God of which you have tasted in a good Measure and in the Meek and Peaceable Spirit of the Lamb be at Peace and in Unity with him and one with another even as Members of one spiritual Body that the Head may be honoured through you and that each Member serve one another in Love and Respect not any exalted above what ought to be nor striving for prehemenence above one another but that each Member may know his Service into which the Lord hath called you for that is a blessed Thing to dwell in Love and Unity and to know and to be known to one another in the Lord and the contrary bringeth the Curse where Strife and Enmity lodgeth that is excluded out of the Body and is of the Kingdom of Death and not of the Lamb but is of the Body of Antichrist and not of his Body who is exalted at God's right Hand And see that you walk in all Wisdom wait that you may be wise and that Wisdom it self may be justified of you by walking therein and then you will answer the divine Principle of Equity in your Enemies and you will cut off that which seeks ' occasion against you and turn backward the slanderous Tongue and confound the Destroyer which seeks occasion every moment Oh how pretious is Wisdom it s a Pearl it s better then Strength or Riches Wisdom is the chief of the Gifts of God it comes from the Fountain and it leads answerable unto him who is the Giver thereof Oh wait for Wisdom that she may possess your Hearts that she may go in and out before you and may be the beginning and end of all your works and so shall your Enemies have no occasion against you but you shall be preserved in perfect Peace for Wisdom is a preserver of Soul and Body even that Wisdom that is from above which is pure and peaceable and leadeth into all the Ways of Peace Truth and Righteousness and take heed that none be led aside into Snares and Temptations of the Wicked and thereby make shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience and the whole Work of God and so lose your Joy and Peace in God and come short of an Immortal Crown to which you are begotten but be faithful to God in all things and deny not your Principle nor the perswasion of God's Spirit in your Consciences in any thing neither for the Love nor Terror of this World for that is honourable to be faithful to a heavenly Principle even whether in death or life to be found walking answerable unto the Will and Mind of God as you have received the knowledge thereof but if any turn aside in the day of Tryal the Lord will have no pleasure in them but his displeasure will be against them unto their Destruction and such shall not be reckoned among the Righteous but they are blotted out of the Book of Life even such who are Hearers and not Doers of the Will of God whose Hypocrisie the Lord will judge in the justness of his Judgments And live in Patience in all Tribulations and in a still and quiet Spirit for the Lord is there his Presence is enjoyed in a still and patient spirit and such receive of his Mercies even of his hidden Manna and heed not the Tribulations that are in this World but mind your Peace that is in Christ that is everlasting and be settled in your minds and fully perswaded to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes whether in Death or Life and let nothing separate you from that Love of God which you have received not Powers of Darkness neither Love nor Terror of this World but keep in the Dominion of God that his Spirit may be lifted up in you as the Standard even when floods of Temptations and Persecutions ariseth against you which are but for a moment and they will pass away but Truth and Righteousness will remain and cannot be shaked and the Purpose of the Lord is Good unto us and not Evil not to destroy us nor suffer us to perish for we are his and he hath chosen us and he hath placed his Name with us and for his Name sake which we bear he will do great things for us he will visit his Heritage and defend it with his mighty Power and therefore be in Patience concerning all things whatsoever that cometh to pass And the Lord having brought us out of Egypt and often appeared unto us in great Love and Favour and his Eye is over us at this day and he hath not thus far delivered us now to destroy us if we live and walk in the Power of the Lord God and feel his Life and Vertue and heavenly Authority in our own Hearts the Lord will not suffer our Enemies to prevail against us so as utterly to extinguish us from off the Earth though some of us may be tryed far if not to seal our Testmony with Blood but if so it shall hasten the Glory of the Lord and cause it to shine forth abundantly and it will fill up the Measure of Iniquity to the utter destruction of Antichrist and for this cause our Lives are not pretious unto us nor do I desire further to give Testimony by words if the Testimony of our Blood be required for I know though power may be given them over the outward Man yet we have a Life which they cannot touch and a Peace and Victory in the spiritual Kingdom which no man can spoil us of and we are given up already whether to glorifie God in the Body or out of the Body so he is glorified we have our reward for what is our reward but this That we may see the Name of the Lord exalted and but that our Confidence is sure and our Faith and Patience stedfast that we shall behold the Glory of the Lord and his Kingdom and the overthrow of Sathan and Antichrist the Beast and the false Prophet our dayes would be sorrowful and our Life a Death and our Labour and Travels a Vexation and a Grief but our Faith is confirmed by many Witnesses that the Kingdoms of the World must become the Kingdoms of Christ and Mystery Babylon must fall in whom the Soul of the Righteous hath been slain and the Purpose of the Lord must certainly be effected and no man upon the Earth shall prevent it and this is our Faith and therefore our Travels Labours and Affliction are not grievous to us even because the Presence of the Lord is with us And as for me the Salutation of my dearest love is to all the Saints every-where even with that love wherewith I am beloved of the Father do I love all them that are begotten of him but unto you more especially my love is abounding amongst whom I am known in faithful Labour of the Gospel of Christ who never sought yours but you and I hope you have the Witness of me in your own hearts even as I have of you and that in the
Counties at divers Meetings and divers particular Friends he took his leave of them saying to very many That he did not know he should see their Faces any more exhorting them all to faithfulness and stedfastness in that wherein they had found rest for their Souls And said to some I am going up to the City of London again to lay down my LIFE for the GOSPEL and suffer amongst Friends in that Place as having some sence of his Suffering before And a little after his return to the City at a publick Meeting which the People of the Lord have kept these many Years to hear and speak of the things of God to Edification at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate by certain Souldiers under the Command of Richard Brown then General of the City of London he was violently plucked down and haled away in a barbarous manner and carried to the Guard and so committed to Newgate not for Evil-Doing but for testifying unto the Name of the Lord Jesus and for the Worship of God as though this were become a great Crime worthy of Bonds and at last Death He was had to the Sessions in the Old-Baily and his Accusers were Witnesses against him and them that had abused him violently their Testimony was received as good Proof against him And at last after two or three Sessions he was fined by the Court One Hundred Marks which at last was reduced to Twenty Marks and to lie in Prison while payment where he continued a pretty long season about Eight Moneths with Six or Seven Score Prisoners besides upon the same Account many being shut up among the Fellons in nasty Places and for want of Prison-room the Natures of many were suffocated and corrupted till at last many grew Weak Sickened and Dyed At last this same Young Man grew Weak and though a special Order from the King was sent to the then Sheriffs of London for the Release of him and the rest that were left in Prison yet such was the Emnity of some of the Rulers of the City that they did what in them lay to obstruct the Execution of the Order that he should not be released And so Weakness grew upon him daily though in much Patience he was carried through all In the time of his Weakness he was very fervent in Prayer and that often both Day and Night unto the Lord as concerning himself and also his People and at several times he spoke several precious words from the sensible feeling of God's Spirit in his Heart and said I have had the Testimony of the Lord's Love unto me from my Youth and my Heart hath been given up to do thy Will And he said I have preached the Gospel freely in this City and have often given up my Life for the Gospel's sake and now Lord rip open my Heart and see if it he not right before thee Another time he said when he had a little ease There is no Iniquity lies at my Door but the Presence of the Lord is with me and his Life I feel justifie me Another day afterwards he said Thou hast loved me when I was in the Womb and I have loved thee from my Cradle and from my Youth unto this day and have served thee faithfully in my Generation And he spoke to Friends that were about him To live in Love and Peace and love one another And at another time he said The Lord taketh the Righteous from the Evil to come And he prayed for his Enemies and for his Persecutors and said Lord forgive Richard Brown he may be forgiven And though the Distemper and the Disease was violently upon him yet he was preserved