this shall be manifest in the day of the Lord and in the mean time we are willing to bear and to suffer all things that is put upon us for the Name of the Lords sake Query 1. Whether you or any of you that pretend to Inspiration and Revelation did foresee or was it revealed to you that ever Charles Stuaâ—â— should be proclaimed King 〈◊〉 Reign in England ever anymore or whether or no any of you did believe it or could have believed it by your great Faith which you profess if it had been told you long ago Answ. As for the Proclaiming of Charles Stuart King to reign in England it was not improbable unto our Faith neither is it contrary to that which some of us hath seen for we know that God respects neither persons nor names but doth give the Kingdoms of this World to whomsoever he will and thus much was said as may be seen in a Book called Good Counsel and Advice rejected and divers other Papers c. p. 17. In a Letter to Oliver Cromwel it is said concerning you that are commonly called Cavaliers But what and if for and because of thy Wickedâ—â—â—â— in the sight of God he should raise them up and make them Instruments in his Hand to accomplish his wrath upon thee even like as he made thee once his Instrument to overthrow them c. And here the thing was believed to be possible that the Lord might raise you up again for his pleasure to fulfil his Will because of the wickedness of the Army and Nation and it is now come to pass even as it was seen and believed And also it was expressed in a Letter written in the 10th Mon. 1659. concernning them that were your Enemies and that were at first raised against you The very same spirit of Pride and Oppression and Idolatry is entred into them meaning your Enemies and now lives in them in as high a measure as ever it lived amongst you and â—â—â—ir Iniquities are well nigh finished and the Lord will one way or other correct reprove them and they shall be dealt with in like manner as they have dealt with you for they were no more then a Rod in the Hands of the Lord for a season and they must also be broken and cast into the Fire and whether the Lord may ever may make use of you to reprove them as he did of them to reprove you this I determine not but leave it to him who can do whatsoever he will by what Instrument he pleaseth It is true you have made many Attempts to be revenged upon them but you have not hitherto prospered but could you be humbled and come into the meek Spirit of the Lord then might you prosper but hitherto the Lord hath alwayes defeated you and bowed you down under a People as unworthy as others but their time will come to an end And submit unto the Will of the Lord in what is come to pass and seek not vengeance to your selves and then the Lord will avenge your Cause for the Iniquities of your Adversaries are ripe c. And Charles Stuart must either be converted to God and ruled by him or else he can never rightly rule for God in this Nation though this I believe it is not impossible but that he may be a Rod upon them that once smote him and their Oppressions and Ambitions may receive a check through him c. These things were written in a Letter to all the people of your part long before there was any visible appearance of that which is now come to pass whereby it doth appear that these things in a great measure were foreseen and prophesied of and it was believed as a thing very possible that thus it might be as is already come to pass And as for Visions they are for an appointed time there is a time to see and a time to speak what is seen and revealed things belong to us and when we declare them then you may take notice of it but it was verily believed as a thing possible that such a thing would be and also by the Proceedings and Transactions as they have fallen out for your very Enemies have so acted and proceeded as to destroy themselves and to bring you in over their heads though they little intended the thing yet the effect of their proceedings could hardly prove otherwise then to destroy themselves and make room for you and these things I observed And also thus far we did fore-see and it was revealed to us and believed by mâ—â—y of us fully and we did often Prophesie it that the Lord God of Heaven and Earth would destroy and bring down the Government and Authority as they have stood in this Nation for divers years and that he would bring Iudgment upon the Rulers and upon many of the Teachers and People of this Nation because of their oppressions and unfaithfulness and treachery and hypocrisie and wickedness which abounded amongst them which we have felt and seen and been sensible of and we have often given our witness against them because of their guiltiness in their sinful ways Oh it hath been loathsome unto the Lord even the Oppressions and treacheries of the Rulers Oh how hath Cruelty and Injustice abounded in their Government and their hypocrisie hath been evident in our â—ight in many Particulars and even in that they have cryed against and overthrown King and Kingly Government charging them with oppression and cruelty and pretended to ease the people in a better way of Government when as though Governors and Names and Titles of Government were changed and altered yet oppression ceased not neither was injustice forsaken nor was the heavy yoaks of great bondage removed but the rather these things were increased upon many good people in these Natiâ—â—s and herein was the unfaithfulness and treachery of the Rulers very great in the sight of God and their Government unjust and unequal wherefore the Lord hath been provoked against them to confound them and overturn them and we have often told it them and also the hypocrisie and deceits and sinfulness of Teachers we have seen and testified against and our witness to them both is and will be found true and Gods justice will be fulfilled upon them both and these things we have observed even the heinous guilt of sin against God in both Rulers and Teachers and the aboâ—â—â—â—tions that have been committed both in Civil and Church Government so called also and many people have lov'd to have these things so and we have been sensible how the Lord hath been provoked to overthrow the Governors of this Nation because hereof and this we have foreseen Prophesied of even that Iudgment and Confusion would come upon the Government the Rulers and the Teachers but particularly when and after what manner judgment and overthrow should come upon them was left to the Lord who hath brought to pass his own will according to Justice and it
you will not allow it us but will persecute us and seek to destroy us only for our Conscience-sake and because of our Faith and Religion if you do make and execute Laws against us in opposition to the Law of our God that you may take an occasion against us to destroy us because thereof then Innocent blood and cruel suffering will be upon you and the weight of it will 〈◊〉 into confussion when your measure is full and if you should destroy these vessels yet our Principles you can never extinguish but they will live for ever and enter into other bodies to live and speak and act through other vessels for our Principles are standing and unchangeable through Ages and Generations and may be clouded but can never be extinguished for every man hath a Light in his Conscience which Christ hath inlightened them withal which Light reproves Men for sin and with it they know they should not Lye nor Swear nor be Drunk nor deal doubbly nor walk in any sin but and if they do these things and live contrary to the Light in their own Consciences then they deny Christ and are unbelievers and they are condemned and have trouble in their Consciences but if men do own that Light in their Consciences which doth reprove them for sin then it leads them to Repentance and to the forsaking of all sin and they cease from all Iniquity and receive Iesus Christ and his blood to cleanse them And the Light of the Spirit of God leads them into all Truth to do and speak the Truth in all things and then he hath peace with God in his Conscience And these are some of our Principles which can never be Subdued by all the Powers of the Earth though the vessels which now retain these were cut off yet these Principles are unchangeable in themselves and can never be extinguished so that this our Religion cannot come to ruin but they that think so they are indeed deceived and whosoever shall seek to destroy that which Gods purpose is to exalt wo shall be unto them and as they purpose towards others so shall it come upon them from the Lord in his Day and Season And thus I have answered the Queries directed to the Quakers and subscribed Trâ—â—ite hanc Amico Regis and I do desire that the Friend of the King and all his Friends and he himself may receive and read over these my Answers and may consider them in coolness and moderation for they may be to their Edification if they be Sober minded I am a Friend unto all men as men and creatures and a lover of all Souls and am in Principles and Practises one of them scornfully called a Quaker E. B. An Objection Answered concerning the Kings Supremacy ANd whereas it is Objected by some Whether or no we will be obedient Subject accepting of him as our Lawful King and own his Supremacy and will obey him willingly or unwillingly and be Subjects in Conscience or against our Consciences Answ. It is our Principle and hath ever been our Practise to be obedient Subjects to whatsoever Power or Authority of man or men as have been in being over us either by doing and fulfilling their just Commands or by suffering under their Commands which have been unjust and thus we are perswaded and resolved in the Lord to continue even to be obedient to the Commands of Men in Authority which are just and according to our Consciences but and if any thing or matter be required of us and Imposed upon us which is contrary to the Law of God and our Consciences that we must fulfil by Suffering whatsoever is put upon us by him or any under him and so we own him and accept him as knowing and believing that he is set to rule in this Nation not without but by and according to the Purpose of the Lord and that he hath secretly purposed and suffered the accomplishing of these things and thus we account that he is CHIEF MAGISTRATE because these things are effected through the Lord's Power who doth whatsoever he will and we do own that he is set and proclaimed to be the Head and Supream over this Nation in Civil and Outward Affairs and Matters and in those things that are related to the outward man and all his Commands which are just we can willingly be subject unto even in Conscience and all hiâ— Commads which are otherwise we are willingly and in our Consciences contented in patience to bear what men shall put upon us and thus we do accept of the King and his Government as he and it are according to God and answerable unto him if it be so we are willingly and in Conscience accepting thereof and shall be obedient Subjects thereunto but if it be otherwise that is to say if he Rule in Tyranny and Oppression and his Government be unjust and unrighteous and contrary to God then we must give our witness against him and it yet not so as by outward opposition and rebellion to seek the overthrow of him or the Government by Carnal Weapons but shall patiently bear and that for Conscience sake all that cruelty and injustice and suffering which can be imposed upon us And as for owning his Supremacy if it be meant his Supremacy over the Church as if he were Head of the Church and were Supream Law-giver and Iudge and King in Church-State as to give and prescribe Law for Worship and Faith and to pass all Judgement in matters that are Spiritual and appertaining to Conscience and about the things of the Kingdom of God if by his Supremacy this be meant and intended thus we cannot own his Supremacy but must deny it and we do ascribe Supremacy only to IESUS CHRIST in and concerning all these things mentioned and that he alone is Iudge and King and Law-giver in all the matters concerning his own Spiritual Kingdom and he must prescribe for us Faith and Worship and must be the only Iudge in all cases of Conscience and Spiritual matters and not Charles Stuart King of England c. not any other man upon the Earth for let it not be understood that we deny his Supremacy in opposition to the Pope of Rome as if we should own the Popes Supremacy over the Church for that we do not nor any man upon the Earth as I have said but only IESUS CHRIST is principal in that relation and to him we give the Dominion in all the cases of his own Kingdom but if owning his Supremacy it be intended whether we will own him to be Head and Ruler as in the affairs of his Nation pertaining to mens Persons and Estate without any relation to the Worship of God or matters of Conscience so we own him as I have before mentioned and must be Subject for Conscience-sake in fulfilling all his commands whatsoever either by doing or suffering and this is our principle which we are perswaded in and resolved herein to continue and abide To
am confident That the King hath better Experience of us than to believe these our Malicious Accusars And I do appeal to him from the knowledge which he hath already of us that he believes we are Innocent and not guilty of those things thus unjustly charged upon us and I question not but he will rightly understand that these Accusations are more out of Hatred and Envy against us than out of desire to benefit the King by such Presentation 2. I do testifie unto the King and before the whole World That we do profess and believe concerning the Father Son and Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Gospel and the Holy Scriptures I say we do believe and make prefession in Truth and Righteousness concerning all these things and by our Doctrines and Instructions do perswade all people to believe and not seduce any from these Truths of the Gospel and this is known through these Kingdoms concerning us though we stand now accused falsly concerning these Matters before the King But as for the Scriptures being the Rule of Life we say The Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures is the Rule of Life Faith unto the Saints and leads not contrary but according unto the Scriptures in the Belief and Practice of whatsoever the Scripture saith And if these Petitioners did make the Scriptures the Rule of their Lives and Practices for the denyal of which they here accuse us they would not have cut off Ears Banished and put to Death for the Cause of Conscience which is contrary to the Scriptures and proceeded from another spirit than that which gave forth the Scriptures 3. Concerning Government our Principles and Practices are well known to many and partly to the King We are not Enemies unto Government it self as these our Accusers do charge us but it is our Principle and hath ever been and is our Practice to be subject to whatsoever Government is set up over us either by doing or suffering and neither to vilifie nor rebel against any Government or Governours by any Malicious Plots or Contrivances but to walk in Meekness and Humility towards all being subject for Conscience sake as I have said either by doing or suffering and I doubt not but the KING is sufficiently informed hereof and believeth this Testimony 4. As for our Doctrines tending to subvert both Church and State this is also a false Accusation and Slander for our Doctrines are to convert and not to subvert even to convert to God and Truth and Righteousness that men should live in these things and forsake all that which is contrary and this Effect our Doctrines have wrought in the World as the Testimony of many Consciences shall bear witness Oh let the King consider of our Defence as well as of our Enemy's Charge who have thought it not enough to Whip most cruelly Banish cut Ears and put to Death the Innocent but must still accuse them â—alsly and seek to cover themselves by fawning and flattering Addresses unto the King like as if they had done no Evil whenas the God or Heaven is Witness to whom we can appeal That our Brethren suffered the Tortures of shameful Death in New-England through their unjust Laws and Sentences as Saints and Servants of the Living God for the Name of Christ Jesus and for his Truth which they held until Death and not for Evil-doing And the Executioners of these inhumane Cruelties seem so far from Repentance for their Evil doing that they rather justifie themselves in what they have done and cease not to smite and wound and reproach the Innocent and that before the King and that after they have Martyred them Again These Petitioners say After all other means for a long time used in vain we were at last constrained for our own safety say they to pass a Sentence of Banishment against them upon Pain of Death such was their Dangerous Impetuous and Desperate Turbulency to Religion and to the State Civil and Ecclesiâ—stical as that 〈◊〉 unwilling soever could it have been avoided the Magistrate at least in Conscience both to God and man judged himself called for the Defence of all to keep the Passage with the Point of the Sword held towards them this could do no harm say they to them that would be warned thereby their willing rushing themselves thereupon was their own act and we with all humility conceive a Crime bringing their Blood upon their own Heads By way of Answer to this let it be considered 1. What Means was for a long time used before they put them to Death is shameful to mention Was it not by the means of Cruel Whippings Banishment Imprisonment Cutting off Ears and taking their Goods by Violence It s true by this Means the Petitioners dealt with the Quakers and never by any Christian like Means for the very first of our Friends that ever came among them they made them Prisoners ere they came on shore and inhumanely dealt with them and Banished them and this was the first and fairest Means that ever was used by them which are not Gospel-Means nor the Way by which the Church of New-England ought to have proceeded Had our Friends been in Error and such as they say of them it had been their Duty to have gained them by Love by Mercy and by Long-suffering these are the Weapons of the Spirit of God which ought to be us'd towards them that are in Error in order to the converting of them from the Error but contrary to this the Magistrates and Church-Members of New-England took Cain's Weapons and dealt Cruelly and not like Christians nor like sober Men towards the Innocent but their thus proceeding was in vain as themselves acknowledge for notwithstanding the Gospel of Christ grew and encreased and many were converted to the Faith of Christ Jesus throughout New-England 2. Let it be considered what their dangerous and desperate Turbulency was to States Civil and Ecclesiastical Did ever these poor People whom they condemned and put to shameful death lift up a Hand against them or appear in any Turbulent Gesture towards them Were they ever found with any Carnal Weapon about them or What was their Crime saving that they warned Sinners to Repent and the Ungodly to turn from his way We appeal to the God of Heaven on their behalf whom they have Martyred for the Name of Christ That they had no other Offence to charge upon them saving their Conversations Doctrines and Practices as Saints of the Most High God and this is witness'd by many of their Neighbours though themselves have hardened their Hearts against the Reproof of God's Witness And we certainly believe it was their Malice and Envy that constrained them to pass Sentence of Death upon them and not the Equity of either just Law of God or man for they deserved not the merit of Death such was the Innocency of their Cause And they are no more safe by the taking away the Lives of our
Scriptures and this is true Christianity and the other is the way of all Apostate Christians all Imitations from the Letter without the Spirit as gave it forth for there is a great deal of difference between making a Conformity in the Imitation of a Worship and Church-Government from the Scriptures without the Spirit and between the Spirits teaching and leading into the same Truth and same Worship and Church-Government which the Scriptures speak of the one is of Christ and is in unity peace and everlasting fellowship the other is of Antichrist and is in division strife and contention so you must all wait for the Spirit of Truth that you may receive it to work in your hearts to teach you and lead you or else you will never come to true Union and everlasting Fellowship with God and one with another neither can you be of one true Faith in one true way of Worship nor in one way of Church-Government except you receive the Spirit and walk in the Spirit And these be the words of the Lord God unto you all Now as concerning the Way of Uniformity in Faith and Church-Government imposed upon Nations and Countries and Cities by cruel Laws of Kings and Rulers as hath been the practice through Christendom to cause a whole Nation and Kingdom to bow and conform to such Principles of Faith and Worship and Church-Government according to the Will and Pleasure of a King or a Ruler such Uniformity and Union and Fellowship among Christians hath not been of Christ where people have walked by Imitation and conformed to the Commands of Men in such a Faith or to such a Worship or Church-Government this hath not been of God neither could this Unity stand or remain forever but it hath perished and will perish where-ever it is and that Faith and Worship and Church-Government which is so set up and so held will never save the Soul nor comfort it but it is blasted of God Whilst a Nation or a Kingdom or a People have Uniformity or hold Faith Worship or Religion either in the ignorance of their Consciences or contrary to their Consciences by the force of mens commandments and not by the perswasion of the Spirit of God in their own Consciences such Conformity I say is of Antichrist not of the Father neither can it stand in the Day of the Lord but the Fire of his Wrath will consume it All the apostate Christians in their uniformity of Faith Worship and Church-Government which is some other way or by some other means than only by the Spirit of God is of Antichrist and will be confounded for there is no true Unity and Fellowship in the ways of God and his Truth and Worship but what is in the spirit and that Unity will stand forever for it is in God not feigned neither because of the Love and Fear of this World as the other is That Uniformity in Faith and Worship which is forced upon people is all but Hypocrisie and Deceit both to God and man and God will judge it in the Imposers and Imposed Therefore no true Unity in Faith nor Worship nor in Religion but what is in and by the Spirit of God for as Christians come to divide themselves into many Ways and into divers Sects when they went from the Spirit of God and lost it and whilst they have been without the Spirit they have remained in Division Strife and Contention about Religion so now the means and way to come into Union and Fellowship and Faith is by receiving the Spirit of God again and not any otherwise and as Christians are brought again to receive this Spirit and walk therein all Division and Strife about Religion will cease and the cursed Fruits Effects thereof will also wither and be no more but then Unity Peace Blessedness Everlasting Fellowship and Comfort with the Lord and one with another in all his Wayes will be witnessed amongst all People By a Servant of Truth E. B. The FIFTH GENERAL EPISTLE Being A Tender Salutation OF PERFECT LOVE Unto the Elect of God the Royal Seed the Saints of the Most High who have Believed the Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ and Walk in the Light that hath enlightened every man that comes into the World IN the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ blessed forever the Tender Salutation of my Immortal Life is daily abounding towards you who are the true Flock of the Father's Love and Care who hath begotten you to himself by his Word that lives forever in us and with us that ye should be a People Chosen and Elected of him unto Eternal Blessings and to be a Praise and an Honour to him throughout the World by and through the vertue of his Life and Power and in the Fruits of his Spirit brought forth by you all who are the only Children of that Birth which is only the Lord's Well Dearly Beloved My Heart at this time is filled in the Father's Love with the dear Remembrance of you whom the Lord hath gathered with his Arm of Power and in his Spirit do I desire the encrease of all Mercies and Peace and Blessings unto you that you may be Rich and Strong and Wise and Mighty through the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving daily of his Grace may ever be preserved constant and faithful in the Heavenly Calling unto the End And forasmuch as the Lord hath began his Glorious Work in the midst of you and gathered you out of the Darkness and Ignorance and Unbelief of this World where some time your Converse hath been while ye knew not the Lord and raised you up into the Light and Power and Wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ having largely tasted of the same in the Experience of his Leadings through divers Operations and Manifestations of his Spirit so that many of you have attained to a good measure of Peace and Rest with the Lord in your inward Man Dearly Beloved seeing it is thus these things the Spirit of the Father in me travelleth to bring forth unto you for the End to Comfort you and to Confirm you and to Edifie you in the saving Truths of the Gospel of Peace 1. Consider what your former Estate hath been an Estate scattered like Sheep without a Shepherd some of you dispersed into one false kind of Profession of Religion and some into another walking in such Wayes as the Lord led you not in but ye were Driven from God into the pathes of Death and Darkness and were led by blind Watch-men in the Hypocrisie and false pretences towards God Honouring Him with the Lips while the Heart was far away this was the Condition of some of you and others of you were wallowing in the open Prophaneness of the Sinful World and such was your Estate wherein you were all Strangers to God and were without him in the World and served the spirit which leadeth Captive to Destruction and in that Way you were strayed even in the
Love undefiled was your Conception begotten by the Word of immortal Life unto the Inheritance incorruptable whereof you are Heirs of the faithful Promise made free by the Son through the slaying of the enmity upon his Cross whereby you are nourished up into Immortallity to reign over Hell and Death and the Grave for evermore With thoughts of eternal Love are you remembred and read in the Lambs book of Life recorded by the eternal Spirit and of the Lord cannot be forgotten Your Mother is a Virgin unspotted and your City is new Ierusalem come down from Heaven and glorious and full of Pleasure is your Dwelling place there is no need of a candle for the Lamb is the Light thereof and the Temple therein Your God is no Image nor your Worship no Imgination nor to the great Image you do not joyn nor his power hath no dominion over you but the Yea and Amen is your Covenant and the I am whom there is none besides is your God and he that lives forever is your Rock and sure Defence and Salvation is appointed your VValls and Bulwarks Gladness is sown for you yea everlasting Mercies shall you reap and your long mourning shall be turned into everlasting Rejoycing and your present Heaviness into durable Joy your VVaters shall be sure and your Bread shall never fail your Fulness shall abound and your Plenty shall be enlarged never more to hunger nor thirst but your little Seed shall become a great Nation and the whole Earth shall be replenished thererewith and your despised Government shall rule over Kingdoms and your Laws shall all the Nations of the Earth become subject unto Ye are no part of the Image of Idolatry but your beginning is the little Stone cut out without a hand and it shall fill the Earth and become a great Mountain whereupon the Fowls of the Heaven shall be refreshed eating the flesh of Kings and Captains You are found faithful in your Tryals and the glory of the VVorld cannot steal away your Hearts you cannot be moved for your feet are set upon a Rock Satan you scorn and the glory of his Kingdom you utterly disdain upon his power you tread and your feet trample under foot his majesty and renown Your King reigns for ever and of his Government and Dominion there shall be no end but the uttermost parts of the Earth shall be given for a Possession to him his Scepter is Righteousness and his Law is Equity and his Statutes are full of Justice and Judgment And thus saith the Lord of Hosts your God and King Because you have been found faithful and have not loved your lives unto death for his Names sake and for his Glories sake but have continually abased your selves and laid down your Crowns that you might honour him therefore you will he honour and exalt and will establish your Kingdom in peace forever and all that riseth up in judgment against you shall be consounded and condemned and his Hand will be against all your Adversaries to their overthrow and dishonour everlastingly You have loved Righteousness and Judgment upon Earth and your Path hath been in Equity and you have born the Affliction and Storm with patience and have endured with joy the Burden of the Oppressor you have been tryed to the bottom and have been found Innocent and without Guile before the Throne of God clothed with the Garments of Uprightness your Light is the Candle of the Lord and your Life and Glory is the Possession of the Most High Babylon is given you for a Prey and the riches of Aegypt is given you for a Spoil and you are free-born Children of the Seed Elect the first Fruits unto God and unto the Lamb your Purchase is obtained through death and your Crown of honour is purchased through suffering and the glory of Babylon is no whit equal for thou excellest in Beauty and Vertue Whereunto shall thy Beauty be compared O thou fair and comly Virgin unto whom shall I liken thee O thou choice and free-born Daughter of Sions King thy long travel of sorrows in the womb of Anguish hath brought forth Children of a comly stature thy Babes are truly lovely upright and faithful-hearted thy Young-men are noble bold and valiant chosen of thy God and Victory is with them thy Virgins are perfect in Beauty pure and undefiled and no spot in their Garments thy Old men are lively and honourable and stedfast in the Path of Righteousness and their gravity shall be truly respected thy Body is perfect in the Lords Record and Remembrance and with an eternal Crown of infinite Glory shall the Righteous Judge honour thee because you have delighted to do his Will and have kept his Covenant undefiled which abides with you for ever sealed and signed unto you by the Spirit of Promise decreed before the World was All Nations shall call you blessed and of your fulness shall they partake Who is like unto you A People saved by the Lord elect and chosen and redeemed out of Kindreds Tongues and People and have a name better then of Sons and Daughters Praise ye the Lord and Glorifie him for evermore Young-men and Maidens Old-men and Children and all that breath Praise you the Lord for thereunto are you called and for this cause are you brought forth Clap your hands and sing for joy of heart your Redeemer is the holy One and your Maker is your Husband I know you and to you am I known and I read you within the Vail and do behold you the Train of the Most High filling his Temple Follow him forever and let his Name be testified of throughout the Earth Make War in Righteousness and prepare your selves to do his service Let not your hands be slack neither be you sloathful in our Lords Design but wound the Head of your Enemies and mannage War against Gog and Magog throughout all Generations Ride on and prosper tread down the fenced Cities and enlarge your dominion and let the Children of Strangers of the Seed of Esau be your Slaves and Bond-men and fill the Earth with your precious Seed and sow it in the morning and in the Evening with-hold not your hand though you are despised of men yet the Lord hath made you truly honorable in his Glory you appear and his Righteousness is your clothing which will never wither and though some of you for a moment suffer Bonds for his Names sake yet you are free everlasting and are not ashamed of your Testimony before the Princes and Nobles of the Earth O Sion thou art desirable because of thy Beauty and thy Dwelling-place is scituate in a very fruitful Hill and thou feedest in the Valleys of fat Pastures of eternal Pleasures where nothing that defiles can enter nor no Devourer treadeth on thy Mountain nor no Lyons Whelp treadeth in thy Path it is the Way of the Ransomed of the Lord who hath blotted out thy Transgressions never more to remember thy Sins thou Seed
of Iacob The Lord is your God for ever while you be his People Therefore walk before him in Righteousness and let his own works praise him and give him of his own and glorifie him with it eternally Be low in thy heart and be not exalted because of thy Beauty and Riches and glory not but only in the Lord Be diligent in thy mind and watch against all thy Enemies and be not of a careless heart Eat not of the Vine of Sodom nor drink not of the Cup of Whoredoms give not thy strength to Strange women nor let not thy desirable Beauty be overcome of Harlots but keep thy self undefiled and mingle not thy Seed with Strangers but be fruitful in thy pleasant Land upon thy beautiful Mountain and bring forth aboundantly unto thy God who hath turned thy Wilderness into a fruitful Field and taken away thy reproach of Barrenness in Conversation upright and blameless do thou daily appear in Praises and Honour and Fear do thou abound and let thy God be thy Teacher in his Light and Truth for evermore that thy Enemies may see and be confounded and may behold and be ashamed before thee unto whom thy Rock of defence is a stumbling Stone of Offence wherewith the Kingdoms of the Earth shall be dashed to pieces and broken as a Potters Vessel before thee Come forth in thy Beauty and appear in thy Glory to the Nations Arise arise why shouldst thou sit as alone as in obscurity and darkness undiscovered Let the Princes of the Earth see thy excellency and appear before the Nobles in thy Robes of perfect Honour wherewith thou art decked and trimed as a Bride pleasant unto thy Husband Do thou judge among the Judges and give thy counsel among the Prudent and appear in thy Authority before Kings and Princes All the Dominions of the World are not equal in Treasure and Wisdom unto thee but all the Children of Whoredoms shall see their shame and be laid naked when thou appearest in thy purity The Nations long for thee to be partakers of thy vertue therefore shew thy self and appear that the rest of thy Flock which yet remain upon the barren Mountains may come in unto thy Fold to rest under thy Shepherds Power O Sion thou art prepared of thy God to beat the Mountains to dust thou art fitted for his Service to thresh the Hills Make no tarrying but come away spread thy self into every corner of the Earth for the Upright thirst for thee aboundantly who lie under the oppression in the Land of Darkness which may be felt from whence thou art freed into the everlasting Light And why shouldst thou O Sion lie at Rest while thy own Seed the Children of thy Womb are oppressed groaning in the captivity under the Uncircumcised who have driven away thy Remnant and scattered it from thee Put on strength O Arm of the Lord for thy Heritage hath no other Helper nor none that pitieth her And shine forth thou Seed of Iacob and bring in the Kingdoms of the Gentiles to partake with thee of thy everlasting Substance and lay out thy self to gain in thy holy Seed out of the power of Aegypts King O think upon and remember thy own former Bondage while thou was thy self Captive in a strange Land and let thy Bowels be filled with compassion towards thy own Mothers Children and be not straitned in thy help and deliverance for thy God hath given thee an Instrument with Teeth to beat the Rocks to powder he is not wanting unto thee in Power and Wisdom thou chiefest Son of his Love Give up give up to obey his Voice and love not thy life unto death till the Seed of thy Inheritance and the blood of thy Chosen be avenged upon the head of Iezabel who hath slain thy elect in all Generations and nourished her self with the blood of thy Innocent Call upon thy God and awake him to Vengeance to smite and to slay thy Adversaries and to consume their Habitations from off the Earth who have been too strong for thee Why shouldst thou not come forth in the power of thy Judgments to judge the Earth in Righteousness and to exalt thy name in thy Glory which all men have despised and seen no Excellency in And thou O Sions King hast been as a Stranger and unknown in the Earth and thy Treasure hath been wasted amongst the Harlots and empty to this day hast thou returned from gathering fruit of thy Vineyard for sloathful and aboundantly idle have the Labourers been in the Harvest and it is time for thee to arise and work for thy Law hath been made void and thy Statutes and Judgments have been neglected and all the Princes of the Earth contemn thy Laws and count the Sons of thy chosen Heritage as Slaves and Bond-men and decree unrighteous Decrees and seal them in the pit of their unbelief upon the Mountains of their rebellion against thee How long Lord How long When wilt thou appear to lay their honour in the dust of confusion Is it not the fulness of thy Time which thou hast promised How long shall the Remnant of Sion sit as a Widow bemoaning her Children Thy Host and Chosen wait for commission from thee to do thy Will that thou who art our God and our King our Judge and our Law-giver whom our souls have chosen may forever be exalted in thy Majesty and Throne of Justice and Judgment and thy Camp wait to see the honour of Kings and Princes overthrown by thee and thy Dominion set to rule over their heads that all Nations and Kingdoms may become subject unto thee and the Kingdoms of this World may become the Kingdom of thy Son forever and evermore and saith my Soul Come Lord Iesus come quickly By one whose name is truly known by the Children of the same Birth but unknown to the World though by is called EDWARD BURROUGH A DESCRIPTION OF THE State and Condition Of all Mankind upon the face of the whole Earth And a Discovery unto all shewing what man was in his Creation before Transgression and what he is in Transgression how he is become a degenerate Plant bringing forth cursed fruit to the grieving of the good Husband-man who is thereby provoked continually against the Works of his own hands to destroy that which he hath made because it is defiled through mans Transgression Also the Way of Restoration of Salvation Redemption and of Life Eternal is here declared unto all the Sons and Daughters of Adam in the whole world that all may come to the knowledge of the Creator and to have fellowship with him again from whom all the Children of men are separated in the state of enmity and are ignorant of him and drove from his presence This is to go abroad into all the Earth through the whole world as a Call and Visitation unto all mankind that they may hear and consider their condition and may return from whence they are fallen and may be
