Selected quad for the lemma: justice_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
justice_n	authority_n	law_n	power_n	2,872	5	4.6226	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84808	Saul's errand to Damascus: with his packet of letters from the high-priests, against the disciples of the Lord. Or, A faithful transcript of a petition contrived by some persons in Lancanshire, who call themselves ministers of the gospel, breathing out threatnings and slaughters against a peaceable & godly people there, by them nick-named Quakers. Together with the defence of the persons thereby traduced, against the slanderous and false suggestions of that petition, and other untruths charged upon them. Published to no other end, but to draw out the bowels of tender compassion from all that love the poor despised servants of Jesus Christ, who have been the scorn of carnal men in all ages.	Fox, George, 1624-1691.; Lawson, John, of Lancaster.	1653 (1653)	Wing F1894; Thomason E689_17; ESTC R206937	30,408	48

Chamber and set a guard upon him but divers of our friends following into the Town where a great multitude was gathered together for meeting then did the people come from the Steeple-house where another had been preaching for divers of the Priests were gathered together that day some preaching some plotting and some persecuting Iezabel's fast was a preparation for Naboths death But friends not being suffered to go into the house where Iames was they abode in the streets and some of them being moved to speak to the people the Priests perceiving the people to give audience to what was spoken made complaint Whereupon some were sent forth and with violence fetched in one Francis Howgill a friend who was speaking to the people and brought him into the high-Priests hall where were five Priests assembled with many other of their party but not one friend And bringing him before the Justice he was commanded to put off his hat He answered I know no such law The Priest said He will tread both Ministery and Magistracy under his feet He said Thou art a false Accuser prove wherein But one that stood by took off his hat and cast it into the fire Then said the Justice What is this thou speakest against the Ministers He answered What hast thou to accuse me of Whereupon one affirmed that he said All the Ministers that taught for hire and in Steeple-houses were enemies and Lyars against Jesus Christ and no Ministers of Iesus Christ Upon that the Justice said Thou speakest against the Law for the Law gives them their maintenance He said I meddle not of the Law but of their practice Then said Francis to the Priest Didst thou ever know a Minister of Jesus Christ that was a persecuter or did labour to imprison any And after some more discourse he said to the Priest I have seen a great deal of tyranny and persecution in this dayes actions Then said the Justice to the people Take notice he saith the Law I act by is Tyranny and persecution To which the people assented Then said Francis Thou maist give out to the people what thou wilt but I speak not of the law but of your Actions Upon that he was sent to prison a guard of eight men was set over them who spent the night in drinking swearing and filthy and unclean talking and the more they were desired by the people to take heed of sin the more filthy they did appear but these are the fittest instruments for acting the Priests intentions being Members of their Churches The next day they were guarded to Appleby but some friends following could not be suffered to pass on the streets that way so great was their envy against all that set their face that way And the Prisoners being brought thither much meanes was used that none should come at them but such as were sent to tempt them There they were kept untill the Sessions in which time they sent up and down the Country to seek for any who would witness any thing against them and improved their utmost interest for their advantage A Jury was chosen divers of them were resolved on the business so that it was told the Prisoners what would become of them before the day of examination came and it was accordingly For the day came and judgement passed but the Prisoners never saw their Accusers nor know who they are but against that day the Priests had prepared three large Petitions stuft with most filthy untruths and slanders raised out of the bottomless pit but not one of them proved though one of the Justices said to them It is fit they should be proved neither was there any thing in them which they could charge upon the Prisoners save onely the power of the Lord had manifested at their meetings in shaking proud flesh and pouring out his Spirit upon many especially as they said upon little children which the Priests concluded was Sorcery and Witchery and of the Divel hereby declaring themselves to be of that generation who called the good man of the house Beelzebub and if they should not do the same to them of his houshold the words of Christ could not be fulfilled Likewise they had gathered up all reports true or false of things done by many that the Prisoners had not seen the faces of nor ever knew thinking thereby to make them odious to the