hath led me through the gates of the City into the new Ierusalem where there is nothing enters that works abomination or makes a lye but what is written in the Lambs book of life where my soul now feeds upon the tree of life which I had so long hungred and thirsted after that stands in the Paradise of God where theâ—e is no more curse nor night but the Lord God and the Lamb is my light and life for ever and ever I witness I am regenerated and born again of the immortal seed and hath pertaked on the first resurrection on whom the second death hath no power And this I declare to all the inhabitants in England and all that dwell upon the earth that God alone is the teacher of his people and hath given to every one a measure of Grace which is the light that comes from Christ that checks and reproves for sin in the secret of the heart and conscience and all that wait in that light which comes from Christ which is the free grâ—ce of God for the power of Jesus Christ to destroy sin and to guide them in obedience to the light so shall they come to know the onely true God and Father of light in Christ Jesus who is the way to him And 〈◊〉 I witnesse to all the sons of men that the knowledge of eternall life I came not to by the letter of the Scripture nor hearing men speak of the name of God I came to the true knowledge of the Scripture and the eternall rest they testify it in Christ by the inspiration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah who alone is found worthy to open the seales of the book and I witnesse none else can for he alone opened the seales of the book in me and sealed it up to my soul by the teâ—timony of his own spirit according to his own promise I will bind up the testimony and seale the Law amongst my Dâ—sciples and I will write my Law in their hearts and put my spirâ—◠〈◊〉 â—heir inward parts and they shall not depart from me neâ—ther shall they need to reach every man his neighbour and every man hâ—s brother for all shall know me from the least of them to the greatest for I will be merciful to their unrighteousnesse and their sins and inâ—quâ—ties will I remember no more and all my childâ—en shall be taught of me saith the Lord God and great shall be the peace of my châ—ldren and this here declared the Scriptures witnesse and I witnesse the Scriptures fulfilled in me Praises praâ—ses Halleluâ—ah and eternal praises be unto thee Lord God Almighty who haâ—h taken unto thee thy great power to sit upon thy throne and to the Lamb for evermore It being charged on me my imprisonment to be jâ—st untill I give a reason of the hope of my calling and that I am uâ—willing so to do to stop the lyâ—â—g mouth of the false accuser and to clear the truth of the lies layd on it as before written and in love to the souls of the people that they the truth may know as it is in Jesus Here I have declared the work of the mighty God in revealing his Son in me who led me on my journey through the dark world where I passed through great tribulations as formeâ—ly written until I came to the end of the world over it to rejoyce in the power of my God 1 Cor. 10.11 upon whom the ends of the world are come whom the whole world that lies in wickedness hates and persecutes but to the pure single eye that is not of the world I lay this before which is written that all which it mindes may see the truth I bear testimony of is not any Popish Tenet though I was questioned concerning them at the general Assizes holden at Northampton the 10 and 12 dayes of the first month called March 1654. neither is it seducing nor blasphemy nor prejudicial to the truth of the Gospel or peace of the Nation but according to 〈◊〉 truth of the everlasting Gospel and sound peace of the Nation for which testimony I am still kept in bonds in the common Goal in Northampton numbred amongst the transgressors in the low prison with those arrained for fellony and murther waiting in rest and peace till the sufferings of the righteous seed be fulfilled And all you that are enemies to the truth of God persecuting it under the names as formerly written calling the preaching of the truth seducing this I declare and confesse unto you in the presence of God after the way you call seducing dâ— I worship the Lord God of my fathers and witnesse fulfiâ—â—â— what is written in the Law and the Prophets he that can receive me let him W. D. Dear friends whose minds are turned to the effectual light that comes from Christ all mind your own measure and be content in what the Lord hath committed to you with the light judge that which would draw your minds to look forth at others conditions and in impatiency to covet what the Lord haâ—h given to them before it be manifest to you be faithful every one in your own measure and in patience wait in the light for the unlimâ—ted spirit of Christ your life to open the seals of the book and make known unto you the mystery of eternal life which