and what is that which chains him and whether art thou come to one of the dayes of the Thousand years yea or nay Quer. 12. Whether dost thou know any Christ or preach or profess any Christ who hath not lighned every man that comes into the World with the true Light of Life or of Condemnation and is he not a Deceiver that exhorts People for Salvation to any other thing then the Light of Christ yea or nay And how hath Christ enlightened every man in the World if not within him These Queries with some more in my Answer I put forth to thee that Truth may be cleared from all Slanders of envious tongues and shall leave my work and thine to be weighed in the Ballance of Righteousness to be considered of by every honest heart to whom they do come and God shall be the chief Judge betwixt us in his day A Postscript ANd now seeing we have taken in hand to discover and lay open the deceits of Deceivers that all men may come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved and led out of the snare of the crafty Fowlers these things further we shall add which are contrary to the Doctrine of the true Gospel First Iohn Burton said in a Discourse with some Friends That Christ had two Bodies and one of the Bodies was out of the sight of the Saints Secondly Iohn Bunyon said Christ's second coming 〈◊〉 not his coming in Spirit for his coming in Spirit is no comming Thirdly Iohn Bunyon said upon Discourse Of the Word of God being in the heart in the presence of divers People That there was nothing in him nor in any man to be taken notice of Fourthly One of their Brethren said That Christ and the Word of Life were two things Fifthly Some others of the same Members in the Market of Bedford said That they scorned that Light which we meaning the Quakers speak of which is the Light that convinceth of sin which Light they confessed to be in every man in the same discourse which was with some of them called Quakers Much need not be said as to the laying open of these particulars for by the words themselves the wickedness and ignorance of the broachers of them are fully seen to every one who is spiritual and to them I leave this to be judged onely this I shall further say They have not spoken onely that which cannot be proved by Scriptures but some of the particulars are also contrary to the Scriptures and are damnable Doctrines of Devils as might be largly laid open in the third and fifth particulars But I delight not in raking in such unsavory Stuff but do trample over it and return it to the Authors Having summed up their Wickedness into a Sum I leave it for to be weighed by themselves and others and if any question the truth of the particulars charged against them sufficient Testimony may be given by such who were â—aâ— Witnesses By one who hath chosen rather to suffer affliction with the despised People then to enjoy the pleasures of sin EDWARD BURROUGH Stablishing Against Quaking Thrown down and overturned and no Defence found against it Or an Answer to a Book called Stablishing against Quaking put forth by Giles Firmin a professed Minister in Essex WHEREIN His many Lyes and Slanders are rebuked and witnessed against and all his thirteen Arguments confounded and clearly confuted and he manifestly proved a false Prophet in several particulars as in his Call and Maintenance And while he hath thought to discover the Prince of Darkness in others he is found secretly lodging in his own house and powerfully working in him and is found truly guilty himself of that whereof he falsly accuseth the innocent People called Quakers who are Gods faithful Witnesses against this subtil Generation though for a moment they are a Prey to the seed of Evil-doers and a Reproach to lying Tongues THe Lord from Heaven in this his day is risen and come forth to make War with all his Enemies being the fulness of time wherein his purpose is to cut down and destroy the man of sin by the power of his coming and he must reign whose right it is and of his Kingdom and Government there shall be no end and Nations shall flow into it and Kings shall lay down their Crowns at his Feet whom God hath appointed to exalt in his Throne of Righteousness and Judgment and the war is proclaimed in his Name the Standard of the Lord is set up before him to gather together the Nations to fan them and to try them and to search and to seek out his own where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day and a prey made upon them by every wild Beast of the Mountain But the Lord hath opened his Ear to the cry of the Just and his Bowels are filled with compassion towards the Seed of his Inheritance whom no man regardeth to take pity upon but are altogether hardened in their iniquities and become equal with the Oppressor therefore in Judgment is the Lord appearing to work the purpose of his Heart and to fulfil the intent of his Mind and will not spare to punish the transgression of the wicked upon his own head and is already clothed with the Garments of Vengeance and clad with Zeal as with a Cloak and hath proclaimed Indignation in the face of the Ungodly and his Enemies against whom his wrath is kindled is joyning battel with him and Gog and Magog is prepared to resist the day of Recompence and the whole body of Darkness from the head to the tayl is risen to gainsay the Lord and strive in confusion together and their armour clashes one against another and they over-run each other through the confusion of their blind understanding and they will not be perswaded unto Reconciliation but goes on in rebellion till they be left without strength as a wounded man who shall never more vise again nor recover his deadly blow for the strength of Aegypt shall fail in the midst of it and the Warrier finds not his hand in the day of his necessity but terror is upon his loynes and fearfulness in his heart and the wrath remains upon him and wisdom is become madness and prudence is hid and the wise men of this Generation are become foolish What do ye mean Ye that have gathered your selves together all ye Sects and Opinions and ye that profess the Law of Righteousness Is your Religion turned into Envy and Wrath whereby you would slay the Upright You have made Lyes your refuge as your last defence to cover your selves from the Storm but your City is besieged and fear shall compass you about and the refuge of Lyes shall be swept away For in vain and to no purpose do men strive against the Lord and without effect as to that which they intend do they gather themselves together and band themselves in deaths covenant to war against the Lamb for the
untruth of us and I say to all who read this and thine let them observe with an impartial mind and try all things and hold fast that which is good and let not the envy of the wicked one so prevail over you but search all things with the Light of God according to the Scriptures before you judge any thing least your zeal in your hasty untamed minds and spirits betray the honesty which may in sobriety be instructed and you informed the Way of Salvation which now the Lord of Heaven is discovering to them that seek him in truth and sincerity And because the Purpose of the Lord is to reveal his Glory and to discover and condemn the secrets of the well-savoured Harlot who hath sat long as a Queen in the Earth deceiving Kingdoms and Peoples therefore also is Herod and Pilate joyned together and Gog and Magog is risen in their Power to resist the Counsel of God and to disannul his Purpose but in vain do they strive and weary themselves to no advantage for Sions King shall reign and Ierusalem shall be built and become the praise of the whole Earth and Nations shall partake of her Glory and the Armies of Alients shall flee and be discomforted And all the Lyes and Slanders of the wicked one shall return upon his own head and the pit which the wicked digs for the Righteous it shall swallow the wicked up and his foot shall not escape the snare so that I testifie unto all People this one thing concerning Jesus Him hath God given a Light into the World a Judge and a Reprover of all the works of wickedness and with his Light every man that cometh into the World is lightened with the Light of Life all that believe and with the Light of Condemnation all that believe not If you every one turn in your minds from the vanities of the World unto the measure of the Light given you a present Teacher in the Wayes of God this Light will be in you to direct your steps in Righteousness and Peace for as it is written The Lord is the Teacher of all his People and all the false Teachers and Hirelings will be denyed and the Scribes and Pharisees and their leaven will be born witness against and the old man with all his deeds will be put off and the new Man will be put on which is the Likeness and Image of the Father and then will you witness the Life of the Scriptures and in you they will be fulfilled by the Spirit that gave them forth which Spirit all the Sons of God are guided by and this Spirit the World cannot receive no further then to be reproved by it of sin and condemned for unrighteousness and to every one who hath in the least received a measure of the Spirit and is guided by it to them only I leave what I have written and the Writing answered to be judged as in the sight of God with an impartial mind I have not striven for mastery through subtilty and deceitful speeches but in innocency I have written to vindicate the Lord's Truth from the Lyes of his Enemies who make iâ— their work 〈◊〉 render the Way of Truth odious lest their deceits should be laid open and they judged And this same Giles Firmin hath done his part sufficiently herein who hath not ceased lying and slandering from the beginning to the end of his Book unto which I might have written much more yet desire not to multiply words with such as are impudent and cannot 〈◊〉 when they have done evil but to the main Particulars a few to each of them I have written passing by much unsavory stuff proceeding from a light vain spirit as is easily discernd by the Children of Light who hath made both Foundations and Arguments very Lyes and hath laid things to our charge which we never knew nor by word or Writing was ever declared but thou Giles F. hast filled up thy measure of wickedness according to thy ability hadst thou been more subtil thy work would have been more deceitful Therefore repeat of thy wickeness and go not on in thy perverse way of uncleanness lest thou be cut off with an utter destruction and repentance be hid from thy eyes And to the foolish babling story in the end of thy Book I do Answer thou sayst a Minister now in Essex gave the Narration c. but hast deceitfully concealed his name and so he and thou well may as being ashamed thereof in laying slanders too foolish to subscribe his name unto Yet is Thomas Tillam known his name and nature whose Testimony is like thine and a Minister like unto thee who was and is known in all the Parts about Hexam to be a deceitful Fellow one who preached for Hire and sought for his Gain from his Quarter as is well known who also made merchandise of souls through coveteousness with feigned words And though T. Tillam be or was an Anabaptist and contrary to thee in his Opinion yet if he will but give a bubling Slander against us thou wilt belieive him and call him a Minister but his wickedness is well noted who for wickedness and filthiness was cast out and denied of the Assembly whereof he was the Pastor and stands this day as one cast off by them who are a little more honest than thou and he though yet Strangers to us and Opposers of us And now in that your deceits are discovered you flee to any bubble for a strength and make Lyes your refuge and yet justifie your selves and condemn the Innocent And thy last Story is an abominable Lye and a man that hath honesty in either hand or heart would be ashamed to utter such things but in plainness of speech thy Lyes and Slanders I do deny and unto thee I do return them again with true Judgment upon them and dare not flatter thee nor speak peace unto the wicked but to the Light of God in all Consciences I do stand clear by it to be justified when all the wicked are condemned By a Friend to Israels Common-wealth called EDWARD BURROUGH THE Crying Sins Reproved WHEREOF The Rulers and People of England are highly guilty WITH Additions to their own Confessions held forth by them in a Declaration of their own bearing date Septem 23. wherein these three Nations are called to a Day of solemn Fasting c. With meek Exhortations to this present Parliament that they take heed to themselves lest they make the Guiltless to suffer upon the account of Blasphemy or Error c. while the Evil-Doers go free and the false Prophets defended HOw long how long shall Gods righteous soul be grieved and his 〈◊〉 Spirit vexed with the vain oblations and offerings of them whose hearâ—â— are far from him even after their Idols and in their covetousness and earthly honours of this vain world while they honor with their lips and profess love with their mouths in outward observances How long Lord shall thy
the iniquities which the rest love to drink in and though your power be shorter and your vote lower then the uprightness of your hearts desire yet unto God be faithfull in bearing your Testimony for him and against all that which with the Light of Jesus yoâ— see to be contrary to him and be awaked unto Righteousness Judgment and Mercy the Light is springing over your heads and the day of the Lord is dawning out of darkness and a Seed is sown in your Dominions which cannot be rooâ—ed out till it have overspread the Earth with the precious Fruit thereof and though it be striven against to be plucked up yet shall the Branch and Root thereof be everlastingly renowned for it is of the true Jew and he that falls before it shall never more rise up again And this is by a true Lover of your Souls in faithfulness to God given forth 〈◊〉 your sakes who fear the Lord. EDWARD BURROUCH A Measure of the Times AND A Full and Clear Description of the Signs of the Times and of the Changing of the Times and of the Reign of Antichrist who hath long reigned and of his down-fall which is at hand And of the Kingdom of Christ which is now setting up in the Earth Shewing unto all People in all Nation what the State of things have been in Ages past and what the State of thing are at this present day and also what shall be the State of things hereafter which suddenly cometh to pass the time is at hand for times are changing and renewing and the Kingdoms of this World shall be translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God And also here is manifest concerning Teachers of this Age and the Root from whence they sprang who are manifest to be of that stock of false Prophets which Christ prophesied of should come and which the Apostles saw was coming in their dayes and how that the night of darkness hath been upon all for many Generations and how that the Beast hath reigned over Nations and Kingdoms and his false Prophet hath deceived the whole World who have all worshiped the Beast and wandred after him who have warred against the Saints and overcome them and the whole Earth hath been made drunk with the Abominations And also The Restauration is described which shortly cometh wherein Christ shall Reign whose right it is and shall change Laws and Decrees and the Lamb shall be the Light of all Nations and there shall be no need of any other light when the Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of Christ and he alone shall bear the Government and no other King for he shall rule all Nations with his Iron Rod and the Kingdoms of the Beast shall be overthrown and his power subdued and they that have given their power to him shall be ashamed and all the Kings of the Earth shall lay their Crownâ— down at the feet of the Lamb and the numberless number of the Saints is gathering and the Dominion shall be in their hands and their King shall possess the uttermost parts of the Earth THe Lord hath opened my heart to declare and the words of my mouth shall be the words of Truth and of a good Understanding to every one who hath an ear to hear whose ear the Lord hath opened to hear and understand things of old and the state of things as they have been in Ages and Generations past and as now the state of things are at this day Hearken and consider and let your ears be open to Instruction For the Word of the Lord is towards you that your hearts might understand the things that belong to your Peace now in your dayes before the time come that they be hiâ— from your eyes and your eyes be darkened never more to perceive but you leâ—â— to perish and to dye with the Uncircumcised Behold and give ear ye Inhabitants of the World see and consider in what state you are fallen even in a time of Darkness and Apostacy wherein thick Darkness covered all the World and a vail of Ignorance the faces of all People Death hath reigned King over all and the Cloud of thick Blindness hath lain on the hearts of all men O how hath Darkness Blindness and Ignorance covered all men even as a Cloak and a Garment How hath the Eye been blinded the Ear stopped and the Heart hardened So that the Lord God and his Way his Truth and Salvation hath not been manifestly known heard not selt nor witnessed for Ages and Generation the words thereof have been professed but the Life and Power thereof hath not been enjoyeâ— But men have been deceived with the Form of Godliness without the Power and cheated with a likeness of things without Life and have sought the living among the dead and worshipped Idols which have been without sence and understanding and with lying imaginations and feigned likenesses hath the carnal part which ruled in People above the Seed of God been fed and with shadows and outward appearances and the soul hath been starved Alas alas wo is me because of these things my heart within me is broken and I am perplexed The shadow of Death hath been the lodging Place of all People and the vail of Ignorance hath been a Covering and the darkness of Heart hath been followed for a Law and a blind Understanding hath been the Guide 〈◊〉 Ordinances and Statutes and Death in the beastly power hath ruled as King in all the Dominions of the Earth and in all mens hearts and men have been without the Wisdom of God even every eye blind and every ear deaf and â—…ry tongue dumb and every heart corrupt and void of understanding and every 〈◊〉 lame and all men have been altogether imperfect for the living God hath beeâ— as a Stranger unto the Children of men less known by men then the Ownâ—… the Ox and less perceived then the Crib by the Ass and all flesh hath corrupted its way before Lord. Wo is me when I consider how man who was planted with the chosen 〈◊〉 even God's Image and was a noble Plant is degenerated into the Plant of a strange Vine unto God and bring forth wild Grapes and sower Grapes wâ—…d the Lord's Soul loathes and thus hath the Vineyard and the Plants thâ—… rewarded the Husbandman with Fruit of a bitter taste and with the reward corruption And man is condemned in his transgression for want of the Kâ—…ledge of God more then the Ox and the Ass. Pride Covetousness Lust and Envy Backbiting Lying Drunkenness Wâ—…dom Theft Murder and all manner of evil and sin against God more theâ— can be expressed is abounding and superabounding among men in this Geâ—eration Iniquity is grown to the full the measure is up and the number oâ— transgression is sealed that the Lord may arise who hath been pressed as a Caâ—… with Sheaves and now is the Lord arising and he hath said Ah I will easeâ—… of my Adversaries and be
shall the Saints possess and the Gentiles shall be driven out of it according as Iohn said who wrote the last of any of the Apostles and gave fulâ— testimony of these things which I have declared â—f viz. of an Apostacy and reign of the Beast and false Prophet and a Subversion from the Wayes of God and this hath been and is come to pass Also â—e prophesied of the gaining of the holy City in again to the Saints and of a restoration wherein new Ierusalem should be made manifest from Heaven and shoâ—â—d again be adorned as a Bride for her Husband and the Saints should inhabit it and the Tabernacle of God should be with men upon Earth and the Lord would dwell for â—â—er with his People and this day is approaching nigh at the dooâ— for the Fig-tree hath blossomed and we know it is near at hand the Summer wherein the Glory of the Lord shall be revealed unto all Nations and they shall 〈◊〉 that he is the Lord God Almighty that will take Vengeance upon the great Whâ—â—e who hath made all drunk with the Wine of her Fornication And now after the long night of Apostacy and Darkness which hath been vpâ—â— the face of the Earth is the Lord appearing and his Day dawning and his Ligâ—â— breaking forth as the Glory of the Morning and the Kingdom of God is revealed and his Dominion is setting up after the long reign of the Beast who haâ—… had his Power and his Seat and his great Authority from the Dragon after whâ—… the whole World hath wandred and him hath worshiped who hath been saying wâ—… is like unto the Beast who is able to make war with him His mouth for many Generations hath been opened in blasphemy against God and his Name and he 〈◊〉 made war with the Saints and his power hath overcome them Mark overcoâ— them and then himself hath reigned and the reign of Christ for many years 〈◊〉 not been known but over Kindreds Tongues and Nations hath the Beast had poâ—er and over them hath reigned for many Ages and all that dwell upon the Fâ—… have worshipped him whose Names are not written in the Book of Life 〈◊〉 Earth hath been caused and them that dwell therein to worship the Beast and 〈◊〉 his Wonders he deceiveth them that dwell on Earth and as many as would 〈◊〉 worship the Beast and his Image the Beast hath had power that they should beâ—…led and many hath he killed who would not worship him and are persented and both Small and Great Rich and Poor Free and Bond have recâ—…ed the Mark of the Beast and the number of his Name which is the number 〈◊〉 a man he that reads let him understand these things have come to pass 〈◊〉 been fulfilled since the Apostles dayes in this night wherein no man could worâ— which Christ said would come but now the forty and two Monthes which tiâ—… the Beast and his Image was to continue and so long was his Power to remain 〈◊〉 make war and to overcome the Saints I say the time is well nigh expired and finished and the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is risen to make war against the Beast and his Image who hath reigned over the Kingdoms of the World and the Judgment of the great Wâ—… cometh who hath sitten upon the Beast and drunk the Blood of the Saints 〈◊〉 with whom the Kings of the Earth since the dayes of the Apostles have comâ—…ted Fornication and all the Inhabiters of the Earth have been made drunk 〈◊〉 the Wine of her Fornication and all the Merchants of the Earth have been maâ—e rich through the aboundance of her delicacies and she hath sat upon the scarâ—… coloured Beast and her Cup in her hand hath been full of abominations and 〈◊〉 ness of her fornication and her name is Mistery Babylon the Mother of Harlâ—… and all the Kings of the Earth have given their power unto the Beast and commited Fornication with the great Whore and she hath sat upon people multitudes 〈◊〉 nations and tongues since the Apostles days and even some who have hated tâ—e Whore and fulfilled the Will of God and made the Whore naked yet they giâ—… their power also to the Beast until the Word of God be fulfilled Consider these things you that have an ear to hear but now the mighty Day 〈◊〉 the Lord and the Judgment of the Whore is approaching wherein she shal be rewarded according to her Works and doubble shall be given into 〈◊〉 Cup and as she hath loved blood so shall blood be given her to drink and the Merchants of the Earth shall lament her whom they have waxed rich by who 〈◊〉 glorified her self and lived deliciouslly and hath said in her heart I sit as a Queen and am no Widow and shall not see sorrow but now the one day is dawning wherein her Plagues shall come death and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burned with fire for strong is the Lord that is risen to judge her and the Kings and Merchants and all the Inhabiters of the Earth shall lament her and cry Alas alas and now are they beginning for the hour is come that her judgement cometh and all her Merchants who have trafficked with the Souls of men shall partake of her Plagues who have partaked of her sins and lived deliciously with her and the fruits that her Soul lusteth after shall depart from her and all things that are dainty and goodly shall depart from her and she shall find them no more at all when her judgement cometh and in an hour all her riches are come to nought and all her Merchants at Land and Sea shall lament her even her that hath ruled over Nations and sat as a Queen for many Generations ever since the dayes of the Apostles until this day yea all that have wandred after her even the whole World shall lament and bemoan her and such as have served her and made Slaves of the Souls of men by Merchandize and Traffick shall bewail her and their gain shall cease for ever for in one hour shall she be made desolate and her glory shall fade and her beauty shall wither and the Beast that hath carried her shall utterly faint and the false Prophet that hath wrought Miracles in their sight and deceived the Nations shall be cast into a bed of torment with her and the Beast and the false Prophet shall be taken and cast alive into the Lake of Fire to be tormented for ever day and night World without end and the Whore in whom hath been found the Blood of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth and the Beast who hath caused all that dwell on the Earth to worship him and his Image for many Ages and the false Prophet who hath deceived the whole world and many Nations and made them subject unto the power of the Beast by his Miracles which he hath wrought in the
holy City shall be beautified and is adorning and preparing for the Saints and their King to inherit the Lamb is the Light of the City and the Temple therein and all Nations and People that are saved shall walk in the Light of the Lamb for he hath lighted every man that comes into the World with the Light of Salvation in all that do receive him and Darkness shall flee away the Sâ—â— is risen and Praise and Honour and Glory and Dominion shall be given to the Lamb who shall reign over Nations and his Saints shall see him and his Name shall be in their Fore-heads and there shall be no Night but Light and Glory and the Kings of the Earth shall bring in their glory and honour iâ—… it and the Gates stand open and are not shut every one that thirsteth let him come the cry is unto all and yet nothing that defileth shall enter these are the faithful Sayings of the Lord who is true and must not long be sealed fâ—r the time is at hand and all men shall read and all that keep the Commandmeâ—… of God shall have right to the Tree of Life and blessed are they they shall be healed though now they suffer all manner of evil for the Name of Iesus by the Beast and under his Power by them that worship him who must fulfil wickedness by persecuting the Innocent till the Lord be raised out of his Habitation and the dominion shall be given to them and they shall have power to bind Kingâ— in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron this is their Honour and this iâ— their Dignity and they shall rejoyce for ever and ever and shall glory in the Lord and not in this World and this shall come to pass as the Lord hath said Wherefore all Nations and People Arise arise and be awakened Prepare prepare and make way for the Lord be removed ye Mountains and throw down ye Hills and hewn down ye sturdy Oakes and cut up ye tall Cedars Make way and prepare the Path for the Holy One who is comming to rule wâ—… his Iron Rod and will dash you all to peices Be afraid and tremble thou Beâ—… that hast long reigned over the Earth and all thy false Prophets and Worshippers be confounded at this and bow and tremble at the remembrance hereof 〈◊〉 whom you have hated and crucified and his Saints whom you have persecuted shall come to reign over you all and to him whom you have set at nought 〈◊〉 you be subject to and ruled by to all your sorrow for behold the Lord cometh with his numberless number of Saints And this is a warning to all Nations and People upon Earth Times and Laws must be changed among you Governments and Orders must be changed Unjustice and Oppression shall be removed and every Yoak and Burden shall be taken off from the neck of the Poor true Judgment and Justice Mercy and Truth Peace and Righteousness shall be exalted and all the Nations shall have Judges as at the first and Councellors as at the beginning and the Poor shall rejoyce when true Judgment and Justice reigneth and the false Prophet subdued And this is a Warning to you all that you may hear and consider the Lamb who hath been slain who is risen to reign who is the Prince of Peace of whose Government there shall be no end even he hath lighted all man-kind on the face of the Earth the Light is the Eye which will let you see all this and will bring you to the fulfilling of it ' aâ—â— to the good Understanding and it shall evidencâ—… the truth of this even the Light of Christ in all men which is given to guide 〈◊〉 the Way of Peace THe Kingdom of Christ is setting up and it is not of this World neither shall be exalted nor advanced by worldly pollicy and worldly wisdom nor by carnal weapons nor by the multitude of an host of men its true the Son of God is gone forth conquering and and to conquer and the Spirit of his Mouth and the Word of his Power shall get himself the Victory his own Arm alone without the help of another shall work the Conquest and his Kingdom shall be set up within every particular of his Subjects for none can know him reign without them unto their Salvation till they know him to reign first within for that which opposeth the Kingdom of Christ and the setting of it up is within every man and must be subdued within where it hath ruled and the Enemy of Christ's Kingdom which hath lodged within must first be subdued before there be dominion over his Enemies without This is the Word of the Lord to all People for he that pursues his Enemy without and leaves him in his own house is foolish and out of the way and shall be overcome of his Enemy and shall not overcome him therefore ye that are waiting for the Kingdom of Christ be awakened and seek for it where it is to be found not without you first but first within strive not to obtain it with your carnal Weapons but take the Weapons which are Spiritual which only will overcome be not deceived for through suffering must the Kingdom of Christ be set up and not by rebellion through Crafts and Plots and secret Pollicy and turbulent Arisings nor Strife in the nature of Enmity by these means shall the Kingdom of Christ never be advanced And this is the Word of the Lord and our Testimony which we give of the Kingdom of Christ who is indeed arisen to make war against all his Enemies and they that follow him are called and faithful and chosen whose Weapons are Spiritual and mighty through God and reacheth to the killing and subduing of all flesh and he must war till all his Enemies be subdued and must reign over all his Enemies till the Kingdom be delivered to the Father where he shall be all in all The 3d Moneth 1657. All ye Inhabitants of the Earth in all Nations through the World Hearken and give ear the Word of the Lord God that made Heaven and Earth is towards you He is coming to set up his Kingdom and his Dominion which never shall have end and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and shall become the Kingdoms of the Son of God ALl ye Kings and Princes and Rulers through the whole World the Lord is coming up with his mighty Host against you all he who will fan you and sift you and try you and search you out for his Fan is in his Hand and he will throughly purge you and you shall all know that the Kingdom of the Most High rules in the Kingdoms of men all your Glory shall fade away all your Majesty and Honour and Dignities and Dominions shall come to an end all your strength is but as a Straw all your treasure as a Thing of nought all your glory as a fading Leaf in the Presence of the Lord God that made
Heaven and Earth all Nations upon Earth are but as the drop of a Bucket before him and the hearts of all men are in his Hand and by him Kings rule and the Princes of the Earth are at his disposure and you are all weighed in the Ballance of Equity and found too light before the Lord for all flesh hath corrupted its way before him Be awakenened ye that have long slept in Darkness and been at ease in the flesh ye that have had peace in this World and pleasure in the vanity thereof the Lord is coming to make war against you his Trumpet hath sounded and his Sons and Daughters are gone forth to bear witness of his Majesty and Power and Dominion and the Lord hath spoken Who can but prophesie he hath given the Word and many are they that publish it Let your ears be open to Instruction and kick not against the Lord neither harden your hearts against him but make way for him and prepare his Path for he cometh to judge the World in Righteousness and the People with equity and the Testimony of the Light of Jesus in you all shall witness for him your princely Powers must become subject to the Power of the Kingdom of the Most High and your glory must be vailed and darkned before the Glory which â—he Lord is causing to shine forth and we the Servants of the Most High do give you warning of the day of your Visitation which is upon you and all the World for the Lord is now risen who hath long winked at the time of great ignorance but now â—e warns you all to repent therefore bow down ye Stiff-necked and tremble ye Stout-hearted and be abased ye Lofty-looks our King is above you all our dominion is over you all and the line of true Judgment are you all measured with and your wayes are not found perfect in the Sight of the Lord nor your hearts right before him his Kingdom hath not been known in your dominions neither hath his Laws and his Judgments born rule but you have every one been doing that which is right in the sight of your own eyes and the counsels of your hearts have been nought but vanity before the Lord Vain-glory hath abounded among you which the the Lord's Soul hath been burdened by the honours and pleasures of the flesh have been your delight and strife and enmity hath been among you and wars and quarreling and fighting one against another and you have rejoyced in the overthrow one of another and in destroying one another and you have taken pleasure in gaining one anothers dominions you have striven who should have been the greatest and greatly oppressed the Poor you have exalted your selves one against another and drawn up your Armies one in defiance of another and the blood of Thousands have been shed to satisfie the humours of your proud hearts all this hath been evil in the Sight of the Lord and his Spirit hath been grieved and his Soul vexed by all this and he hath forborn till he hath been weary for he hath been dishonoured by all this and his Law hath not born rule and his Judgments have had no place you have been cruel-hearted one towards another and merciless and without pitty and ouy have not done to others as you would be done unto but you have rendred evil for evil and sought occasions of evil one against another and vexed one another through the pride of your hearts therefore now is the Lord risen to make war against you all and to dash you to pieces the Feller comes up amongst you he that will not spare to slay and to devour who will not be afraid of your lofty looks he will spoil you of your Treasure and lay waste your strength all ye Kingdoms of the Earth and your gathering together against him is but as Briers and thorns for he will exalt his own Kingdom over you all and all ye Kings of the Earth shall know that the Kingdom of the most high must rule in your Kingdoms and your Laws shall be changed and the poor shall no more be oppressed for he is come thâ—t proclaims liberty unto the Captives who will remove oppression far away who will change Times and Worships and Ordinances and there shall be no Law but the Law of God nor no light but of the Lamb nor no worship but the Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth for all your Worships which the Nations are full of is nought but vanity and a lye immitations and superstitions brought forth in hypocrisie and not in an upright heart vanity of vanities have abounded both in civil and spiritual affairs The root in which you stand is wholly corrupted and no good fruit springs from it but cursed fruit which must be 〈◊〉 down and cast into the fire ye have been evil and could not bring forth any good you are corrupted and your fruit is of a bitter taste a day of sorrow of lamentation and misery is coming upon you all ye that have been high and lofty and stouthearted fearfulness shall surprise you and the terror of the Lord of Hosts shall compass you about I am moved to salute you all with this as a warning and when it comes to pass remember you have been told ye that know not the Kingdom of the most High ruling men but are saying in your hearts this hath my hand done in a moment shall you be smitten and know there is one above you which must rule for it is his right to rule over all Nations and there shall be no King but Jesus thâ— Aâ—oinâ—eâ— oâ— God â—oâ—â—o Government but the Government of the Lamb there shall be no more war but war against the Dragon who hath stood to devour the Man-child which is now bringing forth and he must rule with his Iron Rod and shall subdue all under his feet We whom God hath warned cannot but warn you of these things which 〈◊〉 come to pass he is coming to separate between the Just and the unjust he will gather from among you that the wicked may be consumed from off the face of the Earth All you Rulers in the World I warn you all take heed how you persecute such as comes to warn you who brings this Message to you lest you add sin to sin till there be no place found for repentance for ye shall all know our God is the true God that made Heaven and Earth before whose presence all â—â—esh must come to Judgment By one who hath measured the Times who is come to the Day that hath made all Things mâ—…ifest EDWARD BURROUCH A General Epistle and Greeting OF THE Fathers Love tâ— all the SAINTS Called and chosen to faithfulness in Christ Jesus the Light of the World in which they believing and their faith standing in his Power many suffer for his Name sake And this is to all such as are found worthy to suffer and is an Exhortation to the strengthning of their
