suffer on that account I say because they destroyed Kingly Goverment in Name and Title and pretended better things and to Govern better and did not make Reformation but were Oppressors as I hav◠〈◊〉 Suffering for that cause cannot be called Persecution nor is it for good Conscience nor Righteousness sake that such do Suffer But none of us can Suffer for that cause as not being guilty thereof as in the Answer to the next Query I shall have full occasion to shew you but and if we Suffer in your Government it is for the Name of Christ and we shall have Peace with God in it because nothing can be charged against us in this Capacity as we now stand and in this State into which we are now gathered and changed not in any matter of Action or Rebellion against him nor his Father nor any thing but concerning the Law and Worship of our God and the matters of his Kingdom and our pure Consciences and if upon this account we are made to suffer by him and for this cause the reward will be Sad and Heavy upon him in the day of the Lord And if any that are now amongst us were any way engaged in the Parliament Service in the Wars it was not in Rebellion against him or his Father as that we sought their destruction as men but upon Sober and Reasonable Principles and not for corrupted ends nor to get Honour and Riches to our selves as some others might do who went in the War for self-ends and continued in action after the cause which was once engaged for was utterly lost as we have long seen it and that principle which some time led some in action to oppose Oppression and seek after Reformation we never have nor shall deny but that Principle is still justified though we are now better informed than once we were for though we do now more than ever oppose Oppression and seek after Reformation yet we do it not in that way of outward Waring and Fighting with Carnal Weapons and Swords and YOU and the KING ought to put a difference both in their guilt and suffering between such as some time acted in the Wars against you in and upon Sober and Reasonable Principles and that did not make themselves Rich and High in this World through your Sufferings and between such as have acted against you for self ends and have insulted over you and have made themselves Great and Rich in this World thorow your Afflictions and Sufferings for they who have walked in that way and are hereof guilty they have not acted Righteously nor walked in good Conscience and if such Suffer by you for that cause it cannot be called Persecution nor is it for the Name of Christ nor can such have Peace with God But we being clear from the sin of such we cannot suffer as such but if we suffer by you it is Persecution and our sufferings will be upon you Quer. 5. Whether the great Afflictions and Sufferings sustained by him these divers years from the Subjects of his own Nation and the guilt thereof do lie upon all the Subjects in general Or whether upon any or some particular Sects and Sorts of People many which now are arisen and if upon any particular Sect and Sort who are such more then others distinguish them from others and clear your selves if you can from thâ— guilt of his Sufferings Answ. As for the Afflictions and Sufferings sustained by him so far as they were just and righteous Judgments from God because of Iniquity can no man be charged with but that is on God's account who was pleased to chastize with Afflictions and Sufferings and no man can be blamed with Injustice for that Affliction which cometh from the Hand of God upon whom Injustice may not be charged by any one whatsoever and so far as his Sufferings were unjust the guilt thereof doth not lie upon all the Subjects in general nor upon every particular sort of People alike but upon some more then others and such are easie to be distinguished from others if it be considered who they are that first raised the War in this Nation against the King and who was it that first preached and prayed up the War and prosecuted it against his Father And who is it that cast out the Bishops and Prelates from their Places and took their Revenues and Benefices and are become men as corrupted as covetous and self-seeking as proud and ambitious as unjust Persecutors as ever the men were which they cast out and the guilt is partly upon such who cast out others in pretence of Reformation but did it noâ— Aâ—â— who is it that hath gotten great Estates in this Nation and Worldly Honour and raised themselves from nothing by the Wars and by your Suffering and became ambitious and insulting over others though they first began the War in
this Nation and pretended great Reformation in the Civil State as well as the other had done in Church State And who got the Estates and Titles of their Enemies and pretended to free this Nation from all Oppressions but have not done it but have continued the old Oppressions and have been striving among themselves who should Rule and who should be great but have not Ruled for God nor in Justice and Equity though they first Warred against the King and carryed it on and removed the King and Lords and that Goverment and all this in pretence of Ruling better and in a better Government and yet kept not Engagements nor Promises made in that case Upon such is the guilt of the Suffering of the King so far as his Sufferings are unjust even upon Hypocrites who have walked in these steps who as I have said first made war against the King and got great Estates and quite forgotten the cause once pretended by them and now in flattery Cries up King and Kingly Government again though this many years they have seemed to be opposite against it upon such as these may the guilt aforesaid in measure be charged And though there are risen many Sects and Sorts of People since the beginning of the Wars yet in the beginning there was but one sort that were in a capacity to raise and prosecute War against the King and upon such there is guilt to be charged in the sight of God who have foregone their Principles and been deceitful both to God and men And as for Us who are called Quakers we are clear from the guilt of all his Sufferings and in the present Capacity wherein we now stand and under the actings of that Spirit which now we are of we have no part in the guilt of these Iniquities we have not cast out others and taken their places of great Benefices neither have we made war with carnal Weapons against any never since we were a People mark neither have we broken Oaths and Engagements nor promised freedom and deliverance and for self-ends and Earthly Riches betrayed as others have done what we pretended to and in many particulars it doth appear that we are clear from his Sufferings for we have been a Suffering People as well as they by the same Spirit which caused them to suffer which hath been much more Cruel Wicked and Unjust towards us than it hath been towards them though our Persecution hath been in another manner but what they have done against us we can freely forgive them and we would have you to follow the same example and if you could accuse them in many things so could we but this is not a time to accuse one another but to forgive one another and so to overcome your Enemies or else you will appear in the same Spirit that so he that condemns them cannot justifie you though we do condemn as well as you them that have pretended Reformation and Wared against you upon that account and when they had gotten victory did not reform but become Oppressors themselves as well as others and became Cruel towards others that would not say and do as they and for this Cause the Lord hath brought them down and may justly suffer others to deal with them as they have dealt with others yet notwithstanding I must still say and it is my judgment that there was very great Oppressions and Vexations under the Government of the late King and Bishops under his power which the Lord was offended with and many good People Oppressed by for which cause the Lord might and did justly raise up some to oppose and strive against Oppressions and Injustice and to intend and press after Reformation in all things and that Principle of Sincerity which God did raise in many in the beginning of the Wars which in some things acted them forth and carryed them on in opposing Oppressions and pressing after Reformation this Principle I can never deny but acknowledge to it though many soon lost it and became Self-seekers forgetting and foregoing the Cause pretended to having lost Sincerity and became corrupted in their way and Injustice and Oppression abounded by them and because hereof are they condemned in the sight of the Lord and not by me Justified because they have lost Sincerity and turned the War and all the Proceedings into Self-seeking and therefore is God provoked against them though had they continued in their Integrity and had really performed what some time they pretended and had forsaken all Sin it had not been thus with them neither had this guilt been upon them which now they are like to be accountable for And this is my Judgment concerning these things Quer. 6. Whether or no he may iustly think ye and with more safety to himself and happiness to the Kingdoms Tollerate and Allow LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE so called to all the many Sects and sorts of People and Worshippers that are now in beeing in these Nations Or whether he may Tollerate some and not all Or whether he may Tollerate none but reduce the Government of the Church into the way of Bishops and Prelates as it was in his Father's dayes Which of these may he do justly and with more safety to himself and happiness to his Government and Kingdoms Answ. We do believe he may and ought justly and with most safety to himself and happiness to the Kingdoms Tollerate and Allow free LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in all the Matters of Faith and Worship towards God for LIBERTY in exercise of CONSCIENCE in the Matters of God's Kingdom is a very precious thing to the Lord and very dear in his sight and he is tender of it and I do stedfastly believe he will not bless the Rulers of this Nation that shall deny to the People of this Nation and oppose LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in the exercise of Faith and Worship towards God for I do know it is not given of God to any Earthly King or Ruler whatsoever to exercise Lordship over the Consciences of People in the Matters of Faith and Worship and the things pertaining to Gods Kingdom for Kings and Rulers are but to Rule over men in a Nation in the Matters between one man and another in outward things and worldly affairs and therein only men ought to Rule in Equity over a Nation or City or Country and Magistracy in this state and for such an end is Gods Ordinance appointed of him for the preserving of peace and good order among men in outward things and it is a priviledge of the Crown of Christ's Spiritual Kingdom to be Lord and Ruler over and in mens Consciences in Faith and Worship and all the Matters of his Kingdom even as and according to his pleasure and as his Spirit leads and guides for and if any man shall assume to prescribe God a way how he must be Worshipped and shall limit his Spirit from this or to the other way of Religion and think to be Lord in mens
Consciences in religious Matters such are but Usurpers and are not well-pleasing to the Lord in such their way and Government if they oppress mens Consciences by limiting from or compelling to any such way of Worship or kind of Religion neither are they Ordained to Rule among men for that end not to be King and Judge and Law-giver in Heavenly and spiritual Matters and this ought not CHARLES the King to do 〈◊〉 but and if he do it and will not let Christ alone be the Head over his Church it cannot be with safety to himself nor happiness to the Kingdoms 〈◊〉 justly in the sight of God but it will work contrary effects And he may and ought to Tollerate and Allow Liberty of Conscience in the matters of God's Kingdom to all sorts of People and Worshippers that are 〈◊〉 this Nation and let him mind God's Wisdom how to keep the Nations in peace and good order in all outward and civil Affairs between man and man and between one sort of People and another that none destroy each others persons or estates nor be Oppressors one of another in outward and earthly Matters and that is the place and priviledge of a just King and Ruler upon Earth and to leave Faith and Worship and Duty towards God as every one is perswaded in their own Consciences is the right Way whether they will read the Common-Prayer or Preach and Pray after the order of the Directory or otherwise Or whether they will meet in silence without words and let all these enjoy their way of Religion and Worship in outward peace and not kill one another about their Religion Worship Church and Ministry nor imprison and persecute one another about these things but let them all be preserved as men living in peace one with another in all outward relations and yielding Subjection to good Laws which concern their outward man and their peace and well-being as Subjects of a Nation but there ought to be no Law of Bondage and Force nor violent Impositions by any man concerning Religion for the Lord alone is sufficient to give Prescriptions and Laws to his People how he may be served and worshipped and this is the way of good Government in this Nation that only the outward man in outward things be Governed and all Matters of Conscience in spiritual things be left unto God that his Spirit may therein onely rule and have the preheminence and if the King do Rule thus he may be more blessed and in that this Nation hath his word for LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE it is expected for because this hath been wanting to wit the allowance of LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in spiritual Matters because of this have been much strife and contention and heart-burnings in the Nation while some Sects of People have been tollerated and upheld and others persecuted for their Religion-sake by Law and this was one of the chief causes wherefore the Presbyterians so called first raised War against the Bishops even because they could not be tollerated but were persecuted while the other were guarded and defended by Law and this was a great cause of enmity which if the Presbyterians so called could have had Liberty and Tolleration at that day for their Worship and Faith it is possible the War against the Bishops had not so far proceeded though when they had gotten Victory they were no less furions towards the Bishops to destroy them than the other had been once against them and this arose by reason of persecuting for Conscience sake because all had not Liberty in the exercise of Spiritual things which if the King had declared it â—â—at day Equal Liberty to both in Matters of their Faith and Religion and yet ruled over both in outward affairs and had Authority over the Persons and Estates in Matters not related in Spiritual Worship but left them therein free and in their Religion by such means the War might have been stopped and not proceeded so far as it did and into such destruction and this being now well considered may be an Example to prevent the like hereafter So that 〈◊〉 â—â—y it cannot be for his safety nor for the good of the Kingdoms to Tollerate some sorts of People and Religions and Persecute others for that will be the very cause of strife among men it will provoke one sort to destroy another and it will provoke the Lord God against the King and his Government to destroy them both Therefore to reduce the Government of the Church into the State as it stood under the Bishops in his Fathers dayes and to prohibit all others that may differ in Judgment from that this is not the way for Peace and happiness in these Nations nor the way that will be blessed to the Government neither can the Bishops and Prelates justly themselves desire it that only they and their Church-Government should be Imposed and Tollerated and all besides Prohibited for this is not doing to others as they would be done unto and I may hope that their suffering this divers years may have taught them the worth of Liberty to themselves and so that they will allow to others if it be in their power the same which they have desired themselves in their time of suffering and they having tasted of some Subjection in Adversity they know the better how to behave themselves in time of prosperity and they may compare others with their own state and may judge that others will as much desire Liberty and from as good Principles iâ— their Worship and Faith as themselves would have enjoyed it in times past and they may have learned to be good to others in that case for which themselves have suffered and not cause others to suffer for that thing about which themselves have suffered And I do conclude that he may justly and with more safty and happiness to his Government Tollerate and Allow LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in the Exercise of Faith and Worship towards God in all spiritual Matters even to all sorts of People in this Nation and let him defend their Persons and Estates from the wrong one of another by wholsome Law and let each sort defend themselves in their Faith and Worship in their Church and Ministry by their soundest Arguments and the best spiritual weapons they have and thus should it be blessed to the Government And whatsoever sort or sect of People are not contented with this that is to say to Allow the same Liberty to others in Faith and Worship which they do desire themselves are not worthy themselves to be allowed Liberty unto and this every reasonable man may judge Quer. 7. Lastly what is your Iudgement if ye daâ—e declare it concerning the Times and Seasons and the present motions of them And what are your Observations of the present proceedings Are the present Times and seasons and the proceedings and transactions in Mercy or in Iudgment to the King and his Subiects If in Mercy to whom is it Mercy And if in
Charles Stuart who is Proclaimed King and to all You that are called and known by the Name of Royal-Party and Cavaleirs and who have Suffered in your Cause and for your Principles Friends THe Lord God who is greater than all that doth whatsoever he will hath given you a Day and you are raised up again out of your Suffering State Oh that you would consider the end of it and wherefore the Lord hath done and suffered it to be done and that you would make right use and improvement unto God and this Nation of this your Deliverance and Promotion for certainly there hath been an absolute purpose in the Counsel of the Lord that these things should be thus and his hand hath even suffered it to be accomplished even in a strange and marvellous way through the confounding of your Enemies and giving of them up to the folly of their own hearts in their Councils that they should destroy themselves and bring in you over their heads and make you a Mountain and break down their Mountain and make it as a low Valley and certainly these things are in the Justice of the Lord's hand and it will be well for you if you can consider it and acknowledge it You have been a suffering People it is true for these divers years and Originally your suffering was partly just as from the Lord for there was a great measure of Iniquity and Oppression fulfilled in this Nation on the part of Kings and your Sins were great against God wherefore the Lord was Just in bringing Affliction and Tribulation upon you to humble you and he might justly raise up others to reprove you and to subdue you before them for a season and thus far even because of your Iniquities which were great in the sight of God your Sufferings and Afflictions were Just But as for those that the Lord made use of in the Execution of your Afflictions they are not justified in all what they did towards you but they went beyond in Violence and Cruelty upon you what the Lord called them unto and thereby they brought a great measure of guilt of Injustice and Cruelty upon their own Consciences in proceeding towards you beyond Justice and Equity Though some of them might be more sincere and upright in the beginning of these things when they began to War against you yet it too well appears that many of them soon lost the Just Cause and began to have respect to your Estates and Titles of Honour more than to free the Nation from Oppressions and Vexations though they pretended much thereunto yet so it was that they became fouly corrupted in their way and though they Subdued you yet did they not free the Nation but became Oppressors themselves no less than others before them and they possessed your Riches and Titles yea and in great measure Unjustly and then were exalted in Ambition and Vain-glory and began to strive amongst themselves who should be the greatest and set up this and the other and some cryed one way of Government and others another and they pulled down and set up as they would and cast down and exalted whom they would and thus they continued for some years rowling up and down in Confusion and yet the Nation under very great Oppression and Vexations each one crying his Burden was the greatest while they were exalted in their Pride and Riches and lived at ease not remembring the end wherefore they were first raised nor keeping to sincere Principles but caused them to suffer deeply that were faithful to the Lord and walked with him in sincerity and all this while you were as asleep and not thought upon by them as if ever you should call them to an Account but they thought that their strength was great and their number many and therein they gloried having no true respect unto the Lord and because thereof the Lord justly confounded them in their Counsels when their measure was full and made them weak as Water and you are now justly raised up to reprove and correct them even those that have abused Gods Mercies to them and that have forgotten God and sought to exalt themselves forever and had no respect unto the Lord and his People though these things are not said of them to upbraid them nor to kindle your Fury against them to add Misery upon their Affliction but they have already been told of their Treachery and what would come to pass And Oh that they could now humble themselves before the Lord and confess to the justice of this their Affliction they might yet partake of his Mercy through great Judgments And as for you Oh that you would consider these things and by whose purpose you are restored and from what cause and for what end it is accomplished Oh that you would mind what your Work now is and that you would not exceed your permission for you are raised up for an end and there is a Work for you to do Oh that you could do it with respect unto the Lord it should be the better for you Oh those men that have long sate as Princes in this Nation and pretended and vowed and promised Reformation in Church and State but they have not done it as they ought but as great Oppressions and Injustice as great Superstitions and Idolatries both in Church and State were continued and carried on in their dayes as in dayes before them Oh how abominable have these things been multitude of words might demonstrate but now their Reproof and judgment is come and their Fall is just upon them who should pitty them or mourn for them seeing they have deserved all this and much more which has yet happened unto them as some of them may confess and those things their Treachery Unfaithfulness and Oppressions I mean must needs be avenged one way or another How often hath it been foretold them yea it hath been often said unto them That God would bring them down and destroy their Power they have been told that these things were not right neither could they escape unavenged and it now appears as if the day were come and if you must be their Executioners and must execute the Wrath upon them who shall prevent you or say unto you stay your Hand Or rather who of them that see these things shall not be patient while you take vengeance for the Lords sake and for the sake of his People whom they have long vexed and oppressed Nay who of the Lords People shall not say Let the Lord's Will be done and his Justice executed upon his Enemies If this be your work that you are called to must it not go on till it be finished They have been hard-hearted and Oppressors towards others and by a hard-hearted People may not the Lord justly deal with them and be a Plague unto them in that very manner that they have sinned against him for this is usual with the Lord even to destroy Oppressors by the Wickedness of
