answered a Voice came to them commanding them to come to him He asked them again where this Voice came to them they replyed T F his Garden in Lancashire he demanded again what that Voice commanded them to say to him they answered it was not yet given in to them The Gentleman then told them if they knew not what they had to say to him he knew not what he had further to say to them That night being towards Evening they were entertained in that Gentlemans house and being desired by the Servants to Supper they refused to eat but called for a little water onely The next Morning also they refused to eat any thing but offered to one of the Servants money for their Lodging he told them they did not well to come thither to abuse his Master he kept no Inne In the return towards their old Randezvous a few miles from this Gentlemans house they called at a little Alehouse that stands alone where desiring the Hostesse to provide for their Breakfast they eat and drank heartily The poor woman a little after told one of the aforesaid Gentlemans Servants that had occasion that way that two or three notable Trencher-men had been at her house who enquiring what manner of men they were knew them to be the same men that had been at his Masters 30. They deny all Ordinances and their practise is sutable to this their wicked Tenet An honest Minister in Westmerland discoursing with Fox asked him whether he did believe Prayer Preaching the Sacraments Meditation Holy-conference to be Ordinances of God No saith he away with them I deny them all 31. They call the Worship of God used in our publick Assemblies a beastly worm-eaten form a Heathenish way and Worship fleshly carnall c. 32. They hold that the sprinkling of Infants is Antichristian and their Baptisme the mark of the Beast spoken of in the Revelation which those that worship the Beast recieve in their foreheads 33. They affirm that there is not one word in Scripture that speaks of a Sacrament and that they are unlawfull that a little bread and a little wine in a Sacrament is the Worlds Communion and that in the true Church of God there is no talk of such carnall things A Minister in Westmerland having some conference with Fox and knowing him to be against the Baptisme of Infants asked him if he did not own the Baptisme of water to be an Ordinance No saith he I deny it there is no such Ordinance 34. They hold it unlawfull to sing the Psalmes of David and call them the Worlds Psalmes carnall Psalmes and say we sing Davids quakings and tremblings and that we put Davids Conditions into Rhime and Metre and sing them to the dishonour of God 35. They deny the Lords day to be the Christian Sabbath and say the Sabbath is a Mystery which we understand not 36. They hold it unlawfull to worship God in our Churches commonly and metonymically so called and tearm them Idols Temples beasts houses where God is not worshiped but the worship of the Beast is upheld and that the Beasts of the field meet there Night-birds Screech Owles 37. For the Office of the Magistracy though they do not yet openly declaim against it fearing they should be quickly called to account for such an attempt yet their Opinions which some of their lavish Tongues have manifested touching it as also this rude irreverent sawcy deportment towards Magistrates wherein they shew not so much as any common respect to them their bold impious Predictions of the ruine of all in Authority whatsoever and railings against them do easily evidence them to be none of the best friends to it The ensuing words are the words of a godly learned Minister to a friend of his However saith he the advice of some of late hath made them wiser There was no Doctrine more ordinary at their first entring into these parts at which time they spoke their hearts more freely and plainly then they have done since sense of danger and some little opposition having made them more politick then that we owe no Obedience to any Magistrate and that we ought not to own them with any honour or subjection Mr. Cole severall times endeavoured the Conviction of some of them from that abundant Testimony the Gospell gives to that distinction of Magistrates and Subjects Superiours and Inferiours but in vain And in his discourse with Nailer at Kendall when Nailer told him he accused him in this point falsely Providence so ordered it that one of his followers was there present who having before maintained the said Doctrine to him confessed then he had recieved it from Iames Nailer One Leonard Till of their way in Lancashire affirmed that one man ought not to have power over another Another principall man of the Sect in our County affirmed to a Justice of Peace there would be Quakers in Westmerland when there should be never a Justice of Peace in it for which words he was Indicted at the Sessions Ian. last How those of this Sect at York now Prisoners there railed against the Judges ealling them Scarlet coloured Beasts c. while sitting on the Bench is not unknown Such Justices of the Peace that appeare against their way they call Justices so called 38. They hold that all things ought to be common and teach the Doctrine of Levelling privately to their Disciples Those that know the Leaders of this Sect best judge them to be down right Levellers and that feare of suppression keeps them for the present from teaching that Doctrine openly Severall of them have affirmed that there ought to be no distinction of Estates but an universall parity one above the rest denyed the property of Estates a third affirmed that whersoever Christ came he came to destroyal property 39. They hold to quote Fathers and Authors in preaching is Antichristian 40. They are of Opinion that it is unlawfull to call any man Master or Sir 41. They hold it unwarrantable to salute any man by the way 42. They account it unlawfull to use the Civility of our Language in speaking to a single Person in the Plurall number I do not lay all the Tenets above recited to the charge of every one of them nor do I believe that all of them hold them all some of them are defended by some certain men of them onely Others of them are maintained by them all in generall Of the wicked Practises of the QUAKERS and first of their Meetings and Speakings HItherto of their Errours that are come to our knowledge I shall now go on to present my Reader with a briefe view of their black wicked Practises the naturall Fruits of such corrupt Principles as are above mentioned In doing of which I shall principally take notice of their Meetings Speakings Quakings Fastings Revellings Censoriousnesse â—â—ings Inconstancy in their own Opinions enmity to Learning Idlenesse Incivilities bloody barbarous and turbulent Practises for their wayes have
that the Guides of this Sect notwithstanding their faire pretensions of an immediate call and extraordinary Mission and the great Opinion their followers have conceived of them are not the servants of the Lord Jesus but in very deed the Emissaries and Ministers of Satan and that their way is not the good old way the way of God but as contrary to it as darknesse to the light I shall take some paines to acquaint my Reader 1. With the cursed Blasphemies which George Fox the Grand Master of this Faction and some others have uttered 2. With some of those Doctrines of Devils damnable Heresies and dangerous Errors which their speakers have disseminated and wherewith they have infected their unhappy Disciples 3. With the bitter and rotten fruits of their Doctrine such of their strange impious seditious suspicious insolent and Barbarous practices as have come to my knowledge some of which doe in the judgement of the most sober and intelligent Christians strongly savor of sorcery and the immediate co-operation of the Devill Of the horrid Blasphemies of the Quakers against God and his Christ. George Fox the Father of the Quakers of these parts hath avowed himselfe over and over to be equall with God being asked by Doctor Marshall in the presence of Master Sawro Colonell Tell and Colonell West Justices of the Peace in the County of Lancashire at a private Sessions in the Towne of Lancaster whether or no he was equall with God as he had before that time beene heard to affirme his answer was this I am equall with God This Blasphemy hath been attested upon Oath by the foresayd Doctor Marshall and Master Altam Schoolmaster of Lancaster before the Justices at the last Sessions held at Appleby Ianuary the 8. 