he will daily reveal in you that are faithfull in your own measure to follow the Lord in what he makes manifest to you whom he hath called into his Vinyard at the ninth and eleventh hour be faithfull to the Lord in walking in obedience to him in the light hee will make a short work in the earth for his seed sake and your reward shall be rest and peace in the presence of God in Christ with those that came into the Vinyard the third and sixth hours and laboured the heat of the day God almighty be with you his chosen servants and children and all in your measure keep in his eternall power bold valiant and faithfull unto the end and crown you with eternall glory in Christ one Judge Lord and King God over all blessed for ever Amen To all you that rule â—n England from the highest to the lowest whom the Lord hath betrusted with power to see the peace be kept and to judge the cause of the people He hath given you power theri causes to judge with righteous judgement the evil doers to punish and the righteous set free out of the hands of those that oppresse them This is the word of the Lord God to you THat you lend not your ears to the counsel of your own hearts or to the counsel of any without you that tempts you to draw your mindes from the pure counsel of God which is the light that comes from Christ Jesus and calls on you in your consciences to judge with righteous judgement as
and my brethren persecuted under the names as formerly written charging me with making tumults and breaking the publick peace for walking in obedience to the Spirit of Christ which guided all he sent to preach his Gospel to run to and fro as I have done in thee oh England that knowledge may be increased as is recorded in the Scripture of truth Dan. 12.4 And is according to the commands of Christ Go your wayes Behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves carry neither purse nor scrip nor shoos and salute no man by the way and into what City ye enter and they receive you eat such things as is set before you Luke 10 3 4 8 verses But beware of men for they will deliver you up to their counsell and they will scourge you in their Synagogues and you shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my names sake but he that endures unto the end shall be saved Mat. 10.17 18 22 verses According as it is written the wicked world that always did as they now do persecute the Messengers of Jesus Christ who to them were and are sent to witnesse against them in their markets and meeting places that their deeds are evil which the children of this generation that are strangers to the leadings of the spirit of truth calls them that are guided by the spirit to walk according to the Scripture makers of tumults movers of sedition breakers of the publick peace as the unrighteous generation did who persecuted Christ and his Apostles whose practice was to declare the mind of God in their Synagogues and Markets as the Ministers of Christ do now And they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing and asking the questions Luke 2.46 When Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and as was declaring the word of eternal life to the people all they in the Synagogue when they heard these things he spake were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust him out of the City and led him to the brow of the hill whereon the City was built that they might cast him down headlong But he passed through the midst of them and went his way Luke 4.16 28 29 30. And Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ not of man neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead Gal. 1.1 He was a chosen Vessel unto the Lord to bear his name amongst the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel Acts 9.15 It was his practise to go too and fro to preach the word of eternall life to the people in their Synagogues and Markets as the Ministers of Christ doth When Paul Silas came to Thessallonica where was a Synagogue of the Iewes Paul as his manner was went in unto them and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures Acts 17 1 2. When Paul went unto Athens his spirit stirred in him when he saw the whole City given to Idolatry therefore disputed he in the Synagogue with the Jewes and with the devout persons and in the Markets daily with them that met with him Then certain of the Philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoâ—cks encountred him and some said what will this babler say other some he seemeth to be a setter forth of strange Gods because he preached unto them Jesus and the Resurrection Acts 17.16 17 18. verses And all my Brethren this day with me that witnesseth Christ Jesus risen from the dead and are sent to preach Christ the Resuâ—rection who hath enlightned every one that is come into the world that all his light that from him comes that shewes them sin waite for his power to cleanse them from