sensible And in the morning before he departed this life being sensible of his deaâ—h he said Now my Soul and Spirit is centred into its own Beeing with God and this form of person must return from whence it was taken And after a little season he gave up the Ghost and died a Prisoâ—er and shall be recorded and is in the Lambs Book of Life as a Martyr for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus for which onely he suffered and gave up his life whose death was pretious in the Eyes of the Lord. But now he ever liveth with God and his Work follow him and his Labours shall testifie of him in Generations to come and thousands beside my self can bear witness his Life and Death was to the praise honour and glory of the Grace of God unto whom be the glory of all his Works for ever Amen ANd oh thou City of London who hast been a professing City of the Name of God and Christianity so many years must it be said of thee as Christ said of Jerusalem that a Prophet cannot perish out of thee Oh how many Warnings hast thou had and how dost thou remain in obdurateness and impenitency Oh thou art not worthy of those Heavenly Tydings of Salvation which hath been proclaimed in the midst of thee these many years by this faithful Messenger of God deceased with many more who is taken away in judgment unto thee because many of thy Inhabitants despised and set at nought that in which the blessedness of all Nations consisteth Oh how is thy Gold become dim and how is thy glory stained How is thy Countenance marred How is all thy Profession became dead and like a withered Tree without Sap The Symptomes of death are upon thee Your Sun is set your Glory is passed away Night is coming and Darkness is surrounding you and you shall have enough of Darkness and your Paths and Ways shall be filled with it because you have hated the Light and would not have him who is the Light of the World to rule in your hearts but have chused Darkness rather then Light because your Deeds are evil and in the end thou shalt be made to see you have chosen lying Vanities and have taken Pleasure in the Flesh and have forsaken your own Mercies Repent repent if any can find a place while it is called to Day lest you be shut up in everlasting Darkness and Truth be hid from your Eyes for ever â—ake warning cease from Persecution and afflicting the Lord's People who desire to live quietly and peaceably and to worship God in Truth and Righteousness with a pure heart It is too too much that you have done already the suffering and death of many Innocent Righteous Men who have suffered these Winters past will lie as a load upon your City in Summers to come Remember what God did to Amaleck the first of the Nations and to Moab when Israel would have passed to their own Land and Countrey that God had promised them and have eaten their own Bread and Drank their Water and have passed on peaceably but they rose up and fell upon the Poor and upon the Hindmost and Weak God was Glad to Force his Way though it proved the ruin of Amaleck and the Misery of Moab We would glad walk on
thy Law and defends by thy unrighteous power thy power is limited and it shall be taken from thee and thou shalt be overcome and the Lamb shall get the victory and into the pit and lake of fire shall you be turned to have your resting place And thou false Prophet which hath deceived the Nations and scattered the Inhabitants thereof and builded by fraud and daubed with untempered morter thy Judgment is past upon thy head already and the Decree of our God is sealed against thee thy smoke shall ascend for ever and ever and of thy sin there is no forgiveness nor of thy torment no remission Over you do we and shall for ever rejoyce and sing and over your god and your King the Dragon that old Serpent cursed be he and his memorial for ever Ye Lambs of the true Shepherds fold with whom my soul resteth whether ever I behold you outwardly yet my heart is with you and I am one of your fold and I lye down with you under the shadow of the rock upon the Mountain which the beast cannot touch where we are safe from all our enemies and am to you wel known to be read in your hearts in the Record of the Lambs Book of Life and known only to the world by the name of EDWARD BURROUGH Written at Dublin City in Ireland To the Camp of the Lord in England Several Epistles to Friends in LONDON Written in the Year 1655. by E. B. Some of which were subscribed by F. H. who was Fellow-Labourer with him in the Work of the Lord. FRiends of God in the Truth whom the Lord is gathering as desolate Stones to build unto himself a Habitation whom the Lord is bringing back out of Captivity wherein you have been held under the Chains of Darkness in the Land of the shadow of Death the Lord is calling you and chusing you to place his Name in you and to spread forth his glory among you Therefore all dear Friends whose hearts the Lord hath touched by his Love and by his Power be faithful unto God who hath called you and look not out at any thing that is mortal to draw you from the Obedience of the Eternal Light of Jesus Christ which shines clearly in Darkness Resist not the Drawing of the Father but take up the Cross and abide in it daily that your wills may be crucified in which the ground of enmity lodges So all in your own conditions wait in the Fear of the Lord in singleness of heart and in simplicity of mind for the powerful Appearance of the Son of God to be revealed in you to destroy the works of the Devil for where he is not witnessed the works of the Devil stands and the nature of the earthly man in the fall All of you whose minds are turned home to within where the Pearl and the Lost Money is to be found dwell and walk in the pure Fear and Obedience to that of God which is made manifest in you and made known unto you and there will Peace flow in from the Presence of the Lord unto you and refreshment and strength to the Seed and the Pure will live and the Corrupt will die daily Beware every one that have put their hands to the Plow that you look not back at any thing which you have left behind in the World but press on in the strait Way which is the Light which gives no liberty to the fleshly man but which judges and condemns all that hates it and turns from it the Light is the Way that leads to Life and by it as you wait in it the Life will be made manifest which is immortal and your Redemption will be witnessed dwell in the Judgment and in the Burning that the Dross may be consumed and the Pure may be refined and the earthly carnal minds may be confounded and judged The Lord is near unto you wait for his powerful Presence in his own Light to see him and in it to comprehend all the World with all its Profession which leads not to God but keeps in the separation from God your Way is near walking in the Light you will see it and in the Light you will see all the paths and all the wayes of the Harlot which leads into the Chambers of Death look not out at words for that which feeds there is for the Famine but dwell in the Light joyning with the immortal Principle which receives nourishment from the Eternal Fountain which the World knows not nor comprehends as you grow in the Pure and in the Life so you are unknown to the World and your growth will appear by your obedience in the Cross of Christ so take off stumbling at the Cross for such hath no part in the Eternal Inheritance but walk in the Cross which is life to the New-man and death to the Old and so through Death Life is made manifest and the pure Life of God arising in all the World will be trampled upon and denied by you but such amongst you that chuseth the World wrath from God I declare against you and you who knows the way and casts off the Truth and for the love of that which is visible turns from the Truth you cannot escape the Damnation of Hell So all dear and tender hearts abide in the Counsel of God and let not the World overcome your minds but wait for a daily victory over it that so you may with the Saints possess the Eternal Riches and that in you which is carnal and corrupt may be overcome by that which is Eternal and Holy as you abide and walk in the Truth and grow up in the knowledge of the eternal God so our joy will be fulfilled in you and our rejoycing will be encreased by you therefore walk and live in that which God hath made manifest in you which is of himself and the eternal God of Life and Power prosper you and lead you up unto himself to dwell and walk in his Love for evermore Be not troubled at the rage of the World nor at Temptations but stand in the Will of God which hath been declared amongst you that you may all be established and guided by that which is not of this World but by the Principle of Life which is Eternal which judges all the fruits and grounds of Darkness Our love salutes you all who walk in the Truth and our prayers are for you that Life may spring up in you to praise the Lord for ever We are Servants unto you and unto all the Elect Seed of God every where for whose sakes we give our selves to be spent E. B. F. H. To Friends in London ALl Friends whose minds are turned to the Lord by that which is Pure which comes from him who is the Light of the World all mind it that with it your minds may be turned to him from whence it comes out of all the perishing things and out of all the visible to the invisible that so
