true Ministers did to whom the Word of the Lord came saying I have ordained thee a Prophet unto the Nations Mark not to a Town or a City to remain in for many years together but to the Nations and in obedience to the living God he testified against the World that their deeds were evil but they could not bear his words but said he was worthy to die and so the Priests and false Prophets joyned with the Princes and Rulers of the people and cast him into prison and into the dungeon where he did sink amongst the mire that was in it Read in his prophesie and you will find it so and this was that which the true Prophets and Ministers of Christ received from the World where they went stocking whipping and Imprisonments thus were they requited evil for good in all Ages for their love which they did bear to the souls of the Sons of men and the same must we expect from this generation wherein we live we whom the Lord hath called to place his Name in and hath sent us forth in this day of his love to preach his Everlasting Gospel to them which dwell upon the earth in love and pity to their souls but they regard it not though we go thousands of miles for the Seeds sake which lies in death yet the reward of our labour from them is prisons and whips to scourge us withal and knives prepared to cut off ears and Irons hot to burn in the hand thus are we requited evil for good for testifying against the World that their deeds are evil and therefore do they hate us as they did Christ and his Apostles and calls us Deceivers Fools and Hereticks Jesuites and the like because we speak the truth to them and cannot joyn with them in their abominations but stands as witnesses for the Lord God against them therefore do the Priests and Rulers joyn hand in hand together against us as they did against the true Prophets Christ and his Apostles as you may read in the Scriptures of Truth which bear Testimony to these things So dear Neighbours and People where this may come consider my end in writing this unto you the Lord is my witnesse that this is not written as to set up our selves and pull down others but it is written for your sakes that you might come so see the deceit of your own hearts which hath long lodged in you and also the deceit of the Priests in this generation that seek their gain from their quarter and keeps you captive in Babylon and Aegypt where our Lord is crucified as they did many of us in time past where we were bewitched by their sorceries and their smooth words in speaking peace to us wâ—en our soules lay in death unconverted in our fallen estates as they are at this day so they could not help us out of it being in it themselves Thus were we led by them in blindnesse for many years together ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth by them if the Lord had not looked upon us with an eye of pity we had surely perished under their Teaching because they are out of the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles who was sent to open blinde eyes and turn People from darknesse to the light of Christ in them and from the Power of Satan to God but these Priests labour in this generation to keep people in darknesse in blindnesse and in ignorance in Death in their unconverted estate that so they might not see their deceit as we do the Lord open your eyes that you may see how you have been led astray out of the true way which leads unto Eternal Life Oh! my love in tendernesse runs out to you all my dear neighbours and acquaintance in Bowels of compassion and pity to your Souls which lies in Death as mine hath done but the Lord in his Eternal love and pity to my Soul hath redeemed me from my fallen estate and raised my Soul from Death to Life and out of the Pit wherein it lay dead in trespasses and sins and seeing the Lord hath done this for me I cannot but declare it to the Sons of men and praise his Name in the Land of the living who hath done great things for me and when I consider and ponder it in my heart my Soul is ravished with his love and broken into teares to consider his kindnesse toward me who was by Nature a Child of wrath as well as otherâ— Oh! the consideration of his love hath constrained me to follow him and to give up all for his sake if it be for the laying down of my life for none are the Disciples of Christ but they that follow him in the Crosse and through sufferings and they that love any thing more then Him are not worthy of Him Now minde well and consider what I say the true unfeigned love to God doth not break the love from one another but it breakes the bands of wickednesse as Strife Debate Anger and Envie that have lodged in the mind one against another and when these things are destroyed in men and women then comes the love of God to abound in them and encrease one to another and this I witnesse and the Lord beareth me testimony to what I speak that my love is dearer and nearer to those in relation to me than ever it was before and I know some of them feels it so yea the Lord knows my heart whom I serve that I lie not but speak the truth to you all that so you might not stumble nor have any prejudice in your mindes against me without a cause who am a lover of all your Soules and for that cause is this written to you that you may know it is so for the Lord knows I do not forget you though I be thousands of miles from you because of the simplicity that was in some of you who were my neighbours and acquaintance for I am one who have obtained mercy from the Lord through judgement and great tribulation which all must passe through before they come into the Land of Canaan they must be regenerate and born again and know a dying to sin and that which they have delighted in before they witnesse a living to Righteousnesse the Old man must be put off with his deeds before the new man be put on Christ Jesus the Son of the living God who is the expresse Image of his Fathers Glory who is taking his People to himself out of the 〈◊〉 of the Beast and false Prophets who have long made a prey upon them but the day is come that they shall make no longer a prey upon them for the Lord hath said it that he will teach his People himself and under his Government shall they dwell safely from the devourer and venemous beasts which hath long had his seat in the Earth amongst the Sons of men and by him they have been led Captive at his will to