others and often he rebukes the Sin of a People by a People as bad as themselves he may justly give unto Men from the Hands of others what they love in their own Hearts and even as those Men have loved Pride and Ambition over others and Oppression and Hard-heartedness towards others even so and much more may justly be done unto them and that according to the Will of the Lord and if this be your Work designed you by the Eternal Hand who shall prevent you But yet Oh that you would consider and that you would have respect unto the Lord lest you out-go the end of your Restoration You would indeed be happy if you could forgive your Enemies if you could reward them Good for their Evil and you would be happy if you could not exceed the measure of your Permission be not too hard-hearted towards them but shew Mercy And Oh you must take heed lest you cause the Righteous to suffer with the Wicked and that you cause not the Innocent to Groan and Mourn in your execution of God's purpose upon the Ungodly you must be aware lest while you punish Offenders you smite not them that are free Oh that you had hearts this to understand and that you could walk in the path of fulfilling God's pleasure and not go further I mean though you may be raised to be a Plague upon Hypocrites and Disobedient and Treacherous men and to avenge God's Cause and his Peoples but you are not raised to be Oppressors of the Lord's People nor to destroy his Heritage this is not your Work God hath not called you to destroy and persecute them that fear his Name and tremble at his Word though you have power to be avenged on your Enemies And Oh that your Hearts could understand this that you might distinguish in your Proceedings between executing of Justice upon Transgressors and Persecution for Conscience sake the one you have to do but the other is forbidden you of the Lord and you ought not to do it for if you persecute any for good Conscience sake or because they are of such and such an Assembly of People and worship in such a Way if you inflict Tribulation upon any because hereof or because they are such or such in their Profession and Religion then you persecute for Conscience sake and you go beyond the End and by the Path for which you were raised and if you turn your Hand and Power to persecute for good Conscience-sake then you divert the End and Purpose of this your Restoration and the Lord will require it of you if that you go beyond his Permission and Assignment and beyond his Pleasure in persecuting his People and so turn your Power to a wrong Use and End O then the Lord shall suddenly confound you and he will find out Instruments that shall fulfil his Wrath and Justice upon you as he hath found you fit to execute Wrath upon others and therefore do not O do not persecute any for Conscience-sake if you have nothing against them but concerning their Faith and Worship and their Religion do not lay your Hand upon them nor let them be touched for if you do the Lord will take it as a heinous Offence against him and in this life or hereafter he will plague you for it and you shall not escape unpunished and therefore I say once more to you as the advice of your Friend Let no Man be persecuted for his Faith and for his Religion-sake but make a difference between inflicting Wrath upon Offenders that have been Hypocritical and Deceitful and that have made themselves rich through the ruins of others and that will bow to any thing or any kind of Worship for their own ends and between such as have a Principle and do stand by it and are humble and acted in the Principles of Sincerity and follow that way of Religion which they suppose and are perswaded is the best and the rightest all such ought to have Liberty under you in their Profession and Faith and Worship and ought not to be persecuted while they live peaceable as men with one another and towards all men and the God of Heaven requires it of you and your Standing or your Fall the Blessing or the Curse unto you depends hereupon and this you shall find to be true unto you in the day of God's Righteous Judgments O therefore be not stout against the Lord but fear and tremble before him let his Dread be upon your Spirits and do not offend him nor provoke him against you and this Nation lest he tear you to pieces and number you for Destruction lest he overturn you suddenly and deface your Glory in its morning Oh how happy would you be if you would regard the Lord and reverence him and take him before you and not go beyond in any thing what his Purpose and Pleasure is who hath given you this one Day to try you if so be that any of you shall learn his Fear and turn from your Iniquities that you may be blessed and not confounded Oh therefore consider what the Will and Purpose of the Lord is towards you and wherefore you are raised up may fulfil his purpose and not your own Oh then this Day should be made happy unto you but the contrary works I mean if you do Oppress and Persecute and seek to destroy his Heritage and rule in Oppression and Tyranny then the God of Heaven shall cut your Day short and deliverance he will bring to this poor Nation without you even contrary to you and his hand shall be turned upon you and your Mountain though never so great and high shall be laid low and an Infant of the heavenly Birth shall leap over it and shall say Where is that lofty Babel that exalted it self against my God And as for us we are a very poor contemned and despised People even since we were a People unto this very day and have nothing at this present not heretofore to glory in from any Power that hath ruled but the Power Spirit and Presence of God in our Tribulations Afflictions Persecutions and unjust Sufferings these things have been our Portion even from all all have troden upon us in Contempt and Scorn and accounted us as Sheep for the slaughter and we have not to glory in any Government that hath been since we were a People we cannot justifie one or another but we say they have all been Oppressors and we have groaned with deep sighs to the Lord under the Burden of their unrighteous Dealing and herein we assent with you if you say they have been unjust Men we say the same and if you say their Government hath been Oppression and Unequal we say the same if you say you have suffered Cruelly and Unrighteously by them we say the same if you say they have Ruled by Will and Force more then by Law and Equity we verifie the same and if you can say you have suffered
Afflictions and Tribulation by them so have we in another manner and far more unjustly Wherefore we cannot justifie them nor will not plead for them in opposition to you but we partly believe we may receive as much Equity and good Reason from some of you as we did from some of them and thus we have been a suffering People even without cause And at this day we are threatned by the rage of Men as if we should be cut off and destroyed but we regard not these things but do respect the Lord whom we fear and worship in our Hearts and if we outwardly perish among them that may perish yet it is for Righteousness sake and because of the matters of God's Kingdom which we hold and if you do destroy us for this cause we are clear and Innocent Blood will be upon you and the guilt thereof will sink you into misery here or hereafter Oh take heed and defile not your selves nor load your Consciences with our guiltless Sufferings as many others have done before you even to their ruin and woful destruction you are yet in a great measure clear from our Oppressions we have not much Iniquity yet to charge upon you in our Cause of Afflictions Oh it will be well for you if you keep your selves clear the less will be your Judgement and the better success will you have in you Cause for Friends the weight of Innocent Blood it hath a loud cry and God will hear it and if you burden your selves with it it will soon overweigh you therefore keep clear and condemn them by your Practises that have said they would not persecute for good Conscience sake but have done it even contrary to all Pretences and Engagements and if you who profess not so much in words towards that thing would do it how should your Practise condemn their Hypocrisie in the sight of God Men and Angels But however I warn you and do leave it at your door and do say unto you Persecution for Conscience sake is the crying Sin which draws down Vengeance upon Kings and Governments be you warned through the fall of others least confusion come upon you as it hath come upon many others for that cause and be not too confident in your way nor too furious against your Enemies but remember your breath is in your Nostrils and he that gave it you can soon take it away And as for you we have no Enmity towards any of you nor do we seek the hurt of your Persons nor can we rise up in Rebellion against you or seek your Destruction by Craft or Policy neither indeed can we seek Covenant or League with you by flattery It is true you are in Authority over us outwardly and as you are so we shall yield subjection to you in any of your just Commands and in all things it is our Principle to obey you either by doing or suffering yet we cannot bow nor fawn nor flatter nor deny our Principles nor our Religion of which we are perswaded by the Spirit of God in our Consciences that it is right and according to God but I say we cannot revoke our Principle neither for advantage to our selves nor yet to save our lives you must find us constant and not changeable as others are who turn every way for their own advantage and cry up this or the other and pray and fight on the behalf of any thing which may make for their advantage but God is grieved with such Spirits yet we are otherwise minded and must only own your Government and Authority as it is just and brings forth Righteousness so we can own it and bow before it but as otherwise if it be Unjust and Oppression we must patiently suffer under it whatsoever you have power to do and this is all the Peace we can make with you or the Engagement that we can bind our selves in towards you though we cannot but own that this Day is given you either in Mercy or in Judgement to you yea and we cannot but own that you may be God's Executioners yea what if we say That you may be raised up to avenge our Cause upon our Oppressors though still we must bear witness against that Wicked Loose Prophane Spirit that lives and abounds in some of you and among you and works Unrighteousness even to the dishonour of God throughout this Nation this Spirit we bear witness against that it is evil and brings forth bad effects in every City and Town throughout the Land whereby the Lord is provoked against you and this Nation in an high measure Oh that you would consider of it while there is time to be corrected and amended before it hath brought forth unpardonable Iniquities which it hastens to fulfil and draws down Wickedness as with Cords Oh the Excessiveness in drinking and other Vanities Oh what destroying of the good Creatures It grieves the Hearts of the Righteous and vexeth the Sober-minded to consider it and also there is a great deal of Hypocrisie and deceitful-heartedness amongst many I have considered this thing and it is a Vexation to the Lord and cannot but be detestable to you even in that many contrary to their Principles Engagements Promises and Covenants do now cry you up for to save themselves their Lives Estates who have been deeply engaged against you publickly and privately and yet now in Hypocrisie are fallen in with you such their Proceedings are loathsome to God and your present Cause is no better because of such though as for some of you that have stood to your Principle and suffered for it this long while in your State you are more honourable and rather justified Oh let the King fear and reverence the eternal God knowing he is but mortal Man and his Breath in his Nostrils and let him keep himself clear from Persecution for Conscience-sake for that will destroy Kings and Governments who are guilty thereof and let him be meek and sober and take the Lord before him in all his Proceedings or else he cannot prospeâ— his Day and Time is now present that God's purpose is to try him if he Rule in Righteousness and Truth in Equity and Justice he may be blessed But if otherwise he Govern and walk not in reverence to the Lord and spare his People the God of Heaven shall rebuke him and deliver his People another way Consider of these things in a sober mind read them over in meekness From a Lover of your Souls E. B. This was written about the middle of the 3d Moneth called May. A few Queries I do return to you for you to consider and answer relating to the present Affairs and Proceedings in this Nation even to all you that are called and known by the Name of Royallists and Cavaliers that are really so and have Suffered for that Cause Quer. 1. TO what do you attribute the first Cause of the advancement of this present Government And whether or no ye believe that
there was any thing of the Purpose and Hand of the Lord by intending and bringing these things about without expectation by you and contrary to the great strength of your Enemies who are suddenly of a great and high Mountain made a low Valley and you of a low and trodden down Valley suddenly raised up into a great Mountain And to what do you attribute this Changing and overturning of Power and Authority and Rulers even them that have been as Princes and Potentates to be Rebels and them that have been accounted as Rebels and Traytors to be Rulers and Governours I say To what do you attribute these things on their first Cause whether to the Pollicy of some or to Accident or to good Fortune as some call it Or whether you believe in your Consciences that the Lord God by his secret Power hath purposed and suffered the effecting and accomplishing of these things Quer. 2. And if you believe that there is any thing of the Hand and Purpose of the Lord in doing or suffering these trans actions then wherefore and for what Cause do you believe hath he done these things Is it because you are more righteous in the sight of God than they who are cast out before you and because he loveth you and hateth them Or whether it is not because they have proved Treacherous and Deceitful and not answered unto the Lord what he required of them but sought themselves and forgot the Lord and took your Estates and Titles of Honour upon them and pretended a better Government and to govern better than that way of Monarchical Government but did not but were Oppressors even as others before them And is not this the Iust Cause wherefore the Lord hath suffered these Overturnings May not we justly that are neither of you Attribute this to be the very Cause wherefore the Lord hath brought them down and raised up you over them whereas if they had repented of their Sins and been faithful to what the Lord required of them and to what themselves pretended to and had indeed Governed Iustly and Righteously and freed the Oppressed and answered unto the Lord in an equal Government according to his Law whether may it not be believed that these things had never thus been brought to pass Quer. 3. Whether or no you believe that there is a GOD so mighty in Power and so wise in Counsel and Purpose that can Turn and Overturn you and your Power and lay you low even as others and raise up others who are now as low as you have been for divers years Whether you believe there is a GOD that by his Power can effect such a thing and accomplish it in his Wisdom And whether do you not believe in your Consciences that he will do it if you do not please him and fear his Name and forsake all Wickedness and if you be Oppressors and Cruel-hearted as others have been and do not rule in Righteousness and Equity And whether you believe not that the Lord doth watch over you with his Eye that sees you and marks all your wayes Whether do you consider that the Lord looks for good fruit from you and that you should free the Land from Oppression which if you answer not the Will of the Lord in what he requires Whether do not you believe that he is so wise in Counsel and mighty in Power that he can and will whether by Means or without Means overturn and confound you and your Government Quer. 4. Whether you believe in your Consciences and do acknowledge unto God that there was any thing of his IUSTICE in your late Sufferings for these divers years Or whether all of them or no part of that Suffering which hath been upon you were any whit Iust as from the Lord And whether there was not a great Measure of Iniquity filled up in Monarchical Government and a great Measure of Oppression upon the poor People of this Nation by their Lords and great Men And whether this Rebuke and Reproof that you have had in this measure of Suffering that hath been upon you was not in some measure Iust as from the Lord that you might be humbled before him though it is by me acknowledged That your Enemies these I mean who are now cast out before you brought great guilt upon themselves in executing wrath upon you in that and because they proceeded further and into more Bitterness and Cruelty towards you then they had either Commission or Authority from God But whether there was not a Iustice as from the Lord in that which partly befel you And was not his Hand many times against you in Battel though Number nor Valour was not wanting on your part yet are not you sensible how by a secret Hand you were often defeated and Victory given to your Enemies though the less in Number And were not these things in the Iustice of the Lord's Hand Whether do you not believe it and acknowledge it Quer. 5. Whether or no you do intend any Reformation from OLD Oppressions Or whether you intend to tread in the very steps and to walk in the very Path in every Particular of Government as it stood and was carried on in the beginning of CHARLES the first his days And whether you ought not in the sight of God and before him to consider how to relieve the Oppressed and break off all cruel Bonds of Injustice and how a Government may be set up which may be answerable to the Lord and not unto your own and other corrupted mens ends but if you shall do so Whether do you answer the End or deny the End wherefore the Lord hath thus dealt with you in giving of you this Day unexpected and contrary to all your Enemies And whether do you not believe that God hath set you between Good and Evil between Right and Wrong between doing of his Will and the will of the Devil in the doing and fulfilling one or the other by you whether doth not depend Happiness and Blessedness upon you or the Wo and the Curse your Standing or your Fall your Renown or your Dishonour perpetually Quer. 6. Whether or on you do not believe in your Consciences that the Prosperity and Continuance and Happiness of this your Government to your selves the King and Kingdoms or the Unhappiness Overthrow Misery and Confusion of the Government it self the King and these Nations doth not stand and wholly depend upon the Government and Authority as it proceedeth in Iustice Righteousness and Equity or as it is and proceedeth contrary and is Injustice Oppression and Unrighteousness and if therein it stand whether do you believe in your Consciences that God shall Bless it and Prosper it or he shall Destroy it and Confound it For is not the Hand of the Lord stretched forth in Mercy or in Iudgment according as Men walk in his Fear or without his Fear And whether if your CAUSE be Iust in it self yet if you walk in Unrighteousness
and Ungodliness and Oppression and Cruelty whether may not you thereby destroy your Cause and lose it and provoke the Lord to Anger against you and your Cause to confound you and destroy you and whether you do seriously consider of this And is it not your Duty so to do and ought you not to endeavour to stop this Flood of Wickedness that is broken out which if it be not stopped may provoke God against you to overthrow your proceedings Quer. 7. What is the very End of Rule and Government outward in this World And for what Cause did God at the first ordain it whether upon this or not really consider Was it not that Evil-doers might be punished and them that did Well might be praised And was not the outward Law added because of Transgression and to punish Transgressors but for the preserving the Peaceable and Meek who walked in the Law of God and when the People had forgotten God and his Law in their Hearts and his Power that executed Judgment and Mercy Was it not then that the Law outward was added and committed into the Hands of Men to execute upon such as regarded not the Law of God in their Hearts And is not this the very End of Rule and Government and Magistracy at this very day Whether ought it to be extended further than only over and concerning the Affairs of the outward Man to keep that in good order not to be a Load and Burden and Vexation and Bondage upon a Nation and People but to suppress that which would load and burden and oppress the Creation and People that all men may be preserved in their just Right and not vex and oppress one anothers Persons and Estates And if your Government be not from this Ground and this very end shall it ever be blessed and happy either to the Governours or Governed Quer. 8. What do you believe of and concerning LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in all Matters appertaining to the Kingdom of God Whether ought not you to give the LIBERTY in your Government that every Man and all sorts of People may believe in God and Worship God according as he or they shall suppose and be perswaded in his or their Consciences provided still that he and they annoy not or oppress his or their Neighbours Person or Estate for if he or they do that then he and they go out of the true Faith and breaks the Law of God and the outward Law is to take hold of him and them But whether it is not a just Right and may justly be allowed from you to all the People of this Nation to live under what Ministry and under what Worship and to go to what Assemblies as they shall suppose or be perswaded in their Consciences is the best and rightest And whether or no it be not GOD's proper Right alone to be Ruler and Lord over mens Consciences and that he alone should Prescribe Instruct and Teach Faith Worship and Duty in all things in the matters of his own Kingdom And whether God hath committed that Power and Authority ever since the days of Christ to any Emperor King or other Ruler whatsoever to be Lord and to exercise Lord-ship in and over Mens Consciences in the Matters appertaining to God's Kingdom And whether it is not God's only and alone peculiar Priviledge to be Lord there and not any Man to impose one upon another in Spiritual Matters And whether you your selves would be imposed upon in such case that is Whether you would have such a Church Government and Ministry imposed upon you upon such or such a Penalty which you know or believe or suppose is not right nor according to God nor suiting with your own Consciences And then how can you with good Conscience in the sight of God Impose upon others whenas your selves would not be Imposed upon in such a Case Quer. 9. Whether or no If that you cause any to suffer Loss or to be Afflicted in Person or Estate for and because of their Conscience-sake that is because they are of such a Faith and of such a Worship and of such a Principle in Religious Matters though different from others and from you yet if they walk Honestly and Soberly and Peaceably as Men and not Plotting and Contriving any Mischief in the Nation I say if you cause any such to suffer upon that account while you can charge nothing against them but Matters of Faith and Iudgment and Opinion in Spiritual things Again I say Whether or no such Suffering is not absolute Persecution and Innocent on his or their part that so suffereth any Injustice Cruelty Tyranny and Oppression on your part that do Inflict and will not the Lord require it of you if you bring Innocent blood and Cruel Sufferings upon your selves And is not that Innocent blood which is spilt and Unjust and Cruel Sufferings which are Inflicted upon a Man or a People for his and their Conscience and Religions-sake when no matter of wrong or evil dealing amongst Men and in that Relation is or can be charged upon them And whether do you not believe that God will avenge such a Suffering which is for Conscience-sake upon the Heads of the Cursers and Inflictors of it in his Day and Season Quer. 10. Whether or no you have not so much Reason and Conscience in you as will give you to discern and cause you to put a difference between such who have acted and been zealous against you from corrupt Principles of Self-seeking and have raised themselves into worldly Honour and great Estates through your Sufferings and Losses and have lorded it over you in Ambition though now such may bow under you and fawn upon you I say Whether will you not or whether ought you not to put a difference both in respect of guiltiness in your Cause of Suffering and in respect of your dealing towards them in Reward and between such as have formerly acted against you upon sober reasonable Principles and have not raised themselves to Honour and great Riches not by your Afflictions but ceased to act against you when they perceived the Wickedness and Injustice and evil Proceedings of your Enemies and many such there are and whether or no you have not so much Reason and Equity in your Consciences as to put a difference between such in your proceedings towards them Quer. 11. What is the truest Honour that can be given to the King and his Government and wherein and in what kind of Words and Actions and Practises doth true Honour consist And whether or no you do believe in your Consciences that these kind of Practises as drinking Healths and Bonfires and this exceeding Lewdness and Wickedness brought forth in the Nation by way of Rejoycing for the King and his Government be true Honour and rightly honourable Proceedings and Practises to him and his Government Or whether these things and ways be not wofully dishonourable unto you and him and this whole Nation and