1652. and before Judge Puleston at the last Assizes held at Lancaster March the 18. 1652. This Fox in a Booke intituled Sauls Errand to Damascus endeavours to purge himselfe of this and other such cursed speeches layd to his charge but he doth it so woodenly and ambiguously that if there wanted sufficient witnesses his owne bungling answers would to a rationall man declare him guilty And well may he affirme himselfe to be equall with God when he in the foresayd Booke Page eight Line nine and ten layes downe this blasphemous Proposition indefinitely Hee that hath the same Spirit that raised up Iesus Christ from the dead is equall with God The said Fox hath also avowed himselfe to be the Christ yea to be the way the Truth the life George Bickett Isaac Bourne witnesseth At the last Assises above-mentioned at Lancaster Mr. Sawro a Justice of the Peace in that County and an honest Gentleman told Judge Puleston in the open Court that he could produce many would witnesse that Fox had affirmed himselfe to be the Christ. The same also he said in the hearing of an honest Minister in Westmerland who will be ready to attest it when called to it This Fox hath also professed himselfe to be the Judge of the World George Bickett Adam Sands Nathaniel Atkinson witnesseth Yea the Eternall Judge of the World George Bickett witnesseth Iames Nailer another of Satans Nuntioes and principall spokesman in these parts affirmeth that he was as holy just and good as God himself This was I heare attested at Kendall by two witnesses There is a man of good Repute an Inhabitant of Underbarrow in the Barony of Kendall who sayeth many heard this Blasphemy besides himselfe but he thinks being all followers of this Nailer and Fox they will be unwilling to testifie it Iames Milner one of Foxes Disciples in the County of Lancashire professed himselfe to be God and Christ. Thomas Shaw Gerard Shaw George Inman witnesses This mans Advocate I mean that Pamphleteer that took the pains to put forth and procure the printing of that Book called Sauls Errant to Damascus or he that undertook to answer in his behalfe to Salve this his execrable Blasphemy and some wretched Prophesies which are already turned into lyes hath minted this miserable Excuse As for Iames Milner saith he though his mind did run out from his condition and from minding that Light of God which is in him whereby the world takes occasion to speak against the Truth and many Friends stumble at it yet there is a pure Seed in him It seems if a man be of their way though a Blasphemer and false Prophet by their own confession yet with them he is excusable One Williamsons Wife a Disciple of Milners when she came to see him at Appleby said in the hearing of divers there whose names might be here inserted if it was needfull that she was the Eternall Son of God And when the men that heard her told her that she was a woman and therefore could not be the Son of God She said no you are women but I am a man These last words I insert that the Reader may see how strongly the Spirits of some of these people are transported and how ready they are to affirm any thing how ever impious or absurd Of the Erroneous Opinions of the QUAKERS HItherto of their Blasphemies Now for the Doctrines which the Leaders of this Sect have avouched and taught and the Principles they have instilled into their credulous Adhaerents They are some of them Errours of the first Magnitude Fundamentall Errours Others of them though of a lesser size in their own nature yet the understanding Reader will censure them to be such as tend to the disturbance of the Civill Peace as well as that of the Church Others of them again are such light stuff as shewes them to be meer triflers in Religion I shall heare mention such of their Errours onely as I can bring sufficient proofe for either from those that have been Ear-witnesses and are well acquainted with their way or from their own printed Books which are owned and admired by their Disciples 1. They hold that the holy Scripture the Writings of the Prophets Evangelists and Apostles are not the word of God and that there is no written word of God But they say using a foolish distinction of their own coining that they are a declaration of the word onely in those that gave the faith 2. They hold their own speakings are a declaration of the word Christ in them thereby making them though they be for the most part full of impiety and non-sense to be of equall Authority with the holy Scriptures 3. They hold that no Exposition ought to be given of the holy Scripture and that all expounding of Scripture is an adding to it and that God will add to such a one all the plagues written in that Book Opening and applying the Scripture is one thing they mainly declaim against where ever they come 4. They teach poor people that whosoever takes a text of Scripture and makes a Sermon of or from it is a Conjurer and that his preaching is Conjuration Fox in his printed answer to this Sauls Errant Page 7. saith thus
Quakers will give the common respects to Magistrates or to any Friends or old Acquaintance If they meet them by the way or any stranger they will go or ride by them as though they were dumb or as though they were Beasts rather then men not affording a Salutation or Resaluting though themselves be Saluted They do not give any Title or colour of respect to those that are their Superiours in Office Honour Estate such as Master or Sir c. but call them by their naked name Thomas or William or Gervase or Dorothy and ignorantly mistake it to be disagreeable to the word of Truth They go to their Meales for the most part like the Heathen without any Prayer or thanksgiving When meat or drink is set on the Table the Master of the house if he be any thing skilful in their way invites none of his guests to it but they fall to one after another as their appetite serves them when they go to bed when they rise in the morning when they depart from a house they use no civil salutes so that their departures and going aside to ease themselves are almost undistinguishable It is the opinion of many honest men that have observed the wayes of this society that there are none professing Christianity more irreligious then they are Ranters excepted Those that formerly used prayer in their Families have now laid it aside as uselesse They observe no day by vertue of Gods command And for the Lords day those that are far from their Speakers spend it in lying long in bed sitting at home and mere idlenesse If any go to the publique Assemblies as some few of them do sometimes it is but one part of the day and they count that enough and too much rather and when they come to their fellows the use they make of what they heard is onely to carp and laugh at it Such dayes of humiliation and thanksgiving as have been appointed by authority of Parliament they as I can learn never observed and called those Ministers that did observe them the States Priests Some have been down right cursed by Fox the Ring leaders of this crue One in the Barony of Kendal that is now fallen off from their society gave this as one reason of his deserting them he had oftentims urged Iames Nayler to pray with him and could not long hale him to it by his intreaty so averse was he to this Ordinance at last prevailing with him he used onely in his prayer 3 or 4 sentences whereof this was one O Lord saith he raise up thy Son from under