abused and he offered to Assist me in what he could But I told him The Lord's Power was over all So I walked through the People in the Market and none of them had power to touch me then But some of the Market-People abusing some Friends in the Market I turned me about and saw this Souldier among them with his naked Rapier whereupon I ran in amongst them and catching hold of his Hand that his Rapier was in I bid him Put up his Sword again if he would go along with me for I was willing to draw him out from the Company lest some Mischief should be done Yet a few days after seven Men fell upon this Souldier and beat him cruelly because he had taken part with Friends and me For it was the manner of the Persecutors of that Country for twenty or forty People to run upon one Man And they fell so upon Friends in many Places that they could hardly pass the High-ways Swarthmore stoning beating and breaking their Heads Now when I came up to Swarthmore I found the Friends there dressing the Heads and Hands of Friends and Friendly People which had been broken or hurt that day by the Professors and Hearers of Lampitt the Priest My Body and Arms were yellow black and blue with the Blows and Bruises I received amongst them that day And now began the Priests to prophesy again That within half a Year we should be all put down and gone 1652. Walney Island About two Weeks after this I went into Walney-Island and James Naylor went with me and we stay'd one Night at a little Town on this side called Cockan and had a Meeting there where there was one Convinced After a while there came a Man with a Pistol Cockan whereupon the People ran out of Doors He called for me and when I came out to him he snapp'd his Pistol at me but it would not go off This caused the People to make a great Bustle about him and some of them took hold of him to prevent his doing Mischief Buâ— I was moved in the Lord's Power to speak to him and he was so struck by the Power of the Lord that he trembled for fear and went and hid himself Thus the Lord's Power came over them all though there was a great Rage in the Country The next Morning I went over in a Boat to James Lancaster's and as soon as I came to Land there rushed out about Forty Men with Staves Clubs and Fishing-poles and fell upon me beating and punching me and endeavoured to thrust me backward into the Sea And when they had thrust me almost into the Sea and I saw they would have knock'd me down there in the Sea I went up into the Middle of them but they laid at me again and knock'd me down and stunn'd me When I came to my self I looked up and saw James Lancaster's Wife throwing Stones at my Face and her Husband James Lancaster was lying over me to keep the Blows and the Stones from off me For the People had persuaded James Lancaster's Wife that I had bewitched her Husband and had promised her That if she would let them know when I came thither they would be my death And having got knowledge of my Coming many of the Town rose up in this manner with Clubs and Staves to kill me but the Lord's Power preserved me that they could not take away my Life At length I got up upon my Feet but they beat me down again into the Boat which James Lancaster observing he presently came into the Boat to me and set me over the Water from them but while we were on the Water within their Reach they struck at us with long Poles and threw Stones after us By that time we were come to the other side we saw them beating James Naylor for whilst they had been beating of me he walked up into a Field and they never minded him till I was gone then they fell upon him and all their Cry was Kill him Kill him Now when I was come over to the Town again on the other side of the Water the Townsmen rose up with Pitchforks Flails and Staves to keep me out of the Town crying Kill him knock him on the Head bring the Cart and carry him away to the Church-yard So after they had abused me they drove me a pretty way out of the Town and there left me Then went James Lancaster back again to look after James Naylor and I being now left alone went to a Ditch of Water and having washed my self for they had all bedirted and besmeared my Face Hands and Cloaths with Miry Dirt and Wet I walked about three Miles to Thomas Hutton's House where lodged Thomas Lawson the Priest that was Convinced And when I came in I could hardly speak to them I was so bruised only I told them where I left James Naylor whereupon they took each of them an Horse 1652. Cockan and went and brought him thither that Night The next day Margaret Fell hearing of it sent an Horse for me but so sore I was with the Bruises I had that I was not able to bear the shaking of the Horse without much pain When I was come to Swarthmore Swarthmore Justice Sawrey and one Justice Thompson of Lancaster granted forth a Warrant against me but Judge Fell coming home it was not served upon me for he was out of the Country all this time that I was thus abused and cruelly used But when he came home he sent forth Warrants into the Isle of Walney to apprehend all those Riotous Persons whereupon some of them fled the Country James Lancaster's Wife was afterwards Convinced of the Truth and Repented of the Evil she had done me and so did some others of those bitter Persecutors also but the Judgments of God fell upon some of them and Destruction is come upon many of them since Judge Fell asked me to give him a Relation of my Persecution but I told him They could do no otherwise in the Spirit wherein they were and that they manifested the Fruits of their Priest's Ministry and their Profession and Religion to be wrong So he told his Wife I made nothing of it and that I spake of it as Man that had not been concerned For indeed the Lord's Power healed me again Yelland After I was recovered I went to Yelland where there was a great Meeting In the Evening there came a Priest to the House with a Pistol in his Hand under pretence to light a Pipe of Tobacco and the Maid of the House seeing the Pistol told her Master who thereupon clapping his Hands on both the Door-Posts told him He should not come in there And while he stood there keeping the Door-way he looked up and spied over the Wall a Company of Men coming some armed with Staves and one with a Musket But the Lord God prevented their Bloody Design so that seeing themselves discovered they went
and about the City and cleared my self of what Services the Lord had at that time laid upon me there I left the Town and travelled into Kent Sussex and Surrey Kent Sussex Survey visiting Friends in those Counties amongst whom I had great Meetings and many times met with Opposition from Baptists and other jangling Professors but the Lord's Power went over them We lay one Night at Farnham where we had a little Meeting Farnham and the People were exceeding Rude But at last the Lord's Power came over them After Meeting we went to our Inn and gave notice That any that feared God might come to our Inn to us And there came abundance of rude People and the Magistrates of the Town also and some Professors I declared the Truth unto them and those of the People that behaved themselves rudely the Magistrates put out of the Room When they were gone there came up another Rude Company of Professors and some of the Chief of the Town and they called for Faggots and Drink though we forbad them and were as Rude a carriaged People as ever I met withal The Lord's Power chained them that they had not power to do us any Mischief but when they went away they left all their Faggots and Beer which they had called for into the Room for us to pay for in the Morning We shewed the Inn-keeper what an Vnworthy thing it was but he told us we must pay it and pay it we did And before we left the Town I writ a Paper to the Magistrates and Heads of the Town and to the Priest shewing them and him how he had taught his People 1656. Basingstoke and laying before them their rude and uncivil Carriage to Strangers that sought their good Then leaving that Place we came to Basingstoke a very Rude Town where they had formerly very much abused Friends There I had a Meeting in the Evening which was quiet for the Lord's Power chained the Vnruly At the Close of the Meeting I was moved to put off my Hat and to pray to the Lord to open their Vnderstandings upon which they raised a Report That I put off my Hat to them and bid them Good Night which was never in my Heart After the Meeting when we came to our Inn I sent for the Inn-keeper as I used to do and he came into the Room to us and shewed himself a very Rude Man I admonished him to be sober and fear the Lord but he called for Faggots and a pint of Wine and drank it off himself and then called for another and called up half a dozen men into our Chamber Thereupon I bid him go out of the Chamber and told him he should not drink there for we sent for him up to speak to him concerning his Eternal good And he was exceeding mad rude and drunk When he continued his Rudeness and would not be gone I told him The Chamber was mine for the Time I lodged in it and I called for the Key and then he went away in a great Rage In the Morning he would not be seen but I told his Wife of his Vnchristian and Rude Carriage towards us Bridport After this we passed through the Country till we came to Bridport having Meetings in the way We went to an Inn there and sent into the Town for such as feared God to come to us and there came a Shop-keeper a Professor and put off his Hat to us and seeing we did not the like to him again but said Thou and Thee to him he told us He was not of our Religion and after some discourse with him he went away his Wife who came with him being somewhat loving Then went he and stirred up the Priest and Magistrates against us and after a while sent to the Inn to us to desire us to come to his House for there were some would speak with us he said Thomas Curtis was then with me and he went down to the Man's House where when he came the Man had laid a snare for him for he had gotten the Priest and Magistrates thither and they boasted much that they had catched George Fox taking him for me When they perceived their Mistake they were in a great Rage yet the Lord's Power came over them so that they let him go again Mean while I had an Opportunity of speaking to some sober People that came to the Inn. And when Thomas was come back and we were passing out of the Town some of them came to us and said The Officers were coming to fetch me But the Lord's Power came over them all so that they had not power to touch me There were some Convinced in the Town that time who were turned to the Lord and have stood faithful in their Testimony to the Truth ever since and a fine Meeting there is there 1657. Portsm Pool Ringwood Weym Dorchester Passing from hence we visited Portsmouth and Pool where we had glorious Meetings and many were turned to the Lord. And at Ringwood we had a large general Meeting where the Lord's Power was over all And at Weymouth we had a Meeting and from thence came to Dorchester and so to Lime where the Inn we went to was taken up with Mountebanks 1657. Lime so that there was hardly any room for us or our horses In the Evening we drew up some Queries concerning the ground of all Diseases and the Natures and Vertues of Medicinable Creatures and sent them to the Mountebanks letting them know If they would not answer them we would stick them on the Cross next Day This brought them down and made them Cool for they could not answer them But in the Morning they reasoned a little with us And we left the Queries with some friendly People that were Convinced in the Town to stick upon the Market-Cross And the Lord's Power reached some of the sober People in that place who were turned by the Light and Spirit of Christ to his free Teaching Then traveled we on through the Country till we came to Exeter Exeter and there at the Sign of the Seven Stars an Inn at the Bridge-foot we had a general Meeting of Friends out of Cornwal and Devonshire to which came Humphry Lower and Thomas Lower and John Ellis from the Land's End and Henry Pollexfen and Friends from Plimouth Elizabeth Trelawny and divers other Friends A blessed heavenly Meeting we had and the Lord 's everlasting Power came over all in which I saw and said That the Lord's power had surrounded this Nation round about as with a Wall and Bulwark and his Seed reached from Sea to Sea And Friends were established in the everlasting Seed of Life Christ Jesus their Life Rock Teacher and Shepherd The next Morning after the Meeting Major Blackmore sent Souldiers to apprehend me but I was gone before they came and as I was riding up the Street I saw the Officers going down So the Wolf missed the Lamb
