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life_n	believe_v	jesus_n	lord_n	8,211	5	3.8236	3	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91466	The fruits of a fast, appointed by the churches gathered against Christ and his kingdom, who go about to mock God with their outside-worship, and appointed fasts, and dayes of voluntary humiliation. Or, A declaration of the persecution of a messenger of the Lord, by a people who go under the name of Independants, in Essex, who have set themselves in the enmity of their spirits to oppose the truth of God, calling it a lye, and persecuting his messengers as deceivers, and wanderers, wherein their persecuting spirits is made manifest, and them to be in Cains generation, and stranges to the spirit of Christ, which vener persecuted, and so are noen of his, Rom.8:9. And also, of the unjust dealing of Judge Hills, ... And also, severall queries, that was sent ot the priests and magistrates, shich may be serviceable for them, or any other to answer, whom they do concern. / By ... James Parnell.	Parnell, James, 1637?-1656.	1655 (1655)	Wing P530; Thomason E854_14; ESTC R207483	31,427	32

Minister of Antichrist and do you distinguish the one from the other 11. What Scripture hast thou to give unto the world Davids conditions to be sung in a Meeter 12. What rule have you in the Scripture to abide in a certain place and to agree with the people for so much a year for preaching as 40 60 or 100. or 200. l. as you can get it 13. How and by what are you gathered and united who calls your solves a Church 14. And what is the Church in God and whether to it you be come yea or nay 15. What is the Baptisme into the Church and whether to it you be come yea or nay 16 And Scripture have you to sprinckle children with water and to what end do you do it 17. Whether you be of one heart and one mind as the true Church was yea or nay 18. Whether you have passed from death to life yea or nay 19. What is the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ and whether to it you be come yea or nay 20. Whether he that believes is not born of God and whether he that is born of God doth not commit sin yea or nay 21. Why do not you maintain your Teacher but let him rob the world instead of robbing other Churches and so is chargeable unto the world 22. Whether do you own and hold up the first Priest-hood that took Tythes or the second Priest-hood that took no Tythes and which do you deny seeing you pay tythes and your Teacher takes tythes yea or nay 23. Why do you own and hold up such that are called of men Master and have the chiefest place in the Assemblie and stand praying in the Synagogue and love greetings in the Markets which Christ himself cryed wo against 24. How is Christ the light of the world and how doth he enlighten every one that cometh into the world if it be not in the conscience and whether that Light which comes from him be naturall yea or nay 25. How is the light the condemnation of the world if it be not in the conscience 26. And how is it said that he that doth evill hateth the light and wi●l not bring his deeds to the Light lest the Light should reprove him if it be not in the conscience whether that be a natural light which reproves for sin yea or nay 27. How did Paul turn peoples mindes from darkness to light if it be not in the conscience and whether that light was naturall which Paul was sent to turn the mindes of the Gentiles unto 28. Whether that light which shines in darkness be not one and the same with that which shines out of darkness yea or nay 29. And whether the light of the world be not a saving light in the least measure yea or nay and how can that be said to be naturall 30. Whether the Light which Iohn came to beare witness of was naturall or spirituall 31. How hath the grace of God which bringeth Salvation appeared to all men if it be not in the conscience and whether it be naturall 32. How doth it stand with the impartiall God to give to one man a measure of grace and not to another and yet require obedience from all 33. Whether the slothfull servant hath not a Talent as wel as the faithful though he hide it in the earth and what is that Talent 34. What is the account that God wil require of every one in the day of Judgment and how can he call all justly to an account and reward them according to their deeds if he hath not given to every one a Talent 35. What is that which leads to repentance and whether that which leads to repentance be not in the conscience and whether it be naturall yea or nay 36. And where do you read in the Scripture of a naturall light to be in the conscience 37. What is the redemption and what is the end of Christs coming 38. Whether the redemption by Christ be not as ful in every in every respect as the fall by Adam and what is the fall by Adam 39. And whether you do not go about to make the commands of Christ unjust who saith Be ye perfect as your heavenly father is perfect and you say it cannot be while you are upon the earth then how is it your rule 40. Will you own a purgatory or where is the place betwixt heaven and earth where man shall be clensed if not upon the earth seeing no unclean thing can inherit the kingdome of God 41 Whether do they deny Christ come in the flesh that witness forth perfection from sin here or they that tel people they can never be perfect or be wholly set free from sin so long as they are upon the earth and whether such be not the Ministers of Antichrist yea or nay 42. Where had you this Doctrine to tell people the light in the conscience is naturall and that Christ hath not enlightned every one that cometh into the world 43. And whether in this you do not bring another Doctrine in opposition