who saith in your hearts you are the onely people but your lying hearts deceives you and you are found naked and without a covering All ye that desire after the way of the Lord of all sorts of people who are simple and honest hearted whether prophane or professor you have a day of visitation from the Lord yet stretched forth unto you Come ye unto the Lord and forsake all your lovers lay aside your evil hearts which hath led you aside from the way of salvation and now learn the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom and mind the one thing needful which is of great prize even the salvation of your souls press after and come out of the broad way of perdition wherein the world goes on to destruction and enter into the strait-way where the unclean walks not cease from all the deceitful wayes and worships of the world and love truth and walk in simplicity Cease from all your Idoll Temples for God dwells not in them but his Saints are his Temples wherein he dwells and walks cease from all your Idoll worships and feigned prayers and praises for God is not worshipped in vain traditions as in observing dayes and times and outward things but in Spirit and truth is he worshipped and such he seeks to worship him and a broken spirit and an upright heart is accepted with him Cease from all your Idol Shepherds and Priests of Baal that preaches for hire and divines for money and seeks for their gain from their quarter for they profit not the people at all who are ever learning while they live upon earth and none able to come to the knowledge of the truth therefore cease from man and wait upon the Lord who is now risen to teach his people by his Spirit in his way of truth and righteousness in his peace and purity where his blessing is received from his presence which is with all that fear him Therefore awake awake out of darkness and love not to slumber in the dark night which long hath ruled over you this is the day of your return and of your visitation wherein the Lord would gather you Therefore resist not the love of the Lord wherein he calls you to repentance from dead works to serve him in righteousness but every one turn your minds inward to the Light of Christ Jesus wherewith every one of you is lightned which light is it which convinceth you of sin and lets you see your evil deeds and whom you have served and how you have spent your time the Light shines in darkness and reveals unto you the secret intents of your dark hearts and doth secretly reprove the wicked purposes of your minds with this light in your consciences your sins are written and all that ever you have done is recorded and this light shall be the swift witness and the condemnation of the wicked in the day of the Lord and by it all your works will be brought to remembrance and your sins will be set in order before you to receive judgement by Christ Jesus And here is the free love and gift of God unto you who hath given you a light to guide you in his way if you own it and wait in it it will manifest the judgements of God against sin in you and will condemn sin in your flesh and will reveal the righteousness of God to be your covering if you dwell in the light it is your Teacher and way unto life eternal and if you bring all your deeds to it it will reprove every evil word and work and give you discerning of things that differ it will manifest the secretest deceit of your heart and winding of the Serpent and will be judge thereof till unrighteousness be taken away and a birth brought forth from above and born of another nature and Seed which if you be not born again you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God Therefore in the fear of the Lord all consider and search your selves in tender love to all your souls I write You must be judged in the flesh that you may be justified in the Spirit and you must be made poor and emptied of all your knowledge and wisdom that you may be filled and made truly wise So if you believe in Christ Jesus the Light and life of the world your hearts will be cleansed by the word of God which endures for ever and the Covenant of peace will be established with you where sin is no more remembred being condemned so â—ow you have all time this is to you all a warning as I was moved of the Lord. Repent the dreadfull day is at hand and meet the Lord by confessing and forsaking your sins and prepare the way of the Lord his coming draweth near lest his Judgments come upon you unawares and his Wrath sweep you away in fury and your Nation become more cursed then the rest all your applying of Christ's Righteousness whilst your selves are Sinners is to no purpose for no Hypocrite can enter into Life nor none that work wickedness have Eternal Life abiding in them but are in the death which hath passed over all men and the curse remaineth upon the Disobedient and all in the first nature are Children of wrath Therefore every one wait in the Light that you may be changed and take up the daily Cross of Christ that your own wills affections lusts and desires may be crucified and you may become dead to the World and may live unto God in his Nature and Likeness that your souls may be satisfied therewith and all that hunger and thirst after Righteousness shall be filled with the true Food Therefore wait all you that fear the Lord and meet together in his Counsel and wait for his Law that you may walk therein and lay aside the works of Darkness which are made manifest by the Light and also condemned in all that come to Sion Spend not your time in the vain deceits of the World nor follow noâ— the delights thereof for according to your works must you be judged in the day of the Lord. Depart from Iniquity and all the works of the Flesh Pride and Cotousness Lying Swearing and Double-dealing and all the fruits of unrighteousness let them be judged and let the time past be sufficient that you have wrought evil and now return and work Righteousness in God by the Light which all that love works in God And deceive not your selves with a deceitful covering of self-making and self-righteousness professing Scriptures in your carnal minds which was given forth by the Spirit and is not understood but by the same Spirit Whilst the first nature stands alive in you you cannot please God but are in the emnity against him Humble your selves and come down to the Light and search your hearts thereby Wo unto the Lofty and High-minded who will not be instructed but hatâ—â— reproof Wo is unto all Lyars and Swearers and Whoremongers and Vagabonds and prophane Persons
such cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 〈◊〉 enter to within the Gates of the City but are to be troden in the Wine-Press of the Wrath of God for ever and ever Therefore Awake awake ye Careless and Unbelieving and fear and tremble ye Children of disobedience who hate the Light and love your evil deed and upholds your false Prophets whom God never sent and will not own the Lord to be your Teacher the Light in your Conscience is your condemnation for this is the Condemnation of the World That Light is come and men hate it So be you warned all People the Day of the Lord is at hand and now he calls therefore hear his Voice and hearken to his Light which is of Christ which only is needful to Salvation and there is no other Name given for Salvation And if you will not hear and receive thiâ— Day of visitation which in love appears unto you you shall hear in the Day of visitation of Vengeance and behold the Lord comes quickly make straight his Path the Light is your Teacher if you love it and your condemnation if you hate it Written from London to go abroad in the Nation of Ireland as a visitation to all sorts of People and is the sealing of the Lords Testimony unto that Land 〈◊〉 moved of the Lord in love and pity to lost souls by E. B. An Information to the Heads and the Ground of the Law laid down to the Iudges and Iustices and to all that handle the Law in that Nation ALL ye Heads and Rulers and Judges and Counsellors and all you that â—it in Council together in the Seat of Justice and Judgement from whom the Law do go forth into the Nation and all you that handle the Law take heed to your selves for the Living God of power is Judge of you and over you all to you all I speak the Word of the Lord without respect to any of your persons but is a Lover and Respecter of Righteousness and true Judgment and Justice that I may stand clear of your blood for God hath laid it upon me to give you warning which if I do not your blood will be upon me and if this you refuse to hear and obey your blood be upon your selves for ever Christ Jesus is the Light of the World the true Light which lightneth every man that comes into the World and by which every one of you is lightned which Light if it you love and be guided by it will lead you out of the Worlds way and nature and unrighteousness and will give you an entrance into Etetnal Life and Peace and an assurance in Christ when this World ceases to be and in this World it will teach you how to serve God in Righteousness in your Generation and to give righteous Judgments and Councels among your Brethren without respect of Persons for the Law of Gods respects no mans Person nor Justice regards not the Person of the Mighty the Light of Christ Jesus in your Consciences and in all mens Consciences is just and one with Christ and one with the Law of God in its measure and condemneth the unjust and all works of wickedness who against it do act by which Light every one of you being guided your own Consciences in particular will be exercised towards God and towards men and by him you being ruled and judged will know how to rule and judge for him in the World among men who are required for God to rule and judge in righteousness and equity and none can rule for God but who are ruled by him with his Light that shines in the Conscience by which you being governed will by it govern in the Earth righteously You are not to judge for Gifts and Rewards for if you do you judge not for God but for your selves and you and your Judgment is to be judged and condemned with the righteous Law of God which is free but such who fear God and hate covetousness and gifts and rewards are