corruption in us which sentence he distasting together with some other reasons moved him to leave them It was a strange bold peice of Impiety in George Fox in commanding a Criple at a place near Kendal to throw away his crutches as though he had been invested with a power to work Miracles but the Criple remained a Criple still and George Fox impudently discovered his own folly Many of them that had good cloaths as soon as they joyned themselves to this Sect burnt their bravery and some of them as one saith as a part of their first zeal burnt their Bibles To go naked is with some of them accounted a decency becoming their imagined state of innocency better then apparrel the ablest of their way plead for this obscenitie One of this sort in Kirbbymooreside a Market town in Yorkeshire ran stark naked to the Crosse in the view of many and stood in that posture as I heard speaking to the people Two others of their societie a Man and a Woman that called themselves Adam and Eve went for some while as some uncivilized Heathen doe discovering their nakednesse to the eye of every beholder and when they were publikely examined at the Assises for their bruitish practice the man wickedly affirmed that the power of God was upon him he was commanded to do it At Weighton also a little town in Yorkeshire a woman of this Goatish herd came naked from her own bed to another womans Husband a companion of hers it seems of the same sect and bid him open his bed to her for the Father had sent her to him The man had at that time another man lying in bed with him who rose to give place to this woman and left this honest couple to lie together according to the womans Revelation this saith the Authour of a Book intituled The Querers and Quakers case at the second hearing is no lie but fallen under the Magistrates Cognisance a known thing One of their Gang in Westmerland on Friday the Eighth of April last ran like a mad man naked all but his shirt through Kendall crying Repent Repent wo wo come out of Sodome Remember Lots wife with other such stuffe His principall Auditours were a company of Boyes that followed him through the Town I almost wonder what the Devil should mean in sending abroad such naked Bedlam speakers one would think the walls of this Iericho should rather be razed then raised by such pitiful Engineers But to linger no where in particulars This one thing to me doth plainly evidence the way of these Apostates to be of the Devil No sooner is any one become a Proselite to their Sect but he is possessed with a spirit of malice and wrath and turns enemy to all men that are not of their way Especially to those that appear against it To such they use menacing speeches as of a day that is coming wherein they shall be avenged and talk frothily sometimes of levying forces chuseing Collonels and Captains c. And though they speak much against going to law before Infidels so they insinuate all our Ministers of Justice to be yet upon the least affront given to themselves they will procure the Indictment of those they have any colour of charge against Instancies enough might be given There is a credible report and when there is need all Parties may be named of some that attempted to Sacrifice their Children but were through Providence prevented Mr. Burton a well qualified Gentleman and a Justice of the Peace in the County of Westmerland who made Naylers Mittimus a little after riding from Appleby towards his own house which is about a mile distant from the said Town about the mid-way in a place where the narrow Lane he was to passe through disparts it selfe into two was way-laid with foure Musketteers two of whom lin'd the Hedge on one side of the way and two of them where the Lane divides it selfe on the other side when the foresaid Gentleman with his man onely in Company was come over against them one of those Assassines discharged his Musket at him the Bullet flying as he conceived betwixt himselfe and his man who rode a little before him he had not rid five Paces further but a second discharges upon him whose Bullet also he heard sing by him but received no hurt being startl'd at this unexpected Accident and fearing there might
be yet more of them he quickened his Horse with his Spur and declined to the other side of the Lane At the turn of the way were two more Muskets discharged upon him where in all probability he could not have escaped the intended mischiefe had not the Lord mercifully frustrated the bloody Intentions of those his unknown Enemies These men fled immediately the darknesse of a long Winter night which they had before them it being then about the end of December helping to conceale their persons That these men that attempted this Murther were of this Sect is not certainly known but it is strongly presumed and concluded that they were none other by all the Country for these reasons 1. He was generally reproached and threatned by the Quakers for sending Nayler to Prison some of whom were not long before heard to say they would pick his Skin full of holes 2. That very day before there were many of that malicious Sect in Appleby that came to visit Nayler who might take notice of his being there and be invited to take that opportunity of executing their bloody purposes 3. This Gentleman is of such known honesty and Ingenuity that he is generally beloved in the Country and hath not I dare say an Enemy in the world one quarter so cruell as to thirst after his blood except among that Rabble That multitudes of Scurrilous Libels against Ministers and private persons have been fastened to their doores thrown into their houses pinn'd on Pulpit Cushions on the Lords daies and on the Church doores without any name affixed by those Pretenders to Christianity is a thing well known For satisfaction of the Reader I shall give him a true Coppy of one that was affixed one Lords day about the beginning of Ianuary last unto the Church-door at Lancaster which Dr. Marshall openly read to the people there assembled that they might perceive the strange temper of the Spirits of those men by such their unsavoury Eructations A Copy of a Scurrilous Paper affixed to the Church Doore at Lancaster THis is the Idols Temple where the worship of the Beast is upheld down with it down with it Revel 15. 7. 8. Revel 1. 2. 5. God that made the World and all things therein dwels not in this Idolls Temple that is made with hands Act. 7. 47 48 49. Act. 17. 21. Neither is he worshipped in this Idolls Temple with mens hands Act. 17. 24. God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth for the Father is seeking such to worship him Ioh. 14. 23 24. All the World wonders after the Beast and worshippeth the Beast but those who have found their names written in the Book of life and they that worship the Beast and receive his Mark in their Forehead as sprinckling Infants and worshipping the works of their own hands following the imaginations of their hearts they must drink of the wine of the wrath of the Almighty powred out without mixture Revel 14. 9 10 11 12. This Idolls Temple that is made with hands is a place for Night-birds and Screech-Owles to meet each one to the dishonour of the true God that dwelleth in Temples made without hands at new Ierusalem where the Temple of God is with men Revel 21. 3. Drunkards and Swearers Revellers and Scoffers and Scorners and proud and wanton ones and Hypocrites and Dissemblers Enviors Haters back-biters Persecutors Lustfull ones and contentious Persons and Earth-wormes meets here the fearifull and unbelieving peevish and perverse and contentious ones meets here in their Idolls Temple to satisfie their Lusts and saith the Lord this people draw neer me with their mouths and honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me But know yee not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdome of Heaven but must be cut down and cast into the fire and have their Portion in the Lake that burneth be not deceived God is not mocked This is a Deceiver that standeth up here to deceive the people every seventh day proud and covetous and speaketh a Divination of his own brain and not from the mouth of the Lord and so makes the people light and vain but the Lord is against him hold him not up All the Children of the Lord are and shall be taught of the Lord Jer. 31. 