to the Doctrine of Christ who saith he is the light of the world and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world 44. And where had you this Doctrine to tel people they could never be wholly clensed or be set free from sin so long as they are upon the Earth 45. And whether this be not in opposition to the Doctrine of Christ who saith Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect 46. Whether God justifies any in their sin and whether sanctification go not before justification yea or nay 47. Whether you do not seek justification by works who put one another upon prayer and duties observations Ordinances and commands without the Light in imitation of the Letter and whether these be not your own works which are done out of the light yea or nay 48. What is your own righteousness and what is the righteousness of Christ and how do you distinguish betwixt the one and the other 49. And whether he that is justified by the righteousness of Christ doth not dwel in it and it in him and whether he that dwels in the righteousness of Christ doth sin yea or nay 50 Whether any can walk according to the Scripture but by the Light of Christ and whether any that are guided by the Light of Christ do or can act contrary to the Scripture and whether this Light be not a sufficient guide if it be owned and followed 51. How is the Scripture left unto the world for a rule who know not the Light seeing to them it is a parable and as a book sealed 52. And what is the word and whether there be any other word of God then one 53. What is the death that hath passed over all men forasmuch as all men have sinned and whether this death you ever passed yea or nay 54. What is that which is lost which Christ comes to seek and what is that which

THE FRVITS OF A FAST Appointed by the Churches gathered against Christ and his Kingdom who go about to mock God with their outside-Worship and appointed Fasts and Dayes of Voluntary Humiliation Or A Declaration of the persecution of a Messenger of the Lord by a people who go under the name of Independants in Essex who have set themselves in the enmity of their Spirits to oppose the Truth of God calling it a lye and persecuting his Messengers as Deceivers and Wanderers wherein their persecuting Spirits is made manifest and them to be in Cains Generation and strangers to the Spirit of Christ which never persecuted and so are none of his Rom. 8.9 And also of the unjust dealings of Judge Hills who sate upon life and death at the last Assizes at Chansford which began upon the eleventh day of the sixth month And also Severall queries that was sent to the Priests and Magistrates which may be serviceable for them or any other to Answer whom they do concern By a VVitness and sufferer in outward Bonds for the unchangeable Truth of God by Cains Generation who am known to them by the name in Colchester Castle JAMES PARNELL LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at his Shop at the Black-spread-Eagle neer the West-end of Pauls 1655. THE FRUITS OF A FAST appointed by the Churches gathered against Christ and his Kingdome c. FIRST I shall give unto the Reader a declaration of the work of God in my Soul and the conversion of my heart from darkness unto his marvelous Light and from the power of Satan unto God and out of the path of death into the path of Life where I now walk in the Light of my God with the Ransomed of the Lord who are travelling towards the Holy City and also the cause of my coming forth into the World to declare the truth for which I now suffer Bonds by the persecuting Generation wherein I once lived a Child of wrath as all are by nature and when I was loved of the world while I followed the vain courses and wayes of the world where by nature I was led in imitation of others being in that nature which is prone unto the same the time I was sent unto the Schools of humane learning for to learn the humane wisdome for which end the Schooles are profitable but for the attaining of heavenly wisdom and knowledg they are as far unprofitable and many bookes that are there read are much for the corrupting of youth and the nourishing of the wild prophane nature which then ruled in me and I was as wild as others during the time I followed the School and after I was taken from the School I stil continued in the same nature growing and encreasing in sin and iniquity following the vain courses of the wicked world also was trayned up in the customary way of the worship of the world which is held in the Idols Temple every first day of the week but no conversion there was wrought but all still continued in the old nature both Priest and people young and old and as was the people so was the Priest all walking in darkness and blindness by form custome and tradition but ignorant of the pure light which is the guide and reacher of the faithful which oftentimes did reprove in secret when I was a lone but then I knew not what it was but oftentimes it did strike me into a consideration of my wayes and doings and set life and death before me so that I have sometimes promised within my self never to do the like again but the promise being in the wil made it did not stand but when the temptations came the careless mind got out again and led me still to delight my heart in the vanity which my eye did see and my ear did hear which all passed away with the using thereof and left me to the judgement which was due unto me for my iniquity which did follow me time after time calling me to repentance and the more I did incline my mind and draw nigh to it it also did draw nigh to me and so the goodness of God led me to repentance and the Grace of God wrought in my heart a Reformation and so I was found