gratification of his Love in meeting him and setting Bread and Wine before him had given him one half of the Spoils this had been no binding Rule to Posterity 2d Objection is Jacob's Vow when he went to Padan-aram If God said he will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me Bread to eat and Raiment to put on so that I come again to my Fathers House in Peace then shall the Lord be my God and this stone my Pillow which I have set for a Pillar shall be Gods House and of all that thou givest me I will surely give a Tenth unto thee Gen. 28.20 Answer Here Jacob being gone from his Fathers House for it s said he lighted on a certain place it seems between Beersheba and Haran I suppose it was either in the Fields or Desart on the South side of Luz Joshua 18.13 however I suppose Jacob was in a desolate disconsolate condition Gen. 35.3 for it is said he took of the stones of the place and laid them for his Pillow and lay down to sleep Gen. 28.11 Now the Lord appeared to him in a Vision as He hath oft done to his Servants in such disconsolate conditions which makes His appearance more Glorious saying I am the Lord God of Abraham and of Isaac thy Father the Land whereon thou liest to thee will I give it and to thy seed after thee and thy seed shall be as the dust of the Earth and shall spread to the East West North and South and in thy seed shall all the Families of the Earth he blessed And behold I am with thee and will keep thee in all places and will bring thee again into this Land I will not leave thee untill I have done as I have spoken And he awaked and said surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not and he was afraid saying how dreadfull is this place it is none other but the House of God this is the Gate of Heaven c. mark the Lords appearance in an hour of great distress is very comfortable and also fearfull this is true fear indeed here is fear mixed with love here Jacob lays hold forth with upon the Love and Promise of the Lord and said If the Lord will do so c. then shall He be my God and this stone my pillow which I have set up for a pillar shall be Gods House and of all that he giveth me I will surely give a Tenth unto him mark I say Jacob being possessed with fear and overcome with love he vows and promises unto the Lord again this was a voluntary act in Jacob he obliged himself to the Lord after the Lord had promised to bless him and he performed his promise for after twenty years he purged his House of Idols and built an Altar unto the Lord at Bethel Gen. 35.6 which he called Elbeth-el viz. The God of Bethel But who did he give his Tenth unto or when did he give it that is yet disputable but suppose it had been to the Priesthood which some hold was annexed to the first-born of Families what will that argue for me to do so Jacob vowed but for himself not for his posterity after him and it was voluntary being filled with the Lords appearance in a day of distress Gen. 35.3 and not commanded by God neither compelled by Man and so not binding to any save Jacob alone only this may be observed if any one have vowed as Jacob did let such perform also also it was but once in Abraham and once in Jacob and that in cases extraordinary and who or what is he that can plead for annual payment of Tythes of every of a Mans encrease from these two places what suppose I being in distress as I have often been and few of Gods Servants are exempted should vow a vow unto the Lord that if he will preserve me this one time or deliver me from this great danger c. then will I give him one half of all that I enjoy or have received of him would this my vow being performed be binding to my Children and their Children after them from Generation to Generation for ever Object 3. Now in Exodus 23.19 it is said The first of the First-fruits of the Land thou shalt bring into the House of the Lord thy God This is the first express command but here is no certain dividual part expressed only the first of the First-fruits Exod. 34.26 Again Levit. 23.10 Moses instituting the Feast of First fruits When ye come saith he into the Land which I will give you ye shall bring a sheaf of the First-fruits of your Harvest unto the Priest and he shall shake it before the Lord verse 14. This shall be a Law for ever in your Generations Again that which is more express is Levit. 27.30.32 33. All the Tythe of the Land both of the seed of the Ground and of the Trees is the Lords and every tythe of Bullock and Sheep and all that goeth under the rod the Tenth shall be holy unto the Lord this is a more positive command then any before Again Numb 15.20 it is said Ye shall offer a Cake of the first of your Dough for an Heave-offering as the Heave-offering of the Barn ye shall lift it up and give it to the Lord in your Generations Again Moses being the Son of a Levite Exod. 2.1 2. Aaron was his Brother Chap. 4.14 the Lord bid Moses separate Aaron and his Sons for the Priests Office Exod. 28.1 and appoints him to make them holy Garments The Ephod and the curious Girdle c. and Aaron was to wear the Breast-plate of Judgment upon his Heart and upon it the names of the Children of Israel and in the Brest-plate of Judgment Moses was to put the Urim and the Thummim which he was to bear upon his Heart when he went in before the Lord c. Exod. 28. throughout So the Priesthood being setled to Aaron and his Sons as a Statute and an Ordinance for ever throughout their Generations he was to take unto him his Brethren the Tribe of Levi the Family of his Father they were to be joyned with him and to minister unto him and were to take the Charge of the Sanctuary of the Tabernacle and of the Altar only he and his sons was to execute the Priests Office in all things Numb 18.2 to verse 7. then all the Heave-offerings and the holy things that the Children of Israel offered to the Lord was to be Aarons and his Sons for ever by a perpetual Covenant of Salt as in verse 19. And Aaron and his Sons was to have no Inheritance in the Land neither any part among the Children of Israel for the Lord was their part and inheritance for ever Deut. 18.1 2. And to the Children of Levi the Lord gave the Tenth in Israel for their inheritance and for their service in the Tabernacle of the Congregation and they were to have
THE MEMORY OF That Faithful Servant of the Lord Thomas Carleton Reviv'd BEING A COLLECTION Of several of his VVritings in the ensuing Volume as a Testimony of his Zeal for promoting the blessed Truth and Establishing of Friends therein Also some TESTIMONIES Concerning his Faithfulness and Perseverance in the Way of the Lord unto the Finishing of his Course here with joy which was the 18th day of the Ninth Month 1684. The Memory of the just is blessed Prov. 10.7 The Righteous shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance Psal 112.9 Printed in the Year 1694. The Testimony of Thomas Trafford concerning his Friend and Brother in the Truth Thomas Carleton THere is a Testimony in my Heart at this time to bear for dear Thomas Carleton Notwithstanding it is long since he was Removed from us as to the outward yet his Memorial lives with me and in the Revivings of it can do no less then say something of the Experience Knowledg I had of him My first acquaintance with him was by the Spirit of Truth in a Meeting for as soon as I saw his Face as he was coming into the Meeting I felt my heart united or knit to him as Jonathan's was to David and it was sealed to me That he had a Testimony to bear for the Lord's Truth in the Assemblies of his People which was Confirmed to me that Meeting For after some time sitting in the Meeting there came an Exercise upon his Spirit and he stood up in great Fear and Dread which was his usual manner when he was so Exercised under the powerfull Word of Life not being a Man forward in entring upon that service but rather backward until necessitated thereunto by the constraining Power of God And while he was delivering his Testimony I had dear unity with him and my Soul was refreshed by his Ministry although he was but short and my love reached so to him that I could not be satisfied untill I went to see him at his Lodging after which time we grew into a more near acquaintance one with another both inwardly and outwardly so that we became near and dear one unto another and thereby came to have a true sense and knowledge of one anothers Mindâ— and Spirits and truly my heart and spirit is broken at this time in the remembrance of that sweet and brotherly love that continued between us to the last for he was a true Yoke-fellow in the Labour of the Gospel for the good and wel-fare of the Church and I must needs say I have found the want of him with some others who were true sensible Members in the Body or Church of Christ whom the Lord hath been pleased to remove from us and take to himself which I must be content with resting in the Faith that he can and will raise up others in his time to supply their places And although this my Friend and Brother was a Man attended with many Infirmities of Body which disabled him from Travelling much abroad yet I can say he was seldom if ever without a Concern Care or Exercise upon his Spirit that all things might be well in the Church and that those who were Convinced of the Truth might live answerable to what they did profess and was many a time Constrained to bear Testimony in a holy Zeal against such as were