34 Isa. 54. 13. 1 Joh. 2. 27. Of a long time it was a constant practise of some of the most impudent of them to enter in a scornfull manner with their hats on into the publike Assemblies in some places and to raile openly and exclaim aloud against the Ministers with most reproachfull tearmes in time of the dispensation of Gods Ordinances calling them byars Seducers Baals Priests Deluders of the people and bidding them come down from the high places There is fulnesse of Witnesses for this in Kendall and Lancashire and other places And this not onely before but since the Justices at Appleby ordred the binding of such Disturbers to the Peace but alas what can bind them to Peaceablenesse whose Spirit is tumultuous or what can Law do when Conscience is seared and takes tumultuousnesse for a Duty Mr. Coale who was employed to preach abroad in this County where the most eminent necessity of this County lay viz. Where the Country was destitute of a Preacher hath had much experience of them and hath professed that long it was before he could have any peace or safety but the Lord stood by him Two or three of the ablest of them have dogg'd him from place to place and come severall times to his house with horrible railings And lately not many weeks since two or three at once in the open Street fell upon him with such horrid expressions as might shew to all the world the boyling of a most Hellish Rancour and with such fury that he was beholden to Friends to rescue him from them The next Lords Day three of these wanderers came into the Congregation at Kendall and called to him to come down belching forth such tearms of Baals Priests c. and Hellish reproaches as filled both the Congregation and streets after with Tumult The violence offered by some of this people in an open Auditory to one Master Crosby had proved little lesse then the losse of his life as himself hath affirmed openly if the Lord had not been on his side What was complotted against another Minister as he gathereth from a Letter sent him by one of that confederacy but a friend at that time as God so ordered it I cannot relate but the said Minister could not as he said conjecture lesse then some grosse abuse intended against him as he was discoursing with Fox had not one present prevented it Others have been desired by some friends to keep out of their way for they heard a mischief was intended them What Eye in these parts where this people live is not a witnesse of the tumults and uprores they make in Markets What ear hath
not heard heard of their open revilings which they principally fasten on them in whom most of God and sound Religion appears A man that professeth godlinesse especially a Minister that endeavors to be faithfull to Jesus Christ in the discharge of the duties incumbent on him cannot passe by them without their scorns Against such they grin and point at them with their fingers These and such like practises of this licentious people have filled the hearts of Gods People in these parts with exceeding fears to be driven after all their hopes to serve God in Corners and that they may die tho in the faith of the promise of Jerusalems peace yet without receiving it whilest the enemies of God roare in the midst of the Congregations So fast did their insolencies grow and their Numbers increase for a while that had they not been a little curbed by the imprisonment of Nayler and sending forth a warrant for the Apprehension of Fox for his blasphemies it is verily believed by many sober understanding men among us there would have been in a short time no peace or almost safety for any real Christian in Westmerland and some adjacent parts This was as some of the Justices expressed themselves at the Sessions Ianuary last one main reason of Naylers confinement namely that they were necessitated to it for the preservation of the publique peace and prevention of civil dissentions and such evils as might have ensued upon further connivance at these turbulene Impostors I shall conclude with the Judgements of two known learned and judicious men one of which is yet living and able to plead for the Truth and himself Master OWEN in his Discourse of Toleration hath this Passage Page 32. THere are saith he a sort of persons termed in Scripture disorderly vagabond wandring irregular persons 1. Thes. 5. 14. Acts 17. 5. 2 Thess. 3. 2. 1. Tim. 1. 9. Fixed to no Calling abiding in no place taking no care of their Families that under a pretence of teaching the Truth without Mission without Call without Warrant uncommanded undesired do goe up and down from place to place creeping into houses c. Now that such wayes as these and Persons in these wayes may judicially be inquired into I no way doubt The Storie is famous of Sesostris King of Egypt who made a Law that all the Subjects of his Kingdome should once a yeare give an account of their way and manner of living and if any was found to spend his time idly he was certainly punished And the Lawes of most Nations have provided that their people shall not be wanderers and whosoever hath not a place of abode and imployment is by them a punishable vagabond And in this by experience of the wayes walking and converse of such persons I am exceedingly confirmed I did as yet never observe any other issue upon such undertakers but scandal to Religion and trouble to men in their Civil relations when men by the practise of any vice or sin draw others to a pretended Religion or by pretence of Religion draw men to any vice or sinne let them be twice punished for their reall vices and pretended Religion Thus far Master Owen Master COTTON of New England touching the controversie of Libertie of Conscience in matters of Religion Page 7. layeth down this Position for Truth IF a man hold forth saith he or professe any Errour or false way with a boysterous and arrogant Spirit to the disturbance of civil Peace he may justly he punished according to the qualitie and measure of his disturbance caused by him and page 8. He saith the Scripture forbids not to drive ravenous Wolves from the sheep-fold and to restrain them from devouring the sheep of Christ and Page 9. He saith we acknowledge that none is to be punished for his Conscience though misinformed unlesse his Errour be fundamental and seditiously and turbulently promoted and further we acknowledge none ought to be constrained to believe or professe the true Religion till he be convinced in judgement of the Truth of it but yet restrained he may be from blaspheming the truth and from seducing any into pernicious Errors The End A BRIEF REPLY To some part Of a very scurrilous and lying Pamphlet CALLED Sauls errand TO DAMASCUS SHEWING The vanitie of the praises there attributed to the Sect of the Quakers and Falsitie of their Relations which are nought else but the breathings of a spirit of Malice Psal. 35. 