the Cause wherefore the Wrath of God may justly come upon the whole Nation it self if these things be not speedily repented of and forsaken And whether the Life and Practise and Subjection of an upright QUAKER so called whose Principle is to obey all just Commands and patiently to suffer under all that which is unjust and that lives in Meekness and Fear and Soberness and Love towards all Men whether or no such Men and such Practises are not more Honourable and Blessed in the sight of God and Men than this kind of Rudeness and Wickedness Singing and Drunkenness Ringing and Swearing and hanging Ribbins and Feathers about themselves and their Horses and many other things which are said to be done in honour to the King and his Government But whether there be not a Principle in your Consciences which doth rather condemn your selves than justifie you for these things and rather justifies a Sober Life and is not that more blessed Quer. 12. Whether or no all that cry you up and your Government do it really and out of good Conscience and from Principles of Sincerity Or whether they are turned to you in Feignedness and Hypocrisie and to save their Heads and Estates which some of them have gotten even such as have been your Enemies and Preached and Prayed and Fought against you and now cry you up and pray for you but whether can you trust that these will be faithful to you that thus deny their former Ways and Religion and Worship And whether thus to deny their Principles their Faith their Religion their former Oaths and Engagements is commendable and Justifiable in the sight of God and you Or whether a Quaker so called that will stand to his Principles and not deny his Faith nor Religion though he suffer for it nor will bow and bend in Hypocrisie under every sort of Men is not more justifiable and condemnable in the sight of God and your Consciences also I say do not they condemn these Hypocrites that have fought against you and prayed against you and yet bow under you with deceitful Hearts in the time of their danger Quer. 13. Whether or no you do not believe and know in your Consciences that the QUAKERS so called are a Sober Innocent and Harmless People and of an upright Conversation dealing justly towards all and such as do not Envy the Persons of any nor Plot and Project Mischief towards you or any And whether if you should proceed to persecute and seek to destroy such a People concerning whom you have such a witness in your Consciences Iustifying them as aforesaid would not be greatly unjust in the Sight of God and the very Cause to provoke God to destroy you and your proceeding if so be that you persecute them for their Conscience-sake while they live Soberly and Uprightly as men and injureth no mans Person or Estate by their Religion Quer. 14. Whether or no you do not believe or may not have just Cause to believe that your present Proceedings are not and may not prove to be the very natural Cause of Outward Visible external Judgements upon you and the Nation even Iudgments of Pestilence and Famine And do not you proceed in the very path hereof Is not your spending the Creation in such Excessive manner in Eating and Drinking and wasting the good Creation after this manner as you do Whether is not this a natural Cause to bring want and Poverty and also oppressing your very bodies with Excessiveness in Drunkenness Inflaming your selves through Excessiveness of Wine and Beer and through the abounding of uncleanness and through excesse and as well Defiling and Oppressing your very Persons as wasting the Creation by so doing Whether this is not a very Natural Cause to bring and beget Pestilence and Famine besides your provoking the Lord through this means as being works in themselves hateful and abominable in his sight and for which Cause he may justly bring Wrath and Judgements even Plague and Famine if there were no other Cause for it And whether you ought not seriously to Consider of this thing and to Turn from these Transgressions which are Natural Causes of great Judgements and also provokes the Lord to hasten and inflict Judgement Oh that the Sober minded among you would lay this to heart Consider these Queries in the Spirit of Soberness for they are worth your regarding and be not high-minded nor wicked in your way least the Lord who hath all Power in his hand meet you and bring you down and destroy your Cause which he can do if you provoke him This was written in the middle of the 3d Moneth called May 1660. E. B. TO THE Friends of Christ IN LONDON DEarly Beloved and much Respected in the Lord who are of the Election before the World began in everlasting Love do I often remember you and your Remembrance is Pretious and Pleasant to me even because the Lord hath chosen you and called you into his marvellous Light and formed you a People for himself to shew forth his Praise and herein I do behold you very often for I have seen you as a few pleasant Plants in a great Forest of fruitless Trees and I have seen you as a speckled Bird among the Birds of the Wilderness and even as a choice Virgin are you among Harlots in that great City even as a few righteous Persons whom the Lords regardeth amongst a Multitude of thousands of ungodly Men thus have I seen you and thus doth the Spirit bring you into my remembrance with earnest desires to the Lord God for you that you may be preserved through all Times and Seasons and over all this World that you may be alwayes unto the Lord as a pleasent Garden bringing forth Fruits of Acceptation unto him wherein his Soul may be delighted Now dear Friends live in the Seed of God and walk in the Faith which overcometh the World and feel your Election in Christ Jesus and grow up into it daily that you may have the Seal of Assurance of Mercy and Peace and Favour with the Lord God and wait that you may receive the Promise of the Father even of the same eternal Life the same Spirit the same Power of the same heavenly Vertue into your Vessels as was in Christ Jesus in whom dwelt the fulness of all things and in us the Fulness is manifest by measure and this is the everlasting Comforter that will abide with you for ever even the Appearance of Christ Jesus in Spirit God with us and the knowledge of him as he was before Abraham and this Life Immortal born in us and this Knowledge revealed to us is everlasting and remains for ever and if ye be gathered up into this to know him and to be in him that was in the beginning then are you builded upon the Rock and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against you neither can the Flood of Death break in upon you And Friends walk in the Love of the Lord
perverted into evel in its practise of degenerate man and if you forget the Word then Iniquity prevails again and the love of this World and its vanities and the Riches and Pleasures of the mortal man steals away the Heart and they possess the Habitation of God unrighteously and all things are become sinful and the Body of Death comes over the pure Life and Peace with God in the Conscience is lost and that because the Word of God is forgotten which once begat unto God and where the unclean spirit enters again the latter end of such is worse then the beginning more finful against God and more hated of him and therefore let none follow the way of such for it leads to Death and Darkness and Misery will be the end of it But Friends mind him and feel his Power who is the Preserver of Men in Peace and Righteousness and let not up that part in you into liberty into which Satan enters and sows his seed of degeneration but live in the Cross of Christ and in the meek and lowly Spirit tha◠you may not do your own wills but the Will of the Father and may fear him and his Goodness and that subjecteth the ground of Temptations that Sin cannot prevail so shall your Peace be everlasting and your Life as a River of pleasure and Joy and Gladness shall be your daily Portion and the Lord shall never forsake you but be unto you a Tower of Strength and Habitation of Peace and a Crown of Victory and Reward in this present time and for ever And if ye abide in Christ the Vine into which you are planted by Regeneration then will your Fruit be of the Vine and acceptable unto the Father who is the good Husbandman and through his Vertue you will grow into Perfection as partaining to the Conscience where all guilt of sin is taken away and the burden of Iniquity and body of Death clean removed away from you for that is Perfection as partaining to the Conscience where Sin and Transgression is done away and Power received over it both in Motion and Action and the Guilt of it and the Conscience sprinkled with the Immortal Blood of the Lamb and no stain nor guilt remaining but Peace altogether by the holy Spirit in the Conscience and this is perfection which was not attained to by outward things in the first Covenant but is witnessed in the second which the Lord hath made with us and confirmed unto us where Sin and Iniquity is blotted out and Innocency and Immortallity lives and raigns and such stand before the Throne of God without fault before him and no guile in their Mouthes and these sing the Song of the Lamb and of the Redeemed where all sorrow is fled away if so be that the burden and guilt of all Transgresion be removed then there is no cause of sorrow and blessed are they that dwell here and that are entred into the everlasting Rest even into God for he is the Rest of the Immortal Soul and the Life of it and if ye know these things ye have satisfaction and comfort which none know but they that have it it s the portion of the Redeemed whose Father Master Ruler Judge and King is the Lord God and the Lamb and we are Subjects of that Kingdom and free born of that City the heavenly Ierusalem and we are made free through the price of Immortal Blood and then how can any of you that are such serve this World and the Vanities of it by any immoderate care or desire or exercise in earthly things for this is the bondage of Egypt but the Children are free from it and are not entangled concerning the things of this World but they are subjected under and the Inheritance of a better Portion is their Crown and Substance and Esau's portion is the Earth he that hath no assurance in God wherefore live above this World in the Seed of God and be without immoderate care in every thing as to earthly matters not taking thought what shall come or be to morrow neither cumbring your selves about uncertain riches but leave the issue of all things to the Lord in whose hands are Blessings and the Curse to give or take away according to his pleasure and be not Servants unto but Rulers over all affections in earthly things for spiritual Blessings are the Crown and the Earth is the foot-stool of the Lord's Redeemed And as for the dayes and seasons in which we now are let none be troubled as though it were not well or could be better for all things are well that are come to pass because the Will of the Lord hath effected them either as the Cause or as the Means and it is good for us that these things are so for the prosperity of our Kingdom is going on through all the Hammer is beating upon the Rocks that will beat them to pieces and the Axe is hewing down the Cedars and the little Stone prevails against the many-headed Beast and the Image of Idolatry is weakening and the holy Seed grows in strength and vertue and the Purpose of the Lord can none prevent But the light of the Son must be as the light of seven days amangst us and the Day-Spring from on high hath already visited us and we have seen of his Glory wherefore let all the Upright have Patience and Long-suffering till the Measure of Iniquity in our Adversaries be filled which is hastening to be accomplished and Transgression grows full and Sinners grow ripe for Vengeance and we must pass over their Mountain of Darkness and in the mean time the Lord hides us under his shadow even 〈◊〉 Transgression be finished and covers us from the storm and blinds the enemy and turns his rage backward and we are not destroyed but our life is renewed and righteousness mercy and love are a defence about us and how great is the kindness of the Lord herein mine eye hath seen it and my heart meditateth thereon the power and wisdom and love of the Lord herein are very great and who can find out the depth thereof or declare his immeasurable power and wisdom And thus the salutation of my life unto all the faithful is expressed and I am well in him who is my fulness and desire no more concerning you then your faithfulness in the cause of God for without controversie the cause of God is with us and on our part and as you are faithful therein that is my reward concerning you and the addition to my joy and in the Heavenly Spirit of the Lord God Almighty are you committed unto him who is able to keep you even to the end and in the end to glorifie you in eternal life in rest and peace for ever and this is the portion of the faithful and my desires on your behalf and my salutation of you hoping that you have not so learned Christ as to deny him because of the love or terror of this World
may escape the way of Destruction and Confusion therefore is it that the Lord hath put it into my heart thus to write unto you and not for another end nor of my self have I done it but as I found the drawings of that Spirit of the Father which leadeth into all truth to which I was made willing to be obedient without respect to any thing saving the Lord and that you might be advised in some things in present controversie occasioned as aforesaid and there are a few things towards you upon my spirit which well deserves your consideration as followeth First That there is an Eternal God who is great and mighty above all and â—e alone ought to be the fear of you and all man-kind for whatsoever he will it cometh to pass whether in Heaven or Earth he planteth and plucketh up he buildeth and throweth down he exalteth and abaseth whether Kingdoms Governments or Men Kings or Princes as he will and what time soever as he pleaseth he is onely wise in Council and mighty in Power if he purpose who shall prevent him he is the Being of all things that are and before him are all mankinde upon Earth even ye your selves as Dust and Ashes and Vessel of Clay and your Breath is in your Nostrils and he that gave it can sâ—â—n take it away from you and in a moment dissolve your seeming glorious substance into its first being And this eternal God hath overturned and changed Powers and Authorities Rulers and Governments in these Nations of late years even to the amazement of the Inhabitants who must confess that the God of Heaven hath pulled down and set up whom he would and taken the Government from and given it unto whom soever he hath pleased and he hath given unto many a day and a time to try them whether they would rule for him and he tried one sort of men after another to prove them if they would exercise Righteousness and Truth Iustice and Mercy and right Iudgement in the Land but when the Lord tryed them they have all proved deceitful and unfit men for the Lord to exalt his name by but they have neglected Iustice and true Iudgment and the cause of the Fatherless and the Widdow have they not regarded as they ought to have done but great oppressions and persecutions have abounded in their dayes and they have forgotten the Lord and his Iudgements and sought themselves and not the Lord and been ambitious and self-ended and they have exalted themselves in their Pride and Covetousness and this hath been the path of many that have sitten in the Throne even till the God of Heaven hath been provoked against them to confound them and overturn them even when their measure of oppression and unrighteousness of Injustice and Persecution was fulfilled and when the measure of one was finished the Lord brought that down with shame and another was set up to raign till it had fulfilled its measure of that which went before it that it might be brought down even as the other and all this the God of Heaven hath effected by his power that all the Earth might take knowledge that he can do whatsoever he will and that he hateth and abhorreth Injustice and Oppression Cruelty and Persecution and that his Vengeance and Iudgements are extended forth against such Rulers and Governments by whom and in which Persecution Cruelty and Injustice are brought forth and because hereof hath he overturned and confounded Rulers and Governments and these things have been visible in our eye 2. Consider that you are now set in the Throne and are raised up out of your suffering condition and you are become the Rulers and Potentates in our Nation divers having been cast out before you and unto you a day and time is given to try you and prove you what you will do and whether you will rule and govern alone for the Lord and answer the end wherefore the Lord hath restored you which if you do and walk in the Fear of the Lord and forsake your Iniquities and do Iustice and Righteousness in the Earth then the Lord make you happy and a blessing in the Kingdoms But if so be ye walk in the wayes of Oppression and just Iudgement Mercy and Truth be wanted in the Land through you and you run on as others before you in Pride Ambition vain-glory and Covetousness and have no respect to the God of Heaven and his Heritage then the God of Heaven shall reprove you and deep confusion shall come upon you and as with a whirle-wind shall you be overthrown and you shall know that there is a God that can do whatsoever he will even he shall deface your glory and turn your Sun into Darkness and your Day shall become a Night of Misery Oh therefore say not in your Hearts that our Mountain is strong and we can never be moved neither think in your selves that your force is great and your number many and none shall be able to prevail against us but rather consider that there is a secret and an eternal Hand that can remove your Mountain and overcome all your might and power and subdue your Number and turn all your Wisdom and Policy into Folly and Madness These can his Hand do even the God of Heaven who is greater then all if he smite none can heal you and if he kill none can make alive if he beâ—… your enemy to fight against you there is none that can deliver you out of his 〈◊〉 all flesh is as grass that is soon cut down and withered and the strength of 〈◊〉 sons of men are as a Reed that is soon shaken and bruised 3. Consider how that you are placed in your present state between good and 〈◊〉 between doing the will of God and the will of the Devil that ye should do the one and forsake the other and in the doing of the one or the other dependeth the Blessing or the Curse the Love or the Hatred of the Almighty and you are in your day that is given you to prove you time is taken from others and given to you even by the Lord that gives and takes time and power according to his own pleasure and no man hath assurance of time unto himself but it cometh and goeth at the pleasure of the Almighty and time â—nd power is now given unto you for a moment Consider what the God of Heaven reâ—…ires of you in this your day and if you fulfill the will of the Lord then you may be happy but if otherwise then other effects shall follow upon 〈◊〉 and let not the King say in himself that because I am the true 〈◊〉 and to me onely it belongs to govern these Kingdoms and I may goverâ—â— as I will without correction as though therefore he might rule according to his own pleasure and the Lord take no notice I say let not this enter into any of your hearts but let the King know assuredly that these
Islands and all the Kingdoms in the World are altogether at the Lords disposure to give the governmâ—â—t thereof to whomsoever he will he giveth and taketh away Power and Dominion according to his pleasure and it is his proper right to rule over all even the God of Heaven and he it is that pulleth down and setteth up according to his own mind and if you please not the Lord but vex him in your proceedings you must know that the Lord can take from you the Dominion and give it to whom he will and there is no injustice in him thus to do but of right he doth it because it is his pleasure so to do with whom there is no Iniquity nor Unrighteoâ—sness Therefore let it enter into your hearts to Fear the God of Heaven assuredly knowing that it is he alone who hath secretly purposed and effected this your reâ—â—â—â—ing into the Throne and he hath given you this day and put this season into your hand that ye should do his will But if ye provoke him he alone can cast you down and take your day and season from you and none can hinder and this justly and none can reprove him 4. As concerning the men that were cast out before you whose persons many of them are now under your power be not passionate nor of a spirit of Revenge â—â—â—ards them neither seek their destruction but be merciful and patient and meek towards them for though it is the pleasure of God to reprove them by you for their iniquities yet it is contrary to his minde that you should take away their lives and cause them to be put to death for there is a seed of God amongst â—â—at people and when they come to true repentance and to the forsaking of their â—â—quities the Lord will shew mercy to them and peradventure heal them of all their backslidings and afflictions too Therefore shew Mercy and Moderation â—â—â—ards them and cut them not off in their sins lest that while you condemn them for being too cruel towards you in times past ye condemn your selves in the sight of the Lord and all people in doing that to them even in the same measure of cruelty for doing of which to you you now condemn them and so thereby bring the same guilt upon your selves which lies upon them but therefore show Moderation and Meekness towards them and leave vengeance to the Lord to whom it belongs if they be worthy of it it shall come upon them It is true they have been active against you and it 's probable they were raised up of God as a judgement and reproof upon you because of your iniquities which were many and great against God and the God of Heaven had a just Cause against you and improved them in it as instruments to reprove you and they had once a just cause against Oppressions and the Lord blessed them in it and gave them many Victories and wrought great Deliverances for them even when they were both fewer in number weaker in strength and less in policy and craft even then oft-times did God appear for them and gave them Victories and defeateâ— their Enemies and you your selves must confess to this That the Providence of War was clearly on their side which I call the hand of the Lord and consider what a sad thing it would be on your part and how contrary to God to cause them now to suffer when you have opportunity against them for that which was effected by them when the Lord was with them you ought not to cause them to suffer on that account but if you do you will provoke the Lord against you if that you destroy them and take away their lives because they were once prosperous against you even through the Hand of the Lord do I say and through the Providence and good Fortune of War needs must you acknowledge Now it s acknowledged that they quite forsook the just cause and forgat the Lord and his mercies and deliverances and became corrupted and abominable before him and insulted over their enemies in the spirit of ambition and began to set up the same things which once they had cried against in others and this was their Transgression and abomination and in their corruption and forsaking the Lord they became fully guilty of the same abominations of others before them and the Lord became provok'd against them to reprove them and correct them and afflict them even because of their transgressions who as I have said did forget the Lord and walked in the same Path themselves which they reproved others for and the same abominations were set up by them which they once pulled down in others and this was their Hypocrisie in whom was found a deceitful heart which led them aside into treachery false-heartedness covetousness and vain-glory and because of these their iniquities hath the Lord bowed them down under you and smitten them before you even because they were not faithful to the end and not because they were faithful at all no not because they were active against Oppressions at all but because they became guilty of the same abominations and set up that in themselves which once they moved against in others and because hereof hath the Lord reproved them and that justly that they might learn his righteous Iudgements and be humbled under his hand and that all the Earth may know if Men forsake Him he will give them up to the will of their Enemies though he may bless a man or a people while they fear his Name yet if they sin against him he can turn blessings into a Curse and now they that were once exalted are abased and brought down and you that were once low are now exalted and if you become corrupted and provoke the Lord through wickedness in this day of your Exaltation and if they become humbled and repent of their Transgressions through their afflictions in this day of their sufferings then the God of Heaven can and may suddenly by his secret hand bring you down and â—â—y you low and raise them up and exalt them and bow down your strength and might under others these things can the Lord effect according to his pleasure he exalteth and abaseth whom he will he setteth up and pulleth down according as men reverence him or regard him not They that honour him he honoureth but they that dishonour him by unrighteousness he bringeth such to shame O therefore ye Men consider how dreadful the Lord is and take his counsel lest ye perish 5. Concerning Liberty of Conscience in the faith and worship towards God you ought to be considerate and to take the counsel of God lest you run upon the same Rock upon which many have been broken before you to 〈◊〉 limitting the Spirit of the Lord and of such whose Consciences have been tender and binding them to or from by force or violence any such 〈◊〉 such way of Worship and Profession of Faith and exercise in Religion