were born again that were translated into the Kingdom of Christ and were Fellow-workers unto the Kingdom of God Christ exhorts his Disciples to Love and to do Good that they might be the Children of their Father which is in Heaven Matth. 5.45 And he bids them be perfect even as their Father which is in Heaven is perfect ver 48. And the Apostle saith to the Church at Philippi That ye may be blameless and harmless the Sons of God without Rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Nation amongst whom ye shine as Lights in the World holding forth the Word of Life c. Phil. 2.15 16. And writing to the Church of the Thessalonians he puts them in mind how he had exhorted them That they would Walk worthy of God who had called them into his Kingdom and Glory 1 Thess 2.12 The Lord had promised by the Prophet Joel that he would Pour out his Spirit upon all Flesh and that Sons and Daughters should Prophesie Old men should dream Dreams and Young-men see Visions Joel 2.28 Now the Cause that Sons and Daughters Hand-maids Servants Young-men and Old men have not these heavenly Visions Dreams and Prophecies is because they are Erred from the Spirit of God which he poureth upon them but as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God John saith Christ was the True Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 And that As many as received him to them gave he power to become the Sons of God ver 12. which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God ver 13. Now the Reason why People do not become the Sons of God is because they do not receive Christ The Jews the great Professors which had the Promises Prophecies Figures and Shadows of him they would not receive him when he came And now the Priests and high Professors of Christ they are so far from receiving the Light of Christ and believing in it that they have hated the Light and scoff at it calling it a Natural Conscience and some have called it Jack in the Lanthorn Such are not like to become the Sons of God nor to see the glorious Kingdom of Christ which stands in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost For the Light that shines in the heart gives the Light of the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus And they that do not receive Christ Jesus but hate his Light which is the Life in him and yet profess him in words such neither know the Children of the Light nor true Fellowship in the Light nor the Kingdom of God that stands in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost but by the Light they are condemned And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light because their deeds are evil For every one that doth evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his deeds should be reproved John 3.19 20. But the Children of the Light that walk in the Light they come to heavenly Jerusalem and to the City of the living God and to the innumerable Company of Angels and to the general Assembly and Church of the First born that are written in Heaven and can sing Hallelujah Gooses the 2d of the 7th Month 1687. G. F Having now been somewhat more than a quarter of a Year in the Country London I returned to London somewhat better in health than formerly having received much benefit by the Country-Air And it being now a time of General Liberty and great Openness amongst the People I had much Service for the Lord in the City being almost daily at Publick Meetings and frequently taken up in Visiting Friends that were sick and in other Services of the Church I continued at London about Three Months and then finding my strength much spent with continual labouring in the Work of the Lord and my Body much stopped for want of fresh Air Kingston I went down to my Son Rouse's by Kingston where I abode some time and visited Friends at Kingston While I was there it came upon me to write a Paper concerning the Jews shewing How by their Disobedience and Rebellion they lost the holy City and Land By which Example the prosest Christians may see what they are to Expect if they continue to disobey and provoke the Lord. Of that Paper the Copy here followeth THE Lord gave the Jews in the Old Testament the Land of Canaan and they built the Temple at Jerusalem to worship in and it was called The Holy Temple and Jerusalem was called The Holy City and Canaan The Holy Land But when the Jews rebelled against the good Spirit which God gave them to instruct them and rebelled against his Law 1687. Kingston and set up Idols and Images and defiled the Land and the City the Lord sent his Prophets to Cry against them and to bring them back again to his Spirit and to his Law and so to God to serve and worship him that they might not worship Images and Idols the works of their own hands But instead of hearkening to God's Prophets they persecuted them and at last killed his Son Christ Jesus and persecuted his Apostles But Christ told the Jews that both their City and Temple should be laid Waste and they should be scattered over all Nations And it was so when Titus the Roman Emperour came and took Jerusalem and destroyed the City and Temple which was a Day of Vengeance upon the Jews for all their Idolatries and their Wickedness and for the Innocent blood they had shed both in City and Country And they were driven out of their own City and Land and scattered over all Nations And the Jews had never power to get the â—and since nor to build Jerusalem nor the Temple But the Turk hath both the Land of Canaan and that which is called The City Jerusalem Now the Turk neither makes Images nor Worships Images And so it is a just Hand of the Lord that he should be over the persecuting Idolatrous Jews so that they cannot defile the Land of Canaan now with Images and Idols for the Turk hath it who neither makes Images nor Idols nor worships them And the Jews must never hope believe nor expect that ever they shall go again into the Land of Canaan to set up an outward Worship at Jerusalem and there for their Priests to offer outward Sacrifices of Rams Sheep and Heifers c. for Burnt-Offerings for Christ the one Offering hath offered himself once for all and by this one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified And Christ hath changed the Priesthood of Aaron that offered Sacrifices which was made after the power of a Carnal Commandment but Christ was made after the power of an endless Life a Priest for ever who was holy and
naturally led into So that what is an evil to One is so to All and what is Vertuous Honest and of good Report to One is so to All from the Sense and Savour of the one Vniversal Principle which is common to all and which the disaffected profess to be the Root of all True Christian Fellowship and that Spirit into which the People of God drink and come to be Spiritually Minded and of one Heart and one Soul Some weakly mistook good Order in the Government of Church Affairs for Discipline in Worship and that it was so prest or recommended by Him and other Brethren And they were ready to reflect the same things that Dissenters had very reasonably objected upon the National Churches that have coercively pressed Conformity to their Respective Creeds and Worships Whereas these things related wholly to Conversation and the Outward and as I may say Civil part of the Church that Men should walk up to the Principles of their Belief and not be wanting in Care and Charity But though some have stumbled and fallen through Mistakes and an unreasonable Obstinancy even to a Prejudice yet blessed be God the Generality have returned to their First Love and seen the Work of the Enemy that looses no Opportunity or Advantage by which he may check or hinder the Work of God and disquiet the Peace of his Church and chill the Love of his People to the Truth and one to another and there is hope of divers that are yet at a Distance In all these Occasions though there was no Person the Discontented struck so sharply at as this Good Man he bore all their Weakness and Prejudice and returned not Reflection for Reflection but forgave them their weak and bitter Speeches praying for them that they might have a Sense of their hurt and see the Subtilty of the Enemy to Rend and Devide and return into their First Love that thought no Ill. And truly I must say that though God had visibly cloathed him with a Divine Preference and Authority and indeed his very Presence exprest a Religious Majesty yet he never abused it but held his Place in the Church of God with great Meakness and a most engaging Humility and Moderation For upon all Occasions like his blessed Master he was a Servant to all holding and exercising his Eldership in the Invisible Power that had gathered them with Reverence to the Head and Care over the Body And was received only in that Spirit and Power of Christ as the First and Chief Elder in this Age who as he was therefore worthy of double Honour so for the same Reason it was given by the Faithful of this day because his Authority was inward and not outward and that he got it and kept it by the Love of God and Power of an Endless Life I write my Knowledge and not Report and my Witness is True having been with him for Weeks and Months together on divers Occasions and those of the nearest and most exercising Nature and that by Night and by Day by Sea and by Land in this and in Foreign Countrys And I can say I never saw him out of his Place or not a Match for every Service or Occasion For in all things he acquitted himself like a Man yea a strong Man a New and Heavenly minded Man A Divine and a Naturalist and all of God Almighty's making I have been surprised at his Questions and Answers in Natural things that whilst he was Ignorant of useless and Sophistical Science he had in him the Foundation of useful and commendable Knowledge and cherisht it every where Civil beyond all Forms of Breeding in his Behaviour Very Temperate eating Little and sleeping Less though a Bulky Person Thus he Lived and Sojourned among us and as he lived so he died feeling the same Eternal Power that had raised and preserved him in his last Moments So full of assurance was he that he Triumpht over Death and so even to the last as if Death were hardly worth Notice or a Mention Recommending to some with him the Dispatch and Dispersion of an Epistle just before Written to the Churches of Christ throughout the World and his own Books but above all Friends and of all Friends those in Ireland and America twice over Saying mind poor Friends in Ireland and America And to some that came in and enquired how he found himself he answered Never heed the Lord's Power is over all Weakness and Death the Seed reigns Blessed be the Lord Which was about Four or Five Hours before his Departure out of this World He was at the great Meeting near Lombard-street on the First day of the Week and it was the Third following about Ten at Night when he left us being at the House of H. Goldney in the same Court. In a good Old Age he went after having lived to see his Childrens Children to many Generations in the Truth He had the Comfort of a short Illness and the Blessing of a clear Sense to the last and we may truly say with a Man of God of Old that being Dead he yet Speaketh and though absent in Body he is Present in Spirit neither Time nor Place being able to interrupt the Communion of Saints or dissolve the Fellowships of the Spirits of the Just His Works praise him because they are to the Praise of him that worked by him for which his Memorial is and shall be Blessed I have done as to this part of my Preface when I have left this short Epitaph to his Name Many Sons have done virtuously in this Day but Dear George thou Excellest them All. And now Friends you that profess to walk in the way this Blessed Man was sent of God to turn us into suffer I beseech you the word of Exhortation as well Fathers as Children and Elders as Young Men. The Glory of this Day and Foundation of the Hope that has not made us ashamed since we were a People you know is that Blessed Principle of Light and Life of Christ which we Profess and Direct all People to as the great Instrument and Agent of Man's Conversion to God It was by this we were first Touched and effectually enlightned as to our Inward State which put us upon the Consideration of our Latter End causing us to set the Lord before our Eyes and to Number our Days that we might apply our Hearts to Wisdom In that Day we judged not after the Sight of the Eye or after the Hearing of the Ear but according to the Light and Sense this Blessed Principle gave us we judged and acted in reference to Things and Persons our selves and others yea towards God our Maker For being quickned by it in our Inward Man we could easily discern the difference of things and feel what was Right and what was Wrong and what was Fit and what not both in reference to Religion and Civil Concerns That being the ground of the Fellowship of all Saints it was in