people They also brought two Priests out of Lancashire to swear things that another man had spoken in the presence of four Justices of the peace and for which the man had been tryed and cleared And these they brought thinking to add afflictions to the Prisoners bonds But he is kept in great peace and joy having not any comfort from man but from God who hath appeared to him in this condition and hath given him assurance of his love in whom he rests To whom be praise honour and glory for ever Amen The Examination of James Nayler upon an Indictment of Blasphemy at the Sessions at Appleby in January 1652. IVstice Pearson Put off your Hats Iames. I do it not in contempt of Authority for I honour the power as it is of God without respecting mens persons it being forbidden in Scripture He that respects persons commits sin and is convinced of the Laws a Transgressor Just Pear That is meant of respecting persons in judgment Iames. If I see one in goodly apparel and a gold Ring and see one in poor and vile Raiment and say to him in fine apparel Sir thou in a higher place then the poor I am partial and judge of evil thoughts Col. Brigs If thou wert in the Parliament-house wouldst thou keep it on Jam. If God should keep me in the same minde I am in now I should Col. Brigs I knew thou wouldst contemn Authority Jam. I speak in the presence of God I do not contemn Authority but I am subject to the power as it is of God for Conscience sake Just Pears Now Authority commands thee to put off thy Hat what sayest thou to it James Where God commands one thing and man another I am to obey God rather then man Col. Benson See whether the Law commands it or your owne wills The Inditement was read wherein James was Indited for saying that Christ was in him and that there was but one word of God Col. Brigs Where wast thou born James At Ardislaw two miles from Wakefeild Col. Brigs How long livedst thou there James Until I was married then I went into Wakefeild Parish Col. Brigs What Profession wast thou of James A Husbandman Col. Brigs Wast thou a Souldier Jam. Yea I was a Souldier betwixt eight and nine years Col. Brigs Wast thou not at Burford among the Levellers Jam. I was never there Col. Brigs I charge thee by the Lord that thou tell me whether thou wast or no. Jam. I was then in the North and was never taxed for any Mutiny or any other thing while I served the Parliament Col. Brigs What was the

peaceable men who desire nothing more then to glorifie their God in their generation and are and have been more faithful to the interest of Gods people in the Nation then any of the contrivers of the Petition as will easily be made appear if we may take for evidence what they themselves have often said of the Parliament and Army and their Friends and Servants publickly and privately and 't is well known their judgements are the same but that the publication thereof will not safely consist with the enjoyment of their large Vicaredges Parsonages and Augmentations whereby they are lifted up above their Brethren and exalt themselves above all that are called Gods people in these parts However Reader we need not fear we hope the Lord will never suffer that Monster Persecution againe to enter within the gates of Englands Whitehal They that sit in Council there know well enough who it was that so often assembled to consult how they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him they were men of no lower condition then Chiefe-Priests Scribes and Elders of the people and if ever these Petitioners should but appear before them to whom they have directed their Petition my heart deceives me if they be not accounted such Reader I would not preface thee into a good opinion of these suffering objects of such mens wrath but read their paper here put into thy hand by them written upon the occasion of this Petition and several snares and temptations laid before them on purpose to entrap them and if by them thou canst finde cause to pity these oppressed little-ones have them in thy remembrance when thou goest to the throne of Grace where my prayers shall meet thine for them To the Right Honorable The Councel of State The humble Petition of several Gentlemen Justices of Peace Ministers of the Gospel and People within the County of Lancaster whose names are subscribed Sheweth THat George Fox and James Nayler are persons disaffected to Religion and the wholesome Laws of this Nation and that since their coming into this Country have broached Opinions tending to the destruction of the relation of Subjects to their Magistrates Wives to their Husbands Children to their Parents Servants to their Masters Congregations to their Ministers and of a People to their God And have drawn much people after them many whereof men women and little children at their meetings are strangely wrought upon in their bodies and brought to fall foam at the mouth roar and swell in their bellies And that some of them affirmed themselves to be equal with God contrary to the late Act as hath been attested at a late Quarter-Sessions holden at Lancaster in October last past and since that time acknowledged before many Witnesses besides many other dangerous Opinions and damnable