or to persecute any for their Conscience and the exercise thereof towards God And now I come to the Accusation it self which is this in substance That the Quakers are Enemies unto and have sought to root out the true Protestant Religion The words are these calling upon the King to honour the Lord which saith he is done by establishing and preserving the true Protestant Religion which of late years hath been in great danger to be rooted out by Anabaptists Quakers and Atheists page 6. line 1 2 3. of his Book Answ. In answer to this divers things are considerable as to the manner of his Charge against us That this Accuser hath proceeded in the same manner and by the same spirit as the Iews Scribes and Pâ—â—â—isâ—â—s and chief Priestâ— proceeded against Christ Jesus for they numbred him with Transgressors as it is written and crucified him between two Thieves that they might add to his Afflictions and bring him under the greater reproach to Ages after and thus this Accuâ—â—â— hath done in numbring the Innocent People of God called Quakers with and among Transgressors even that he may the more add to their Reproach and have his Accusation heard before the King even that it might be received for truth as if the Quakers were no better then Atheists that deny God for for this end this Accuser in these Terms vilified us and made us equal in this account to the Atheists and thus numbered us with Transgressors and Sinners and that unto the King and for this end no doubt that we might be destroyed and cut off and crucified with such as deny the Lord God Oh how unjustly and unmercifully hath this our Accuser proceeded in thus dealing towards us let the King and all People consider 2. As for such as are Atheists who deny there is a God or who deny the true God that is and who live after the desires of their own lusts saying Let us eat and drink for to morrow we must die and there is no pleasure in the Grave nor state of happiness or misery after this Life such we do deny and have no Affinity Amity Union nor Fellowship with them nor they with us and this is well known through the whole Nation and fully believed in Bristol and I am perswaded in the very Conscience of this our Accuser he knows we are not such as deny God nor have any fellowship with such therefore how hainous is this man's Crime both to God and Men who hath abused the whole Nation with his Slanders and endeavoured to mis-use the King's Ears with false Informations and hath perverted his own Conscience in speaking contrary to it and hath vexed the Lord by his Lyes and all in this his numbring of us in Accusation with the Atheists as if we were one with them and no better then they 3. As for the Anabaptists so called the other Party with whom we are accounted and numbred in the Accuser's charge It is well known what difference there is between us and them and how that we have been opposite one to the other in Controversie about spiritual things and also in matters of Judgement about Government and fighting with carnal Weapons c. and they have dealt sometime with us and proceeded towards us too hardly and maliciously as some of themselves know in accusing us to the Powers of the Nation as this man hath done But I shall at this time say no farther of them then this There may be a sincerity and uprightness amongst them in many of them more then is in this our Accuser though there is no small measure of Error in Judgement in them as concerning many Doctrines and Practises held by them and it s not my work now to accuse them neither to reward them evil for their evil but only on this occasion I am forced to clear the truth for the better information of all and I do wish well to them and even that they may confess to the justness of God's Judgment in what hath befallen them in this the day of their reproof who have been too ambitious and hard-hearted towards others that have not been of their Way and Sect and now the Lord deals justly with them in bowing them under others and in defacing their glory which was of man and not of God But to the case in hand I return and say How unrighteous still doth appear the manner of this our Adversary's Charge for whatsoever the Anabaptists or any others may hold or do though I at this time shall neither justifie nor yet condemn all what they profess and practise cannot we be charged guilty of except it first be lawfully proved that we holâ— and practise the same things And as for us who are scornfully called Quakers which Title was given unto us of derision and nick-naming I cannot in this place say much of us lest I should be said to justifie our selves which I seek not to do because it is the Lord that justifies us neither do I love much to be heard in our own Cause when it is onely our own nor do I seek praise of men for us nor of men to be â—…ed yet this I may say on Gods account and in his cause and not of our 〈◊〉 we are the people of the Lord whom he hath called and chosen and 〈◊〉 and though hated of men yet it is for the Lords sake and not for any 〈◊〉 amongst men that can be chaâ—ged upon us And we are Worshippers of 〈◊〉 â—â—ue God in spirit and in truth and we are of God and they that are of 〈◊〉 are not against us but with us and as for any Doctrine or Practise in 〈◊〉 Religion held forth by us they are according to the Scriptures of Truth 〈◊〉 I assert and can prove if need require in opposition to any that shall â—â—â—y it for we are not of a new Religion as if we worshipped strange godds though by the ignorance of men we are so reputed but are of the same Spirit 〈◊〉 in the same way of truth and we walk in the same light and life even as tâ—â— Apostles and Churches of Jesus Christ were of and walked in in the days 〈◊〉 old and this I am ready to make proof of if so it come to pass even beâ—â—â—â— the King and the whole Nation and do further declare That whatsoeâ—â—â— Church-Government Ministry Doctrine and Ordinances Faith and â—â—â—ship and whatsoever Religion in whomsoever that is not according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament but differing from and coâ—â—rary to that Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures I do for my self and on the behalf of all them that are one with me utterly renounce and â—â—y and freely give witness against notwithstanding upon whatsoever foundation such Church-Government Ministry Doctrine Faith and Worship be builded if not upon Jesus Christ as the alone Foundation and according to the Scriptures and proveable thereby they are Antichristian and the Lord will confound
yet notwithstanding Hypocrisie False-heartedness Covetousness Double-mindedness and the spirit of Pride Ambition and Vain-glory have possessed the Hearts of both Teachers and People in all the false Sects and divers kinds of Religion though they have had a shew as if they were the Lord's People and a Pretence of Worship and Conformity of Church-Fellowship c. yet their Hearts have not been right before the Lord but of these it may be said Even they have professed God with their Mouthes and with their Lips honoured him and in the very time their Hearts have gone after Covetousness and been far departed from the Lord and though they have cryed The Temple of the Lord and we are the Church of Christ and Members of him and have Gospel and Ministry and Ordinances yet these People have walked in Pride and Arrogancy and Covetousness and their Hearts have been Corrupted in the sight of the Most High and all their Religion hath been but as the Fig-leaves by which they have sought to cover themselves but it cannot be For Behold ye Professors and People of Ireland God hath beheld your Hypocrisies and the Deceitfulness of your Hearts and your Nakedness doth appear for though you have professed much of the Spirit and Spiritual Things yet you have walked in the Flesh and brought forth the Fruits thereof and your Garments of feigned Prayers and Practices and your Profession of Church and Ordinances will not cover nor hide you from the Wrath of the Lamb. Oh People of Ireland many of you have been corrupted in your Hearts and polluted in your Minds and from the highest of you to the lowest you are found Transgressors against God even from the Professor to the Prophane the Lord hath found no good Fruit amongst you well-pleasing to him but four Grapes and bitter Fruit have you brought forth even Fruit of a bad Taste and loathsom Smell unto the Lord and now the Lord hath found you out in your Wickedness and the Cry of your Iniquities call for Vengeance for of you it may be said Ah Nation laden with Iniquity ab sinful People a seed of Evil doers corrupted from the crown of the Head to the sole of the Foot These things are so and they cannot be hid But now the Lord's Purpose is to deal with thee because of thy sins seeing he is provoked against this People by their Iniquities who have been disobedient to the Living God therefore will he renew his Judgments of old and with-draw his Mercies and he will plead with this People in his Justice his Judgments are at the door and he will punish the Stout-hearted and Proud and Arrogant till they learn Meekness and Humility He will correct the Transgressors with his Rod of heavy Wrath till they turn to him by Repentance and all that will not how and kiss the Son and cease from Evil and learn to do well they shall be broken and cut off and perish in his Anger and he will never heal them even the Feller will come upon thy People O Nation who will hew down thy Cedars and cut up thy strong Oaks the Fanner is coming upon thee to sift thee to preserve the good Grain and to separate the Chaff into the Fire thy Strength will be made weak and thy Crown will be trodden down and thy Beauty shall be marred and all thy Glory and Might shall fade like a Flower in that Day when the Lord of Hosts pleads with thee and when he rewards thee for thy Wickedness then Wo unto thee and unto all the Wicked and Workers of Iniquity and he will cause them to remember what they have done Thy Sins O Nation shall be set in order before thee and thy Persecution of the Lords Servants shall be charged to thy â—â—â—ount and the Rod of Affliction shall reach close unto thee because thereof And as thy Rulers have done to others so shall it be done to them into Captivity shall they go and the Spoiler shall come upon the Land for just is the Lord and his Iudgment altogether equal and though he be Long-suffering and of great Forbearance yet he forgets not to plead with his Enemies and to Plague the Ungodly nor to shew Mercy to them that trust in him And doubtless there is a Cup of Wrath prepared for the Wicked to drink and it seemeth to be near even a Day of great Wrath and Tribulation upon Sinners and Transgressors who have rejected the Lord and despised his Reproofs and would not receive the Message of the Light of the World that they might be healed Wherefore Repent Repent all sorts of People all Sinners and Transgressors Tremble before the Lord ye Stout-hearted and Rebellious Children Wo unto ye unjust Rulers and Judges that have exercised unjust Judgment in the Land that have judged for Gifts and Rewards and that have turned aside just Judgment Mercy and Truth and that have persecuted the Innocent without just Cause Wo unto you that have been Oppressors of the Poor and Needy ye that have not judged for the Lord as ye ought to have done but have been Ambitious and Vain-glorious and puffed up in the Flesh by high Titles and Places of Honour Ye that have exalted your selves above your Brethren and sought Honour of Men and loved the Honour of this World morâ— than the Honour of God Wo unto you for the Day of the Lord's Judgment is at hand and an Account of your Stewardship must you give Ye that should have judged in Mercy and Truth and Equity but have perverted just Judgment and made the Innocent Offenders and have not been a Praise to them that do well nor a Terror to Evil-doers as ye ought to have been Wo unto you and to the Oppressing and Flashearted Lawyers and that Train who have been greedy of Gain and served your own Ends and sought Riches to your selves and the Cause of the Poor hath not been freely pleaded by you Wo unto all ye that have made a Trade of doing Judgment and Justice and have been exercised in the Law for your own Ends and not singly for the Lord. Tremble ye Sons of Wickedness ye that have exercised the Power of Antichrist and the Beast for the Judgments of the Lord are at hand to be executed upon you Wo unto you Great and Rich Men ye Covetous and Earthly Worldlings â—e that have made your selves Rich by Oppression and Grinding the Faces of the Poor that have got Gain by Hard-dealing and added Land to Land and Field to Field and that have over-reached the Ignorant and oppressed the Widdows and Fatherless and that have exercised Cruelty and Hard-dealing to your Tenants and Servants and have laid heavy Yoaks upon such with whom you have dealt and that have made your selves Great and Rich in the Earth by such means Wo unto you Misery is coming upon you Weep and Howlye Earthly Greedy Covetous Wretches of this World who have sought Riches more than the Lord and gotten Gain by Oppression
if the same things come to pass which they declare 〈◊〉 you deny them in this Age and â—ry against such as Hereticks who witâ—… the fulfilling of them which shews you are of Antichrist and that you quench the Spirit in the Sons and Daughters which God hath promised in the New Covenant that he would give and pour forth upon Sons and Daughters and they shall prophesie And are not we to look for these things now What must not God's Promises be fulfilled must not an Heards-man now preach if the Word of the Lord come unto him and must not Plow-men now speak of the things of God if they have experience of them and must not Fisher-men and Tent-makers bear witness to the Name of Christ if they have received of his Spirit and will you deny the Scriptures which saith As every one hath received the Spirit and the Gift so let him administer the same one to another 1. Pet. 4. or do you say None must have the Gift of the Spirit but such as are brought up at Schools and Colledges or will you limit the holy One to such and such Men and Wayes Oh you are blind and ignorant who would quench the Spirit of God that it should not speak in these dayes and thus you are denyers of the Scriptures but God hath given of his Spirit and spoken in our Hearts and we must prophesie and speak as the Spirit of God giveth utterance as the Saints of old did Act. 2. 4. Now for your way of making Ministers at Schools and Colledges and so quallifying them with knowledge in the seven Sciences as it is said and ordaining them in that manner and way as among Papists and Protestants hath been practised for Ages this way of making Ministers and sending of them forth was never known among the Apostles for they were not thus made and ordained and sent to preach nor was this way of making and sending forth Ministers till the Spirit and Power of God was lost and forsaken by the Apostate Christians and the Scriptures make no mention of such ways nor give no Example for such things and we cannot own any Religion nor any Practice thereof but what we have Example for from the Saints of old before us and we believe that it is generally of Antichrist to invent and introduce such and such Practices for Religion towards God and for the Worship of him for which there is no Example in all the Christian Churches in the Apostles dayes and we believe that way of making Ministers and sending of them forth which is not approveable by the Scripture nor according to them is of Antichrist and not of God neither can we own such Ministers nor their Ministry who are not ordained of God and according to the Scriptures nor can we deuy private Preachers nor their Ministry as you call them if they have received the Spirit of Christ though they be not so learned outwardly nor ordained according to what some may call the right way but who are Ministers made and sent of God and have the Authority of his Spirit such we own and cannot deny and such the Lord will bless with his Presence to the confounding of all their Enemies Concerning Settlement in a happy Government Object There hath been great Divisions and Distractions in these Nations for many years and in the midst of them the great cry hath been by many for Settlement and Peace and for a quiet and happy Government Answ. These things hath the Lord suffered to come to pass in the World even great Contentions Divisions and distractions and much Changes of Government in these Kingdoms And the appearing Cause of these things hath been from the Lust that hath warred in the Members for from thence doth Wars and Strife arise and many have been Ambitious Vain-glorious Self-seeking and Covetous of the Honours and Pleasures of this World the lust and desire of these things hath possessed the minds of Men and induced them to Envy and Wrath one against another and hath filled them with Heart-burnings and cruelty of mind to the killing and destroying of one another by Wars and Blood-sheds and by Plots and Contrivances have sought how to extinguish one another from the Earth that themselves might be exalted and thus from the desires that have warred in mens minds have Wars arisen against the Persons of Men and among them and this is the appearing Cause of the Wars and Distractions that have been in these Nation though the hidden cause which hath not so appeared hath been in God and because of the wickedness of Men both high and low and because of their Oppressions and Abominations which have been many and great in the World therefore hath the God of Heaven been provoked in just Judgement towards Rulers and People to suffer Men to destroy one another and to execute Bloodshed and Destructions one upon another and he hath brought it to pass in giving up men to the fulfilling of their cruel intents which have been hatched in their evil Minds every Man against his Neighbour and even because they have been departed out of his Counsel and followed their own wicked Wayes and Justice and Mercy and Truth have been wanting amongst Men in these Nations so that this is the principal cause wherefore the Lord God hath brought about and suffered these Wars Distractions Confusions and Discord in these latter dayes and out of the justness of God's Judgments because of the wickedness of men have these things been And now these Distractions and confusions and Discords amongst Men can never wholly and truly cease to be till Iniquity and Transgression be repented of and turned from which is the very cause wherefore God hath done and suffered these things as I have said and so Men must cease from Oppression from Cruelty and from all Unrighteousness and must turn to the Lord and become cleansed from their Sins ere ever the Judgements of the Lord be removed and these Distractions Wars and Confusions cease to be in these Lands and till Men become Meek and Humble and till they cease to seek revenge one of another and till they cease all Oppression and Covetousness Injustice and Unmercifulness and till they forsake their worldly Honour and high Titles which puff them up in Arrogancy and Ambition and even till every Man forsakes his particular Iniquity till all these things be Distractions will not cease nor shall Settlement and Peace and happy Government ever be This is certainly so for except the Cause be removed the Effect can never cease and there appears to be at this day as great if not far more Dissatisfactions in the Minds of some People than hath been heretofore and it appears to be as far from Settlement and true Peace in an happy Union in Government as for many years though it hath been expected by many that we should have Peace and Settlement in Government yet behold it cannot be for there are Discontents and Murmurings in the
New Birth and â—ll such are out of the right way in the way of Error if they have the Form of Godliness but want the Power though they may have Mass or say Common-prayer once a week oâ— oftner yet all this is but Abomination and Deceit whilst they practise Iniquity Hatred Back-biting Lying Drunkenness and the like they that act these things the Plagues of God will be their portion and Misery their end and their Profession in Religion will not save them The Day of the Lord is at hand ye Hypocrites ye false Christians ye â—â—at profess God with your Lips and your Hearts are far away Therefore repent ye and treâ—ble before the Lord lest hâ— smite you with Vengeance and forsake your false Religions both your Mass and your Iâ—…s of Prayer and be not Idolaters in professing love in your mouthes and honour with your Lips wâ—ilst your hearts are departed from the living 〈◊〉 and now come to learn the true Religion Depart from all Iniquity and do not Lye nor Swear nor be Drunk nor Steal nor Murder nor Envy but love the Lord with all your hearts and your Neighbour as your selves And this is the true Religion in which man may be saved and live in Soberness Meekness and â—â—nesttâ—y and speak every man Truth to his Neighbour and live in love 〈◊〉 with another and be kind and gentle and bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit of God Cease to do evil and learn to do well and depart form all â—â—iquity and follow after Righteousness This is true Religion and in it â—ou may â—e saved this is the right way all that walk in it shall have Peace and Blessing from God and all that walk contrary Damnation is their portion Therefore you Papists and Protestants so called turn from your Hypocrisie and learn this way and cease from your false worships that are after the Forms and Traditions of men and not after the Spirit of God and learn to worship God in the Spirit that you may be saved You have a Light from Christ in your Consciences which lets you see what sins ye are guilty of and it reproves you for your sin If you believe in the Light and walk in it that is the right way then you will deny what is evil and follow what is good in your Conversations but if you follow what is evil and act contrary to the Light in your Consciences and repent not Vengeance in flames of fire will be youâ— portion This is the day of your Visitation the Army of the Lamb is gone forth and the Sword of the Spirit is drawn amongst them that will wound your Consciences and God will smite you with the words of his mouth ye Rocks and Hills and Bryars and Thorns and fruitless Trees the God of Heaven will hew you to pieces and pluck you up and cast you into the fire to be consumed Repent for the Day of the Lord is at hand By one that seeks the Good of all men E. B. A VINDICATION OF The People of God CALLED QUAKERS Directed Unto Roger Boyle Called Earl of Orrery Charles Coote Called Earl of Mountrath Theophilus Iones Called Sir Theophilus Iones Being an Answer to a Book dedicated to them by one George Pressick of Dublin In which Book many Lyes and Calumnies are presented against the Innocent People of God And this is for the clearing of the Truth that no Lye may rest upon it And for the Satisfaction of all Sober People in Ireland and elsewhere With a Word of Good Advice to the Chief Governours there THere is Irreconcileable Ennity between the two Seeds to wit the Seed of God and the Seed of the Serpent and these two are alwayes opposite and contrary one to the other in Nature Fruits and Effects and the seed of the Serpent is alwayes persecuting the Seed of God in every Age and Generation and they in whom the seed of the Serpent is living and ruling are alwayes projecting and contriving mischief and hatred against the People and â—â—â—vants of the Lord in whom the Seed of God liveth and reigneth as it is written He that is born of the Flesh persecutes him that is born after the Spirit Thus it hath been in all Generations and thus it is at this day Great is the â—â—â—â—sition that is made by many in Lyes and Slanders in Reviling and Reâ—…hing in Imprisoning and Persecuting and in all manner of evil works 〈◊〉 words against the innocent People of God called Quakers How have the hands of ungodly men been lifted up to smite that People by many kinds of abuses and how have their Tonges been set on fire to reproach and revile and slander in all kind of evil-speaking and all this for Righteousness-sake and not for any evil doing For who is the man and where is he that can justly charge Evil upon that People either in Doctrine Faith or Practice or in any â—â—ing relating to their Religion to God-wards or in relation to their Conversations and walking towards men It is true we have not wanted Accusers to every Authority but such and such things have been falsly charged against us and that to every Power that hath been since we were a People under whom we have been a suffering People even from all that ever have sitten in the Throne since the Lord raised us up to bear Witness of his glorious Name and Truth in the World Now the present occasion of this my present work is Forasmuch as we now stand accused of great and heinous Crimes in the view of this whole Kingdom of Ireland and more particularly before you three in a Book called A brief Relation of some remarkable Passages of the Anabaptists in Germany c. published by one George Pressick of Dublin and dedicated in a special manner to you that his Work may pass with the greater Credit and his Slanders and Calumnies be received for undoubted Truths Now that the Innocency of the Upright may be cleared and that no Lye may rest upon the Truth nor that you neither any others may receive Falshoods for Verities because of our silence therefore it is that the Lord hath put it into my Heart to defend the Cause of God and his People by returning plain and sober Answer to the principal part of his Book wherein we are concerned and falsly Charged and for the end that the false Accuser may be reproved and his Calumnies returned into his own evil and malicious Heart from whence they came and that you and all men may be truly informed and prevented if possible of being seduced into the belief of Falshoods lest that your Hearts and Hands should be stirred up to act or do in your Authority against the People whom God hath blessed and from the ground and cause of Mis-informations and false Accusations without better Testimony which would be a way to destroy your selves and to bring the unjust Sufferings of the Lord's People upon your own Heads which would draw