that believe and through the word of Life are they handled tasted seen and felt near at hand in power and not in words onely Many professes them in words and what others enjoyed of these things but have not felt in themselves the working of the eternall Spirit neither have the witness in themselves of being restored to God again and of being redeemed by him from under the Devils power neither are saved by Christ from sin and transgression and so are not nor cannot be saved from condemnation and wrath for who abide in their sins and in the state unreconciled to God hath not any part or portion in these things which belongs to their peace and without the knowledge of which by the working of the eternal Spirit all mankind is everlastingly miserable CHAP. VII Concering true Religion and the true Worship of the true God this Testimony I give unto the whole World THis is true Religion to be kept pure and clean from all evil and from all that which would defile in the sight of the Lord and to walk in his fear in all things this is Religion to do good and to do no evil and to speak the truth and to do the truth in all things and to do unto all men as a man would be done unto and to love God withall the heart and the neighbour as self and not to love the world and ways and pleasures of it nor to use deceit in words or actions this is true Religion and the true Worship of God to be led with his Spirit in all things and to be guided in the truth at all times on all occasions this is acceptable and well pleasing unto God above all words and outward conformity and set times and days and observances for the Worship of God is not in these things but is without respect of days places or things this Religion and Worship stands in Christ Jesus the second Adam who hath lighted every man that comes into the World that all men through him might believe and by him have their consciences purely exercised towards God and towards man in all things whatsoever and this is our Religion and Worship of the True God he that can receive it let him CHAP. VIII Concerning Justification and Sanctification this testimony 〈◊〉 give unto all People JUstification is freely by Jesus Christ in the sight of the Father and not by the works of mans own righteousness and such as are taught by Christ and guided by him in all the ways of truth and righteousness are justified by him and none else not in any word or work whatsoever but in what they are led to fulfil by him and it is the new man that is justified and not the old he that is born of God and none that are born of the flesh such cannot please God neither can such be justified by him for they are not taught of him nor saved nor restored nor redeemed and therefore are not justified nor cleared from condemnation in the sight of the Lord but who lives in iniquity and sin and the wayes and works of the World which are evil by Christ Jesus are condemned and not justified though in words they profess him yet of justification by him they have no part and sanctification is by the working of the eternal Spiri◠in the heart of the Creature which purgeth out and taketh away all unrighteousness and all the works and fruits of darkness it witnesseth against and witnesseth unto Jesus who takes away all sin and destroyes the works of the Devil that man may be holy and pure in the sight of his Maker and every one that hath the witness of his justification hath the operation by the eternal Spirit of sanctification and all that receives Christ Jesus who hath lighted every man that cometh into the World receiveth sanctification and justification by him and he unto us is made so of the Father he that can receive it le◠him CHAP. IX Concerning the Kingdom of Christ and how it is to be set up this testimony I give unto all the World THE Kingdom of God and of his Son is not of this World but is fro◠above and stands in righteousness and in truth in mercy and in peace i◠true judgement and justice and this Dominion is from everlasting to everlasting and it reacheth beyond all the World and its Government is love and unity and everlasting peace and is perfect liberty to the Just and bindeth and chaineth the Unjust in it there is on oppression but perfect freedom from all unrighteousness and it consists not in word but in power to the bringing down of the Kingdom of the Devil and to the breaking off the bonds of all injustice and all ungodliness which is the Kingdom of Satan which hath long ruled i◠the World that Kingdom whereof Christ is King which stands in Righteousness no unclean thing can have any part therein and this we believe it shall be set up and advanced in the earth but not by might of man or arm of flesh nor the multitude of an host neither by policy nor craft nor by revenge but by the arm of the Lord alone through the suffering and patience of his people and by faithful witness bearing unto Jesus Christ by doing and by suffering by doing his Will in all things in a pure Life and Conversation and upright walkking in the sight of the Lord and by patient suffering under the injustice and oppression of men and of their unjust Government and Laws till they be overturned and confounded and further we give testimony that suffring in patience under the cruelty and oppression of the Devils government and kingdom more reaches to overthrow them than the rising to rebel in any way of outward offence toward them or defence from them and the Kingdom of Christ is near to come and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and none shall have any part therein but they that are redeemed out of kindreds tongues and people this we believe he that can receive it let him CHAP. X. Concerning Governours and Governments and Subjection to them this testimony I give to the World GOvernours Rulers and Magistrates we own and do respect in the Lord and yet cannot respect any mans person whatsoever such as be a terrour to all evil in their Government and that fears God and hates covetousness and delights in Equity in Justice and true Judgement and gives diligent heed to try the cause of the poor and will judge justly without respect of men who justifies the good and gives praise to the Well-doer such Government and Governours we reverence where Sin and Iniquity is kept under Drunkenness Swearing Murther Quarrelling and all the ways and works of the flesh are terrified and a Wel-doer praised and justified this Goverment of men reaches to the witness of God in every man and that answers to the justice and righteousness of all such Governours and Government and these witness that
do God service that kills you 〈◊〉 casts you from among them and the Devil shall cast some of you into prison And thâ—… things you have done and fullfilled Christs words against your selves for 〈◊〉 witness against you and to shew that you are Enemies to Christ and to his Kingdom and that you will not have him to reign as I have said Therefore whâ—… he reigneth he shall say Bring hither those mine Enemies and slay them before me O! what will the just Judge of true Judgment the God of Heaven and Earth render unto you when he ariseth to plead the cause of the poor and needy and to deliver his Inheritance from under your oppression into perfect freedom What account will you give in that day when he brings swift destruction upon you And wherewith will you answer him when the secrets of your hearts are made manifest and when the true witness in you all is awakened which will bring to your remembrance all your cruel and unjust dealing and all your bitter and hard speeches which in your envy you have brought forth against the Lord and against his people What will be done to you his Enemies when Christ Jesus whom you have persecuted comes to reign in his Kingdom and subdues the kingdoms of this World and changeth them into the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ and the Saints which you have oppressed receives the Authority and Dominion It shall be said All that would not that Christ should reign slay them before him when it shall be given to the Saints to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron and to execute upon the Heathen all the judgments written for behold all ye stout hearted the Lord cometh in ten thousand of his Saints to judge the World in righteousness and you shall be convinced of all your ungodly deeds for the Scriptures must be fullfilled and as you have done even so will it be done unto you when the suffering of the righteous is finished and your wickedness come to an end when the Lord shall reign you shall lick the dust off his feet and all the Persecuters of Christ shall be trodden down as mire and the righteous shall rejoyce over them and the Lord shall mock when your fear and calamnity comes which come suddenly in a day when you expect not how shall the Lord pardon you for this you have sinned against knowledge and gone on after warning and hardened your hearts after reproof and the day of your visitation you have greatly slighted ye Rulers have abused your power and ye subjects have abused your subjection and now consider what God did in Generations past unto the rebellious children what he did to Pharaoh and all his Hosts when his long suffering was finished how did Pharaoh harden his heart and his cruel Task-masters oppress the righteous even as you have done and they would not let Israel go free to serve the Lord but they kept them in bondage and this way you walk who exercise cruelty as they did and laid heavy burthens upon the Innocent grievous to be born cruel task-masters have you been over the Heritage of the Lord and in Pharaohs example of wickedness have you walked fulfilling his measure of cruelty and Pharaohs example shall you follow in a cursed end remember how the loftiness of his heart was bowed down and how his proud heart was abased in the day that God pleaded with him in his righteous judgments he and all his task-makers were confounded in a day and the bondage of the righteous was broken in a moment how was his whole strength of Tyranny overturned and turned into weakness the righteous were delivered and he and all his train overwhelmed in one day and thus shall it come to pass upon you Therefore consider this all ye that fullfill the measure of iniquity suddenly will the righteous God be awakened to take vengeance upon you and the just shall not always groan under your bondage for he that looketh from the Heaven hath pity upon the distressed for whom now his arm is stretched out to bring deliverance unto them and all their enemies will be confounded who have this long time ploughed long furrows upon the back of the righteous the oppression and cruelty and injustice brought forth in this Nation it calls for vengeance from Heaven Alas alas woe is me for you you Heads and Rulers and Judges of England what have you done and suffered to be done under you against the innocent people of God who is as dear to him as the apple of his eye for they be written on the palms of his hands and because of the cry of the poor and the needy will the Lord arise and plead their cause Oh consider and let it enter into your hearts the cruelty and injustice that hath been brought forth in this Land and remember what God did unto all the Persecuters of old how was their strength consumed and they overturned and destroyed what did he to Pharaoh and all his host who persecuted the Seed of God how was he destroyed and the righteous set free and what was done to Haman How was he justly rewarded who persecuted the Innocent Seed of God What did God to Herod and all his people who persecuted the Innocent and remember what he did unto them that persecuted the Three Children and them that persecuted Daniel how did they fall into the pit which they had digged for another and how were they destroyed and the Innocent delivered considered and remember these things ye that suffer the Just to groan by you Search through the Records of old and search what God hath done unto all them that lifted up their hand against Him and his People and is he not the same at this day his Hand is not shortened that it cannot save his people and destroy his Enemies his Ear is not dull of hearing that he should not understand this unjust suffering of his people though you live carelessely in pleasure upon Earth while the Innocent mourns yet doth the Lord regard though you spend your time in pleasure and delight your selves in vanities all the day long yet the Lord hath taken it to heart and his Spirit is grieved that his Innocent Servants should lye in Holes and Dungeons to be trodden upon and be accounted as the off-scouring of all things hardly thought worthy to have a place on the Earth Oh remember these things ye that are high minded and consider what God did to the Bishops and their crew of persecutors in this Nation your selves are witnesses how the Lord overthrew them and delivered his people in a few years time and as little as you did they think that they whom they persecuted should so soon come to have reigned over them the Lords Hand was then against Oppressors as it is at this day do you think the Lord hath forgotten or that he takes no notice of what is come to pass how should he forget his
upon whom the Wrath of God abideth and are subject to the Curse every moment and this is the state of all Mankind And the Light in every one shall answer this Measure and witness you and your Word to be the Word of the Lord which Light if they love it will bring every one to know the Power of the Creator to reconcile them and to bring them into Fellowship with him and to receive his Blessings and his Inheritance being changed by the Power of God into his Image But if they hate the Light and deny the Power of God and his Covenant and will not have Christ who hath lighted them to teach them and to rule them but do continue Enemies in their Minds to the Lord and will not receive your Message then they perish forever and you are clear seal your Testimony against them and the Lord shall be justified when he arises to Condemnation against them all who cannot own this Message and receive you in the Name of the Lord. Be bold and valiant and spare not to shew all people this Message and to Declare unto them in the Name of the Lord by whom you are sent And I warn you all Let the Fear and the Judgments of the Lord be in your Hearts and stand wholly in his Will and be obedient to the moving of his Power in all things that you may be armed against all the Swelling and Roaring of the Proud Waves of the Sea which will beat against you put on the whole Armour of God that you may withstand all the powers of Darkness and may overcome all the Temptations of the Devil Look beyond your life and your liberty and beyond all things of this World and the Life of God know and feel in you to give you Dominion over all and with his Word and Power to reach to his Witness in all that you may leave a Testimony behind you for him Thick Darkness you will find covering all people their Ears deaf and their Eyes blind and the Ground wholly barren and untilled you will find overgrown with Cursed Fruit and wild Branches which must be cut up and cast into the Fire and aboundance of Idolatry and vain Superstitions and great Hardness of Heart you will meet with and find all People in the Degeneration ignorant of God and without him in the World and abounding in all Unrighteousness and Unbelief worshipping their Idol godds which will grieve your spirits but be you Patient and Long-suffering and be not offended at any of these things but Plow in Hope and Sow in Hope and Thresh upon the Mountains and beat them to dust ye Children of Sion and bring all people to know the Fear and Judgments of the Lord in them You are sent forth to beget People unto him and to turn them to his Knowledge to till the Ground to pluck up the wild Branches which cumber the Ground and the tender Grape must be spared Therefore let the Word of the Lord dwell in you and divide the Word aright and cry not Peace to the Wicked neither cry Judgment to such as are of a Broken Heart feed the Hungry with Bread and feed the Fat with Judgment Be ye good Stewards of the Lord's Treasure cover the Naked but make bare the Harlot and discover her Abominable Whoredoms let all the World know how they have committed Whoredom with the great Whore who hath sate upon Nations Kindreds Tongues and Peoples And proclaim unto all Nations That the Lord God is risen for the Deliverance of his Chosen and he will make War in Righteousness against all his Enemies and they must lick the Dust of his Feet and bow under his Scepter And openly declare unto all the World That God is setting up an Everlasting Kingdom and the Dominion thereof shall reach over all the Earth and the Kings of the Earth must bring in their Glory to it In the Name and Power of the Lord God go ye into all the World with this Message and Testimony which shall be answer'd to be the Message of the Everlasting God with the Light which he lightened every man withal that you may bring Glory and Honour and Dominion unto him who hath called you to bear witness of his Name in all the World This I was moved of the Lord to give forth unto all that are moved to go into other Nations by a Companion unto all that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes E. B. A General Epistle to the SAINTS To the Seed of God Elected and Chosen of him before the World began and now called by his Word and Power into the Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness to be Heirs of the Inheritance of Eternal Life that never fades away DEarly beloved Friends who are called and sanctified through the Grace of God that hath appeared unto you and in you be mindful of your Calling and make your Election sure that you may feel it the Seed of God and the Heir of Life born and brought forth in every one of you that the Promise may be fulfilled in you and you may sit down in the Kingdom feeling the immortal Crown of Life as the Reward of all your Sufferings and Tryals and Patience for the Inheritance of an endless Life is the Portion of the Righteous who have followed the Lamb through his Sufferings and laid down their Crowns at his Feet and now his Feet are treading down and will tread down all mortal Crowns and stain the glory of all Flesh and bring it into contempt and set up his Kingdom to have Dominion over all And so Friends you in whose hearts the Day-Star hath appeared of Light and Life feel the growth of the good Seed in your selves which must rise in you all over the contrary part and over that nature which is related to the Kingdoms of this World that must be kept down in you all and all must be subject to the Lambs Power and to his Dominion every Work Word and Motion must be brought in subjection unto him that he who is Light and Life and Righteousness and Truth and all Vertue and Goodness may alone reign in you and over yâ—â—avâ— and the contrary may be kept in the subjection and the Body of Siâ—â—â— and Death may be wholly put off and Immortallity brought forth in you all by the Gospel which hath been sounded forth amongst you in Power and Life and not in the words of man's wisdom and this Gospel which we have received and you have heard hath wrought its effect wherefore the Lord sent it and many are turned from darkness to Light and from Satan's power to God and the Lord hath gathered his Jewels and is gathering of them and he hath planted his Inheritance with a pleasant Plant of Righteousness and Renown and his Arm hath wrought great deliverances in the Earth and hath raised up the Poor and exalted the Meek and Lowly and he hath brought down the Mighty from his Seat and these things hath
〈◊〉 practice and also your keeping and setting apart the Saints dayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy-dayes and eating with respect to dayes denying of Flesh such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dayes and observing of Dayes and Meats and Drinks and Fasting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 own wills and your Nunneries and keeping Men and Women one frâ—â—â—…ther in secret Houses whether are these things commanded and required 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord from you and we charge you to give us some Example that 〈◊〉 true Church practized such things otherwise if you do not not caâ—â—◠〈◊〉 these your practices from the Scriptures and Example of the Apoâ—… 〈◊〉 you we must deny you and condemn your practiâ—es forever and 〈◊〉 â—…lieve that your Church is the true Church nor you lawful Successors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ly Apostles 9. What you believe concerning the Reign and Government of Câ—… and his coming is He his Reign and Government visible and of this World or invisible and from Heaven and whether Lyars Whoremongers â—…terers Drunkards Man-slayers and contentious Men or any that 〈◊〉 in any Sin or Transgression in the first Nature be of the Kingdâ—◠〈◊〉 Government of Jesus or have any part or portion therein in time to 〈◊〉 â—…ever and how may such ever have part therein and give us yoâ—…â—…ge in these things And also what you hold and profess concerning Eâ—… 〈◊〉 Reprobation that we may know whether your Knowledge and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sound and perfect in these things and to be embraced or condemned and 〈◊〉 10. What is the Man-child that hath been caught up to God and 〈◊〉 the reason of his being caught up and what is the Woman that fled into the Wilderness and what is the reason of her so fleeing and when is the tâ—… is it come or to come that the Man-child hath been caught up aâ—◠〈◊〉 Woman fled and that the Man-child shall come down again and the Wâ—… again return and what is that Beast the first and the second and is â—…s kingdom come or yet to come who reigned over the Kings of the Earth and caused all both small and great to worship him and killed the Saints and overcame them that would not worship him and made war against the Lâ—… and persecuted the Woman's Seed and when is it that the World wondred â—â—ter the Beast is it come or to come Answer these things in plainness 〈◊〉 â—â—mand of you 11. What and who is that great Whore that sits upon many waters with 〈◊〉 the Kings of the Earth commits Fornications and who hath made Nations dâ—… with the Wine of her Fornications and who hath reigned over the 〈◊〉 and Dominions of the Earth and is that Whore come or yet to come 〈◊〉 whether is your Church every whit free from the Fornications of that Whâ—… and will you admit of lawfull trial by your fruits and works and suffer 〈◊〉 men accordingly and whether the whole Church of Rome or any part of 〈◊〉 Dominions be the Multitudes Peoples and Nations and Tongues the Wâ—… on which the Whore sits and whether your Church be wholly free from 〈◊〉 Woman which hath drunk the Blood of Saints and of the Martyrs of Iâ—… and shew us plainly who that Whore is if you can and what is her Flesh and the Fire that must burnt it 12. Whether are the false Prophets and Deceivers come or to come which 〈◊〉 said should come if you say they are come when did they come and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they and how may they be known and what was their first original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of what doth all false Prophets and false Prophecies come is the Church 〈…〉 clear of all the false Prophets and whether is your Ministry in the very 〈◊〉 Power Spirit and Authority which the Apostles were in is its Call and â—…tion the very same is its Maintenance and Practice the very same and is iâ—â— Fruits Effects and End the very same or some other let us know from you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may â—ay you to the Line of true Judgment for all People and Nations â—… â—…ome Friends let us reason a little with you further We are not satisâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishop of Râ—…e is true and lawful Successor of the Apostle Peter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Tripple Crown and did Kings Bow and Kneel to him and had 〈…〉 â—â—â—enues and Money out of the Nations as the Pope hath 〈…〉 Pardon 's for Money 〈◊〉 or did any buy Religion of him and did 〈…〉 over mens Consciences and was Peter named Holiness We 〈…〉 you to prove rightly and truly That the Pope doth succeed Peter 〈…〉 Spirit in the same Power and in the same Conversation and that 〈…〉 â—…er-see the Church be justly the same as Peter's was and that he exeâ—…â—…ctly as Peter did 〈…〉 â—…wer us plainly What is the Seed of the Woman and what is the 〈◊〉 the Serpent and is his Head bruised yea or nay And what is the 〈…〉 what is his beginning and what is the kingdom that he is Ruler 〈◊〉 and how is his kingdom to be destroy'd And what is the Flesh of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blood which was before Abraham and how is Christ made under the 〈◊〉 answer me these things 〈◊〉 what is the Death that hath reigned over all and what is the power 〈◊〉 and what is the fruits of that death and when must that death be 〈◊〉 and is it destroyed among you and what was man in his Creation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the ground and what was he that was the very Image of God 〈◊〉 and Female before Adâ—… was formed of the Dust of the Ground or â—…en out of him declare these things plainly if you can and what is 〈◊〉 Transgression and the Curse and whether any can be made free from 〈◊〉 Curse upon the Earth yea or nay and what is the Kingdom of Heaven 〈◊〉 is like a little Leaven and that is like a Net cast into the Sea and what 〈◊〉 which must be leavened and what is that good Fish that must be gatherâ—… into the Vessels and that bad that must be cast away and how doth the 〈◊〉 of Heaven bring the bad out of the Waters to the Shore and why is 〈◊〉 and wherefore and what is the reason that none can enter the Kingdom 〈◊〉 Goâ— nor see it but such as are born again and how is a man born again 〈◊〉 what is that Mothers womb that Iob and all mankind came out of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must return thither again naked and what are the Fig-leaves that â—…vered in Transgression and what is the Covering of the Spirit and 〈◊〉 must be covered and what not and why is it and how comes it to pass 〈◊〉 one and the same thing is sin and wickedness acted by one and the same 〈◊〉 good and just acted by another These things answer to us plainly and 〈◊〉 â—…ve all your Practises and Profession by plain Scripture and give us Exâ—… from Peter and the true Churches that he and they practiced the same 〈◊〉 which the Pope and you do if you would have any to own you otherâ—… 〈◊〉
of that People even till my Lord hath confounded them and brought them into Confusion for there is the weight of Blood of Tyranny and Oppression lying upon the Nation in that People's Cause and my Lord will revenge them in his Season and though they are not weary of their Sufferings but are in the Patience which beareth all things yet the Nation can never be happy nor its Government ever blessed while this People are held in Bondage and their Sufferings are deeply considered of the Lord and the Season thereof is expiring towards an 〈◊〉 aâ—d when this cometh to pass then Wo unto the kingdom of Antichrist and to the Whore and false Prophet even when their strength is dryed up by which they have made War against the Lamb and his Followers yea Wo unto them Great Fearfulness shall be upon all the World when the King of that People Reigns upon the Earth and the time is at hand blessed is the Man that waitâ—â—◠〈◊〉 it and blessed is he that is not offended in his Coming but is preparâ—◠〈◊〉 receive him in his Appearing which suddenly cometh upon all the World And thus I have told the Lord's present Message unto you which I received from him and thus far I am clear and whether you accept it or reject it my Peace and Reward is forever with him who am a Subject of his Kingdom and a Frieâ—â— to this Nation however otherwise judged by ignorant Men. Edw. Burroughs The 9th Moneth 1659. To the PRESENT DISTRACTED AND Broken Nation OF ENGLAND And to all her INHABITANTS A Presentation and Declaration from the Seed of God and from the People called Quakers with their Sense and Knowledge published concerning the present Divisions and Confusions come to pass in the Land with Mourning and Lamentation over it because of its Breaches and the Causes thereof laid down and discovered And also Good Counsel and Advice held forth how Peace and Unity may be restored and how the present Troubles may be Removed OH poor distressed Nation and full of Troubles How art thou broken and divided How hath Divisions and Distractions compassed thee about and entred into thy Bowels And how are thy Inhabitants and thy People divided even to hatred one against another and how are they filled as with Mischief one towards another even as it were thirsting for the Blood of one another Oh! How are thy Rulers and thy Subjects thy Great Men and thy Poor confounded amongst themselves And how is the Wisdom of thy Wise men turned into Folly and their Union into present Contention and how do they seek the Overthrow one of another and how do they lie in wait to be avenged one against another And how are the Hearts of many filled with Envy Contention and Revenge and Love Peace and Unity are far away Meekness Patience and Long-suffering which ought to be among thy People seem to stand afar off And oh Nation this is the Day of thy Trouble and the beginning of thy Sorrows And forasmuch as it hath pleased the Lord God Almighty to bring and suffer things thus to be brought to pass as if he would make our Nation a Heap and suffer Destruction upon it and having suffered the Rulers and Great Men to overcome and break down one another and to rend and tear one another from oâ—â— the Throne pulling down others and setting up themselves even through their Ambition and Vain-glory and for corrupted Ends to themselves whereby this our Nation is brought into present Confusion and many are begotten through these â—hings into Fury Heart-burnings and Maliciousness as if men were ready to devour each one his Neighbour and their Brother about Government and Ruâ—e being greatly divided and distracted in this matter some crying up one way of Religion and Church and Civil Government and some crying up another way being each one sort of People seeking themselves and the prosperity of their own Interests and to have their own desires accomplished but few seeking the Lord and to advance him in Truth and Righteousness And because of this there is no Establishment in the Earth but Strife and Contention and Heart-burnings in the Bowels of the Nation and great want of True Love True Unity and True Peace and all the contrary doth abound among the people because of which the Nation is subject to present Misery even to Blood-shed and Murders and liable also to greater Judgments which may also come upon it because of these things all which we have deeply considered â—â—th Mourning and with Breakin gs of Heart on the behalf of the Nation the Land of our Nativity We have seen we have seen the Cause of thy Distractions to be the Sins of thy Rulers and People and we have seen the effect of them to be doleful and miserable unto thee except the Hand of the Lord turn it backward And oh How do we Mourn and Laâ—ent to see the Out goings of Men and the present Condition of the People and Rulers in this the Day of their Trouble Alas they do not behave themselves towards the Lord that his Judgments may be turned away they do not seek him in Truth and Righteousness they do not turn unto him with all their Hearts neither do they tremble at his Word but they the rather reject his Counsel and despise his Visitation and they seek themselves and exalt their own Horn and love the Honour of this World and their hearts are hardened and the great men seem to be utterly insensible of what the Lord is a doing but seek great things for themselves and each one rejoying of another's Fall and glorying in their Advantages one over another one sort being first down and another sort comes up boasting themselves over the Fall of their Enemies and not knowing that their time also is but very short And thus is our poor Nation tossed to and fro through the Ambition of men who even make a Prey upon the poor peoples Persons and Treasure for their own corrupted Ends and thy Rulers have not had respect unto the Counsel of the Lord but seem to refuse the Way of Peace and even add Fewel to the Fire of God's Wrath by heaping up one Transgression upon another and they receive not the Instructions of the Almighty Behold Oh Nation Great Trouble is upon thee and the Men that should Rule thee and which have pretended to Govern thee they do not walk in the Way of thy Peace neither do they bring healing to thee These things we have considered and thus we Lament over thee and over thy present State Oh Nation how art thou like an ungirded Vessel that is ready to fall one piece from another and how art thou like a Body without a Head and all thy Ioynts out of order and what Confusion art thou fallen into which is thy present state and art even as a Widdow without a Husband and art even left comfortless unto this day and ready to devour thy self through the Envy