have not considered the handy-works of the Lord but have destroyed them nor have regarded the way of the Lord but have had plenty of the Creatures and have therewith fatted up your selves and forgot the Lord and his way O let Shame cover your Faces here upon Earth Come ye that are given to Pleasures and spend your Time and Days in Sports and Idleness and Fulness your Fruits declare the Sins of Sodom yet you will make a Talk of my Name and of my Saints Words But I behold you afar off saith the Lord you are Proud and Lofty you are bad Patterns and bad Examples that be full and rich and Idle who say Others are Idle that cannot maintain your Lusts Oh! the unrighteous Ballances that are among People Oh the Iniquity in Measuring Oh the Oppression in Ruling and Governing Therefore because of these things my Hand shall come upon you saith the Lord. For the Oppression is entred into the Ears of the Lord who gives Rest to the wearied to the burdened to the oppressed who feeds the Hungry and cloaths the Naked who brings the Mighty from their Seats and beats the Lofty to Ground and makes the Haughty to bend Come saith the Lord ye Mockers and Scorners and Rebellious ones light and wild People vain and heady you have had your Day of Joy you have Scoffed you have Mocked and derided my Messengers and my Ambassadors who have preached in your Streets and cried in your Synagogues and Temples a Day of Trembling and Lamentation shall on you come when you are not aware I 'le take away your Pride and your Height I 'le shake you as a Leaf and bring you to be as Men distracted I 'le distract you and make you that you shall not trust one another in the Earth who have joined hand in hand against my Servants in the Truth I 'le smite you with Terrors and bring Frets and Fears upon you the Cup of my Indignation and Fury shall you drink Where will you appear when Repentance is hid from your Eyes when prophane Esau your Father it set before you and Ishmael and Cain wild and envious whose Fruits declare the Stock Come ye proud Priests who have eaten up the Fat of the Nation who by Violence have taken other Men's Goods whose Envy hath slain many whose Wickedness and Darkness hath abounded and whose Vnrighteousness daily appears Your Fruits every day declare it in summoning up by Writs and Subpoena's from most parts of the Nation for Wages and Tithes such as you do no work for Oh the Abominable Vnrighteousness how is the State of Man lost that these things they do not take to Heart to feel them What havock is made in most parts of the Nation with such And all ye Priests and Teachers who are railing and brawling in the Pulpit setting People at variance one against another Haters and Hateful provoking People to Hate one another here is the Seed of Enmity seen which you have sown and are sowing whose Seed must be bruised by the Seed of the Woman which a top of your Heads is set G. F. This Year came out the Oath of Abjuration by which many Friends suffered and several Friends went to speak with the Protector about it but he began to harden And Sufferings increasing upon Friends by reason that envious Magistrates made use of that Oath as a Snare to catch Friends in who they knew could not swear at all I was moved to write to the Protector about it and other suffering Friends as followeth THE Magistrate is not to bear the Sword in vain which ought to be a Terror to the Evil-doers but the Magistrate that doth bear the Sword in vain as he is not a Terror to the Evil-doers so he is not a Praise to them that do well Now hath God raised up a People by his Power whom People Priests and Magistrates who are out of the Fear of God scornfully call Quakers who do cry against Drunkenness for Drunkards destroy God's Creatures and do cry against Oaths for because of Oaths the Land mourns and they Drunkards and Swearers to whom the Magistrate's Sword should be a Terror are we see at liberty but for crying against such many are cast into Prison and for crying against their Pride and Filthiness their deceitful Merchandize in Markets their Cozening and their Cheating their Excess and Naughtiness their playing at Bouls and Shovel-boards at Cards and at Dice and their other vain and wanton Pleasures for who live in Pleasures are dead while they live and who live in Wantonness kill the Just This we know by the Spirit of God which gave forth the Scriptures which God the Father hath given to us and hath placed his Righteous Law in our Hearts which Law is a Terror to Evil-doers and answers that which is of God in every Man's Conscience They which act contrary to the Measure of God's Spirit in every Man's Conscience cast the Law of God behind their Backs and walk despitefully against the Spirit of Grace The Magistrate's Sword we see is born in vain whilst the Evil-doers are at Liberty to do Evil and they that cry against such are for so doing punished by the Magistrate who hath turned his Sword backward against the Lord. And now the Wicked one fenceth himself and persecutes the Innocent as Vagabonds and Wanderers for crying against Sin and against Vnrighteousness and Vngodliness openly in the Markets and in the High-ways or as Railers because they tell them what Judgment will follow them that follow such Practices And here they that depart from Iniquity are become a Prey and few lay it to heart But God will thresh the Mountains and beat the Hills and cleave the Rocks and cast into his Press which is trodden without the City and will bathe his Sword in the Blood of the Wicked and Vnrighteous So they that have drunk the Cup of Abominations an hard Cup have you to drink you who are the Enemies of God and of you he will be avenged who be his Enemies Now ye in whom something of God is remaining consider If the Sword was not born in vain but turned against the Evil-doers then the Righteous would not suffer and be cast into Holes Dungeons Corners and Prisons and Houses of Correction as Peace-Breakers for crying against Sin openly as they are commanded of the Lord and for crying against the Covetousness of the Priests and their false Worships who exact Money now of poor People whom they do no work for Oh! where will you appear in the Day of the Lord or how will you stand in the Day of his righteous Judgment How many Jails and Houses of Correction are now made Places to put the Lambs of Christ in for following him and obeying his Commands which are too many to mention The Royal Law of Christ To do as ye would be done by is trodden down under foot So that Men can profess him in Words and Talk but Crucify him wheresoever he appears
Religion Such as be in the Religion that is Vain whose Tongues are not bridled I believe the Quakers are a Grief to but are not a Grief to such as be in the pure Religion which keepeth unspotted of the World which sets not up Bills nor Watches to maintain it by the World for they are not of the World which be in the pure Religion which keeps them unspotted of the World Mark the pure Religion which keeps unspotted of the World But such as be in the Religion that is not pure which have a Form of Godliness and not the Power such as you call Pious the Truth it self to such was always a Grief and so it is in this Age. And now your Fruits do appear the End of your Religion and Profession and what you do possess But you are in the Error and have been but in the Profession out of the Possession of the Spirit who are not in the Spirit of Truth For where did ever it set Stints and Bounds and number the Just and Innocent with the Wicked But the Wicked set Stints and Bounds and Limits to the Just and number them among the Wicked yea speak all manner of Evil they did of them as ye are doing now of us they did so who did profess that which ye do profess in Words Nay according as it was foretold in the Scripture such as tremble at the Word of God you cast out and hate you that have your Temple-worship and you say The Quakers come to disturb you in your Churches as you call them Was it not the Practice of the Apostles to go into the Synagogues and Temples to witness against the Priesthood that took Tithes And was it not the Practice of the Jews to hale them out and persecute them and stone them that witnessed Christ the Second Priest and went to bring People off from the First Priesthood Was it not the practice of the Prophets to go and cry against the High Places And was it not the Practice of the Jews when they were back-slidden and of the Heathen to Imprison and Persecute the Prophets and send after them into other Countries And is not this the Practice of you now who are holding up your High-Places which the Papists set up which ye now call your Churches where ye beat and persecute What Religious People are you that are filled with so much Madness Did not Paul Confess he was Mad while he was in your Practice haling beating prisoning putting out of the Synagogues having his Authority from the Chief Priests And are not the Chief Priests the cause of this Was there ever such a Cry made in any Age past as there is now in the Pulpits Railing against an Innocent People whom ye in scorn call Quakers who lift not up an Hand against you and who are indeed the Pious that are of the pure Religion who fear God and worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth but cannot Join with you in your Religion And do not the Ministers of God say That the Scriptures are a Declaration which you call the Word Do not you rob Christ of his Title and of his Honour and give it to the Letter and shew your selves out of the Doctrine of the Ministers of God who called the Scriptures by the name of Writings and Treatises and Declarations and said Christ's Name is called the Word of God Are not you here in the Error you speak of which is your Common Talk among you There was talk among some of you of your Gospel-shining Doth your Gospel which you profess persecute Did ever any of them that did possess it cast into Prison and not suffer others to go to Visit them Are you like Christians in this or like Heathen who set Bounds and Watches over the Land that they should not pass to Visit them that be in Prison Was ever the like heard in any Age Search and see if you have not out-stript them all in your Watches if not in your manner of Persecution and in your Imprisonments And oh never talk that we are a Grief to them that are in the pure Religion And whereas in your Warrant we are represented as Dis-affected to Government I say the Law that is a Terror to the Evil-Doer we own the Higher Power to which the Soul must be subject But we deny the Evil-Doer the malicious Man reigning and the Envious Man seeking for his Prey whose Envy is against the Innocent who raiseth up the Country against honest Men and so becomes a Trouble to the Country in raising them up to take the Innocent but that we leave