of him when I sought not and thus he both wrought the will and the deed of his own good pleasure and plucked me as a brand out of the fire to make me a vessel of honor to his name all living eretnal prayses be to his name for ever my soul shall praise and magnifie his name for ever For I may wel say with Paul Of sinners I was chiefe for according to my years J was as perfect in sin and iniquity as any in the Town where I lived yea and exceeded many in the same so that there was as little hopes of my conversion as any in the Town and yet though it is a place of many people J was the first in all that town which the Lord was pleased to make known his power in and turn my heart towards him and truly to seek him so that J became a wonder to the World and an astonishment to the heathen round about but they was such enemies to goodness and so given up to idolatry that as much as before they had loved me in my vain conversation so much the more thdy hated me in my conversion yea and my Families came to insnare me and lay wait for me for to intrap me but when they could not prevaile Psal 41.9 they stood afar of me and reproached me with lyes and proved my greatest enemies yea and my Relations became my adversaries and laboured to destroy what God had began in me because that thereby J came under the reproach and shame of the world because J could not conform to the world in their invented facious customes and traditions and their words wayes fellowship and worship but was made subject to the law of God and could not respect persons neither in word nor deed then the beast which rules in proud flesh was disturbed who before ruled in peace while he was worshipped but when I came to see proud Lucifer Rev. 13.38 the lust in man to be the beast which all the world worships and wanders after but these whose names are written in the book of life therefore J could no longer follow the world in blindness for by the power of God my eye was opened so that J did behold their idolatry and therefore J could no longer be conformable to them so that their rage and persecution arose against me and J became a mock in the streets yea and was I accounted as one not worthy to live amongst them yea and they said he that killed me would do God service but he that had called me out from amongst them unto himself that I might no longer follow the vain courses of the world nor set my delight no things below but that I might serve

him in newness of life that in me his workmanship might appear to the confounding of the heathen who know him not he by his power kept me and gave me strength to bear his Cross and despise the shame so that neither foul words nor faire words could cause me to deny what God by his grace had wrought in my heart but by his power he carryed me above the raging waves of the tempestuous sea so that I knew that he that was in me was greater than he that is in the world yea and out of my kinred and acquaintance I came and became a stranger to them that loved not the truth yea and presently I came to see the Priests of the world by their fruits and the fruits of their Ministry which was cursed from God and therefore profited not the people at all but when the Lord by his power had changed and converted my heart unto himself the Priests became mine enemies and said I was deluded whenas before when I lived in the vain conversation of the world they took no notice of me either to reprove me or instruct me but as they went on in a customary way for again and lucre speaking against sin in the generall but not reproving it in particular but was as deep in it in their lives as others and so what they preached down with their tongues they upheld in their lives and countenanced in their conversations and so from them I turned whom I saw had gotten a form but denyed the life and power and I sought for a people with whom I might have union and there was a people with whom I found union a few miles from the Town where I lived whom the Lord was a gathering out of the dark world to sit down together and wait upon his name but we was the objects and reproach of the countrey and was accounted as the off-scourings of the world but in all this we saw the Scriptures fulfilled and that we might thus suffer if we would live godly in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 3.12 and here was our confidence and strength which carryed us above our sufferings as knowing it greater riches to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season and about this time I was about 15 years of age afterwards I was called forth to visit some friends in the North part of England with whom I had union in spirit before I saw their faces and afterwards I returned back to my outward dwelling place and remained in my outward calling and the Lord all this time stil more and more perfecting and encreasing his work in my heart which by his power he had begun in me by his pure power bringing forth his truth in me and making known his wil unto me until by his power he opened my mouth to declare his truth in the world stil I continued in my outward calling and also in the work of the Lord as not being called far from my dwelling place and when I was betwixt 17. and 18. years of age I was moved in my spirit to go to a place about fifteen miles from my outward dwelling place southward amongst a people to whom the Lord was making known his truth not knowing when I went out of going farther than that place but when I was there I was moved of the Lord to come on to Cambridge and in obedience unto the Lord I came to see what he had to do for me not knowing one soot of the way but as I was directed neither knowing when I came there where to be received but had