and outward Laws neither would we have you force your Religion Ministry and Church upon us by such means but we will leave the effect of all thing to the Spirit of God and come out when you will in such a way as this and this would satisfie thousands and let Meekness and the Fear of God be amongst you and this is the way to exalt Religion and we would think it a happiness more then otherwise to be joyned in sober debate and dispute against you that you and we in your Religion Church and Ministry and in ours also might be tried according to the Scriptures that all may be satisfied who are doubtful and may hear you Principles and our Principles discussed in the presence of the People who may judge by the Light and Witness in their own Consciences for to that in all we do appeal and in such a proceeding come forth when you will lay down your Carnal Weapons and take the Weapons of of the Spirit and come to the trial for the Day of the Lord is approaching upon all the World E. B. The FOURTH General Epistle To all the SAINTS Being a Visitation of the Fathers Love unto the whole Flock of Cod who are called and gathered into the spiritual Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace To be read in all the Assemblies of them that meet together to worship the Father in the Spirit and Truth in the silence of all Flesh. Dearly Beloved WHom the Father hath called and chosen into the Election of Eternal Salvation and who have handled and tasted and felt of the Judgments and Mercies of the Lord and amongst whom the God of Heaven and Earth hath appeared in his Spirit and in his Power which 〈◊〉 gotten you into the Heirship of the heavenly Kingdom Oh Friends our Kingdom and Victory is not of this World nor earthly but from above and spiritual wherein we have Peace and Comfort endless and everlasting which the World knows not of I say unto you all that know these things Live in the Peace and Victory and Kingdom which is invisible and mind the things as your greatest Treasure that pertain to that Kingdom even the weighty matters of it which aâ— eternal and infinite and that every one of you may feel and enjoy a Portion in that Kingdom Oh! it is precious for a people to be Subjects of the heavenly Kingdom and for a man to have an assurance of Life and Peace in God and to be an Heir of that Kingdom that fadeth not away and to have his name written in the Record of Life and blessed is every one whose Hope and Confidence and Peace and Assurance is in the living God and whose Soul resteth under the Government of the Almighty and who knows him to be Judge King and Lawgiver in all things and this is the Kingdom that is heavenly and is altogether blessed for Peace and Truth and Righteousness and all Vertue is enjoyed in it for evermore Now Friends you must all be subjected in all things under the Power of the Lord God and unto his will and he must work in you to will and to do for in this is true Rest and Peace unto the Soul where the Will of the Father is done and suffered in all things and not the Will of man which worketh sorrow to the Creature and not peace in the obedience to it and where it rules and that must be subjected in you even in every Word Work and Motion unto the eternal Power that you may die and Christ may live and in this you will have union and fellowship in spirit with the Lord God and he alone will be your trust and confidence and your glory if he live in you and walk in you and then you are his People and he is your God And Friends are to mind this even Peace and Union and Fellowship with the Lord and the comfort of his Presence which is the onely happiness of the Creature even the enjoyment of him that is invisible who is God infinite over all to whom mortal eye cannot approach neither can the mortal mind him apprehend but in his own Life manifested in mortal Flesh and by the measure of his own Spirit that dwells in us is he seen felt preceived and enjoyed of us so mind the Immortal Life begotten of the Father in you that that may live in you even the Heir of God which is his Image and likeness for in that alone is Covenant with God made and kept and in it is the Fathers presence enjoyed and he Worshipped without respect of time place or visible thing and if that live in you then yoâ— in that will live unto God in all that which is answerable unto him and your words and works will be accepted of him and well-pleasing to him even because it is him that worketh in you to will and to do all good things and he alone exalted in you and you subjected and the Maker is become the Husband and you married unto him and he lives in Power and Rule and Command and you livâ— In subjectiâ—â— unto him and in fulfilling his Will in what he guideth in by his Holy Spiriâ— And this life is very precious Oh Friends live in it and dwell in it always and then your Joy and Peace will be with you over all this World and you will be Comforted wheâ— Fear and Terrour comes upon all men for the Lord God whom we serve â—nd worship in the Spirit will cause his Enemies to know his Power and that he doth and can do whatsoever he will and will smite his Enemies and wound them in their Consciences for all Power Dominion and Authority is with him he is mighty to save and mighty to destroy and his Reward is to every one according to their deeds and this is the God whom we fear and worship and all Flesh must bow before him when he shews his presence though men 〈◊〉 high and lifted up and go on in Rebellion against him without fear yet thâ— hand of the Lord will be upon theâ— and he shall smite them with the â—od of his mouth Wherefore all Friends have respect unto the Lord in your 〈◊〉 in all things that you do and in all things that cometh to pass for that is â—â—â—â—â—ed in a people and they shall prosper their Souls shall be nourished and their lives refreshed with the Mercies of the Lord even all they that do waiâ— upon the Lord and have respect unto him and his Eternal Power which doth and suffereth all things that be In which Power you must dwell and walk and feel it in your hearts and it will be your Armour and Defence in all things and it will carry you through all that which worketh contrary And it is very pretious to be Armed with the Armour of God in the Day of Temptations and Tryals that you may not be overcome of the wicked nor spoiled of the Heavenly Inheritance Oh Frinds put on strength that you
this Nation and pretended great Reformation in the Civil State as well as the other had done in Church State And who got the Estates and Titles of their Enemies and pretended to free this Nation from all Oppressions but have not done it but have continued the old Oppressions and have been striving among themselves who should Rule and who should be great but have not Ruled for God nor in Justice and Equity though they first Warred against the King and carryed it on and removed the King and Lords and that Goverment and all this in pretence of Ruling better and in a better Government and yet kept not Engagements nor Promises made in that case Upon such is the guilt of the Suffering of the King so far as his Sufferings are unjust even upon Hypocrites who have walked in these steps who as I have said first made war against the King and got great Estates and quite forgotten the cause once pretended by them and now in flattery Cries up King and Kingly Government again though this many years they have seemed to be opposite against it upon such as these may the guilt aforesaid in measure be charged And though there are risen many Sects and Sorts of People since the beginning of the Wars yet in the beginning there was but one sort that were in a capacity to raise and prosecute War against the King and upon such there is guilt to be charged in the sight of God who have foregone their Principles and been deceitful both to God and men And as for Us who are called Quakers we are clear from the guilt of all his Sufferings and in the present Capacity wherein we now stand and under the actings of that Spirit which now we are of we have no part in the guilt of these Iniquities we have not cast out others and taken their places of great Benefices neither have we made war with carnal Weapons against any never since we were a People mark neither have we broken Oaths and Engagements nor promised freedom and deliverance and for self-ends and Earthly Riches betrayed as others have done what we pretended to and in many particulars it doth appear that we are clear from his Sufferings for we have been a Suffering People as well as they by the same Spirit which caused them to suffer which hath been much more Cruel Wicked and Unjust towards us than it hath been towards them though our Persecution hath been in another manner but what they have done against us we can freely forgive them and we would have you to follow the same example and if you could accuse them in many things so could we but this is not a time to accuse one another but to forgive one another and so to overcome your Enemies or else you will appear in the same Spirit that so he that condemns them cannot justifie you though we do condemn as well as you them that have pretended Reformation and Wared against you upon that account and when they had gotten victory did not reform but become Oppressors themselves as well as others and became Cruel towards others that would not say and do as they and for this Cause the Lord hath brought them down and may justly suffer others to deal with them as they have dealt with others yet notwithstanding I must still say and it is my judgment that there was very great Oppressions and Vexations under the Government of the late King and Bishops under his power which the Lord was offended with and many good People Oppressed by for which cause the Lord might and did justly raise up some to oppose and strive against Oppressions and Injustice and to intend and press after Reformation in all things and that Principle of Sincerity which God did raise in many in the beginning of the Wars which in some things acted them forth and carryed them on in opposing Oppressions and pressing after Reformation this Principle I can never deny but acknowledge to it though many soon lost it and became Self-seekers forgetting and foregoing the Cause pretended to having lost Sincerity and became corrupted in their way and Injustice and Oppression abounded by them and because hereof are they condemned in the sight of the Lord and not by me Justified because they have lost Sincerity and turned the War and all the Proceedings into Self-seeking and therefore is God provoked against them though had they continued in their Integrity and had really performed what some time they pretended and had forsaken all Sin it had not been thus with them neither had this guilt been upon them which now they are like to be accountable for And this is my Judgment concerning these things Quer. 6. Whether or no he may iustly think ye and with more safety to himself and happiness to the Kingdoms Tollerate and Allow LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE so called to all the many Sects and sorts of People and Worshippers that are now in beeing in these Nations Or whether he may Tollerate some and not all Or whether he may Tollerate none but reduce the Government of the Church into the way of Bishops and Prelates as it was in his Father's dayes Which of these may he do justly and with more safety to himself and happiness to his Government and Kingdoms Answ. We do believe he may and ought justly and with most safety to himself and happiness to the Kingdoms Tollerate and Allow free LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in all the Matters of Faith and Worship towards God for LIBERTY in exercise of CONSCIENCE in the Matters of God's Kingdom is a very precious thing to the Lord and very dear in his sight and he is tender of it and I do stedfastly believe he will not bless the Rulers of this Nation that shall deny to the People of this Nation and oppose LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in the exercise of Faith and Worship towards God for I do know it is not given of God to any Earthly King or Ruler whatsoever to exercise Lordship over the Consciences of People in the Matters of Faith and Worship and the things pertaining to Gods Kingdom for Kings and Rulers are but to Rule over men in a Nation in the Matters between one man and another in outward things and worldly affairs and therein only men ought to Rule in Equity over a Nation or City or Country and Magistracy in this state and for such an end is Gods Ordinance appointed of him for the preserving of peace and good order among men in outward things and it is a priviledge of the Crown of Christ's Spiritual Kingdom to be Lord and Ruler over and in mens Consciences in Faith and Worship and all the Matters of his Kingdom even as and according to his pleasure and as his Spirit leads and guides for and if any man shall assume to prescribe God a way how he must be Worshipped and shall limit his Spirit from this or to the other way of Religion and think to be Lord in mens
Consciences in religious Matters such are but Usurpers and are not well-pleasing to the Lord in such their way and Government if they oppress mens Consciences by limiting from or compelling to any such way of Worship or kind of Religion neither are they Ordained to Rule among men for that end not to be King and Judge and Law-giver in Heavenly and spiritual Matters and this ought not CHARLES the King to do 〈◊〉 but and if he do it and will not let Christ alone be the Head over his Church it cannot be with safety to himself nor happiness to the Kingdoms 〈◊〉 justly in the sight of God but it will work contrary effects And he may and ought to Tollerate and Allow Liberty of Conscience in the matters of God's Kingdom to all sorts of People and Worshippers that are 〈◊〉 this Nation and let him mind God's Wisdom how to keep the Nations in peace and good order in all outward and civil Affairs between man and man and between one sort of People and another that none destroy each others persons or estates nor be Oppressors one of another in outward and earthly Matters and that is the place and priviledge of a just King and Ruler upon Earth and to leave Faith and Worship and Duty towards God as every one is perswaded in their own Consciences is the right Way whether they will read the Common-Prayer or Preach and Pray after the order of the Directory or otherwise Or whether they will meet in silence without words and let all these enjoy their way of Religion and Worship in outward peace and not kill one another about their Religion Worship Church and Ministry nor imprison and persecute one another about these things but let them all be preserved as men living in peace one with another in all outward relations and yielding Subjection to good Laws which concern their outward man and their peace and well-being as Subjects of a Nation but there ought to be no Law of Bondage and Force nor violent Impositions by any man concerning Religion for the Lord alone is sufficient to give Prescriptions and Laws to his People how he may be served and worshipped and this is the way of good Government in this Nation that only the outward man in outward things be Governed and all Matters of Conscience in spiritual things be left unto God that his Spirit may therein onely rule and have the preheminence and if the King do Rule thus he may be more blessed and in that this Nation hath his word for LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE it is expected for because this hath been wanting to wit the allowance of LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in spiritual Matters because of this have been much strife and contention and heart-burnings in the Nation while some Sects of People have been tollerated and upheld and others persecuted for their Religion-sake by Law and this was one of the chief causes wherefore the Presbyterians so called first raised War against the Bishops even because they could not be tollerated but were persecuted while the other were guarded and defended by Law and this was a great cause of enmity which if the Presbyterians so called could have had Liberty and Tolleration at that day for their Worship and Faith it is possible the War against the Bishops had not so far proceeded though when they had gotten Victory they were no less furions towards the Bishops to destroy them than the other had been once against them and this arose by reason of persecuting for Conscience sake because all had not Liberty in the exercise of Spiritual things which if the King had declared it â—â—at day Equal Liberty to both in Matters of their Faith and Religion and yet ruled over both in outward affairs and had Authority over the Persons and Estates in Matters not related in Spiritual Worship but left them therein free and in their Religion by such means the War might have been stopped and not proceeded so far as it did and into such destruction and this being now well considered may be an Example to prevent the like hereafter So that 〈◊〉 â—â—y it cannot be for his safety nor for the good of the Kingdoms to Tollerate some sorts of People and Religions and Persecute others for that will be the very cause of strife among men it will provoke one sort to destroy another and it will provoke the Lord God against the King and his Government to destroy them both Therefore to reduce the Government of the Church into the State as it stood under the Bishops in his Fathers dayes and to prohibit all others that may differ in Judgment from that this is not the way for Peace and happiness in these Nations nor the way that will be blessed to the Government neither can the Bishops and Prelates justly themselves desire it that only they and their Church-Government should be Imposed and Tollerated and all besides Prohibited for this is not doing to others as they would be done unto and I may hope that their suffering this divers years may have taught them the worth of Liberty to themselves and so that they will allow to others if it be in their power the same which they have desired themselves in their time of suffering and they having tasted of some Subjection in Adversity they know the better how to behave themselves in time of prosperity and they may compare others with their own state and may judge that others will as much desire Liberty and from as good Principles iâ— their Worship and Faith as themselves would have enjoyed it in times past and they may have learned to be good to others in that case for which themselves have suffered and not cause others to suffer for that thing about which themselves have suffered And I do conclude that he may justly and with more safty and happiness to his Government Tollerate and Allow LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in the Exercise of Faith and Worship towards God in all spiritual Matters even to all sorts of People in this Nation and let him defend their Persons and Estates from the wrong one of another by wholsome Law and let each sort defend themselves in their Faith and Worship in their Church and Ministry by their soundest Arguments and the best spiritual weapons they have and thus should it be blessed to the Government And whatsoever sort or sect of People are not contented with this that is to say to Allow the same Liberty to others in Faith and Worship which they do desire themselves are not worthy themselves to be allowed Liberty unto and this every reasonable man may judge Quer. 7. Lastly what is your Iudgement if ye daâ—e declare it concerning the Times and Seasons and the present motions of them And what are your Observations of the present proceedings Are the present Times and seasons and the proceedings and transactions in Mercy or in Iudgment to the King and his Subiects If in Mercy to whom is it Mercy And if in
there was any thing of the Purpose and Hand of the Lord by intending and bringing these things about without expectation by you and contrary to the great strength of your Enemies who are suddenly of a great and high Mountain made a low Valley and you of a low and trodden down Valley suddenly raised up into a great Mountain And to what do you attribute this Changing and overturning of Power and Authority and Rulers even them that have been as Princes and Potentates to be Rebels and them that have been accounted as Rebels and Traytors to be Rulers and Governours I say To what do you attribute these things on their first Cause whether to the Pollicy of some or to Accident or to good Fortune as some call it Or whether you believe in your Consciences that the Lord God by his secret Power hath purposed and suffered the effecting and accomplishing of these things Quer. 2. And if you believe that there is any thing of the Hand and Purpose of the Lord in doing or suffering these trans actions then wherefore and for what Cause do you believe hath he done these things Is it because you are more righteous in the sight of God than they who are cast out before you and because he loveth you and hateth them Or whether it is not because they have proved Treacherous and Deceitful and not answered unto the Lord what he required of them but sought themselves and forgot the Lord and took your Estates and Titles of Honour upon them and pretended a better Government and to govern better than that way of Monarchical Government but did not but were Oppressors even as others before them And is not this the Iust Cause wherefore the Lord hath suffered these Overturnings May not we justly that are neither of you Attribute this to be the very Cause wherefore the Lord hath brought them down and raised up you over them whereas if they had repented of their Sins and been faithful to what the Lord required of them and to what themselves pretended to and had indeed Governed Iustly and Righteously and freed the Oppressed and answered unto the Lord in an equal Government according to his Law whether may it not be believed that these things had never thus been brought to pass Quer. 3. Whether or no you believe that there is a GOD so mighty in Power and so wise in Counsel and Purpose that can Turn and Overturn you and your Power and lay you low even as others and raise up others who are now as low as you have been for divers years Whether you believe there is a GOD that by his Power can effect such a thing and accomplish it in his Wisdom And whether do you not believe in your Consciences that he will do it if you do not please him and fear his Name and forsake all Wickedness and if you be Oppressors and Cruel-hearted as others have been and do not rule in Righteousness and Equity And whether you believe not that the Lord doth watch over you with his Eye that sees you and marks all your wayes Whether do you consider that the Lord looks for good fruit from you and that you should free the Land from Oppression which if you answer not the Will of the Lord in what he requires Whether do not you believe that he is so wise in Counsel and mighty in Power that he can and will whether by Means or without Means overturn and confound you and your Government Quer. 4. Whether you believe in your Consciences and do acknowledge unto God that there was any thing of his IUSTICE in your late Sufferings for these divers years Or whether all of them or no part of that Suffering which hath been upon you were any whit Iust as from the Lord And whether there was not a great Measure of Iniquity filled up in Monarchical Government and a great Measure of Oppression upon the poor People of this Nation by their Lords and great Men And whether this Rebuke and Reproof that you have had in this measure of Suffering that hath been upon you was not in some measure Iust as from the Lord that you might be humbled before him though it is by me acknowledged That your Enemies these I mean who are now cast out before you brought great guilt upon themselves in executing wrath upon you in that and because they proceeded further and into more Bitterness and Cruelty towards you then they had either Commission or Authority from God But whether there was not a Iustice as from the Lord in that which partly befel you And was not his Hand many times against you in Battel though Number nor Valour was not wanting on your part yet are not you sensible how by a secret Hand you were often defeated and Victory given to your Enemies though the less in Number And were not these things in the Iustice of the Lord's Hand Whether do you not believe it and acknowledge it Quer. 5. Whether or no you do intend any Reformation from OLD Oppressions Or whether you intend to tread in the very steps and to walk in the very Path in every Particular of Government as it stood and was carried on in the beginning of CHARLES the first his days And whether you ought not in the sight of God and before him to consider how to relieve the Oppressed and break off all cruel Bonds of Injustice and how a Government may be set up which may be answerable to the Lord and not unto your own and other corrupted mens ends but if you shall do so Whether do you answer the End or deny the End wherefore the Lord hath thus dealt with you in giving of you this Day unexpected and contrary to all your Enemies And whether do you not believe that God hath set you between Good and Evil between Right and Wrong between doing of his Will and the will of the Devil in the doing and fulfilling one or the other by you whether doth not depend Happiness and Blessedness upon you or the Wo and the Curse your Standing or your Fall your Renown or your Dishonour perpetually Quer. 6. Whether or on you do not believe in your Consciences that the Prosperity and Continuance and Happiness of this your Government to your selves the King and Kingdoms or the Unhappiness Overthrow Misery and Confusion of the Government it self the King and these Nations doth not stand and wholly depend upon the Government and Authority as it proceedeth in Iustice Righteousness and Equity or as it is and proceedeth contrary and is Injustice Oppression and Unrighteousness and if therein it stand whether do you believe in your Consciences that God shall Bless it and Prosper it or he shall Destroy it and Confound it For is not the Hand of the Lord stretched forth in Mercy or in Iudgment according as Men walk in his Fear or without his Fear And whether if your CAUSE be Iust in it self yet if you walk in Unrighteousness
and Ungodliness and Oppression and Cruelty whether may not you thereby destroy your Cause and lose it and provoke the Lord to Anger against you and your Cause to confound you and destroy you and whether you do seriously consider of this And is it not your Duty so to do and ought you not to endeavour to stop this Flood of Wickedness that is broken out which if it be not stopped may provoke God against you to overthrow your proceedings Quer. 7. What is the very End of Rule and Government outward in this World And for what Cause did God at the first ordain it whether upon this or not really consider Was it not that Evil-doers might be punished and them that did Well might be praised And was not the outward Law added because of Transgression and to punish Transgressors but for the preserving the Peaceable and Meek who walked in the Law of God and when the People had forgotten God and his Law in their Hearts and his Power that executed Judgment and Mercy Was it not then that the Law outward was added and committed into the Hands of Men to execute upon such as regarded not the Law of God in their Hearts And is not this the very End of Rule and Government and Magistracy at this very day Whether ought it to be extended further than only over and concerning the Affairs of the outward Man to keep that in good order not to be a Load and Burden and Vexation and Bondage upon a Nation and People but to suppress that which would load and burden and oppress the Creation and People that all men may be preserved in their just Right and not vex and oppress one anothers Persons and Estates And if your Government be not from this Ground and this very end shall it ever be blessed and happy either to the Governours or Governed Quer. 8. What do you believe of and concerning LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in all Matters appertaining to the Kingdom of God Whether ought not you to give the LIBERTY in your Government that every Man and all sorts of People may believe in God and Worship God according as he or they shall suppose and be perswaded in his or their Consciences provided still that he and they annoy not or oppress his or their Neighbours Person or Estate for if he or they do that then he and they go out of the true Faith and breaks the Law of God and the outward Law is to take hold of him and them But whether it is not a just Right and may justly be allowed from you to all the People of this Nation to live under what Ministry and under what Worship and to go to what Assemblies as they shall suppose or be perswaded in their Consciences is the best and rightest And whether or no it be not GOD's proper Right alone to be Ruler and Lord over mens Consciences and that he alone should Prescribe Instruct and Teach Faith Worship and Duty in all things in the matters of his own Kingdom And whether God hath committed that Power and Authority ever since the days of Christ to any Emperor King or other Ruler whatsoever to be Lord and to exercise Lord-ship in and over Mens Consciences in the Matters appertaining to God's Kingdom And whether it is not God's only and alone peculiar Priviledge to be Lord there and not any Man to impose one upon another in Spiritual Matters And whether you your selves would be imposed upon in such case that is Whether you would have such a Church Government and Ministry imposed upon you upon such or such a Penalty which you know or believe or suppose is not right nor according to God nor suiting with your own Consciences And then how can you with good Conscience in the sight of God Impose upon others whenas your selves would not be Imposed upon in such a Case Quer. 9. Whether or no If that you cause any to suffer Loss or to be Afflicted in Person or Estate for and because of their Conscience-sake that is because they are of such a Faith and of such a Worship and of such a Principle in Religious Matters though different from others and from you yet if they walk Honestly and Soberly and Peaceably as Men and not Plotting and Contriving any Mischief in the Nation I say if you cause any such to suffer upon that account while you can charge nothing against them but Matters of Faith and Iudgment and Opinion in Spiritual things Again I say Whether or no such Suffering is not absolute Persecution and Innocent on his or their part that so suffereth any Injustice Cruelty Tyranny and Oppression on your part that do Inflict and will not the Lord require it of you if you bring Innocent blood and Cruel Sufferings upon your selves And is not that Innocent blood which is spilt and Unjust and Cruel Sufferings which are Inflicted upon a Man or a People for his and their Conscience and Religions-sake when no matter of wrong or evil dealing amongst Men and in that Relation is or can be charged upon them And whether do you not believe that God will avenge such a Suffering which is for Conscience-sake upon the Heads of the Cursers and Inflictors of it in his Day and Season Quer. 10. Whether or no you have not so much Reason and Conscience in you as will give you to discern and cause you to put a difference between such who have acted and been zealous against you from corrupt Principles of Self-seeking and have raised themselves into worldly Honour and great Estates through your Sufferings and Losses and have lorded it over you in Ambition though now such may bow under you and fawn upon you I say Whether will you not or whether ought you not to put a difference both in respect of guiltiness in your Cause of Suffering and in respect of your dealing towards them in Reward and between such as have formerly acted against you upon sober reasonable Principles and have not raised themselves to Honour and great Riches not by your Afflictions but ceased to act against you when they perceived the Wickedness and Injustice and evil Proceedings of your Enemies and many such there are and whether or no you have not so much Reason and Equity in your Consciences as to put a difference between such in your proceedings towards them Quer. 11. What is the truest Honour that can be given to the King and his Government and wherein and in what kind of Words and Actions and Practises doth true Honour consist And whether or no you do believe in your Consciences that these kind of Practises as drinking Healths and Bonfires and this exceeding Lewdness and Wickedness brought forth in the Nation by way of Rejoycing for the King and his Government be true Honour and rightly honourable Proceedings and Practises to him and his Government Or whether these things and ways be not wofully dishonourable unto you and him and this whole Nation and
may escape the way of Destruction and Confusion therefore is it that the Lord hath put it into my heart thus to write unto you and not for another end nor of my self have I done it but as I found the drawings of that Spirit of the Father which leadeth into all truth to which I was made willing to be obedient without respect to any thing saving the Lord and that you might be advised in some things in present controversie occasioned as aforesaid and there are a few things towards you upon my spirit which well deserves your consideration as followeth First That there is an Eternal God who is great and mighty above all and â—e alone ought to be the fear of you and all man-kind for whatsoever he will it cometh to pass whether in Heaven or Earth he planteth and plucketh up he buildeth and throweth down he exalteth and abaseth whether Kingdoms Governments or Men Kings or Princes as he will and what time soever as he pleaseth he is onely wise in Council and mighty in Power if he purpose who shall prevent him he is the Being of all things that are and before him are all mankinde upon Earth even ye your selves as Dust and Ashes and Vessel of Clay and your Breath is in your Nostrils and he that gave it can sâ—â—n take it away from you and in a moment dissolve your seeming glorious substance into its first being And this eternal God hath overturned and changed Powers and Authorities Rulers and Governments in these Nations of late years even to the amazement of the Inhabitants who must confess that the God of Heaven hath pulled down and set up whom he would and taken the Government from and given it unto whom soever he hath pleased and he hath given unto many a day and a time to try them whether they would rule for him and he tried one sort of men after another to prove them if they would exercise Righteousness and Truth Iustice and Mercy and right Iudgement in the Land but when the Lord tryed them they have all proved deceitful and unfit men for the Lord to exalt his name by but they have neglected Iustice and true Iudgment and the cause of the Fatherless and the Widdow have they not regarded as they ought to have done but great oppressions and persecutions have abounded in their dayes and they have forgotten the Lord and his Iudgements and sought themselves and not the Lord and been ambitious and self-ended and they have exalted themselves in their Pride and Covetousness and this hath been the path of many that have sitten in the Throne even till the God of Heaven hath been provoked against them to confound them and overturn them even when their measure of oppression and unrighteousness of Injustice and Persecution was fulfilled and when the measure of one was finished the Lord brought that down with shame and another was set up to raign till it had fulfilled its measure of that which went before it that it might be brought down even as the other and all this the God of Heaven hath effected by his power that all the Earth might take knowledge that he can do whatsoever he will and that he hateth and abhorreth Injustice and Oppression Cruelty and Persecution and that his Vengeance and Iudgements are extended forth against such Rulers and Governments by whom and in which Persecution Cruelty and Injustice are brought forth and because hereof hath he overturned and confounded Rulers and Governments and these things have been visible in our eye 2. Consider that you are now set in the Throne and are raised up out of your suffering condition and you are become the Rulers and Potentates in our Nation divers having been cast out before you and unto you a day and time is given to try you and prove you what you will do and whether you will rule and govern alone for the Lord and answer the end wherefore the Lord hath restored you which if you do and walk in the Fear of the Lord and forsake your Iniquities and do Iustice and Righteousness in the Earth then the Lord make you happy and a blessing in the Kingdoms But if so be ye walk in the wayes of Oppression and just Iudgement Mercy and Truth be wanted in the Land through you and you run on as others before you in Pride Ambition vain-glory and Covetousness and have no respect to the God of Heaven and his Heritage then the God of Heaven shall reprove you and deep confusion shall come upon you and as with a whirle-wind shall you be overthrown and you shall know that there is a God that can do whatsoever he will even he shall deface your glory and turn your Sun into Darkness and your Day shall become a Night of Misery Oh therefore say not in your Hearts that our Mountain is strong and we can never be moved neither think in your selves that your force is great and your number many and none shall be able to prevail against us but rather consider that there is a secret and an eternal Hand that can remove your Mountain and overcome all your might and power and subdue your Number and turn all your Wisdom and Policy into Folly and Madness These can his Hand do even the God of Heaven who is greater then all if he smite none can heal you and if he kill none can make alive if he beâ—… your enemy to fight against you there is none that can deliver you out of his 〈◊〉 all flesh is as grass that is soon cut down and withered and the strength of 〈◊〉 sons of men are as a Reed that is soon shaken and bruised 3. Consider how that you are placed in your present state between good and 〈◊〉 between doing the will of God and the will of the Devil that ye should do the one and forsake the other and in the doing of the one or the other dependeth the Blessing or the Curse the Love or the Hatred of the Almighty and you are in your day that is given you to prove you time is taken from others and given to you even by the Lord that gives and takes time and power according to his own pleasure and no man hath assurance of time unto himself but it cometh and goeth at the pleasure of the Almighty and time â—nd power is now given unto you for a moment Consider what the God of Heaven reâ—…ires of you in this your day and if you fulfill the will of the Lord then you may be happy but if otherwise then other effects shall follow upon 〈◊〉 and let not the King say in himself that because I am the true 〈◊〉 and to me onely it belongs to govern these Kingdoms and I may goverâ—â— as I will without correction as though therefore he might rule according to his own pleasure and the Lord take no notice I say let not this enter into any of your hearts but let the King know assuredly that these