to bear rule and such will handle the Law righteously and will be a terror to evil Doers who do not fear God but act contrary to the Light of Christ in their own Consciences and so transgress the just Law and brings themselves under the guilt and so under condemnation and such a Government will stand for the praise of them that do well and encouraging of the Upright but if such bear rule and handle the Law which know not God nor is not ruled by him these will abuse the Law and will be a terror to righteousness and good works and will strengthen the hands of Evil-doers and will let Vice and Wickedness escape unpunished This I speak in love to all your Souls to the informing of all your minds that you may know your place and how to exalt Justice and Judgment the Light of the Son of God by which every man is lighted is but one in all just righteous and equal the same in him that hates it and transgresseth the righteous Law as it is in him that loves it and judges all transgressions And this Light of Christ by which all men are lightned is the Seat of Justice and true Judgment and the Ground of all good wholsom Laws and every Law that is contrary to it is for condemnation by it Therefore I say wait in the Light by which you are lightned to receive the pure Law of God to judge all Causes by and make no Law in your own wills nor act not in such Laws made by the will of man for such Laws are oppression and tyranny lodges in them and false judgment and such God hath and will cast out who act from that ground So be ye warned by their fall and judge not after your own thoughts nor sensual carnal wisdom nor follow not your own wills nor the counsel of your own hearts but stand in God's Counsel and fear his Name and tremble at his Presence and wait to be guided by him in his holy Law which all unrighteous counsels and vain affections and false judgments will condemn in your own hearts and then you will truely know how to judge your Brethren in Equity and Righteousness how to reward well Doers and how to punish evil Doers according to the measure of their transgressions and according to the Light in their own Consciences by which they being convinced from your Law of the evil of their transgression will confess your Law and Judgment to be just and equal and you to be righteous Judges here you judge for God and bear not the Sword in vain but are a Terror to Transgressors and to the Disobedient and Lawless against which the Law was only added to slay unrighteousness but it was not made for the Righteous whose Consciences are exercised towards God and towards man by the pure Law of God written in the heart and upon such and over such your Law hath no power for they are one and in union with that
stand in the Fear of the Lord your Sword will be a terâ—… and dread to them that fear him not but live contrary to the Light in their own Consciences which Light if you love it is your Command to march by and your Rule to judge by and Weapon to fight withal and your chief Commission for duty And now you have all time take heed to your selves go not on in your course of evil nor take not your pleasure in unrighteousness but to thâ— Light in your Consciences take heed it is your Teacher to God if you love it or your Condemnation from God if you hate it And this is yoâ—â— Terms with the Lord prize the acceptance of his Love to your souls and the Day of your visitation lest you perish in your rebellion eternally Written in love to your souls Edw. Burrough Written in Ireland at Caterlough A Warning from the Lord to you the Natives of the Nation of Ireland who are made a Curse and a Prey to be destroyed of your Enemies REpent repent ye that remain from being devoured whose dayes are 〈◊〉 stretched forth that you may return to the Lord from whom you are grievously degenerated into filthiness and uncleanness being a cursed Brood and are become unhuman in your impudent shameless practices of ungodliness and are brazened in your filthiness and cannot blush when you have done evil the Plagues of God and his Wrath waits to consume you from off the face of the Earth you are shut up in blindness and covered with darkness which may be felt and you are as deaf Adders void of understanding and past feeling and given up to work all unrighteousness with delight counting it your glory to work wickedness having sold your selves to commit sin you have wholly slain Gods Witness and are become wilde and brutish as the Beasts of the Field and untamed as savage Colts the Indignation of God is against you who are as dead Trees and withered Branches and scorched Heaths not sensible of good nor evil but as wild Asses who neither fear God nor regard man To the Light in your Consciences wherewith Christ hath lightened you do I now speak Gods murdered Witness shall answer me by which you are inexcusable for with the Light you know Lying Swearing Stealing Murder Drunkenness and Whoredom are Sins and Transgressions the Light will let you see these abound among you by which you are reproved and eternally to be condemned if you do not repent of these your grievous abominations And if you love the Light and turn to it it will lead you out of sin and out of your vain foolish Traditions and Immitations and Sorceries and Witchcrafts which deceive your souls And this Light in your Consciences will change you into Soberness and Humanity and will lead you into the Way of Life and Salvation out of the way of Death and Hell wherein you walk to eternal misery Therefore prize your souls and the dreadful God fear and tremble before him ye prophane Wretches and cease from your filthy nasty poluted wayes of Idolatry Lying Swearing Stealing Drunkenness and such like God forbideth with the Light in your Consciences and he that doth these things shall eternally perish in condemnation for ever And this to you is a Warning in pity to your lost souls whose hearts are desperately wicked and set to do mischief the Vengeance of God is against you the Light in your Consciences shall witness me and justifie the Lord in the Day of recompence when every man receives according to his deeds the Righteous unto Life the Wicked unto eternal Wrath. Now you have time prize it the Light is your Teacher loving it and your Condemnation for ever hating it By one who suffers for the Seeds sake waiting for the building of destroyed Sion EDWARD BURRUGH A Trumpet of the Lord Sounded forth of SION Which gives a certain sound in the Ears of all Nations and is a true noise of a fearfull Earthquake at hand which shall shake the whole fabrick of the Earth and the Pillars of its standing shall fall and never more be set up again Or fearfull Voices of terrible Thunders uttered forth from the Throne to the astonishment of the Heathen in all the Quarters of the Earth who are not sealed in the forehead And is an Alarm and preparation for War against all Nations where Gog and Magog resideth And sheweth the wounding Sword of the Mighty God from whose blow the Kings nor the Captains nor the mighty men cannot flee to escape Declared and written by a Son of Thunder as a Warning to all the Inhabitants of the Earth where the great Image is standing or any part of it worshipped speedily to meet the Lord by Repentance that in the day of his fierce Wrath they may be hid With a Salutation to the Seed who are gathered into the Fold and with the Children of the King The Tongue that was dumb sings a joyfull Song of Sion in an unknown Language which none can understand save the Redeemed of the Lord. BY Order and Authority given unto me by the Spirit of the Living God King of Kings and Lord of Lords the One and thirtieth day of the tenth Moneth in the Year of the Worlds account 1655. about the fourth hour in the morning when my Meditations were 〈◊〉 my God upon my Bâ—d in Kilkenny City in the Nation of Ireland at that time the Word of the Lord came unto me from the Righteous Iudge of Heaven and Earth who was 〈◊〉 is and is to come who sitteth on the Throne of righteous Iudgement judging Nations and Kindreds and Tongues and Peoples equally saying Write my Controversie with all the Inhabitants of the Earth unto all sorts of People as I will shew thee By this same Authority and Commission declared this I send unto you the Tribes of the Earth and this upon your heads shall stand for ever to be witnessed by the Light of Christ Iesus in all your Consciences in the dreadfull day of Vengeance which upon you O Inhabitants of the Earth is coming Prepare prepare to meet the Lord O Nations Tongues and People unto you all hereby a Warning is come and a Visitation from the Presence of the Living God which you are straitly required to put in practise as at the terrible day of dreadful Vengeance you will answer the contrary Given under my hand and sealed by the Spirit of the Eternal God who livâ—â— for ever Through a Servant of the Lord. E. B. O Earth earth earth hear the word of the Lord and awake awake awake all ye Inhabitants thereof and give ear give ear unto the controversie which the Lord hath with you Noble and Ignoble listen unto the Word of the Lord men of high degree and men of low degree be not stout-hearted nor stop not your Ears for the Lord hath spoken People of all sorts and men of all conditions the Word of the Lord is towards you even from the Princes and Nobles that