end of all such that depart from the living God Oh! is not the unclean spirit entered into them again and become worse then he was before so none rejoyce at the hearing of those that turnes from the truth which they were once in for verily it will not ease you of your misery and torment which will come upon you if you go on in sin and dispise the day of your visitation So to you all I have cleared my conscience in the sight of God From a Friend of the Truth and a sâ—ferer for the Seeds sake which is keâ—pt in Bondage under Pharaoh and his Task-masters my Name in the flâ—sh is Marmaduke Stephenson Written in the Common Goal of Boston in New England in America in the beginning of the seventh Moneth 1659. These are Copies of Letters sent from William Robinson and Marmaduke Stephenson after they were Banished unto Christopher Holder a Prisoner in Boston Common Prison Christopher Holder O My dearly beloved of my Father my Soul and Life salutes thee for thou art dear to me in the love which changeth not but doth indure for ever am I one with thee in the Life and Power of Truth where we are joyned together as members of his Body who is our Head and our preserver night and day where we are kept safe under the shaddow of hâ—s Wings where we feed together in the green pastures by the pleasant springs where thou may feel me my beloved one at the livinâ— Foâ—ntain which doth refresh the whole City of our God where we are daily reâ—reshed together in the banqueting House where we do receive â—trâ—ngth and nourishment from him who is our Life and fiâ—â— us with his lâ—ving vertue day by day which is as precious Oynment powred forth giving a pleasant smell and is pleasant to behold for it hath ravished whereby we are constrained to leave all to follow it who gathers our hearts in one where I am joynâ—d and sealed with thee in the Covenant of Life where we shall or ever remaâ—â—e in the boâ—om of tâ—e Father after our Testimonies are finishâ—d then shall wâ— lay dâ—wn our headâ— in peace with all the Faithful evâ—n so the Lord kâ—ep us as witnâ—sses of his Truth that so we may be armed with his Pâ—wer and 〈◊〉 in the hour of Tâ—mptation and in the day of tryal to sâ—pport â—s and bear us â—p in his armes that so he may be honoâ—red by us who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all Glory and Honour to whom it doth belâ—ng now and forever Amen So with my love to thee I rest who am thy dear brother in the Truth Marmaduke Stephenson C. Holder DEarly beloved Brother whom my Soul dearly loves and my Spirit and Life doth dearly embrace in Gods Love and Life Power and Truth thou may feel me with thee in the armes of the Lord where we are kept who is our Strength and the portion oâ—our Cup for ever God knows how my life doth flow forth unto thee from the River of our God which dayly runs through us wherewith we are dayly refreshed and whereby our strength is daily renewed for surely the Lord is with us and who shall be able to stand against us Dear heart in the sweet and pleasant habitation of our God in the Mansion House of my Father and thy Father feel me with thee for surely we have all one God to our Lord who is our King and our Law-given for truly out of one Womb have we all come and at one Fountain do we all drink and are daily nourished Dear heart where thou may feel me with thee in the life where we are sealed together for evermore Oh! my dear beloved my soul doth greatly love thee Oh! I cannot expresse it but thou may feel it in the Covenant of everlasting love where we are united by the Spirit of Truth Holinesse in the Power and Heavenly Peace of God feel me with thee where neither length of time nor distance of place can seperate us nay all the powers nor strength of darknesse it cannot break it in the same life and love and Authority of God the Lord for ever keep us and grant that it may be with us for evermore Amen Which I know the Lord God will perform even so be it saith my Soul Dear heart the remembrance of thee doth ravish my soul and by it is my heart filled with pure love and joy Oh! the Lord God knows how greatly I long to see thy face but dear heart I have not yet freedom in the Lord to accomplish it for I see some service I have to fulfil before I come to Boston if the Enemie hinder not for truly hitherto I have seen the Hand of the Lord greatly with us William Robinson DEar Brother my spirit and life dearly Salutes thee feel my love in thy own bosom how my life issues forth unto thee wherein I am bound up with thee in the bowels and love of God sealed with thee in the Eternal Covenant in the life and power of the Lord Iesus wherewith we are covered and where we feel each other in the Heavenly Life and Kingdom of our Lord Iesus Christ dear heart feel how near I am unto thee in the quiet