heard before of two of my friends that was there whipped caused by the Mayor that then was onely for declaring the truth as they past through the town against the deceipt thereof neither did I know but it might be my portion also when I came there but without conferring with flesh and blood I passed on my journey and he that called me forth went along with me and did direct me and when I came there I found these that was worthy that received me and also I found a friend whom the corrupt Rulers had put in prison for the same testimony which I also was sent to declare and before I had continued there the space of fourteen nights VVilliam Pickering the Mayor of Cambridge committed me to Prison for publishing two Papers the one against the corruption of the Magistrates and the other against the corruption of the Priests at the time of their commencement as they call it and there they kept me in Prison the space of two Sessions and tossed me from Prison to Dungeon and had nothing to lay against me whereby to prove the breach of any Law but when I came to the last Sessions they called a Jury to prove the Papers to be scandalous and seditious Papers and they was nigh two hours about them but could not prove it but came and said that they found nothing but that the Papers was mine which I had before owned in the open Court and there was my name to them to testifie the same and so they was crossed in their intentions and their plots came to nought then they committed me back to Prison again and after the space of three dayes they sent me away with a Passe under the name of a Rogue yet durst not give me the Law which belongs to Rogues but had me away with Clubs and Staves and I could not see the Pass until I was three miles out of the town where I lodged that night and the next day there came a Justice of peace from Cambridge who knowing me to be innocent of what was laid to my charge so he witnessed the Passe to be false and took it back to Cambridge and so I was set free And not long after I went to Cambridge again and went abroad preaching and declaring the truth freely in the Countries about and many I found that received the truth gladly but more enemies yet nevertheless Truth spread and conquered over its enemies there I continued labouring in the work of the Lord about the space of halfe a year in the Countries about Cambridge and from thence I was moved of the Lord to come into Essex where I heard of the people that was seeking the Lord and when I came there I found those that were worthy who received the truth gladly and there I continued freely declaring and preaching the truth from place to place sometimes in the Synagogues and was haled out by the Priests party that the Scripture might be fulfilled upon that Generation yet nevertheless I continued in constant preaching of the word to the consciences of the people freely and publickly in severall plains of the Countrey notwithstanding much opposition both of Priests people and professors and much did the truth prevail in the hearts of people to the glory of God the father of truth which did make glad the hearts of many who

giddy-headed people come to me as he called them which I never desired that any such should come but thereby they take occasion to keep my friends from me accounting them giddy-headed people but they are not giddy-headed people that own sound Doctrine but they are giddy-headed people that cannot indure sound Doctrine but have itching ears carried about with reports and hear-says to speak evil of the things they know not But thus without all honesty they acted in the enmity of their spirits against me yet in all I was made to rejoyce for I see their deceit was manifest to the people and the Truth owned in many hearts so that my sufferings was not grievous but joyous but as the Judges dealings was rigorous and unjust towards me it was so much the more on the contrary to Barrabas for there was three or four arraigned for suspicion of Murder and others for Felony yet he did deliver them and there was not one that dyed or was branded neither which I did desire but onely this I do declare to shew how the world loves its own and how the same spirit now rules in both Priest people and Rulers that ruled amongst the Iewes who esteemed Barrabas above Christ and numbred him amongst Transgressors and so in all this the Scripture is fulfilled Isa 53.12 and the day further appears to the Glory of God the Father of Truth who wil exalt his truth by his own Power over the heads of all its enemies So then they brought me back to prison again where I stil remain in the peace and freedome of my spirit which none can take away though in the hands of mine Enemies yet this I know That the invisible God is working in secret by his power and with a strong arme carrying on this great worke which hee hath begun in the Earth yea and he will bring down and overturn all untill it come into his hand whose owne it is and hee will exalt his Kingdome in the hearts of his people and his Son shal rule ovre the earth yea and all his Enemies shall be his footstool and shall bow unto him and bee glad to lay downe their crownes before him and acknowledge his power yea and he wil dash all the forms and false likenesses and images which is set up by man in his imaginations calling them Churches and he will dash them and the Powers of the earth in pieces one against another like a Potters Vessel though now they set at nought the Corner-stone yet then by it shall they be grownd to powder for our God is a consuming fire and who is able to stand in the day of his wrath Therefore it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God then woe to all his enemies or he that lifts up