sin and raise them out of the fallen and dead estate by the power of his resurrection to live in pure obedience to God We are by these the world calls their Ministers and Teachers withstood as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses But the Lord is making them daily manifest that all shall see their folly and by them be no more deceived 2 Tim. 3.8 9. And as the heathen Phylosophers before written encountred Paul so hath these men encountred with us as before written for witnessing Jesus the resurrection and the true light that lightneth every one that comes into the world And as Tertullus the heathen Orator accused Paul before Felix Acts 24.1 5. We have found this man a pestilent fellow and mover of sedition amongst all the Iews throughout the world and a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarens The same spirit that was in the heathen Orator Tertullus that led him to accuse Paul before Felix did Edward bowles whom the people of the world calls Minister and teaches in the high place in York manifest to be in him who never had spoken to me when he by that dark spirit was led to give in an information against me and at the time when it were expected I should have the priviledg of the Law that theeves and murtherers had by it to be tryed and my accusers to appear face to face the said Edward Bowles did not appear to prove against me what was written in the Information neither a perfect copie of it would he or they that had it in keeping give 〈◊〉 when it was demanded least their works of darknesse should be broughâ—â—o light but what was brought to light when it was demanded of Edward Bowles This is a perfect copie that he wrote with his own hand as followeth It is informed that on William Deusbery a ringleader of the persons called Quakers goes up and down the country of York and is now in the west riding thereof dispersing principles prejudicall to the truth of the Gospel and peace of the Common-wealth It is therefore desired that seeing no man is allowed publickly to exercise his gifts to a particular Congregation unlesse he be first tryed and approved that the said William Deusbery may not be permitted to go up and down from place to place teaching untill he receive approbation of some persons who shall be thought fit to judge how agreable his principles are to truth and peace This is the substance of what I delivered into Mr. Payler but the particular words I cannot exactly remember but I believe they doe not any thing considerably vary from this Paper E. B. This man whom Edward Bowles call Mr. Payler was the fore-man of the Grand Jury to whom he delivered the information against me that they it might deliver to Hugh Windham who sate Judge of life and death at the general Assises holden at York about the time of the 13 and 14 dayes of the first moneth called March 1653. Upon the sight of the information given in against me the Judge granted a VVarrant in the open Court to the men that was in Commission to doe Justice in Yorkshire to apprehend me VVhich
into prison I was put and when the day was spent Thomas You l called the Mayor of Derby sent for me and when I came before him he asked me what I came to the Town to doe The answer to him I came to declare the word of the Lord to the consciences of the inhabitants of Derby the Mayor replyed wilt thou go out of the Town Answer to him when the Lord orders me to go forth then I shall goe till then I shall stay then Thomas Youll the Mayor commanded the man to put me into prison again which was done the next day about the 9 hour there came William Bâ—sld one of the Mayors officers and said to me if thou wilt goe forth of the Town and in it no more come I will open the doores for thee to come forth the answer to him out of the Town I shall not goe untill I am ordered of the Lord and if thou openest the doore forth of the prison I shall not come till the man that said he had authority to put me in come by the same authority and take me out then away the man did goe and afterwards did come and the man whose name Iohn Slalous who put me in prison opened the door and took me by the arm and put me forth in much wrath and delivered me to the other man whose name is before written who said he had order to put me forth of the Town which he did and strictly charged mee to depart out of their coâ—sts with many threatnings what should be done to me if in the Town again I returned but the words of vain man was not regarded into the Town I returned and there did stay till I was free in my spirit to depart from thence Then I journeyed to Leicester and was there the first day of the week which was the 3 day of the 7 month called September And with me was many people to whom the word of the Lord was declared and after the testimony of Jesus was finished to them I went into the high place of the Town which the people of the dark world calls their Church and after the