Selected quad for the lemma: judgement_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
judgement_n	according_a	judge_v	law_n	4,033	5	5.2533	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A93230	The Saints testimony finishing through sufferings: or, The proceedings of the court against the servants of Jesus, who were called before them to be tryed at the late assizes (or sessions) held in Banbury in the county of Oxon, the 26 day of the seventh moneth, 1655. Also a relation of Margret Vivers, going to the steeple-house in Banbury, after the assize (or sessions) as aforesaid: and a testimony against false prophets, and false doctrine; ... And the manner of Richard Farnsworth imprisonment at Banbury, with a short examination and answer. And the cause of his detainment. Also, a warning from the spirit of the Lord (in his hand-maid Anne Audland) to the persecuting priest and people, &c. And a letter of Robert Rich to the magistrates of Banbury, ... Likewise a letter of Tho. Curtis to the professed minister called Samuel VVells in Banbury. And a certificate wherein is manifested the diligence that was used to know the causes of the prisoners commitments ... (Anne Audland, Iane VVaugh, Sarah Tims, and Nathaniel VVeston) as wel as Robert Rich, ... With a paper relating the sufferings of the innocent.	Vivers, Margaret.; Audland, Anne, 1626 or 7-1705.; Rich, Robert, d. 1679.; Curtis, Thomas, 17th cent.	1655 (1655)	Wing S365; Thomason E857_7; ESTC R203441	49,745	48

they spoke was untruth And though they say The Lord liveth surely they swear falsely Ier. 5.2 Then another asked me If the Lord did not live I answered Yea I know he liveth Now there are two Boyes that hath sworn against me that which I did not speak their blood will be required of them that caused them to erre And know this O man that the Lord God wil be avenged of all unjust Justices and he will make his power known in the destruction of his Enemies Therefore fear him and beware of persecuting his servants for justly shalt thou be judged according to thy deeds done in the body shalt thou receive thy reward To the light in thy conscience do I direct thee it will let thee see all thy actions and from whence they arise whether from the Spirit of Meekness or from thy perverse will which the Lord will judge righteously To that in thy conscience I speak which will witness for God against all deceit This was I moved to write to clear my conscience of thee and leave thee without excuse that when the Book of Conscience is opened thou mayest remember that thou wast warned in thy life-time A friend of the Truth and a lover of thy Soul who is a prisoner of the Lord for the truths sake at Banbury whose name in the flesh is Anne Audland WHeereas I am accused in a Mittimus for certain blasphemous words saying That the Lord liveth not I answer these words are false and never spoken by me The Lord is my Redeemer and I know that my Redeemer liveth and my Soul magnifieth him and my spirit rejoyceth in him and here I deny your false accusations and blasphemy it is your owne words and not what I said and you that accuse falsely know not the living God the Heathens knows not God and the Heathens rage but the Lord will be avenged of all his Enemies and plead the cause of the innocent And they are blasphemers which say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue of Satan And whereas I am accused for causing a tumult in the Church when the Minister was going to execute part of his Function and likewise to assault the Minister I answer This is likewise false Lyars must bee cast into the lake The Church is built of living stones elect and precious and there is order kept in the Church And I did not cause a tumult neither did I assault the Minister as you call him and that which is called part of his function is an invention and there is neither command nor example in all the Scripture that ever any of the Ministers of Christ did sprinckle Infants and call it a Function and here you have no Scripture to prove your Function as you call it And he that practises such things for the which there is no Scripture leads people into the inventions and so they are not profited at all as it appears by your own words that they were in a tumult O blush and be ashamed of that which you call your Church who are so suddenly in a tumult Was there ever such a thing heard of amongst the Saints that they would be in a tumult when one came in peaceably among them not offering wrong to any Here you drew your selves to be children of your fathers who lived in envy haling out of Synagogues carrying them before Rulers and casting into prisons them who was called of the Lord to bear witness against their deceit and here him called the Minister is made manifest to be one that runs before he was sent and so never profited the people and so like Priest like People Therefore give over and never call it a Church who are fighters and strikers scoffers and scorners tumulters and false accusers as your fruits makes it daily appear And some of you confess that they are in danger of their lives that comes among you the people are so rude Now you that are Magistrates ought to punish evil Dors Fighters and Lyars and false Accusers but such have liberty and dare do it in your Church as you call it and you present as hee that caused the Mittimus to be made doth confess That there was a tumult when hee was present and they that tumulted are not punished but the fault is laid upon the innocent who was beat and abused but offered violence to none And so they said Paul was a pestilent fellow and they tumulted Paul but Paul did not cause the tumult So you are made manifest of what generation you are and you shall be reworded according to your deeds And from the Lord I declare That he will visit for these things and plead with you for all your hard speeches and all your ungodly deeds and give you your portion with hypocrites except you speedily repent and when you come into the pit remember you are warned in your life-time And so your false accusation and blasphemy I do deny and the living God will judg between me and you The Burrough of Banbury in the county of Oxon. Anne Audland THe righteous Judge of all the world is now arising to judg the world in righteousness and the people with equity And every tongue shall confesse that the Lord is righteous when be comes to judgement and he wil reward every one according to that deeds And every tongue shall confess the Lord is just For according to that in the conscience which is just and equall will the Lord judg whose Iudgements are just and equall and every Tongue shall confess him just when he takes Vengeance upon