his hand against his Maker to contrary what he hath decreed Here followeth a Reply to my Mittimus which was adjudged a contempt of the Magistracy VVHereas I who am of the World called James Parnell am committed as prisoner to bee kept in the Common-Goal by a Mittimus sealed and signed by you four men who are called Justices of the Peace who write your selves Herbert Pellham Thomas Cook Dyonisius Wakering William Harlackinden wherein I finde severall Lyes Slanders and false Accusations cast upon me therefore for the Truths sake and for the satisfaction of the simple I shall reply to the same and cleare the truth and return the venome upon your venomous spirits from whence it comes that you may bee convinced of your evill and cease fighting against Christ and his Kingdome First your own as followeth VVHereas it duly appears unto Us by our own view and also by the Examination of James Parnell who saith he was borne at Retford in the County of Nottingham Labourer that he the said James Parnell with very many other persons of his gathering together did this day in a riotous manner enter into the Parish Church at Great Coggashal aforesaid and there being a great number of Chrians met in the said Church to hold and keep a day of Publike humiliation and seeking of God and being in order thereunto then exercised in the Divine Worship and Service of God Almighty hoe the said James did then and there stand up and told the Minister blasphemed and spoke falsly and used many other reproachfull words against the said Minister and afterward hee departed the said Church and went into the Common High-way in the said Towne of Great Coggashall with a great number of persons his followers who kept there unlawfully together and some of them gave out menacing and threatning speeches tending to the breach of the Peace and against the Law and also the said James cannot give us a very good account where he was last setled or of his life and conversation but doth further appear unto us to bee an idle disorderly person These are therefore in the Name of his Highness the Lord Protector to will and require you to convey forthwith the said James Parnell unto the Common-Goale for this COUNTY there to remaine untill the next Generall Goale-Delivery to be holden for this COUNTY and until thence delivered by due course of Law unless he the said James shal come before us or any two of us or two some other Justices of the Peace for this COUNTY and shall finde very able and sufficient Sureties to be bound with him by Recognizance for his personal appearance at the said next Goale-Delivery there to answer what shal bee then objected against him and not to depart thence without license of the Court and in the mean time to bee of good behaviour and thereof faile not at your peril Dated at Coggashal aforesaid the twelfth day of Iuly 1655. The Keeper of the said Common-Goale is hereby required to receive and keep the said Iames if hee shall be brought unto him Herbert Pellham Thomas Cook Dyonisius Wakering William Harlackinden A Reply to the aforesaid Mittimus WHereas I am hereby accused that I who am of the World called IAMES PARNELL with very many other Persons of my gathering together did this day in a Riotous manner enter the Parish Church of Great Coggashall aforesaid Reply ARe you not ashamed who profess your selves Ministers of law justice and peace to begin with lyes and make them your refuge against the innocent tending to the disturbance of the peace of the faithfull whom you both ought and would encourage and countenance if you were faithfull Ministers of peace and justice standing in the pure counsell of God ruling for God and not for your selves in all things discharging your consciences unto God without partiallity or respect of persons as faithfull Ministers of Law and Justice but contrary unto this you have acted in your corrupt wills turning your swords against the messengers of the most High and wilfully resisting the truth of God making lyes your refuge as here doth plainly appear for upon the day aforesaid I was at a friends

first Chapter of the Thessalonians and the first verse where the Apostle writeth to the Church of the Thessalonians which is God the Father then paleness struck the face of the Diviner neither would any of his fellows stand up to justifie what he had taken in hand and this was it wherein I said he blasphemed to say the Church in God was non-sence then there was one Priest Stellum a Magician of Aegypt who stood up in the enmity of his spirit and accused me with severallys slanders which hardned Pharoahs heart so that you corrupt rulers would not suffer me to clear my self from what he had accused me withall but the Magician got up into the seat of Divination and was going to his abomination a●d then the RULERS called to me to put off my hat then I bid you call to the Priest to put of his cap. And thus may all see the blindness and ignorance of Priests and People who are offended at a hat and not at a can and this is as the vain traditions of the Pharises who observed the washing of Pots and cups and such like things making clean the out-side which Scripture Priest VVillis who said the Church in God was non-sense brought in reference to the people called Quakers because they do not put off their hats in respect or worshipping of mens persons but let any who hath understanding consider which is more Traditional for a man to keep his hat on his head for which end it is made as also his shooe for his foot his glove for his hand or the putting off these things in observation of customes Mat. 15.7 8 9. and reverencing mens person for all which there is no Scripture therefore a vain Tradition of Man and thus they teach