and peaceable Union and Habitation of our God where we cannot forget one the other where we are sealed together in the fear and Dominion of God Dear heart the Lord knowes how greatly I long and desire to see thy Face and I know the Lord will grant it dear heart we were and are gladly received here and the seed hath been reached in many and the life hath answered to us in many we have had two fine meetings Thy dear Brother William Robinson The 15th 7th Moneth 1659. DEarly beloved unto whom I am united in the Spirit of Truth Love and Everlasting Peace where I believe our dwelling shall be for ever in Heavenly joy and true Peace in our Fathers Kingdom where we rejoice together and sweetly enjoy one anothers presence under our Fathers Banner in heavenly Paradice where we meet each other in our Father love in the Unity and Life of Christ Jesus where my dearly beloved I am with thee dear heart thou maist feel me and see how I am united unto thee W. R. The 26th of the 7th Month 1659. C. H. MY dearly beloved my life is often refreshed by thee the remembrance of thee is like the new Wine whereby my spirit and soul is refreshed and like the Oyl wherewith we are annointed even bread in time of need and water in time of thirst Oh! what shall I say unto thee I am overcome with thy life and ravished with thy beauty and thy love doth often melt in me and I am broken with the remembrance of thee Oh! that thou didst but know it how full I am of the Fathers love Oh! dear heart bear part with me of what I bear until I see thy face surely the Power of the Lord that is with me and upon me doth
do his work and service for it was pleasing to them thus hath the Devils work been done for a long time together and the Lords work neglected which should have been done Thus have men and women been growing as trees of unrighteousnesse bringing forth fruit to the unrighteous one the prince of darknesse which hath long reâ—gned and had possession in the heart of man So all dear people consider well of your conditions that you may see what Trees you are and to whom you bring forth fruit and this concerns you all to know from the least of you to the greatest for the Lord is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousnesse is accepted of him who is our hiding Place and Rock of sure defence for us to flie unto where we are kept safe in the hollow of his hand So dear neighbours and People consider that you have long been labouring for the meat that must perish come to an end now it stands you all in hand to seek after the living Bread and hidden Manna that comes down from above and is given to feed the Hungry and strengthen the feeble minded and verily it is so in love and plainnesse to you do I speak that you who can live without this living Bread your Souls lies in Death still and the witnesse lies slain in Sodom and Egypt in you and the Seed lies covered under the Clods of the Earth in you and unlesse it arise and live in you you cannot be saved nor enter into the land of Rest which is prepared for the Faithful who are regenerate and born again of the Holy Seed which shall inherit the blessing the Son of God which is Heire of the Promise and in him is our life hid with God from the vulturous eye and venemous Beast and from the Lord are we refreshed day by day So dear People let the witnesse of God arise and be awakened in you all that the seed may come forth from under the Clods of your hard and stony hearts that so the prisoner may be set at liberty which long hath been oppressed and for the sake of it in you am I constrained to write unto you not knowing whether I may see your faces in the flesh any more yea or nay Oh! that you would lay these things to heart which I in love have written to you not knowing how soon your breath may be stopt and your life taken from you and as Death leaves you so must you appear before the Lord and be judged according to your doings So dear hearts do not sleight the day of your visitation nor the tenders of Gods love which is yet held forth to you least you be taken away in your sins and die in your iniquities and then I know your portion will be sad Therefore do I warn you in Bowels of tender love and in pity to the Captive in you that you run no longer in your former vanities in spending your time out of the fear of God for all they that live out of the fear of God do not feel his presence nor enjoy his blessing So all hearken to the Counsel of God and be attentive to his Voice and lend your ear to his Call while he is knocking at the door of your hearts Oh! do not resist him but let him in that he may take possession whose right it is for verily if you resist him when he calls upon you and will not lend your ears to his Counsel nor give ear to his Words a day of trouble and perplexity of Spirit will assuredly come upon you then will you call upon the Lord but he will not hear you but will hide his face from you even so will it be with you at that day because the Lord called and you would not hear him so when you call upon him he wil not hear you And this from the Lord God I declare unto you that if you perish your destruction is of your selves and the Lord will be cleare of your blood in the day of your account So dear people let the patience and forbearance of our God towards you lead you to repentance now no longer go on in sin against that of God in your Consciences but all stoop down to the witnesse of God in you that the Seed may arise to live in you for the blessing is upon England for the Seeds sake which God hath raised and it is growing and the