the unjust And behold the Lord commeth with ten thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken And such are they that walk after their own Lusts and their mouth speaks great swelling words having mens persons in admiration because of advantage such will the Lord execute Judgment upon in righteousness All you that are ungodly the Lord will reward you according to your deeds And all you that utter hard speeches against the Holy One and blaspheme God in his Temple The Lord is coming with his Saints to execute Judgment upon you and you shall confess his judgements is just that which convinceth you of your ungodly deeds and hard speeches by it you shall confess the Lord is just when you are judged for your ungodly deeds and hard speeches And all you that have mens persons in admiration because of advantage you shall be judged righteously and you shall confess that God is just and his wayes equall and God respects no mans person nor the Saints who comes with him to Judgment respects no mans person for he that respects persons commits sin and is convinced to be a Transgressor of the righteous law of God but they who are guided by that which convinceth the transgressor they are kept

out of the transgression and they do not admire mens persons nor respect mens persons But you that do are convinced to be transgressors and according to that which convinceth will you be judged by the righteous Judge who cometh with ten thousands of his Saints and he will judge all you that respects persons for the Lord regards the rich no more than the poor but this is hee that the Lord regardeth who is of an humble and contrite spirit and trembleth at his word Such you do not regard who are poor and trembleth at the word of the Lord but you that respects persons scoffs at such as they go along the streets But the Lord will plead the cause of the poore who is now despised amongst you that respects persons You admire some mens Persons because of advantage and ye despise others and Persecutes the Poore and goes about to make one an offender for a word which is none indeed and you set a snare for them that reprove in the Gate that so you might catch the innocent and they that are offenders indeed who can lye and sweare and accuse falsely such have liberty and such are set to ensnare the innocent and to be as Iudges against the innocent and yet you profess your selves Christians Oh that you were wise Oh that you would consider your latter end How will you stand before the Judgment seat of God in the day when the secrets of every heart shall be judged by Jesus Christ who hath all judgement committed to him And behold he cometh and all the Saints with him and he rules and reigns in his Saints and sits upon his Throne But how will you stand at that day who now sits as judges upon the Saints and calls them deceivers and persecutes them who are made free by the Son of God and in obedience to him suffers the loss of all things and are killed all the day long and are accounted as sheep for the slaughter and are become a reproach and a by-word and a scorn even among you that profess your selves Christians and so the Scripture is fulfilled They that work wickedness are set up and they that departs from iniquity becomes a prey to the wicked and the Sufferings of the Saints is become a sport amongst you and you can stretch your selves upon your beds of ease and you do not remember the affliction of Ioseph nor you have not known that all who live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution and saith Christ As they have done unto me so will they do unto you And the Servant is not greater then his Lord. Now if you were Christians as you profess your selves to be then would persecution cease and not be found amongst you for Christians doth not persecute but you that live in such things are made manifest to all the children of Light whose servants you are and you that are Magistrates who should punish evil Doers such have liberty in the Streets to scoffe and scorn to swear and lie and be drunk and you pass by these things but if any come amongst you to declare the word of the Lord against such things then the innocent are accused by them who live in such things and the innocent are persecuted and sent to prison and may not know from you who prisons them what they are accused of nor see their accusers face to face Is this according to the Law of God or is this as you would be done unto Consider of it and lay it to heart for the Lord wil visit for these things I speak what I know and find amongst you for I was accused and committed to Prison but I did not know what the accusers swore against me neither could I see my accusers but you took an oath in secret and so I was accused and committed for that which I never spoke and had not liberty to answer for my self nor others had no liberty nor could be heard on my behalf who was by when they say I spoke these words for which I am accused which would bear testimony that they heard no such things spoken by me as I am accused of and so the innocent suffers innocently and in the mean time wickedness is at liberty and not onely in a corner but in your streets men lie and swear and are drunk and the innocent is a prey unto them and yet you do not lay it to heart woe is me for you that you should so slight the day of your visiitation and so wickedly requite the Lord for all his goodness as to persecute his servants who are sent to warn you and despise his Witnesses and shamefully intreat his Messengers and them that comes to you in their owne names such you receive but them that come to you in the name of the Lord such are a reproach amongst you and the Lord is highly displeased with you for these things and he wil make enquiry for blood you know that the blood of the innocent hath been shed in your Streets one that came amongst you and offered violence to none was beat and abused and lost much blood amongst you and yet you are not ashamed to profess your selves Christians when as these actions proceeds from you and your care is how to wound the innocent secretly that so your deeds might not be brought to the light but it is in vain for you to dig deep to hide your counsel from the Lord VVoe unto you that deviseth to work mischief in the dark and say who seeth us and consults together to shoot your arrowes secretly against the poor The Lord sees you knows your hearts your very thoughts which you think against the King in your bed-chamber there is a bird of the ayre that carries the voyce And the Lord will bring every work to judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or evill and the oath in secret shall be tryed and the Lord wil sit as Judge amongst the Judges and you shall all be weighed and those of you that are found wanting the Lord will cast you by though you be as high and mighty as Belshazzar was and if you be angry with mee for telling you so and forewarning you in your life-time the Lord will judge you for it for he is tender over his little ones and in as much as you persecute one of them ye do it unto him and you that imprison the innocent and they may not see their accusers is this according to the Law of God or is this to judge for God and not for man nor self-ends without respect of persons They that were set over the people to judge them according to the Law of God were just men fearing God and hating covetousness just men were to judge the unjust for the unjust cannot judge true judgment See what charge Ichoshaphat gave unto them he set over the people 2 Chron. 19.6 7 9 Saying to the Iudges take heed what you do for you judge not for