faith whereby they may continue boldly witnessing to the end And this is a true Testimony of the Father and of the Son witnessed by us who are called of God in whom his Power is made manifest TO all the Children of Light every where who fear and love the Lord who are begotten of God and unto whom he is known in the Spirit and in the Truth this is a Testimony of the Fathers love unto you Grace Mercy and Peace from him that lives for ever the God of Light and Life be multiplied in you all that you may daily be renewed in strength and girded with Truth and armed with the whole Armour of God and may be kept by his Power until the day of Salvation to walk in the Government and subjection to Jesus Christ witnessing the Power and Presence of God in you and amongst you giving you power to fulfil his Will in all things and that in all righteousness and out of all evil you may be led and preserved unto the end and in the end to shew forth the praises of God in this Generation as a people called of him and redeemed by him for his great glories sake even so Amen and Amen Dearly beloved be not ignorant but this know This is the Message which came unto you which is true and faithfull and everlasting That the true God is Light and in him is no darkness at all and this is the Message of Peace and Reconciliation and of glad Tidings unto all that have sought the Lord which we received of him and you have heard and there is not another to be declared and all that have received it are gathered up to God and are in Covenant with him and one with another and are in that which reconcileth and joyneth unto Christ Jesus the Husband and second Adam who is the Lord from Heaven the Prince of Peace the Saviour and the Deliverer who is made manifest in power and condemneth the Transgressor and slayeth the Enmity and raiseth the Life out of death and this is he who kills and makes alive even the God who is Light who brings down one and sets up another who makes war against the mighty and gives peace to the pooâ— and besides him there is none he searcheth mans heart and trieth the reins and â—noâ— the thoughts and every Creature is manifest in his sight who gives to every one according to his doings and this is he who standeth in the Congregation of the Righteous even in the midst of us and sitteth Judge among the gods unto him must all the gods of the Earth bow and the Inhabitants of the Earth must tremble before him and unto him every Tongue shall confess and the Light in every man shall answer when he ariseth to Judgment who is a swift Witness to condemn or justifie all the children of men upon the face of the Earth This is the God of Truth whom we worship and who will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth who is the God of Abraham and his Seed for ever and with him there is no change nor shadow of turning and he hath made known his Name and his Power and his wonderful Works in this his Day and hath caused his Voice to be heard in the Earth and the Dead hath heard and now liveth And his Name is exalted on high amongst all that fear him and obey his Voice and he hath given his Son a Covenant of Light who lighteth every man that cometh into the World with the true Light of Life or Condemnation that all who receive him may come to the knowledge of the Father whom to know is Life eternal And this is the Christ the Saviour in whom we have believed and whom we preach who is the Way the Truth and the Life the Foundation of God which cannot be moved the Word of God is his Name and there is no other Name given for Salvation This is he who was dead and is alive and lives for evermore and there is no other to be looked for if any preach any other let them be accursed and if any bring any other Message let them not be received And all you who have believed in this Christ Jesus who is the Light of the World and who have received the knowledge of this God who is Light himself and that searcheth your hearts I exhort you and warn you all in his Presence that lives forever to wait upon him and to fear before him and to walk with him for ever in uprightness of heart which is of great price in his Sight and forget not his righteous Judgments which he hath made known least you wax fat through Mercies and rebel against him and become disobedient and gainsaying and so be destroyed from being a People but be stayed upon the Lord and let your hearts be established with Grace and be not tossed nor shaken with any wind of Doctrines of men which is not from the Life of God nor reacheth to the Life in you but begets into Idolatry to worship other gods then he who is Light and be not troubled at Temptations nor at Sufferings nor at Reproaches nor any other thing but stand in the Counsel of God and in his Long-suffering and wait patiently upon him in your own measure of the Grace of God received which is sufficient for you to preserve you that Victory over Death and over him that hath the power over it you may receive to trample upon all that which is contrary to the Life of God within you and without you neither be you troubled nor offended in Christ if any among you deny the Lord and backslide from his pure Way through an evil heart of unbelief and so become disobedient Children and vex the righteous Soul such shall bear their own burthen and condemnation in the day of the Lord and shall know that Truth changes not but is the same for ever though the Deceitful-hearted through unbelief depart from it and choose their own wayes and despise the Counsel of the Lord to their own destruction but be ye more watchful and faithful and valiant for the Truth upon Earth unto the end that you may be found faithful Witnesses unto the Name of the Lord in this crooked Generation and may receive the fulfilling of the Promise of God and may witness God within you the Emanuel the Saviour God with us and this is the whole Salvation and there is no other to be expected or witnessed then this That God dwells in us and walks in us according to his Promise and all that know this need nor go forth to the right hand or to the left but Salvation is come unto us he that taks away sin and saves from it and from condemnation and who witnesseth this are begotten by the Word of God and born of the immortal Seed and are new creatures but now there is no condemnation but the reward of righteousness and peace to us who are not in the Flesh but in
their Countries and Relations and wandred up and down the World from Town to Town and from one Country to another even as the Servants of the Lord do by the same Spirit at this day who can no more be truly judged for Vagabonds and Rogues c. than Christ and his Apostles could be who were a perfect example to us in these things For it is a lawful occasion in the Sight of God whatever you judge of it to travel up and down not being burthen some or chargeable to any to beat witness for the Name of the Lord and against all Sin and Iniquity that people may be reformed and instructed in the right way Therefore you must make a special distinction in your Judgement between such as are Rogues and idle and dissolute persons who are hurtful to the Creation and such as are innocent and harmless and not of evil behaviour though you may through prejudice otherwise judge of them this is to inform you herein that your Judgments may be according to God and not according to man neither with respect of persons Also you have another late Act for the Observation of the Lord's-Day wherein is inserted That none shall wilfully maliciously or of purpose disturb or disquiet the publick Preacher or to make any publick Disturbance in the Congregation Now the Law is good and it is right that all such be punished who do malitiously wilfully or of an evil purpose disturb or disquiet any man or people to the danger of breach of publick Peace and let all such be punished according to their desert But yet you must take heed in this cause for many of the Servants of the Lord are and may be moved by the Power of the Lord to come into a Congregation or an Assembly of People to declare against Sin and Iniquity and the Wayes of Wickedness in People or to ask a Question soberly of the Teacher or to instruct People to Edification in the Way of the Lord or such like may they do as they are moved â—nd yet not maliciously nor wilfully nor of wicked purpose for it was the Apostles Practice and the Practice of the Saints to go in the Synagogues and Meeting-places and to dispute with the Teachers on the Sabbath-days and sometimes they spoke to the people by way of Exhortation and the people bid them speak on and yet these were not Disturbers of the Assembly neither were they malicious men or wilful neither did they these things to any evil purpose and it was the Practise of the Saints that all may speak one by one in the Church when they were assembled together and this is the Practise of the Servants of the Lord now and yet they cannot justly be condemned by your Law though they come into your Assembly as they are moved of the Lord to object or reprove or exhort for they do it not in malice towards any but in love towards all and they can no more justly be condemned than the Apostles and Saints in the Primitive times who were unto us a just example in these Practises as you may read in the Scripture and you may as justly condemn them as us who are guided by the same spirit in the same things Therefore you have need to take heed of condemning the Innocent by a Law lest you bring innocent blood upon you and you must make a perfect difference between such as comes among you Wilfully and maliciously and on evil purpose to disturb and molest any man or Congregation and such who comes in the Name and Fear of the Lord who are moved of him contrary to their own wills anâ—â—h love to all people And in these causes you have need of discerning and sound judgement lest you condemn the guiltless and abuse your power and subvert the Law and so bring condemnation upon your selves And as you will answer it before the Lord in his dreadfull day cause not any to suffer through your envy and surmizings or false suspition through over-reaching the words of the Law to a wrong sense and to a wrong end Also it is inserted in the same Act against many evil things 〈◊〉 drinking in