vertue of it is spreading over the Nations and the Kingdom of Christ begins to flourish in the Earth but this I say unto you that unlesse you feel the Seed of God to arise and live in you you cannot inherit the blessing for the blessing is to the Seed the Plant of Gods Renown which he hath regard unto for it is of his Nature and Image and proceeds from him who is meek and lowly and easie to be entreated by the upright for his ear is open to their cry who hungers and thirsts after his presence to refresh their Souls So dear people lie no longer in Death but come out of the Grave of Carnal security wherein you lie that your Souls may live then will you prize with me the love and presence of the Lord above all things But unlesse that be restored to life in you which lies in Death you cannot prize the love of God for you do not feel his presence and this you know by experience that a dead Child is not sencsible of want neither doth it hunger after the breast but a living Child that is born into the World is soon sencible of want and in it is a hunger raised after the milk which comes from the breast to refresh it withal for it cannot live without it or some other food like unto it and this is a true figure to you and all and thorow it you may read your selves and how your conditions are every one in particular that so you may no longer be deceived nor rest in a false hope which will faile you and even so it is with you all who never found a true hunger raised after the Lord and after his Presence to refresh your Souls but you who can live content and rest satisfied without nourishment from him you are as a dead Child which feels no hunger nor want and this is the truth to you all the Lord revive your sences and quicken your understandings that you may be sencible how your conditions are which is the desire of my Soul that so you may not perish in your gain-sayings and for this very end is this written to you as I was moved of the Lord in bowels of compassion to you knowing that you are where I once was in the perishing state like the Prodigal from the Fathers House in the far Country feeding upon the husks with the swine and this was my state and condition for many years but in the time appointed the Lord looked upon me with
his hand where his Banner of love will be over us to compass us about where we shall have recourse to the living springs which comes from the pure fountain and well-spring of life which issues forth abundantly to refresh the hungry and strengthen the feeble minded where you may feel me my beloved ones in the green pastures among the lillies of the pleasant springs where our Souls are bathed and refreshed together with the overcoming of Gods love the vertue of his presence which is as pretious oyntment poured forth giving a pleasant smell So my dear Friends let us alwayes wait at the Altar of the Lord to see the Table spread that so we may sit down and eat together and be refreshed with the hidden Manna and living food of life which comes from him who is our life our peace our strength and our preserver night and day Oh! my beloved ones let us all go on in his strength who is our Prince and Saviour that his Image we may bear who is meek and lowly in heart and minde the true and sure foundation of many generations the chief Corner-stone elect and pretious the Rock of Ages on which the Saints were built and if we all abide thereon we shall never be moved but stand for ever as trees of Righteousness rooted and grounded in him who will be with us in all our Tryals and temptations which we may meet withal and here will the Lord our God be honoured by us all that are faithful unto death we shall assuredly have a Crown of life which will never be taken from us Oh! my beloved ones what shall I say unto you who drinks with me at the living Fountain where we are nourished and brought up as twines in the womb at the breasts of consolation where I do embrace you in the bond of peace which never will be broken Oh! feel me and read me in your hearts for I am filled with love when I think upon you and broken into tears for the remembrance of you who are faithful doth refresh my Soul which makes me often to think upon you and have you in remembrance you Iewels of my Father and first fruits of his encrease if I forget you then let the Lord forget me nay verily you cannot be forgotten by me so long as I abide in the vine I am a branch of the same nature with you which springs from the good Tree which the Lord hath blessed where we do grow together in his life and Image as members of his body where we shall live to all eternity and sit down in the Kingdom of rest and peace with Abraham Isaac and Jacob to sing the songs of deliverance to the most high that sits on the Throne who alone is worthy of all honour and living praises to whom it is due novv and for ever Amen And this vvill be the portion of our Cup if vve all stand stedfast to that vve have received and be faithful in our measures in doing the Will of God vve shall find peace and unity vvith the Lord vvhich is joy unspeakable and glorious vvhich vvill never be taken from us So dear hearts let us all press forvvard to the mark of the High Calling so shall vve obtain the Crovvn from him vvhere our lives are hid vvith Christ in God vvhere vve shall remain for ever vvith him after our Testimony is finished 〈◊〉 shall lay dovvn our heads vvith joy and peace and receive the reward of everlasting life vvhich is laid up for us in Christ Iesus Oh! my beloved ones vvho are of the Royal Seed vvhich the Lord hath blessed my life 〈◊〉 