THE SAINTS TESTIMONY Finishing through SVFFERINGS OR The Proceedings of the Court against the Servants of Jesus who were called before them to be tryed at the late Assizes or Sessions held in Banbury in the County of Oxon the 26 day of the seventh Moneth 1655. Also a Relation of Margret Vivers going to the Steeple-house in Banbury after the Assize or Sessions as aforesaid And a Testimony against False Prophets and false Doctrine with an Answer to the Objection about the woman forbidden to speak in the Church And some passages about the Lords former sending of his Servants and Messengers And who are no Jesuits Fugitives nor Vagabonds And the manner of Richard Farnsworth imprisonment at Banbury with a short Examination and Answer And the cause of his detainment Also A Warning from the Spirit of the Lord in his hand-maid Anne Audland to the persecuting Priest and people c. And a Letter of Robert Rich to the Magistrates of Banbury and to Iohn Griffith Deputy Recorder who sate Iudge in their Court at the Assize or Session as aforesaid Likewise a Letter of Tho. Curtis to the professed Minister called Samuel VVells in Banbury And a Certificate wherein is manifested the diligence that was used to know the causes of the prisoners commitments that were called to a trial at Banbury Anne Audland Iane VVaugh Sarah Tims and Nathaniel VVeston as wel as Robert Rich who was that day committed out of the Court to prison in Banbury With a Paper relating the sufferings of the Innocent Rev. 12.13 17. And when the Dragon saw that he was cast unto the Earth he persecuted the woman which brought forth the Manchild and the Dragon was wrath with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed which keep the Commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-Spread-Eagle neer the West end of Pauls 1655. THE Saints Testimony Finishing through SUFFERINGS THere being a General Sessions and pretended Goal-Delivery holden at the Town and Burrough of Banbury the fourth day of the week being the six and twentieth day of the seventh moneth 1655. and to many known that several of the Servants of the Living God were there imprisoned whom the world in scorn calls quakers so many friends to them and the truth of God were moved out of Bristol Glocestershire Barkshire and other parts of the Nation to come and visit them and to use their endeavors that justice and equity might be done them at the beginning of the Sessions we were there and heard the Charge given and was present the whole time all our friends were tryed and observed as followeth After awhile one Thomas Colle was called into the Court who bore som office in the Town when he appeared it was observed great rage against him role yet little was said to him but that he was unmannerly in that he kept on his hat and they asked him if he knew where he was or before whom and said that he affronted the Court and words to that purpose although the man uttered not one uncivil word whereupon the Deputy Recorder called Iohn Griffith who sate Judge in the Court fined him to pay five pounds condemned him to prison til he should pay the same he was fined forty shillings more for neglect of his office as they said and because be refused to pay the money was sent to prison accordingly as they had commanded This hard sentence being thus passed was a great burthen to them who loved Righteousness and expected equity And clearly seeing that the said Thomas Cole for conscience sake could not respect any ones person he being enlightned with the light of Christ Jesus which respecteth no mans person and in obedience to him and the Apostle who was guided by the same spirit of Light who saith My brethren have not the faith of our Iesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons for if ye respect person yee commit sin Iames 1.9 and are convinced of the Law as Transgressors After that the said Thomas Cole was sent to the prison as aforesaid one Robert Rich standing not far from the place where the Judge sate who is a friend to all that love righteousness was made a witness for the just GOD against all injustice and deceit he seeing and hearing the said Judge and some others that sate neer him on the Bench earnestly inviting two men that was in the Court with their hats off whole names as was afterwards informed were two Priests viz. Priest Smart and Priest Iones to the transgression of the same thing for which a little before they had fined and sent to prison Thomas Cole namely to the putting and keeping on their hats the aforesaid Robert Rich taking notice of their partiality and unjust proceedings herein and to see the Law of God not regarded by them but threw behind their backs which saith Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honor the person of the mighty but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy Neighbor was moved of the Lord to speak after this manner Christ Jesus who respecteth not the person of any man and judgeth righteously will give unto every one of you according to your deeds and they that judge ought to judge righteous Judgement without respect of persons some small enmity arose against him and one sitting on the Bench asked what business he had in the Town who answered he came to visit some friends they asked his name and where he lived to both which he gave a meek a just answer presently after this the court a journed til the afternoon In the afternoon friends came again to the Court where the Magistrates was set within a short time she who is called Anne Audland was called to the Bar there in the Court an inditement was read against her charging her with blasphemy on they did proceed to tryal called a Jury brought in their witnesses which differed one from another and was in confusion though they pretended to bear witness to one and the same thing but falsly was the accused there did declare against deny in the presence of the living God those things charged upon her so he that sate as Judg in the court spoke to the Jury that all which was proved could not be found or would not prove blasphemy words to them to that purpose so they went aside to consider of it being together where by the Law they ought to have bin kept alone til they were agreed upon their verdict and being together could not find the bil for some of the Jury said why should we find this bil seeing we have not evidence to prove it or words to that purpose so threw it by but one of them that sate on the Bench that same day is called a Magistrate came in to the Jury when they were together to corrupt and instigate them as