dry Formilist Professors of it and did not come up into a Living Experimental Exercise of the power of Truth and such who walked loose in their Conversations as will appear by the following Epistles that he Writ and God who tempers the Body as he Sees meet had indued him with a large and clear understanding both in Divine Spiritual things and also Natural Parts beyond many which did very much adorn him and so much the more in that he did not think so of himself but would appear as simple as any which bespoke him to be one of Christs Followers who had Learned to be Meek and Lowly in heart I Write what I know and it is not to attribute any thing to Man but to acknowledge the great Work of God in and for Man who as Vessels in his Hand he hath honoured therefore we who have been made partakers of their Work and Service can do no less And indeed all his Parts and Gifts were Sanctified unto him for he was a Man of of a sweet temper mild in Controverting things and could govern his Spirit with gravity either with such as did oppose Truth and contend against it or at other times in Church Discipline or with unruly Spirits that he might have to do with Oh the Remembrance of him makes the loss of him more to be Lamented But having this answer returned sealed unto me that our loss is his gain therefore am Contented in the will of the Lord and notwithstanding his Parts did exceed many yet he was ready to prefer others before himself which was an Ornament to him and did very much become his Holy Profession he was a Man that Loved the Truth and all such that lived in it and he was of a tender Spirit desiring nothing more then the Unity of the Brethren and to hear of the Prosperity of Truth and Peace in the Church So that I have cause to believe he is one of that Number to whom it is said Blessed are the Dead which Die in the Lord from henceforth yâ—â— said the Spirit that they may rest from â—â—eâ—â— Labours and their Works do follow them Written this 15th day of the 6. Month 1693. At Wicklow by one that loves the Brethren Thomas Trafford THE TESTIMONY OF GEORGE ROOKE Concerning Thomas Carleton THis I have to say concerning this our dear Friend and Brother in the Truth that is removed from us by Death according to God's appointment for all Men once to Die he was a Man that was tender of Gods glory in his Day and laboured for the promotion of his Truth into the service of which the Lord was pleased to Call him when he was but young in years and made known unto him the riches of the Mistery which had been hid from Ages past even Christ Revealed within the sure Hope of Eternal Glory by which he was preserved both sure and stedfast in his Testimony-bearing for God where-ever the Lord was pleased to Order him whether it was in a Prison-house or at Liberty he was not unwilling to submit to his Will even to do and suffer whereby he might honour and glorifie his Maker in his day and generation And he had not long been Convinced of the blessed Truth till Lewis West the Priest of the Parish where he lived began to persecute him because for Conscience-sake he could not pay Tythes and cast him into Prison at Carlisle in Cumberland for at Little-Salkeld in that County was the place of his abode then though some years after his Enlargement he removed himself and family into this Nation of Ireland But mark he being put in Prison was kept Prisoner
freely nor did not for sake all freely but like Ananias and Saphira though I had parted with much yet would have kept a part back and if the Lord had cut me off as they were I must have justified the justice of the Lord in my Soul and Conscience which daily witnessed against me as it were sealing and confirming this Testimony to me and in me that I should never find Peace nor Reconsiliation with the Lord untill I gave obedience to the Light and came into society with the Children of Light viz. the People by the World called Quakers and came to the Worship that stood in Spirit contrary to all the Wayes Worships and Services of the World set up in the wills and limitations of Men which I saw to be only Formal and Traditional and no less then Idolatry as they then stood in the Will-Worship being prescribed and set forth at the Wills and Pleasures of Men and established by the then present Powers Government and Authority as by the Independant Church Faith the Presbyterian Directory the Episcopals Common-Prayer Book and such like may more fully Testifie none being to question or object against any thing that was or is believed by their several Churches and Assemblies or prescribed in their Rules or Canons Directories or Service-Books though never so much dissatisfied in Conscience without undergoing the Censures or Abjudications of their particular Societies and Churches so called But they that are come to the Light and Liberty of the Sons of God and to live and walk in the Spirit and by the Spirit they know the Anointing which abideth in them which is truth and no lye which Teacheth them in all things to follow the Lamb only whithersoever he goes and the leadings of his Spirit and not the formal trash and traditional precepts of Men and so they are ceased from Man and his teachings knowing the Lord is come to Teach his People himself whereof I being perswaded in my own heart and this Testimony aforesaid standing in me viz. that I should never know Peace with God in my Soul untill I obeyed and followed the Light which I daily felt striving in me and with me in my Meditations and Communications with my own Heart secretly condemning me for my disobedience and works of darkness I was in the fulness of time constrained to yeild and resign my self into the Will and Lap of the Lord as Esther did either to Live or Perish resolving as I said before freely to drink that Cup which had so long appeared bitter but was then made sweet and wholsom as the Waters of Jericho being seasoned with that power that makes every bitter thing sweet and hard things easie then was the Arm of the Lord made bare and stretched forth for my deliverance and his strength was perfected in weakness being brought into subjection and made willing to bear his Cross then his Yoke was made easie and his Burden became Light then he that sat in Darkness saw great Light and he that dwelt in the Land of the shaddow of Death upon him did the Light shine in that Day did he cause the Deaf to hear the Blind to see out of obscurity the Lame to walk the Dumb to speak and the Tongue of the stammerer to speak plainly even then when mine Ears hearkned to the Word that was near in the mouth and heart the righteousness of Faith which the Apostle Preached Rom. 108. Even then when I cast away my Jewels Ornaments Images c. Menstruous cloaths Isa 30.21 22. and my own Righteousness Faith and best Performances which was but as filthy rags in comparison of the excellency of that Glory revealed in and through the Son of righteousness which arose with healing in his Wings then did he give rain unto his Seed even the former and the latter in his Season and upon every Mountain and Hill made he Rivers and Streams to run then was the light of the Moon as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun was sevenfold even in that Day when he bound up the breach of his Servant and healed the stroke of his wounded he opened the Prison doors also and set the Captive at liberty and let the Oppressed go free then he made the Lame to leap as an Heart and the tongue of the Dumb to sing for joy the crooked paths did he make straight and the rough ways plain and smooth he brought down the mighty from their Seats and exalted them of low degree then he filled the Hungry with good things and the Rich he sent empty away then did joy spring forth as the Mornning and gladness did arise as the Sun even then when Peace did run down like a River and Salvation as a mighty Stream then was the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord even then when the Bridegroom came out of his Chamber and the Bride out of her Closet then was the Marriage Supper of the Lamb at hand then was the Day of joy and gladness when sorrow and sighing fled away then was the Day of mine espousing when my Maker became my Husband Hosea 2.19 20 23. and the Bridegroom and Bishop of my Soul when I was betrothed unto the Lord then was the Marriage in Cana of Galilee known John 2. which was the only Marriage Christ and his Disciples were called to where all the Water in the Vessels was turned into Wine which maketh glad the heart of Man and comforteth the Living Psal 104.15 Eccles 10.19 such did Israel of old Drink in the Land of Promise Deut. 32.14 here was the first and beginning of Miracles that Jesus wrought shewing forth his Glory it was here also he Healed the Rulers Son which was ready to Die his second Miracle wrought in Galilee John 4.50 54. here also was his first appearance to his Disciples after he was risen from the Grave Matt. 28.7.10.16 17. here also was his first appearance and working of Wonders in me and to me which when I saw I believed as his Disciples and the Galileans did John 2.11 and 4.45 then he whipped out the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple and overthrew the Tables of the Money-changers then I knew the Tabernacle of the Lord was with Men and that he was come to Teach his People Himself and great was the Peace of His Children as Isaiah said chap. 54.13 then did I witness the Covenant changed the Law changed the Priesthood changed the Offerings Oblations Sacrifices and Ordinances changed the Service and the Worship changed and all the Shadows Types and Figures abolished which was but a Shadow of good Things to come Hebr. 10.1 and the Tabernacle and Sanctuary changed Heb. 10.20 and the Vail removed and the New and Living Way to be Revealed which he hath prepared for us through the Vail that is to say his Flesh for even to this Day while Moses and the Old-Testament and the Law is read the same Vail remains over and untaken away 2