bound up vvith you in the Holy Covenant vvhere vve are linked together as in a Chain and moulded into one mould vvhere nothing must remain that is not good for it must be purged out that vvould defile that so so vve may appear like the fine Gold vvhich is tryed in the fire to shine forth in the Image of the Father as lights to the world and as Cities set on a Hill vvhich cannot be hid so vvill the Lord have praise to vvhom it is due by our upright vvalking and honest conversation so shall vve all be a svveet smell and a good savour in them that are saved and in them that perish Oh! my dear Friends and Brethren hovv doth my love abound tovvards you Oh! feel it and let it fill your hearts for verily you are dear to me the Lord knovvs it vvhom I 〈◊〉 that you are often in my remembrance though my body be far beyond the Seas separated from you yet doth my Soul and life remain vvith you in the Holy Covenant sealed by the Spirit of Promise vvhere vve shall remain together in rest and svveet peace for evermore after our Testimony is finished So all you vvho are upright in heart feel my love and receive my Salutation vvhich springs from the Fountain of love where I am vvith you as by the vvaters of Shilo vvhich runs softly vvhere we are watered and refreshed together day by day that so we grow as Plants of Righteousness in the true vine where we are reconciled to the Father and one to another in that which Sea and Land cannot separate where you may all feel me and read me in your hearts with that which was before words were and if I never see your faces more in the flesh the will of the Lord be done for verily my life is not dear to me to lay it down for his sake who hath called me out of darkness into his marvellous light and hath counted me worthy to bear witness of his truth amongst a blood-thirsty people whose hearts are removed far from the Lord that so I may finish my Testimony with joy as the rest of my Brethren have done which are gone before me for I am freely given up with my dear Brother called William Robinson whâ—se love is dear to you all to lay down our lives as a witness against this people for us to live is Christ but to dye is gain for we know that our reward is sure where we shall enjoy the pure presence of the living God and be in favour with him for evermore Oh! how doth my love abound and run out in tenderness to you all Oh! my tongue cannot express it nor my mouth utter it forth as it flowes out to you from the living streams which waters the whole City of God Oh! feel it and be refreshed M. S. This is a Copy of W. R. his Letter to the Lords People THe streames of my Fathers love runs daily through me from the Holy Fountain of Life to the Seed throughout the whole Creation I am overcome with love for it is my life and length of my dayes it s my glory and my daily strength I am swallowed up with love in love I live with it I am overcome and in it I dwell with the Holy Seed to which the blessing of love is given from God who is
spirit of persecution in whomsoever it appears to which spirit we exhort all men that love their Soules to beware of joyning and so in love to all People we rest by Faith chusing rather to suffer affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a Season John Whitehead Marmaduke Storre William Padley Gregory Milner Thomas Leemin Written in York-shire the 23d day of the 3d. Month. 1660. A Call from Death to Life and out of the dark wayes and worships of the World where the Seed is held in bondage under the Merchants of Babylon M. S. OH you my dear Neighbours and People in the Town of Shipton and Wighton and elsewhere where this may come who have been spending long your mony for that which is not bread and your labour for that which doth not satisfie as I have done Oh come buy wine and milk without mony and without price while it is held forth to you least the day come that you be deprived of it for long hath the Spirit of the Lord been striving with you as it did with me but you have resisted it time after time because it testified against you when you went on in sin and reproved in secret for the evil of your doings therefore you do not regard it but flies from it So in bowels of tender love to you all do I speak and in love and pity to your souls prize the love of God and his tender mercy and forbearance to you that he did not cut you off in the height of your iniquity but hath spared you until this day though you have long taken pleasure in sin not regarding God that made you yet hath his Spirit been striving with you many dayes years as it did with me and hath reproved you time after time for the evil of your doings but you regarded it not though it often called upon you in love meekness to depart from your iniquity and that which you have been addicted to it hath reproved and called you that have been addicted to drunkenness lying and swearing to depart from these things for they are evil and it hath called upon you that are proud and covetous to depart from them and hath reproved you that have been wild and wanton and given to sports and pleasures to depart from them and run on no longer in vanity but you did not regard it but took pleasure in sin Oh consider dear Neighbors and People what you have been doing ever since you came to years of maturity and let the witnesse of God which is faithful and true in you all arise and answer to which I speak and it will let you see that you have provoked the Lord and vexed his righteous soul from day to day and have pressed him with your sins and iniquities as a cart is pressed with