cause of the innocent and although the said Nathaniel VVeston when the Oath of Abjuration was tendred to him did utterly renounce and deny there openly all things contained in the said Oath and witnessed against all popery popish and Iesuiticall opinions or tenents whatsoever and told them that in obedience to the command of Christ Jesus who saith swear not at all he could not swear lest he should go out of the Doctrine of Christ in which he did abide yet notwithstanding was he sent to the Prison where he had lain 14. weeks at their Assize or Session holden in Banbury who was there called and appearing before them it was demanded of him to put in sureties for his good-behaviour whereupon he desired to know what Law he had transgressed which they would not neither was there any appeared that laid any misdemeanour or breach of law to his charge nevertheless was he sent to the prison where he doth yet remain So all people that hear and read these things you may see with what justice the Magistrates of Banbury proceeded against the innocent and servants of the living God So there was one Robert Rich as many others standing by who with them was an eye witness to many of these things thus acted as before is related in their proceedings that day and saw that there was great Rage in them against the Innocent and how they plotted and took Counsell together against the servants of God laying traps and snares to catch them and after they had consulted together one of the Magistrates there sitting on the Bench called Thomas Hathead said to the Judg and to some of the rest of the Magistrates I suspect them to be Jesuits whenas that in his conscience would tel him the contrary and that out of his Envy he accused them and desired to have them tryed by the Oath of Abjuration who in obedience to Christ Iesus durst not swear to transgress his Doctrine and break his command so at length they agreed together and gave order to have them brought into the Court and then the Lord God moved the aforesaid Robert Rich to declare unto them their unjust proceedings so according to the command of the Lord he spake and said that he was a Witness for the righteous Lord God against their unjust proceedings in the Court that day who desired to speak and to clear his Conscience unto them whereupon the Iudg and others on the Bench bad him come up and speak and when he was come up and began to speak they cryed away with him away with him pull him down pull him down so their Officers as was commanded them pulled him down and haled the said Robert Rich to prison not permitting him to speak as they had promised These things are written and published to the world that people may not be ignorant how unjustly the innocent Lambs and servants of Christ Iesus suffer and are persecuted in this Nation which exceeds the persecutions that were in former ages either by the jews or from those in Queen Mary's dayes for they had a Law gave them power according to which they acted so the more to be excused but this Nation hath no such persecuting Law in force and Liberty of conscience hath been proclaimed and pretended yet men and women are beaten buffetted haled stoned and stocked and after that thrown into prison holes and dungeons the breach of no known Law proved against them and not so much freedome afforded them in prison as to thieves and murtherers whose friends are not kept from visiting them as hath been known in Banbury c. People lay these things to heart and repent that the righteous judgement of God fall not upon you A Warning from the Spirit of the Lord in his Handmaid Anne Audland to the Priest and persecuting people in Banbury and all such as may be found in their nature and falsly accusing and imprisoning the Servants of the Lord Iesus ALthongh I was unjustly imprisoned at the first in the town of Banbury for no other thing but speaking the truth as in a true Declaration of the suffering of the innocent who are hated without a cause may be seen as it is declared in a printed paper which was a Letter sent to William Allen called Iustice of peace With an answer to the false accusations charged upon the innocent wherein their proceedings are laid open and proved to be contrary to the Scriptures as also their proceedings at the last Assize or Sessions holden at Banbury the 26. day of the 7. month 1655. Where I was called to a tryall after long imprisonment or bonds and there in the Court an Indictment was read against me charging me with blasphemy and on they did proceed called a Iury and brought in their witnesses which differed one from the other and was in confusion though they pretended to bear witness to one and the same thing and falsly was I accused as it did appear when the Iury gave in their verdict they found no blasphemy though for it I was accused as the unchristian proceedings may further be seen both in the printed paper called The sufferings of the innocent in what before is said in this Book about my Examination and Tryall which is plainly made manifest dayly yet more in these things before mentioned and in many other things which are committed for which the righteous Iudg of all the world wil deal righteously and call you all to an account and weigh you in an equall ballance and measure you in a just measure Act. 17.31 Rom 2.5 6. and from the hand of the Lord shall you receive a reward according to your deeds good weight pressed down and running over such measure as you meeted and in the day of your calamity an outside profession in words when you live not in obedience to the Lord will not hide you and cover you and although I may be accounted as your Enemy for speaking the truth yet once again I do warn you as from the Lord to repent Rom. 1.18 19 27 28 c. Eph. 5.6 2 Thess 1.5 6 7 8 9. and turn from the evill of your wayes if there be any Remembrance of your latter end when you must come to be judged according to the Light in your Consciences which secretly in you bears witness against deceit and unrighteousness envy wrath and persecution for which things the wrath of God comes upon the children of Disobedience and because iudgement is not speedily executed upon you do not think you shall escape for your deeds are written in a Book of Remembrance and the Book of Conscience willl be opened and the wicked must not go unpunished Oh ye foolish people and without understanding How long wil ye walk after your own inventions Ier. 5.21 and to the end Act. 7.51 52. How long wil ye harden your hearts against the Lord How long wil ye resist his Holy Spirit Ye stiff-necked and Uncircumcised in heart and ears