for Doctrine the Traditions of Man therefore in vains do you worship God who come neer him with your lips and with your mouths but your hearts are farre from him Iohn 5.44 in the unbeliefe seeking honor one of another and observing vaine Traditions and customes as did your forefathers whom Christ pronounced woe against who were his Persecutors and in whose steps yee are found and therefore read your portion And thus while you are crying against the Scribes and Pharisees for observing vaine Traditions and customes and their strictness in their observations and yet Persecutors of the Iust you also are found the same who are set up in the chiefest place of the Assembly Mat. 23. as they were and called of men Master as they were stand praying in the Synagogues as they did teaching for Doctrine the Traditions of men as they did and are strict in your Observations and calling of Assemblies and in your set-times of VVorship and appointed Pasts and days of Humiliation and yet are persecutors of the just as they were yea in the very height of your VVorship the bitterness of your spirits appeared but is this such a Fast as God hath chosen Nay it is abomination his Soul loaths it and hee will judge the cause of the Innocent upon you Hypocrites and be avenged of you his Adversaries and give you your portion with Vnbelievers in the Lake that burneth prepared of old for Cains Generation in which you are found by the Eternall Light of God which cannot lye which will rise up in Iudgement against you at the last day though now you stumble at it and are offended at it yet then shal you behold him whom you have pierced though with Lamentation and Sorrow of Minde when there is none to deliver you from the wrath of the Almighty and this is answered and witnessed in your Consciences Then the occasion of my passing out of the Steeple-house was this when I could not have liberty to speak in the vindication of the Truth against gain-sayers ye would have had me have stood with my hat off the time the Priest was praying which Worship I denied and therefore could not be conformable to it and so I said before I would stay to fulfill your wills I would pass out of the Steeple-house and many came out after me but not of my calling and many that I knew not and yet you are not ashamed to fay my followers And again That I went into the Common High-way and there kept with the people unlawfully together as you affirm is a very abominable Lye especially for men of your profession to tell which many can witness against for I was passing on the way quietly without disturbance towards my friends house from whence I came not purposing to stop until I came there but that he that writes himself Dyonisius VVakering came hurrying in amongst the people and clapped me on the back and sail He arrested me in the Name of the Protector and there stopped me and the first words that I spoke was VVhere is thy VVrit and so the people gathered about and thronged much but that any gave out menacing and threatning speeches J cannot say neither whom they was spoken against but any that owns me it is wel-known they are not men of such boystrous spirits but rather are made willing to to be reviled then to revile for from me no other example they have as hundreds will acknowledge but VVakering if the was true to that of God in his conscience he would confess how I laboured in his presence to still the people when he had violently laid hands on me and given the occasion and so let all take notice that there was no disorder nor disturbance until the Magistrate came and laid violent hands on me tending to the breach of the peace and against the Law and this is the fruits of your hypocritical fast and voluntary humiliation 3 Accusation And also you accuse me That I could give no good account of my last settlement or of my life and conversation Reply As for my life and conversation let it preach forth it self and them that can accuse me let them and as for my settlement it is in the Lord where I have found a habitation and so am no vagabond nor wanderer though I challenge no propriety in the earth because my Kingdome is not of this world though you accuse me that I appear unto you to be an idle disorderly person and before you set me down Iames Parnel Labourer and thus you utter forth your folly with your changeable minds but I am a Labourer in the Gospel of God in which work none can tax me with idleness since I came into these parts but if I had been more idle in the same ye would have been more pleased for it is my great Labor and Diligence in this work of the free Gospel and the prosperity thereof in the overturning and lay open the deceits of deceiving and deceived men that torments you who are the shelterers of the false Prophet whom you carry in your bosome because he cries peace unto you when the Lord cries woe yet nevertheless it is but for a time for the hand of