20. They speak not Peace but devise deceitfull matters against them that are quiet in the Land LONDON Printed by T. R. for H. R. at the signe of the three Pigeons in Pauls Church-yard 1653. To the Reader THere is an unlicensed Pamphlet called Sauls errand to Damascus lately procured to be Printed wherein diverse Ministers of Westmerland and Lancashire are falsly aspersed and maliciously belied and traduced Had it not been for the clearing of their Innocency and the discovery of the falsities contained in that Book too apt in this credulous age to be believed as whatsoever is spoken against a Minister there had not been one word written in answer to it And for the rest of that Book that concerns us not I should be loath to betray my indiscretion so far as to attempt a full answer to such a heap of words or to trouble any judicious Reader with such fruitless contests Good Readers you have that Book by you or can think it worth your buying or perusal let me intreat you to read it with some observation of the Contents And if you be men whose inner man hath been indeed illuminated by the good spirit of the Lord and the knowledge of the Truth or whose reason hath been at all refined or polisht by learning or good education you will easily perceive by what they have to say for themselves that they are men whose knowledge is science falsly so called that these men are blind Leaders that while they pretend to be full of the Spirit full of Light and Revelations they are led a captive prey to the spirit of lies that spirit that workes in the children of disobedience that they walk in thick darkness that they go they know not whither and speak they know not what Something they would say to clear themselves of those blasphemies and cursed speeches they have been overheard to utter and have bin deposed upon oath against them both in Westmerland and Lancashire if they could tell how Flatly deny them they cannot they do not you wil even wonder to see how they bungle out an answer You wil admire at their impertinencies inconsistencies irrational insensate misty expressions as ambiguous sometimes as the devils oracles and stand amazed to see their impudence and how magistically they can revile censure to the pit of hel how boldly they dare avouch an error and offer a rape upon the holy Text wrest and misapply it and father their heretical absurd tenets assertions on it that in Print even
good I do not wish my greatest enemy so much hurt as that he should be one of them But those in Authoritie know they might not give ear to the Calumnies of every Anonymus Psal. 101. 5 7. Who so privily slandereth his neighbour saith David him will I cut off He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my House He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight And that it was Sauls sin and shame to hearken to the calumnies of Doeg against those that ministred at the Altar to the Lord. And we all know it is no new thing for the Ministers of Christ to be the object of the worlds indignation and accused of all manner of evil Our Saviour Christ himself his Apostles and the best of the Christians in the Primitive times did not escape the scourge of the Tongue the worst of slanders Well therefore may the false aspersions of this man be born as an easie burthen But thou O Lord deliver my soul from lying lips and from a deceitfull Tongue Psal. 120. 2. Let thy mercies also come unto me O Lord even thy salvation according to thy Word So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me for my trust is in thy Word Psal. 119. 41. 42. The next part of this Pamphlet which I shall give some answer to consists of a false and scandalous Relation wherein Nayler or some friend of his for him foolishly complains of Persecution and maliciously abuses and belies divers Ministers in Westmerland as his persecutors who I am confident never used any unchristian language to him and were never guiltie of the least incivilitie in Action towards him notwithstanding his outcry of persecution by them Now because I intend to say something by way of reply to this Relation as also to their fals Narrative of the proceedings of the Justices at Appleby against Iames Nayler Jan. 8. 1652. I think it will not be amisse first to expose the Quakers own Relations verbatim to the view of my Reader as they are contained in Sauls errand to Damascus Divers particulars of the Persecutions of Iames Nayler by the Priests of Westmerland JAmes being at a meeting at Edward Briggs house on the first day where many people met he was desired by divers friends to meet the day following at Widow Cocks house about a mile from Kendal whereof the Priests having notice raised the Town of Kendal against him but being long in gathering together the meeting was done but Spies being out upon the Steeple top and other places notice was given what way Iames passed from thence and coming down towards Kindal two Priests being accompanied with a Justice of Peace and some other Magistrates of the Town with an exceeding great multitude of people following them met him saying Nayler I have a Message from the Lord Iesus Christ to thee but that there is not a convenient place To which James answered The Lord Iesus Christ is no respecter of places The message that he had to declare was this I conjure thee that thou tell me by what power thou inflictest such punishment upon the bodies of creatures James answered Dost thou remember who it was that did adjure Christ to tell if he were the Son of God and asked by what authoritie he did those things for James saw him to be one of that Generation But the Priest still conjuring him to tell by what power he did it James answered Dost thou acknowledge it to be done by a power Yea saith he I have the Spirit of God and thereby I know it is done by a power James said If thou have the Spirit of God as thou sayest thou hast then thou canst tell by what power it is done The Priest said When God comes he comes to torment the souls and not the bodies James said He comes to redeem the souls But after much jangling the Priest began to accuse him before the Justice and Magistrates of many things As that he taught people to burn their Bibles Children to disobey their Parents Wives their Husbands People to disobey the Magistrates such like accusations To which James answered Thou art a false accuser prove one of these things if thou canst here before the Magistrates But not being able to prove any one he began to accuse Iames for holding out a light that doth convince of sin which saith the Priest all have not To which Iames said Put out one in all this great multitude that dare say he hath it not Saith the Priest These are all Christians but if a Turk or Indian were here he would deny it James said Thou goest far for a proof but if a Turk were here he would witnesse against thee The people beginning to fight the Priest turned away saying Here will be a disturbance Said James These are thy Christians and this is the fruiuts of thy Ministery But the Justice with some others did endeavour to keep the rude people off him so that they could not come to their purpose there But he being to passe over the bridge and through the town they that were of the Priests party ran before swearing they would throw him off the bridge into the water but coming thither and seeing their purpose he was encouraged in his God who gave him assurance of protection and did wonderfully keep him and those that were with him for when he came unto the bridge the word of the Lord came unto him and he was made to cry out against their rage and the power of the Lord was with him so that he received no harm though he was made to speak all along and in the Market-place and till he came out of the town But the raging Priests continued shouting crying and throwing stones at him a quarter of a mile out of the town But such was the power of the Lord that neither he nor any with him received any harm The work was wonderfull and we were brought much to admire it and praise the Lord who is blessed for ever and ever Another time Iames being desired of many Christian Friends to be at a meeting at Ortor there to wait upon the Lord for what he would make known to his people did accordingly and many friends and brethren accompanied him but the Priests having intelligence some dayes before five of them were gathered together and many people from all quarters A friend in the town desired Iames to come to his house and being come into his house a message was sent from the Priests desiring him to come into the field under pretence of a more convenient place for the great multitude To which Iames answered It is my desire that all may be edified and coming into the field the Priests came with a great multitude and asked him by what authority he came thither and had gathered so many people together to break the peace and tempting him said Wilt thou be bound that none here shall break the Peace To which Iames answered We come