some of the Jury hath confessed which was contrary to the known Law of the Nation in such cases provided contrary to truth and equity which is a greater crime and breach of the Law then those things which many of the servants of Jesus are imprisoned for And after awhile the Jury came into the court was asked if they were agreed to which they said they were gave in their verdict for the Protector but they said they found not blasphemy it was then demanded what was found to which they said misdemeanor then she desired to know what she was accused of for they read then bil called their witnesses for blasphemy but blasphemy was not found then they said they found misdemeanor against her the asked in what they said in calling the Minister a false Prophet but she denyed that she did as they said although it s no transgression to call them false prophets who are false prophets which doth not abide in the doctrine of Christ and their minister being then on the bench in the Court was asked what he had to accuse her of he answered he deserferred his cause to God and said he desired she might have what favour the Law would afford yet for all this though the Bil was not found and though their as they call him there present did not accuse her of any thing they committed her to Prison again who had been there prisoner nine months before and fasly accused at her first commitment for no other thing did she speak but the truth according to plain Scripture a true Relation of which is published and declared in a printed paper being intituled A true Declation of the suffering of the Innocent who is hated and persecuted without a cause which is made manifest dayly for which the righteous Iudge of all the world will deal righteously and call you to an account and weigh you in an equal ballance and measure you in a just measure and from the hand of the Lord must you receive a reward according to your deeds After that then there was one Iane VVaugh called to the Barre who had been imprisoned about sixteen Weeks before in the Town of Banbury who at first coming thither was in obedience to the Lord to declare his truth and witness against deceit for which she were beaten and abused persecuted and imprisoned and evilly entreated in the said Banbury as the servants of the Lord in former ages as wel as this were by such an evill generation and seed of evil doers as they are whose fruits makes them manifest to be guided by the same spirit though under a refined subtilty that other persecutors of the innocent spoken of in Scripture were The said Iane VVaugh as foresaid who had been a witness to the truth of God and against the deceit of the world and after she had been sore abused in the said Banbury persecuted imprisoned and put forth of the Town for witnessing the truth against deceit and after a certain time being moved by the Spirit of the Lord to come into Banbury again and being with a friend getting him to write a Letter for her the Magistrates hearing of her being there sent for her to come before them Iohn Austine who was then Mayor caused the Oath of Abjuration to be tendred unto her and because in obedience to the commands of Christ Jesus who saith Swear not at all she refused to swear being faithfull to him abiding in his Doctrine and although she so did in obedience to his Command out of love to him and his truth and there in their court when the said Oath was tendred she utterly denyed all things contained in that Oath and Witnessed against all Popery and Popish Jesuiticall Opinions whatsoever yet the was then notwithstanding all that committed to Prison where the remained though the breach of any Law were not laid to her charge til the Generall Sessions Assize or pretended Goal-Delivery when and where she was called to the Bar as abovesaid and appearing there that day where no Accusation and witness came in against her nor any breach of the Law or mis-demeanor laid to her charge but notwithstanding she was asked to put in sureties for her good behaviour then she asked them on the bench what Law she had broken and would have had them to have convinced her of a transgression by making known to her the breach of some Law the which they refused but she could get no other answer but that if she would not give in sureties she must to prison again which was done accordingly now let all the wise in heart that truly fear God consider whether these proceedings against the innocent be either legall or just and if they do not exceed the proceedings of heathen Magistrates who sate Judges in tryals against the Christians and servants of Jesus in former ages as in the Scriptures are left upon Record Consider and see the actings of the persecuting Jews who had the form but wanted the power and so out of a blind zeal persecuted the Servants of Iesus who were in the power and life of truth and they were sore moved and offended at the Servants of Iesus and exceeding mad against Paul who was pressed in Spirit being in Macedonia to testifie to the Iews that Iesus was Christ and when they aposted themselves and blasphemed he shoke his Rayment and said unto them your blood be upon your own heads and having cleared his conscience to them he departed and went to the Gentiles and so entred into a certain mans house that worshipped God and being moved of the Lord he spoke and was not afraid the Lord being with him and having much people in that place where he continued a year and six months teaching the word of God among them and the Iews which made insurrection against Paul when they brought him before the Deputy of Achaia for teaching the word of the Lord which their dark minds who lived in Envie and Malice against the truth could not receive And now observe the actings of the Deputy of Achaia who though he might be accounted a heathen or an Antichristian whose proceedings in that case might preach or teach wisdome to some who profess themselves to be Christian Magistrates for when Gallio was the Deputy of Achaia as Iohn Griffith Deputy-Recorder was Iudge in the Court at the assize or sessions in Banbury before whose judgement seat the servants of Iesus was brought by such as had made insurrection against them in their Market Steeplehouse and Steeplehouse-yard in nature like the envious persecutors of the Servants of Jesus For the Iews made insurrection against Paul and brought him before Gallio to the Iudgement Seat and laid down their accusations against him according to Law there and then accusing him to the Deputy who sate as Judge saying in their accusation this fellow to wit Paul perswadeth men to worship God contrary to the Law and when Paul the accused was about to open