Heresies as appears by a Schedule hereunto annexed with the names of the Witnesses subscribed May it therefore please your Honours upon the consideration of the Premisses to provide as your wisdoms shall think fit That some speedy course may be taken for the speedy suppressing of these evils And your Petitioners shall ever pray as in duty bound 1. George professed and avowed that he was equal with God 2. He professed himself to be the Eternal Judge of the world 3. He said he was the Judge of the world 4. He said he was the Christ the way the truth the life 5. He said Whosoever took a place of Scripture and made a Sermon of it and from it was a Conjurer and his Preaching Conjuration 6. He said that the Scripture was carnal James Milner a follower of the said Fox professeth himself to be God and Christ and gives out Prophecies 1. That the day of Judgement shall be the 15 day of November 2. That there shall never Judge sit at Lancaster again 3. That he must ere long shake the foundations of the great Synagogue meaning the Parliament Leonard Fell professeth that Christ had never any body but his Church Richard Huberthorn wrote that Christs coming in the flesh was but a figure The Answer of George Fox to the matters falsely charged upon him by the Petition and Schedule aforesaid Object THat George Fox and James Nayler are Persons disaffected to Religion Answ Whereas we are accused as Persons disaffected to Religion it is false for pure Religion we own in our souls which is to visit the Fatherless and relieve the Widows and to keep our selves unspotted from the world and dwelling in purity this we owne in our souls But he that doth seem to be religious Jam. 1.26 27. Mat. 23.27 and hath not power over his owne tongue his Religion is vain and that Religion we do deny and all them that do profess the Scriptures in words and live not the life of them but live in drunkenness and uncleanness envy and maliciousness J●● 5.31 and all they that do profess Religion and make a trade of the Scriptures both Preists and People we do deny Object Disaffected to the wholesome laws of the Nation Answ Justice the wholesome law of God we owne Rom. 13 4 and this is a terrour to the unjust unwholesome and unclean and he that beares that Sword is a Minister of God Isa 33.22 and who doth not obey the law of God within then that takes hold upon him without but who doth obey the law of God within it brings them from under the occasions of all laws without for it will not let man lye nor let him be drunk nor proud nor follow oathes nor cursed speaking nor whoredoms quarreling fighting wrangling nor rayling and every one who walketh in the law of God denyes all that which is unwholesome and that which is according to the course of the world and they be all of one heart and are all one in unity if ten thousand and have all one law written in their hearts which those that live in uncleanness cast behind their backs and yet they profess a law in words but are not subject to the power of God and such are they who do accuse their brethren which walk in the law of God and yet they pretend justice but their souls are not subject for that soul that is subject to the higher power which is of God denyes all filthiness and corruption Object That since their coming into this Countrey they have broached Opinions tending to the destruction of the relation of Subjects to their Magistrates Wives to their Husbands Children to their Parents Servants to their Masters Congregations to their Ministers and of a People to their God Answ We were moved to come into this Country of the Lord and the Lord did let us see that he had a people here before we came in it But as for broaching Opinions We deny but those that profess truth and walk in it up to God we owne Opinions do tend to break the relation of Subjects to their Magistrates Wives to their Husbands Children to their Parents Servants to their Masters Congregations

us many things against him let him speak and then if he speak not truth you may then reprove him James hearing the desire of the people began to speak and the people gave audience and were very silent But beginning to hold out Christ a lone to be the Teacher of his people inspirit and truth one of the Priests cryed out I cannot endure to hear this Seducer any longer Upon which Iames said Prove me a Seducer before all this people or else thou art a false Accuser But he had not one word to say against any thing that he had spoken But said If thou wilt not answer me that Question I asked thee I will call thee a Seducer as long as I live Whereupon seeing there could be no peace there nor liberty to speak they desired Iames to go into the house and they kept close about him to keep him from the violence of some that came along with the Priest but they raged so that he and some other friends received stripes and with much ado got into the house But the raging Sodomites waited about the dore to do mischiefe and kept shouting about the house all the while he was speaking but the house being filled with People they could not come to their purpose and the Lord so ordered it in the Evening we came away without any more harm but not long after there came some of