Taverns Inns Ale-houses Strong-water-houses or to Tipple unnecessarily or any other house c. and also against travelling and walking on that day vainly and prophanely c. Now the Law is good that evil exercise be prevented and prophaneness in every respect on that day and on every day and that such be punished that are found in any evil exercise whatsoever But yet you must take heed that none of the Innocent suffer hereby for many of the people of God may and do travel on that day to meet together to worship God and to wait upon him to find his presence and to receive of his refreshments to their souls But this cannot be judged an evil practise or prophane travelling or breach of the Sabbath For we read of a Sabbath-days Journey Acts 1. and 12. where some of the Servants of the Lord returned from Ierusalem to Mount Olivet which is a Sabbath-dayes Journey so that such who now travels to wait upon the Lord on that day though it be several Miles to and from the place of Meeting cannot justly be judged to be Sabbath-breakers no more than the Apostles who travelled a Sabbath-days Journey in obedience to the Lord to wait upon him So that you must take heed and make a noted distinction betwixt such who travel on a profane and an evil exercise or about the affairs of this World and such who travel on a good exercise to wait upon the Lord and to serve him For the Law it self excepts such from being taken up or judged Sabbath-breakers So take heed that you subvert not the Law and abuse your power through false judgement through your own envy and so you smite the guiltless and brings destruction upon your selves For herein we own the Law of God to walk by and the Apostles for an example though we may suffer unjustly by you Also there is a late Act for Discovering and Repressing of Popish Recusants by presenting to such as are Popish or Popishly affected an Oath as is therein described To renounce the Pope's Authority and to deny all his Doctrines and to testifie against the Authority of the Church of Rome and against any Licence given thereby to bear Arms or raise Tumults or by Violence to hurt the chief Magistrate or Government of these Nations c. And such as deny the taking of that Oath are to be adjudged Popish Recusants and to be proceeded against accordingly Now that Law is good That such who are adherent to the Pope and by his Authority would raise Armies and Tumults and offer Violence to the Hurt of the chief Magistrate or Government or people of these Nations c. as it is signified in the said Oath should be discovered and repressed But yet you must take heed and wait for sound Judgment in the Prosecution of the same For
Truth and turned from it and were unfaithfull to the Lord. FOrasmuch as in these our dayes the God of Truth hath made manifest his Name and Truth in the hearts of his people and hath gathered the minds of thousands into it to worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth in which he is accepted and of this Truth which is but one and there is not another are we made Witnesses and Ministers of and hath the Testimony in our selves that we are of God and are a good savour unto him in them that believe and in them that perish and we have the Testimony that he that is of God heareth us and we know the whole World lies in wickedness and who are in the Truth in the Light and in the Life have followship one with another in Holiness and Righteousness in that which comprehends the World and condemns all the works thereof which are evil and this Truth and Worship and Fellowship stands in Christ Jesus the second Adam whose Kingdom and Rule is not of this World but from Heaven who according to his Promise in his Counsel hath made known his Power to the raising up a righteous Branch a royal Priesthood a peculiar People zealous of his Name to shew forth his Praise and Glory in Justness and Righteousness in Love Mercy and Peace and works of Purity having our Conversation in Heaven and since that Day of the Manifestation of this Truth of the Gospel of Peace and Salvation which is the same now as was in the beginning which is in Christ Jesus the Light of the World who is the same to day yesterday and forever and changeth not I say since that very day hath the Lord prospered his Truth to the renewing of many into his Image and Likeness and to the turning of many from Darkness to Light and from Satans power to God by the Mouthes of his Ministers and through great Sufferings and Tribulations and Afflictions and Labours hath the Lord honoured his Name and his Truth in Nations and given it a praise among all that fear him and hath honoured it and exalted it in the sight of the Heathen to the confounding of the Wise and Mighty and to the bringing out of the Captivity of Darkness Sin and Death wherein in times past all have walked while Strangers from the Life of God so that thousands who have received the Truth are established in it and cannot be moved nor shaken but are built upon the sure Foundation their Faith standing in the Power of God with whom the Arm and Presence of the Lord God is defending and preserving continually and unto such the Truth is precious and the Way of the Lord and his Name and Honour is dear yea more then life or liberty or any other thing which passeth away who for the Truth 's sake as is it in Christ Jesus do daily give up themselves to suffering and to reproach for well-doing and not for evil and loves not life unto death that the Lord God and his Name and Truth may be honoured so that in the Truth which is received and learned of the Father daily do we walk in all Purity and Holiness of Life answering the Mercy and Love of the Lord in the exercise of a good Conscience both towards God and man in Patience and Long suffering and Wisdom towards all to the putting to silence of Gainsayers rendring love and mercy toward our Persecutors and are set in our hearts to fulfil the will of God in all things And now whereas that the Scriptures may be fulfilled some may and have denied the Truth which once was received and loved to the making shipwrack of Faith and of a good Conscience abusing the Mercy and Grace of God which to them appeared and follow the counsel of their own hearts and not the Lord having lost the feeling of the Spirit of the Father and are and may be separated from us in the self-separation through an evil heart of unbelief that it may be made manifest they are not of us though they arise from among us and may by disorderly walking contrary to the Truth cause the Truth to be evil spoken of giving occasion thereby to the Enemies of God to blaspheme his Name and Truth in the Earth and may be a stumbling to the weak and an offence to the Way of the Lord before the Simple through their Disorders and Confusions raising the rage of the wicked against the Lambs of Christ being not led in the Wisdom of God but in the Confusions taking liberty to their own hearts desire ful filling the will thereof without the Fear of God above the Cross of Christ in the nature uncrucified and speaking high Words in the presumption and not in the Light and Power of God and acting in the vanity of the Mind in the pretence of Truth and moving of the Spirit such things as Truth and the Children of it who are guided with the Spirit cannot justifie but is judged and denied and cast out from among the Children of Light who walk in the Truth and do try the Spirits whether they be of God Therefore in the Fear of the Lord God this is written to go abroad among Friends and others to inform and shew unto all that the Truth and we that are in it and Ministers of it do stand clear from all such who act and speak out of the Truth and contrary to it in the Disorder and Confusion and not in the Fear and Counsel of God and with the Truth such are judged and denied and fellowship with them we have not nor of their works do approve though such once owned us and were convinced of the Truth and received the Seed of the Kingdom into the unprofitable Ground yet being separated from us and gone out from the Truth and are not subject to it and its Government but are unruly and disorderly we and the Truth do such deny and the spirit that rules them being not the Spirit of Christ Jesus and such have done evil against their own Souls and against God and are Troublers of the Righteous Seed and have and do dishonour the Lord and his Truth in the sight of the Heathen causing the right way to be reviled and reproached and evil spoken of through the offence by them to the making sad the hearts of some whom God hath not made sad and even more especially in that they pretend to the Truth in their words but in works deny it and profess to be in it yet secretly condemning and openly reviling the Ministers of Righteousness which God hath blessed and doth daily bless with his eternal Power to the turning many unto God and to the strengthning of the weak and feeble which we with many others do witness to be the Ministers of Life and Reconciliation and there is no other and are established in it and cannot be moved by the temptations of the Devil though the wicked one may revile for a moment to