suppose impossible things to manifest the truth of our Principle our Principle is not to be insolent tyrannical nor to be Usurpers over God's People to enslave but far the contrary even that Justice Mercy and Truth may sit in the Throne and that Peace and freedom may be held forth unto all that no Usurpers nor Tyrants but Iust Men and men that fear God and hate Covetousness and every evil Way that such alone may sit in Judgment whom God calleth to that Place who will rule in Righteousness and Justice and regard the Cause of the Poor and Needy we would that such onely ruled who were ruled by the Lord who would be a Blessing in the World and to all People not desiring more Liberty to our selves than what we would give unto all others in all just Ways This is our Principle as to matters of outward Authority among men and not as this false Accuser hath suggested out of his evil Heart 6. As to the matter of your suppressing us which your Applauder saith you have been instrumental to do This is as false as the rest for we are no more suppressed than before you exercised your present Authority but are every way in as much liberty of Persons and otherwise as in their dayes before yours and are no way suppressed nor fearful of it So the Author of such Lyes hath but flattered you and fawned upon you in telling you ye have suppressed us whenas its nothing so but and if it had been in your hearts or be at this day to suppress us and to hinder us of our Liberties and to persecute us the Lord shall plead our Cause against you and give no success unto your Work but it shall be turned to our Renown and to your Overthrow and the secret hand of God shall confound you and break your Purposes and deliver his People out of your Mouthes Thus it shall come to pass ifthat your Hand sshould be stretched forth to hurt us who are Gods Heritage and the Sheep of his Fold And thus much in answer to his Epistle Now I come to a second Accusâ—tion of his stated in his first page in these words We may see from whence Anabaptists Quakers Ranters and Levellers all had their Original namely from the Papists c. Answ. 1. As for the Anabaptists Ranters and Levellers I leave them to plead their own Cause and though we are accused with such yet there is much difference in Iudgment and Practice between us and them though I believe they are all further from Popery both in Iudgment and Practice than is this Accuser of them but yet they shall answer for themselves and I shall onely mind the matter I have in hand which is to clear the People of God called Quakers from the Accusations charged falsly against them whom I know to be innocent from these false Accusations 2. That we did arise from the Papists or that they are our Original in Dâ—ctrine Faith or Practice this is utterly false for between us and them is perfect separation and we are of another spirit and divided from them as appears every way even by their persecuting of us for our Testimony bearing against them and their Religion and they have written against us and we against them divers Controversies and they have imprisoned divers of our Friends in their Dominions for giving Testimony against their Wayes by all which it doth appear that we are not of the Papists line nor arisen from them for if we were of Them they would love Us and not persecute Us and that herein we are falsly accused as in other Things And this is an old out-dated Accusation and is of no Account for now we are otherwise known through these Kingdoms and we are manifest to the Consciences of men in the sight of God to be such as fear the Lord and walk in his ways 3. And as for our Original It is the Lord God alone that hath raised us up and planted us a People that were not a People in times past and not from the Apostate Christians neither of Papists nor Protestants so called are we sprung but are of the Apostles Line and of the Stock and Race of the true Christians that believe in Christ and follow him and in every part of our Religion both in Faith and Practice and in Conversation we are agreeing with the holy Apostles being witnessed unto by the Scriptures in all that we profess and Practice and the Lord hath raised us up out of the Apostacy into which all Christendom hath been fallen since the Apostles dayes whilest Antichrist hath reigned over the World and we are as the first Fruits unto God and to the Lamb since the fâ—lling away from the true Faith and Truth and Righteousness is our Original and Christ Jesus it our Foundation on whom we are builded and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against us and this Testinony the Spirit of God giveth for us and in us in contradiction of the false Accusations of all our Enemies 4. And if it be an offence to be risen from the Papists and if all that be evil which they are the Original of then the Protestants so called are in the Offence and their Ministry and the chief part of their Church-Government Worship and Ordinances are evil for did not the Protestants spring from the Papists and did not the Papists institute the Way by which the Protestants Ministers at Schools and Colledges And was it not they that first Instiuted sprinkling of Infants and calling it Baptism into the Faith and into the Church And was it not the Papists that first taught the Protestants to keep holy dayes as Christmass and Candlemass so called and many other particular things relating to the Protestant Church Ministry and Worship were originally ordained and first practiced by the Church of Rome and Papists and so while this false Accuser is charging others himself and the men of his Way are found guilty of the same things and the Papists may justly say to the Protestants that they are false hearted to them in denying of them and their Church when as their Fathers were the Instituters of the principal parts of the Protestants Worship and Ordinances and so they like unnatural Children have denyed their Mother that bred them up and ordained them a way of making Ministers and maintaining them and many other parts of their Religion But because she hath not been the National Interest for these many years therefore the Church of the Protestants have denyed the Church of Rome though originally they rose out from them The next thing in his Book I take notice of is where he seemeth to charge us with boasting that we talk with God and God with us and have Revelations and as if God commanded them to kill all the Wicked and to make a new World a Sect in Saxony saith the Accuser arose that held this and the Quakers now are like them which is as much as
which he would bring upon others Again The Accuser chargeth us That we would neither have King Magistrate 〈◊〉 Ministers but of our selves c. Answ. 1. I have before mentioned what kind of Rulers and Government we would have even such as are just men and men of Truth and Righteousness and that hate Covetousness and every evil Way and such are of us even such we would have to reign as are approved of God who would be a praise to them that do well and a terrour to Evil-doers and that would only rule and reign for the Lord exercising and executing his Righteous Laws by the Spirit of God and such will be blessed in their Authority 2. And till such only rule and bear the Sword of Justice in the Earth we do know Peace and Happiness can never be in the Kingdoms of the World but divisions and confusions will arise and be brought forth for it is the only blessedness of a Government in any Nation when the Authority it self is just â—ad according to God and when such as bear the execution thereof are just Kings Righteous Magistrates and Ministers of Justice that will judge for God and not for man and we seek not the Place of Government in this World nor do we intrude our selves into such Places though this we say while that spirit reigns and rule in the Nations of the Earth which is not of God but contrary to us Peace and Happiness in good Government amongst men through the World can never be though we are truly subject to whatsoever Authority is set over us by doing or suffering Then the Accuser speaks of teaching the Wayes of Righteousness and saith according to this the Quakers have gone through Ireland and he speaks of God's Wrath following for hardness of Heart and this saith he is just like the Quakers Doctrines now Answ. That the Quakers scornfully so called have gone through Ireland and through many other Nations of the Word to teach and preach Truth and Righteousness this is true and without occasion of an evil Charge against them for so doing and the Lord hath prospered us and been with us to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and we have Testimony in the Consciences of many for the truth of our Doctrines and Practices and this is not Error nor Heresie to proclaim the Wrath of God because of the hardness of Peoples Hearts for that is the Portion of all hard-hearted men and we are not ashamed of this Doctrine for it is according to the Scriptures of Truth and but that this Accuser is given up to blindness of mind he would never have mentioned these things against us nor used our Names in reproach in this matter And lastly whereas he saith some of the Quakers say they are Jews and are not but are of the Synagogue of Satan and thou chargest Iames Naylor with â—â—ying that he was Christ and that one should say George Fox was Iohn Baptist and such false Prophets and Prophesies we have heard too much of c. Answ. 1 That they say they are Iews and are not are such as have a Name to live but are dead who say and do not but we are not such so this his Charge is false and wicked and of the Synagogue of Satan he doth manifest himself to be by his accusing of the Brethren And as for Iâ—…s Naylor he never said he was Christ through this hath been cast as a foul Reproach upon him by others yet it never was proved against him lawfully noâ— any thing tending thereunto saving that he said Christ was in him as 〈◊〉 iâ— in every Member of his Body according to measure And as for the story of George Fox there are many such lying stories that have gone abroad in these Nations in opposition to the Truth of God made manifest but over all these things Truth â—ath gotten the victory and the Lord's Work must prosper in the Earth and all Lyâ—rs must be confounded and have their Portion in the Lake And this iâ— our Portion from the World as Christ said They shall speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my Name sake but great shall be your Reward in Heaven And this is for a Testimony against them that our Enemies are of the Devil and for a Testimony to us that we are of God And thus I have returned our Defence before you against his several Lyes and Slanders and it s left to the Witness of God in your Consciences to be Judge in this Case between us and him and if you be cloathed with the Spirit of moderation and meekness and will judge according to Equity I doubt not but the Cause is clear against our Adversary who wrongfully and to a wicked and evil intent hath hatched Mischief against us and brought it forth before you and we desire nothing of Revenge towards him for his evil work but do leave him to be rewarded of the Lord who will justly give him and all men according to their Deeds And now I have a few Considerations to present unto you three in particular as such in that capacity who bear rule in this Land 1. Consider how that you are set in Place and Authority and ought to judge and govern for God alone and to be a Terror to all Evil-doers and a Praise to all that do well and the living God requireth of you To do Iustice Truth and Righteousness in the Land to hear the cry of the Widow and Fatherless and to judge uprightly the Cause of the Poor without respect to your own self-ends and ye ought to be meek and humble men in your Places of Care and Trust which iâ— committed unto you and take heed that your hearts be not lifted up in the honour of high Places and so Iudgment Mercy and Truth be neglected and Oppressions and Cruelties be brought forth 2. Consider that if ye do Iustice and Righteousness and walk humbly with the Lord and exercise Mercy and Truth in the Land and hear the Cry of the Poor and deliver the Afflicted then the Lord can make you a Blessing to your selves and to the People But if you be proud and exalted and ambitious and vain-glorious and exercise Cruelty and Oppression and tread down the Poor and vex the Needy and grieve the Lord God by your Iniquities then God will cast you down and lay your honour in the Dust and make you a Curse and a Reproach and your Names and Memorial shall be a stink and the justice of the Lord's Hand shall effect it 3. Consider that ye are Men and not God and your strength flesh and not spirit and there is a God greater than all who is above all who can suddenly in a moment save his People and destroy his Enemies and he can break you down and never raise you up he can turn his Hand upon you and all man-kind as the Potter doth with his Clay even tread
hath redeemed us into Peace and Comfort with God and one with another And as concerning our Principle about Magistracy and Government and obedience thereunto this I do declare 1. We do own and acknowledge Magistracy to be an Ordinance of God instituted of him for the punishing of Evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well and we acknowledge all subjection to Authority Magistracy and Government This is our Principle and hath ever been our Practice known through these Kingdoms that we are subject by doing or suffering to whatsoever Authority the Lord pleaseth to set over us without Rebellion Sedition Plotting or making War against any Government or Governors 2. That Government and Authority which is justly according unto God in all its Statutes and Ordinances we are and do engage to be subject thereunto by full Obedience to all the Commands and Injunctions of such Authority and Government whose Laws Ordinances and Commandments are grounded upon right Reason and Equity which leadeth to do to all men as we would be done unto and punish the contrary to such Government and Authority we are readily subject in all things and cases and we are for the Order and Assistance of such Government in all Righteousness 3. That Government which is contrary unto this which is Injustice commanding and requiring things contrary to the Law of God and imposing upon People in Matters and Cases contrary to Right Reason and Equity whose Commands are different to the Will of God yet to such Government we acknowledge subjection by patient suffering under all Penalties inflicted for disobedience to the Commands which we cannot perform by Obedience for Conscience sake And this is our Principle though an Authority and Government were never so Unjust in it self and in its exercise yet we may not plot nor contrive or make turbulent Insurrections to redeem our selves from such Government and Authority but we must commit our Cause to the Lord in such case of suffering under any unjust Commands of Men. 4. As concerning Church and Ministry and the Exercise of Religion We believe and acknowledge that Christ hath a Church upon Earth and a lawful Ministry and we are not Enemies to Church and Ministry and Gospel-Ordinances as we are falsly reputed by Men ignorant and slanderous but we only bear witness against the corruption and degeneration of the Church of Papists and Protestants so called wherein they are different and contrary to what the Churches of Christ were in the Apostles dayes they are different and contrary I assert to what the Churches of Christ once were in Ministry in its Call and Maintenance in Ordinances and Worship in Discipline and Government in all these things there is difference to what these things were in the true Churches in the Apostles dayes And our Principle is for the reforming of Ministry Church Government Discipline and Worship and not to destroy them 5. As concerning Imposing of Faith and Doctrine and Practices and Worship in Religion by the force of Laws and Penalties in the ignorance of mens Consciences or contrary to their Consciences We do say This Practice never was in the Apostles dayes but is an Intrusion of Antichrist and we bear Testimony against it not to be of God but contrary to him And that outward Government and Authority in Kingdoms and Nations is to be exercised over the outward man in things between man and man and not over the inward man in things between God and mans Conscience in spiritual Matters and Worship and Duty to God-wards No King nor Ruler upon Earth hath Power given him of God to exercise such Authority over the Consciences of Men in the Matters of God's Kingdom And further Religion and Church Government so set up and established by force upon Pains and Penalties can but reform a People into Hypocrisie and false Conformity and not into any real Performance of Religion or Duty to God And such Performance of Religion Church-Fellowship and Ordinances is not unto eternal Life but to the making of men two fold more the Children of the Devil 6. We do believe That it is the Convictions and Teaching of the Spirit of God that doth make men and People only truly Religious It is that only that perswades the Conscience from all Evil unto that which is Good and true Religion and the Worship of God and Duty towards him is not truly learned by Traditions of time Commandments of Men or Custom of Countries or the like but it is the Spirit of God and its Teachings in the Consciences of People that leadeth into all Truth according as Christ hath said so that the Way of forcing Religion and Duty to God upon People by force and outward Penalties this was never known among the Saints and Apostles of Christ. These things are presented to your Considerations The Lord give you a right Understanding of them and that you may walk in the way of your own Peace with God and Man E. B. Written in the 10th Moneth in Ireland 1660. SOME CONSIDERATIONS Presented unto the King of England c. Being an Answer unto a Petition and Address of the General Court of Boston in New-England presented unto the KING as is said Feb. last the Eleaventh Day 1660. Subscribed by Iohn Indicot the chief Persecutor there thinking thereby to cover themselves from the Blood of the Innocent OH King this my Occasion to present thee with these Considerations is very urgent and of great necessity even in the behalf of Innocent Blood hoping that my Work will find such Favour with thee as to induce thee to the reading and serious consideration hereof My Occasion is this Because of a Paper presented to thee called The humble Petition and Address of the General Court at Boston in New-England In which is contained divers Calumnies unjust Reproaches palpable Untruths and malicious Slanders against an innocent People whom they scornfully call Quakers whom for the Name of Christ's sake are made a Reproach through the World and by these Petitioners have been persecuted unto Banishment and Death It is hard to relate the Cruelties that have been committed against these People and acted upon them by these Petitioners they have spoyled their Goods imprisoned many of their Persons Whipped them cut off their Ears Burned them yea Banished and Murdered them and all this I aver and affirm before thee O King wholy unjustly and unrighteously and without the Breach of any just Law of God or Man but only for and because of difference in Iudgment and Practice concerning Spiritual things and without any Transgression of the Law of God or their own Laws saving that they made Laws against them on purpose to spoil their Goods imprison Persons cut off their Ears yea and kill them which Laws were made by them without any Power truly derived from the lawful Authority of England contrary to their Patent And now O King these same men have presented thee with a Petition in which is asserted very many
present help unto us in the time of our trouble for the plotting of the Wicked and the purpose of ungodly Men hath often been broken for our sakes even many a time have we been delivered out of the Snare that hath been laid for us and we have seen our Enemies fall before us on the right Hand and on the Left even the Wise in their worldly wisdom and the Foolish in their brutishness both Professors and Prophane hath our God often cut short in their desires and endeavours of our destruction and we have been wonderfully preserved unto this day and all this I attribute to the infinite Love and Power of the Lord God who is blessed for evermore And through all these things we are yet alive and the Lord doth not fail us unto this hour but he lives and walks in us and with us and his Testimony is with us even the Seal of his good Spirit in our Hearts that we are his Sons and Servants and we are confirmed by many tokens that he is our God and we are his People and that great Oppression which we have met withal hath not restrained us but thorough it all have we grown and prospered unto this day and concerning the things whereof we have testified these divers years I am no way doubtful but our God will fulfil them neither can my confidence be shaken by what is or can come to pass for Antichrist must fall false Ministry and Worship false Ways and Doctrines God will confound false Power and false Church the Lord will lay low and Truth and Righteousness must raign and God will gather his People more and more and glorious dayes will appear God will exalt his Kingdom upon Earth and throw down the kingdom of the man of sin all Oppression must cease and the Oppressors shall no more be and God will free his People and they shall be happy in this World and forever These things have we prophesied from day to day and my faith is constant and unmovable that God will effect these things in his season for the Lord never yet deceived me but what he hath said will surely come to pass And therefore Brethren let us be in Hope and Patience and live in the Word of Patience and not be faint-hearted as though the Lord had forgotten us or was unmindful of us or as though he would not perform what he had testified of by us for he is not a Man that he should lye nor as a Man that is given to change But lift up your Heads for the Lord is with us even in our greatest Tribulations and Afflictions and he will accomplish his Purpose for he is mighty to save his People and to destroy his Enemies It is true the Gates of Hell at this time seem to be open against us and we are a People like to be swallowed up of our Enemies and floods of wickedness seem to over-flow and the waves of the great Sea seem to be void of mercy and the hope of our Adversaries is to extinguish us from being a People and to destroy us from the face of the Earth and the Hands of our Persecutors are highly exalted at this day as though all that we have done for the Lord by our Labours and Travels should now be made of none effect Well dear Brethren though it be thus yet our God can deliver us and confound our Adversaries and we can appeal unto our God and can spread our Cause before him and he knows that our Sufferings and Afflictions are altogether Unjust and Unequal and Unrighteous and that our Persecutors do afflict us out of their Envy and without any just cause administred unto them by us our God knows it Angels and Saints know it that we are at this day a Persecuted People for Religions sake and this our present Affliction is not any just Punishment either from the Justice of God or from the justice of men For God hath given us the Witness of his eternal Spirit that Wrath is not in him towards us his Wrath be to his Enemies but unto us is Joy and Peace for evermore and the Lord clears us and he justifies us who then shall condemn us he chargeth no guilt upon us as if we were unto our selves the cause by our evil deeds of this our present sufferings and as if this were come to pass upon us as punishment from the Hand of God I say it is not so these our present Sufferings are not out of God's Anger towards us for his Love is to us let his Wrath be to his Enemies and as I said neither is this suffering in the justice of men for unto all the World we can say and God himself shall plead our Cause whom have we wronged or done evil to What evil have we done to any Mans Person Whose Goods have we falsly taken or coveted Against whom have we designed Mischief even the Lord himself be Judge between us and our Persecutors in this matter for unto him we are known that we do desire the good of all and not the hurt of any and yet we are dealt with as Evil doers whenas the God of Heaven is Witness in our Consciences that we neither plot nor contrive nor agitate in thought or word the hurt of any mans Person but we walk justly towards all being our Principle to do to others as we would be done unto and we can plead our cause unto our God and he shall plead our cause with our Enemies and this is the present state of our case what we suffer at this time it is singly in the Cause of God and for Righteousness sake and for the Testimony of Jesus which we hold therefore freely let us commit our Cause unto the God of Heaven and if we dye it is for him and if we live it is to him and we seek not vengeance against our Enemies but leave it to the Lord to plead with them And dearly Beloved I hope I need not exhort you to be patient and faithful in this day of our tryal knowing that the Cause is so excellent in which we are tryed it is God's Cause and not our own and I hope you all have the Testimony of his Spirit in your Consciences verifying the truth of the Cause for which we suffer and having that Evidence we need not to be doubtful as towards God not ashamed before-Men if so be that every one feels the Evidence of the Spirit of God bearing witness that we suffer for Righteousness sake and for the Name of Christ Jesus And so dear Brethren lift up your Heads and be asâ—…d that we are the Lord's and in his Cause we are tryed and he will judge and avenge our Persecutors in his season and we shall be a People when the Egyptians lie dead upon the Sea-Shore and when the raging Sea is dryed up this saâ—e People shall be safe for hath the Lord done so excellent things for us hath he led us forth and