if you do thus and will not allow clearly and freely Liberty of Conscience but will by force and violence limit the Spirit of the Lord and tender Consciences this shall be a Snare upon you and a Rock oâ— offence against you to break you to Pieces for in so doing the God of Heaven will be displeased with you as with others if so be that you take upon you to prescribe the Lord a way how he must be worshipped and will take upon you to rule and judge in the cases of Conscience and in the matters of Christ's spiritual Kingdom which appertains to Christ alone to be Iudge of and Ruler in and not man and to him alone you ought to give the whole Rule and Government in all the matters of his own Kingdom and that he may prescribe and teach Worship and Faith and Duty to himself in all spiritual things and this I claim of you on his behalf even that you give unto him the whole Rule and Authority in all the matters of his own Kingdom and that you allow Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Faith and Worship to all Christian people in these Nations and that no man be compelled or forced to or from by outward violence any kinde of profession of Faith or practises of worship for it is of Antichrist so to do if that you impose any Sâ—rt of Worship and Religion contrary to mens Consciences upon penalties on mens Persons or Estates if you do thus you exercise not the Power of Christ but of Autichrist and it is â—â—depriving of Christ of his Heirship and of the Government of his own Kingdom which will be reckoned against you as a fearful abomination if you â—â—lk therein And therefore let men believe in Christ and Worship him according as they are perswaded in their own Consciences for a tender Conscience in the Sight of God is a thing greatly regarded of him and if you limit it and do violence upon it the Lord will be provoked against you and these Nations will not bear it but it will beget fiery contentions in the mindes of men if any Religion and Worship contrary to their Consciences be imposed upon them and while some men are gratified others will be displeased and if you allow not free Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of spiritual things the effect of it may prove sad and Miserable to your selves and your Government and this shall you know in time to come even the good effect of Toleration in Liberty of Conscience and of woful effect upon the contrary Therefore be wise and instructed ye Rulers of the Earth and kiss the Son lest ye perish out of the way of Peace and Happiness Now you have your day and time to be made happy or to be left miserable that your Government may be blessed or otherwise deprived of all Blessedness These things have I Written to You in Love and Honour towards You That Ye may know and be informed what the Lord requireth of You if so be You may escape the Wrath that is to come And love nor Wrath to You Your prosperity nor overthrow is determined upon You or prophesied unto You by me but as You walk in Justice Truth and Righteousness or as You walk contrary and bring forth Oppression and Persecution Bristol City the 4th day of the sixth Moneth 1660. Edward Burroughs A PRESENTATION of Wholsome Informations unto the King of England c. THe Servants of the Lord and his People that feared his Name and trembled at his Word never wanted false Accusers in any Age to repute them vile and to reproach them by slanderous words and that even to the Rulers of the World and to the Kings of the Earth have the chosen People of the Lord been falsly accused and reproached by the slanderous Tongues of ungodly Men in all Generations as in many Particulars might be proved out of the Scriptures by the Example of things in the dayes of old For even in those dayes it came to pass that the Elect People were reproached and falsly reputed by the men of the World as in the Case of the Iews in their building of the Temple again when they returned out of the Captivity How were the People of God at that day accused and reproached and that by the wise men of that Kingdom even unto the King Ahasuerus Ezra 4. 15 16. That good City of Ierusalem the Habitation and Dwelling of the Iews and then only named People of God was accused of being a bad rebellious City and hurtful to Kings and that the People moved Sedition therein to the danger of the Revenue of Kings c. And Neh. 4. 2. the People of God were scorned and reproached and called feeble Iews who builded the House of God and it was said in derision of them that a Fox should go up and break down their Wall And also how were the holy Prophets and Servants of God rejected reproached and accused even to the Princes and Rulers of the Earth in Generations past as Daniel to the King how was he accused Dan. 6. 13. and the three Children were accused to the King Dan. 3. 8. and the Apostles were reproached under the slander of being movers of Sedition and such-like Acts. 24. 5. being many times accused and haled before Felix Agrippa and divers others of the Rulers of the Heathen and it was told the Apostles by Christ That all manner of evil should be spoken against them for his Name sake And throughout the whole Scriptures there is very large Testimony how that in Ages past the Servants and People of God were accused and falsly reproached before Rulers and Kings by their Enemies that sought their destruction The truth of this is so clear and full that it needs no further Testimony And as it was in this case in the days of old so is it happened in this day who more now accused and falsly reproached then the Innocent People of God Is not all evil spoken against them and that even to Rulers and Governers and Kings And this is done by their Enemies that seek to destroy them even by such as would not have the Work of the Lord to prosper and his People to be preserved and on this account the cry is great against us every where as if we were Hereticks Blasphemers Seditious and Enemies to Magistracy and Government to Church and Ministry and such like And these with such like have been and are the Accusations against us whereby we are reproached falsly before men and this hath been our portion in this World since we were a People by the Men of this Generation and the very same is come to pass upon us in this case as was upon the People of God in former Generations and as it was done unto them so it is done unto us and therefore we are in Patience under all our Afflictions and Sufferings whether we are persecuted by Actions or Words and for the Name of
the World might condemn him and every sober Subject would cry in their Consciences against him for unjust judgement and cruel proceedings if he upâ—â— report of others through prejudice should act against any people and the Heathen King Agrippa would rise up in judgement against him who would not â—â—â—demn Paul from the Accusation of others without first hearing the Accused â—imself and a Christian King ought to shew as much Mercy Justice and Reason in what he doth as the Heathen Kings have done in the like case And let the King consider this 3. Let him also consider what Enmity and Malice and Rage is in the hearts of these men these Priests I mean of whose Fraternity and Alliance this our Accuser is one and how they seek after innocent blood who are thus ready and â—â—â—â—ard at his first enterance into the Land to present the King with Accusations of Falshood and Reproaches against an innocent people to move his heart if possible to destroy and devour the harmless The spirit and nature of these men are to be considered whose works are often tending to shed blood but if he shall be guided and counselled by such they will lead him into the ditch for they are of the spirit of Envy and Mischief and Mischief rests with them even against all who will not bow under their Authority and submit unto their false Worâ—â—ips And let the King beware of that Generation of men lest they be a snare â—pon him and wound him And I shall now proceed to some other things in his Book to that where he â—aith He doth upon his bended Knees most bumbly beseech the King and the Honourable Parliament that they will first Cut off false Prophets Hereticks and perverse and incorrigible Seducers and â—â—â—â—phemers for these are the Pâ—st saith he of both Church and State 〈◊〉 Answ. I answer to this Many things are considerable to the King and Parliâ—ent and whole Kingdom 1. It is to be considered who these false Prophets Hereticks Seducers and â—â—â—â—phemers are which the Petitioner would have cut off and destroyed â—â—â—m his meaning is of is doubtful for that there are false Prophets Heâ—… Seducers and Blasphemers in these Nations and that very many â—â—is is not doubtful but certainly believed and known but what sort of men 〈◊〉 perfectly who these are distinguished from all others this requireth 〈◊〉 debate and large tryal especially seeing that each sect and sort of â—â—ople cries against others as if they were such and such and this is usual with â—â—â—â—sts Protestants and others to cry for their own Liberty and Toleration a such who are in the right way and each one sort almost desiring and petitiâ—â—â—â—â— the Powers of the Earth against others that are not of their way to deâ—… and cut off such as differ from them as Hereticks and Deceivers but such â—â—â—â—it that seeks to destroy menslives on that account is of Antichrist and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God 2. And if false Prophets Hereticks Seducers and Blasphemers were cerâ—… known and distinguished from others that are not so yet the King 〈◊〉 â—â—â—liament ought not to destroy such and to cut them off from the Earth 〈◊〉 â—…lling of them or executing outward punishments and afflictions upon 〈◊〉 for God hath not committed such power and authority to them neiâ—â—er to be Judges infallibly who are false Prophets Hereticks and Blaspheâ—â—â—â— â—or yet to execute death and outward sufferings upon such as are for these are spiritual matters and Causes to try and judge who deceivers are and to proceed towards Hereticks and Blasphemers and these Cases belong to the Jurisdiction of Christs Spiritual Kingdom and not to any earthly Kingâ— and Rulers at this day 4. And if King and Parliament were able to judge of false Prophets and â—lasphemers and who they are that are such from others that are not yet how contrary to the way of God would it be even to the example of Christ and his Apostles to destroy and cut off by death the lives of such false Prophets and Blasphemers for if men be in an evil way even in the way of Heresie and Error and Blasphemy and be deceived and deceivers of others yet it is not a time to destroy and kill such like as if such should be sent straight to Hell being cut off in their wickedness and in their Error This is not God's way I say for he desires not the death of sinners not to cut men off in their Errors and evil wayes but it s rather the time to instruct and exhort such and to correct and reprove them by sound Doctrine and to win them to the Truth and out of their errors that they may be saved and this Christ and his Apostles gave example for for there were many in their dayes that were false Prophets and Hereticks Seducers and Blasphemers and that were perverse and incorrigible that did Blaspheme against Christ and called him Devil and that did oppose the Gospel and scorned the Apostles and such were Blasphemers and Hereticks but did Christ and his Apostles at all desire that such might be killed and cut off by death Nay they forgave their Enemies and did instruct them by sound Doctrine and sought to win their Persecutors and not to have them killed as this Petitioner would whose Spirit is manifest to be of Antichrist and the Dragon and not of the Lamb and if the request were granted and the lives of such as this Petitioner calls false Prophets cut off then the King and Parliament would rather provoke the Lord against themselves to destroy them then to give unto themselves blessings and peace 5. But they being ignorant who the Deceivers and Blasphemers are and not being equal and just Judges in that case but also divided among themselves about it and it being not committed of God to them to destroy by death of body such as may err in their minds by killing such whom they may suppose false Prophets and they wanting infallible judgement to know who are false Prophets how soon may they destroy and cut off the lives of true Prophets and Christ's Ministers and men that Fear God instead of false Prophets and Blasphemers even for want of true judgement and discerning and because of their own division in judgement in that case for iâ—s possible that some of the Parliament may judge such to be Deceivers whom others of them may judge to be true Ministers and whose judgement then shall stand and also thus it hath often come to pass in the World the true Prophets and Christ himself and the holy Apostles and Ministers of Christ were accounted Deceivers Hereticks and Blasphemers and such like by thâ— Kings and Rulers of the World in former Generations and thâ— true Prophets Christ and his Apostles were persecuted as such and destroyed as such some of them even by the Kings and Rulers of this World till they 〈◊〉 provoked God against them to destroy them and some of them he did bring wrath upon
case are silent and fully determines not this is not acceptable unto God nor of any reward by him either to him or them that forces and compels the keeping of a day nor in that Nation or from that People that so keep it by the Custom of time or the Commands of Men when as their Consciences are not perswaded by the Spirit of God in that case by which way the God of Heaven is onely rightly worshipped and the forcing of observing dayes and things either against pure Conscience or in the ignorance thereof is but Abomination and Idolatry both in the Imposers and in the Imposed and with such Sacrifices God is not well pleased And this is for the King to consider whose greatest wisdom it will be and most pleasing to God in him neither to compel and impose by Rigour the keeping of a day or observing of Practises as partaining to the Worâ—â—â—p of God and Religion nor yet to punish or persecute any for the keeping any day or for observing such or such a Practise in Religion but let every Man do in such Cases even in matters of Faith and Worship towards God and about Religion as they are perswaded in their own Hearts and Consciences without either imposing upon them or persecuting of them in any thing about Religion and let him onely rule and govern in the Cases between man and man and over men in the exercise of earthly Things but between God and Mens Consciences let him take heed how he meddles for there he ought not to rule nor judge but to leave that to the Lord God who alone is sufficient in such things to perswade the Conscience and to judge and rule by his Spirit in all the Matters of his own Kingdom and about Religion â—nd the Observances thereof and this Trust and Power is onely in himself to effect all this by his own Spirit and is not committed to any Earthly King And how I come to the first Branch of his Petition which is in these words saith he I most humbly beg That your Grace will uphold cherish and fâ—ster a Learned and Pious Ministry in your Kingdoms who are accounted vile and laden with Reproaches and such Ministers saith he whose Loyal Constancy and Integrity doth bespeak them to be not time-serving Polititions to gâ—â—tifie mans humours and serve their own Interest but Lux mundi Sal terrae c. Answ. In answer to this let the King wisely and soberly consider 1. That God hath a faithful pious and spiritual learned and true Ministry sent forth by Jesus Christ to convert people to God from sin and wickedness who are indeed God's Ambassadors and Watch-men for souls and are Lux mundi Sal terrae the Light of the World the Salt of the Earth this is most certain and not denyed nor doubted of but who it is and whom the Persons are of and amongst all the many kinds of Ministers and Sects that are now in being in the Nation this is very doubtful to many its possible to the King himself seeing here are in this Nation divers sorts of Ministers as Prelates and Presbyterians so called and divers other sorts all of whom saying they are the true Ministers and they are the pious learned Ministry and that others are Deceivers that differ from them and this is the cry of them all each sort justifying themselves and crying up their Ministry against others and their Ministry and this all of them do with pretence of proving their Ministry by the Scriptures But the Case remains still doubtful to many who is it and who is it not that are the true Ministers and have the true Ministry sent of Christ Jesus seeing one sort as well as another do seem to justifie themselves according to the Scriptures and yet are divided and incontention among themselves to be killing and destroying and persecuting one of another and each sort of others 2. If the King without certain knowledge by the Infallible Spirit of God who the true Ministers of Christ are and who they are not distinguished from all others by infallible Evidence if he do establish and uphold any one sort as the true Ministers and pull down and persecute others as false Ministers and be but doubtful in his own Conscience who are the true Ministers and who are the false how great danger doth he run himself into even to justifie the Wicked and condemn the Righteous and possibly may establish and uphold a false Ministry instead of the true and persecute and destroy the true Ministry instead of the false And this may he soon effect for want of discerning and right judgement in the Case and in so doing vex and displease the Lord God and gain his Wrath and Fury upon him and his Government Therefore it will be great wisdom for him to wait upon the Lord for to receive his Spirit that he may first discern and try between true and false Ministers and Ministry and in the mean time allow Liberty to all alike in their Religion while they walk justly and soberly as men and are not hurtful to the Persons or just Estates of others by their Religion 3. If Liberty be given to one Sect and one kind of Ministry in opposition to others and all other prohibited and persecuted how would this â—â—rage and vex the spirits of many in the Nation against him and his Government and while he gained one sort of men on his part and some Ministers to pray for him he disengaged divers sorts and many would seek God against him and such proceedings would be both contrary to God and of very bad effect in these Nations for men would be provoked in their spirits not to fear any dangers rather then to be held in such captivity under the Ministry and Worship of such whom they in Conscience could not joyn with and there is a woful Example in this Nation of the effect of such prohibition and force for was not that very matter to wit the establishing of one â—ort of Ministers and persecuting others one of the principle Cause of the last bloody War And may not the Nation fear the like now if the same Ground be laid and the Foundation raised as before-mentioned And therefore let this enter into the Heart of the King to consider very weightily But the Petitioner seems to define to the King what Ministers he begs to be upheld and cherished in these words Such whose Loyal Constancy and Integrity do bespeak them to be not time-serving Polititians to gratifie mens humours and serve their own sordid Interests but Lux mundi Sal terrae c. Answ. 1. They who are indeed the true Ministers of Jesus Christ that are called truely of him into that work and are God's Ambassadors neither set this Petitioner a begging for them nor can accept of this his work for Christ's true Ministers are no Beggers neither seek to be approved to Kings nor any Men by Flattery and Deceit but are approved
〈◊〉 so much Money a Year or claiming so much as a Debt of those which may 〈◊〉 do not receive or believe such a Minister is a true Minister of Christ and all 〈◊〉 suing people at Law casting them into Prison about Ministers Maintenance 〈◊〉 not of God but Antichrist and not after the Example of Christ's true Ministers but after the Example of false Prophets and Deceivers And it is a lawful Maintenance at this day of Christ's Ministers That each Minister be maintained by the free Gift of the people under his Ministry and its just that every Minister be maintained by the people to whom he labours and that every Form of Worship maintain their own Ministers how and as they will and if men preach the Gospel let them live of it and let their Gospel maintain them without begging Maintenance of the King or troubling him with such matters as pertain to another state even to the spiritual Government of Christ who calls his Ministers and gives his Gifts to whom he will and sends them out whither he will and their Gospel hath effect to change and convert people and to beget Love in the hearts of people and such as are begotten to God by the preaching of the Gospel can freely give of their carnal things and a Minister of Christ cannot want any thing And therefore let not the King be careful nor troubled about maintaining Ministers but let him maintain his own how and as he pleaseth and leave all his Kingdoms to the like that every sort of people whether Papists Protestants or any others maintain every one their own Ministers how by how much and as they will and this is the way of Lawful Maintenance to every Ministry and not this way of begging of the King And that not Niggardly but Liberally and Sufficiently saith the Petitioner which shews Covetousness and Impudency in any Beggar that they may be encouraged saith the Petitioner c. 5. Now that Ministry whose Dependancy is on outward things and may be encouraged or discouraged by having or wanting large Maintenance this Ministry Jesus Christ never sent forth but it is of man and by the Earthly Powers and not of God for were the Apostles discouraged in the Work of their Ministry when they were in Wants and Necessities and Sufferings and Afflictions as often they were No but they approved themselves the more to be Christ's Faithful Ministers thereby And it may be a very certain Evidence to the King That such who will not go forth to minister without such or such large Benefices and Maintenance by so much Money Tythes or yearly Stipends are not the Ministers of Christ neither were they ever sent of him to preach his Gospel but have run for Gifts and Rewards like Balaam and have not been truly called by Christ Jesus into his Ministry Now I come to the fifth Branch of the Petition which is in these words I humbly beg your Grace That in order to the establishing a learned Ministry to Posterity your Majesty will be a Fosterer and Patron of the Schools and Nurseries of good Learning especially the two once famous Universities of Oxford and Cambridge In Answer hereunto let the King consider 1. That the true and lawful Ministry of Jesus Christ is the absolute free Gift of God to whomsoever the Lord is pleased to give it and it is not bought nor sold for Money nor received by Education and natural Learning but God gives the Gift of Knowledge and Utterance and every part of his Ministry to whom he will so the Apostles received the Ministry and so it is received at this day by all that have it It is not a Natural Science or Art of Knowledge or Utterance but it is the Gift of God and ever was whether to Plough-men or Fisher-men or to whomsoever as the Lord gives it for As every one had received the Gift so they might administer as say the Scriptures 2. That the Establishing of the Ministry pertains to Jesus Christ alone and that it depends upon the Power and Spirit of God to establish his own Ministry and to overthrow that which is contrary and the Lord alone will do it and not man for it is he that sendeth out Ministers whom he will and he defends them and establishes them against the Devil and all their Opposers Neither did ever any of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ beg to the Kings of the Earth Maintenance and Establishment but they knew the Lord and trusted in him and therefore let not the King trouble himself with care in these matters but leave them to the Lord to whom they do belong and let him rule well in outward Affairs and leave the Government of the Church and Ministry to Christ Jesus to whom only it pertains 3. As for Oxford and Cambridge and sending Ministers from thence and making them there by natural Arts and Sciences according to the Custom there used there was no such thing in the Apostles days as making Ministers at Schools and Colledges by natural Learning but as I have said It was by the Gift of God's â—â—â—y Spirit that the Ministers of the Gospel were made and sent forth And this way of making Ministers at Oxford and Cambridge at Schools and Colledges and all that pertains thereunto as the Orders Names and Practices for the most part the very Habits and Degrees of Schools and all that stuff is all come up since the Apostles dayes and that way of creating Ministers and sending them forth was never known not in beeing among the Apostles but much Abomination and Idolatry is brought forth at such places and in such wayes to the Grief and Vexation of the Lord God whose Wrath will break out like Fire to devour Idolatry with the Cause and Ground thereof And happy is that man that partakes not of the Sins of others he shall not partake of the Iudgements And in the last part of the Petition it is craved That the Seminaries of Sin and Satan Wickedness and Vice may be beaten down and suppressed c. Ans. These things are abounding which provoke the Lord to great wrath against the Land Oh! that indeed the King would consider that Iniquity may be stopped and Righteousness brought forth then should the King and Kingdoms and Subjects be made Famous and Dreadful through the World For because of Oppression and Wickedness the Land mourns and the great Judgments of the Lord are at the door except Repentance be made unto God And thus I have in much fear towards God and Honour towards the King laid divers Considerations before him worthy to be minded upon the occasion of the Charge against us by George Willington and it will be Wisdom for the King to consider our Defence as well as of our Enemy's Charge By a Servant of Christ E. B. THE Everlasting Gospel OF REPENTANCE AND REMISSION of SINS Held forth and Declared to the Inhabitants of the Earth that they may Turn and be Converted
Minds of Men and Unsettlement in their spirits and the Foundation of a happy Government is not yet discovered unto many nor do the People walk in the way of Peace but Iniquity is abounding Oppression and Cruelty yet lives Hard-heartedness and Envy Pride and Ambition are not yet cut down neither in all the Governours nor in the Governed and this is not the way of Peace and true Settlement but it is the way of Troubles and Distractions and the very Foundation of great Distractions and Wars rather than of Settlement and happy Government These things are so and therefore true Peace and settlement in good Agreement who can expect because the ground of Distractions and unsettlement is continued and increased rather than abated and removed amongst 〈◊〉 and the true Foundation of Peace and settlement in happy Government is not yet raised up amongst men but because Injustice and Oppressiâ—â— are continued therefore will God be provoked to bring Distractions Wars and Tribulations upon the Kingdoms of all the World and God will â—â—â—found and dash in pieces Powers Authorities Rulers Nations and Peoples and he will break one Potsherd against another and overthrow one Mountain against another and the Hands of cruel Men will God suffer to devour one another and ambitious and malicious Hearts shall be suffered to finish one anothers ends because of their own wickedness and therefore be not deceived Blessedness in the Kingdoms of this World can never be except Iniquity and Transgression be departed from except Oppession and Hard-heartedness dye and except the Foundation of War and Strife be removed and the Foundation of Peace and happy Government be raised up amongâ—â— Men. Again True Peace and settlement in good Government can never be except the Lord alone be owned as Judge and Law-giver and his righteous Laws to be executed in the Earth that Justice and true Judgement may flow down and all the contrary may be stopped and limtted by the just Laws of God and all unjust and unequal Laws made and established in the Ignorancâ— of Men which have not been justly according to the Law of God nor depended thereupon such Laws must also be made void judged and cast out and the Law of God must enter This must be accomplished if ever true settlement in a pappy Peace be amongst us the Laws must be changed the unjust and unequal cast out and just and equal Laws brought in for because hereof while unjust and unequal Laws have been executed in Judgement therefore have we wanted settlement and peace in a happy Government and the cortrary hath been and will continue till all unjust unequal and oppressive Laws be discontinued Again If ever true peace and settlement in a happy Government be amongst men Governours Rulers and Executioners of the Law must be just Persons and righteous Men Men that fear God and hate Covetousness and that depart from every evil way and all ambitious self-seeking and unjust Men must be cast out even all they that have sought themselves and not the Lord in their places of Trust such as have perverted Justice and true Judgement for their own corrupted Ends and such as have been cruel and hard-hearted Oppressors all such as these must be cast out and the Law must not be committed to such to execute neither must such sit in judgement over the People for because hereof and while such men have ruled and governed and executed the Laws no true settlement in a just Government but the contrary hath been even Destractions anâ— Tribulations and while such men do continue to rule and judge and execute the Laws in any part of the World we shall never have a happy Government nor settlement in it in this World nor till just men that have the Spirit of God and sound judgement that are humble and meek patient and merciful and such as fear the Lord and walk in his Wayes be called to rule and judge and execute the Laws and the Laws must be just and holy and the Executioners of them equal and upright men Till these things be accomplished a happy settlement in this Worlds Kingdoms can never be but God will dash one Mountain against another and throw one Hill upon another and he will give no Peace among the Kings of the Earth but stain the glory of all the Worlds Governments till Truth and Righteousness come to reign and till just Laws be executed by just Men and till Mâ—rcy and Justice Truth and Equity flow forth abundantly Therefore all Nations you have been deceived while you have turned up and down from one way and manner and kind of Government to another and from one sort of Governmten to others sometimes you have been for a Parliament sometime for a Protector and sometime for neither from each of these to others you have changed thinking to have peace and settlement in a happy Government but it could not be for there are continuâ—l Distractions untill this day in the minds of Mâ—n and they are yet unsettled in their spirits and there are Heart-burnings and â—nvyings and seeking of Revenge and while these things are nothing but Distractions and Tribulâ—tions not Peace but Troubles even till these things be removed And till â—e have just and equal Laws according to the Law of God established over 〈◊〉 and just and holy and Righteous Men to execute them in Judgement â—pon us and till we have Truth and Righteousness sit on the Throne until this be no true Settlement in a happy Government but Distractions and Contentions and woful Tribulations in the Kingdoms of the World and amongst men and this is certain and according unto the Will of the Loâ—d and in the justness of his Judgement these things come to pass for it is Injustice and Oppressions and want of Mercy and Truth which is the Foundation of Contentions and Distractions and it is Justice and Equity Truth and Righteousness that is the only Foundation of Peace and Settlement and a happy Government for a Perpetual continuance To all False Christians THere are many false wayes in the World and many false kinds of Religions and People are in much disagreement about their Church Worship and Ministry Papists are opposing the Protestants and the Protestants the â—â—pists and there is a great contention in the World But the Papists are in a wrong way and so are the Protestants too and their Religions are both false in many things for whilst they profess Christ and Christianity and make a shew of Righteousness in outward appearance yet many of them live in sinful wayes and bring forth the fruits of Iniquity against the living God and Pride Cheating and Double-dealing Covetousness and Envy Drunkenness and Whoredom and all Wickedness is abounding and brought forth both by the Apostate Christians though they cry up the Name of Christ and the Profession of Godliness yet are they wicked in the sight of God and they are not changed in heart and mind nor do they know the
which he would bring upon others Again The Accuser chargeth us That we would neither have King Magistrate 〈◊〉 Ministers but of our selves c. Answ. 1. I have before mentioned what kind of Rulers and Government we would have even such as are just men and men of Truth and Righteousness and that hate Covetousness and every evil Way and such are of us even such we would have to reign as are approved of God who would be a praise to them that do well and a terrour to Evil-doers and that would only rule and reign for the Lord exercising and executing his Righteous Laws by the Spirit of God and such will be blessed in their Authority 2. And till such only rule and bear the Sword of Justice in the Earth we do know Peace and Happiness can never be in the Kingdoms of the World but divisions and confusions will arise and be brought forth for it is the only blessedness of a Government in any Nation when the Authority it self is just â—ad according to God and when such as bear the execution thereof are just Kings Righteous Magistrates and Ministers of Justice that will judge for God and not for man and we seek not the Place of Government in this World nor do we intrude our selves into such Places though this we say while that spirit reigns and rule in the Nations of the Earth which is not of God but contrary to us Peace and Happiness in good Government amongst men through the World can never be though we are truly subject to whatsoever Authority is set over us by doing or suffering Then the Accuser speaks of teaching the Wayes of Righteousness and saith according to this the Quakers have gone through Ireland and he speaks of God's Wrath following for hardness of Heart and this saith he is just like the Quakers Doctrines now Answ. That the Quakers scornfully so called have gone through Ireland and through many other Nations of the Word to teach and preach Truth and Righteousness this is true and without occasion of an evil Charge against them for so doing and the Lord hath prospered us and been with us to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God and we have Testimony in the Consciences of many for the truth of our Doctrines and Practices and this is not Error nor Heresie to proclaim the Wrath of God because of the hardness of Peoples Hearts for that is the Portion of all hard-hearted men and we are not ashamed of this Doctrine for it is according to the Scriptures of Truth and but that this Accuser is given up to blindness of mind he would never have mentioned these things against us nor used our Names in reproach in this matter And lastly whereas he saith some of the Quakers say they are Jews and are not but are of the Synagogue of Satan and thou chargest Iames Naylor with â—â—ying that he was Christ and that one should say George Fox was Iohn Baptist and such false Prophets and Prophesies we have heard too much of c. Answ. 1 That they say they are Iews and are not are such as have a Name to live but are dead who say and do not but we are not such so this his Charge is false and wicked and of the Synagogue of Satan he doth manifest himself to be by his accusing of the Brethren And as for Iâ—…s Naylor he never said he was Christ through this hath been cast as a foul Reproach upon him by others yet it never was proved against him lawfully noâ— any thing tending thereunto saving that he said Christ was in him as 〈◊〉 iâ— in every Member of his Body according to measure And as for the story of George Fox there are many such lying stories that have gone abroad in these Nations in opposition to the Truth of God made manifest but over all these things Truth â—ath gotten the victory and the Lord's Work must prosper in the Earth and all Lyâ—rs must be confounded and have their Portion in the Lake And this iâ— our Portion from the World as Christ said They shall speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my Name sake but great shall be your Reward in Heaven And this is for a Testimony against them that our Enemies are of the Devil and for a Testimony to us that we are of God And thus I have returned our Defence before you against his several Lyes and Slanders and it s left to the Witness of God in your Consciences to be Judge in this Case between us and him and if you be cloathed with the Spirit of moderation and meekness and will judge according to Equity I doubt not but the Cause is clear against our Adversary who wrongfully and to a wicked and evil intent hath hatched Mischief against us and brought it forth before you and we desire nothing of Revenge towards him for his evil work but do leave him to be rewarded of the Lord who will justly give him and all men according to their Deeds And now I have a few Considerations to present unto you three in particular as such in that capacity who bear rule in this Land 1. Consider how that you are set in Place and Authority and ought to judge and govern for God alone and to be a Terror to all Evil-doers and a Praise to all that do well and the living God requireth of you To do Iustice Truth and Righteousness in the Land to hear the cry of the Widow and Fatherless and to judge uprightly the Cause of the Poor without respect to your own self-ends and ye ought to be meek and humble men in your Places of Care and Trust which iâ— committed unto you and take heed that your hearts be not lifted up in the honour of high Places and so Iudgment Mercy and Truth be neglected and Oppressions and Cruelties be brought forth 2. Consider that if ye do Iustice and Righteousness and walk humbly with the Lord and exercise Mercy and Truth in the Land and hear the Cry of the Poor and deliver the Afflicted then the Lord can make you a Blessing to your selves and to the People But if you be proud and exalted and ambitious and vain-glorious and exercise Cruelty and Oppression and tread down the Poor and vex the Needy and grieve the Lord God by your Iniquities then God will cast you down and lay your honour in the Dust and make you a Curse and a Reproach and your Names and Memorial shall be a stink and the justice of the Lord's Hand shall effect it 3. Consider that ye are Men and not God and your strength flesh and not spirit and there is a God greater than all who is above all who can suddenly in a moment save his People and destroy his Enemies and he can break you down and never raise you up he can turn his Hand upon you and all man-kind as the Potter doth with his Clay even tread