to the Lord to Judge Your false Accusations of Heresy and Blasphemy we do deny you should have laid them down in Particulars what they had been that People might have seen them and not have slandered behind our Backs The Law saith The Crime should be mentioned in the Warrant Then for your saying We deny the godly Ministers to be a true Ministry of Christ that is false for we say that the Godly Ministers are the Ministers of Christ But which of your Ministers dare say that they are truly Godly And for your charging us with seducing many weak People that is false also for we seduce none But you that deny the Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World are seduced from the Anointing which should Teach you and if ye would be Taught by it ye would not need that any Man should Teach you But such as are taught by the Anointing which abideth in them and deny Man's Teaching these ye call Seducers quite contrary to John's Doctrine 1 Joh. 2. You speak quite contrary to him that which is Truth ye call Seducing and that which he calls Seducing you call Truth Read the latter part of the Chapter And beware I warn you all from the Lord God of Glory set not any Bound against him Stint him not Limit not the Holy one of Israel for the Lord is rising in Power and great Glory who will rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron which to him are but as the drop of a Bucket he that measures the Waters in the Hollow of his Hand will dash Nations together as a Potter's Vessel And know you that are found in this his day blaspheming his Work that God hath brought forth calling it Blasphemy fighting against it setting up your Carnal Weapons making your Bonds strong God will break asunder that which your Carnal Policy hath invented and which by your Carnal Weapons ye would uphold and make you to know there is a God in Heaven who carries his Lambs in his Arms which are come among Wolves and are ready to be torn in pieces in every place yea in your Steeple-houses where are People without Reason and that have not natural Affection Therefore all ye Petty-Constables Sheriffs and Justices take Warning and take heed what ye do against the Lambs of Christ for Christ is come and coming who will give to every
your Markets in your Highways and Cities yea and even in your Courts also because they said the Word Thou to you and could not put off their Hats to you That if something did not arise up amongst your selves to avenge the Blood of the Innocent there would come something from beyond the Seas which lay reserved there which being brought by the Arm of God the Arm of Flesh and strongest Mountain cannot withstand Yet ye would not consider nor regard nor hear but cried Peace Peace and feasted your selves and sate down in the Spoil of your Enemies being Treacherous both to God and Man And who will trust you now Have ye not taken Covenants and Oaths And broken Covenants and Oaths betwixt God and Man and made the Nations Breakers both of Covenants and Oaths so that nothing but Hypocrisie and Rottenness and Falshood under fair Pretence was amongst you When ye pretended to set up the Old Cause it was but your selves for which ye long stunk to sober People who saw that no good ye would do But it was a Joy for any of you to get up into Authority that ye might have Praise and Honour and Respect and they that were in the Self-denial were a Derision to you from amongst whom that was banished Thus ye became the Nations Masters and not Servants whereas the Greatest of all should be the Servants of all But there ye lost your Authority not considering your Estates from whence ye were and to what end God had raised you up but forgot the Lord and quenched that which was Good in your selves and persecuted them that lived in it And so are grown so gross and perverse that at last ye are fit for neither God nor Man Have not ye used to call the Quakers the Fanatick People and the Giddy Heads But whither now are ye Giddying Into Cain's City Nod which signifies Fugitive or Wandring Have not ye Persecuted and Imprisoned to Death such as God had Respect to and is now Reproving you for their sakes by them whom ye have hated Were not many amongst you cut off for your Persecution and yet the rest of you would not take Warning Was there not a Book of Examples set out unto you of what sudden and strange Deaths happened upon the Persecutors of the Innocent And yet ye would not take Warning until the Overflowing Scourge is now coming upon you Are not ye They that have killed like Cain who have killed about your Sacrifice and mingled the Blood of the Innocent with it Hath not God now Vagabonded you that ye should become a Curse upon the Earth who have persecuted Friends to Death Did not the Blood of the Righteous cry out of the Ground for Vengeance And will not the Blood of the Righteous be required Could ye think that the Lord would let you sit always with Bloody Hands and Fists of Wickedness Ah! What 's become of all your Feasts and your Fasts the Prayers and Blessings of your Priests G. F. Being now clear of the City and finding my Spirit drawn to Visit Friends in the Western Parts of England I went out of Town and passing first into Surrey and Sussex Surrey Sussex came to a great Town where there was a large Meeting to which several Friends from Reading came and a blessed Meeting it was The Priest of the Town was in a great Rage but did not come out of his House wherefore hearing him make a great Noise in his House as we were passing from the Meeting we bid him Come out into the Street and we would discourse with him but he would not So the Lord's Power being over all Friends were refreshed in the Lord's Power and Truth From thence I went to another Market-Town where in the Evening we had a precious Meeting and the fresh Sense of the Presence of the Lord God was sweetly felt amongst us Hampshire Dorsetshire Ringwood Pool Then turning into Hampshire and Dorsetshire I went to Ringwood and Pool visiting Friends in the Lord's Power and had great Meetings amongst them Dorchester At Dorchester we had a great Meeting in the Evening at our Inn to which many Souldiers came and were pretty Civil But the Constables and Officers of the Town came under pretence to look for a Jesuite whose Head they said was shaved And they would have all to put off their Hats or else they would take them off to look for the Jesuit's shaven Crown So they took off my Hat for I was the Man they aimed at and they looked very narrowly but not finding any bald or shaven place on my Head they went away with shame and the Souldiers and other sober People were greatly offended with them But it was of good Service for the Lord and all things wrought together for good for it affected the People and after the Officers were gone we had a fine Meeting and People were turned to the Lord Jesus Christ their Teacher who had bought them and would reconcile them to God From thence we passed into Somersetshire where the Presbyterians and other Professors were very wicked and often used to disturb Friends Meetings Example One time especially as we were then informed there was a very wicked Man whom they had got to come to the Quakers Meeting This Man put a Bears-Skin on his Back and undertook with that to play Pranks in the Quakers Meeting Accordingly setting himself just opposite to the Friend that was speaking he Lolled his Tongue out of his Mouth having his Bears-Skin on his Back and so made sport to his Wicked Followers and caused a great Disturbance in the Meeting But an Eminent Judgment overtook him and his Punishmet slumbred not For as he went back from the Meeting there was a Bull-baiting in the way which he stayed to see and coming within the Bulls reach the Bull struck his Horn under the Man's Chin into his Throat and struck his Tongue out of his Mouth so that it hung Lolling out as he had used it before in Derision in the Meeting And the Bull 's Horn running up into the Man's Head he swung him about upon his Horn 1659. Example in a most remarkable and fearful manner Thus he that came to do Mischief amongst God's People was Mischieved himself and well would it be if such apparent Examples of Divine Vengeance would teach others to beware We travelled through Somersetshire and Devonshire Devonshire Plymouth Cornwall till we came to Plymouth and so went up into Cornwal visiting the Meetings of Friends till we came to Land's-End Many precious and blessed Meetings we had all along through the Countries as we went wherein they that were Convinc'd were established and many others were added to them At the Land's-End in Cornwal Lands End there was an honest Fisher-man Convinc'd who became a Faithful Minister of Christ I took notice of him to Friends and told them He was like Peter While I was in Cornwall there were great Ship-wracks about
Christians in the Primitive times under the Ten Persecutions 1663. Lancaster Assize and some also of the Martyrs in Queen Mary's days refused Swearing because Christ and the Apostle had forbidden it I told him also They had had Experience enough how many Men had first sworn for the King and then against the King But as for me I had never taken an Oath in all my Life and my Allegiance did not lie in Swearing but in Truth and Faithfulness for I honour all Men much more the King But Christ who is the Great Prophet who is the King of Kings who is the Saviour of the World and the great Judge of the whole World he saith I must not Swear Now whether must I obey Christ or Thee For it is in tenderness of Conscience and in Obedience to the Commands of Christ that I do not Swear And we have the Word of a King for tender Consciences Then I asked the Judge If he did own the King Yes said he I do own the King Why then said I dost thou not observe his Declaration from Breda and his Promises made since he came into England That no man should be called in question for matters of Religion so long as they lived peaceably Now if thou ownest the King said I why dost thou call me into question and put me upon taking an Oath which is a matter of Religion seeing thou nor none else can charge me with unpeaceable living Then he was moved and looking angrily at me said Sirrah Will you Swear I told him I was none of his Sirrahs I was a Christian and for him that was an Old Man and a Judge to sit there and give Nick-names to Prisoners it did not become either his Gray Hairs or his Office Well said he I am a Christian too ' Then do Christians Works said I. Sirrah said he Thou thinkest to frighten me with thy Words Then catching himself and looking aside he said Heark I am using the word Sirrah again and so check'd himself I said I spake to thee in love for that Language did not become thee a Judge Thou oughtest to Instruct a Prisoner in the Law if he were Ignorant and out of the way And I speak in Love to thee too said he But said I Love gives no Nick-names Then he roused himself up and said I will not be afraid of thee George Fox Thou speakest so loud thy Voice drowns mine and the Court 's I must call for three or four Criers to drown thy Voice Thou hast good Lungs I am a Prisoner here said I for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake for his sake do I suffer and for him do I stand this day and if my Voice were five times louder yet I should lift it up and sound it out for Christ's sake for whose Cause I stand this day before your Judgment-Seat in Obedience to Christ who commands not to Swear before whose Judgment-Seat you must all be brought and must give an Account Well said the Judge George Fox say Whether thou wilt take the Oath Yea or Nay I replied I say as I said before Whether ought I to obey God or Man Judge thou ' If I could take any Oath at all I should take this for I do not deny some Oaths only or on some Occasion but all Oaths according to Christ's Doctrine who hath commanded his Not to swear at all Now if thou or any of you or any of your Ministers or Priests here will prove that ever Christ or his Apostle after they had forbidden all Swearing commanded Christians to Swear then I will Swear I saw several Priests there but never an one of them offered to speak Then said