it hath been in my Heart divers times to declare the Substance of these things unto you but at last I have chosen to write my Mind to present to you concerning the Matters very needful for you to be informed in and it is for your sakes as well as theirs that I have done it that you may not run on to act any thing against them upon Suspitions and Accusations of others without hearing our Defence and therefore it is for the avoiding and stopping of Persecution in the Land for this Cause have I taken in hand Submissively and not Presumptiously to state this Plea before you and I must leave it to your Considerations and cannot impose my Faith upon you to believe as I believe but having laid the Truth before you I shall leave it to the Lord to work Faith and Love and Iustice Mercy and all good things in your Hearts that you may bring them forth in the Exercise of them in the World London the 10th day of the second Moneth 1661. I am a Lover of Justice and Mercy Truth and Righteousness E. B. A Just and Righteous PLEA presented unto the KING of England and his COUNCIL c. CHAP. 1. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning Swearing at all and particularly concerning the Oath of Allegiance 1. WE do acknowledge our selves to be free-born People of this Kingdom of England the Land of our Nativity and we do assert That we have just and lawful Right and Title as such to possess and enjoy our Lives Liberties and Estates both by the Laws of God and Man having never unto this day since we were a People forfeited our Birth-right as men by any Rebellion Sedition Contempt or otherwise but have alwayes been and are a People exercised in the Law of our God by walking justly towards all men and doing to others as we would be done unto and have been and are a Peaceable People under every Government and Authority that hath been over us since the Lord raised us up And I do hereby declare That we now are and shall be Faithful Innocent and Peaceable in our several Stations and Conditions under this present Government of King Charles the second whom we acknowledge supream Magistrate and Governour over this Kingdom and for Conscience sake we are obedient and submissive to him as such in all his Commands either by doing and performing of what he justly requireth or by patient suffering under whatsoever is inflicted upon us in the Matters for which we cannot be obedient for Conscience sake when any thing is required of us different from the just Law of God And to this Subjection to the King and his Government we are bound by the Law of Righteousness and such hath ever been our Principle and Practice and is unto this day even to be Quiet and Peaceable and Patient under every Authority that is set over us and not in Unrighteousness to Plot or Contrive or Rebel against any Government or Governours nor to seek our own Deliverance from Injustice and Oppression in such a way And we are perswaded to seek the Preservation of the King's Person and Authority by all just and lawful Means and not to Rebel against him with carnal Weapons and so far as his Government is in Justice Mercy and Righteousness we declare true and Faithful Subjection and Obedience thereunto and wherein it is otherwise we shall be subject by patient suffering what is unequally imposed upon us and yet not Rebel in any Turbulent way of Conspiracies and Insurrections For our Principles are not for War but for Peace with all men so much as in us lie neither may we render Evil for Evil to any but are to be subject to the King and his Government Actively or Passively upon the Conditions aforementioned And we renounce all Forreign Authority Power and Jurisdiction of the Pope or any else from having any Supremacy whatsoever over the King oâ— any the good Subjects of England And this we Declare Acknowledge and Testifie in the Fear and Presence of God to whom we and all Mankind must give an Account and that without secret Equivocation or any deceitful mental Reservation 2. But as for all Oaths and Swearing we utterly deny for Conscience sake towards God because Christ Jesus hath commanded Not to Swear at all Mat. 5. And the Apostle saith Above all things my Brethren Swear not Jam. 5. And it was the Principle and Practice of divers holy Martyrs even some of the Protestant Church since the Apostles dayes in all Ages Not to Swear at all in any Case so for Conscience sake and according to the Example of Saints in former Ages we do refuse to Swear in this Case of Allegiance to the King and in all other Cases whatsoever and we cannot Swear at all Though the Truth and Verity of all Things in all Cases so far as known to us and as Occasion requireth we can acknowledge and testifie with Yea and Nay as in the Fear and Presence of God and with true Intent and Meaning to discover the Truth as is needful to be known And in this manner we acknowledge just Allegiance to the King and his Government that we shall live Peaceably and not Plot nor Rebel against him according to the Law of God and a safe Conscience but without any Oath or Swearing at all for we may not break the Command of Christ nor walk contrary to the Example of the Apostles and Saints by Swearing though we suffer the Loss of all because thereof And it is our known Principle and Practice ever since we were a People that in no Case whatsoever though of great Dependancy oft times to our selves both in respect of Advantage to us and also in avoiding of Sufferings we have not taken any Oath nor Sworn at all whereby it is manifest that our refusing chiefly to take the Oath of Allegiance is not because it is that Oath but because it is an Oath and for Conscience sake we cannot Swear at all 3. And thus the state of our present Case about this Oath of Allegiance is different from some others from all such who can swear and take Oaths in other Cases to whom taking of an Oath in it self is not matter of Conscience but as for us we make Conscience of an Oath in it self and that upon just Ground as we are able to demonstrate and therefore our Refusal of this Oath of Allegiance gives no Ground at all of Doubt or Suspition concerning us as if we would not live peaceably and quietly under this Government or as if we would Rebel against or Plot to destroy the King's Person or Authority and so deny to take this Oath as if we would leave our selves clear to proceed in such wayes this Judgment cannot justly be given of us because we deny to Swear at all in all Cases which if it were not so but that we could Swear in other Cases and not in this then we might justly be the more suspected
the King 's own former Promises 4. All these things considered and rightly understood by the King and his Council it will appear unto them in good Reason 1. That our Meetings are just and lawful in themselves because they are for the Worship of the Lord God and to wait upon him 2. They are according to the Example of the Apostles because the Scriptures prove the like Meetings 3. And they are not contrary to his own Promises and Tolleration that he gave for Six Moneths after his coming in because he said We should not suffer for our Religion if we lived Peaceably and we were not disturbed by Authority from him that we know of in our Meetings till this Occasion 4. It will appear That we ought in Justice Equity to have our lawful Meetings Protected and Preserved by the King's Authority and not prohibited because we are not guilty of that which occasioned this present Restraint but what we have suffered in this Case it hath been upon Suspition and without any just Cause on our part And for these Ends and Causes I plead on the behalf of the Innocent that we may enjoy peaceably our Meetings for the Exercise of God's Worship and not be prohibited in the King's Dominions under his Authority 5. But and if we are persecuted and imprisoned and made to suffer for this Cause of Meeting together to Worship God and Wait upon him in Conscience and Duty towards him and for following the Scriptures Example as the Saints of old as afore-mentioned we must only commit our Cause to the God of Heaven and in Patience suffer under whatsoever is unequally inflicted upon us for this matter if men shew the height of Oppression towards us and we must put on the Spirit of Long-suffering and Forbearance and leave Vengeance to the Lord who will in his season redress our Cause if that we are Persecuted for meeting together and for Worshipping of the Lord according as his Spirit perswades our Consciences and such our Sufferings are not for Evil-doing nor as Transgressors against God nor the King but as Servants of God we suffer and fot holding the Testimony of JESUS and a Good Conscience And thus I have brought the state of our Case as concerning our Meetings unto the Kings Knowledge and must leave it to his serious View and Happy will he be if he hath regard to the Afflicted but if he stop his Ear from the Cry of the Poor and suffer them to be destroy'd who shall plead for him or excuse him in the Day of the Lord when He comes to Iudgment to reward every man according to his Deeds CHAP. III. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning Tythes as paid among the Jews and also among the Christians and the Cause why we Refuse to pay them at this day 1. WE do acknowledge That Tythes as instituted given and received in the Law of Moses amongst the Iews and according to the Commandment of God were of Heavenly Ordination and were for that Holy Use and End of maintaining the Levitical Priesthood and the Poor the Widdows and the Strangers in Israel and we know that whilst that Levitical Priesthood of Signs and Types and Figures was yet unfinished and unfulfilled by Christ Jesus the Everlasting Priest that Law that gave and received Tythes was in force and it was sinful against God and contrary to his Law in any of Israel to with-hold their Tythes and not to pay them and such as did robbed God and the Poor and the Prophet complained against them for then the Ordination of Tythes was of God and the Practice and End of them was good and blessed But that Law and Priesthood that gave and received them is finished and ended with all the Types and Shadows of the first Covenant Heb. 7. 12. and Christ Jesus the everlasting Priest of God is come in whom is ended the first Priesthood that took Tythes and that Law that gave them and he hath put an end to Tythes Temples Priests-Office under the Law among the Iews and all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Types and Figures and First Covenant and is an High-Priest forever and the Everlasting Substance of all Shadows pertaining to the first Covenant and hath finished them and ended them even that Law and Ordinance that gave and received Tythes and that Priesthood to whom Tythes pertained so that though it was Unlawful in the first Covenant to with-hold the payment of Tythes yet that Covenant being ended and that Law and Priesthood and another Covenant and Priesthood established to whom the Law of God allows not the Tythes of mens Estates it seems now to be unlawful to pay receive or demand Tythes and for good Conscience sake we cannot do it 2. We cannot now pay Tythes according to the first Covenant nor uphold any part of the first Priesthood that stood in Types and Shadows nor submit to that Law by any Obedience to it which once gave and received Tythes seeing Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh who hath ended all that Covenant with every thing that pertaineth thereunto and we believe in Jesus Christ as the Everlasting Substance and receive the Law by which we walk in all things unto him and not from Abraham nor Moses For he is with us that is greater then they whose Law and Example we must follow in the Administration of the Gospel and not the Law and Example of Abraham and Moses in the First Covenant who did but Prophesie of Christ and did not witness him fully come but dyed in the Faith Now if we should pay Tythes according to the First Covenant and so uphold any part of that Priesthood which took Tythes which was but a Type of Christ the Everlasting PRIEST then we should deny Jesus Christ to be come in the Flesh and turn back again to the Law and to the Iews Ordinances and prove our selves Unbelievers and Antichristian for he that denies Christ to be come in the Flesh is an Antichrist 1 Iohn 4. 3. and we may as well turn back to Circumcision Sacrifices and Burnt-Offerings as to pay Tythes being all pertaining to the First Covenant and Priesthood which whomsoever doth uphold denieth Jesus Christ to be come in the Flesh and so are of Antichrist But we believe Christ is come and we have received him as the End and Finishing of the first Priesthood and we believe in him as the Everlasting Substance who hath put an end to Tythes Temples Burnt-Offerings c. and we confess unto him as our Judge and Law-giver and have renounced all Shaddows pertaining to the first Covenant whereof one was Tythes and for Conscience sake and that we may continue in the Faith of Christ the Substance and not deny him therefore it is that we refuse and cannot pay Tythes for we are Christians and Believers and not Iews nor Children of the first Covenant 3. And there is no Example by any of the Apostles or Saints in all the New Testament That ever any of the
Matter and Manner of it and by the Effect that would follow if the Author's Aim and Purpose were fulfilled By all which I must in true Judgment conclude from the Appearance Disposition Temper and Constitution of the spirit of the man and from all Causes and Effects pertaining to the said Semper Iidem That the Author thereof is indeed chiefly a Member of the Church of Rome to wit mostly a down-right Papist holding forth the Principles of Antichrist in perfect form and manner for the perfect End and Cause of Persecution even Burning again in Smithfield and else-where and killing and destroying even all sorts of people under the scurrilous reproachful name of Phanaticks that are in Iudgment and practice of Profession contrary to this man's Way and differing from the Papists Religion This I say I truly find to be the current and disposition of the Nameless Author and his Proceedings in his Method and Matter of his Semper Iidem c. and I have taken in hand at this time to answer him a little and to unfold some of the dangerous Intents towards England which may inhabit and secretly lodge in that spirit of the Church of Rome according to the current of the said Book and from which I have just cause to suppose the thing that I partly assert even that the spirit which hath Indicted the said Book waits its Opportunity to effect its end and to revive and renew Fire and Faggot again to the extinquishing and destruction of all that differ and are contrary minded in Principles and Practices of Religion and Worship from themselves for the Fury and Reproach of the said spirit that indicted and published Semper Iidem reacheth not only to others whom they call more Phanatical as Quakers Anabaptists c. but to the very Protestants themselves even to all whatsoever that differ from the Church of Rome for such by the Nameless Author are no less termed and vilified by that scornful term PHANATICKS distinguished by the Name of Ancient and Modern as hereafter I shall make it appear And First I shall shew a little concerning the Signification of the Term Phanatick as of late used and the first use of it in these late Dayes and the exchange of the word from one Sort to another and in whose mouthes it now remains and who are now so accounted 1. NOt to discuss the Etimology and signification of the word Phanatick in it self and what its Original is and from whence derived this I shall not now proceed to do as being not needful to my Occasion though there is difference of Judgment amongst some in this matter and some say the original and root of the word is from Phanos a false Godd and some say otherwise and they are not in unity among themselves that do most of all use the word concerning the Derivation and Signification of the word in it self Neither shall I spend time to seek out a Judgment and to give it in this case as counting the recompence that can be obtained not answerable to such a work but the signification of it as now used at this day among People is this All that differ in Iudgment and Practice of Religion and Worship from the generality of People and cannot conform unto such Way of Religion as generally practiced in the Land such are called PHANATICKS and this Signification the word beareth among People as now practiced Such as meet together to Preach and Pray out of Publick Places and cannot either out of Knowledge or Conscience conform to the Publick Way of Worship held forth such are called Phanaticks and Reproached by that Name from the Mouthes of Scorners and Revilers of the Wayes of God Numbers of whom do now abound and also Such who make Conscience of their Wayes and cannot run on in the Wayes of Iniquity in Lying and Drunkenness and such like but have been and are more sober and do walk more in Meekness and the Fear of God and have separated themselves from the Evil Company of men and from all Evil Wayes and could not run into the same excess of Riot with the Multitude such have been called of these late dayes Phanaticks by the Scorners Generation And thus much in brief of the signification of the word as used of these late dayes 2. As for the first use of the word Phanatick in this Age it is but of very late use for till within these two Years or less we had very little or no use of the word Phanatick until about the time of then General Monk's Army coming out of Scotland to London when the Army was new model'd and many of the Sectaries so called were turned out of Places about the Eleaventh Moneth 1659. then began the common use of this word Phanatick and the Anabaptists and such as were turn'd out of the Army and called all by the Name of Sectaries that were different from the publick Way of Worship then held out which was for the most part of it Presbyterians these were called Phanaticks and then the use of the word so common began about this time as I have said as now practiced in our dayes For the Rage and Indignation of the then Presbyterians so called and that Party was such against the Anabaptists and such as differed in Iudgment and Practice from them that scornfully they called them in Derision Phanaticks And so far as I know this was the Time and Occasion of the first use of this word as of late Practiced or at least it was the first Time and Occasion of my Observation of the common use of the word Phanatick 3. And now as concerning the exchange of the word from one sort of People to another and how it hath been used by divers sorts of People against others that have differed from themselves this is also observable That the word Phanatick hath not so much proper relation to any one sort of People as that it is only perfectly true to one sort of People more than to others but the properness of the word Phanatick is only as Scorners and Revilers will wickedly use it and as they will turn it to this sort of People or to the other to scorn them by it whom they have an Emnity against and whom they list to abuseby reproaching And this is the end of the use of the word to this day and not of any truth or verity in it to any People but only it s used as a Term of Reproach and Scorning by the Mouthes of ungodly men against such as differ from them and their Wayes though they are better in Practice of Life and Conversation than themselves And the Term hath been changed divers times and divers sorts of People reproached by it by others since its first use as first The People called Presbyterians as aforesaid they used it towards such as were otherwise-minded than themselves and reproached the Anabaptists and others that differed from them in Iudgment and Practice of Religion by the
Fined and taken out of their own Houses and Meetings to Goals and Prisons as it is at this day upon the Occasion of that Insurrection whereof they were clear and innoâ—ent both to God and Men though they are dealt withal as Plotters Conspirors and Rebellious when as hereof they are not guilty And this is all that I shall say at present as about that Insurrection and the Occasion of Semper Iidem its Publication And whereas Sir Iohn Oldcastle and Sir Roger Acton with divers others are mentioned and their Death 's related whom this Author saith were put to death for Treason and Rebellion and making Insurrection Concerning the Carriages and Death of such I shall say little nor can I justifie any in so doing neither in Ages past nor in this present Time if they were put to death only upon that Account for rebelling with Carnal Weapons and rising up in Conspiracies against the Authorities which they were under or for Evil-doing to their Neighbours I say such neither in this Age nor in Ages past do I justifie nor will vindicate their Practices nor condemn their Death but shall leave them to be justified or condemned of God according to their doings and according to the end and intent of their Hearts in their Proceedings but many others are mentioned in Semper Iidem who suffered and were put to Death burned and killed only for and because of their Principles and Practices in Religion while yet they lived peaceably and were of a harmless Conversation amongst Men the Persecution and Death of such upon that account I do condemn and do charge it to be Murder in the sight of God of such who were burned and destroyed because of their difference in Religion from the Church of Rome when as no Unrighteousness nor Double-dealing as to men could be charged and proved against them such I say as died and suffered for that Cause have been murdered by the Power of Antichrist among the Apostate Christians and the Blood of such will the God of Heaven avenge one time or other Now I come to search some Particulars which are stated pag. 3. which it s said John Wickliff held which Doctrines the Author of Semper Iidem seems to say are Errors by his condemning such for Hereticks as held them for Truths THe First That the Sacrament of the Altar is nothing but a piece of Bread This the Lollards so called are said to affirm for which the Papists condemn them as Hereticks Answ. As for the Sacrament of the Altar so termed by the Papists we find nothing of it in all the Scriptures not Sacrament of the Altar nominated only we find That Christ took Bread and brake it and gave it to his Disciples not as Himself for He only gave it them to eat in remembrance of Himself As oft as ye do it saith Christ do it in remembrance of Me. Where it is manifest that there is a distinction to be made and a separation in expression to be put between that Bread which Christ gave his Disciples to eat and his own Body for they were to eat the Bread not as Him but in remembrance of Him and this shews that the Bread which Christ gave his Disciples was Bread to be eaten in Remembrance of Him and so it is no Error but sound Truth to affirm That the Bread called the Sacrament of the Altar by the Papists is but indeed a piece of Bread and may safely so be called But suppose it were Error in men so to believe and say yet it is Murder Cruelty and not of Christ but of the Wicked One so to deal with them for their Error sake as before-mentioned Doct. 2. That Priests have no more Authority to administer Sacraments then Lay-men Held by the Lollards Condemned as a great Error by the Papists Answ. As for the Name and Order of Priests we find none such among the Apostles in the Christian-Churches in their dayes Pastors and Ministers and Prophets and Teachers we find but not Priests by that Name as a particular Order of Men in the Church saving that all the Saints are called Kings and Priests unto God neither do we find such a thing As consecrating a piece of Bread into a more holy quality then it was in it self before nor any Commision given by Christ to a particular Order of Men to administer Bread to the People as his Body we read that the Saints brake Bread when they were met together and some time from House to House but that there were particular Persons by an Office among them that did administer the Bread in the Form and Manner as among Papists we read not of this in all the Scriptures And as for Lay-men as Papists term them this word we have not in all the Scriptures but Saints we have of divers growths but the Papists have made many Inventions of Offices Titles and Names in their Church for which they have no Example at all in the Scriptures Doct. 3. That all things ought to be in Common Opposed by Papists as a great Error Answ. It is a great question what signification may be put upon the Word Common so I shall not vindicate for Truth the Doctrine as it lies and leave the Interpretation of the Word Common to my Adversaries and so I pass it only do mind that it is said in the Acts That they that believed had all things Common Though the Word Common there I understand not Absolute but with Restriction Doct. 4. That it is as lawful to Christen a Child in a Tub of Water at home or in a Ditch by the Way as in a Font-stone in the Church Opposed by the Papists as a great Error Answ. As for the Baptizing of Infants by dipping or sprinkling and calling it the Baptism into the Faith and into the Church as practised and held by the Papists we have cause to question the Lawfulness of the Thing in it self at any Place For we find no Command or President of Christ nor among his Apostles in the pimitive Churches for this thing of Christening Infants and therefore we question whether the Thing in it self is lawful at any Time or Place suppose the Papists could prove the Thing lawful and that it ought to be done by vertue of any Command or Example of Christ or his Apostles then again we question why not as lawful to be done at any other Place as in a Font-stone so called Of what holiness or purity is that more than other Places and of whose invention is it of all the Christians since the Apostles dayes seeing we find nothing at all of it in the Scriptures But suppose the Principle to hold indeed absolute Error the Papists yet do still wickedly in racking men and burning them because thereof Doct. 5. That it is as lawful at all times to confess unto a Lay-man as to a Priest Opposed by the Papists as great Error Answ. As for that manner and form of Auricular Confession so called