hath redeemed us into Peace and Comfort with God and one with another And as concerning our Principle about Magistracy and Government and obedience thereunto this I do declare 1. We do own and acknowledge Magistracy to be an Ordinance of God instituted of him for the punishing of Evil-doers and for the praise of them that do well and we acknowledge all subjection to Authority Magistracy and Government This is our Principle and hath ever been our Practice known through these Kingdoms that we are subject by doing or suffering to whatsoever Authority the Lord pleaseth to set over us without Rebellion Sedition Plotting or making War against any Government or Governors 2. That Government and Authority which is justly according unto God in all its Statutes and Ordinances we are and do engage to be subject thereunto by full Obedience to all the Commands and Injunctions of such Authority and Government whose Laws Ordinances and Commandments are grounded upon right Reason and Equity which leadeth to do to all men as we would be done unto and punish the contrary to such Government and Authority we are readily subject in all things and cases and we are for the Order and Assistance of such Government in all Righteousness 3. That Government which is contrary unto this which is Injustice commanding and requiring things contrary to the Law of God and imposing upon People in Matters and Cases contrary to Right Reason and Equity whose Commands are different to the Will of God yet to such Government we acknowledge subjection by patient suffering under all Penalties inflicted for disobedience to the Commands which we cannot perform by Obedience for Conscience sake And this is our Principle though an Authority and Government were never so Unjust in it self and in its exercise yet we may not plot nor contrive or make turbulent Insurrections to redeem our selves from such Government and Authority but we must commit our Cause to the Lord in such case of suffering under any unjust Commands of Men. 4. As concerning Church and Ministry and the Exercise of Religion We believe and acknowledge that Christ hath a Church upon Earth and a lawful Ministry and we are not Enemies to Church and Ministry and Gospel-Ordinances as we are falsly reputed by Men ignorant and slanderous but we only bear witness against the corruption and degeneration of the Church of Papists and Protestants so called wherein they are different and contrary to what the Churches of Christ were in the Apostles dayes they are different and contrary I assert to what the Churches of Christ once were in Ministry in its Call and Maintenance in Ordinances and Worship in Discipline and Government in all these things there is difference to what these things were in the true Churches in the Apostles dayes And our Principle is for the reforming of Ministry Church Government Discipline and Worship and not to destroy them 5. As concerning Imposing of Faith and Doctrine and Practices and Worship in Religion by the force of Laws and Penalties in the ignorance of mens Consciences or contrary to their Consciences We do say This Practice never was in the Apostles dayes but is an Intrusion of Antichrist and we bear Testimony against it not to be of God but contrary to him And that outward Government and Authority in Kingdoms and Nations is to be exercised over the outward man in things between man and man and not over the inward man in things between God and mans Conscience in spiritual Matters and Worship and Duty to God-wards No King nor Ruler upon Earth hath Power given him of God to exercise such Authority over the Consciences of Men in the Matters of God's Kingdom And further Religion and Church Government so set up and established by force upon Pains and Penalties can but reform a People into Hypocrisie and false Conformity and not into any real Performance of Religion or Duty to God And such Performance of Religion Church-Fellowship and Ordinances is not unto eternal Life but to the making of men two fold more the Children of the Devil 6. We do believe That it is the Convictions and Teaching of the Spirit of God that doth make men and People only truly Religious It is that only that perswades the Conscience from all Evil unto that which is Good and true Religion and the Worship of God and Duty towards him is not truly learned by Traditions of time Commandments of Men or Custom of Countries or the like but it is the Spirit of God and its Teachings in the Consciences of People that leadeth into all Truth according as Christ hath said so that the Way of forcing Religion and Duty to God upon People by force and outward Penalties this was never known among the Saints and Apostles of Christ. These things are presented to your Considerations The Lord give you a right Understanding of them and that you may walk in the way of your own Peace with God and Man E. B. Written in the 10th Moneth in Ireland 1660. SOME CONSIDERATIONS Presented unto the King of England c. Being an Answer unto a Petition and Address of the General Court of Boston in New-England presented unto the KING as is said Feb. last the Eleaventh Day 1660. Subscribed by Iohn Indicot the chief Persecutor there thinking thereby to cover themselves from the Blood of the Innocent OH King this my Occasion to present thee with these Considerations is very urgent and of great necessity even in the behalf of Innocent Blood hoping that my Work will find such Favour with thee as to induce thee to the reading and serious consideration hereof My Occasion is this Because of a Paper presented to thee called The humble Petition and Address of the General Court at Boston in New-England In which is contained divers Calumnies unjust Reproaches palpable Untruths and malicious Slanders against an innocent People whom they scornfully call Quakers whom for the Name of Christ's sake are made a Reproach through the World and by these Petitioners have been persecuted unto Banishment and Death It is hard to relate the Cruelties that have been committed against these People and acted upon them by these Petitioners they have spoyled their Goods imprisoned many of their Persons Whipped them cut off their Ears Burned them yea Banished and Murdered them and all this I aver and affirm before thee O King wholy unjustly and unrighteously and without the Breach of any just Law of God or Man but only for and because of difference in Iudgment and Practice concerning Spiritual things and without any Transgression of the Law of God or their own Laws saving that they made Laws against them on purpose to spoil their Goods imprison Persons cut off their Ears yea and kill them which Laws were made by them without any Power truly derived from the lawful Authority of England contrary to their Patent And now O King these same men have presented thee with a Petition in which is asserted very many
it hath been in my Heart divers times to declare the Substance of these things unto you but at last I have chosen to write my Mind to present to you concerning the Matters very needful for you to be informed in and it is for your sakes as well as theirs that I have done it that you may not run on to act any thing against them upon Suspitions and Accusations of others without hearing our Defence and therefore it is for the avoiding and stopping of Persecution in the Land for this Cause have I taken in hand Submissively and not Presumptiously to state this Plea before you and I must leave it to your Considerations and cannot impose my Faith upon you to believe as I believe but having laid the Truth before you I shall leave it to the Lord to work Faith and Love and Iustice Mercy and all good things in your Hearts that you may bring them forth in the Exercise of them in the World London the 10th day of the second Moneth 1661. I am a Lover of Justice and Mercy Truth and Righteousness E. B. A Just and Righteous PLEA presented unto the KING of England and his COUNCIL c. CHAP. 1. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning Swearing at all and particularly concerning the Oath of Allegiance 1. WE do acknowledge our selves to be free-born People of this Kingdom of England the Land of our Nativity and we do assert That we have just and lawful Right and Title as such to possess and enjoy our Lives Liberties and Estates both by the Laws of God and Man having never unto this day since we were a People forfeited our Birth-right as men by any Rebellion Sedition Contempt or otherwise but have alwayes been and are a People exercised in the Law of our God by walking justly towards all men and doing to others as we would be done unto and have been and are a Peaceable People under every Government and Authority that hath been over us since the Lord raised us up And I do hereby declare That we now are and shall be Faithful Innocent and Peaceable in our several Stations and Conditions under this present Government of King Charles the second whom we acknowledge supream Magistrate and Governour over this Kingdom and for Conscience sake we are obedient and submissive to him as such in all his Commands either by doing and performing of what he justly requireth or by patient suffering under whatsoever is inflicted upon us in the Matters for which we cannot be obedient for Conscience sake when any thing is required of us different from the just Law of God And to this Subjection to the King and his Government we are bound by the Law of Righteousness and such hath ever been our Principle and Practice and is unto this day even to be Quiet and Peaceable and Patient under every Authority that is set over us and not in Unrighteousness to Plot or Contrive or Rebel against any Government or Governours nor to seek our own Deliverance from Injustice and Oppression in such a way And we are perswaded to seek the Preservation of the King's Person and Authority by all just and lawful Means and not to Rebel against him with carnal Weapons and so far as his Government is in Justice Mercy and Righteousness we declare true and Faithful Subjection and Obedience thereunto and wherein it is otherwise we shall be subject by patient suffering what is unequally imposed upon us and yet not Rebel in any Turbulent way of Conspiracies and Insurrections For our Principles are not for War but for Peace with all men so much as in us lie neither may we render Evil for Evil to any but are to be subject to the King and his Government Actively or Passively upon the Conditions aforementioned And we renounce all Forreign Authority Power and Jurisdiction of the Pope or any else from having any Supremacy whatsoever over the King oâ— any the good Subjects of England And this we Declare Acknowledge and Testifie in the Fear and Presence of God to whom we and all Mankind must give an Account and that without secret Equivocation or any deceitful mental Reservation 2. But as for all Oaths and Swearing we utterly deny for Conscience sake towards God because Christ Jesus hath commanded Not to Swear at all Mat. 5. And the Apostle saith Above all things my Brethren Swear not Jam. 5. And it was the Principle and Practice of divers holy Martyrs even some of the Protestant Church since the Apostles dayes in all Ages Not to Swear at all in any Case so for Conscience sake and according to the Example of Saints in former Ages we do refuse to Swear in this Case of Allegiance to the King and in all other Cases whatsoever and we cannot Swear at all Though the Truth and Verity of all Things in all Cases so far as known to us and as Occasion requireth we can acknowledge and testifie with Yea and Nay as in the Fear and Presence of God and with true Intent and Meaning to discover the Truth as is needful to be known And in this manner we acknowledge just Allegiance to the King and his Government that we shall live Peaceably and not Plot nor Rebel against him according to the Law of God and a safe Conscience but without any Oath or Swearing at all for we may not break the Command of Christ nor walk contrary to the Example of the Apostles and Saints by Swearing though we suffer the Loss of all because thereof And it is our known Principle and Practice ever since we were a People that in no Case whatsoever though of great Dependancy oft times to our selves both in respect of Advantage to us and also in avoiding of Sufferings we have not taken any Oath nor Sworn at all whereby it is manifest that our refusing chiefly to take the Oath of Allegiance is not because it is that Oath but because it is an Oath and for Conscience sake we cannot Swear at all 3. And thus the state of our present Case about this Oath of Allegiance is different from some others from all such who can swear and take Oaths in other Cases to whom taking of an Oath in it self is not matter of Conscience but as for us we make Conscience of an Oath in it self and that upon just Ground as we are able to demonstrate and therefore our Refusal of this Oath of Allegiance gives no Ground at all of Doubt or Suspition concerning us as if we would not live peaceably and quietly under this Government or as if we would Rebel against or Plot to destroy the King's Person or Authority and so deny to take this Oath as if we would leave our selves clear to proceed in such wayes this Judgment cannot justly be given of us because we deny to Swear at all in all Cases which if it were not so but that we could Swear in other Cases and not in this then we might justly be the more suspected
that we had a reserve against the King's Person and Government and our living Peaceably might be the more doubted of but being our known Principle and Practice alwayes Not to Swear at all in any Case whatsoever this removeth all Ground of Jealousie or Cause of Suspition of us in this Case And also we being ready to confess all just Authority and Power to the King to declare Obedience thereunto solemnly and sincerely and that we shall live Peaceably and quietly under his Government and not to Plot or Rebel against him and this to confirm by Yea and Nay our Testimony of this kind may as justly be taken and stand as effectual and be as faithfully performed as the Oaths of any others for we make Conscience to perform what we say in Yea and Nay as much as any do to perform what they Swear and this is known of us in the Consciences of our Enemies So that in Good Conscience and Just Reason and Equal Justice we are excusable from all Penalties and Forfeitures in that behalf of denying the OATH of ALLEGIANCE 4. And the King and his Government is not the less safe and secure though we refuse to swear Obedience to them nor could they be any safer or securer if we contrary to our Principles and Consciences were forced by Penalties to swear Allegiance for by the same Principle which keeps us from Swearing and by which we deny it we must be preserved to live Peaceably and not to Plot nor Rebel against the King and if we renounce our Principle and our good Conscience and be induced to swear against our Consciences what likelyhood is there to perform such a forced Oath taken contrary to our Consciences and Principles For if we swear to the King and his Government because of the Fear of Men and to save our Estates c. and this contrary to our Consciences it might well be suspected of us that at Opportunity we would break such Oaths for fear of Men or some Self-end On the other hand If we had already renounced our good Consciences so that it more appears we shall perform good Obedience to the King and his Government acknowledgâ—d by Yea without an Oath and in good Conscience then by Swearing forced on us contrary to our Consciences therefore our Yea may better be accepted in this Case then Swearing can be demanded of us And also If we should Change with the Times and Renounce our Principles and Consciences and Swear we should make our selves Ridiculous and a Scorn to all men and bring our selves into a capacity not ever to be trusted in any Case if we should bow and bend to Times and Powers and for Terror of â—en deny our Religion as other Hypocrites and I very well believe the King would not trust us in our Allegiance any whit the better but rather the worse though we did swear and fawn and flatter with him contrary to our Principles neither could he reasonably judge himself the safer nor more happy nor that we would be truly subject the more to his Authority if we swore and conformed in things by Force contrary to our Consciences and Principles for himself knoweth that Oaths and Engagements made and taken by Force and for Fear in Straits are seldom or never truly performed but alwayes broken And of the like Case there are large Testimonies in the Kingdom of many that have sworn promised and engaged and sometimes by Force and Fear to this kind of Government and another and yet at Oportunities and for their own Self-ends have broken all Oaths and Engagements and Rebelled against the very Persons and Authorities to which they have sworn and engaged Fidelity and Allegiance so that many are not the more to be trusted though they swear Allegiance For the Proverb saith He that will Swear will Lâ—e and he that is forced to swear against his Conscience will hardly perform his Oath And we are no less to be trusted though we Swear not for we never yet engaged our selves by Oath to any Governours or Government and yet we never Rebelled or Plotted against any but have lived Peaceably and in a Patient Suffering Condition under all that have sitten on the Throne since we were a People And therefore our living Peaceably under the King's Government cannot justly be doubted of though we cannot engage the same by swearing But yet if we do not live quietly and in good Obedience as Peaceable People but do Rebel Plot c. then we refuse not to suffer the Pains Penalties and Forfeitures as such that swear and do not perform their Oaths I say If we do not live Peaceably but Plot and Rebel against the King and his Government then let us suffer the same in every particular as if we had sworn and not performed our Oath 5. All these things rightly considered it doth fully appear 1. That we are not Enemies neither in present Action nor future Intent to the King's Person or Authority 2. Nor that we refuse to acknowledge Just Authority to King Charles the Second as supream Magistrate over these Kingdoms 3. Nor doth it appear that we are otherwise than Peaceable and Quiet People under the King's Government 4. Nor is it manifest but that we are ready to acknowledge so to continue in all Good Conscience and Righteousness And therefore we do appeal to the God of Heaven and to King Charles and to all people whatsoever That our present Sufferings by Imprisonment and whatsoever else we may suffer in this Case for refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance it is not for Plotting against the King nor for refusing to acknowledge Just Authority to the King nor for denying just Obedience to him and the good Laws of the Land nor for denying to live peaceably in the Kingdom under the King's Authority because to all this we acknowledge solemnly in Yea and Nay Neither are our Sufferings in this Case for any Evil-doing towards God or Men but our Sufferings are for keeping the Command of Christ which to us is Matter of Conscience to perform more than to save our own Lives and Estates and our Sufferings are because we cannot Swear at all and not because we are Rebellious or that we deny just Allegiance to the King and such our Sufferings are not as Evil-doers nor Justly and Righteously as Offenders because we are not guilty of Evil in this Case towards God nor Man and our Sufferings are Cruel Persecution for our Tender Conscience sake and for the Name of Christ Jesus And we call God and just Men to witness between us and our Prosecutors that as Saints and Servants of God we suffer in this Case and for our Faithfulness and Obedience to the King of Heaven and not for Evil-doing or Disobedience to King Charles and his Authority And if any be persecuted on this Case for Refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance to the Ruin of Persons Wives and Families in this World then we shall have Cause
to say Occasion is Wrongfully taken against us to destroy us and we are proceeded against contrary to the End of Just Government which is To preserve the Peaceable and not to destroy them and contrary to the KING 's former Promises who hath said We should not suffer for Matters of our Religion and Conscience living Peaceably in the Land And if we suffer because we cannot Swear at all such our suffering is for our Conscience sake and we are therein Persecuted Unrighteously as Innocent People and without just Cause And we must commit this our Cause to God who regardeth the Oppressions of his People and will avenge their Cause in his season And for the present this is all I have to say and present concerning this Case of Swearing and concerning the Oath of Allegiance CHAP. II. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning our Meeting together to Worship God 1. WE do Meet together in the Name of Jesus Christ and in his Power and Spirit and we do come together in the Fear of God to wait upon him and to receive the Teachings of his Holy Spirit and his Council to direct us in all our Wayes how to walk Righteously towards God and Men and in our Meetings we practice our Hearts and Minds in Godliness and speak of the Things of the Kingdom of God in Preaching the Word of God and in Prayer to Him according as his Holy Spirit guideth us which is given us of God to lead us into all Truth according to his Promise Iohn 16. 13. and that we may edifie one another in the Wayes of Holiness and Truth for the benefit of our souls and this is according to the Scriptures For they that feared the Lord met often together and spake one to another and edified one another And this is our Principle That it is our Duty to God-wards to meet together and that he requires it of us and for the exercise of our Consciences to him it hath been alwayes and is our Practice to meet together in the Exercise of the worship of God as aforesaid and not for any other End as in Contempt of Authority or to Plot or Contrive or to Meditate Evil against the King or his Government or any of his Subjects we have no such end I say in meeting together But our alone only and absolute End in our Meeting is to worship the Lord our God and to serve him and to wait upon him in obedience to his Will and for good Conscience sake as our Duty towards him 2. And this our Practice of Meeting together for the End and Cause mentioned if it be in publick Houses or more private in Upper Chambers or in the open Fields on what day soever is Lawful and Just in the sight of God and is according to the Example of the Primitive Saints and provable by the Scriptures as in Acts 1. 13 14. And when the Disciples and Saints returned from Jerusalem they went up into an upper Chamber both Men and Women and Waited upon the Lord and continued with one accord in Prayer and in Supplication And in Acts 20. 7. 8. The first day of the â—…k the Saints met together and Paul preached unto them and continued his Sermon till Midnight holding forth the Matters of the Kingdom of God And they were met in an upper Chamber from whence Eutychus fell down And Acts 28. 30 31. And Paul remained two full Years preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in his own hired House in Rome and he exhorted the Saints Not to neglect meeting together as the manner of some was whom he reproved Heb. 10. 25. By which Testimonies with divers others that might be given it is manifest that the Saints of God in former Ages did meet together to worship God and to wait upon him in Prayer and Preaching as the Spirit of the Father taught them that dwelt in them And sometime they met publickly and sometime more private and sometime on the day time and some in the night season and they met separate from the Synagogues and wayes of publick Worship among the Iews according to the Will of God and as it was ordered amongst them And thus it is manifest That our Meeting for the Worship of GOD at this Day though they are separate from the Way of Publick Worship of the Kingdom and are in more private Houses are justifiable being after the Example of the Saints and according to the Scriptures of Truth and therefore our Meetings are according to the LAW of GOD Just and Lawful 3. And forasmuch as by Reason of the late Insurrection of some few Persons in London our Lawful Assembling of our selves together in the Worship of God is under present Restraint and Prohibition and by Proclamation forbidden under the Denomination of Seditious and Unlawful Meetings and our Friends Imprisoned and persecuted for that Cause of Assembling themselves to wait upon God Now in this Case this I plead unto the King That we are no manner of way guilty of that Insurrection upon which the Proclamation of forbidding our Meetings was grounded and therefore ought not to suffer with the guilty being Innocent from the very Occasion of that Proclamation And for the King to prohibit our Meetings for and because of the ill Use that others made of theirs this seems a Condemning of the Innocent with the Guilty which is no way just in the sight of God nor men but altogether unequal that we should suffer for other mens Fault though such did abuse their Liberty and pervert the End of their Meetings into rising up with Carnal Weapons against the King so did not we neither in Intent nor Action and therefore our Meetings ought not to be prohibited for the Cause of other mens Faults and Miscarriages in that Case And also We have the King's Promise divers times That we should not suffer for our Religion while we acted nothing against the Peace of the Kingdom and Government which yet we never have done nor made any ill use of our Meetings nor of the King's Promises nor forfeited them and therefore according to his own Promises we ought to have our Meetings and enjoy them without Restraint because we have not forfeited the benefit of his former Promises in that behalf nor ever made use of our Meetings to Plot or Conspire against the Government to its Harm or Detriment and because of our Innocency herein the Benefit of his former Promises are yet in force unto us to protect our lawful Meetings and not to prohibit them And though upon Suspition only our Meetings have been Restrained and our Friends Imprisoned by the late Proclamation yet we being proved Innocent and without Guilt of that which occasioned it the KING and Council may and ought in Justice and good Reason to Reverse and Revoke that part of the Proclamation related to us as being Innocent that we may enjoy our lawful Meetings according to the Scriptures and Example of Saints and according to
Christians that believed in Jesus Christ gave paid or receiv'd Tythes I say There is no Example at all by either Precept or Practice leâ—t us on Record That any of the Ministers of the Gospel in the Apostles dayes did pay or receive Tythes for any Ministerial Office nor otherwise But we do â—â—â—â—â—ve That none of the Christians in the first nor second Age after Christ since his Resurrection did institute pay or receive Tythes as Maintenance of Gospel-Ministry But we believe That the Ministers of Christ whom he sent forth to preach the Gospel after his Ascention did bear witness to the New Covenant and to Jesus Christ the Substance and against Temple Sacrifices Tythes and first Priesthood and the Worship of the first Covenant and said That Covenant was faâ—lty and none could attain Perfection as pertaining to the Conscience in it and therefore God took that Covenant away that he might establish a better Heb. 8. 6 7. Heb. 6. 19. And also Divers of the holy Martyrs since the Apostles dayes as William Thorâ—s and others Did preach down Tythes and denyed the Payment of them and for Conscience sake to God could neither give nor receive Tythes but fully witnessed against them though they suffered for it in their dayes So that 1st We have no Example from the Apostles nor Christians in their dayes to pay Tythes but rather the contrary for we have Testimony from them That the first â—ovenant and Priesthood with all Shaddows and Ordinances thereunto belonging whereof Tythes was one were disanulled finished and ended by the coming of Christ and a new Covenant established in which nothing is signified of paying Tâ—…s From whence it may appear to all that Tythes are ended and not to be paid in the New Covenant 2d We have clear Example from the Martyrs since the Apostles dayes not to paâ— Tâ—thes for divers of the Protestant Martyrs call'd the Fathers of their Church did 〈◊〉 against Tythes and refused to pay any 3d We believe in our own Consciences That Tythes as receiv'd and paid in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are not of any Institution of God nor exercised to any good Use and End 〈◊〉 â—â—â—t they are of Antichrist and Oppression and Unjust Exactions and Impositions upon the poor People of these Kingdoms and therefore we do refuse to pay Tythes and we cannot for good Conscience sake And the Exercise of our Consciences herein in denying to pay Tythes is well and lawfully grounded upon the Coming of Christ and upon the Example of the Apostles and Martyrs And thus in brief I have shewed concerning Tythes and why we refuse to pay them and the matter of our Consciences in that Case 4. As for Tythes as now demanded paid and received in these Kingdoms we know they are not of heavenly Institution nor for a good use and end ordained and practised but as they are now paid both in these Kingdoms and through Christendom they are of Popish Institution and were first ordained paid and received by the Authority of the Church of Rome and were unequally imposed upon the Nations through her Authority for the use and end to maintain her Priests and Clergy and Church and the Institution and payment of Tythes among Christians was not till near 400. Years after Christ as Hystorians say and for divers Ages after that there were no Laws enjoyning and forcing the payment of them not till about the Year 786. that Pope Adrian the first sent two Legates into England to make a Decree that the People of two Kingdoms to wit Merce-land and Northumberland should pay Tythes By these and other Testimonies it is manifest that the payment of Tythes amongst Christians had their first Original from the Church of Rome and by Succession from thence and not from the Apostles are Tythes paid given and received at this day in these Kingdoms and the Institution payment and use and end of them is not according to the Law of Moses at all for Tythes as then amongst the Iews ordained and paid were for the happy use to feed the Poor the Widdows and the Fatherless in Israel that there should not be a Beggar amongst them But the use and end of the payment of them now in these dayes is for the maintaining a company of Priests in their Pride and Fulness and the Poor and the Strangers may starve and lie begging up and down at the corners of the Streets so that we cannot for Conscience sake at this day pay Tythes 1. Because the first Institution of them among Christians was not from Heaven nor from Christ Iesus nor his Apostles but from the Pope and Church of Rome 2. Because the use and end of Tythes is not according to God nor Righteousness but for the maintaining the Priests in Pride and Fulness and their Families and in the mean time the Poor want 3. Because the continued payment of them is Exaction and Imposition contrary to the Gospel of Liberty and Peace upon the Persons Estates and Consciences of many good People in these Kingdoms 5. All these things rightly and justly considered it is manifest and plainly apparent to all good men that this matter of denying to pay Tythes is a clear case of Conscience with us and that we have sufficient ground to make Conscience hereof and for good Conscience sake we may justly refuse and deny to pay Tythes and the exercise of our Consciente herein is bottomed upon a right Foundation as I have made appear and it is not for Covetousness to our selves nor in contempt of Authority nor in wilfulness to wrong any man of his just Right nor for any other evil end that we do refuse to pay Tythes but it is for Conscience sake only and alone for that end that we may keep our Consciences clear in the sight of God by our Faithfulness in denying of what we are convinced of to be evil and not of God as I have shewed we are in this case of Tythes and we dare not sin against God by disobedience to him nor uphold the payment of Tythes in these Kingdoms which are so evil both in their Ordination and in their Use and End as paid in these days as I have shewed for if we should we might offend his Spirit and our own Consciences and bring anguish upon our Souls and be guilty of denying of Christ and his coming and of making void the New Covenant and of walking contrary to the Examples of the Apostles and holy Martyrs and of upholding Antichrist and his Kingdom These with many other Evils we run our selves into if we should pay Tythes in these days and after the Romish Institution and therefore it is for Conscience sake that we do refuse to pay Tythes And whatsoever we do suffer because thereof it is Persecution and for and because we cannot sin against our God and it is not for Evil doing for Rebellion nor for Transgression against the Law of God nor the just Laws of men but it is for holding the
execute Laws in these Kingdoms and in all the Kingdoms of the World and such would be a Blessing in the Earth and the Governments under such and in the Execution of their Hands would be Blessed and Prosperous and all good Men would have cause to rejoyce therein and all Evil-doers and Transgressors would be limitted and made afraid if so be the Laws be Just Holy and Righteous and according to Equity and the Holy Law of God in all things and the due Execution of such Laws committed to Just and Righteous and Meek Men that love Judgment Mercy and Truth and would execute them in the Earth Then the happy and blessed Government will be exalted and Truth and Righteousness would reign as Judge on the Throne and in this shall all Nations and Kingdoms be prosperous and blessed when it cometh to pass 3. And as for this present Authority and Government now in being under the Name of King Charles the Second we do believe and acknowledge That according to the Purpose and Will of God and of his bringing to pass this present Government and Authority is set up and into its present being established The Lord I say hath suffered it to be effected for the Cause and End and Time and Purpose known to himself and not to mortal man And thus this Government and Authority is of God being brought in and set up in opposition to and for the reproof and correction of such as went before who had neglected Mercy Truth Judgment and Righteousness in the Earth till it was time for the Lord to cast them out and reprove them and make them a Desolation before their Enemies and this Authority was judged of the Lord fit for that use and end and reserved to be brought in as a Rod of God in his Hand to correct and smite many People And it is right in the sight of the Lord that this Authority should have this time and season to be exercised in these Kingdoms to try and prove both it self and all under it if so be that Truth Justice and Righteousness Mercy and Peace may be brought forth it these Kingdoms through it that God may establish it for long continuance and it is now a trying and proving to make it self happy and blessed or otherwise to bring it self into contempt and dishonour and accordingly as Truth Justice Mercy Judgment and Peace is brought forth by it or the contrary brought forth by it so must the Just and Equal Effects and Reward of it be from the Hand of God and it is only just Judgment Mercy and Truth Righteousness Relieving the Oppressed and the doing thereof that can alone make the Person and Government of the King Happy Blessed and Honourable in this World and hereafter and the contrary if it be brought forth must needs bring Confusion Discontents and all miserable Judgments and to say no more of it this is my present Judgement of the King and his Authority both in respect of their coming in and the Cause thereof and the Fruits and Effects that must follow which is not otherwise Determined of God but according to Desert and Merit of walking in Truth Justice and Righteousness or in walking otherwise 4. Our Obedience to this Authority must be according as before declared in the Plea of the first Case concerning Allegiance to wit For Conscience sake to God we are bound by his Iust Law in our Hearts to yeild Obedience to it in all Matters and Cases actively or passively that is to say in all just and good Commands of the King and the good Laws of the Land relating to our outward Man we must be obedient by doing and not withhold our Just Obedience but in the Cases of Conscience to wit in the Matters of Duty to God and of Worship Faith and Religion towards him we must only be obedient to God for it is he that teacheth and requireth Obedience in all those things and if any thing be commanded of us by the present Authority which is not according to Equity Iustice and a good Conscience towards God to be done by us we must in such Cases obey God only and deny active Obedience for Conscience sake and patiently suffer what is inflicted upon us for such our Disobedience to Men and we must choose Obedience to God rather than man though we suffer because thereof And this is our Principle and hath ever been our Practice to obey Authority by doing or suffering not disputing whether the Authority in it self be absolute of God or not yet being an Authority over us we are to obey it either by doing or suffering because it is an Authority and not to plot rebel or rise up with carnal Weapons against it and thus must our Obedience be to the King and his Government And if that in any thing of the Commands of the King we cannot be obedient for Conscience sake in the Cases of Conscience and when ought is required different or contrary to the Law of God we have Example hereof in the Scriptures of many of the Servants of God that could not in all things yield Obedience to the Laws of Nations and Commands of Kings when they required ought to be obeyed contrary to their pure Consciences as in the Case of the three Children Dan. 3. they could not obey the Law and Command of the King though it was absolute but refused Obedience and suffered for it and Daniel also himself disobeyed the King's Law and Commands Dan. 6. and the Apostles the same when they were commanded by the Authority of that City and County To preach no more in the Name of IESUS Act. 4. 17 18. They did not obey the Command of the Rulers in that Case but went on and preached Iesus in disobedience and contrary to the Command of the Rulers And by these and many other Examples it is apparent that it is justifiable in the sight of God and that it was practised by the Servants of God in former Ages even Disobedience to Kings and Authority in the Matters and Cases commanded contrary to the Law of God and a good Conscience and their Example may justifie such now in the same Practice in the same Case if they walk therein by the same Principle 5. And thus it is manifest That if we at any time be found not in full obedience by doing in all Cases and Things to the Laws and Authority of this Kingdom it is not out of contempt unto or Rebellion against the King's Person or Government it is not I say on that account but for good Conscience sake and because we must obey God rather than man when and where their Com mands stand in opposition the one to the other and this is that we may keep our Consciences clear in the sight of God from disobedience against him which is our care and endeavour by all means and when any thing is required of us to be done which we cannot do with a clear Conscience in