sheaves yet hath he born it with patience and hath suffered long not willing that you should perish and dye in your sins but still he hath waited year after year upon you to be gracious to you but you have refused to return and hearken to his Call and Counsel but have run on in the broad way as your Forefathers have done so do ye and follow their Customs and Traditions which are vain and will not profit you at all in the day of the Lord when he comes to call you to an account how you have spent your time so consider and lay it to heart before the evil day come upon you least the Spirit of the Lord cease striving with you for verily the day is coming on apace that the Spirit of the Lord will cease striving with man who puts the Day of God far from him then it will be said He that is Righteous let him be Righteous still and he that is filthy let him be filthy still So dear Friends and People young and old prize your time while you have it and do not slight the Counsel of the Lord any longer least the day of your visitation passe over your heads at unawares which cannot be called again and as I said before Spend your mony no longer for that which is not bread in following Diviners of lyes for they cause you to erre and go astray by their lyes and by their lightnesse like sheep without a shepherd for they are blind Watchmen which leads you out of the way like troops of Robbers to devour you Hos. ch. 6. v. 9 and makes merchandize of your souls as they did upon me and thousands besides which the Lord hath delivered as birds out of the Fowlers net so being escaped from them we see their deceit and subtle hypocrisie which long hath lodged in them and therefore we cannot but declare against them because they are seen to be such as devour widows houses for dishonest gain and makes a prey upon you as they have done upon us for they seek their gain from their quarter and feeds themselves with the fat and clothes themselves with the best of the wooll as the false prophets did of old which the true Prophets declared against and with the same light that the true Prophets saw the false prophets of old do we see these Priests in this generation for their fruits makes them manifest what trees they are For they sue men at the Law for Tithes and take them by force false Prophet like and who cannot put into their mouths for conscience sake they prepare War against them and with cruelty oppression cause their goods to be taken from them to satisfie their wits and greedy desires so they make themselves manifest to be of that generation and to walk in their steps that the true Prophet spake of who were greedy dumb doggs that can never have enough as thousands do witnesse at this day and you may see it to be so with the Priests of this generation for in Balaams steps they are walking who loved the wages of unrighteousnesse as they do in this generation but they exceed him in cruelty for though he loved it he did not sue for it but these Priests do in this generation of which I am a witnesse and thousands besides who have suffered by them to the spoiling of their goods and estates Oh it is seen it is seen in this our day that the filthy and abominable thing is committed in the land as it was of old the Prophets prophecy falsely and the Priests bear Rule by their means and the people love to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof saith the Lord Almighty for they have dawbed you up with untempered morter and are Physicians of no value to you for they have long been sowing pillows under your arm-holes and have spoken smooth things to you in healing that in you which is for destruction and seeks to kill that which should live that so they might rule over you as Kings in the Earth and you to worship the Beast and his Image who is making war with
often break me in pieces and often melt me into tears when he rises in his strength within me Oh! I am overwhelmed with it Oh! feel my dear heart how strong and mighty the Lord God is with me Oh! though thousands of the Philistins doth compass me round yet surely the God who is with me will work by me for truely I see them all before me as a Potters vessel which the Lord God will with his hand dash in pieces dear heart I am present with thee in the spirit and heavenly life and if the Lord permit we shall behold one another in the outward man to the comfort and joy of the spirit my dearly beloved on next fifth day we intend if the Lord will to come to Boston with several Friends with us which was so done Thy dear Brother in the Heavenly life and Spirit of Truth W. R. This was written by William Robinson to the Court of Boston ON the 8th day of the 4th Month 1659. in the after part of the day in travelling betwixt Newport on Rhode Island and Daniel Goulds house with my dear Brother Christopher Holder the Word of the Lord came expresly to me which did fill me immediately with life and power and heavenly love by which he constrained me and commanded me to pass to the Town of Boston my life to lay down in his Will for the accomplishing of his service that he had there to perform at the day appointed to which heavenly voice I presently yielded obedience not questioning the Lord how he would bring the thing to pass being I was a Child and obedience was demanded of me by the Lord who filled me with living strength and power from his Heavenly presence which at that time did mightily over-shadow me 〈◊〉 my life did say Amen to what the Lord required of me 〈…〉 commanded me to do and willingly was I given up from that time to this day the will of the Lord to do