Cor. 3.14 15. as is evident and clearly seen to he the very State and Condition of the Ministers and People of England to whom the Way of Life of Regeneration of Light of Righteousness of Peace of having their Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and of witnessing Redemption and Remission of sins is hid and to them the covering is not yet taken away for the Vail is over their Hearts and what they see and know of God is but by the seeing or hearing of the outward Eye or Ear as Job said chap. 42.5 knowing nothing but what they know Naturally in a literal historical notional external Sense and in these Things they foyl and corrupt themselves never owning or obeying the Light that leads out of Darkness and Discovers all the works thereof which makes all things manifest and gives the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ which till then is Vailed through which we draw nigh unto God and makes bold to enter into the inner Sanctuary even the holy Place being purified through his Blood having our Consciences purged from dead works Hebr. 9.14 which is not yet made manifest where the Tabernacle is standing Hebr. 9.8 neither do they know the Power which through his death hath rent the Vail but we that are come to believe in the Light and to witness the New Covenant which God promised to his People Jer. 31.31.23 c. Rom. 11.27 Hebr. 8.8.10 c. Hebr. 10.16 17. they whose Hearts are turned to the Lord know the Vail taken away accord-to his promise 2 Cor 3.16 17 18. and we all with open face behold the glory of the Lord and are changed into the same Image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord now the Lord is that Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty Now being born of the same Seed and not another and regenerated by the same Life and Power and because we have the same Spirit of Faith which the Apostles and Servants of the Lord had as it is written 2 Cor. 4.13 Psalm 116.10 I believed therefore have I spoken we also have Believed and therefore speak now we have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.7 and having this hope and trust we use great boldness and plainness of speech and are not ashamed of that worthy Name by which we have been called nor of the glorious Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God unto all those that Believe and this Mystery viz. Christ in us the hope of Glory Col. 1.26 27 hid from Ages and Generations hath he opened and revealed in us blessed honored and glorified by the sweet and precious Name and Love of our God for ever that hath opened the mysteries of his Kingdom and hath revealed them unto Babes Sucklings and to the little and lowly in Spirit and yet hath hid them from the Wise and Prudent of the Earth this is the Lords doing and is marvellous in our Eyes blessed yea everlastingly blessed be his holy Living eternal Name Love Life and Power who alone is worthy of all Glory Rule and Dominion for evermore And having this Testimony and for this Testimonies sake and for our love and faithfulness thereunto we suffer and are brought into bonds by the chief Priests and Rulers of this Generation for as it was in the Apostles dayes so it is now They that will live Godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution and as Christ said In the World you shall have tribulation but in me you shall have Peace and if you love Me the world will hate you and even so persecuted they the Prophets that went before us this persecuting spirit getting a place and room in the Woman as I said before broke forth in Cain the third Person in the Earth and he slew Abel his only Brother and here the Enmity between the Seeds appeared which I mentioned in the beginning and this envious Persecuting spirit hath had a place and descent through all the Generations of Man-kind to this very Day as the Scriptures are full how they that served and feared the Lord did suffer Persecutions Afflictions Tribulations Reproaches spoiling of Goods Buffettings Imprisonments yea even to the Death and all for following the Lord in the Regeneration and for serving and obeying Him in heart and spirit and for departing and separating themselves from the Ways Worships Customs Traditions and beggerly rudiments of the World and as they persecuted the Prophets and Apostles of Christ that went before us even so do they persecute us and yet they will profess they know God but their Works deny Him for I was no sooner turned from Darkness to Light nor from Satans Power to God nor from sin to righteousness nor from the lusts and pleasures of the Flesh to serve the Living God nor no sooner come to deny my self and take up the Cross of Christ and follow him through Tribulations Reproachings Revilings Mockings Fastings Temptings or what other Sufferings soever or through Death it self unto Life yea no sooner I say was I given up to follow him but persecution arose for the Gospel sake notwithstanding my long Travel and Pilgrimage in the Wilderness neither considering the Faintings the Hungrings the Thirstings the Jeopardies Perils the many desperate Dangers the dark Disconsolate days the long and wearisom Nights my poor Soul sustained with many a sigh and heavy groan with many a dolefull lamentation with much brokenness of Heart and contrition of Spirit when Rivers as it were run down from mine Eyes when my Heart failed me for fear in the day of my spiritual progress from Egyt to Canaan I say never considering the afflictions I bad gone through the enmity in Gods enemies without arose against me to repoach revile and persecute me and as I said before having withdrawn and separated my self from them with their Way and Worship I was hated envied and threatned by them but especially by one of Englands chief Priests named Lewis West a Man whose Life and Gonversation doth more fully declare him to all that knows him part whereof I may set down in this following Treatise and shall leave it to the view judgment and consideration of all sober juditious Men that knows any thing of the Way and Worship of God but especially to those my Neighbours and Country-men that hath known both him and me according to the flesh though he be a Man in esteem honour and repute amongst Men and the Children of this World and hath attained to his several Titles and degrees of Honour and Preferment being reckoned one of their chief and learnedst orthodox Divines being as his Wife once said to me contemning me as â—udatious and for my puerility and illiteratness far inferior to argue or dispute matters of Conscience with him brought up at his Book and School from his Child-hood and I being but a Child
Belial and also what becomes of the Posterity of many of the Priests that are gone are they not already in many pâ—ces crouching for pieces of silver and morsels of bread yea even to such as their Fathers persecuted search and see if it be not so But to proceed this not answering his desire and end more mischief resting in his heart against me he cited me to the Bishops Court but for what I know little save that he himself said for all manner of Tythes since he became Incumbent in that place notwithstanding what was done as aforesaid his Libel I never got they commonly being Scrools of Lyes so the Court proceeded to Excomunication whereupon he procured a Writ called Excommunicate Capiendo and thereby cast me into Prison about the latter end of the seventh Month 1663. where I have continued these four years during all which time he never did so much as give me a visit in my Prison-house nor never laboured to convince me or regain me either by exhortation information or instruction c. as is provided and enjoyed in the Articles to be enquired of in their Visitation read Article the 10th concerning Ministers duty to Popish Recusants and other Sectaries nay he would never so much as allow me a fair sober Discourse to reason the case or matter in difference but when I have met with him having sometime gone to his house is soon as ever my judgment differed from his or that I either opposed or questioned any thing he said or held out forth-with he broke into passion and fury sometime buffetting me with his fist as he hath often done both to his own hearers and others other times calling me rogue and rascal with such like vilifying tearms in great fury Threatening he would humble me c. But still all this not answering his ambitious spirit and covetous ends he yet deviseth more mischief and presently he casts about to compass my little parcel of Land as Ahab did Naboth's yea worse then Ahab for he never profered me the rate in money 1 Kings 21.1 2. c. I read Ahab being sad and dejected because of Naboth's answer Jezebel his Wife could soon cure that malady saying to Ahab what art not thou King Arise and be merry and I le give thee the Vineyard so he soon devised a way