man they call their Minister had done the word of eternal life was declared to the consciences of the people who did hear with much attention untill two men came to me and said they had order from Edmund Iohnson called Mayor to take me away and with violence drew me forth and had me before the said Edmund Iohnson who commanded his officers to put me in prison before he did me examine which was done and the next day the man that put me in prison forth me brought before the Mayor and VVilliam Billâ—rs another of the Rulers of the Town who did me examine and not finding any thing against me commanded Robert Brewin Keeper of the common Goal to put me out of the Town and strictly charged me to depart forth of their coasts with many threatnings what they would do if I again into the Town did come but the threatnings of man was not regarded into the Town I did return in obedience to the command of the Lord to finish the testimony of Jesus I was to witnesse to the consciences of the inhabitants of the Town of Leicester Then in obedience to the Spirit of truth I journed into Northamptonshire and in a Town called VVellingborrow and thereawayes many did receive the word of life with much gladnesse of heart And at a time as I was going along the street in that Town neer the house of Thomas Andrews whom the people of the world calls their Teacher he to me did speak these words Give over deceiving the people least the plagues of God fall upon thee the answer to him was If thou say I deceive the people make it appear wherein I deceive them he replyed thou tells them there is no originall sin I required of him didst thou hear me say so to that he made no answer then these words was to him declared thou must either prove what thou accusest me of or own thy condemnation upon they false accusation he fled away and did make no answer About the time which was near 3 weeks after I was ordered of the Lord to return again to VVellingborrow and hearing there was a meeting in the Steeple-house where Thomas Andrew was who had he falsly accused as is formerly written for the truths sake into the Steeple house I did goe and in silence did stand till the man called their Teacher had done then I declared the word of the Lord to the people who did hear peaceably and afterwards I spake in particular to Thomas Andrews to prove what he had falsly accused me of in saying I deceived the people and there make it manifest before the people or to own his condemnation upon his false accusation but to what was required no answer he did make but away fled and the men that was there whom the world calls their Teachers then Henry Smith who in that Town dwels out of the Steeple-house haled me into the yard where the truth to the people was declared who did there stand peaceably to hear till William Baw called high Constable did take hold on me and had me away into the market place amongst the people and said he would bring evidence against mee for Blasphemy so had he me as prisoner too and fro in the market place with so doing he made disturbance among the people but when he could not prove what hee had falsly accused mee with hee let mee goe who at the present time went from amongst the people to a friends house and came no more forth amongst the people in the market that day The next day being the 28 of the 10 month called December Richard Dennis being Constable of VVellingborow came to the friends house where I was and took me forth by vertuâ—â— of a Warrant that had no name but for one who is commonly called Quaker and had me with it before Thomas Pentlow called Justice at VVilby in Northamtonshire who did me examine but would not read mee any Law I had transgressed but a Mittimus made and sent me to the common Goal in Northamton on the 29 day of the 10 month called December 1654. A copy of the Mittimus I was denyed by Iohn Snart keeper of the Goal and also the men that were in commission to doe Justice when it was of them desired in the open Court at the generall Sessions holden at Northampton the 10 day of the 11 moneth by those whose names are Iohn Clark Iohn Parker called Sergant at Law George â—enson John Mansil John Brown who there did sit in Commission to have judged the cause in righteousnesse between mee and mine accusers but when the Mittimus was read where the charge against me was written not any appeared to prove what the Blasphemy was for which they committed mee to prison in suspition of neither they to me read any Law that any thing charged against me