should pay one penny for the liberty of my body in this cause would be as much as if I paid the whole fine which thou hast unjustly laid upon me for therein I should own my self a Transgressor where I am not guilty and also a bought liberty is bondage to my spirit but my liberty under thy bonds is bondage to thee which liberty thou canst not rob me of with all that thou canst do for it is the free gift of God which none can take away though thou wilt not allow me in thy bonds to have the outward liberty that thou allows to Thieves and Murderers and Fornicators that is to have my friends and acquaintance to come to seeme wherein the very heathen wil condemn thee who when they had committed Paul to prison said Forbid none of his friends and acquaintance to come to fee him Acts 22.24 Therefore now read how thou exceeds the Heathen in persecution and injustice though I am a free-born subject in England therefore let the life of all the Christians condemn thee who never was persecutors And this of the Lord I was moved to write which is the VVord of the Lord unto thee whether thou wil hear or forbear in the peace of my conscience I do rest in the VVill of God Known to thee by the name Iames Parnel And now a few words unto you who call your selves gathered Churches who go under by the name of Independants in Essex you are gathered by the wil of man and are joyned by the wil of man and so stands in the will of man and are upheld by the wil of man by which you are begotten but stil alive in the worlds nature in the worlds customes fashions and traditions in the worlds fellowship words and waies and rudiments only differing from others in judgement opinion or profession wherein is your life in high notions and feigned apprehensions and false applications and glorious expressions and customary duties and vain Traditions which all appertains to the great Image which all the world worships by which they are deceived whose head is gold and brest of silver and thighs of brass and legs of Iron and feet part Iron and part clay and in the same nature ye are found with the world the day doth declare it and you to be the enemies and strangers to the light which is not of the world which is now come into the world testifying against the world and the deceit of the world the deceivers in the world and the profession of the world and this is the condemnation of the world Iob. 3.19 that light is come into the world and men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evill in which evil you are found despising and sett●ng at nought the Corner-stone and standing in the enmity of your spirits and joyning with the powers of the earth to persecute the life and power which now is manifest in the earth and is come to discover your empty shadows forms and fair shews of godliness but without life and power which you have set up in your imaginations and thereby are deceived and blinded and led in blindness so that you cannot see the light nor receive the substance now it is come and made manifest but stands up in your wills and wisdome to oppose the same and persecute it in the enmity of your spirits as if you hoped to kill the heir that the inheritance might be yours and therefore because you do despise this day of your visitation and reject slight the glad tydings which now are come to them that dwel upon the earth and revile and reproach persecute and slander the faithfull messengers of the Gospell rejoycing your hearts in their sufferings by you and amongst you therefore the Lord will rayse up a people out of the dust gather them from far to bear testimony unto his name and bear witness against you yea and shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in the kingdome of the Son and you and such as you shall be cast out into Tophit prepared of old for hypocrites and unbelievers therefore now read your portions ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts cars who do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost as did your fathers so do ye but the greater wil be your condemnation who go about to mock God with your wil-worship with your calling of Assemblies and Solemn Meetings with your appointed Fasts and dayes of voluntary Humiliation with your long Prayers and feigned duties all which is done out of the Light and so are your own works acted by selfe for selfe But who hath required these things at your hands it is all abomination to the Lord his soul loaths it for your sacrifices are as Cain's for your are found in Cain's nature envying and persecuting the righteous yea the witness lies slain in your streets therefore wo is unto you who go on in the way of Cain for upon you shal come all the righteous blood shed from righteous Abel until now and your professions stinks in the nostrils of the Lord for you have lift up your hands against him and his Annoynted opened your mouths in blasphemy and false reports against the truth yea you are blinde and stumble at the noon day you come neer the Lord with your lips but your hearts runs awhoring after other Lovers and you know not the only true God that dwels in Temples made without hands whose worship is in spirit and in truth but would limit the unlimited under your wils as if he were not a God of might but that you could controle him with the arm of flesh but be not deceived God is not mocked such as you sowe such shall you reap and your end shal be according to your works Gal. 6.7 for our God is a God of Judgement and Justice wil avenge the cause of the innocent upon you his adversaries yea and though your Teachers do cry peace peace unto you because you put into their mouths and so daubs you up with untempred morter that you cannot see your wound and so heals you slightly yet you shal know that our God is a God of Truth and his word shal stand for ever and their sorcery shal appear and their witchcraft shal be laid open and the cup of fornication wherewith they have made drunk and deluded the Nations shal be taken from them and the cup of the wrath of the Almighty given them to drink their reward and then shal you behold the Harlot with whom you have committed fornication who now lies in your bosomes bewitching you with a golden cup with whom you have defiled your garments then to be cast into the bottomless pit where you shal all be tormented together who now partake of her pleasures and thus shal you fal amongst them that fal in the day that I visit you saith the Lord. And all you my dear friends you scattered and despised ones in and about the County