the sight of God such Commands we cannot yield Obedience unto and yet it is not out of Wilfulness Stubbornness Contempt or Rebellion against the Authority but it is for this End and Cause that we may not sin against God nor against our own Consciences by doing any thing that is contrary thereunto lest we should bring the Wrath of God upon our own Consciences so that all these things rightly considered it doth appear 1. That we acknowledge Magistracy and Authority to be the Ordinance of God to be exercised and executed in the Kingdoms of the World among men 2. That Iust and Righteous men are the only Persons fit to execute Iust Laws and Authorities in the Earth 3. That we acknowledge this present Government of King Charles and that according to the Purpâ—se of God it is now set up 4. That we are to be obedient by doing or suâ—â—eriâ—g in all things to the Authority of the King as the Supream Authority 5. That if in any case we are disobedient thereunto and cannot wholly perform every Command by doing yet it is for Conscience sake to God and that we may not sin against him and not out of Rebellion or Contempt of the King or his Power And all these things truly considered if we do suffer Tribulations Afflictions and Imprisonments under and by this present Authority for and because of our Profession and Practice of Religion without evil or wrong doing to our Neighbours Persons or Estates though we do not in the things contrary to our Consciences obey actively this present Authority yet we are persecuted for the Name of Christ and as so we receive our Sufferings and not as for Contempt or Denial of Authority or as Rebellion against it but for Conscience sake to God our Sufferings are and our unjust Persecution will be upon our Enemies in the effect and reward thereof with great Indignation and Wrath from the Lord God that rewards all according to their works Thus much about Government And now I shall shew what Persecution is in it self CHAP. VI. Concerning Persecution what it is in it self and how great an Enemy it is to the King's Person and Authority 1. PErsecution is when a Person or a People do suffer Tribulation Affliction Imprisonment Bonds or Death whether by a Law or without the Law for and because of his or their Principle and Practice in Religion As when a Person or a People are reproached falsly accused imprisoned or put to death only for and because of their Religions sake when as no evil-dealing in the things between man and man can be justly charged and proved against them but only because they are righteous and walk in the Wayes of the Lord and cannot conform to the Wayes and Vanities of this World but are separated from it in its Prophaneness and in its formal Profession also of Religion and because thereof Sufferings are imposed upon them while yet they walk justly innocently and harmlesly towards all men This is Persecution for Conscience sake and such are persecuted if so be they suffer for and because of Righteousness sake and because they will not deny their Principles nor Profession of ReÌ„ligion nor conform to Times nor Laws contrary to a good Conscience and yet suffer because hereof this is Persecution 2. Persecution is when a Person or a People is afflicted and any kind of sufferings imposed upon them whether by any Authority or without Authority and only because they are of such a Profession and Practice in Religion though yet their Profession and Practice in their Religion is not perfectly according to God nor by the Exercise of that Spirit of God ruling in their Consciences in such their Religion yet if they suffer only for their Religion sake while yet they walk uprightly as men in all outward Affairs relating to the outward Man this also is Persecution and such are persecuted for their Religions sake though not wholy for Righteousness sake and none ought to suffer as such under the Authority of any King Prince or Power but if such do suffer as I have said and that for their Religions sake only so though yet their Religion is not perfectly according to God yet they are persecuted and this is Persecution And thus I have in short described defined what Persecution is in it self and who it is that are persecuted and I shall now shew how great an Enemy Persecution for Conscience and Religions sake is unto the King's Person and Authority Persecution for Conscience sake and for Difference in Matters of Religion is a great Enemy to the Person and Government of the King it is I say a destroying and devouring Enemy and the Fruits and Effects thereof may work terrible Destruction yea this Enemy Persecution hath often wrought Overthrow in Kingdoms Let the King strive to be delivered speedily from this great Enemy which is fierce and cruel and may work woful Effects in this Kingdom also and the King may be more blessed in his Person and Government if he remove far from him this Enemy Persecution 1. It is his Enemy because its Effect is To eat out the Affections of many good and sober People from the King and may make their Love and Affections dye to the King's Government when they behold and consider the Persecution of many good and peaceable People for Righteousness and good Conscience sake whenas no Evil-doing between man and man can justly be laid to their Charge but only for the matter of their Religion and the exercise of their Consciences towards God and if such suffer cruel Imprisonment unjust Fines and grievous Vexations for such Cause it may weaken and eat out the Affections of good People and divert their Love and good Desires from the King and his Government in which such Persecution is brought forth and that which diverts the Peoples Love from the King is his great Enemy and such is Persecution 2. Persecution is the King 's great Enemy Because it may kindle Heart-burnings Envyings Strifes and Murmurings among his Subjects while some are tollerated in the Profession and Practice of their Religion and others persecuted and imprisoned for the same Cause and this kind of dealing exerciseth the King's Subjects in harsh dealing one towards another and gives great Occasion for Quarrelling Envies Debate and Malice one against another even when some execute Persecution upon others hailing them to Prison spoiling their Goods and the like And this kind of dealing I say whilst the Authority of the Land persecutes one sort of the King's Subjects by the hands of others it tendeth much to great Division and Distractions amongst the people and it is not for the King's safety but for his great Dishonour and Disadvantage every way to have the people divided into Heart-burnings and Quarrellings against one another and therefore Persecution is the King 's great Enemy because it worketh such evil Effects 3. It is his great Enemy Because it is contrary to the Trust which
God hath reposed in him in promoting him to be King over these People for God hath not committed Power to him to judge in the Cases of mens Consciences and to persecute any because of the Exercise thereof whether they be of this Profession and Practicé in Religion or the other yet living peaceably and uprightly as men he ought not to persecute us nor to suffer them to be persecuted by nor under his Authority but he ought to defend and preserve all mens Persons and Estates in their Just Rights from the Violence each of others without respect to what their Profession and Practice of Religion is but if the contrary be brought forth it is contrary and not answerable to the End of God's Restauring him to these Kingdoms and if he doth not what God hath justly called him unto but otherwise this is his Enemy and such is Persecution for Conscience sake it is contrary to the End of Just Government and wherefore God hath restored him and therefore this Persecution is an utter Enemy both to the King's Person and Authority 4. It is his Enemy Because it provokes the God of Heaven and Earth over all to be offended with him for he is provoked and vexed because of the Persecution of his People in this Age as ever he was in all Ages and if the King be guilty thereof it incurreth God's great Displeasure against him For God was ever offended with Kings Rulers and whomsoever that were Persecutors and he is the same at this day and whatsoever it is that provokes God to Anger against the King that is his Enemy And such is Persecution of People for the Profession and Practice of their Religion whenas no Evil can be charged upon them in things between man and man and therefore let the KING beware of this Woful ENEMY that waits to wound him for if the God of Heaven be provoked against him how great is that Enemy which brings it to pass 5. It is the King's Enemy Because it not only provokes the Lord to Anger but to Judgment Persecution is the Cause wherefore God bringeth grievous Iudgments and Vengeance upon whomsoever are guilty thereof and the Effect of Persecution is Plagues and Misery and it incenseth God to Anger and also to Destroy and therefore let the King beware of such a deadly Enemy as should Cause God to destroy him And such an Enemy is Persecution of God's People for Conscience sake it draweth down the Wrath of God upon Kings and Kingdoms upon Rich and Poor upon High and Low that are guilty of it for it is the fulfilling of all other Sins and it hasteneth to bring Destruction upon all that are guilty and this Effect it will work upon the King even this his Enemy Persecution if he turn not from it and overcome it and Banish it from him for it is the Cause of both Inward and Outward Internal and External Plagues and Iudgments of God 6. Persecution it is an Enemy to the King Because it will work to weaken the Hands of Iust and Sober and Righteous Men it will weaken their Love and Affections and it makes their Hearts sad And Wo is unto them that make sad their Hearts whom God doth not make sad and this doth Persecution And it doth not only weaken the Hearts and Hands of the Righteous and Sober Persons but it strengthens the Hands of the Rude Ungodly and Prophane through the Land and that which strengthens the Wicked and the Rude Multitude in Wantonness Scorning and Prophanness that is the King's Enemy but such is Persecution for a good Conscience sake And because it weakens the Righteous in their Good and Upright Wayes and strengthens the Wicked in their Evil Wayes therefore it is an Enemy unto the King 7. Persecution is an Enemy unto him Because it tends to render him dishonourable both in the sight of God and all good men through the World for it will shew that he is cruel and bitter and perverse and that he wanteth Humility Meekness Forbearance and Patience if he be guilty and this is dishonourable to have and profess Evil Qualities and Properties and to be without the Good and by persecution this will be made manifest to all the World and ever was in all Ages that the Persecutors of good Conscience gained unto themselves Dishonour and Reproach of all good men in all Ages after them for they were men full of Rage and Malice and Passionateness and wanted Patience and Humility and this made them Dishonourable And the Case will be the same with the King if he be a Persecutor for Conscience sake and he will be Dishonourable both in this present Time and in Ages to come and this by Persecution and therefore it is his Enemy that will work many Mischiefs and Evils upon him if he be not wholy delivered from it 8. Persecution is an Enemy to the King's Person and Authority because Persecution for Conscience sake is of the Devil it is of his spirit and not of the Spirit of God to Persecute Imprison Kill and Destroy mens Persons and Estates because of their Religions sake whenas no unjust Dealing nor Unrighteous Conversation can be justly laid to their charge but only for and because of such Profession and Practice in Religion to persecute any because hereof this is of the Devil and that which is of the Devil is the King's Enemy and an Enemy to all Mankind and such is Persecution and therefore it is a deadly mortal Enemy which wounds Kings Princes and Rulers that ever have had friendship with it and therefore let the King avoid this great Enemy lest its Effects prove miserable 9. It is the King's Enemy Because it is according to the Example of all the wicked King's and Rulers that ever have been through Ages and Generations as of Pharaoh Ahab Herod Nero and many more who were Persecutors of People for Conscience sake who gained unto themselves thereby Reproach Infamy and Misery from God and men and to follow their Example is the King's Enemy and such is Persecution If he should persecute for Conscience sake and about Religion and the Worship of God then he follows the Example of wicked Kings and this will be his Enemy and will work woful effects if so be he walk in the steps of the Persecutors of old love that which is his Enemy 10. Persecution is the King's Enemy Because the End and Effects thereof is Misery and Destruction upon all that persecute the Heritage of God What was Pharaoh's end and Herod's end and Nero's end was not their end woful and miserable to God and shameful to men And Persecution for Conscience sake will bring the same Effects at this day The End of all Persecutors will be Misery and Shame even in the day of the Lord when he comes with Iudgment and Vengeance and to reward every man according to his deeds then will He reward Persecution and Persecutors with his fierce Wrath and they shall
know the Iustice of God's Iudgments executed upon them And therefore happy will the King be if he keep himself clear and put far from him this Enomy Persecution Three Considerations I have to present unto the King for Conclusion 1. THe Strength and Safety and Prosperity of the King and his Government stands in the Union good Affection and Love of his Subjects and the People of these Kingdoms one to another and to the King and the more that the People of the Kingdoms are in Love and Union and good Affection one with another and to the King the more strong and safe and prosporous thereby is the King and his Government and the more like for a long and happy Continuance and Establishment And it is the Love and Union and Affection of the Sober and Grave and Just and Upright People and of the Meek of the Land that is the King's Strength and Safty and will much tend to his Prosperity and to the Establishment of his Government and Authority and the King's Safety and Strength and Prosperity doth not depend upon the Affections and Acclamations of the Ruder Sort and of the Wild Multitude though such profess great Subjection and cry up the King and his Government and drink his Healths and Swear the Destruction of all his Enemies and have much Love and great Union for the King and are for him to serve him and Swear Fidelity and Engage themselves very highly in Words and Gestures for the King yet the King and his Government is no whit the safer nor more strong nor prosperous because hereof For his Prosperity and Establishment dependeth upon the Love and good Affection of the Just and Upright and Temperate and Meek Men of the Kingdoms and not upon the Love of the Rude Multitude such cannot be a Blessing to him in their Vaunting and Boasting and Rudeness nor can he stand by them but must stand in the Establishment of his Government by the Love of such as fear the Lord and depart from all Iniquity by the good Affection of such and their Faithfulness and Love may the King be happy and blessed Therefore let him strive to please such and to gain their good Affections to be united to him and this may add to his long Continuance 2. It is the doing of Justice and Truth and allowing all Just and Equal Liberty to all People under his Authority that will gain upon the Hearts of all Just and Good People And as Righteousness Mercy True Judgment and Truth is brought forth in the Land and all the contrary limitted in the King's Government this will gain much upon the Hearts and Affections of all good People to be united in Love one to another and to the KING And this is the way of the King's Prosperity and to make his Government established if so be that he exercise his Rule and Authority in Love and Meekness and Equal Iustice and Mercy and love Righteousness and Truth and hate and deny all the contrary and limit it then the spirits of all People in the Kingdoms would be subjected and subdued under his Power and he should Rule over them and his Kingdoms be Established prosperously and this is the Way of an Happy Government But if so be the KING put on Rigour and be Fierce and Cruel and think to subdue all under him by Will and Force without shewing Justice and Reason to answer the Consciences of his Subjects in all his Proceedings this way can never be prosperous nor Establish him in his Authority but it will work the contrary Effect For if Oppression be brought forth and Heavy Yoaks laid upon the Back of the Poor then will the Wrath of God and of Men be kindleed against him and Murmurings Strifs and Contentions will arise in the Minds of Men against him and the Oppressions of the Poor will reach unto Heaven and God will hear and Revenge their Cause So that it is Ruling and exercising Authority in these Kingdoms in Justice Righteousness Love and Good Reason that must gain the Hearts of People unto right Subjection to make the King and his Government Happy and Established and Rigour Force and Cruelty will never make the King happy but will work contrary For the People are Wise and Understanding will not long bear any degree of the Yoak of Slavery 3. Inasmuch as the People of these Kingdoms are divers and divided and contrary in Judgment one to another in many things and so are dis-united into several Opinions and Parties the King ought to Rule in Wisdom and Love over them all and to shew Equal Justice and Liberty and to eaâ—rcise Righteousness towards them all alike notwithstanding their Difference in Religion and Judgments for if he shall give Liberty to some and Oppress others if he do joyn with one Way and promote that and the men of one Judgment be tollerated and all other Wayes and all others that are different in Judgement be persecuted and oppressed and sought to be destroyed this is not the way for the King to prosper nor to be established to perpetuity for there seems to be no one Way so strong or any one sort of People so many for the King to cleave to and allow and seek to destroy all the rest because there is of other sors of people that ballance that sort in opposition and so the King and his Government seems not secure if he take hold of any one sort of People only to stand thereby in opposition to all the rest persecuting of them because there are many of other Sects that will be discontented and murmur if not more So that the King's Safety is and the Prosperity of his Government and the Establishment of it seems to be By giving Equal Liberty and Iustice and shewing Love and Tenderness to all of all Iudgments and then he may stand by all and none will oppose him but all will be ready to defend and preserve him For he may stand established and be happy in his Government by engaging all sorts to him through Love and Righteousness and Liberty towards all but he cannot according to my Iudgment be established nor prosperous if he choose only the Men of one Judgment to stand by and cleave only to that and persecute and seek to destroy all the rest that are different and so only make one Party his Friends and dis-engage all others in Love and Affection this seems I say not the Way of Prosperity Let the King consider it and the Lord give him a Right Understanding By a Friend to Iust Authority E. B. PERSECUTION IMPEACHED As a Traytor against God HIS LAWS and GOVERNMENT And the CAUSE of the Ancient MARTYRS Vindicated against the Cruelty inflicted upon them by the Papists in former Dayes Being a Brief ANSWER to a Book called Semper Iidem Or A Paralel of PHANATICKS c. lately published by a Nameless Author Wherein is contain'd a Relation of the Martyrdom of many such as Dissented and Opposed
the Church of ROME who are in the said Book Villified and Reproached by the Name and Term of Antient Phanaticks And this is sent forth as an Answer thereunto to Pursue it Apprehend it and Condemn it as a Pamphlet of Calumnies and Slanders against the Protestants both of former and present Dayes who are all of them Scorned in the said Book the one as Ancient the other as Modern PHANATICKS Which is sent abroad as a Warning to ENGLAND to beware of the spirit of the Church of ROME lest it Exalt it self in Cruel Persecution against the PROTESTANTS and all that differ from it HOW Great and Miserable hath been that Darkness and Ignorance which hath over-spread the Nations and Kingdoms of the World since the Apostles dayes And how manifold is that Error into which many have been fallen even as into a Snare of Destruction And how woful is that Strife Division and Contention about Religion that hath highly abounded among the Christian People so called For the whole Christendom have been divided and in Opposition one part against another about the True God and his Worship and concerning the knowledge of Salvation by Jesus Christ And divers kinds of Religion Church-Government and Practices of Ordinances of Faith Worship have been extant in the World and Nations Countries have been all in Division Strife and Contention about these Matters and have been also persecuting one another violently unto Bonds and Death for and because difference in Judgment and Practices concerning Spiritual Things Papists against Protestants and Protestants against Papists and one sort of Christians so called against another and the men of such a Judgment and Faiâ—â— and Way of Religion have been persecuting and seeking to destroy all that have been contrary minded to them And thus have been the woful Divisions and evil Effects thereof in the World among Christians about Faith and Worship and Religious matters this has come to pass because of the spirit of Error Darkness that hath possessed the minds of men since the falling away from the Truth as it was once manifest among the Apostles And thus it s come to pass because of the erring from the Spirit of God and because that hath been wanting amongst men therefore have People been divers and divided about Matters of Religion each one sort following their own Invention and Traditions of men and also persecuting one another and killing and imprisoning one another because of the same and all this because the Spirit of Truth hath not dwelt in the Hearts of Christians as it did in the Apostles not led guided and taught them in true Unity and Fellowship as it did the true Christians in the dayes of old And while the Spirit of Christ hath been wanting and is not received into the Heart to mortifie guide rule and teach in all the Wayes of God and the whole exercise of Religion and Duty towards Him and while there is any kind of imposing and forceing of Religion by Laws of men upon Penalties and Forfeitures and setting up Worship and Church Government by that means and in that way without the immâ—… Teaching of the Spirit of Christ in the Conscience I say while this hath been and is continued nothing but Division Strife Contention Persecution and Nations and Peoples destroying one another about Religion hath been is or can be in the World amongst Christians And of this same to wit of Division and Contention about Religion with the Enmity of such as are so divided one against another to the persecuting and killing one of another that are contrary minded as it hath been brought forth in the World for Generations past we have here a sufficient large Testimony lately published in a Book called Semper Iidem or A Paralel of Phanaticks c. wherein is made mention of what Strife and Contention there hath been in former dayes among the false Christians and how they have cruelly Persecuted Burned and Destroyed one another in this Cause only for and because of the difference in Maters of Judgment and Religious Things and these Persecutions and Cruelties effected contrary to the Example of Christ and his Doctrine who hath exhorted to Love and Peace and not to Kill and Destroy and that a man should love his Enemies and not Kill and Destroy them contrary to which Doctrine the false Christians of all kinds have walked and acted since the dayes of the Apoâ—… who have been Apostatized and fallen from the very Life and Power of Godliness as held amongst the primitive Saints into Forms and empty Shadows being all in strife one with another about such things and have wanted the Spirit of Christ which should have led and guided into all Truth and exercised them in the true Worship of the true and living God who is a Spirit and is only truly worshipped in Spirit and in Truth but out of this Spirit and spiritual Worship the false Christians have been erred and so all divided and in Centention aâ— aforesaid and persecuting one another because thereof each one sort justifying their own Way 〈◊〉 Right and condemning that which hath differed as the Wrong and all as Hereticks that have been otherwise minded But as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Book Semper Iidem c. I would gladly animadâ—… 〈◊〉 conâ—…ing it and do intend to write a few things by way of anâ—â—er thereunto and this is the present Occasion of my present work for having met with the said Pamphlet and perusing of it I found divers Considerations on my spirit to send forth in Answer to pursue the said Semper Iidem up and down the World till it returns again unto the place from whence it came to wit Unto the bottomless Pit out of which it lately arose and in reading the same Book I have principally observed the Mischievout End and secret Evil Intents of the Nameless Author more than the Matter it self contained and though the Author be Nameless yet is his nature and spirit known by his Book and for what end he hath concealed his Name I know not except he was ashamed of his Work and durst not Authorize his Matter by his Name but however the spirit end and intent of the said Nameless Person is perceived and known as much as any Tree can be distinguished by its Fruit and he is of an Envious Disposition of Heart and of Malicious Countenance and in nature and stock of the descent of Cain for his spirit is of an evil constitution hot and fiery and enclinable to destroy all that are not like-minded with himself in the Iudgment of Religious Matters and his proceedings and the end of his work is of an Intent and Purpose wicked enough if every Effect answers the Cause appearing and be not diverted from the End proposed by the Author and this I find by Calculation of his Birth and the Temper of his spirit and of the Time wherein his Book is published and by the Cause and End and Intent of the
commit too much Credit upon it even as they love their own Safety and Peace which are concerned in this Case 7. Consider Into what a great Danger the Protestants and People of England have run themselves by â—â—ecing from a less for by avoiding the Sectaâ—â—es so called they have run themselves into the very Borders of Popery and to escape a Less Danger they have exposed themselves to a far Greater For the Protestants cryed out of the Sectaries and were afraid their Church and Religion should be overthrown by them and made haste to Escape and flee from the Danger and in so doing they have as it appeareth by Semper Iidem run themselves into a Danger far greater Even to have their Religion and Persons and Estates Destroyed by Fire and Faggot if the spirit that indicted Semper Iidem hath its desired End which is grown Bold and Confident more than formerly Thus while the Protestants have sought to destroy the Sectaries an Enemy is appearing to Destroy them and they have exposed themselves if Popery prevails to an Enemy far more Cruel and Dectructive to both their Persons Estates and Religion than ever the Sectaries would have been had they prevailed And this is considerable to the Protestants that they may lament their case who have run themseles into a far greater Danger of their own Destruction to escape a less and are in present Reproach by the Papists and exposed to Destruction if they prevail 8. Consider How Favourable the Church of ROME seemeth to grow of these late dayes in these Kingdoms and what Dignity she seems to have attained to besides of Times past and what Liberty she enjoyes more than many of the good Subjects of England which may as justly have the Priviledge of Liberty in their Exercise of Faith and Worship and Religion as she can have As for instance In Ireland where the Papists have the Enjoyment of their Liberty to Meet to hear Mass very frequently and are not Restrained nor Prohibited and many of the English Inhabitants known Faithful Protestants are not admitted the like Liberty but their Meeting broken up and they sent to Prison and Cruelly Persecuted for Meeting together when the Papists are not meddled withal for the same Cause and thus their Cause seems more to be favoured than the Protestants and they more Liberty in their Worship than many of the English Protestants And also In and about London upon search you will find Meetings of the Papists large ones too consisting of very many Forreigners of other Lands which have their Liberty of Worship and Profession of Religion and divers of the Inhabitants of the City who have been and are Known Upright Honest and Just Persons and are true Protestants and faithful Subjects of the Land are not admitted to have their Meetings but are haled out of Meetings Persecuted and sent to Prison and cruel Sufferings inflicted upon them for the Exercise of their Faith and Worship whenas the Papists are admitted their Liberty without Persecution in the same Cause for which many good Protestants are Perfecuted and not suffered to have their Liberty even in the Exercise of their Faith and Worship and this is manifest to all People by which it is plain how the Papists Cause is advancing and the Protestants Cause decaying in LONDON and through ENGLAND whenas the Papists and that Forreigners have more Liberty in the Exercise of their Religion then some Protestants have that are Natives and known to be good Subjects And these things deserve true and serious Confideration by all good Protestants Alas that this day should be seen Many more Considerations might be asserted in this Case of the Papists Cause being as it were reviving but these for present are presented to the publick View of all People And blessed are they that have an Ear to hear E. B. THE CASE OF Free Liberty OF CONSCIENCE In the Exercise of FAITH and RELIGION Presented unto the KING and both Houses of PARLIAMENT And also Proved absolute Needful and Requisit for them to Grant and Allow in these Kingdoms by many Considerations and Reasons unfolding the Woful Effects and Ill Consequence which will infallibly follow upon the contrary to the Misery and Destruction of these Nations if the Free Exercise of Conscience to God-ward be Limitted and Violently Restrained FOrasmuch as it hath pleased the Lord God of Heaven and Earth who is Mighty and Powerful and bringeth to pass whatsoever he will in the Kingdoms of this World so to suffer it to be accomplished that Power and Authority is given unto you to exercise over these Kingdoms And whereas the People of these Nations over whom your Authority is extended are divided in their Judgments in Matters Spiritual and are of different Principles and Wayes in relation to Faith and Worship and Practices of Religion and yet are all of them Free-born People and Natives of these Kingdoms and as such ought to possess and enjoy their Lives Liberties and Estates by the Just Laws of God and man And may not justly any of them be Destroyed by you nor one sort of another in their Persons and Estates by Death Banishment or other Persecutions for and because only of their Differences in Matters of Opinion and Judgment nor though they are contrary minded in Profession of Faith and Worship and Religion while they do walk Peaceably and Justly in their Conversations under the King's Authority and do not make practice of their Religion to the violating of the Government nor to the Injury of other mens Persons or Estates but ought rather to be Defended and Protected by you in all their Rights both as Men and Christians both in things Civil and Spiritual Notwithstanding their difference in matters Religious as aforesaid they giving proof of their peaceable and honest deportment towards the King and his Government and the people of these Kingdoms And therefore that due care may be had as justly it ought to be by you for the peace and Prosperity and happiness of these Kingdoms and that the just Liberties both civil and Spiritual of all people therein may be allowed and maintained in all the Kings Dominions and that unity and peace may be fully established and justice and Righteousness only brought forth in the Land and all persecution Hatred Contention and Rebellions may die and perish and never more appear And that all Christian people though different in Judgement and practises in matters of Faith and worship may be protected to live a quiet and peaceable life in all Godliness and honesty under this Government and that indignation and vengeance may be diverted from these Lanâ—â— which seems to threaten because of the contrary and that blessings and peace maâ— come and rest upon this people forever Therefore for these ends and causes and in the Name of the Lord I do propound unto you and lay before you on the behalf of all the divided people of these Kingdoms That free Liberty of conscience in the