to kill and take possession c. And indeed whether L. W's Wife hath not been a deviser and abetter against me it is questioned by some but I leave it to the Lord and themselves and he goes on in Law untill the Sheriff returned I could not be found although I was in his Custody and that the Priest L. W. knew well enough upon which false return a Writ of Outlawry came forth against me and then they knew where to find me for thereupon the Sheriff's Clark gave another Mittimus to the Goaler for me And untill that time I never had the least notice neither from him or any one of the Kings Officers save only that his Wife did once say I laid for contempt and that her Husband would take another course for his Tythes c. and the Jayler keeping me more strict then my Fellows I required a reason of him he said he had received another Mittimus for me I asked him for what cause he said he knew not but it was at L W's Suit I desired a sight of it if he pleased he said yes if I would give him thirty pence I said it were but reasonable that I knew upon what account I was so dealt with but no account could I have untill I bought a Coppy thereof of the Sheriffs Clark yet being as a Child very ignorant in matters of Law having never been concerned in matters of Law nor never had occasion at any Court with any person whatsoever save this with him I let it go on in singleness of heart resolving to leave the issue to the Lord knowing he was all-sufficient and chusing rather patiently to suffer then to involve my self into such dubious unseen troubles and vast expences as of the Law doth produce especially being so uncapable of things of that nature and thus it continued in suspence I still waiting to see the effect untill about a year after he stirred again and sought through smooth words subtilly to have enticed some of my Relations to have given him a Composition for me telling them one while Ten pounds another while Twelve or Sixteen pounds would do it pretending to shew them all the favour imaginable if they would do any thing and when his blandilocutions could not prevail then he sought to terrifie them with threats saying he had a Writ ready and the Sheriff would come and take possession and all I had would be Confiscated to the King c. also the People and Neighbours adjacent with great exclamation pressing them to compound saying it was pitty it should be forfeit which put them to a point not knowing what to do some of them gave me an account once and again with tears and great grief and vexation I as often before desired and also discharged them not to meddle in it it was my own and I knew not that it could go for a better Testimony I had nothing but what I had received of the Lord the loss was like to be solely mine so let him and me alone for what he could inflict I was to bear and that he could go no further then the Lord permitted and what he intended for evil the Lord turned to good and I hoped to be preserved and provided for upon which they were disswaded and would not be induced by him So by the aforesaid Writ he called a Jury and by compulsions summoned my Brother and others that farmed my Land to give an estimate of the Annual value of it and also what Goods and Chattels I was possessed of about two years before viz. the time when he began that Suit intending to make all Confiscate from that day forward so the Jurors gave in their Survey at Six pound per annum c. in the year 1666 Then after he had done all this what through the Exclamation of my Relations and Neighbors for the satisfying of them and what through the advice of others my Friends I procured a Reversal resolving to joyn Suit and try with him and never more I did neither to this day nor before in matters of Law proceedings in my own defence and how the Lord prevented or confounded him in his proceeding I know not but to this day his expectation hath perished and it is between three or four years since he begun and indeed I can truly say it was freely offered and not it only but Liberty and Life also if it had been required into the Will of the Lord feeling and enjoying his Peace and Presence I am satisfied and can say it is enough and in the uprightness of my Heart I desire I may honour him with life liberty and substance while this
a proceeded to have damnified me any further So seeing thou yet intendest to add weight and oppression to the afflicted and oppressed little enough if thou give me a true account of my supposed transgression which I expect thou wilt forthwith do by this Bearer either in word or writing without any further deferring for sure thou hast not gone about to impose all this upon me that thou hast done and yet intends to do by adding affliction to my bonds but thou canst and will give a reason in every particular wherefore which I expect of thee without any further evasion or otherwise I may conclude thou canst not So that I say again in tender love to thy Souls eternal Peace do I desire thee to ponder well these things and receive the Advice of thy Friend herein for I know there is a Witness in thy Conscience that will receive me from which thou canst not flee nor hide thy self Day nor Night to it I appeal and know thou that it s not that I am weary of Sufferings or am so married to the World that I cannot part with it for though the Devil may have power to Dispossess me of an External Inheritance as he hath had power to cast into Prison yet will I wait upon the Lord knowing he is able to subdue Satan under his Feet and thou could have had no power against me if it had not been given thee so if thou willt not be advised for thy good do what thou hast power to do as for me I have so much Faith as to Trust in the God of Jacob and Patience to endure all these things knowing the Captain of my Salvation was made perfect through Sufferings who will be Glorified in the Sufferings of his Saints whom my Soul honours and glorifies above all So be Exhorted and Warned in time lest this stand as a Witness against thee in the Day of the Lord's Indignation for this was in my heart from the Lord to warn thee of so I shall be clear of thy Blood Carlile the place of my outward restraint and inward peace the 14th of the 9th Month 1664. By one that desires from my heart the welfare of thee and thine and to be found in the exercise of love to Enemies Tho. Carleton This second I sent to him after I was Outlawed L. West HEar and understand let thy patience shew forth it self a little to hear read and receive home this herein inserted directed to thee how long will it be ere thou cease to add oppression to the oppressed Wherefore hast thou Outlawed me when in Prison Hadst thou no way to accomplish thy design and obtain thy covetous desire and end but by Treachery and Deceit and by stealing Law against the Innocent Oh how eager hath thy desire been after the dwellings of the Righteous and that without any just cause for which thou hast often refused to give a reason or shew the cause Thou knowest on the day of my Commitment I asked thee what thou couldst demand before many Witnesses also I writ to thee for an account and my Relations desired an account of thee but none yet wouldst or rather couldst thou truly and justly give Oh! be ashamed be ashamed and blush that ever thou should profess a Priests Function and deal so Treacherously as thou hast done was thy cause so evil and thy plea so bad that thou must steal Law to obtain thy greedy desire Is thy love so much professed to my Fathers Children at an end and is envy wrath and malice crept in instead thereof Oh! the Heathen shall condemn thee for this yea the Earth shall open her mouth and the very Beasts of the Field and Fouls of the Air shall abhor and be astonished to hear and see thy proceedings herein The Tribe of the Priesthood will be ashamed of thee and all such Sons of Levi well did Jacob say Instruments of Cruelty was in their hands yea I may say Cruelty in the highest degree pride tyranny and oppression is their way and path well speak the Prophets that which is now come to pass yea seen and felt Micha 3.5 11. Ezek. 13.18 19 22. and chap. 22.25 26 c. Isa 56.11 Oh the oppression of the Priesthood of England the Earth can scarce bear them and among them all canst thou produce a president for Covetousness Cruelty and Oppression surely thou knowest not what spirit thou art of but thy fruits will discover thee by and by if a Man should tell of thy dealings to thy Function how thou hast beat me with the fist of Wickedness persecuted with all thy might sworn or caused to swear deceitfully and how illegally thou hast done and that for filthy lucre sake to obtain the gain of oppression would they tollerate thee and not be ashamed Oh blush to hear of thy corrupt Conversation thy own hand shall witness against thee and thine own heart shall condemn thee for these things thou hast not only dealt Treacherously with me but with the Kings Officers also by causing them to return I could not be found when thou hadst me in Prison and they had me in Custody surely thy Master will deceive thee and thy nakedness treachery and deceit is and will be laid open and made more publick then thy Proclamation was that I might either render my Body or be Outlawed which thing was done in obscurity and deceit but I must be more publick and plain with thee it may be to rip up thy skirts that thy nakedness may appear thy filth and putrifaction though as a chief Priest yet one of the Whores Children for the light manifests thee so to be and all thy crooked deceitful serpentine paths and by the Children of Light thou art seen and shalt be made apparent to them that is yet under the yoke of oppression thy Name shall rot and the memorial of thy Seed shall stink in thy Generations to come a Testimony I have to bear against the workers of Iniquity and for that end the Lord hath called me forth and brought me not only to believe but also to suffer for his Name which Name I have as a Rock a Shield and Helmet of Salvation in this day of great Tryal and in the Strength of the Lord am I resolved to hold forth my Testimony valuing all with it as dross and dung and doth believe that through it I shall undergo all and be able to make War in Righteousness and by his Power shall tread upon the neck of the Scorpion and Adder and on the crown of the head of thee and all the Oppressors of the Lords Seed who at this day is made objects of your Cruelty yea by the Power of the Living God we both do and shall tread you as chaff in the Streets So take heed how thou proceedest least Gods witness in thy own heart break thy rest for the first Priest that imprisoned for Tythes in Cumberland was made a spectacie of his wrath and he is the