and sober Dealing may be amongst us and the Fear of God And to this we expect thy speedy Answer concerning Time and Place Edward Burroughs Samuel Fisher. The Propositions were writ as short as could be for to stop all Advantages against us that right be taken by our Adversary in case he had met us and agreed to dispute but upon enlargement in Discourse we might have laid open the truth of every on of these Particulars at large to the satisfaction of sober Minds that might have been doubtful hereof and sâ—ewed by the Scriptures the truth of all of them AN Epistle to Friends IN LONDON Dearly beloved Friends and Brethren WHom the Lord hath called with his Heavenly Call and made you Eye-Witnesses and Feeling-Witnesses of his Power and of his Truth my dear Love in the Lord falutes you all for the Lord's sake without respect of Persons and I Greet you with a holy Kiss Dearly Beloved I bare you witness That some of you have loved the Lord above all things and for his Truth the Glory of this World with its Vanities have been denyed by you and now I wish in the Lord the abounding and enlarging of the Love and Life of God in you and amongst you all And my Dear Friends In that the Lord hath blessed you in the Knowledge of the Truth and of his Wayes and called you to serve him and to live unto him and not unto your selves now this remains unto you all to be done by you even that you be Faithful and Careful in the Great Work of the Lord which he is doing amongst you and in the World at this day And first of all See that every one of you stand in God's Counsel and that ye do his Will in all things as the Lord maketh it manifest to you and watch over your own Hearts and keep your selves clear from the Evil of this World I am moved of the Lord to write to you in particular and to warn you in his Name who hath begotten you to himself That you be mighty careful and circumspect in all your wayes and that you walk as Patterns and Examples to all the tender Babes of God in the Flock and that by your wise Conversation and Faithfulness in the Truth the Weak may be strengthened and the Hungry may be filled and they that are of the World who thirst for the Lord may be won into the Truth My God knoweth and ye know also the Care and Burdens which I have had in that Place and seeing I am thus ordered of the Lord at this present I do beseech you all for the Truth 's sake That you unto whom God hath given Grace and Strength and Wisdom and Knowledge that you take the Care upon you to watch with the Flock and over them that are Weak And I say again You must be mighty careful in the Lord that you may walk in all things to his Glory so as there be no turnings back from the Truth by any nor no occasion given to the Heathen to Reproach Truth therefore not any Service of your own must you equal with the Lord's Service But at all times be armed with the Lords Armour to do and to suffer for the Truth And this seems Good unto me in the Fear of the Lord That you in particular do keep a Meeting among your selves once in Three Weeks or a Moneths time as ye see meet that in the Counsel of God you may consider of all things in relation to the Truth and that you may advise one with another in the Fear of the Lord of things amongst you that in good Order all things may be kept And if any Disorderly Persons who profess the Truth be known to any of you let it be presented to all and Two or Three of you as you are moved may in the Fear of the Lord and in his Wisdom reprove such Persons and Things by which in the least Truth is Dishonoured and if such resist Reproof then account them as out of the Body and the Life can have no Fellowship with such but first reprove Offences and Failings in Secret and in much Wisdom also lest you destroy the Righteous with the Wicked And I lay it upon you that you judge nothing but what is for Judgment and when any thing comes before you to be tryed or judged of be tender of the Simplicity and take heed of Rash Judgment and Forward Words be mighty considerate in the Fear of God that nothing be judged wholly in which there is any thing of God but dwell in that which doth discern and distinguish and separate the Precious from the Vile that you may divide Judgment a right in all Causes and the Pure may be Strengthened and the Deceit Confounded For such a thing may be and come to pass which cannot wholly be Justified nor altogether Condemned and in such things in Friends you had need be mighty careful that the Right Way may be spared and the Wicked cut off And if any of you be moved to Minister among the Flock let it be done in the Fear of God and in his Wisdom to the refreshing of the Weak and to the building up the Body and if you do it in the Power of God then you will be answered by the Witness of his Spirit in every one and you and they will feel an Increase from God And if any Minister amongst you with which the Spirit of the Lord hath not Fellowship but is an Offence to the Just bare such in Patience for a season and shew them in Meekness and Love their Fault that they may be restoed rather then cast out And if any amongst you be over-taken with a Fault and found faulty in the sight of the Lord in any Particular reprove and convert and instruct such privately in Meekness and if they rebel and resist then reprove them and let them be judged openly And charge all that in all things they keep to their own Measures of Christ and that they act nothing nor speak nothing without the Leading of his Spirit and that will bind under deceitful spirits And as for those Rebellious and Treacherous and Deceitful Lying spirits amongst you which may trouble you as they have formerly done to the great Dishonour of the Lord I wish they were cut off as for the Truth 's sake yet I exhort you to bear them with Patience and not to heed them nor be troubled at them but account of them as Disorderly and out of the Body and freâ— not in your selves because of the Wicked such things be but for a time but Truth is forever and they that walk therein their Fruits shall never wither And let Friends keep their private Meetings on the First-days with Diligence and none to run abroad without Foar but as they are moved of the Lord and then there will be a Service in it for the Lord and as any of you are moved be faithful to exhort Friends hereunto and with a
you know to sit as a Refiners Fire to purifie your Hearts that you may be fit Temples for him to dwell with who dwells with Holiness and the Unclean are cast out from his Presence and he is come amongst you to search you and try you and to discover his Foundation and the Wise in their own eyes shall stumble and fall and be broken and it s the Poor in spirit and Upright in heart whom the Lord hath chosen and with such will he dwell and now all must come to feel that which breaks down the high nature which ruled above the Seed of God the Ax must be laid to the Root of the cursed Tree which hath brought forth no Fruit to God but cumbered the Ground and that Trâ—e must be cut up in every one of you and cast into the Fire that the Plant of God's Renown may spring forth and bring forth Fruit Now every one must come to know the two Seeds in which the Election and Reprobation stands the one with all its Fruit must be â—ast out and Judgment from the Lord must pass upon it for that Seed hath long been fruitful in the World and flourished in the Earth its Frâ—â—â— hath been according to the Flesh which the Lord is now risen to blast with a Curse and all your earthly glory must wither and all your ioy and peace that stands in this Creation must pass away and all your own wisdom must be confounded for that receives not the Things of God but to it they are foolish ness it is only the Simple and Poor in Spirit that are taught of God and it is with the Meek and Humble that he dwells but who are high in their Minds and exalted above the Fear of God who follow their own wayes and thoughts such have no part in him but are cast out into Darkness and Darkness covers them from the Light and Knowledge of the Lord God they know not him to dwell in them nor to lead them nor to guide them neither doth his Spirit lead such into all Truth but they rebel against the Motions of the Spirit of God which checks them and reproves them for their evil Deeds but they hate the Light and love Darkness and bring forth the Fruits of Darkness which the Light reproveth for but because they are disobedient to it they cannot receive Power over their sins but Sin hath power over them and in this State there is no Peace nor Justification to them but Trouble and Condemnation from God Wherefore all ye People that fear God and love his Wayes be obedient to the Light which Christ hath lightened you withal which calls you out of Transgression and reproves you when you act against it and this is the Measure of the Spirit of God which is sent into the World to gather people to God from whence it comes this leads to Christ and will bring you to receive him to dwell in you and to cleanse you from all Unrighteousness and as you come to be made clean by the Word of God which is Quick and Powerful in all that believe which Word you must feel to cleanse and purifie you in your selves and to make you clean from all that which offends the Life of God and then you will receive the Testimony of Justification as you come to be quickened by God by the quickening Spirit by which every one must be quickened from Death which hath reigned over all to Life that it may reign in you and till this be known all Profession of the Scriptares avails nothing towards Life Eternal therefore feel in your selves Christ Jesus the Quickening Spirits that you may be made alive to God again And all you that are convinced with the Light be faithful therein through all Tryals and Sufferings which are to come upon you inwardly or outwardly for great Tryals and Sufferings without will come and great Judgments and Afflictions within will approach but through all these things be faithful and in them all be patient to the End that you may obtain Life Eternal which is the Reward of all the Faithful And dwell in the daily Cross of Christ in which the Power of God will be witnessed amongst you which will throw down that which hath ruled above the Seed of God that the Seed of God may come forth in which the Election stands which receives the Promise of God but Friends there must be a long and patient waiting under the Hand of the Lord and of