exercise of Faith Worship and Religion to God-wards may be allowed and maintained unto all without any imposition violence or persecution exercised about the same on the persons Estates or Consciences of any in any relation to Religion the Worship of God Church Government and Ministry But that all Christian People may be left free in all these Kingdoms in the exercise of Conscience without being restrained from or compelled to any way of worship and practise of Religion upon any pains and penalties and that every one may be admitted to worship God in that way as his spirit perswades the heart and may be defended in such their profession of Religion while they make not use of their Liberty to the detrement of any other mens persons or Estates as aforesaid And let it not seem strange to you why I appear in this manner and matter at such a season as this for your very Happiness prosperity and establishment or the contrary dependeth hereupon even in allowing and maintaining liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion or in limitting and forcing and persecuting about the same and this may appear if you justly consider these things following 1. The Lordship in and over conscience and the exercise thereof in all matters of Faith and Worship and duty to God-wards is Gods alone only and proper right and priviledge and he hath reserved this power and Authority in himself and not committed the Lordship over Conscience nor the exercise thereof in the cases of faith and worship to any upon Earth not to perscribe and impose principles and practises of Faith and worship and Religion by force and violence on the persons and Consciences of men but this belongs only to God even to work faith in the heart and to convert to holiness and to lead and teach people by his Spirit in his worship and to exercise their Consciences in all his wayes For the Apostles themselves said they had not Dominion over the Faith of the Saints 2 Cor. 1. 24. but the Lord alone And King Charles the first said in his Meditations page 91. of that Edition Printed for R. Royston I have often declared how little I desire my Laws and Scepter should intrench on God's Soveraignity which is the only King of men's Consciences c. So that to be Lord in CONSCIENCE and Exerciser thereof in all the Matters of God's Kingdom is his Only Proper Right and to him alone it appertains 2. And therefore consider If ye do not allow Free Liberty of Conscience and give unto God the Lordship and Exercise thereof in all Matters of Faith and Worship to Him-wards but do impose by Violence in forcing to and restraining from such and such Wayes of Religion than ye take Dominion over mens Faith which ye ought not to do and ye intrench on God's Soveraignity and usurpe his Authority in exercising Lordship over the Conscience in and over which Christ is only King as before recited and ye ought not to take his right from him nor to exercise that Authority over ruens Faith and Consciences which only appertains unto him as his proper priviledge for in so doing how dangerous effects may it bring forth even ye may easily provoke the Lord to wrath against you and bring upon your selves sorrow and misery if ye exercise violence upon mens Consciences in and concerning Religious matters contrary to the Scriptures and the example of Primitive Christians who were persecuted for their Conscience sake but did never persecute nor punish any for that cause nor ever used violence about their Religion as Charles the I. in his meditations pag. 82. Nothing said he violent nor injurious can be religious c. 3. Consider if ye allow not the free exercise of Conscience in Spiritual matters but do take Dommion over mens faith and impose by violence in the cases of Conscience about Religion and do not suffer the Lord to enjoy his only right to be King in the matters of his own Kingdom then ye divert the end of just rule and government among men and pervert the end of Gods great love and favour shewed unto you in restoring of you to the place of Authority and Judgement for the end of just Government upon earth by Kings and Rulers is To exercise Justice Truth and Righteousness among men and over the outward man and to be a praise to all that do wellâ— and walk uprightly and to be a terror to all transgressors and them that do evil in their outward man and to keep the outward man in good order by just Judgment in all cases between man and man This is only the extent of your Authority over the outward man and to your Jurisdiction only this belongs to judge in Truth and Righteousness to make Laws and execute them between man and man to preserve mens persons and estates from the wrong one of another but not at all to make Laws and execute them between God and mens Consciences in the cases of his Spiritual Kingdom this power belongs to God and he hath not committed it to you to exercise and therefore let justice equity and mercy be exercised by you among men and over the outward man and in all cases between man and man but meddle not in the Cases of mens faith to God and their Consciences to him but leave that unto him alone whose right it is for it is dangerous and will bring wofull effects if ye intrench on Gods Soveraignity and if ye divert the proper end of just Government and of the Love of God in restoring you into Authority and power 4. Consider if ye allow not free Liberty of Conscience in the profession and practice of spiritual things but will compel by violence about Religion then this will inavoidably produce and bring forth cruel persecution in the Kingdoms imprisonment banishment and death and all the evil effects of persecution will fill the Nations for though never so forceable impositions be laid on the persons estates and consciences of men for the cause of difference in Judgment and practises of Religion and tocompel into Conformity yet it cannot be supposed that all will bow and conform to the denying of that way which they are perswaded in Conscience to be right and to the embracing of what they cannot in Conscience believe is of God but will rather suffer the cruelest death then conform to any thing contrary to light and knowledge and if free Liberty of Conscience be denied many such must needs be exposed to Persecution even to Death though they may be Peaceable People and profitable Inhabitants of the Kingdoms and in the things between man and man and in all matters Temporal pertaining to the King may be Just and Righteous and Unreprovable yet because of Difference in Judgment and Opinion exposed to be destroyed in person and estate and such effects will not be of honour nor saftey to these Nations if innocent and just men be destroyed and their relations ruined
who are not and therefore may easily proceed in that way to punish such as Hereticks that are not truly so and except ye could affirm and Prove your possession of the infallible spirit ye can no way proceed justly reasonably to deny Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion nor punish and persecute any in that case but if ye do ye do it in ignorance and know not what ye do and may as soon destroy true Christians and Saints as Hereticks for want of infallible judgment to discern who are and who are not and this is a danger ye ought to avoid by allowing the free exercise of Conscience as the Lord perswades every mans heart 15. And lastly also consider what a reproach you are under If such whom ye call Heretick and yet doth not infallibly know that they are such be punished and persecuted and destroyed for their Religion sake who are just and upright men in their Conversing between man and man and unreprovable in their dealings among men whether they err in judgment in spiritual knowledge or not err and such as are Drunkards prophaâ—e persons go at liberty in their stage-playing and gaming and the like even tolerated and unpunished and not prohibited whom all do know and can distinguish who such are when they appear this will render your Government to evil reputation both in this present time and in ages to come and therefore consider it if Drunkards Gamesters and prophane persons have more toleration and liberty in their wayes of open vanity then sober temperate persons in the exercise of their Consciences in Religion which if any such do err in principle which is not infallibly known to you it is only to their own hurt in the sight of God and he onely and not you ought to punish them in that case but prophane persons as a fore-mentioned are easily judged by all to be such and their error inpractise is hurtful to the whole Kingdoms and pertains to you to punish as Dr. Taylor now a Bishop in Ireland hath said his words in this â—ase are worth observing why are we so zealous saith he against those we call Hereticks and yet great friends with Dâ—unkards and Swearers and Fornicators and intemperate and idle persons I am certain a Drunkard is as contrâ—oy to God and lives as contrary to the Laws of Christianity as a Heretick and I am also sure that I Know what Drunkennesse is but I am not sure that such an opinion is heresie c. And these things I do in all meeknesse and due respect both to your places and persons present to your serious considerations that ye may prevent these evil effects that are so destructive unto you and these Kingdoms which absolutely must follow upon not allowing free Liberty of Conscience in the Exercise of Religion if any shall object That to tolerate and allow Liberty of Conscience in Religion is inconsistent with the safety and peace of the King and these Kingdoms I shall be desirous to hear from wise men what such objections are stated by them and wherein they say it is not Congruous with the Happiness and Peace of these Nations to grant and allow the Premises And on such Occasion I should make clearly to appeaâ— the contrary and that it is only consistant with the Peace and Prosperity of these Kingdoms considering them in their present Estate To grant and allow Free Liberty of Conscience as aforesaid in the Exercise of Religion unto all Christian People O! Remember ye Mighty Men of the Kingdom That the Great and Mighty GOD takes notice of all your Doings and accordingly will he reward you in his Dreadful Day which is near to come upon all the World and Wo unto the Wicked in that Day O! Remember that ye your selves not long since were a Suffering People and now you are raised up again and therefore be not too zealous to afflict others especially for the Cases of their Consciences in reference to their Faith and Perswasions about Religion but be Gentle Meek and Long-suffering towards all for that is the way to make Peace and preserve it with all men that will gain the Affections of the Contrary-minded but Force and Rigour will exasperate the more and never truly reconcile differences among men And make no Laws contrary or different to the pure Law of God but let pure Consciences go free without Force or Restraint in the Exercises of Religion and let God have his Prerogative and Lordship in the Exercise of Conscience but let your Authority be extended over the outward man in the matters between man and man to preserve Peace and Right in all outward relation And be Wise and Learned ye Rulers of the Earth and kiss the Son lest he be Angry and ye perish and if his Wrath be kindled but a little blessed are they that trust in him This is your Time and Day happy are ye if it be given to you to do the Work that God requires of you only The 26th of the third Moneth 1661. By a Lover of Truth and Just Government E. B. A DISCOVERY OF Divine Mysteries VVherein is Unfolded Secret THINGS of the KINGDOM of GOD Being a TESTIMONY 1. Concerning Life and Death with their several Fruits and â—…cts Distinguished 2. Concerning the Mystery of God and Godliness and concerning the Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity 3. Concerning True Liberty of Conscience what it is in it self and how obtained And what the True Guide and Rule is of the Exercise of Conscience 4. Concerning the Diversity of Judgments in Religion the Cause and Effect thereof and the Means to bring to Unity All which are Published for the Edification of such as desire to know the TRUTH The PREFACE THE Light of the Day of GOD Almighty is arisen upon us in our Day and the Shinings-forth thereof is with great Clearness and Force even as the Sun at Noon-day and many are come to the Glorious Appearance thereof and to walk in its Light with much Ioyfulness for as the Wise-Man said The Light is Sweet and a Pleasant Thing it is for the Eye to behold the Son And so fully is our Morning-Son now appeared that the Upright in Heart may Walk and not stumble and the Poor in Spirit may Run in the Path of Life and not fall For indeed we may say The NIGHT is spent and the DAY is come therefore let us Walk in the Day and put on the Armour of Light as many as are made the Children thereof And where the Light of this Son is arisen and in whose Hearts it shineth it cannot but give some Testimony through such an one of its own Glory Vertues and Excellency to them that sit yet in Darkness and in the 〈◊〉 of Corruption that they also may 〈◊〉 the same Light and Glory arise on their Tabernacles For 't is the Property of this Spiritual Heavenly Light to shine forth out of Darkness and to give Light to such as have
long sate in Darkness that their Souls may live and be refreshed with the Light of the Living And for this Cause do we Labour and Spend and â—re Spent accounting nothing too dear for us that the Light of Truth may shine abroad and guide the Upright in the perfect Way till the Elect be gathered into the Pasture of Eternal Life and the Son so elivated on the Firmament of Joy and Praises never to go down but the Saying fulfilled There shall be no Night but the Light of the Son shall be as the Light of seven dayes These following Testimonies were written at divers Times as the Lord drew forth my Spirit through the Motions of his Life in me some of them some years since and being cast by among Bundles of Manuscripts and now lately coming to my sight and looking them over I have thought good to send them abroad as being of service to many And this is the Occasion and End of my present publishing these things And to the Iudgment of the Spirit of God in all the Saints do I commend my Labours and myself to be approved Westmoreland the 25th of the 7th Moneth 1661. Who am a Friend to all Men E. B. A DISCOVERY of DIVINE MYSTERIES c. CHAP. I. A Testimony concerning Life and Death and their several Fruits and Effects Distinguished THere is only Life and Death and there is but only Life and Death in the whole Creation that Ruleth and Raigneth in and among and over all the Children of Men and all the Children of Men upon the Face of the Earth are under the Government and Dominion of LIFE or of DEATH in whatsoever they are and in whatsoever they do and Life or Death hath the Rule and Government in every Creature in every Exercise whether of Works or Words and all people upon the Earth are subject to the Government of one or the other and bring forth the Fruits and Works in obedience to Life or to Death and shews them forth in visible appearance Now these two to wit Life and Death are contrary one to the other in Beeing in Nature in Works and Fruits and each of these are known and distinguished the one from the other in Beeing in Nature in Fruits and Effects which diversly they bring forth in this World and each of them hath a Kingdom and Government in himself distinct from and contrary each to other and each of them have their several Subjects which also are contrary in Birth and Generation in quality and kind over which they Rule and Govern and to whom they give distinct Portions and Heirships in this World and hereafter and where Life Rules and reigns Death is held in Captivity and Bondage and where Death lives the Life dies and where one of these brings forth Fruit the other is Barren for they agree not in one but are in all things contrary and the Subjects of the one are alwayes opposing and striving against the Subjects of the other And between Life and Death there is continual War and Strife among the Creatures who are the Subject of the one of them in whatsoever man is and in what he doth First Concerning Life I will speak Life was in the Beginning with God and is without descent and God is Life in himself without beginning or ending of Time Place or Matter and Life put forth it self out of its invisible Beeing into Work and Action in the beginning of the World and appeared in visible Operations and Works and brought forth all Creatures and all things into visible Appearances and Life was the Author of all the Beginning and Foundation of all and Life was and is that Beeing and Vertue of all things that are and it was the Ioy and Delight of all things that it self brought forth for all Things and Creatures subsisted through it and it gave Breath and Life to all Creatures and Life blessed them all and in it were all Creatures at Unity being framed and brought into Visibility and for the Pleasure of Life which was all in all in the Beginning and there was a sweet Concurrance and Harmony in the whole Creation through the Power and Beeing of Life in the midst of all Creatures through which the whole Creation was made and framed by the Eternal Word of Life and through which they stood and did remain 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—sedness and Life ruled and raigned in every Creature that was brought forth and was the Glory and Substance thereof For Life was and is that only begotten of the Father the Son and Heir of the Everlasting Father his express Image and Brightness being one with the Father not separated or divided from him And as for Death it was not yet known nor had it any place in the Creation it had yet received no Power nor Kingdom nor Government neither was it in beeing But Life was all over all through all and in all in the Beginning before Disobedience and Transgression entred to war against Life But Life was Prince Ruler and Governour in and over all the Works of the Creator And Life in its beeing is God and God is Life and in its Government and Fruits and Effects is Purity Righteousness Truth Holiness Meekness and all the Works that are Just and Equal according to God and like him and which shews him forth in the Creation and this was and it was thus in the Beginning before Death entred into the World or had a kingdom But it is written The Devil abode not in the Truth but went out of the Truth and he is the King of Death and hath the Power of it he went out of the Power of God and out of the Life by which all things was made and created and abode not in the Truth nor in the Life to live and act and speak in that but desired to be and became to be something of himself without God and he spoke of himself and acted of himself without the Power and Life and also contrary to the Power and Life of the Creator being separated from it and become a distinct Beeing of himself and then having lost his State and first Condition thus became an Enemy to Life and Truth and became the King of Death and he was the first of Death's Race and he holds the Power of it unto this Day he being gone out of the Truth and out of the Power and Life of God and become a distinct Beeing of himself having a kingdom of his own to promote in Opposition to the Kingdom of God Then he drew Mankind out of the Power and Truth and Life and beguiled Eve and Adam as you may read in the Scriptures and they lost the Life and Power even all Feeling of it and Comfort in it by which they were Created and made and they also transgressed and acted contrary to the Life and Power and acted of themselves and spake of themselves without the Power and Life of their Creator being separated from it and were and did something
of themselves without God the Creator and then the Power and Life cast them out of all Peace Joy and Happiness into the Earth and into Death and Death became the King and Prince over Mankind and they had no more possession of Life nor Blessedness by it in their separated Estate neither did it any longer raign in them but they having transgressed against the Life and acted of themselves and spoken of themselves without the Leadings and Movings of the Life this was their Transgression They went out of the Power and Life in all Motions and Actions and then Life drove them forth of its good Pleasure into the Earth separate from its Vertues and Peace and into Death which is contrary to it self to live in Anguish and Sorrow And so when the Devil was gone out of the Truth and had led Mankind out of the Truth and out of Life and thereby they were all separated from Life and drove out from God out of his Pleasure into his Wrath Then became Death to have a Beeing in Mankind and great Authority and not before and then Death began his Kingdom in the World and over it and he set up his Rule and Government in and among and over all the Children of Men. And so from Transgression came Death that was its Beginning Man having Transgressed against the Life that brought him forth and being separated from Life then Death took place and its kingdom was established over the World and in all the Children of Men in opposition to Life and its Government and Kingdom and Death reigns from Adam so saith the Scripture and the Life was transgressed against and so provoked into an absence and to withdraw it self into invisibility from the enjoyment of Mankind that it should not be felt nor perceived of Him to comfort him and then the whole body of Death came upon Man to load his Conscience and vex his Soul and Death and only Death hath a preheminence over all in Transgression and is established into a Kingdom over sinful Subjects who are under its Command and hath its Rule and Goverment and brings forth its Works and Fruits in Mankind contrary to Life and in opposition to it and to its Kingdom and Power and opposeth the Kingdom and Power of Life the Creature and in its Nature and all its Fruits and Works it is contrary and opposite to Life and its Works and Fruits and through Death is the whole Creation in its exercise by man perverted from the right use and end ordained of God and out of Death proceedeth all evil as Lying Swearing Drunkenness and Whoredom Pride Strife and every evil work and word These things are the Fruits and Works of Death and Death governs the Children of men in the practice of all these things and in transgression Death lives and acts and speaks through Men and Women and Death rules in them and hath perverted them in all their wayes for they have given their Power to it and it wholly Captivates them and is established over them and hath the dominion in them and Life is swallowed up of it And this Kingdom of Death opposeth God and the Kingdom of Life and exalts it self against Life and hath its operation in the Creature in all manner of unrighteousness bringing forth daily such words works fruits and effects as doth oppress and is a burden unto the Life and unto the God of Life and Death and its Kingdom doth continually war and strive against Life and its Kingdom and the one opposeth the other through all Generation since the beginning for the Devil is the King of Death and hath the Power of iâ— and he is King in its Goverment and Ruler in its Dominion and this is the state of all the Children of men in Transgression Death rules and the Kingdom of Death reigns in them and it brings forth cursed fruits through them and they are subjects thereof and in obedience thereunto in all things And through Death which hath Power over them are they separated from Life and have no part nor portion therein because of Death that hath separated them and vailed and clouded them and loads their Consciences But now the Promise of the God of Life is to restore Mankind out of Death and Darkness and that Life shall reign again and subdue Death and destroy it and its Kingdom and swallow it up and this is the Promise of the Father For in Transgression Death hath subdued Life and overcome it in Mankind But in the Restoration Life shall swallow up Death and subdue it and overcome it and this comes to pass through the rising again of Life from under Death which hath held it in bondage and Life that made the World in the beginning and gave to all things Life and substance as I have said which Life in its measure in Mankind hath been overcome and swallowed up in Transgression That Life shall appear though in another manner of appearance than it did in the beginning for then it appeared freely of it self without opposition and brought forth the first Creation But now it doth appear through great opposition and through all that doth oppose it in this second Creation when Life comes again to reign over Death and swallow up and overcome and subdue it and who comes to witness this the new Creation they know Life appearing through opposition and through the destroying of Death and all its works and fruits for CHRIST is the Life and he is the Seed of the Wâ—… which bruiseth the Serpents head who hath the Power of Death Life bruiseth his Head breaketh his Government and destroyes his Works as it appeareth and riseth in the Creature and Death and its Works opposeth Life and its manifestation and appearance and gainsayes it and often quencheth it iâ— its appâ—… Now the first Appearance of Life in the Creature it convinceth and reproveth the works of Death and the words that proceed from Death which are unrighteous words and unrighteous works and Life when it rises it reproves them and condemns them and though Death doth oppose and gainsay the Operation of Life yet Life works through and overcometh subdueth and swalloweth up Death and destroys all its works in the second Creation and Life again comes to take possession of the Creature which it made in the beginning and Life comes to reign again whose Right it is to raign for by it the Creature Mankind and all Creatures were in the beginning formed and brought forth and therefore it is its Right to reign and to have the dominion over the works of its own hands whom since the beginning in Transgression the Devil and Death and his seat of Government has had the possession of and CHRIST the Power of God and the Life hath been as it were dispossessed and thus the first Creation hath been defaced and lost its Glory and it hath been corrupted and degenerated quite from the perfect state as it was created in and Mankind hath
matters of God's Worship forcing Conformity in Spiritual Exercisâ—â— by violent Commands upon Forfeitures and Punishments seems to be and really is an assuming and presuming upon God's Authority which belongs only to him and tends to rob him of the same and is an entrenching upon his Soveraignity and is wholy Unrighteous and inasmuch as it is a â—…g in the Seat of God and forcing the Exercise of Worship and intruding upon his Blessed Priviledge and a presuming into his Authority which he commits to no man a robbing him of his Honour and Spiritual Dominion therefore to Impose in Matters Religious is Unrighteous on their parts that do practice it And. 2. It is Unrighteous because it is contrary to the Command of God D◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 would be done unto but this Imposing in matters of Worship is a Practice done by others which others would not be done unto by any and therefore 't is Unrighteous For no one Sect or sort of Christians would be impâ—…sed upon in that case by any others not forced and compelled by outward Violence against their judgments and Consciences unto such a Conformity of â—…th and Worship to do thus is not to love a manâ— Neighbour as himself nor to do to all men as men would be done unto For if at any time and place the Papists so called impose upon the Protestants so called in this case of â—orcing them unto Conformity or Persecuting them about Religion 't is cryed out against by such as are so imposed upon to be Tyranny Oppression and Exacting Unrighteously and thus every Sect of Christians cry out against others that do impose upon them by Force in things Religious contrary to their Judgments and Consciences each sort when they suffer saith of others They are Unrighteous in such Impositions though many cannot see it to be Unrighteous in themselves when they have the Oportunity to do it and do impose upon other but this is where Self-advantage killeth and choaketh the Witness of 〈◊〉 though however in it self imposing as aforesaid in Religious Maâ—…rs is contrary to the Holy Law of God and a doing to others as men would not be done unto by others And therefore 't is Unrighteous both before God and all just Men. 3. It is Unrighteous to impose Worship by Force because it is an exercising Dominion over men's Faith by Force of outward Power which the Apoâ—â—le renounces and seems to forbid saying They had not dominion over mens Faith â—â—d if the Apostles themselves had not power and dominion over men's Faith that is to say To Command mens Faith to believe or do this or the other but 〈◊〉 the holy Spirit of Christ perswaded their Consciences inwardly then no outward Power of Kings or Rulers whatsoever can Justly or Righteously chalenge â—…h priviledge as to have dominion over mens faith by imposing upon them through force which is to take dominion over men's faith which is unrighâ—… because it is contrary to the Scripture and to the example of the Apostâ—… 〈◊〉 inasmuch as it is exercising dominion and Lordâ—â—ip over the stock of Christ and not leaving them to Christ the true Shepherd who onely ought to teach his people by his Spirit into all truth both of Doctrine Faith and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath not given power or authority to any Rulers of this World to impose by force upon the consciences of his tender stock nor to rule them in â—…y 〈◊〉 exercising outward force upon them but whosoever doth this it is unrighteous 4. It is Unrighteous in respect of the Fruits and Effects which alwayes have and ever will be produced by such Imposition upon Conscience in Religious Matters as aforesaid to wit Persecution and Cruelty of Men exercised in that Case which ever hath been and will be brought forth in Nations and Kingdoms where such Impositions are For if we look into Ages past what Strife and Contention what Enmity and Bitterness what Wars and Bloodsheds what Dangers and Mischiefs what Persecutions and Cruelties have been brought forth among men between Kingdom and Kingdom between City and City between Kings and their Subjects between Neighbours and Neighbours between Brother and Brother upon this very Unrighteous Account of Imposing upon Conscience by Force in respect of Worship and every Nation and City at this day is in the same Danger of the same Mischiefs where such impositions are in Force and therefore needs must the Occasion of these so unjust and unrighteous Effects which doth administer the Reason of such Contentions Wars Persecutions and Cruelties be Unrighteous and such is imposing in Matters Religious as aforesaid and this is partly manifest and will be morâ— and more through the World That that Kingdom City and Country will not be free from these Dangers and Mischiefs but will alwayes be liable unto them while this kind of Imposition by Force on the Conscience is unremoved and that which is the Occasion of such continual present Dangers to destroy Kingdoms Cities and Peoples is Unrighteous and such is Imposition in the Matters of Worship and Religion 5. It is unrighteous in any King Prince or Authority of this World to Impose as aforesaid because it diverteth confoundeth and destroyeth the End of Just Rule and Government amongst men one over another which is only to Rule well in outward Affair and over the outward Man to keep that in Peace and Good Order and to be a Praise to them that do Well and a Terror to all that do Evil in the Outward Man this is the only End of Government and Rule amongst men in this World To Rule well over the Outward Man in things between man and man but not to Rule over men's Consciences and to exercise Lordship over men in the Spiritual Matters of Christ's Kingdom this pertains not to the outward Worldly Government of Men and therefore whosoever do take it upon them and thereby do oppress the Conscience of any by forcing in Spiritual Mattters doth Unrighteously inasmuch as they do diverâ— the End of their Authority and use their Power to another End then God hath appointed them and while they should only preserve and defend the outward man by good and wholesome Laws made for that purpose they vex and oppress the Inward Man even the Conscience by forcing upon it and Imposing through Violence in the Matters Religious which is contrary to the End of Just Rule and Government in the World and therefore is wholy Unrighteous 6. It is Unrighteous because it effects no Good End nor begets people into the true Faith and Worship of God but on the contrary makes many Hypocrites even through fear and terror such Laws forcing Conformity do make many hypocritically conform to such or such way of worship which the Spirit of Christ doth not perswade their Consciences of the truth of nay it may be against their Conscience and that Imposition as aforesaid which is the cause of this is surely Unrighteous unrighteous because the End propounded by the
proceedings have been in the Enmity and Ignorance and not in the Power and Life of Jesus whereby it hath come to pass that many men hath been destroyed for the cause of which they have been more innocent then they that have destroyed them And thus by false Judgment and cruel proceedings in the matter of Heresie and Error many have been destroyed unjustly and the World filled with Enmity about difference in Religious matters and with Murders and Cruelties upon the false Judgments of men about Heresie and this is weighty to be truly considered a Case to be lamented and grieved for by the Righteous Oh! what strife in the Christian World hath been for Ages on this occasion each sort of People exclaiming against and persecuting others as Hereticks and seditious persons onely for difference in Judgment in Spiritual Cases and each particular person almost raging with fury and intending his Neighbours destruction and onely for being contrary-minded in point of Doctrine and Worship Oh! the view of these things and woful effects produced in the World for Ages in these occasions makes my heart grieve because of the destructions of men yea of the destruction of many upon wrongful judgments and proceedings on these occasions I am troubled I am troubled and ever since I have known the Right hand from the Left in God's matters my Soul often in the deep search of these things hath cryed out How woful are they And when shall it once be that these things shall be no more in the World but that every man may sit at rest and quiet with his God in the Way Faith and Practises of Righteousness as his heart is perswaded of and not be tossed with false Judgments cruel Afflictions and hard dealing because of his Judgment and Conscience in the belief and Knowledge of Heavenly Matters Thus hath my Spirit been framed with zeal against these things this imposing of Religion by force these procedings of killing and destroying men upon the account of Heresie these things my soul hath loathed and I am weary of them and my zeal is kindled against them Oh I when will the Rulers of this World learn Wisdom and forsake false Judgment and Oppression And when will it be that they will onely rule and judge for the Lord in their state and compass of Worldly affairs between man and man in the matters of outward wrongs and injuries And when will they leave it to the Lord to be Judge King and Ruler only in all the Cases of his spiritual Kingdom Then should it be happy and blessed unto men unto Kings and their Subjects to Rulers and their People and to all sorts of Persons if Judgment were onely ascribed unto God that he only might judge and determine of these Cases and punish men according to the desert of their Offences of Error then should it be well with them But in the mean time whilst men are judged and supposed to be Herericks and thereupon sentenced to Death Banishment or corporal Punishment for their supposed Errors sake in matters of Iudgment and Conscience Tribulation Misery Distractions and wofull Consequence will follow upon that work to Kings Rulers and People in every Nation and Countrey and no Peace true Comfort nor Happiness shall be in the midst of men And this is the Judgment of the Spirit of God in him who hath obtained favour from God to receive Knowledge and Understanding in these matters He that can receive this let him CHAP. III. Concerning Antichrist and his Mystery of Deceiveableness What he is in himself and how he appears in the World what his Works are and What his Government is and where it is and who are the Subjects of his Kingdom 1. THese things are great Mysteries and though in the World they are very much abounding and extant throughout all Nations yet for the most part unknown unto the World and not discovered among the sons of men but secretly hidden and veiled under false covers and in much deceivableness dwelling and working upon Earth in the deep Mysteries of Iniquity to the deceiving of multitudes of People who are indeed of Antichrist among whom he dwells appears rules reigns and hath his Authority and Government and yet they know it not nor do they discern him in his Wayes and Works though they are under his Power and subjects of his Kingdom such indeed is the Mystery of Antichrist his hidden false covered pathes in which he works and walks amongst the Sons of men in the World that he easily beguiles and betrays men and deceiveth them unto perdition while yet they know not that they are beguiled and deceived but think they are altogether well and do well and are in the way of Salvation being led of that wicked one and blinded by him and are bewitched into the false faith and deceivable pretence of goodness righteousness holiness and sanctity as if they were indeed Members of the true Church and Saints of the Most High and had a right to Eternal Life and were the very Sons and Servants of the Almighty wher indeed and in Truth they are yet in the estate of Enmity against God in the Degeneration and Bondage of Corruption unconverted and unsanctified and Sinners and Ungodly the very Children of the Devil and Servants of unrighteousness and have no assurance nor right unto the Kingdom of God to rest in his Peace and Glory Such I say is the working of Antichrist that he appears to be in the World contrary to what he truly is in his own beeing and nature and deceives men and People into the apprehensions and conceits of what they are not even contrary to what they are in their present State and Standing even so deep and Mysterious is Antichrist in himself and in his working among the Children of men 2. That there is such a Man or Spirit in the World as Antichrist this is not doubtfull but confessed by all and proved by the Scriptures for the Apostle wrot to the Church They had heard that Antichrist should come and even now saith he are there many Antichrists come into the World 1 John 2. 18. and also 2 John verse 7. saith he For many Deceivers are entred into the World and this is a Deceiver and an Antichrist c. and 2 Thes. 2. the Apostle speaks of the Man of Sin and of the Son of Perdition that should be revealed in the World and should exalt himself above all that is called God These with many other Scriptures do prove that there is such a thing in the World already come into the World and now dwelling and walking in the World as Antichrist Man of Sin and Son of Perdition and as I said 't is confessed by all that there is an Antichrist such a Man or Spirit now extant in the World though there are great Debates and Contentions amongst many called Christians what this Antichrist is and who he is some holding one thing and some another about him and also