hold forth which is the Key that opens the mystery ground intent and end of every Law and Statute whatsoever so that of Henry the 8th about Tythes doth not institute enact or ordain settle or impose them as a Temporal Civil Injunction but they are there called Spiritual gifts belonging to holy Church and because many doth deny the payment c. so this Act doth but enjoyn the payment of them as a supposed due and right formerly belonging to holy Church and therefore doth but at the utmost repair strengthen and preserve that which was like to decay but doth not set up any new structure property or title so the reasons of this Law being taken away which is that they are a supposed due this Act is nulled These before mentioned being the only main Grounds and Reasons whereupon Tythes are claimed and payed which I hope is satisfactorily answered indeed some more frivilous Objections are made as what will not many say to save themselves when they are in an exigent yea brawl menace perhaps beat with wicked fist revile or scoff and it may be set an Officer on one and hale him before a Magistrate c. I say many more they make to little purpose as that in Luke 18. where the Pharisee payed Tythes of all he possessed which hath little in it unless they would be condemned with him as a Pharisee with their outside holiness others say Thou shalt not muzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn I say so too if they be Oxen let them be unmuzled and live of what they tread out which is so little that they never durst rely upon it yet but they are more idle then such Oxen c. this is like their plowing in hope and sowing in hope which for the most part fails before they either plow or sow for in which of the Priests did ever the hope endure untill he reaped the Fruit of his plowing or sowing but rather first he must know what Stipend there is what Tythes or Gleab-lands or other Revenue belongs to the Incombent and how it doth arise this you may say is too true Again say they He that gathers a Flock let him eat of the milk of the Flock indeed so say I but they either get no flock gathered or else their Flock is barren and gives no milk or otherwise the milk they give doth not satisfie which makes them pull tug and draw so hard for milk meat and maintenance from others pertaining to another Flock which they never gathered as daily experience teacheth to their shame and to the shame of all that are gathered by them Again say they If we have sown unto you Spiritual things is it a great matter if we reap your carnal things I say it s no great matter but rather the part and duty of a Christian but to whom have they sown Spirituals I am sure not to me for L. W. hath Ministred nothing to me but that which is Earthly and savours of Death as I have elsewhere said which deserves not my Carnals nor any other maintenance from me not that I am strait-handed or so knit and joyned to the things the Lord hath endued me with but I can destribute them freely to such as sow Spirituals and Ministers freely from the mouth of the Lord or to any other in necessity but L. W. as is well known hath no such necessity for all his eager pursuit after my Carnals these Three or Four Years last past but he hath coveted an evil covetousness to set his nest on high but thereby hath not delivered his Soul from the power of evil but hath consulted confusion to his shame So Still I say the grand Title stood in the Mosaical Institutions all which pointed at Christ and Christ being come they fall flat and to them a period is set for its Evident for some hundreds of years after Christ there was neither Claim nor payment of Tythes nor no setling or confining of Ministers to such and such Parishes or Places but they that received freely preached freely and went from one Country to another and from one People to another as they were drawn by the Spirit of the Lord and in those dayes there was no setled nor forced maintenance belonged unto them but they who received Spirituals and were brought into the Faith and Fellowship of the Saints they administred of their Temporals freely without any injunction as many hath done in England these late years and the Lord having opened the Hearts of many as Lydia they called them into their House being open to distribute to their Necessities so that they that set forth without money or scrip c. wanted nothing yea I believe many of the Lords Ministers and Servants called Quakers hath Travelled in these late years many Hundred of miles from one People and Nation to another having been persecuted and beat and haled to Prison and out of Prison here and there amongst a strange Nation and People which they knew not who when they set forth could not assure themselves of one Nights lodgings or one meals Meat and yet they were in every place sufficiently provided for and had no want they only cast their care upon the Lord and lived upon the Gospel being Preachers of it and by the Faith of the Son of God as did the primitive Christians in the Apostles dayes and some Hundred of years after untill the power of Christianity was lost and the Apostacy crept in and then they fell into Forms and Immitations Rome being the leading Church setled Bishops Vicars and Priests and erected Monasteries Abbeys and Religious Houses and placed them there and brought in the old Rites and Customs of the Jews again under a colour of Zeal and Piety perswading the People to give gifts to pious uses so enjoyning them to one thing after another until their Traditions were received as Canonical and amongst the rest brought in this of Tythes again which for a long time was payed at the Owners pleasure either to the Poor or to the aforesaid Monasteries and Religious Houses for pretended Spiritual uses and when they saw that the greater part destributed their Tythes to the Poor Pope Alexander the third did restrain the Peoples freedoms Anno 1180. And Pope Gregory ordained that Tythes should not be destributed to the Poor but to the Mother Church Anno 1274. And Pope Pius the Fourth ordained the payment of Tythes upon penalty of Excomunication by a Council at Trent about the year 1560. And thus they crept in again as they fell from the Power of Godliness then they began to build again that which was before destroyed and so brought in these old Ordinances again in immitation of the Mosaical Law and so came to force and compel a maintenance for a Priesthood and Ministry which was not of Levi's Linnage which was never used nor known amongst the Christians in the purity of the Gospel but being little acquainted or read in
they 'l menace and thunder out their Comminations and Excomunications and some they 'l cast in Prison it may be till Death and yet cloke themselves over with the name of Gospel Ministers and plead innocency and say its the Law that requires it and binds Men to be subject to Ecclesiastical Canons and Censures now wherein doth their innocency appear unless in putting a white Coat above a black one a Popish dress and if the Figure be true they are but outside Pharisees appearing white and clean without and that in Apparel only Yea I may say they are as wise expert Marriners in that Babilonish Wisdom as ever Trafficked or Sailed upon the Waters of the Great Whore they can Sail with any Wind that blows within the Circuit of Babylons Coasts but that Prophesie comes to be fulfilled upon them Evil Men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived c. But blessed be the Lord the Day is dawned that declares them and the Light that makes them manifest with their all Abominations and the Son is appeared that will disperse them as the Morning mist so that their skirts shall be uncovered and their nakedness shall be laid open and their visage shall be no more Vailed for the Judgment of the Great Whore is come and coming wherein all her Merchants shall weep and mourn because no Man buyeth their Merchandice any more So this Mite of my Testimony I have cast in being but a Mite indeed in comparison of the many weighty praise-worthy works given forth by many of the dear and faithful Servants of God upon this very