his mouth to answer against that accusation and for himself the Deputy of Achaia which Paul was brought before to wit Gallio answered and said unto the Iews very wisely in the Prisoners behalf who it is likely in his conscience was convinced of their envie and malice against him he said to the accusers if it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness O ye Iews being troubled to see their unjust accusations and unreasonable actings reason would saith he that I should bear with you but if it be a question of words or names and of your Law look ye to it for I wil be no Iudge in such matter and he drove them from the Iudgment seat Act. 18.12 13 14 15 16 So where wicked lewdness or a matter of wrong is committed reason doth require to hear it and reasonable men to determine or judge according to equity that are to judge in that case and to hear the accused as wel as the accusers that Justice may be Ministred according to the offences but if it be a question of words or names or telling hireling Priests or false Prophets of their deceits and false worships who profess themselves to be Ministers of Christ and are not let them either plead their cause from the Scriptures if they can to procure their practise to be according thereunto or else let them cover their faces for shame After Paul who was brought before Gallioes Judgement seat had taken leave of the brethren being at liberty he went thence into Syria and from thence to Ephesus and there entred into the Synagogue and reasoned with the Iews and went from Ephesus unto Cesaria and when he had saluted the Church he went down to Antioch Act. 18.18 to the 24. and spent some time before he departed and having his freedom departing from Antioch he went over all the Countrey of Galathia and Phrygia strengthning the Disciples and although he thus wandred or went through the Countries yet were he neither Iesuit Fugitive nor Vagabond and passing through the upper Costs came to Ephesus and there finding Disciples he layed his hands on them and were strengthned by him and he went into the Synagogue and there boldly declared the things which concerned the Kingdom of God where some believed as others who believed not were hardned and spake evil of the truth as they do now And there were seven Sons of one of the Iews with certain Vagabonds Iews and chief of the Priests who were hypocrites that imitated or counterfeited the way of God and had a just recompense for their reward so that they fled out of the house naked and wounded so there arose no small stir about that way for they that were in the false worship made a great uproar but the Town Clerk appeared the people and did not impute it to Paul but said to the rude multitude and false worshippers that they ought to be quiet and to do nothing rashly and told them that they were in danger to be called in question for that dayes uproar and did not lay it to Pauls charge that he was the cause of this their Tumult and misdemeanour although he had declared against their deceit and false worship and after the uproar was ceased Paul called the Disciples unto him and imbraced them and was not at that time committed to Prison but departed from thence and went into Macedonia and when he had gone over those parts and had given them exhortation he came into Greece and passing through severall places and countries strengthning the Disciples and preaching the Kingdome of God freely declaring the counsell of God coveting no mans silver nor Gold and as he finished his course the Iews and false worshippers which were of Asia when they saw him in the Temple who had not the command there but the chief Priests and persecuting Iews their party who crying out and said Men of Israel help this is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people and the law and this place meaning the Temple and all the City was moved and the people ran together and they took Paul and drew him out of the Temple as they now do out of their pretended Churches or Idol-Temples such as are witnesses against deceit and forth with their doors was shut Acts 21.27 28 30 31 c. and as they went about to kill him their envy being great and their rage high Lissius the chiefe Captain hearing that the whole City were in an uproar and finding the Iews going about to kil Paul they seeing the Captain and souldiery coming left beating of him so the chiefe Captain took Paul out of their hands demanding who he was and what he had done and the multitude being confused some crying one thing and some another and not knowing the certainty he commanded him to be carryed into the Castle and on the Staires he was preserved and born of the Souldiery from the violence of the people who tumultuously followed after him crying away with him and when he was on the Staires the Captain gave Paul Lycence liberty to clear his conscience to them which when he had done the Zealous falseworshippers and antichristians lifted uptheir voyces and cryed away with such a fellow from the earth it is not fit that he should live Act. 21.40 the 22.1 to the 23. ver And their malice and envy being great after they had judged him not fit to live and had not the Magistrate preserved him they had taken away his life when they cryed out against him cast off their Cloathes and threw dust in the ayre Then the Captain commanded him to be brought into the Castle to be examined that he might know wherefore they cryed so against him and the Captain through mis-information caused him to be scourged and bound with thongs contrary to the Law of the Romans being un-condemned who after he knew that Paul was a Roman he was afraid because he had acted contrary to the Law and after he knew the certainty wherefore Paul was accused of the Jews he dealt justly and loosed him from his bonds and commanded the chief Priest and all their counsel his accusers to appear and brought Paul down and set him before them giving him liberty to speak for himself and after he had spoken for himself and the truth being cleared there was a Division amongst the people and many received it though it were by others rejected who continued in their persecution and the Captain fearing lest they should bave pulled him in pieces preserved him out of their hands and after that the chief Captain heard that the chief priests and jews had conspired against Paul to take away his life and fourty of them had bound themselves under a great curse that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed him but the Governour preserved him out of their cruell hands and sent Paul away by night unto Cesaria providing with him necessaries meet for that journey and