not hither to create offences but if any break the Law let him suffer by the Law for he perceived they intended violence as it appeared afterward But seeing they could not prevail in that another of them desired him to go into the Church as he called it tempting him saying The people may all sit and hear better But James perceiving their deceit said All places were alike to him he would abide in the field Whereupon they pulled out an Ordinance of Parliament forbidding any to speak but such as were authorized to speak either in Church or Chappel or any publike place and bad him speak at his perill as he would answer the contempt of it To which he answered saying This is not a publike place No said one of the Priests Is not this a publick place the Town-field and charged the Constable of the town to do his office and examined his authority James answered Those that are sent to declare the things of God have not their authoritie from men But they bad him prove that He said Paul received not his Commission from man nor by man To which one of them answered That was his Gospel but they would prove that Paul had a call from man to preach and for that end he named that place in Acts 13. 2. where the Holy Ghost said Separate me Barnabas and Saul and the Apostles laid their hands upon them which said one of them was the laying on of hands of the Presbytery But when he had found that place Iames asked him if that was Pauls calâ— to the Ministery three times but he answered nothing Then said James If that was his call he had preached long without a call before that and instanced to prove it Gal. 1. Whereupon that businesse ended But another Priest stood up and said Thou oughtest to give an account of thy Faith to every one that asketh whereupon he asked divers questions whereunto James answered insomuch that some who stood by cried out Answer not all but ask him some A while after James asked him how he would prove himself a Minister of the Gospel and live upon Tythes To which he would not answer Then said Iames Neither will I answer thee if thou aske me twenty more The next question he asked was Whether Christ was ascended or no but Iames said I will not answer thee Whereupon he cried out to the people and said He denies the humanity of Christ and made a great out-cry among the people of it but he people cried out saying Let us hear him you have often told us many things against him let him speake and then if he speak not the Truth you may then reprove him Iames hearing the desire of the people began to speak and the people gave audience and were very silent But beginning to hold out Christ alone to be the Teacher of his people in spirit and Truth one of the Priests cried out I cannot endure to hear this Seducer any longer Vpon 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 libertie 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 friend received stripes and with much ado got into the house But the râ—ging Sâ—a mires waited about the dore to do mischief and kept shouting about the house 〈◊〉 the while he was speaking but the house being filled with People they could not come to their purpose and he 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 thanke God of that Thus by the wisdome 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 he Resurrection and the Humanity of Christ and all Authoritie and that the Parliament had opened a gap for Blasphemy and as it was said by some of their hearers they did God good service that would knock him down Thus having stirred up the ruder sort the next day they prevailed with 〈◊〉 called a Justice of Peace the Priests son got him to come twelve miles from his own house he was one that had been in actual arms against the Parliament for the bringing in of the Scots and having armed a 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 dorewas never shut against them But some of them come into the house and commanded him to come forth under pretence to dispute with the Priest But James seeing what they intended answered You did not use me socivilly the last time I was amongst you but if any have a mind they may come in the doores 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 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 Humanitie 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 James 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 witnesse 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 James 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
Lancashire to swear things that another man had spoken in the presence of foure Justices of the Peace and for which the man had been tried and cleared And these they brought thinking to ad 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 Iames Nayler upon an Indictment of Blasphemy at the Sessions at Appleby in Ianuary 1652. JUstice 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 judgement Iam. If I see one in goodly apparel and a gold ring and see one in poor and vile rayment and say to him in fine apparel Sit thou in a higher place than the poor I am partial and judge of evil thoughts Col. Brigs If thou wert in the Parliament-house wouldst thou keep it on Iam. If God should keep me in the same mind I am in now I should Col. Brigs I knew thou wouldst contemn Authority Iam. I speak in the presence of God I do not contemn Authoritie but I am subject to the power as it is of God for conscience sake Just. Pears Now Authoritie commands thee to put off thy Hat what sayest thou to it Iam. 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 own wills The Inditement was read wherein Iames was Indited for saying that Christ was in him and that there was but one Word of God Col. Brigs Where wast thou born Iam. At Ardislaw two miles from Wakefeild Col. Brigs How long livedst thou there Iam. Until I was married then I went into Wakefeild Parish Col. Brigs What profession wast thou of Iam. A Husbandman Col. Brigs Wast thou a Souldier Iam. Yea I was a Souldier betwixt 8 and 9 years Col. Brigs Wast thou not at Burford among the Levellers Iam. 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 cause of thy coming into these parts Jam. If I may have libertie I shall declare it I was at the Plow meditating on the things of God and suddenly I heard a voyce saying unto me Get thee out from thy Kindred and from thy Fathers house and I had a promise given in with it Whereupon I did exceedingly rejoyce that I had heard the voyce of that God which I had professed from a Child but had never known him Col. Brigs Didst thou hear that voyce Jam. Yea I did hear it and when I came at home I gave up my Estate cast out my mony but not being obedient in going forth the wrath of God was upon me so that I was made a wonder to all and none thought I would have lived but after I was made willing I began to make some preparation as apparel and other necessaries not knowing whither I should goe But shortly afterward going agate-ward with a friend from my owne house having on an old Suit without any mony having neither taken leave of wife or children nor thinking then of any journey I was commanded to go into the West not knowing whither I should go nor what I was to do there but when I had been there a little while I had given me what I was to declare and ever since I have remained not knowing to day what I was to do to morrow Col. Brigs What was the promise thou hadst given Jam. That God would be with me which promise I find made good every day Col. Brigs I never heard such a call as this is in our time Jam. I believe thee Just. Pears Is