the Judge I am a Servant to the King and the King sent me not to dispute with you but to put the Laws in Execution Therefore tender him the Oath of Allegiance If thou love the King said I why dost thou break his Word and not keep his Declarations and Speeches wherein he promised Liberty to Tender Consciences I am a Man of a tender Conscience and in obedience to Christ's Command I cannot Swear Then you will not Swear said the Judge Take him away Jailer I said It is for Christ's sake that I cannot Swear and for Obedience to his Command I Suffer and so the Lord forgive you all So the Jailer took me away but I felt the mighty Power of the Lord was over them all Upon the Sixteenth Day of the same Month I was brought before Judge Twisden again and he was somewhat offended at my Hat but it being the last Morning of the Assize before he was to go out of Town and not many People there he made the less of it He asked me Whether I would Traverse or stand Mute or Submit But he spake so fast and in such haste that it was hard to know what he said However I told him I desired I might have Liberty to Traverse the Indictment and Try it Then said he Take him away I will have nothing to do with him take him away I said Well live in the Fear of God and do Justice Why said he have not I done you Justice I replied That which thou hast done hath been against the Command of Christ. Lancaster Prison So I was taken away and had to the Jail again and there kept Prisoner till the next Assizes Sometime before this Assize Margaret Fell was sent Prisoner to Lancaster-Jail by Flemming Kirby and Preston Justices and at the Assize the Oath was tendered to her also and she was committed again to Prison to lie till the next Assize Now Justice Flemming being one of the fiercest and most-violent Justices in Persecuting Friends and sending his honest Neighbours to Prison for Religion's sake and there being many Friends at this time in Lancaster-Jail committed thither by him and some having died in Prison we that were then Prisoners had it upon us to write to him as followeth O Justice Fleming MErcy and Compassion and Love and Kindness adorns and graces Men and Magistrates Oh! dost thou not hear the Cry of the Widows and the Cry of the Fatherless who were made so through Persecution Were they not driven like Sheep from Constable to Constable as though they had been the greatest Transgressors or Malefactors in the Land Which grieved and tendered the Hearts of many sober People to see how their Innocent Neighbours and Countrymen who were of a peaceable Carriage and honest in their Lives and Conversations amongst Men were used and served One more is dead whom thou sentest to Prison having left Five Children both Fatherless and Motherless Now how canst thou do otherwise than take Care of these Fatherless Infants and also of the other's Wife and Family Is it not thy place Consider Job c. 29th how he was a Father to the Poor he delivered the Poor that cried and the Fatherless that had none to help 1663. Lancaster Prisons how he brake the Jaws of the Wicked and plucked the Spoil
where Friends had never had any Meeting before And the Meeting was very large for the Country generally came in and People came also from Connecticut and other parts round about There were amongst them four Justices of the Peace and most of these People were such as had never heard Friends before but they were mightily affected with the Meeting and a great Desire there is after the Truth amongst that People So that our Meeting was of very good Service blessed be the Lord for ever The Justice at whose House the Meeting was and another Justice of that Country invited me to come again but I was then clear of those parts and was going off towards Shelter-Island But John Burnyeate and John Cartwright being come back out of New-England into Road-Island before I was gone I laid this place before them and they felt Drawings thither and went to visit them At another place I heard some of the Magistrates should say among themselves If they had Money enough they would hire me to be their Minister This was where they did not well understand Vs and our Principles But when I heard of it I said It was time for me to be gone for if their Eye was so much to Me or any of Vs they would not come to their own Teacher For this thing of hiring Ministers had spoiled many by hindring them from improving their own Talents whereas our Labour is to bring every one to their own Teacher in themselves Now after we had had very good Service for the Lord in Road-Island and the Parts adjacent and that John Burneyate with the other Friends that went from the General Meeting here into New-England were returned hither again I went off from hence to Shelter-Island having with me Robert Widders James Lancaster George Pattison and one John Jay a Planter in Barbados and leaving John Stubbs and John Burneyate in Road-Island to Water 1672. Road-Island what had been Planted by the Lord there and there-aways who expected John Cartwright whom they had left at Piscataway to come and join shortly with them in the same Service We that were for Shelter-Island went off in a Sloop and passing by Point-Juda and Block-Island Point Juda Block Island Fisher's Island came to Fishers Island where at Night we went on Shore but were not able to stay for the Muschetos a sort of Gnats or little Flies which abound there and are very troublesom Wherefore we went into our Sloop again and put off from the Shore and cast Anchor and so lay in our Sloop that Night Next day we went into the Sound The Sound but finding our Sloop was not able to live in that Water we turned in again for we could not pass that way and so came to Anchor again before Fisher's-Island where we lay in our Sloop that Night also There fell abundance of Rain that Night and our Sloop being open we were exceeding wet The Two Horse-Races Garner's Island Gull 's Island Shelter Island Next day we passed over the Waters called the two Horse Races and then by Garner's Island after which we passed by the Gull's-Island and so got at length to Shelter-Island which though it was but about Twenty seven Leagues from Road-Island yet through the Difficulty of Passage we were three Days in getting thither The Day after we came thither being the First Day of the Week we had a Meeting there Afterwards in the same Week I had a Meeting among the Indians there at which were their King with his Council and about an hundred Indians more They sate down like Friends and heard very attentively while I spake to them by an Interpreter an Indian that could speak English well After the Meeting they appeared very loving and confessed that what was said to them was Truth On the next First-Day we had a great Meeting on the Island to which came many of the World's People that had never heard Friends before They were very well satisfied with the Meeting and would not go away when the Meeting was done till they had spoken with me Wherefore I went amongst them and found they were much taken with the Truth and good Desires were raised in them and a great Love Blessed be the Lord his Name spreads and will be great among the Nations and Dreadful among the Heathen While we were in Shelter-Island William Edmundson came to us who had been labouring in the Work of the Lord in Virginia From whence he travelled through the desert-Desert-Country through Difficulties and many Trials till he came to Roan-Oak where he met with a tender People And after Seven Weeks Service in those parts sailing over to mary-Mary-land and so to New-York he came from thence to Long-Island and so to Shelter-Island where we met with him and were very glad to hear from him the good Service he had had for the Lord in the several Countries and Places wherein he had travelled since he parted from us We staid not long in Shelter-Island but entring our Sloop again At Sea put forth to Sea for Long-Island We had a very rough Passage for the Tide did run so strong for several Hours that I have not seen the like and being against us we could hardly get forwards though we had a Gale We were upon the Water all that Day and the Night following but found our selves next Day driven back near unto Fisher's-Island For there was a great Fog and towards Day it was very dark 1672. New-England so that we could not see what way we made and besides it rained much in the Night which in our open Sloop made us very wet Next day a great Storm arose so that we were fain to go over the Sound and did get over with much ado When we had gotten from Fisher's-Island Faulcon Island we passed by Faulcon-Island and came to the Main where we cast Anchor till the Storm was over Sound and then we came over the Sound being all very wet and much difficulty we had to get to Land the Wind being strong against us But blessed be the Lord God of Heaven and Earth and of the Seas and Waters Long Island Oister-bay all was well and we got safe to Oister-Bay in Long-Island on the Seventh Day of the Sixth Month very early in the Morning which they say is about two hundred Miles from Road-Island At Oister-Bay we had a very large Meeting and the same day James Lancaster and Christopher Holder went over the Bay to Rye on the Continent in Governour Winthrop's Government and had a Meeting there Flushing From Oister-Bay we passed about Thirty Miles to Flushing where we had a very large Meeting many Hundreds of the People of the World being there some or whom came about Thirty Miles to it A glorious and heavenly Meeting it was praised be the Lord God! and the People were much satisfied Mean while Christopher Holder and some other Friends went to a Town in Long-Island called
I told him We did not glory in such things but many such things had been done by the Power of Christ Not far from hence we had a Meeting among the World's People and they were taken with the Truth blessed be the Lord. Then passing down the River Maratick in a Canooe Maratick River Cunnyoke Bay we went down the Bay Connie-oak and came to a Captain 's House who was loving to us and lent us his Boat for we were much wetted in the Canooe the Water flashing in upon us With this Boat we went on to the Governour 's House but the Water in some places was so shallow that the Boat being loaden could not Swim so that we were fain to put off our Shooes and Stockings and wade through the Water a pretty way The Governour with his Wife received us lovingly but there was at his House a Doctor who would needs Dispute with us And truly his Opposing us was of good Service giving Occasion for the Opening of many things to the People concerning the Light and Spirit of God which he denied to be in Every one and affirmed that it was not in the Indians Whereupon I called an Indian to us and asked him Whether or no when he did lie or do wrong to any one there was not something in him that did reprove him for it And he said There was such a thing in him that did so reprove him and he was ashamed when he had done wrong or spoken wrong So we shamed the Doctor before the Governour and the People insomuch that the poor Man run out so far that at length he would not own the Scriptures We tarried at the Governour 's that Night and next Morning he very courteously walked with us himself about two Miles through the Woods to a place whither he had sent our Boat about to meet us Where taking our Leave of him we entred our Boat again and went that Day about Thirty Miles to one Joseph Scot's who was one of the Representatives of the Country And there we had a Meeting and many People were at it a sound precious Meeting it was and the People were tender and much desired after Meetings Wherefore we went to another House about four miles further and there we had another Meeting to which the Governour 's Secretary came who was Chief Secretary of the Province and had it seems been formerly Convinced I went from this place among the Indians 1672. Carolina Indians and spake unto them by an Interpreter shewing them That God made all things in Six Days and made but one Woman for one Man and that God did drown the Old World because of their Wickedness Afterwards I spake to them concerning