man but for the Lord who is with you in the judgement wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you and take heed and do it for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts And he charged them saying thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart Now all you that denies a perfect heart and are respecters of persons you cannot judge with a perfect heart and such are not Judges for God who judges not with a perfect heart but are respecters of persons but they who fear God and do faithfully with a perfect heart such Judges and Magistrates I own who are just men such rules for God and is a terror to the wicked and for the praise of them that do well and such I am subject to for conscience-sake but they who were the servants of Christ ministers of Christ when they were commanded by the rulers that which was contrary to the command of Christ they said whether is it better to obey God or Man judg ye and I say the same and they which command any thing contrary to the command of Christ which rules and reigns in his people is one in the male and in the female such are not just men fearing God and judging faithfully with a perfect heart and such who do not fear God and have not a perfect heart such knowes not the voyce of God but Christs sheep who follow Christ and are sent of God knows his voyce Now Magistrates and People will say how may we know that you are sent of God as Pharaoh said to Moses VVho sent thee and he answered The Lord sent me to bid thee let Israel go free and Pharaoh said I know not the Lord neither will I obey him and let Israel go free Such are they who fear not God nor know not his voice and such cannot discern the things of God Magistrates nor People who fear not God and have not a perfect heart Now consider if you judg me according to the Law of God when you heard all that was against me and did accuse me but would not hear the accused and the accusers face to face nor those that was by who would have witnessed against those untruths charged upon me but put them forth and said What have you to do here notwithstanding they said they came to bear witness to the truth See how Moses charged the Judges Deut. 1.16.17 saying Hear the cause between your brethren and judge righteously between every man and his brother and the stranger that is with him ye shall not respect persons in judgment but you shall hear the small as well as the great ye shall not be afraid if the face of man for the judgment is Gods and Deut. 19.16,18 20. The Iudges and Officers was to judge the people with just judgment thou shalt not wrest judgment thou stall not respect persons neither take a gift for a gift doth blinde the eye of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous that which is altogether just shall thou follow that thou mayest live and inherit the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Now this is true judgment and takes hold upon the unjust but here you do not act according to the Law of God who doth respect persons and doth not hear the small as wel as the great which you have not done who have committed me to prison and I had not liberty to speak face to face with my accusers and so I am falsly accused and imprisoned upon a false accusation he that knows all secrets is my witness and he will plead my cause and he will judge righteous judgment upon all the Heathen and the Lord comes with his Saints and this honour have all the Saints to execute upon the Heathen all the judgements written but the Heathen ought not to judg the Saints but the Heathen rages the heathen persecutes and imprisons falsly accuseth the Saints the viols of wrath is now to be poured out upon the wicked and the Saints shall take the kingdom rejoyce in God for ever ever which giveth them victory over the world and gives them strength to rejoyce in tribulation Prayses to the living God for evermore And so I warn you all People Magistrates and Teachers to fear the Lord God lest his wrath and indignation break forth against you and the decree be sealed and he take you away with his grievous stroke and there be no remedy for God is my witness that my desire is for you that you may know the things that belongs to your peace so to you all I have cleared my conscience and I am free from your blood glory to the Lord for evermore who hath given me to believe and suffer for the testimony of Jesus so I remain a witness for the truth a prisoner in bonds at Banbury for the truths sake who am innocent but falsly accused slandered reproached but the reproaches for Christ is my riches whose name in the flesh is Anne Audland The 5 day of the 12 month 1654 To you Magistrates of the Town of Banbury and to thee John Griffith who was called Deputy-Recorder sate Iudg in the Sessions or pretended Goal-Delivery holden the 26 day of the 7 moneth 1655. IT is likely the heat of pour passions being over you may since in the cool of the day better have considered your actions don that day in your court which if with the light of Christ Jesus you have Gen. 3.8 it wil shew you that those who respect the person of any man commits sin are found transgressors of the pure righteous law of God Iam. 2.1 9. which saith thou shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honor the person of the mighty but in righteousnes shalt thou judg thy neighbor Lev. 19.15 which if you hearken to and regard the Law written in the heart Ier. 31.33 it will reprove you for your partial actings that day and tell you that you did not do wel to fine Thomas Cole five pounds and for to imprison him till he should pay the same and to bee angry with him for keeping on his hat in your Court and afterwards invite two other men for to put on their hats in your Court namely Priest Jones and Priest Smart consider if this were not partiality and to respect persons and for to act contrary to equity and truth as that in your conscience wil let you see and with mee bear a true testimonie And whether your sending of Jane VVaugh Sarah Tyms and Nathaniel VVeston to prison again they neither convinced of nor being charged with the breach of any known Law nor so much as one witness proving them guilty of the least misdemeanor were not injustice yea or no And whether if you had set them free seeing there was nothing laid to their charge you had not done justly and