and perform whatever becomes of my body for the Lord hath said unto me My Soul shall rest in Eternal Peace and my life shall enter into rest for being obedient to the God of my life I being a Child and durst not question the Lord in the least but rather willing to lay down my life then to bring dishonour to the Lord and as the Lord made me willing dealing gently and kindly with me as a tender Father towards a faithful Child whom he dearly loves so the Lord did deal with me in Ministring of his life unto me which gave and gives me strength to perform what the Lord hath required of me and still as I did and do stand in need he ministred and ministreth more strength and vertue and heavenly power and wisdom whereby I was and am made strong in God not fearing what man shall be suffered to do unto me being filled with heavenly courage which is meekness and innocency for the cause is the Lords that we go in and the Battel is the Lords and thus saith the Lord of Hosts the mighty and terrible God not by strength nor by might nor by power of man but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts I will perform what my mouth hath spoken through my servants whom I have chosen mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth Friends the God of my life and the God of the whole earth did lay this thing upon me for which I now suffer bonds near to death he by his Almighty power and Everlasting love constrained me and laid this thing upon me and truly I could not deny the Lord much less resist the Holy One of Israel Therefore all who are ignorant of the motion of the Lord in the inward parts be not hasty in judging in this matter before you hear the truth of the matter least you speak evil of the things you know not for of a truth the Lord God of Heaven and Earth commanded me by his Spirit and spoke unto me by his Son whom he hath made Heir of all things and in his life I live and in it I shall depart this earthly Tabernacle if unmerciful men be suffered to take it from me and herein I rejoice that the Lord is with me the antient of dayes the life of the Suffering Seed for which I am freely given up and singly do stand in the Will of God for to me to live is Christ but to dye is gain And truly I have a great desire and will to dye herein knowing that the Lord is with me whatever ignorant men shall be able to say against me for the witness of the Spirit I have received and the presence of the Lord and his Heavenly life doth accompany me so that I can say in truth and from an upright heart Blessed be the Lord the God of my life who hath counted me worthy and called me hereunto to bear my Testimony against ungodly and unrighteous men who seek to take away the life of the righteous without a cause as the Rulers of the Mathathusets bay doth intend if the Lord stop them not from their intent Oh! hear ye Rulers and give ear and listen all ye that have any hand herein to put the innocent to death for in the Name and Fear and Dread of the Lord God I here declare the cause of my staying here amongst you and continuing in your jurisdiction after there was a sentence of banishment upon death as you said pronounced against me without a just cause as you all well know that we who were banished committed nothing worthy of banishment nor of any punishment much less banishment upon death And now ye Rulers you do intend to put me to death with my companion unto whom the Word of the Lord God came unto him saying Go to Boston with thy Brother William Robinson unto which Command he was obedient who had said unto him He had a great work for him to do which thing is now seen and the Lord is now a doing of it and it is in obedience to the Lord the God of the whole earth that we continued amongst you and that we came to the Town of Boston again in obedience to the Lord the Creator of Heaven and Earth in whose hand your breath is And will you put us to death for obeying the Lord the God of the whole earth Well if you do this act and put us to death know this and be it known unto you all ye Rulers and People of this Jurisdiction that whosoever hath a hand herein will be guilty of innocent blood and not onely upon your selves wâ—ll ye bring innocent blood but upon this Town and the Inhabitants thereof and every where within your Jurisdiction that had the least hand therein therefore be instructed ye Rulers of this land and take warning betimes and learn wisdom before it be hid from your eyes Written by one who feareth the Lord who is by ignorant people called a Quaker and unto such am only known by the name William Robinson
love who hath shed it abroad in my heart which daily fills me with living joy from the Life from whence it comes You Children of the living God feel me when you are waiting in it when your hearts and minds are gathered into it when in the strength of it you are traveling feel me when it runs from the fountain into your vessel when it issues gently like new wine into your bosoms when the strength and power of it you feel when you are overcome with the strength of love which is God then feel me present in the fountain of love wherein are many Mansions you Children of the Lord feel me wrapt up with you in the pure love which destroyes the love which is in enmity with God which warreth against the Seed which proceedeth from the Father of Love the God of Truth Let nothing seperate you from this Love which is my life neither words nor thoughts nor nothing else enter betwixt which is contrary to it for that will stain the place of its abode So dear Children who are begotten by love into