Christ shewing them That he did die for all men for their Sins as well as for others and had enlightned them as well as others and that if they did that which was Evil he would burn them but if they did well they should not be burned There was among them their young King and others of their Chief Men and they seemed to receive kindly what I said unto them Now having visited the North-Part of Carolina and made a little Entrance for Truth upon the People there we began to return again towards Virginia having several Meetings in our way wherein we had very good Service for the Lord the People being generally tender and open blessed be the Lord. We lay one Night at the Secretary's House to which we had much ado to get for the Water being shallow we could not bring our Boat to Shore But the Secretary's Wife seeing our Strait came her self in a Canooe her Husband being from home and brought us to Land By next Morning our Boat was sunk and full of Water But we got her up and mended her and went away in her that Day about Twenty four Miles the Water being rough and troubled and the Winds high but the great Power of God was seen in carrying us safe in that rotten Boat In our Return we had a very precious Meeting at Hugh Smith's praised be the Lord for ever the People were very tender and very good Service we had amongst them There was at this Meeting an Indian Captain who was very loving and did acknowledge it to be Truth that was spoken There was also one of the Indian Priests whom they call a Pauwaw and he sate soberly among the People On the Ninth of the Tenth Month we got back to Bonners-Creek Bonner's-Creek where we had left our Horses having spent a matter of Eighteen Days in the North of Carolina Our Horses having rested and being now fresh we set forward forthwith for Virginia again travelling through the Woods and Bogs VIRGINIA as far as we could well reach that Day and at Night lay by a Fire in the Woods as we often used to do Next Day we had a tedious Journey through the Bogs and Swamps and were exceeding wet and dirty all the Day but dried our selves at Night by a Fire We got that Night to Sommerton And when we came near the House Sommerton the Woman of the House seeing us spake to her Son to keep up their Dogs for both in Virginia and Carolina they generally keep great Dogs to guard their Houses living lonely in the Woods But the Son said He need not for their Dogs did not use to meddle with these People Whereupon when we were come into the House the Woman told us We were like the Children of Israel whom the Dogs did not move their Tongues against Here we lay but in our Cloths and by the Fire as we had done many a Night before And the next Day before we went away we had a Meeting here for the People having heard of us had a great Desire to hear us and a very good Meeting we had among them where we never had Meeting before praised be the Lord for ever After the Meeting we hasted away And when we had ridden about Twenty Miles 1672. Virginia calling at a House to enquire the Way the People of the House desired us to tarry all Night with them which we did Next Day we came among Friends after we had travelled about an Hundred Miles from Carolina into Virginia In which time we observed a great Variety of Climates having passed in a few Days from a very Cold to a warm and spring-like Country But the Power of the Lord is the same in all and is over all and doth reach the good in all praised be the Lord for ever We spent about three Weeks this time in travelling through Virginia sometimes amongst the World's People only but mostly amongst Friends having many large and precious Meetings in several parts of the Country As at the Widow Wright's where a great many of the Magistrates and Officers and other high People came And a most Heavenly Meeting we had wherein the Power of the Lord was so great that it struck a Dread upon the Assembly and
and the High-Sheriff with their Wives and several others And of Indians there was he who was called their Emperor and one of the Indian Kings and their Speaker who all sate very attentive and carried themselves very lovingly and an establishing settling Meeting it was This was on the Twenty third of the First Month. And on the Twenty fourth we went by Water ten Miles to the Indian Town where this same Emperor dwelt whom I had acquainted before with my Coming and desired him to get their Kings and Councils together In the Morning the Emperor came himself and had me to the Town and they were generally come together and had their Speaker and other Officers with them and the Old Empress sate among them And to give them their due they sate very grave and sober and were all very Attentive beyond many that are called Christians I had some with me that could interpret to them and we had a very good Meeting with them and of very good Service it was for it gave them a good Esteem of Truth and Friends blessed be the Lord After this we had many Meetings in several parts of that Country one at William Stephens's which was a general Meeting once a Month another at Tredhaven-Creek another at Wye another at Reconow-Creek and another at Thomas Taylor 's in the Island of Kent Most of these Meetings were large there being many of the World's People at them and divers of them of the most Considerable in the World's Account And the Lord's Power and living Presence was with us and plenteously manifested amongst the People by which their Hearts were tendred and opened to receive the Truth which had a good Savour amongst them blessed be the Lord God over all for ever Then being clear of that side we passed over the Bay about Fourteen Miles to a Friend's House where we met with several Friends and I sent for Thomas Thurston thither and had a Meeting with him to bring the Truth over his bad Actions Now having travelled through most parts of that Country and visited most of the Plantations thereabouts and had very good Service for the Lord in America having alarm'd the People of all sorts where we came and proclaimed the Day of God's Salvation amongst them we found our Spirits began to be clear of those parts of the World and to draw towards Old England again Yet we were desirous and felt Freedom from the Lord to stay till the General Meeting for that Province of mary-Mary-land was over which drew nigh that we might see Friends generally together before we departed Wherefore spending our time in the interim partly in visiting Friends and Friendly People Clifts Pottuxon and in having Meetings about the Clifts and Pottuxon and partly in writing Answers to some Cavilling Objections which some of Truth 's Adversaries had raised and spread abroad to hinder People from receiving the Truth we were not idle but laboured in the Work of the Lord until that General Provincial Meeting came on which began on the Seventeenth Day of the Third Month The General Provincial Meeting and lasted four Days On the First of these days the Men and Women had their Meetings for Business wherein the Affairs of the Church of God were taken Care of and many things relating thereunto were opened unto them to their Edification and Comfort The other Three Days were spent in Publick Meetings for the Worship of God at which divers of considerable Account in the Government and many others of the World's People were present who were generally satisfied and many of them reached for it was a wonderful glorious Meeting and the mighty Presence of the Lord was seen and felt over all blessed and praâ—â—ed be his Holy Name for ever who over all giveth Dominion After this Meeting we took our Leave of Friends parting in great Tenderness in the sense of the Heavenly Life and vertuous Power of the Lord that was livingly felt amongst us and went by Water to the place where we were to take Shipping many Friends accompanying us thither and tarrying with us that Night Next Day which was the Twenty first of the Third Month 1673 and the Day following we set Sail for England At Sea The same Day Richard Covell came on Board our Ship having had his own taken from him by the Dutch We had foul Weather and contrary Winds which caused us to cast Anchor often so that we were till the Thirty first of the Third Month e'er we could get past the Capes of Virginia and come out into the main Sea But after this we made good Speed ENGLAND King's-Road and on the Twenty eighth of the Fourth Month cast Anchor at Kings-road which is the Harbour for Bristol We had in our Passage very high Winds and Tempestuous Weather which made the Sea exceeding rough the Waves rising like Mountains so that the Masters and Sailers wondred at it and said They never saw the like before But though the Wind was strong it sate for the most part with us so that we sailed away before it and the Great God who commands the Winds who is Lord of Heaven of Earth and the Seas and whose Wonders are seen in the Deep he steered our Course and preserved us from many imminent Dangers The same good Hand of Providence that went with us and carried us safely over watched over us in our Return and brought us safely back again Thanksgivings and Praises be to his holy Name for ever Many sweet and precious Meetings we had on Board the Ship during this Voyage commonly two a Week wherein the blessed Presence of the Lord did greatly refresh us and did often break in upon and tender the Company Bristol Harbour And when we came into Bristol Harbour there lay a Man of War and the Press-master came on Board us to press our men We had a Meeting at that time in the Ship with the Sea-men before we went to Shore and the Press-master sate down with us and staid the Meeting and was very well satisfied with it After the Meeting I spake to him to leave two of the Men he had Pressed in our Ship for he had pressed four one of which was a lame Man and he said At my Request he would We went on Shore that Afternoon and got to Shear-hampton Shear-hampton where we got Horses and rode to Bristol that Night where Friends received us with great Joy 1673. Bristol In the Evening I writ a Letter to my Wife to give her Notice of my Landing as followeth Dear Heart THis Day we came into Bristol near Night from the Seas Glory to the Lord God over all for ever who was our Convoy and steered our Course who is the God of the whole Earth and of the Seas and Winds and made the Clouds his Chariots beyond all Words blessed be his Name for ever Who is over all in his great Power and Wisdom Amen Robert Widders and James Lancaster