Subject in this very Age from the breakings forth of the Glorious Light in them revealed and made known And for the clearing my Conscience in the sight of the Lord I refer this to publick view and give this Testimony to my Countrymen and Acquaintance or any others that yet see not the difference between us and the Priests in this very point and partly for satisfying or silencing of others especially the People of the Independants or Congregational Church at Melmerby so called who though as I have said before they once made the non payment of Tythes an Article of their Judgment yet have of late since I became a sufferer for them whisperingly or clandestinely condemned me in secret more then many if not all others that have less profession and seem more profane rendring me foolâ—sh and unwise to suffer so much and so long for such a trivial external tempory matter as they call it but to me it was and is no smâ—ll matter being to the Contrary perswaded in my Conscience and knowing by good experience and assured Testimonies that I must stand or fall by obedience or disobedience to the manifestation of the Lords precious Gift and Light in my own Soul and Conscience I therefore value not the Judgment of any Man or People being from the Light the Line of True Judgment and Rule of Life to me and to be accounted a Fool is no new nor strange thing for a Fool I am to their Wisdom as was the good and precious Servants of God in Ages past For the Wisdom of God is foolishness with Men and casting things upon me behind my back becomes them not it were more Christianly for them to Admonish or Instruct me face to face and to give me their Advice and Reasons in matters of this nature which if I found to be more weighty sound and agreeable to the Witness of God in my Conscience I should be very ready willing and glad to receive them and be informed by them I am neither so far remote nor so much a stranger to them though my Principle may but this way they chuse not but makes War and fights as Men that beat the Air hiddenly or a far off slighting and contemning my Principle and me for its sake above most of People as though I had been Poysonous and Infectious where I came prohibiting some of their Society and Members so called to have any Fellowship or Converse with me or to receive either Books or Papers from me or come where I was and one of their leading Teachers G. Nicholson by Name denied to make good their own Principles and Tenents held forth in their own Defence against us and also to make good several contumelious aspertions cast upon us in my Hearing by him and others and also denied to give an account of his Faith and Hope in Christ Jâ—sus saying It was in vain c. with several such like matters which I shall now omit and yet these People will be Slighting and Villifying us in secret indeed we have much more cause to have disesteemed them and their Principles having more knowledge of both them and it when we were amongst them then ever they had of us or ours and in villifying our Principles they speak evil of things they understand not being a Treasure whose worth and value they never knew the mystery whereof is hid and sealed from that state and nature they live in we have known theirs but they never knew ours yea for my own part I can truly say in the Light and Presence of the Lord that I had more love and affection in my Heart for those people then any other Profession that was from the Light yea many a time I could have mourned in secret and been willing to have undergone great hardship that they might have been won and gained to the Lord yea I could as it were have plucked them out of the fire many a time other times my spirit hath been weighed and burthened yea filled with indignation against some of them that were Elders Teachers and Leaders that caused the rest to Err who like the Pharisees of old have Shut the Kingdom of God as it were but I am sure they have drawn backward and hindred the work of the Lord both in themselves and others for they would neither enter themselves nor suffer those that would but have made War against the Light in themselves and others and I testifie they are Strangers to the Covenant of Promise Christ Jesus the Light the New and Living Way who is the Light of the World John 8.12 Who is in the World and the World knows him not and lighteth every Man that comes into the World John 1.4 5 6 7 8 9 unto whom John came to bear Witness and yet how few will believe how few doth receive John's Testimony though he was sent from God to bear Witness of the Light and all hold John as a Prophet also how few do receive Christs own Exhortation who said While you have the Light believe in the Light that you may be Children of the Light John 12.36 no marvel if they receive not ours may it not well be said unto them Behold ye Dispisers and wonder I will work a Work in your day which though a Man declare it unto you yet will you in no wise believe Acts 13.41 mark ye Despisers
that Despise the Light accounting it as a thing of nought calling it Natural or Diabolical or an unholy thing esteeming it too mean a Meat for your stuffed up Stomachs and cannot yet be digested by you what better Testimony would you have Would you have one arise from the Dead here 's John a Man sent from God and here 's Christ Jesus which rose from the Dead which Death could not bold also we have the Testimony of the Spirit of Truth and having received this Testimony we have the Witness in our selves and can set to our Seals that God is True John 3.35 and that there is no other way to the Father but by Christ Jesus the Light which is the Life and Blood of the Everlasting Covenant though many set it at nought and will not stoop to so small a thing yet all the Powers of Darkness cannot comprehend it it will break thorow them all to your condemnation that are disobedient and for proof thereof I appeal to every of your Consciences in the sight of God and let the Light therein which abideth in you which is Truth and no Lye John 2.27 let it declare for me whether any of you can hide you from it If you take the Wings of the Morning as David said and fly into the uttermost parts of the Earth it will find you out do what you will it will declare the nature of your deeds when you do evil at home or abroad never so secretly when no man sees it will condemn you and when you do well it will justifie and you will feel peace and joy in that Work it will tell you all that ever you did as the Woman of Samaria said Is not this the Christ come and see then they came and saw and believed also not because of her words but by what they heard from him themselves saying they knew indeed that this is the very Christ John 4.42 So be intreated as a Man would intreat his Friend whom he loveth to come with the Samaritans and see wether it be not so as we have said she was but one and that a Woman yet they came forth with her to see if it was he and it was he and they believed but we are many Witnesses and Testifie what we have heard and seen and handled of him So once more I say be intreated to come and see not to come forth after us and follow us as he said Luke 17.21 23. but to turn in your minds I mean to the Light of Christ Jesus in your own Hearts for the Kingdom of Heaven is within you and there hearken to him that is the Light of the World mark the World is set in Mans Heart Eccles 3.11 and when you have heard and obeyed for that is believing indeed I question not but you will be ready to say with the Samaritans That ye know that he is indeed the very Christ So put not off by delays but while the Lord calls do you answer and while he seeks be you gathered Prov. 1.24.26 yea while the Light and Love of God is with you believe in it receive it and walk in it for Darkness comes when no Man shall walk or work John 22 35 36. And the Light of the wicked shall be put out and the spark of his fire shall be quenched Job 18.5 6. Then shall his Wrath and Fury increase which will torment the Conscience for ever where they shall feel the Worm that dies not and the Fire that never goes out then Sorrow Mourning and bitter Lamentation shall fall upon them then may they cry to the Mountains fall on us and to the Hills to cover us even they I mean that slighteth their day of Visitation and hate to be reformed For behold the Days come that shall burn as an Oven wherein all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble the Day that cometh shall burn them up and shall leave them neither Root nor Branch but to them that fear my Name saith the Lord shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his Wings and they shall go forth and grow as Calves in the stall and they shall tread down the Wicked yea the Wicked shall be as Ashes under the soles of their feet in that Day when I shall do this saith the Lord he that can believe it let him This is my Testimony given forth in the same Love wherewith the Lord my God hath loved me not desiring to Eat my Morsel alone nor yet to conceal the loving kindness of the Lord which is held forth freely unto all of which I am made a partaker according to the measure of that Grace and Love received in Christ Jesus who would not that any should perish but that all Men might come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved who was the First-fruits of Righteousness leaving us an Example to follow his steps So desiring that all might come