you will eternally answer before the pure powerful dreadfull God take heed of abusing your power he hath betrusted you with in establishing any Law which is contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the conscience as those did whom the Lord drave out and destroyed before you in his wraâ—â—nd overturnd in his fierce displeasure which if you uphold those Lawes they made in their wills or any other which is contrary to the righteous Law of God in the conscience and rule according to them Lawes and exercise the power committed to you to bind the Lawes upon the consciences of the children of the Lord whom he hath chosen out of the world and made his jewels to fear an oath in obedience to the righteous Law which sayeth swear not at all which if you by these unrighteous Lawes take advantage against the righteous seed concerning the Law of their God them to ensnare under your power that you on them may satisfie your wills This I declare to you from the eternall God of Heaven and Earth It is hard for you to kick against the pricks for what is done to his people he takes it as done to himself and better a Milstone were hanged about your neck and you cast into the Sea saith Christ then to offend one of these little ones that beleeveth in his name and obeyes his command who saith swear not at all and now is manifesting his power in his people that all them may know between those that swear and them that fear an oath which if you them that fear an oath oppress this know the Lord God will plead their cause as he did the cause of all his people in all ages and destroyed those that oppressed them as in the time of Pharaoh and in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and in the time of Hamon in the reigne of King Ahasuerus and in the time of King Herod whom he smotein his righteous judgements and consumed him with worms Acts 12.23 for persecuting his people and robbing him of his glory the righteous justice of God he manifested upon the enemies of his people is left upon record you to foâ—ewarn that you touch not his chosen anointed people nor do his Prophets no harm for whose sakes the Kings rebukes and all that oppresse them as is recorded in Scripture of truth and hath been witnessed before your eyes in destroying the Bishops and the King that oppressed the people of God by their power in binding Lawes upon them contrary to the righteous Law of God in their consciences and you Rulers of England who promised to the Lord God if he would deliver those that oppressed his people into your hands and give you power over them you would take away all Laws that burtheâ—ed the consciences of his people and they should have free liberty to worship him in spirit and in truth according to his Law written in their own hearts and according to your desires the Lord appeared while you in his counsell stood and gave all into your power according to the desires ofyour own hearts and now is the time of your tâ—y all wherein the Lord is trying all you this day whom he hath put power into your hands which if you now forget the Lord God who appeared to you when you were little in your own eyes in the day of your distresse and deny to perform your promises you made to the Lord when he delivered you out of the hands of those that sought your lifes but contrary to all your promises abuse your power you are betrusted with to build up again you seemed to destroy which cost the price of so much blood in establishing Lawes which are contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the conscience and by them think to scatter the power of the holy people and to weary out the Saints of the most high God in turning judgement backward and keeping justice a far off that truth falleth in the streets and â—quity cannot enter so he that departeth from evill maketh himself a prey to your wills and the Lord God seeth it and is displeased with you that there is no judgâ—ment for his people therefore to you this is the word of the Lord that abuse your power you are betrusted with in perverting judgement as before written thus saith the Lord God The pit you dig for my people you shall fall into it your selves and my people I will deliver by the arm of my mighty power and according to your deeds I will to you repay and recompence fury and vengeance to you my adversaries and will you sweep away with the beesome of my wrath except you repent and your blood shall be upon your own heads and you shall not escape but come to your end and none shall help you He that hath an ear to hear let him hear And be forewarned now in this day of your visitation wherein the Lord hath to you sent you to forewarn of the evill that is coming upon you that you may speedily to him return and lay your Crowns in the dust at the feet of Jesus Syons King and in his counsel stand which is the light in the conscience that in you witnesseth against every vain thought and wicked imagination and in the light wait his power you to guide to perform your promises and to take away all Lawes contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the conscience that the righteous Law of God may be your guide which is the guide of all the children of God then will the Lord God of Heaven and Earth be with you and with the arm of his mighty power destroy all that plot or rise up