amongst other Services that I found there one was to assist Friends in drawing up Testimony to Clear our Friends from being concerned in the late Rebellion in the West and from all Plots against the Government Which accordingly we did and delivered them to the Chief-Justice who was then to go down into the West with Commission to Try Prisoners I tarried some time in London visiting Meetings and labouring among Friends in the Service of Truth But finding my Health much impaired for want of fresh Air I went a little way out of Town to Charles Bathurst's Country-house at Epping-Forrest Epping-Forrest where I stay'd a few days And while I was there it came upon me to write the following Epistle to Friends Dear Friends WHO are called chosen and faithful in this Day of Trial 1685. Epping-Forest and Temptations and Sufferings whom the Lord by his right Hand hath upholden in all your Sufferings and some to Death for the Lord and his Truths sake Christ saith Be of good cheer I have overcome the World In me ye have peace but in the World ye have trouble The Children of the Seed which be Heirs of the Kingdom know this is true And though ye have Trials by false Brethren Judasses and Sons of Perdition that are got into the Temple of God and exalted above all that is called God whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of his Mouth and the brightness of his Coming And though ye be Tried by Powers or Principalities yet there is nothing able to separate you from the Love of God which ye have in Christ Jesus In that Love dwell which bears all things and fulfils the Law in which edifie one another and be courteous and kind and humble for to such God giveth his Grace plentifully and such he teacheth And pray in the Holy Ghost which proceeds from the Father and the Son and in it keep your holy Communion and Unity in the Spirit the Bond of Peace which is the King of Kings heavenly Peace In that you are all bound to good behaviour and keeping Peace among your selves and seeking the Peace of all men and shewing forth the heavenly gentle and peaceable Wisdom to all men in Righteousness and Truth answering the good in all People in all your Lives and Conversations for the Lord is glorified in your bringing forth spiritual fruit that ye may eye and behold the Lord in all your actions that the Blessings of the Lord ye may all feel to rest upon you Whether ye be the Lord's Prisoners for his Name and Truth 's sake or at Liberty in all things labour to be Content for that is a Continual Feast and let no Trouble move you then ye will be as Mount Sion that cannot be removed And in all things exercise the Word of Patience which Word will sanctifie all things to you And study to be Quiet and do the Lord's business that he requires of you and your own in Truth and Righteousness and whatsoever ye do let it be done to the praise and glory of God in the Name of Jesus Christ All they that do make God's People to suffer they make the Seed to suffer in their own particulars and Imprison the Just there And such will not visit the Seed in themselves but cast it into Prison in Others and not visit it in Prison You may read that Christ saith Such must go into Everlasting Punishment That is a sad punishment and prison And all such as are become Apostates and Backsliders that do crucifie to themselves Christ afresh and put him to open shame and trample under feet the blood of the Son of God by which they were cleansed and then come to be Vnclean such grieve vex and quench and rebel against the Spirit of God in themselves and then such rebel against them that walk in the Spirit of God Such are Vnfaithful to God and Man and are Enemies to every good Work and Service of God But their End will be according to their works who are like unto the Earth that hath often received Rain but brings forth Briars and Thorns which are to be rejected and are for the fire Therefore Dear Friends in all your Sufferings feel the Lord's Eternal Arm and Power which hath upheld you and supported you to this day and will to the end as your Faith stands in it and as you are settled upon the Rock and Foundation Christ Jesus that cannot be removed in whom ye have life and peace with God And so the Lord God Almighty in him give you Dominion and preserve and keep you all to his Glory that in all your Sufferings ye may feel his presence and that when ye have finished your Testimony ye may receive the Crown of Glory which God hath laid up for them that fear and serve him Amen The 15th of the 7th Month 1685. G. F. Having spent about a week at this time among Friends in the Country London I returned to London Where I continued about Two Months visiting Friends Meetings and labouring to get Relief for Friends from their Sufferings which yet lay heavy upon them in many parts of the Nation Several Papers also I writ relating to the Service of Truth one of which was concerning Order in the Church of God which some that were gone out of the Unity of Friends did much oppose And that was as followeth AMong all Societies or Families or Nations of People in the World they have among them some sort of Order There was the Order of Aaron in the Old Testament and there was the Order of Melchizedeck before that after whose Order Christ Jesus came and he did not despise that Order So God is a God of Order in his whole Creation and in his Church And all the Believers in the Light the Life in Christ that do pass from death to life they are in the Order of the holy Spirit Power Light Life and Government of Christ Jesus of the Increase whereof there is no End And this is a Mystery to all those disorderly People who have written and printed so much against Orders which the Lord's Power and Spirit hath brought forth among his People And you that cry so much against Orders is it not manifest that you are gone into a Land of Darkness thick as darkness it self and of the shadow of death into disorder and where the Light is as Darkness And is not this your Condition seen by all them that live and walk in the Truth and whose Conversations are according to the Gospel of Life and Salvation The Devil Satan Dragon and the first and second Beast 1685. London and the Whore and false Prophets and their Worshippers and Followers all these are out of the Truth and abode not in it nor in the Order of it And the Truth is over them all In Salem is God's Tabernacle a peaceable Tabernacle and his Tabernacle is in Shiloh And these are far beyond the Tabernacles of Ham Psal
76. and 78. All the Figures and Shadows were and are in Time but Christ the Substance is the Beginning and the Ending And all Trials Troubles Persecutions and Temptations came up in Time but the Lord's Power which is Everlasting is over all such things in which is safety The black World of Darkness lieth in wickedness and by their Wisdom knoweth not God that made the World and all things therein for the God of the World and Prince of the Air ruleth in the hearts of all them that disobey the living God that made them And so the God of this wicked World hath blinded all the Eyes of the Infidels or Heathen so that this Wicked World by their Wisdom doth not know the living God In the Old Testament the Lord said With all thy Offerings thou shalt offer Salt Levit. 2.13 And Christ saith in his New Covenant Every one shall be salted with Fire and every Sacrifice shall be salted with Salt Salt is good but if the Salt have lost its saltness wherewith will you season it Have Salt in your selves and have peace one with another Mark 9.48 49 50. We have received the Earnest of the Spirit which is the Earnest of the Inheritance that fadeth not away For God poureth out of his Spirit upon all flesh So it is God's Spirit which is above our natural Spirit by which alone we do not know God for it is with the Spirit of God that we do know the things of God And the Spirit of God doth witness to our Souls and Spirits that this Spirit of God is the Earnest of an Eternal Inheritance God opens his Peoples Ears to Discipline and commands that they turn from Iniquity If they obey and serve him they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasure but if they obey him not they shall perish by the sword and they shall die without knowledge Job 36.10 11 12. So the Disobedient that do not turn from their Iniquity have not this prosperity and pleasure but die without the knowledge of God And such their Ears are shut to this Discipline which God opens to his People G. F. When I had been about Two Months in London I was sent for to my Son Rouse's at Kingston to visit a Daughter of his Kingston which at that time lay very sick but recovered Whilst I stay'd there I had several Meetings with Friends Hammersmith and returning by Hammersmith stay'd the First-day-Meeting there which was large and peaceable And having visited Friends thereabouts I came back â—o London again being very intent upon the business of getting Redress for suffering Friends In this and other Services for Friends and Truth I continued at London till the latter end of the Eleventh Month save that I went in this time to visit an Ancient Friend at Bednal-Green Bednal-Green with whom I tarried three or four days While I was there I was much exercised in the sense of the Enemy's Working to draw from the holy way of Truth into a false Liberty and so into the World's ways and worships again And the Example of the backsliding Jews coming before me I was moved to write the following Paper as a Warning to all such HEre you may see when the Jews Rebelled against the good Spirit of God which he gave them to Instruct them they forsook God and his Law Way and Worship and then they went a whoring after Balaam's Ways and became like the wild Ass-Colt snuffing up the wind as in Jer. 2.24 And in Jer. 3. see how Judah played the Harlot under every green Tree and upon every high Mountain And therefore the Lord divorced Judah as he had divorced Israel when she forsook his Ways and followed the Heathens Ways And though the Lord had fed them to the full yet they forsook him and committed Adultery and Assembled themselves together in Harlot's-houses Jer. 5.7 And with their Whoredom they defiled the Land and committed Adultery with Stocks and Stones Jer. 3.9 So here you may see when they forsook the living Eternal God they followed the Religions and Worships of other Nations whose Gods were made of Stocks and Stones which the Jews worshipped and committed Adultery withal When they forsook the living God and his way and worship they forsook the worship at Jerusalem at the Temple and followed the Heathens Worships in the Mountains and Fields and so it was called Adultery and Whoredom to join with other Religions and forsake God as in Jer. 13.27 And now if the Children of New Jerusalem that is above should forsake the Worship that Christ in his New Testament set up which is in Spirit and in Truth and follow the Worships of Nations which men have set up will not they that do so commit Adultery with them in forsaking God's Worship and Christ the new and living Way And in Jer. 44. ye may see how the Children of Judah provoked the Lord against them by worshipping the works of their own hands and following the Gods of the Land of Egypt In this they committed Adultery forsaking the living God their Husband and his Worship and there ye may see God's Judgments pronounced against them to their destruction And what will become of those that forsake the Worship in Spirit and Truth which Christ set up and worship the works of their own hands in spiritual Egypt and follow spiritual Egypt's Will-worship which they invented may not this be called Whoredom in them that forsake Christ the new and living Way and his pure Religion and his Worship that he hath set up And they that do forsake the Lord's way 1685. Bednal-Green and his worship that he set up and follow the Worlds ways and worships that they set up do not they whose Way they follow become at last their Enemies as in Lament 1. See how the Jews forsook the Lord's way and worship and doted on other Lovers the Assyrians c. and with all their Idols they were defiled and how they did not leave the Whoredoms brought from Egypt and how they were polluted with the Babylonians Bed as ye may read in Ezek 23. When they forsook the Lord his Way and Worship and followed the Way and Worship of the Heathen then it was said They went a Whoring after other Lovers and committed Adultery with them And ye may see in Ezek. 16. how the state of the Jews was likened unto that of their Sister Sodom and how that they had played the Harlot with the Assyrians and committed Fornication with the Egyptians and had increased their Whoredoms in following their abominable Idols And therefore the Lord carried away the Two Tribes that forsook him into Babylon as ye may see in Ezek. 17.20 And they that forsake Christ the new and living Way and the Worship of God in Spirit and Truth which Christ set up in his New-Testament they go into Captivity in spiritual Babylon And in Hosea 2. ye may see how he discovers the Whoredoms and