to partake of the same Grace with us and walk in the same Light with us where there is no occasion of Stumbling and come to drink of the same Living Water with us which whosoever drinketh thereof shall never thirst again but is satisfied for ever this none knows save they that drink thereof and they are but a few Having for the Reasons aforesaid committed this to publick view it s now other Mens as well as mine to judge of and no doubt may be by some opposed as well as by others approved I therefore desire the discreet Reader having soberly and piously pondred this short Treatise in the fear of the Lord not rashly to asperse either me or it behind my back thereby to make my Principle or Testimony odious in the Eyes of such as are weak and unstable in Judgment but rather having any thing to object against the Truth of any particular herein to make known their Objections to me either by word or writing and I shall be very willing to be Christianly informed or else to give a Christian information and sober Reply for their satisfaction and for the clearing and vindicating of every particular herein according to that Talent of knowledge that is given me to improve and this I hope will be easily granted by such as is willing to do unto me as they would have me or others to do unto them which is according to both Law and Prophets Given forth about the 6th Month 1667. Tho. Carleton THE END To the CALLED OF GOD And true Professors of the LIGHT SPIRIT of Jesus Christ in these Northern Nations To the Called of GOD c. OH my well-beloved Friends Brethren and Sisters in that Spiritual Heavenly Relation that stands in the power of an endless Life do I tenderly Greet you all and in the sensible Feeling thereof do I at this time with much tenderness and fear communicate these following Exhortations unto you Upon the Second day of the Tenth Month at Even after I was returned from waiting upon and serving
World and all that nature that in it we may live and by it all may be preserved unto the end That so the Lord God Almighty his Living Holy Name and Eternal Truth may be Feared Served Honoured and Obeyed over all by and through all for He alone is worthy yea Everlasting worthy God blessed for ever and evermore Saith the Soul and Spirit of him who is the Lords and yours in the Unity of the Gospel of Christ Jesus T. C. A General EPISTLE CONTAINING Wholsom Admonition and Advice to Friends in IRELAND and else-where By Thomas Carleton DEar and well beloved Friends Brethren and Sisters who are in some Measure gathered by the Arm of God's Power and have known the blessed Appearance of Life and Salvation to you is the Salutation of my unfeigned Love and in the Fellowship of God's Everlasting Light do I tenderly greet you all and for the clearing of my Spirit of that which for some time hath been upon me do I communicate these Lines in the true Simplicity of my Heart dearly desiring all that love the Lord Jesus Christ To keep low and near the Lord and wait to feel God's living Power in your Hearts unto which we were turned or exhorted from the Beginning for in the Light of the Lord I see there is a Necessity for it For unless the Sense of God's living Power be felt Profession is vain and Meetings are not made profitable for the Mysteries of Life and Salvation and of true Christianity consist not only in any Profession Name or Notion of this or that Principle Article or Creed formed or received in the Minds of Men or Women but in a living Enjoyment and Possession of the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus the Author and Finisher of the living saving Faith So my dear Friends all wait to feel the Operation of that Power in every Heart and Soul to subdue all to God and to work all into submission and real obedience to the heavenly Will and Mind of Christ Jesus who is come a Light into the World that all men through him might believe hear is the unchangeable standing Rule which every one is to measure themselves by and he or she that is measured or squared by this are as polished Stones for God's spiritual House and he or she that is not squared by this are not fit to be Members of God's Building so all having the Measuring line in your hearts let Judgment be laid to it and so try all things words works behaviours and the Intent of all and from what ground and spirit it doth proceed and this unchangeable everlasting Rule all keep to it and Build by it so shall you be justified with it in the Day of Tryal so all things done by this unchangeable unerring Rule the Law of the Spirit of Life this keeps clean and pure and sets free of all Mud and Confusion Sin and Iniquity and things that bring death and darkness over the Soul and understanding and so cloud the Testimony So let every man and woman by this standing Rule examine themselves and so let them eat speak or act as the Lord shall perswade them and wherein any one doubteth and is not clear in what he or she undertaketh let such forbare and wait in quietness till the Lord clear their way So all take heed and keep to the Rule for in the Lord's Light we see Light and have Clearness and Freedom and Peace but going from the Light without Rule without Guide the Vail comes over Darkness gathers in Confusion and Trouble then Peace comes to be lost So you that have known in any measure the work of Regeneration and of the New Birth through the working of God's Spirit and power in your Hearts by which some unclean spirits have been cast out keep to the Power still and beware of letting in the unclean spirit again for if you do the latter-end will be worse then the beginning And lean not to the World's Wisdom beware of that spirit I advise all for by that wisdom God is not known and if once the Sense and enjoyment of God be lost then man and woman is in a woful state without God in the World so keep out of the world's spirit I intreat you all and live as Fools to it and all its wayes fashions customs for in the light of the Lord I see a great Snare there at this day and too many that make Profession of Truth are like to be split upon that Rock So dear Friends live loose to the world and all the glories of it and seek to be wise in that which is not of this world that you may be loved of God and so dwell in that which can bear the revilings and reproaches of this world and the contradiction of sinners as our Lord Jesus Christ hath left us an Example So beware of looking back to Egypt's Glory again to see any heauty or comliness in that dark Land for from the Lord I see a Temptation attending God's spiritual Israel in this day as surely as ever it attended Israel after the Flesh and many are too prone to desire the pleasures of Egypt again though the best of them be bondage as many to their Sorrow have found yea too many there be that cannot bear tryals and reproaches and the way of the Cross and self-denyal but think it long and wearisom and hard as they did in the dayes of old and so are too ready to murmur and repine and lust in their hearts after this World 's glory again and joyn to its fashions and customs again and so set up Idols again as they did whose Carcases fell in tho wilderness with whom the Lord was displeased So beware of letting in that spirit of destrust unbelief and rebellion against God and his pure Witness in your Consciences and beware of building that which was once destroyed or licking up that which was once vomited or entertaining of that which was once cast out or owning that which was once denyed either in words in works in behaviour in apparel in doctrine or faith hath Truth in you condemned for all idle vain prophane wicked unfound and unfavoury words and brought you into a Form of needful true and sound words keep to it still hath Truth condemned all idle proud prophane wicked and ungodly Actions and all empty airy foolish wanton lustful proud self-willed and Men-pleasing behaviours and brought you into moderation gravity plainness reallity and Truth in Life and Conversation keep to it still hath Truth condemned for decking and adorning the Body with vain superfluous proud needless worldly eye-taking Toyes in Apparel and led you into plain profitable decent needful things keep to it still and fashion not your selves like unto the World nor learn any of their manners nor of the breeding of that Egyptian-Spirit which keeps the Seed in bondage and oppressed the just in the particular and in the general so from the Lord I advise you all and