against you before whom he will make the unrighteous powers of the earth to shake if you abide faithful in his counsel and wil make you a terrour to the evil doers and a pâ—aise to them that do well and will bring you into the eternall peace and rest he hath prepared for his people but if you reject his counsell and cast his righteous Law behind your backs as you have done and follow the counsel of your own hearts all that have an eye to see read and understand Prov. 29.1 He that hath been often reproved and hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy and in that day I shall be clear of your blood who in love to your soules hath not hid the counsel of God from you which he hath made known to me that you may be left without excuse in the daâ— of the Lords anger when hee doth perform what he hath spoken Then shall I be remembred whom the world knows by name William Dousbery and by some of you that professes to minister justice cast into prison and there kept in the common Goal in Northampton for the word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ From the Goal in Northampton the 25 day of the 4 month 1655. O England England over all in
be mercifull to you and heal your backslidings and love you freely and blot out your transgressions for his names sake which if you will have none of his counsel but it rejects as you have done and still commits this filthy and abominable thing in the land the Priests to teach for hire and the Prophets to divine for mony which is the practice of your teachers you have heaped up to your selves according to your lusts and love to have it so then your portion you must own what the Lord hath spoken he will perform and you and your teachers shall reap the fruit of your doings according as is declared and in that dâ—y I shall be remembred when you lye upon the bed of sorrow who is clear of all your blood who perish through your disobedience in that I have not hid the counsel of God from neither Rulers Priests nor People And to the light of Christ in all your conscieâ—ces I clear my conâ—cience in the presence of the living pure and dreadful God who will perform according to his words and the condemnation of the evil doers slâ—mbers not the Lord will cleanse the Land of you and not any that rejects Christ the corner stone shall rule in England for the Lord will make it the glory of all the Nations of the world notwithstanding all that oppose him his own work he will carry on in it by the arm of his mighty power will he exalt Christ Jesus to be King in it to rule the people according to his righteous Law and all that will not his Lawes obey and their Crowns lay down at his feet and to him their knee bow in perfect obedience to his righteous law written in the heart and conscience he will you break in pieces with his rod of Iron and dash in sunder like a potters vessel and not any shall escape that doth evil and bring the curse upon the earth which the Lord is making as the garden of Eden the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it he that can receive it let him and an ear to hear let him hear And whether you people in England hear or forbear in your consciences I shall be for ever manifest and you shall eternally witnesse the truth I have declared is to you the word of the Lord God the day will declare it W. D. FINIS 〈…〉 Psal. 51 5. Isa. 43.7 Mat. 12.36 2 Cor. 5.10 Isa. 43.7 Isa. 10.15 Isa. 43.7 Isa. 43.7 Luke 17.20 Gen. â—3 24 Rev. 20.11 12. Luke 17.20 Acts 10.30 Deu. 10.21 Luke 17.20 Gen. 3.24 Heb. 22.21 Gal. â— 16 Heb. 22.21 Luke 17. â—6 Psal. 66.16 Rom. 7.24 Luke 17.20 Gen. 3.24 Psal. 51.3 1 Cor. 11.28 29. Iohn 15.27 Luke 22.2 Ephes. 4 30. 1 Cor. 10.16 17. Phil. 3.15 Eph. 5.11 1 Iohn 1.6 Eph. 5.13 Iames 5.3 Eph. 5 6. Ier. 23.32 Luke 17 20. Deut. 30.14 Isa. 30. â— Iob 33. from 19. to 22. Ier. 5.25 Isa. 59.2 Luke 17.20 Ezek. 34.6 Acts 2.37 2 Cor. 13 5â— Luke 7.20 Iudg 5.23 1 Cor. 13.3 Iohn 22.2 Iohn 5.39 Luke 1. â— Luke 2 10 11. Luke 17.0 Micah 6.6.7 8 9. Luke 17.10 Gen. 3.34 Luke 17.20 Isa. 54.13 2 Pet. 1.19 Iohn 18.36 Maâ— 26â— 52 53. Luke 17. â—â— 2 Cor. 10.4 5 Mat. 26 53. Luke 17.20 Rev. 19.15 Mat. 26 52. Isa. 26.8 Gen. 4 14. Rom 9.13 Exod. 9. Ephes. 25.8.9 Ionah 2.2 Isa. 9.6 â—7 Lam. 3.26 Iohn 5.35 Mat. 5.6 Eph. 2.23 Mat. â—4 27 Iohn 5.25 Eph. 1.13 1 Pet. 1.3 Isa. 55 3. Rom. 5 14. Mat. 11.13 and 12. Rev. 19.15 Mat. 2.13 Rev. 1 â— 7 8 9. Rev. 11.10 Mat. 24.15 Dan. 11.31 Rom. 7.19 â—0 2â— 13 24. 2 Cor. 12.9 Rom. 7.24 Rev. 11.11 Verse 19. Rev. 17.5 Rev. 18.3 4 5 6 7 8. 2 Thes. 1.7.8 Isa. 4.4 Rom 8 2. Rev. 7.14 Rev. 22.14 Rev. 21.27 Mat. 5.6 Rev. 22.2.3 5â— Iohn 3.3 Rev. 20. Iohn 6.45 Isa. 54.13 Mat. 25.15 Iohn 1.9 Eph. 5.13 Titus 2.11 Ioh. 17.3 Iohn 14.6 Iohn 5.89 Iob. 32.8 Rev. 5.3 4 5. Eph. 1.13 Isa. 8.16 Ier. 31.33.34 Ezek. 36.24 25 26 27 28. Heb. 8.10 11 12. Isa. 54 13. Rev. 19.1 Rev. 5.13 Gal. 1.15.16 Rev. 7.14 Iohn 5.19 Mat. 6.22 Rev. 14.6 Isa. 53.12 Acts 24.14