together in the heavenly places in him And so are clothed with Christ Jesus the Sun who is the Mountain that filleth the whole Earth with his Divine Power and Light And so all his People see him and feel him both by Sea and Land so he is in all places of the Earth felt and seen of all his And Christ Jesus saith to the outward Professors the Jews I am from above ye are from below or beneath ye are of this World to wit that is beneath And so their Religions Worships Ways Teachers Faiths Beliefs and Creeds are made of Men and are below and of this World that changeth like the Moon and ye may see their Religions Ways Worships and Teachers they are all changeable like the Moon but Christ the Sun with which the Church is clothed doth not change nor his Church for they are spiritually minded and their Way Worship and Religion is spiritual from Christ who is from above and not of this World For Christ hath redeemed you from the World and their changeable Rudiments and Elements and old things and their changeable Teachers and from their changeable Faiths and Beliefs For Christ is the Author and Finisher of his Churches Faith who is from above and saith Believe in the Light that ye may become Children of the Light And it is given them not only to believe but to suffer for his Name So this Faith and Belief is above all Faiths and Beliefs which change like the Moon And God's People are an holy Nation a peculiar People a spiritual Houshold and Royal Priesthood offering up spiritual Sacrifice to God by Jesus Christ and are zealous of righteous godly good works and their Zeal is for that which is of God against the Evil which is not of God And Christ took upon him the Seed of Abraham he doth not say the corrupt Seed of the Gentiles So according to the Flesh he was of the holy Seed of Abraham and of David and his holy Body and Blood was an Offering and a Sacrifice for the Sins of the whole World as a Lamb without blemish whose Flesh saw no Corruption And so by the one Offering of himself in the New Testament and New Covenant he has put an end to all the Offerings and Sacrifices amongst the Jews in the Old Testament And Christ the holy Seed was crucified dead and buried according to the Flesh and raised again the third day and his Flesh saw no Corruption Though he was crucified in the Flesh yet quickned again by the Spirit and is alive and liveth for evermore and hath all Power in Heaven and Earth given to him and reigneth over all and is the One Mediator betwixt God and Man even the Man Christ Jesus And Christ said He gave his flesh for the life of the World And the Apostle saith His Flesh saw no Corruption So that which saw no Corruption he gave for the life of the corrupt World to bring them out of Corruption And Christ said again He that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal life for my Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed And he that eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him And he that eats not his Flesh and drinks not his Blood which is the life of the Flesh hath not Eternal Life Now as the Apostle saith All died in Adam Then all are dead Now all coming spiritually to eat the Flesh of Christ the second Adam and drink his Blood his Blood and Flesh gives all the Dead in Adam life and quickens them out of their sins and trespasses in which they were dead and so they come to sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus and so are living Members of the Church of Christ that he is the Head of and are clothed with the Sun the Sun of Righteousness the Son of God that never changes and have the changeable Moon under their feet and all changeable worldly things and inventions and works of mens hands and do see the People how that they do change from one Worship to another and from one Religion to another and from one Way to another and one Church to another and yet their hearts are not changed And the Letter of Scripture is read by the Christians like the Jews but the Mystery is hid They have the Sheeps-clothing the outside but are inwardly ravened from the Spirit which should bring them into the Lamb's and Sheep's Nature The Scripture saith All the Vncircumcised must go down into the Pit And therefore all must be Circumcised with the Spirit of God which puts off the Body of Death and Sins of the Flesh that came into Man and Woman by their Disobedience and transgressing of God's Commands I say all must be Circumcised with the Spirit which puts off the Body of Death and Sins of the Flesh before they come up into Christ their Rest that never fell and be clothed with him the Sun of Righteousness G. F. Kingston Towards the latter End of this Year I went down to Kingston to visit Friends there and stay'd some time at my Son Rouse's near Kingston While I Was there I writ a Paper concerning the Falling away foretold by the Apostle Paul 2 Thess 2.3 Which Paper was as followeth THE Apostle saith that there must be a Falling away first before the Wicked one and Man of sin the Son of Perdition be Revealed which betrayeth Christ within as the Son of Perdition betrayed Christ without And they that betray Christ within crucifie to themselves Christ afresh and put him to open shame Before the Apostles deceased this Man of Sin and Son of Perdition was revealed for they saw the Antichrist come and false Prophets and false Apostles and Deceivers come having a Form of Godliness but denied the Power thereof They saw the Wolves dressed in the Sheep's Clothing and such as went in Cain's Corah's and Balaam's way and Jezabel's and the Whore of Babylon the Whore of Confusion the Mother of Harlots and such as were Enemies to the Cross of Christ that served not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies These Christ saw should come and said If it were possible they should deceive the Elect and commanded his Followers not to go after them And the Apostle said Turn away from such and Christ and his Apostles warned the Church of Christ of such And now in this day of Christ and his Gospel after the long Night of Apostacy from the Light and Grace and Truth and Life and Spirit of Christ Jesus the Son of Perdition the wicked One the Man of Sin is revealed again and the inwardly ravening Wolves in Sheeps clothing and the Spirit of Cain Corah Balaam Jezabel the Antichrists false Prophets and false Apostles and such as are Enemies to the Cross of Christ who serve not the Lord Jesus but their own Bellies and crucifie Christ to themselves and put him to open shame This Spirit have we seen in
of the Land of Egypt for before that time the Lord had not given to Man and Woman his outward Sabbath-day to keep neither in the Old World nor after in Abraham's time nor in Isaac's nor in Jacob's time until the Jews came out of Egypt to Mount Sina in the Wilderness And then there the Lord gave the Law and his Sabbath as a Sign in the Old Covenant of Christ the Eternal Rest in the New Covenant and they that believe do enter into Christ their Rest. Adam the first Man is the Root from whence we all spring naturally And Christ is called the last or second Adam because he is the Beginning and Root of all them that are spiritual The first Adam was made a living Soul And Christ the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit Christ by the Grace of God tasted death for every Man that they might all come into Favour with God and that every Tongue should Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father I writ also a Paper there Concerning the Two Seeds distinguishing the Seed wherein the Blessing is received from the Seed which the Curse remains upon Of that Paper the following is a Copy THE Lord said to Abraham In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed Gen. 22.18 And thy Seed shall be as the Stars of Heaven and as the Sand which is upon the Sea-shore and as the Dust of the Earth that cannot be numbred Chap. 13.16 and 15.5 and 22.17 Now in this Seed all Nations and Families of the Earth are blessed but not in the Seed of Evil Doers and of Falshood nor in the Seed of the Adulterer and the Whore Isa 1.4 and 57.3 4. for the Seed of the Wicked shall be cut off 1687. Kingston saith the Lord Psal 37.28 The Lord said to David That his Seed should endure for ever Psal 89.36 And again it is said Psal 102.28 The Children of thy Servants shall continue and their Seed shall be established before thee Now ye may see that here is a Distinction betwixt the Two Seeds for the Seed of Evil Doers and of the Adulterer and Whore and of the Wicked shall be Cut off and so it is not blessed But Christ bruises the Head of the Serpent and his Seed which he soweth in them that do disobey and transgress God's Command and rebel against God's good Spirit This Wicked Seed of the Serpent is Curst and is an Enemy to the Seed in whom all are blessed But Christ bruises the Head of this cursed Seed of Enmity and destroys the Devil and his Works and in his Seed are all blessed and all are in Unity in this Seed And all the Children of the Seed are the Children of the Kingdom of God and of Christ and are blessed with faithful Abraham and who are of the saving divine precious Faith are of Abraham and walk in the Steps of the Seed and Faith of Abraham and are blessed with him yea all Nations and all the Families of the Earth And the Lord said to Abraham Thy Seed shall be a stranger in a Land that is not theirs and shall serve them and they shall afflict them Four hundred years and that Nation whom they shall serve will I judge and afterwards shall they to wit God's Seed come out with great Substance Gen. 15.13 14. Here ye may see That which Afflicts God's Seed he will judge and did judge for he did destroy the First-birth of Pharaoh and overthrew him and his Host And an holy Man said Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a Seed or Remnant we had been as Sodom c. that is destroyed and burnt But in the Seed which destroys the Devil and his Works and bruises the Head of the Serpent and his Seed are all Nations and Families of the Earth blessed Christ according to the flesh was of Abraham and of David for he took not on him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham in which Seed all Nations and Families of the Earth are blessed And so they that are of his Seed are of the Generation of Christ and so are Flesh of his Flesh and Bone of his Bone Now all Nations and Families of the Earth must be in this holy Seed if they have the Blessings and are blessed And out of the Mouth of this Seed's Seed shall not God's Word depart but shall Remain and abide in the Mouth of this Seed's Seed in which they are blessed Isa 59.21 So it is not the First-birth's talking of the Words of Christ the Seed in whose Mouth the Word of God doth not abide that makes an outward Profession like the Jews that did kill and persecute the Prophets and crucified Christ the Seed and Substance of the Law and Prophets which the Jews professed in words but they denied Christ the Seed and Life And all the Christians so called that do profess the Scriptures in Words and are not in the Seed Christ they are in the Confusion and are like the Jews And so neither Jews nor Christians are blessed except they be in Christ the Seed of Life But though Christ is said to be of the Seed of David and of Abraham as his Generation is declared by Matthew and Luke yet Christ was not born of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God For he was Conceived by the Holy Ghost and not by the Will of Man but by the Will of God born of the Virgin and supposed to be the Son of Joseph but was the Son of God and his Name was called Jesus because he should save his People from their sins and Emanuel God with us And Christ took not upon him the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham as I said before and so was made of the Seed of David according to the Flesh and declared to be the Son of God with Power according to the Spirit of Holiness by the Resurrection from the dead Rom. 1.4 So the Generation of Christ is a Mystery And Christ saw his Seed or Word to grow up in his Disciples And Christ in you the hope of Glory the Apostle calls The Mystery which hath been hid from Ages and Generations but now is made manifest to the Saints or sanctified Ones Col. 1.26 27. Whom we preach warning every Man and teaching every Man in all Wisdom that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus v. 28. For in Christ the second Adam all are made perfect and compleat and in Adam in the Fall all are deformed and made imperfect So out of Christ all Mankind are Imperfect and Deformed Let them paint and dress themselves with the Sheep's Clothing and with the Form of Godliness of the Prophets and Christ's and his Apostles Words never so much yet if Christ be not in them they are Uncompleat Imperfect Deformed Reprobates But the Apostle tells the Church of Christ Ye are compleat in Christ which is the Head of all