Christ in thee Jam. I witness him in me and if I should deny him before men he would deny me before my Father which is in Heaven Just. Pears Spiritual you mean Jam. Yea Spiritual Just. Pears By Faith or how Jam. By Faith Just. Pears What difference then between the Ministers and you Jam. The Ministers affirm Christ to be in Heaven with a Carnal body But I with a Spiritual body Just. Pears Which of the Ministers say Christ is in Heaven with a Carnal body Jam. The Minister so called of Kirkby-Steven P. Higginson stood up and affirmd it again openly before al the Court. Jam. If Christ be in Heaven with a Carnal body and the Saints with a Spiritual body It is not proportionable neither was that a Carnal body which appeared among the Disciples the doors being shut and appeared in divers shapes Quest. Was Christ man or no Jam. Yea he was and took upon him the seed of Abraham and was reall flesh and bone but is a Mystery not known to the Carnal man for he is begotten of the Immortal â—eed and those that know him know him to be Spiritual for it was the Word that became flesh and dwelt amongst us and if he had not been Spiritual he had not wrought my Redemption Just. Pears Is Christ in thee as man Jam. Christ filleth all places and is not divided separate God and man and he is no more Christ. Just. Pears If we stand to dispute these things we should have the Ministers Iames Perceiving Priest Higginson offended because he had told of hâ—s saying that Christ was in heaven with a Carnal bâ—dy Iames said Friend I had not accused thee had I not been asked what was the difference between the Ministers and me for I am not come to accuse any for I am against accusations Col. Brigs Wast thou not at a Kirk about Sawrby Jam. I was a member of an Independant Church at Weed-Church Col. Brigs Wast thou not excommunicated for thy blasphemous Opinions Jam. I know not what they have done since I came forth but before I was not to my knowledge Col. Brigs called of Master Goale saying Did you ever heare such a call as this Did you hear it Coale Yea I heard part of it Col. Brigs Didst thou not write a paper wherein was mentioned that if thou thinkest to be saved by that Christ which died at Jerusalem thou art deceived Jam. If I cannot witness Christ nearer then Jerusalem I shall have no benefit by him but I own no other Christ but that who witnessed a good Confession before Pontius Pilate which Christ I witness suffering in me now Col. Brigs Wilt thou deny thy hand Jam. I will not deny my hand if I may see it and I desire that I may have so much favour that that
paper may be kept as an evidence either with or against me A large Petition being read wherein was something against Quaking and Trembling Just. Pears How comes it to pass that people Quake and Tremble Jam. The Scriptures witness the same condition in the Saints formerly as Dauid Daniel Habakkuk and divers others Just. Pears Did they fall down Jam. Yea some of them did so Coale David said all his bones were broken but they were whole Iam. So are these now Coale Moses trembled for he saw the face of God and all Israel Iam. Did all Israel see the face of God that crosseth the Scriptures Coale They saw his Glory I shall see the Lord with these eyes putting his fingers to his eyes Iam. They must first be made spiritual he cannot be seen with carnall eyes for he is a Spirit and no flesh can see God and live Coale That light by which I am justified is a created light Iam. That light by which I am justified is not a created light Coale That is true Just. Pears To the Word What sayest thou to the Scriptures are they the Word of God Iam. They are a true Declaration of the Word that was in them who spoke them forth Higginson Is there not a written Word Iam. Where readest thou in thy Scriptures of a written Word The Word is Spiritual not seen with Carnal eyes but as for the Scriptures they are true and I witness them true in measure fulfilled in me as far as I am grown up Just. Pears Why dost thou disturb the Ministers in their publicke worships Iam. I have not disturbed them in their publick worships Just. Pears Why doest thou speake against Tythes which are allowed by the States Iam. I meddle not with the States I speak against them that are hirelings as they are hirelings those that were sent of Christ never took Tythes nor ever sued for any wages Just. Pears Dosh thou think we are so beggerly as the Heathens that we cannot afford our Ministers maintenance We give them it freely Jam. They are the Ministers of Christ who abide in the Doctrine of Christ. Just. Pears But who shall judge how shall we know them Jam. By their fruits you shall know them they that abide not in the Doctrine of Christ make it appear they are not the Ministers of Christ. Just. Pears That is true A reply to the Title of that lying Relation called Diverse particulars of the Persecutions of Iames Nailer by the Preists of Westmerland THus is the second part of this Pamphlet ushered in with such an Inscription as if Iames Nayler had been a real Martyr of Jesus Christ and not an open Enemy to him and his Gospel might well have served for the Title page of his Martyrdome You see Reader their language and how bloodily they charge us in the very entry of their Relation The term Priest which they give us here and all over by way of contempt may discover to the world what is the rancour of their souls against us However it be grown the common reproach against us in the mouths of those that know not God yet we hope the Lord will teach them better language in his season I am credibly informed that a little while ago one of them railing with that and other language against a Minister went from him home and died presently What ever scorn they intend to heape upon us by that word we do not own it nor ever did as a Title proper to the Office of the Ministers of the New Testament or to their persons further then as they are Christs Disciples who hath made all whom he hath loved and washed from their sinnes with his blood Kings and Priests to God his Father Rev. 1. 5. 6. And in this sense if themselves do but once become Priests they will become companions of Devils for ever And for Persecution the Lord forbid that we should be persecutors as they render us to the world to be while our selves are designed as the Objects of it by some if their power answered their wills and do already suffer the persecution of the Tongue in as high a degree as ever did Ministers of Christ in any Age. The Lord forbid that we should lift up our hand or open our mouth against the least of Saints We know what reward our Saviour hath promised to him that shall give to drink unto one of his little ones a cup of cold water in the name of a Disciple Matth. 10. ult and on the other hand what severity of judgement he hath threatned to those that do offend them Matth. 18. 6. We do not therefore pretend a jus Divinum to persecution as one I heartily believe most falsly and maliciously accuses the Ministers of Lancashire to do but do from our souls rather wish to be sufferers of it our selves then defiled with the least tincture of the guilt of that red sin of persecuting others If to be stedfast in the profession of the Truth to warn and charge those that are committed to our charge who we hope shall be our crown and joy in the day of the Lord to take heed of seducers if to labour to keep them from being robd of the salvation of their souls if to satisfie the desire of some of our people whom we heard continually wishing that we would have some conference with these men if to contend for the Faith against those men that are the open enemies of it and to petition for their liberties when they are consined If this be persecution then we must confess our selves persecutors and deserving blame for it but if these actings do not savour of a spirit of persecution we can then challenge the whole World to prove us guiltie And for Naylers sufferings which the unfaithful Relator calls persecutions he knows or might as well as we that that little restraint onely which he suffered as an evil doer was by the Order of the Justices and we know that we did not so much as desire his sufferings in the least and that we sought and desired nothing but the preservation of Religion and Peace among us and that those Authours and Fomentours of the disturbances of this poore Countie might return to their habitations and callings and there according to the Apostles rule study to be quiet and do their own businesse And must we upon this account stand charged with Persecution But the Lord the righteous Judge though we should alrogether hold our peace will one day plead for us against those that have hated us without a cause and are our enemies because they see us friends to Truth and Peace The Lord lay not this sin to their charge A Reply to that part of the Relation which concerns Master Coales discourse with Nailer near Kendall THe relator in Sauls Errand to Damascus saith That Iames Nayler meeting at a house near Kendall the Priests in the Town having notice raised the Town of Kendall against him but being long in