the Priests party about the house and asked if Nayler was gone and when they heard he was gone they said He may thank God of that Thus by the wisdom of God he escaped their violence at that time But the Priests missing of their purpose there the next first day after they prepared their Sermons sutable to what they intended possessing the people that he was a Blasphemer and denyed the Resurrection and the Humanity of Christ and all Authority and that the Parliament had opened a gap for Blasphemy and as it was said by some of their heaters they did God good service that would knock him down Thus having stirred up the ruder sort the next day they prevailed with one called a Justice of Peace the Priest's son got him to come twelve miles from his owne house he was one that had been in actual arms against the Parliament for the bringing in of the Scots And having armed a great multitude against the next morning they came very early to the house where he was where many Christian friends should have met that day and asked for Nayler threatning to knock out his brains against the stones in the wall and that they would pull down the house if he would not come out though the dore was never shut against them But some of them came into the house and commanded him to come forth under pretence to dispute with the Priest But Iames seeing what they intended answered You did not use me so civilly the last time I was amongst you but if any have a minde they may come in the dores are open Which answer they told the Priests whereupon they rushed violently in and took him by the throat haled him out of the dore into a field where was a man whom they called a Justice and with a Pitchfork struck off his Hat and commanded him to answer to such Questions as the Priests would ask him Whereupon the Priest began to ask many Questions as concerning the Resurrection the Humanity of Christ the Scriptures and divers other Questions as the Sacrament and such-like to which he answered and proved Scripture But at last being asked if Christ was in him he said he witnessed him in measure The Priest asked if Christ was in him as man Iames said Christ is not divided But he urged him to tell whether Christ as man was in him or no. He answered Christ is not divided for if he be he is no more Christ but I witness that Christ in me who is God and man in measure But the Priest said Christ is in heaven with a carnal body To which said Iames Christ filleth Heaven and Earth and is not carnal but spiritual for if Christ be in heaven with a carnal body and the Saints with a spiritual body that is not proportionable neither was that a carnal body which came in among the Disciples the doors being shut for Christ is a Mystery and thou knowest him not Then after much jangling and tempting the Priest not having got the advantage he waited for he cried out unto the people not to receive him into their houses and alledged that in the second Epistle of Iohn verse 10. Now how suitable that place was for his purpose all people may see who have eyes for there they are forbidden to receive any into their houses but such who abide in the Doctrine of Christ and confess themselves that they had both the Father and the Son and preach that Doctrine but the Priests say that is blasphemy Then the Priest turned away from him upon which the armed Multitude began to be violent against divers friends that were there Iames hearing friends cry out said to the Justice You will surely set us peaceably into the house again But seeing him to go away and leave them in the hands of the rude multitude he gave himself up saying The will of the LORD be done Upon which the Justice turned again saying We will see him in the house again and going towards the house many friends kept close about James exposing their own bodies to the danger of their weapons to save him harmeless and so with much ado we got into the house not receiving much harme Which being done and as James was praising the Lord for his wondrous deliverance from their malicious intents some heard them say If we let him go thus all people will run after him Whereupon they agreed that he should be brought before the Justice again and came with violence and haled him out again Then the Justice and the Priest getting a horseback they caused him to run after them to an Alehouse on the other side the water where they went in not suffering one friend to go in with James And when he came before the Justice he told him if he would not put off his hat he would send him to prison and also because he Thoued him for the Justice said My Commission runs Yee To which James answered I do it not in contempt for I own Authority and honour it according to the Scriptures But I finde none such honour commanded in Scripture but forbidden Then they concluded to commit him for that and also as a wandring person and said none there knew from whence he came for those who knew him were kept out Then said he to Arthur Scaife Thou knowest me I was in the Army with thee eight or nine yeers It is no matter said the Justice thou art no Souldier now Then they writ a Mittimus to send him to prison and carried him to KirkbyS-teven that night and shut him up in a