such as refused to take any Oath walked in the Doctrine of Christ and such walked contrary to his Doctrine as did condemn them And thus it is manifest that Papists and false Christians are fallen from the Doctrine of Christ and are calling Good Evil and Evil Good and putting Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light for they account such as will take Oaths and Swear good Christians who are Breakers of the Commands of Christ and such as abide in the Doctrine of Christ and cannot take any Oath but keep the Commands of the Gospel they are accounted Erronious and Hereticks and such like And whereas the Author of Semper Iidem hath censured judged and condemned in his work Iohn Wickliff and Iohn Lambert Thomas Evison and Iohn Waddow William White Cornelius Bunge Iohn Maundrel Iohn Trankerfield George Eagles Hugh Latimer Bishop Granmer and Bishop Ridley Thomas Hawkes Richard Woodman all of whom were Martyred and put to Death because they dissented from and denyed the Papists Religion these by name with a great many more this nameless Author with whom I am now dealing hath condemned for Hereticks and Erronious Persons and made void as much as in him lies their Blood and justified the Papists in putting of them to Death Now every particular Case of these particular Men that he hath named and accused as Phanaticks and Hereticks I shall not seek to shew or demonstrate so as to justifie every man's particular Case against this nameless Author of Semper Iidem but this is evident That these men are reputed by Fox in his Monuments as MARTYRS of JESUS and they have been reputed in England for many years as such and have been held of great Estimation and have been accounted as the Fathers of the Protestant-Church and my Judgment of them is this That their Death generally was for the Testimony of Jesus and because of their Faithfulness in denying the Church of Rome for I do believe That God did awaken these men with many more and stir up their Hearts in their Day against the Idolatries and Superstitions of the Times they lived in and many of them were sincere men according to their Light and Knowledge in their Day though I shall not justifie every particular man in every particular Part and Act of his Faith and Conversation but shall leave that at this time reserved in mine own Heart And still I say for the most part they suffered Innocently on their part and without Cause and Cruelly Inhumanely and Unjustly on their Enemies part and they Martyred them and put them to Death by Fires and Tortures unrighteously and as cruel Murderers on their part that Executed them And in asmuch as their Sufferings were only and because of denying the Church of Rome dissenting from her and denying of her and wherein only and alone their Sufferings were in this Cause and for this End they suffered as Servants of God though as I have said I shall not justifie every particular man of them in his whole Faith and Conversation And for a further Relation of these Persons who were put to Death mentioned by my Nameless Author whom he accuseth for Phanaticks and Hereticks and such like I leave it to be read in Fox's Acts and Monuments where it may be read concerning the Martyrdom of every one of these particular men with their Examinations Tryals and Executions as they are reported by Fox who hath alwayes been reputed A Faithful Chronologer of the Protestants Cause till this Semper Iidem seems to accuse him for a Lyar and false Reporter and such like And whether the People of England have not better cause to believe his Relation of these Persons than they have to believe they know not whom viz. the Author of Semper Iidem a Nameless Author who hath reviled the Protestants Cause and accounted the Martyrs and faithful Witnesses thereof Phanaticks and Hereticks let themselves be Judges But I shall leave this only with desire that these men whom he hath named their particular Cases may be read in Fox's Acts and Monuments which if you look in the Table at the end of the second Volumn â—ou shall find the mens names with the Pages disciphered where their Cases 〈◊〉 be read and when you have read them then judge whether Semper Iidem hath not falsified their Cases and wickedly reviled them by the name of Ancient Phanaticks thereby seeking to supplant the whole Protestant Religion and all that dissent from the Church of Rome And thus much in brief concerning the Martyrs whom in the 14th Page Semper Iidem saith That a notable part of the Sufferers whom Fox makes relation of were Phanaticks and Sectaries and Mad Saints and such like naughty words by which he accuses a notable part these be his words which is the chiefest part of the Martyrs related of by Fox and accuseth Fox himself of double Injuries in his Relation in that he hath Canonized Phanaticks and Sectaries and Mad Saints for Saints and Martyrs and in that he Reviled and Accused Queen Mary and the Papists in those dayes of greater Persecutions than they were guilty of and saith They did no more than Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth and Queen Elizabeth did to the Papists Thus it is manifest That that well reputed of and credited Historian Fox is reputed a Lyar false Reporter so the Book of Martyrs made worth nothing and Queen Mary the Papists justified in what they did in martyring and putting to Death the Protestants in their days and also Queen Elizabeth is secretly condemn'd in what she did against the Papists Oh that these dayes should ever appear in England which once were not thought of These things are published and suffered in this Old Government newly revived Let the Protestants of England take notice of it and see how the Records of their Martyrs are made null and of none effect and the Martyrs themselves slandered as Phanaticks and the Martyrers justified as Righteous in what they did and these things published and proclaimed up and down London These things I cannot but observe as full occasion is given me by Semper Iidem How that the Papists Cause seems to revive and to lift up its Head again in England in vilifying and reproaching the Cause of all the Protestants of all sorts who seemingly begin to be crow'd over again and the Death of their Martyrs made of none Effects as aforesaid And this is only in Love towards the People of England to make them consider what attends them and what Invasion is coming upon them if it be not prevented not that I wholy justifie the Protestants Cause against the Papists though Semper Iidem pleads That Queen Mary did no more to the Protestants than Henry the Eighth Edward the Sixth and Queen Elizabeth did to the Papists as the one Persecuted Burned and Martyred the Protestants so the other did Persecute and Destroy the Papists by which he would reason a justification of Queen Mary
the rest but the Presbyterians and Episcopals and all of that way and these Professions stand in Reputation and are accounted Phanaticks and Hereticks even William Pryn himself and this is manifest by the Author of Semper Iidem who hath reviled and reproached all the People of England publickly and openly For seeing the Antient Martyrs the Fathers so accounted of the Church of England are villified as Phanaticks Then must needs follow that the Church of England even in the way of Episcopacy as being in their own account the Successors of the Martyrs in some things at least are also Phanaticks and such as Semper Iidem saith the Old Phanaticks were for the men being reputed Phanaticks who were as the Fathers then needs must the Children be the same and this deserves serious Consideration by the Protestants of England 3. Consider how the very Cause it self of Protestants in this their long Contest for these many years with and against the Church of Rome is now weakened and even as it seems in a way of losse and decay being now reproached and held under publick scorn in England by Semper Iidem I say the very Cause of the Protestants is new struck at and beat against and sought to be destroyed being already defamed and reviled as appears by the discourse of the nameless Author who hath rendred the Antient Martyrs that promoted as much as they could the Protestants Cause against the Church of Rome and dyed for it many of them sealing the Cause with their Blood as Hereticks Erroneous Rebels and Phanaticks and hath also rendred Fox and his Acts and Monuments who hath hitherto in England been counted a true Reporter and Historian of the PROTESTANTS Sufferings as invalid as possible even that he is a Lyar and his Chronology Untruths and hath justified Queen Mary and the Papists who put the Martyrs to Death And these things considered duly and justly how is the Protestants Cause it self struck at and weakened and as it were the very Victory given to the Papists against the Protestants in this long Quarrel between them ever since Henry the Eighth's dayes and long before 4. Consider How the Papists Cause seems to be reviving in England and how bold the Members of the Church of ROME are of late dayes growing as to appear so publickly in Print justifying their own Cause as good as Queen Mary and the Papists in her dayes in Martyring and Burning the Protestants and condemning the Martyrs of the Protestants as Hereticks and Phanaticks This I say is great Boldness in the Papists more than hath been for this Hundred of Years and a Sign of a Reviving and Recovering of their Cause more than hath been for many Years who durst not any of them appear so publick as the Author of Semper Iidem hath done with that Boldness and Courage to justifie the Papists Cause and condemn the Protestants For if such a Discouse as Semper Iidem had been brought forth and published in the dayes of Queen ELIZABETH which were Darker Dayes then these are it is possible it would not have been suffered to be cryed up and down LONDON but Restrained and Condemned for the Fire But now the Papists have taken Confidence to themselves and are of better Hopes than formerly even that they shall have Fire and Faggot again and to Burn and Destroy such as differ and dissent from them whom they may call Hereticks and Phanaticks And this I observe from the spirit of Semper Iidem 3. Consider The Nature and Constitution and Disposition of the spirit of the Church of ROME how that it is not Changed but the self-same that ever it was viz. A spirit of Murder and Cruelty that hath Killed and Martyred such as have Differed from them and been Contrary-Minded in Religious Matters and it would work and bring to pass the same still if it had its Power without Limitation in ENGLAND The Papists I say would Burn Kill and Torture such as they judge Hereticks and all that cannot Bow and Bend and Conform to their Wayes and Injunctions and Religion this they would be at again in England if it were in their Power as it was heretofore I say This ought to be considered even the Cruelty of that spirit and what Danger there is in it to give way to the Exaltation of that spirit and to embrace it in the least whereby to give it occasion to get into the Power and Judgment-Seat for if it doth then Fire and Faggot and Killing and Burning about Religion will openly appear again and this seems to be manifest by the Constitution of the spirit of Semper Iidem which may give Good and Wholsome Cautions that the spirit of the Papists is still a Cruel Spirit and would Destroy all that Differ from their Way if they had Power and that that spirit is not to be Hugged and Embraced nor set highest lest the Effect of it proves Woful to England by bringing forth again what it once did in Renewing Fire and Faggot for this is the Disposition of the spirit of the Romish Church as is apparent by Semper Iidem 6. Consider how Careful and Vigilant the People of England ought to be to wait and attend the Motions of the Spirit of the Church of Rome lest it insinuate it self into Authority and get its intended Advantage and Purpose against the Protestants and their Cause and advance it self against them and promote its own Interest and Destroy and overturn theirs For without all Controversie that same spirit is now at work to agitate its Desires and according to its old course its Hatching and Contriving how to promote it self and destroy all that 's contrary it is Undermining and secretly Surmizing its Opponents Overthrow that it self may be exalted For that spirit is diligent in its way to take the least Occasion for its Self-advantage as is manifest by Semper Iidem and therefore the People of England ought also to be Careful and Diligent in their Cause to Preserve themselves and their Interest from the defeat of the Church of ROME and they ought to watch against that spirit to keep it in subjection under Authority and Command and not to exalt it into Command over them lest they be subjected to the Idolatries and Oppressions and Persecutions of that spirit to their own Destruction both of Persons Estates and Religion for that spirit will attempt alwayes to Rule and if it Rule then will follow consequently An Utter Overthrow of the Protestants PERSONS and CAUSE that will be the Effect of the Authority of it though it bear hand in hand in seeming Love and good Agreement with the Protestants till it hath gained its desired end over them which is To promote it self and subdue by Burning and Cruel Tortures all that which is contrary to it Let the People of ENGLAND consider this Matter now while it is time and be Watchful over the Motions of that spirit and not put Confidence in it too far nor to
commit too much Credit upon it even as they love their own Safety and Peace which are concerned in this Case 7. Consider Into what a great Danger the Protestants and People of England have run themselves by â—â—ecing from a less for by avoiding the Sectaâ—â—es so called they have run themselves into the very Borders of Popery and to escape a Less Danger they have exposed themselves to a far Greater For the Protestants cryed out of the Sectaries and were afraid their Church and Religion should be overthrown by them and made haste to Escape and flee from the Danger and in so doing they have as it appeareth by Semper Iidem run themselves into a Danger far greater Even to have their Religion and Persons and Estates Destroyed by Fire and Faggot if the spirit that indicted Semper Iidem hath its desired End which is grown Bold and Confident more than formerly Thus while the Protestants have sought to destroy the Sectaries an Enemy is appearing to Destroy them and they have exposed themselves if Popery prevails to an Enemy far more Cruel and Dectructive to both their Persons Estates and Religion than ever the Sectaries would have been had they prevailed And this is considerable to the Protestants that they may lament their case who have run themseles into a far greater Danger of their own Destruction to escape a less and are in present Reproach by the Papists and exposed to Destruction if they prevail 8. Consider How Favourable the Church of ROME seemeth to grow of these late dayes in these Kingdoms and what Dignity she seems to have attained to besides of Times past and what Liberty she enjoyes more than many of the good Subjects of England which may as justly have the Priviledge of Liberty in their Exercise of Faith and Worship and Religion as she can have As for instance In Ireland where the Papists have the Enjoyment of their Liberty to Meet to hear Mass very frequently and are not Restrained nor Prohibited and many of the English Inhabitants known Faithful Protestants are not admitted the like Liberty but their Meeting broken up and they sent to Prison and Cruelly Persecuted for Meeting together when the Papists are not meddled withal for the same Cause and thus their Cause seems more to be favoured than the Protestants and they more Liberty in their Worship than many of the English Protestants And also In and about London upon search you will find Meetings of the Papists large ones too consisting of very many Forreigners of other Lands which have their Liberty of Worship and Profession of Religion and divers of the Inhabitants of the City who have been and are Known Upright Honest and Just Persons and are true Protestants and faithful Subjects of the Land are not admitted to have their Meetings but are haled out of Meetings Persecuted and sent to Prison and cruel Sufferings inflicted upon them for the Exercise of their Faith and Worship whenas the Papists are admitted their Liberty without Persecution in the same Cause for which many good Protestants are Perfecuted and not suffered to have their Liberty even in the Exercise of their Faith and Worship and this is manifest to all People by which it is plain how the Papists Cause is advancing and the Protestants Cause decaying in LONDON and through ENGLAND whenas the Papists and that Forreigners have more Liberty in the Exercise of their Religion then some Protestants have that are Natives and known to be good Subjects And these things deserve true and serious Confideration by all good Protestants Alas that this day should be seen Many more Considerations might be asserted in this Case of the Papists Cause being as it were reviving but these for present are presented to the publick View of all People And blessed are they that have an Ear to hear E. B. THE CASE OF Free Liberty OF CONSCIENCE In the Exercise of FAITH and RELIGION Presented unto the KING and both Houses of PARLIAMENT And also Proved absolute Needful and Requisit for them to Grant and Allow in these Kingdoms by many Considerations and Reasons unfolding the Woful Effects and Ill Consequence which will infallibly follow upon the contrary to the Misery and Destruction of these Nations if the Free Exercise of Conscience to God-ward be Limitted and Violently Restrained FOrasmuch as it hath pleased the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is Mighty and Powerful and bringeth to pass whatsoever he will in the Kingdoms of this World so to suffer it to be accomplished that Power and Authority is given unto you to exercise over these Kingdoms And whereas the People of these Nations over whom your Authority is extended are divided in their Judgments in Matters Spiritual and are of different Principles and Wayes in relation to Faith and Worship and Practices of Religion and yet are all of them Free-born People and Natives of these Kingdoms and as such ought to possess and enjoy their Lives Liberties and Estates by the Just Laws of God and man And may not justly any of them be Destroyed by you nor one sort of another in their Persons and Estates by Death Banishment or other Persecutions for and because only of their Differences in Matters of Opinion and Judgment nor though they are contrary minded in Profession of Faith and Worship and Religion while they do walk Peaceably and Justly in their Conversations under the King's Authority and do not make practice of their Religion to the violating of the Government nor to the Injury of other mens Persons or Estates but ought rather to be Defended and Protected by you in all their Rights both as Men and Christians both in things Civil and Spiritual Notwithstanding their difference in matters Religious as aforesaid they giving proof of their peaceable and honest deportment towards the King and his Government and the people of these Kingdoms And therefore that due care may be had as justly it ought to be by you for the peace and Prosperity and happiness of these Kingdoms and that the just Liberties both civil and Spiritual of all people therein may be allowed and maintained in all the Kings Dominions and that unity and peace may be fully established and justice and Righteousness only brought forth in the Land and all persecution Hatred Contention and Rebellions may die and perish and never more appear And that all Christian people though different in Judgement and practises in matters of Faith and worship may be protected to live a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty under this Government and that indignation and vengeance may be diverted from these Lanâ—â— which seems to threaten because of the contrary and that blessings and peace maâ— come and rest upon this people forever Therefore for these ends and causes and in the Name of the Lord I do propound unto you and lay before you on the behalf of all the divided people of these Kingdoms That free Liberty of conscience in the
only for their Conscience and Religion sake by persecution 5. Consider if ye do impose one way of worship by force and persecute all that are contrary-minded to prison and death then how shall your Names and memorial be left a reproach to Generations after you in dayes to come who shall repute you cruel men and persecutors and such as destroyed your people for difference in Matters of Religion and without just Cause and thus will your Names be a Curse and not a Blessing to your Children and their Children to all Ages if that ye make Laws and execute them to the Persecution and Destruction of People for Conscience sake and for difference in Religion for Persecution was never of God nor ever justified in succeeding Ages but Persecutors alwayes were rendred Tyrants and Cruel in the Ages succeeding them For do not you condemn the Papists as Oppressors and Cruel Persecutors in Queen Mary's dayes for the Persecuting your Fore-Fathers And K. Iames said it was usually the Condition of Christians to be persecuted but never to Persecute c. in his Apology for the Oath of Allegiance page 4. And indeed they are no true Christians that persecute for Matters of Conscience and Difference in Opinion but the False Christians that have a Form of Godliness but are without the Power and out of the Doctrine of the Scriptures who say Love your Enemies and render not Evil for Evil but overcome evil with good 6. Consider If ye do impose upon the Conscience and persecute about Religion ye can never effect your End thereby as to force all into a Conformity and Uniformity to your Church and Religion but though Death and Banishment and the Loss of all be inflicted yet such a thing cannot be effected neither is it the Way of Christ to promote his Church and to convert the Contrary-minded by such means as Force and Violence exercised on mens Persons and Estates as King Iames said in his Speech in Parliament 1609. That it is a sure Rule in Divinity That God never loves to plant his Church with Violence and Blood And if ye do persecute to the heighth in the Case of Religion ye will weaken your selves and cause the Love and good Affection of the People to die towards you and the Persecuted will grow and their Cause be made Honourable and many will be encreased unto it for it is usual in Ages That the Way and Religion which hath been most persecuted hath most grown and thus it must infallibly be at this day and ye can never effect your End-by Persecution nor promote your own Church nor destroy all the Contrary-minded as a Privy-Counsellor to K. Iames the 5th of Scotland advised in Counsel about the year 1539. upon the Occasion of diversities of Opinions then in that Kingdom said he It is an Error of State in a Prince for an Opinion of Piety to condemn to Death the Adherers to new Doctrines for the Constancy and Patience of those who voluntarily suffer all Temporal Miseries for Matters of Faith stir up Numbers who at first and before they had suffered were ignorant of their Faith and Doctrine not only to favour their Cause but to embrace their Opinions Pitty and Commiseration opening the Gates and thus their Faith is spread and their Number daily encreaseth c. 7. Consider If that ye do not allow Liberty of Conscience but do Impose and Persecute as aforesaid though some for your Fear and Terror and Force against their Consciences should deny their Principle and conform to your Church such ye cause to sin For whatsoever is performed by Force and not of Faith is sin as it is written and such their sin will be laid to your Charge and such who cannot deny their Principles and Conform will be destroyed and their Death will be accounted against you in the Day of the Lord And therefore if ye do not allow Liberty of Conscience many grievous Evils will infallibly follow both to your selves and your People And what Advantage of Honour will such be to God and your Church that are against their Consciences and Light forced into a Conformity for Fear and Terror of men it makes them manifold more the Children of the Devil and Time-Servers and Hypocrites and destroyes their Souls and such can be no true Members of the true Church of Christ but are Reprobates and a Dishonour to God and your Church 8. Consider if ye constrain and compel in matters of Religion and do not â—…low liberty of Conscience it is unreasonable and unequal and down-right contrary 〈◊〉 the Holy and pure Law of God which saith ye shall do into all men as ye would that men should do unto you and thou shalt love they neighbour as thy self and this is the fulfilling of the Law But to be imposed upon and persecuted for the case of Consciences and for the matters of Worship of God your selves would not willingly be against your Light and Knowledge and then it is unequal and unjust and contrary to the Law of God for ye to do the same to others which your selves would not be done unto And do not you to this day cry out against the Papists in Queen Maries dayes and at this day in other Nations and condemn them as Tyrants and Oppressors for Persecuting Killing and Destroying the Protestants for the matters of their Conscience and difference in Opinion and Judgment And will you do the same at this day as they do to others and follow their example of cruelty and Persecution and break the Law of God and walk contrary to it in doing to others what you would not be done unto And seeing you condemn the late fore-going Powers in these Kingdoms for Tyrants and Usurpers and Oppressors for prohibiting your way of Worship and commanding the contrary and disanulling so much as they could your service Book and Ministry how can you justly do the like to others as to force Wayes of RELIGION upon them and prohibit theirs and command the contrary if you do it ye condemn your selves by judging of others in the like case 9. Consider if ye do not allow liberty of Conscience but impose Church Government and Religion by pains and penalties then ye will fill the Land with Hypocrites and force people into time-serving obedience and into formal wayes of worship some against their Consciences and some in the ignorance thereof which is great abomination unto the Lord and such will neither be true and faithfull in Church nor State but will seek advantages against you if they are forced by violence in the cases of their Consciences and it will beget great contentions and hatred in the minds of men and divide theâ— into heart-burnings one against another and against you and your Government for if men become Hypocrites for your fear and terror and deny their professed Principles and conform they will be false-hearted and Envious and Malicious and attempt any thing to be freed from Bondage and Impositions