warn you all that are Parents to watch over your Children and bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord and beware you breed them not up in the World's manners nor customs nor in pride lightness and vanity nor in things that puff up and lead away their minds from under the Cross of Christ Jesus but rather breed them up in Humility Lowliness and Self-denial and in the Fear of the Lord which is the beginning of true Wisdom and gate of Virtue and so endeavour to train them up in the right Way to Life and lay a good Foundation in them while they are young and then both you and they may expect a blessing from the Lord which is better then all So away with all Manners and Breeding and Education that is out of the Fear of God for you your selves know the first Nature in it self is too inclinable to be taken with the Manners and Customs of the Egyptian-Spirit and to take pleasure and conceit it self and be puffed up with and in those things that lead from God without nursing and encouraging thereunto so keep all Low in Meekness and Self-denial that God's Fear may be timely planted in their Hearts and the Principles of Life and Peace they may be instructed in as you your selves have learned them of the Lord that so the loving-kindness and gentle dealings of God towards us we may tell of them to our Children and they to another Generation so all learning the way of the Cross and Self-denyal that Will that is carnal and earthly will be mortified and slain and the Spirit of the World and the Customs thereof will be Crucified to you all and you all unto it and then how can they that are Crucified to the World live any longer therein and so Spiritual Men and Spiritual Women Sons and Daughters of the incorruptible Seed begotten again by the Power and Spirit of Christ Jesus and so dead to the World's Spirit Ways Customs Manners Traditions Ordinances and Worships all in the Fall and Degeneration from God and every one Living up to this being guided by God's Wisdom keep their Testimony clear and unviolated in the sight of God and Men. So stand true Witnesses for God and be Faithful or full of Faith in the Lord believe in Him love Him above all and trust Him with all Wife and Children Estate and Life and take heed of giving Offence or of causing Truth to suffer in its Esteem for God hath glorified it and will glorifie it and Wo from the Lord is to them that cause Truth to be Evil spoken off that brings a blot upon their Testimony and so marreth the Visage and Countenance of Truth in the particular or in the general And dear Friends stand living Witnesser for God's Truth and be not cowardly but valiant as Soldiers of Christ Jesus and stand up against all the Works and Workers of Iniquity against all Hirelings and false Shepherds against the grand Oppression of Tythes with the abolished Ceremonies and Ordinances of the first Covenant and Jews outwardly which Antichrist and the Deceivers that are gone into the World having lost the Power would innovate and set up again among the Gentiles and Jews inward contrary to the Institution of God and stand up against all Swearing and that which leads to Swearing and against Lying or Stealing and against Fighting or Killing since our Kingdom is not of this World and against Fornication Adultery Whoredom Lasciviousness Luxury and all manner of Uncleanness the sins of this World which are so vile they are scarce fit to be spoken of or named amongst the Saints so as becomes Warriours for God and the everlasting Gospel of Christ Jesus stand clear of them all and against them all and then there will be no need of shifts and excuses and crooked Reasons in the fallen wisdom to hide or cover any one with And my dear Friends let your Yea be Yea and your Nay be Nay and keep to the form of sound words in all your Communications Bargains and Dealings one with another and also with them that are without that so you may honour the Lord and honour his Truth and convince all with whom you have to do that Truth and Righteousness lives in you and you live in it this is the glory of all Profession And be not forward and rash in Words and Promises for some there are yea too many that make Profession of Truth and true Religion and yet know not a bridle for the Tongue and the Apostle said such Mens Religion was vain yea and too many there are that are hasty to promise and flow to perform and then shuffle to excuse themselves as Eve did where no Excuse can properly bear in the Truth so beware of it I desire you all for this was one express Token the Apostle laid down of the falling away therefore be slow to promise but careful quick and forward to perform when promised and that keeps Truth clear and answers the Expectations of all and Preaches to all with whom we have to do and hereby the Saints reached God's Witness in one another in the beginning so keep to it still and every one speak the Truth from his Heart without Dissimulation and learn not the slighty words and cunning evasions of the deceitful Spirits of this World which darken knowledge thereby to drive Bargains to accomplish self-ends and covetous designs for such things though never so fairly glossed are inconsistent with the innocency and naked simplicity of our Gospel neither is Truth honoured by such deceitful coverings so all Friends keep clear of such things and be plain-hearted with all Men for no coverings will hide or avail in this bright lightsome Day but that of God's Eternal Spirit which will stand over all and Darkness cannot comprehend it but going from the Light and Spirit of God into the fallen deceitful wisdom then the World comprehends and sounds and bottoms all such and so Truth suffers in the particular and in the general so the Law of the Spirit of Life which we profess is beyond all Laws and a Rule beyond all Rules and reaches further to the ordering and guiding of all those that are resolved and given up to it in Obedience then all Laws Precepts Canons or Injuctions that are outward whatsoever so the Righteosness that is God's which Christ Jesus is the Author of is beyond all and exceeds all the Righteousness of other Professions Scribes or Pharisees whereby its plain every Righteosness doth not enter nor is accepted of God but only that which exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees which Christ works in all his by the Operation of his eternal Spirit So my dear Friends wait to feel it and the effectual Works of it brought forth in you all which to feel is more then words that your Faith may stand in it and in a living Enjoyment of it for that Man or Woman that doth not feel it and the efficacy and vertue of
it they bring from a strange Vine which Christ Jesus will not own and all take heed and keep low in God's Fear And you my Friends that are Rich in this World or have much of the Creation of God do you watch and take heed for there is a Snare and that none of the least which attends that state also and if the Lord hath encreased your store set not your Hearts upon them nor trust to them for he that trusteth to his Riches shall fall for as one said They are not for ever but sometime make themselves Wings and fly away so be not lifted up with them but eye the Lord and possess as though you possessed not and labour to be Rich towards God and Rich in good Works and remember poor afflicted Joseph and be ready to do good and to communicate as said the Apostle and keep your Hearts single and loose to those things and so in God's Wisdom you will see your Way and Service and the End and Use of all And all you Young Men and Women that are single and unmarryed you have an Oportunity to serve the Lord do you keep low and beware of being entangled or brought in Bondage by youthful Lusts for thereby many have lost a good condition with God and brought themselves to Sorrow and Wo both in this Life and that which is to come And above all take heed of joyning Affinity with strange Nations and such as know not God nor obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for this was forbidden Israel after the flesh Deut. 7.3.4 and for their Disobedience herein God's anger was kindled against them and they were carryed away captive many years which made Ezra the Servant of the Lord rent his Garments and pluck his Hair off his Head and Beard and mourn before the Lord till he and the Elders of Israel resolved to put away their Strange Wives Ez 9 10. chap. And Esau by marrying the Daughters of Heth so grieved his Father and Mother that Rebecca complained she was weary of her Life Gen. 27.46 And Paul advised not to be unequally yoked together Believers with Unbelievers knowing there could be no Union between Light and Darkness nor the Temple of God and Idols c. so keep your Hearts single to God and wait in God's Wisdom to overcome the Wicked One in your own particulars and seek to be marryed to the Lord first and joyned to the Lord by his eternal Spirit which brings into Unity and keeps Chastity in Mind and Spirit unto him and observe the Advice of the Apostle who said The Unmarried cared for the things of the Lord how he or she might please the Lord but the married for the things of this World how he or she might please Wife or Husband So all be watchful and mind your Places and Callings in Christ Jesus but if any one in the Fear and Wisdom of God do see it their way to marry let such seek God's Counsel and be not hasty but wait in it that he or she may enjoy a Wife or a Husband in the Peace and Love of God and to be joyned one by his eternal Spirit and then Meet helps and a Blessing one to another and then the Marriage is honourable and the Bed undefiled so all keep clean and live up to God in all things in all States and Conditions in your Places and Callings whereunto God hath called you that the Lord may take pleasure to do you good and to multiply his Blessings upon you that the Issues of Life and Peace may abound and run through all and rest upon all your Hearts and Souls as the dew of Hermon And the God of Peace and Love preserve us all in his Peace and Love and carry us through all by the Arm of his Eternal Power and guide us all in his heavenly Wisdom to the Praise Glory and Renown of his Everlasting Name who is God alone blessed forever and for evermore Written the 13th of the 7th Month 1676. Your Friend Brother in the Obedience of Truth Tho. Carleton FINIS