the Covenant of life and love keep daily in it this is the portion that God hath given to his Children to continue in his love which is the life of the Seed which is raised by the power of the endlesse love of God in the Creature I am full of the quickning Power of the Lord Iesus Christ and my Lamp is filled with pure Oyl so that it gives a clear light and pleasant smell and I shall enter with my beloved into Eternal peace and rest wherein I am swallowed up with the life of it I am filled and with it I shall depart with everlasting joy in my heart and praises in my mouth singing Halelujah unto the Lord who hath redeemed me by his living Power from amongst Kindreds Tongues and Nations And now the day of my departure draweth near I have fought a good fight I have kept the holy Faith I have near finished my course my travelling is near at an end my Testimony is near to be finished and an Eternal Crown is laid up for me and all whose fret are shed with Righteousnesse and the preparation of Peace even such whose names are written in the Book of Life wherein I live and rejoyce with all the Faithful Seed for evermore Written by a Servant of Jesus Christ William Robinson The 23. day of the 8th Month was this given forth and he suffered the 27th day of the same Moneth at Boston in New England 1659. This is a Copy of Peter Pearsons Letter wherein is a Relation of M. S. and W. Rs. suffering DEar Brethren unto whom my life is united in the invisible unlimited power of the Lord God Almighty I give you a relation of divers passages wherein is tidings of heavinesse and joy Our dear brethren the two Servants of the Lord William Robinson and Marmaduke Stephenson have finished their course in the pure dominion and Eternal Majestie of the Almighty God and are laid down in Abrahams bosome in the Heavenly Kingdom of endlesse felicity where the life of all the upright is united with their life to all perpetuity So that their memorial shall never rot for their name their life is left upon heavenly record and shall never be blotted out from the life of the Tribe of the Faithful Vpon the 9th day of the 4th moneth 1659. the 4th day of the week had all us English Friends that were abroad in this Country a meeting upon Road Island the 6th day following of the same week at a Ferry side upon Road Island did one friend whose name is William Leddra and I part with Christopher Holder Marmaduke Stephenson and William Robinson we being about to passe over the Ferry to travel into this part of the Countrey called Plimmouth Colony At the end of two dayes journey we came to a Town therein called Sandwich and the day following had a pretty peaceable meeting and it was with us if we did escape apprehending in this Colony to have traveled into Bostons Iurisdiction but the second and last meeting that we had determined to have at Sandwich in it we were apprehended and had before the Governour and Magistrates and by them committed to this Prison where we have remained 5. moneths and upward And being we deny to defray the charges that they have brought themselves into by medling with us namely their wicked Officers fees and also refusing to make an engagement to come into the government no more we are by their Law to remain close prisoners during the Courts pleasure But well content we are rejoycing that we are worthy to suffer as witnesses for the Lord against them and their Law and the thick power of darknesse by which they did establish it This knowing that for our Testimonies sake bonds must abide us during the Lords pleasure The day after we were taken Prisoners was William Robinson and Marmaduke Stephenson imprisoned at Boston where they remained until the 7th Moneth in the forepart of the 7th Moneth they were had before their Court of Assistance and after divers passages in their examination the Iury whom they witnessed against as unfit men to try their cause being out of the Doctrine of Christ when they gave in their verdit said they had found them to be Quakers So when they were found and judged by their ungodly Law to be guilty of the sentence of Banishment upon pain of Death they were returned to Prison again and after a little time were had again before their Iudgment Seat and the sentence of banishment upon pain of Death past upon them against which their Life did arise in power and dominion being the Lord had commanded them to stay and William Robinson declared unto them how it stood between them and God and if they did put them to Death for transgressing their commandement they would become guilty of Innocent blood and gave them warning in the Name of the Lord to beware of shedding innotent blood with more expressions that cut them to the quick And although they had passed the sentence of Banishment upon them yet this overplus to vent their furious mindes in torturing the outward man whilest they had it they made a decree to have William whipt and commanded the Constable to get a man that was able to do it So a man being prepared and had before their Court and judged a man fit for their purpose they had William Robinson into the open street and there stript him and put his hands thorow the holes of the Cariage of a great Gun where the Iaylor a member of their Church held them till the whipper gave him twenty stripes with a threefold Cord whip with knots at the ends which stripes he laid upon his body without mercy or pity according to the hearts desire of some of the blood-thirsty rulers who bad whip him severely So when they had inflicted this barbarous action upon his body then they returned him with