thing to his charge yet he might be re-committed to VVard or Prison again and if that be not contrary both to the Law of God and to the Law of the Land what is Consider of it And was it not unreasonable and contrary to Law to commit to Prison and after long imprisonment being called to the Bar and then to demand sureties for good-behaviour and no misdemeanour proved nor any one came against the prisoner either to accuse or prosecute Ought not that to have been according to Law before the other was or ought to be demanded And was it not an unjust thing to commit to prison again for the same when no breach of law was proved against the prisoner neither at his first commitment nor after long imprisonment when he were arraigned or called to the Barr Is these actings either according to Scripture Law Equity or Reason Are you not beside Scripture Law Equity and reason as wel as true Justice herein or do not such as so act bear the Sword in vain the Lord help you to consider of it that you may learn wisdome that the heathen may not laugh you to scorn Ought not the Prisoner by law have been acquitted in the Court after long imprisonment when none came either to accuse or prosecute against him there and likewise Iane VVaugh and Sarah Tims who had been long imprisoned and called to the Bar neither accuser came against them there nor one prosecutor and yet they must be re-committed to prison again except they would finde sureties to be of good-behaviour when none appeared against them to accuse them or prove against them any mis-behaviour and neither any breach of Law either proved against them or laid to their charge is these actings either according to Scripture Justice Law Equity or Reason are they not beside all these in their actings herein and can they be said to be reasonable men that so act against the innocent sufferers and servants of Jesus as they at Banbuoy have done consider wel of it and keep passion and malice down and the Lord deliver me saith Paul from unreasonable men Act. 25.27 2 Thess 3.2 Isa 57.1 2 3 4. and it is a true saying of the Prophet the righteous suffer and no man in his unrighteous nature layeth it to heart yet blessed are they as Christ hath said that suffers for righteousness sake for the Lord Jesus doth take their parts and so the spirit of grace and glory resteth upon them as is written and witnessed Mat. 5.10 11 12. 1 Pet. 4 13 14. Now consider if all these prisoners and innocent sufferers would not have been freed by dew course of Law if it had been executed aright and if any had transgressed the Law ought not they then to have been proceeded against according to Law and so have had the punishment inflicted according to the transgression and have been acquitted or if no Law could be proved against them that they had transgressed ought not by Law their accusers instead of them to have had the punishment which they should have had upon them inflicted and they by the Law released or remedied Do you know what use the Law is of or how to act according to it have you done what you did out of malice or ignorance consider of it and lay these things to heart for be sure the Lord wil call you to an account for your proceedings against the innocent as wel as for all your evill deeds and then what account wil you give and how will you answer before his Judgement seat And withall consider of this Was or is there any Law either of God or the Nation that commandeth a man to put off his Hat and if he do not to fine him five pounds and commit him to prison till he pay the same as one Thomas Cole an inhabitant in Banbuoy was and was it not partiall and contrary to Law if it had been so for to fine and imprison one for the same and perswade other two to the like even in the Court to put on their hats was not here both partiality and malice made manifest and is not that contrary to the Law of God and a contempt to the higher power and Authority Lev. 19.15 Iam. 2.1 9. Isa 1.24 25 2● c. which forbids such things but be sure you wil nor go unpunished of him who bears not the sword in vain for thus saith the Lord by his servant the Prophet Oh! I will ease me of my adversaries and avenge me of my enemies and restore Judges as at the first and counsells as at the beginning when no such things were by them neither acted nor done which can be anywhere proved by Scriptures which stands a witness against them that profess God in words but in works deny him as it is written and witnessed Tit. 1.16 Likewise when one Robert Rich was moved of the Lord to speak something unto you about the proceedings in your Court did not you that sate as judges bid him come up and speak and presently changed your minds or else your words crying out Pul him down and have him to Prison before eyer he had said to you what he had to speak was that according either to christianity truth equity or reason could heathens have done any more Or would not reasonable men have regarden their word The Lord set these things home to your hearts that you may a little better consider and lament as wel as repent least the evil day come upon you al● unawares Did not you at Banbury pretend a Goal-Delivery that day the Prisoners were called but did you intend any such thing do not your proceedings declare the contrary and doth not the witness of God in your consciences witness against you for it as wel as your actions Was not the servants of Jesus that were called before you at the Bar the greatest cause at your size or Sessions held in Banbury that day and was there any Law proved against them which they had in any one point transgressed or broke or had they proceedings according to Law and was there one of than freed by you nay but more added to them and afterward one taken out or the highway or street and haled to prison and no breach of Law laid to his charge though it were desired and also the Fact as wel as the Law by vertue whereof it became a crime yet it were denyed and they kept close under the Earth shut up in a hole or dungeon in Banbury as if they were some great Malefactors and no Law yet laid to their charge that hath been either broken or transgressed by them but such as are friends to Christianity and Equity Truth and Iustice and all such as truly fears God will consider of the sufferings of the Innocent and lay these things to heart though the wicked and such as are without the fear of God regard it not