together wherefore be faithful to perform your duty to God in that particular whatsoever sufferings should be infflicted upon you by the men of this World And as concerning refusing to take any Oath ye know it hath been our Principle and practise so to do since the Lord hath given us knowledge of his wayes and the spirit of the Lord that dwels in us perswadeth our hearts to deny all swearing both as it was practised under the Law according to the command of God and in the Types and Figures and as it is practised among the Christians since the Apostles daies which is as now practised Idolatry and Superstition And I say the Spirit of Christ doth confirm our hearts in this trutâ— even to deny all swearing and also we have the express command of Christ and of the Apostle Iames forbdiding all swearing by Heaven and Earth and all other Oaths which bears witness to the truth of our refusing to swear at this day likewise we have the Testimony of many holy Martyrs and Prophets since the Apostles daies who denied to swear on any wise who suffered for such their Testimony All which evidences may justly confirm the hearts of Gods people at this day faithfully to hold out their Testimonies of refusing to swear at all seeing we have a cloud of witnesses that testifie with us the express Command of Christ and the Apostle thâ— Testâ—â—â—â—â— of 〈…〉 divers â—ges who suffered for the same and the present 〈…〉 Spirit of Christ in our own Hearts All which are sufficiâ—â—t to give Courage and Boldness under all Sufferings and Afflictions that we may 〈◊〉 withal for refusing to Swear Well Friends Be faithful to God in these and all other things which God hath given you Light and Knowledge in and I do 〈…〉 Conscience and not to sin against the Light and Knowledge that God hath given you either by denying to profess and practice that Truth which the Lord hath perswaded your Heart of or by conforming to anything which ye know is not of the Truth and this is the Way of Eternal Peace with God But if any shall through the Temptations of the Adversary and for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this World deny the Lord and renounce good Conscience â—… such must bear the Burden of the Lord's Anger because 〈…〉 Revoltings from the Wayes of God True it is This is a Day of great Tryal yet the Lord is strong and gives Strength unto all his People that 〈◊〉 upon 〈◊〉 And let us be mindful what our Controversie is and â—… this Day our Controversie is for the Lord and his Truth to Do Faithfully and Suffer Patiently whatsoever the Will of the Lord is unto us and not to renounce and deny the exercise of our pure Consciences in those things that God hath perswaded our Hearts of the Truth of For if any this Day should be Unfaithful either by doing what they should not or leaving undone what they know they should do If any deny the Lord and his Truth and conform to the false Ways and Worships of men such lose the Controversie and give the Cause of God into the hand of your Enemies which is a fearful Abomination and the Controversie is with that spirit which opposeth us in these things which we know are of the Lord. It is with that spirit that we must contend contend I say by the Spirit of the Father in Long-Suffering and Patience and Good-will towards all men and not with the Weapons of this World in envy to any even with that spirit which doth oppose our meeting together to worship God and would impose Oaths and Things upon us contrary to our Consciences And these things are the main Matters of Controversie this day which the Spirit of Christ in us must oppose being imposed on us by the spirit of the World So all Friends are to mind to be Faithful to the Spirit of Christ and its perswasions and against that spirit which is not of him For the Opposition is between the two spirits and none must say the things required to be forborn or to be done are but small matters in themselves and may be done or not done without Offence this kind of Reasoning may be dangerous and may easily divert from the Obedience of Christ for we are not to look so much at the things in themselves which are required to be done or to be forborn as at the spirit which doth impose upon us in such cases against pure Conscience if the spirit be not of God we must not obey it in the least things for this is indeed the matter of Conscience not so much particular things or actions as the spirit that is not of God where it requires things against good Conscience for whatsoever that spirit requireth be it little or much in respect of the Action it must not be obeyed and that for Conscience sake for this is a good Conscience that cannot do nor conform to any thing which the spirit that is not of God enjoyes though therefore suffering be inflicted on the outward man And last of all I do advise and exhort That ye have Love and Unity in the Spirit of the Lord and one with another that oneness of Heart and Soul and Spirit may be amongst us being bound up in the holy Covenant of the Father even willing to do or suffer one for another and in this Spirit of Unity the Lord will bless us and make us strong and able to go through joyfully all our Afflictions but if any Strife or Division be in the Body it weakens the whole if one Member vex another through discord this is not of the Father but contrary to him this is not for the safety of the Body but bruises it and wounds it and maâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—fflict the Sâ—… 〈◊〉 the Righteâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 outâ—…d Enemies â—nd Stâ—…â—…d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may sooner work 〈◊〉 â—…throw than 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from men O◠〈◊〉 therefâ—… 〈◊〉 Brother to 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to many and 〈◊〉 Servant to all let me entreat and beseech That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fo◠〈◊〉 thâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisâ—…â—…ed you and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…minded in all things even one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—ther 〈◊〉 the Son are one and so shall 〈◊〉 Blessings o◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 frâ—â— yâ—◠〈◊〉 deâ—…r 〈◊〉 The Lord haâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alwayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to â—…ll 〈◊〉 with his Riches and Treasure â—nd are noâ— we Veâ—…s of Honour is not his Name in ou◠〈◊〉 heads 〈◊〉 not we the Flock of â—is Foâ— therefore let us Honour him by the Works of Trâ—â—h 〈◊〉 Love of Mercy and all the Works of Righteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uâ—…o the 〈◊〉 thereby proving that we are true â—â—â—ches in Christ the 〈◊〉 let 〈◊〉 give up to suffer all things Patiently for the Testimony of his Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Hearts if we Live let it be to him only and if we Dye let
it be for hiâ—… hâ—…g the Sâ—… of â—â—is Good Spirit in uâ— That whether we Live or Dye we are the Lord E. B. Antichrists Government JUSTLY DETECTED OF Unrighteousness Injustice Unreasonableness Oppression and Cruelty throughout the Kingdoms of this WORLD Wherein Antichrist hath had his Seat and great Authority for many Generations in the Apostacy from the Spirit and Life of True Christianity Shewed and Declared First In the Case of Imposing upon Conscience in Matters Religious by Force of outward Violence or Pains and Penalties on the Persons and Estates of Men which is proved Unrighteous and Dangerous and of Antichrist c. Secondly In the Case of Heresie shewing what it is in it self who a Herteick is who are the true Iudges of it and what Punishment pertaineth to such as are truly convicted thereof and that To Kill Burn Bannish or to punish Hereticks as such corporally is of Antichrist c. Thirdly Concerning Antichrist and his Mystery of Deceivableness what he is in himself and how he appears in the World what his Works are and what his Government is and where it is and who are the Subjects of his Kingdom The EPISTLE Dedicated to all the Rulers of what degree soever in the so called Christian World O Friends in the perfect Love of God Almighty towards your Souls and Bodies and towards all Mankind which Love is as a Fountain opened in my Heart and kindly issueth forth in Soul-breathing-desires of Good unto the whole Creation In this Love joyned with an Humble Meek and Lowly Temper of Spirit do I present this little quantity of Substance unto you not so much for your approof of my Work as if I craved your Licence and Approbation for this small Piece to pass under your Iustification as is usually the manner of such Epistles thus directed but much more for your serious and weighty Considerations of the Cases though Briefly yet Truly unfolded which are things of very great moment to you and wherein all of you from the Least to the Greatest are less or more concerned And I do present this Work unto you as Wholsome Advice and Good Councel for you which ye ought verily to read and receive as such rather then to Flatter you by begging a Pass-port from you that this may be read and received where it shall come for the Truth and Verity of it the Weight of the Matter contained and the Soundness and Substance demonstrated shall plead its own Worth for acceptation in the Hearts and Consciences of all sincere Men. The Truth and Verity Weight and Substance of Matter I say these Termes I may justly present this small piece under the denomination of unto you and all the World True it is I do not study pleasing Stile nor have I endeavoured to clothe and trim the Matter with Flattery Curious Termes Words of Man's Wisdom or some Rare Method that it might appear more in Shew than in real Substance as the way of too many Writers have been in such Cases Nor do I promise to please the Wordly Wisdom in Men by a Delightful Sound so much as to answer the sincere Consciences of Men by Sound Truths declared more in Homely broken Terms of Speech than in the rarity of Phrase or well-compacted Rhetorick For I have alwayes desired to be known and approved of God and those that fear him in Sincerity Humility and down-right Truth and for this I study daily and labour alwayes even to have Praise Peace and Comfort of God rather than men in what I am and in what I do And therefore it is my desire that ye would look beyond the Method containing to the Matter contained and that your Eye may be fixed on the Substance intended which is verily and in Truth That ye may be informed the Way of your Peace and Happiness in this World and in that which is to come and may never hereafter Impose by Force and Violence in the Matters of Faith and the Worship of God upon the Consciences of any through Penalties and Punishments upon Men's Persons and Estates but that ye may allow and tollerate freely Liberty of Conscience in all Religious Matters and may not by Cruelty Destroy Men in their Persons or Estates upon the account of their being supposed to be or if really Hereticks and because of difference in Iudgment and Practice in Spiritual Matters These are the Particulars for substance held forth unto you and all the World and I have judged it most proper to direct these Cases to your View and Consideration as being the Persons most chiefly though not wholy concerned Therefore blame me not but rather receive my Love though but little in Quantity yet real in Quality and that ye will find one day when ye have truly tryed the Effects of the two Cases plainly laid before you which are Imposition upon Conscience and Free Liberty of Conscience These are the two Causes which will have their different and contrary Effects upon all the Rulers in the World Peace Blessings Prosperity and Happiness are the Effects of the one Cause and Wars Tribulations Contentions Misery Sorrow and the Curse are the Effects which have and will unavoidably follow the other Cause and this ye will all find in the Experience of Time and Transactions coming to pass in the World And therefore I cannot but in homely plain words as my manner is assert the Causes and the Effects of the Causes unto you again and again for the very End to Inform you Advise you and Warn you to follow the Good and to forsake the Evil to do the Right and hate the Wrong that the Effects of Righteousness and Liberty of Conscience even Peace Love Mercy and Prosperity may ever be with you and the Effects of Cruelty and Oppression and Imposition upon Conscience which will be your Misery Downfal and Destruction if ye continue in the Cause which works this Effect may be turned away and ye delivered Wherefore O ye Men Be Advised be Warned this is the Day of the Lord's Dawnings we have seen his Power and Glory he hath wounded us and healed us he hath killed and made alive he hath Proclaimed Liberty in eur Squls and Consciences from Death and Darkness from the Grave and Hell and he hath set his People free from Bondage to serve Him with a pure and perfect Heart And if ye Mortal Men made of the Dust of the Ground whose little measure of Breath is in your Nostrils will not approve of and joyn with this Blessed Work of the Lord but shall gain-say his Doings and set your Power against his Power and will not let the People go free in the Exercise of their Consciences in Holy Performances whose Consciences God hath made free then shall the Most High reward your Opposition with his Cup of Vengeance and he will make you know He is the Lord against whom ye thus raise Contention and he will dissolve your Substance and bring down your Glory and subdue
Neighbours and the Witness of God in all mens Consciences shall bear witness to us And all these do give Judgement for us in these Cases to whom we do appeal for Judgment And O Lord God Everlasting do thou judge our Cause do thou make it manifest in thy due Season to all the World that we are thy People that we Love thee above all that we fear thy Name more than all that we love Righteousness and hate Iniquity and that we now suffer for thy holy Name and Truth and for thy Honour and Iustice and for thy Truth and Holiness O Lord thou knowest we are resolved to Perish rather than to lose one Grain hereof Amen Amen Our Accusations and Answers truly compared and weighed in the Ballance of Justice and Truth in every mans Conscience let all the World judge of the Case Do we deserve to be Ruined Destroyed Imprisoned and Banished and that to be devoured of Wild Beasts as our Enemy threatens us he will do Is it so Are we Hereticks Are we Seditious Are we Drunkards Are we Double-dealers are we such as the Law of God condemns what Evil have we done in the Land do we hurt any Body are we not Innocent before the Lord men we appeal to the just Witness of God and Men let it be answered and though no man will hear and consider our Cause this Day yet the Lord will plead our Cause in his Time and Season and make the World to know We are his People in the mean time we are willing to suffer the Reproaches of Ungodly Men till the Lord works Deliverance in the Earth But now it may be objected by the Magistrates and Rulers That we have now a Law against you and you must suffer for we cannot but put the Law in Execution according to our Oaths and Offices and it is not we that persecute you but it is the Law of the Land by which you now suffer and we cannot be blamed for your suffering we only Execute the Law And after this manner is the Reasoning of some at this day c. Answ. To all which I do Answer It is true there is a Law now Enacted against us which is pretendedly made the ground of our Suffering but whether that Law be in it self Just or Unjust I shall not now demonstrate but shall leave it to the Judgment of all Christian Men that know us our Principles Doctrines Wayes and Conversations and let them judge whether we deserve the Penalties and Punishments therein described for any Principle or Practice held and maintained by us And though there be a Law against us yet the Magistrates that are Executors thereof may execute the same with Moderation or with Violence with Discretion or too much Rigour and it will be well for them to use Moderation and Discretion in this Case Hereby may they save themselves from that weight of Anger and Indignation of the Lord God that will come upon all Violent Doers who seek to destroy the Innocent and Rejoyce in the Occasion administred And though this Law be Enacted against our Meetings not ours I may say but such Meetings as are Dangerous to the publick Peace and to the Terror of the People But our Meetings are not such and therefore this Law may not justly extend in its Execution to the breaking of our Meetings nor to Banish us because of our Meeting together which is for the Worship of God and are Peaceable and of good Report among all good Men and are not for Disturbance of the Peace nor Terror of the People and therefore justly free from this Law as aforesaid And though this Law is pretended against us for to Banish us and to rid the Land of us as some vainly suppose Yet must it needs be executed to the height of it without Limitation or Restriction Must this Law be Executed to its height more than some other Laws that are as truly Enacted and as fully in Force as this Act can be Yet some such Laws there are which better deserve Execution than this yet they lie dormant as is visibly apparent at this day as in 4 Iac. cap. 5. in these words Be it Enacted c. That all and every Person or Persons which after Forty Dayes next following the end of this present Session of Parliament shall be Drunk and of the same Offence of Drunkenness shall be lawfully convicted shall for every such Offence forfeit and lose Five Shillings c. to be paid to the hands of the Church Wardens of that Parish where the Offence shall be committed who shall be accountable therefore to the use of the Poor of the same Parish And if the said Person or Persons so convicted shall refuse or neglect to pay the said Forfeiture then the same shall be levied of the Goods of every such Person or Persons by Warrant of Precept from the Court Iudge or Iustices before whom the same conviction shall be And if the Offender be not able to pay the sum of five shillings then he shal be committed to the Stocks for the space of Six Hours I pray you read the Statute at large 't is worth a sober mans pains to read over and then judge whether that Law be duly execued at this day and also whether it deserves not more strict Execution than the present Act against us Also the 1 Iac. cap. 7. in these words That all Persons calling themselves Schollers going about Begging all idle Persons going about in any Country either Begging or using any subtil Craft or unlawfull Games or Plays or faigning themselves to have knowledge in Physiognomy or pretending that they can tell Fortunes or such other like phantastical Imaginations all Fencers Bearwards Common-Players of Interludes and Minstrels wandring abroad shall be taken adjudged and deemed as Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars and shall suffer such Pains and Punishments as is expressed 39 Eliz. cap. 4. viz. That every such Person shall be stripped Naked from the Middle upwards and shall be openly Whipped until His or Her Body be Bloody c. and shall be forth-with sent from Parish to Parish c. And read the Statute at large and then consider how duly it is Executed now and whether it deserves not the Execution as much as the late Act against us though in some places the one is more executed than the other where many of our Friends being honest sober Persons and of good Conversation and yet are haled out of their Meetings where they are met only to Worship God and for no other End and â—sent to Prison and persecuted to the very height of the said Act whenas idle Persons following unlawful Games and Playes and Bearward Common-Players of Interludes and Minstrels of divers kinds do wander up and down City and Country and having their Play-Houses publick where their Wickedness is acted such Persons and such things though appearing publickly yet are permitted and little or no notice taken of them by some of the
the Land which if you he the Instruments in such a Work it will be your greatest Crown and your perpetual Honour for the Lord's Purpose is 〈◊〉 â—â—y or other to cleanse the Land of all these and other Oppression whatsoever that the People of this Land may be a free People from all the heavy Yâ—… of Antichrist which have long sorely pressed them down and the Purpose of the Lord is to break the Yoaks of Oppression and Tyranny from off the Necks of this People and therefore it is that he overturneth yea and will overturn all Men and Authorities that shall oppose his Work and none shall be 〈◊〉 to stand before him for the Presence of my Lord is more dreadful to a Nation when he shews himself in Wrath then any Multitude of Armed Men and Wo is unto you if you be found opposing of him and if you seek to stop his Work you shall not cumber the Earth very long nor oppress the Nations maâ—◠〈◊〉 Wherefore consider Cursed will you be if you be unfaithful in what 〈◊〉 have to do on the Lord's behalf for your Hour passeth ever that is alotted you and will be suddenly expired never to be recalled and then you cannot work And whereas there is a great Cry about Ministry For sending forth and Mainâ—…ng and Encouraging a Godly Ministry as you say Now to this I do answer on my Lord's behalf and I must tell you plainly As for a true Godly Ministry truly called and sâ—nt of God such a Ministry and such Miâ—isters you can never be able to hinder but the Lord will send them out â—â—â—â—taining them and preserving them whether you will or no and while you are â—â—â—â—bling your selves about such a matter you are but meddling with things above your Line and out of your Jurisdiction while you act in such a case 〈◊〉 it belongs to his Goverment to send out Ministers whom and as he will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maintain them and defend them according to his own Pleasure and all this without you for such Ministers truly called thereunto and sent of the Lord will not seek to you to be sent forth or maintained by you they will not be beholding to you in such a case but even without you and contrary to you must they be sent out and maintained So that the Lord will have a Ministry in this Nation purely of his own and not of Man nor by Man and such a Ministry you shall not be able to hinder And I must tell you plainly As for these men called Ministers in this Nation the way of their setting up and sending forth and the way of their Maintenance and the way of their standing and Defence and in every particular of their being such they are the greatest and most woful Oppression in the Nation even the most Abominable and unjust Cruelties and Tyrannies is acted through them as any other thing in the Nation and they are as such aforesaid the woful Cause of the Nations Groaning under Merciless Dealing and there is upon their account the Guilt of Blood Injustice and Oppression lying upon this Nation their Inqiuities their Iniquities cry for Vengeance upon their own heads for they are full they are full and the measure thereof is near finished and God's Eternal Vengeance is their next Reward from the Eternal God What shall I say of them but this The Earth is oppressed by them the Inhabitants groan under them and the Righteous God is vexed through them and they are the very men of high Indignation and fierce Wrath and all their Practices as such are the Fewel of his Anger to be consumed by the Fire of his Jealousie the Nation is weary and its Inhabitants and the Lord is weary because of these men And is this the Ministry cryed up by you as Godly and Piâ—â—â— c Are these the men that the Nation must be forced to maintain in their Pride and Idolatry Is this the Ministry that must be Encouraged Well if these be the men and this the Ministry which must be established and encouraged by you in so doing you shall never prosper but thereby gain the Displeasure of the Almighty unto you to bring a Curse upon all your doings even because hereof for I must tell you the Hand of my Lord is against them and whosoever shall seek to defend them shall not prosper in their doings because their Oppressions Cruelties Deceit and Abominations are nigh finished and fulfilled wherefore take â—â—ed unto your selves for this is my Master's Advice unto you Let this Ministry alone and joyn not your selves to Baal lest you perish neither take part with Antichrist any longer neither be ye Fighters against the Lamb and his Kingdom but free the Nation and let all its Inhabitants be freed from the cruel Tasks and Yoaks of such Men and such a Ministry as aforesaid uphold it not against the Lord for if you do you shall never be established and this is from the Mouth of my Lord unto you And last of all My Master hath a People in this Nation even a suffering People that have born the Burden of the Cruelty and Injustice and Wickedness both of Rulers and Teachers who have as it were trodden them down and made them a very Prey to their Devouring Mouthes the very Cry of their Sufferings have reached unto Heaven and the very sound thereof your Ears have heard And this People are greatly beloved and my Lord will assuredly honour them and his Hand shall be continued to preserve them and defend them against all their Enemies whatsoever and he doth reserve them to himself and for a glorious Work that he hath to do by them and he hath formed them for himself and they cannot joyn with any of the Horns of the great Beast neither can a Place of Honour pervert them from their perfect Way but my Lord he compasseth them about on every side and hath kept them in the midst of Tryals Reproaches and Sufferings and covered them in the Heat and in the Storm till his Pleasure is to make further use of them they are His and not their Own and they must fulfil His Will and none besides and they lie at Rest in Him while Mountains are overturned and while one Potsherd of the Earth breaks another and this must be even till the appointed Time And to say no more of them though much more might be said They are had in Remembrance before the Lord to do with them even for his own Glory and for this Nation 's perpetual Good and to the Authority of the Most High through them shall Kings of the Earth and Nations of the World bow and tremble wherefore ye men touch them not neither do ye afflict them even as you hope to prosper remember their Cause and suffer it not alwayes to be rejected as it hath long been but keep your selves free from the Injustice and Cruelty of them that have gone before you who have been Merciless and Oppressors