in him as man as he had before affirmed Nayler replyed Christ God and Man is not divided separate God and Man and He is no more Christ Christ God and Man is every where I askt thee said Mr. Pearson Whether thou believest Christ as He is Man to be in thee I witnesse Him in me said Nayler and if I should deny him before men He would deny me before my Father which is in Heaven How do you mean said Mr. Pearson that Christ is in you Doe you not mean that He is in you Spiritually Yea Answered Nayler Spiritually By Faith saith he you mean or how else By Faith saith Nayler Why what difference is there then in this point said Mr. Pearson between the Ministers and you Nayler replyed the Ministers affirmed Christ to be in Heaven with a Carnal Body but He is with a Spiritual Body Which of the Ministers say so saith Mr. Pearson The Minister of Kirkby-Stephen being present rose up and said thus I confess I said Christ was in Heaven with a Carnal Body I was willing to own a Truth though in course Language I look upon it as an unmeet Expression and should not have used it had I not bin drawn to it upon this occasion Discoursing with Nayler at Mallerstang about the Reality of Christs humane Nature I asked him Whether he did beleive that Iesus Christ now Glorified in Heaven was a true real Man as well as true God When according to his manner he laboured to speak as ambiguously as he could and would plainly affirm or denie nothing Urging him with the same question again with some little alteration I asked him Whether he did believe that Iesus Christ was now in Heaven in a body of flesh to which when I pressed him to answer plainly Thomas Aray one of Naylers companions said to me thus Dost thou imagine that the body of Christ in Heaven is a Carnal body To which I answered presently thinking they had understood English language Thomas take the word Carnal not as it is used in the Scripture in opposition to that which is Holy or Spiritual but according to its natural and proper signification as it signifies fleshly and so I do believe the Body of Christ in Heaven to be a Carnal body that is as I said a body of flesh Naylers relation saith he perceived him to be offended because he had told of his saying And said Friend I had not accused thee had I not bin asked what was the difference between the Ministers and me for I am not come to accuse any It is true some such words he immediately spoke But that the Minister of Kirkby-Stephen was offended at him is an untruth He knew no cause he had to be offended at him but saw cause rather to pity his ignorance M. Pearson was here saying something manifesting some desire that some of the Ministers there present should discourse with Nayler about some of his erroneous opinions but in regard it was then night and they had much business to do before they rose it was thought unseasonable Coll. Briggs then asked him if he had not bin a Member of a Church about Saurby Nayler answered he was a Member of an Independent Church at Wood-Church Coll. Briggs told him that he had heard he was excommunicated out of 〈◊〉 Church for some blasphemous opinions and akt him if it was not so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he knew not what they had done since he came forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was not to his knowledge One that had it from Mr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is Pastor of that Congregation at Wood-Church told a friend of mine lately that it is very true that Nayler was there Excommunicated for his blasphemous Tenets Coll. Briggs then asked him further if he did not write a letter to one in Lancashire wherein he told him that if he hoped to be saved by that Christ that died at Ierusalem he would be deceived Such a letter Nayler did write 〈◊〉 one Henry Holme containing these wicked words in it And when he was taxed for them though he could not deny it yet he would not at first confess them till Coll. Briggs askt him if he would deny his own hand To which he repliedno if he might see it Coll. Briggs told him he thought he could procure the letter Nayler desired it might be kept as a witness against him Coll. Briggs asked him what was his reason to use such a cursed txpression Nayler to season it had this grain of salt in readiness an ill shift is better then none If saith he I cannot witness Christ nearer then Iesalem I shall have no benefit by him but I own no other Christ but that who witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate which Christ I witnesse suffering in me now There were 2 Petitions presented to the Iustices subscribed by the hands of many Gentlemen Ministers and others of known integritie and honestie occasioned by the troublesome insolent behaviour of this people Especially their gross disturbance of whole Congregations in time of publick worship and because it may be some satisfaction to the Reader I shall here adjoyn the true Copy of some of them which I have by me To the Worshipfull the Justices of Peace for this Countie of Westmerland The Humble Petition of several Gentlemen Ministers of the Gospel and others friends and servants to Jesus Christ his Gospel Truths and Ordinances and the general weale of this Common-wealth and Nation SHEWETH THat in the late Wars We or most of us did expose Lives Liberties Estates and Relations with all other Personal advantages in the just defence of Religion and Liberty in concurrence with and maintenance of the just defence of Religion and Liberty After the prosperous Effects whereof we expected the settlement of the grand ends of our engagement and so much the more as being the promise of the Parliament the vows of their affection the price of our Prayer purses hazards losses banishments and the blood of many thousands our fellow servants in the work of God freely sacrificed in the Quarrel of this Nation What hath bin done in the settlement of our Rights Peace and wholesome Lawes we blesse God for and the Parliament as his Instruments nor can we but acknowledge what hath bin done by them in the Cause of God as their Acts against Adultery Fornication Swearing Drunkenness Sabboth-breaking Promoters of heretical Doctrines against Ranters or Blasphemers may the Lord increase the number of these things Yet so it is that in this County several persons Proselites of one George Fox and James Nayler do in the times of our Assemblies ordinarily in a way of contempt and scorn come in amongst us with their hats on at time of Prayer or Singing use in our Congregations some of them violent actions in the time of Sermon or Prayer or singing cry out aloud with horrible clamours slanders abuses reproaches against our Ministers to the stirring up of woefull tumults evident disturbance of the work