the Operation of his Spirit before you come to witness the Election you must be faithful to that which calls you and take up the Cross to your own Wills Lusts and Desires and Affections which arise out of the earthly Part for that which is of the Flesh must be crucified as that which is of the Spirit comes to live for it is that which is born of the Spirit in you which is Heir of God's Kingdom and which must Inherit Eternal Life And so wait upon the Lord every one of you that his Fear may be in your Hearts and his Spirit in your inward Parts to lead you and to guide you in all his Wayes And meet together to hear what the Lord saith in you Hearken to his Voice that your Souls may live It is the Voice of God heard in the Creature which raises the Soul from Death And though you â—ear no word from Man yet his Voice may be heard in you if your Ear be turned to the Light with it your Hearts will be searched and your Wayes tryed and all your Words and Works approved or reproved and â—ere is your Teacher or your Condemner and this was I moved in tender 〈◊〉 to the Seed of God to write unto you Grace and Peace from God be â—â—ongst you all that fear him Amen A Friend to the Seed of God in you E. B. To all Friends in LONDON c. TO all the Flock of God in London even to all you that are of a clean Heart whose Minds are stayed upon God even to all that are Faithful and Sincere in the Sight of the Lord with my very Heart I wish Grace and Peace and Mercy from the God and Father of our Life unto you all thâ—â— are such without respect of Persons and such that are so I love with a perfect Love and am united to you in the Bonds of the Gospel and perfectly present with you in Spirit and who are such among you that truly fear the Lord and walk in his Way I cannot forget nor be separated from â—â—â—â—her can I be of such forgotten for are we not written in one anothers hearts yea I daily read such in the Book of Life and of such may I daily be read who know and have felt my Labours and Care and Travels amongst you which have been more then a little my God knows and ye are my Witnessâ—â— for many times the Lord hath made me as a Wall of Defence betwixt you and many Enemies
New Birth and â—ll such are out of the right way in the way of Error if they have the Form of Godliness but want the Power though they may have Mass or say Common-prayer once a week oâ— oftner yet all this is but Abomination and Deceit whilst they practise Iniquity Hatred Back-biting Lying Drunkenness and the like they that act these things the Plagues of God will be their portion and Misery their end and their Profession in Religion will not save them The Day of the Lord is at hand ye Hypocrites ye false Christians ye â—â—at profess God with your Lips and your Hearts are far away Therefore repent ye and treâ—ble before the Lord lest hâ— smite you with Vengeance and forsake your false Religions both your Mass and your Iâ—…s of Prayer and be not Idolaters in professing love in your mouthes and honour with your Lips wâ—ilst your hearts are departed from the living 〈◊〉 and now come to learn the true Religion Depart from all Iniquity and do not Lye nor Swear nor be Drunk nor Steal nor Murder nor Envy but love the Lord with all your hearts and your Neighbour as your selves And this is the true Religion in which man may be saved and live in Soberness Meekness and â—â—nesttâ—y and speak every man Truth to his Neighbour and live in love 〈◊〉 with another and be kind and gentle and bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit of God Cease to do evil and learn to do well and depart form all â—â—iquity and follow after Righteousness This is true Religion and in it â—ou may â—e saved this is the right way all that walk in it shall have Peace and Blessing from God and all that walk contrary Damnation is their portion Therefore you Papists and Protestants so called turn from your Hypocrisie and learn this way and cease from your false worships that are after the Forms and Traditions of men and not after the Spirit of God and learn to worship God in the Spirit that you may be saved You have a Light from Christ in your Consciences which lets you see what sins ye are guilty of and it reproves you for your sin If you believe in the Light and walk in it that is the right way then you will deny what is evil and follow what is good in your Conversations but if you follow what is evil and act contrary to the Light in your Consciences and repent not Vengeance in flames of fire will be youâ— portion This is the day of your Visitation the Army of the Lamb is gone forth and the Sword of the Spirit is drawn amongst them that will wound your Consciences and God will smite you with the words of his mouth ye Rocks and Hills and Bryars and Thorns and fruitless Trees the God of Heaven will hew you to pieces and pluck you up and cast you into the fire to be consumed Repent for the Day of the Lord is at hand By one that seeks the Good of all men E. B. A VINDICATION OF The People of God CALLED QUAKERS Directed Unto Roger Boyle Called Earl of Orrery Charles Coote Called Earl of Mountrath Theophilus Iones Called Sir Theophilus Iones Being an Answer to a Book dedicated to them by one George Pressick of Dublin In which Book many Lyes and Calumnies are presented against the Innocent People of God And this is for the clearing of the Truth that no Lye may rest upon it And for the Satisfaction of all Sober People in Ireland and elsewhere With a Word of Good Advice to the Chief Governours there THere is Irreconcileable Ennity between the two Seeds to wit the Seed of God and the Seed of the Serpent and these two are alwayes opposite and contrary one to the other in Nature Fruits and Effects and the seed of the Serpent is alwayes persecuting the Seed of God in every Age and Generation and they in whom the seed of the Serpent is living and ruling are alwayes projecting and contriving mischief and hatred against the People and â—â—â—vants of the Lord in whom the Seed of God liveth and reigneth as it is written He that is born of the Flesh persecutes him that is born after the Spirit Thus it hath been in all Generations and thus it is at this day Great is the â—â—â—â—sition that is made by many in Lyes and Slanders in Reviling and Reâ—…hing in Imprisoning and Persecuting and in all manner of evil works 〈◊〉 words against the innocent People of God called Quakers How have the hands of ungodly men been lifted up to smite that People by many kinds of abuses and how have their Tonges been set on fire to reproach and revile and slander in all kind of evil-speaking and all this for Righteousness-sake and not for any evil doing For who is the man and where is he that can justly charge Evil upon that People either in Doctrine Faith or Practice or in any â—â—ing relating to their Religion to God-wards or in relation to their Conversations and walking towards men It is true we have not wanted Accusers to every Authority but such and such things have been falsly charged against us and that to every Power that hath been since we were a People under whom we have been a suffering People even from all that ever have sitten in the Throne since the Lord raised us up to bear Witness of his glorious Name and Truth in the World Now the present occasion of this my present work is Forasmuch as we now stand accused of great and heinous Crimes in the view of this whole Kingdom of Ireland and more particularly before you three in a Book called A brief Relation of some remarkable Passages of the Anabaptists in Germany c. published by one George Pressick of Dublin and dedicated in a special manner to you that his Work may pass with the greater Credit and his Slanders and Calumnies be received for undoubted Truths Now that the Innocency of the Upright may be cleared and that no Lye may rest upon the Truth nor that you neither any others may receive Falshoods for Verities because of our silence therefore it is that the Lord hath put it into my Heart to defend the Cause of God and his People by returning plain and sober Answer to the principal part of his Book wherein we are concerned and falsly Charged and for the end that the false Accuser may be reproved and his Calumnies returned into his own evil and malicious Heart from whence they came and that you and all men may be truly informed and prevented if possible of being seduced into the belief of Falshoods lest that your Hearts and Hands should be stirred up to act or do in your Authority against the People whom God hath blessed and from the ground and cause of Mis-informations and false Accusations without better Testimony which would be a way to destroy your selves and to bring the unjust Sufferings of the Lord's People upon your own Heads which would draw
Scriptures and this is true Christianity and the other is the way of all Apostate Christians all Imitations from the Letter without the Spirit as gave it forth for there is a great deal of difference between making a Conformity in the Imitation of a Worship and Church-Government from the Scriptures without the Spirit and between the Spirits teaching and leading into the same Truth and same Worship and Church-Government which the Scriptures speak of the one is of Christ and is in unity peace and everlasting fellowship the other is of Antichrist and is in division strife and contention so you must all wait for the Spirit of Truth that you may receive it to work in your hearts to teach you and lead you or else you will never come to true Union and everlasting Fellowship with God and one with another neither can you be of one true Faith in one true way of Worship nor in one way of Church-Government except you receive the Spirit and walk in the Spirit And these be the words of the Lord God unto you all Now as concerning the Way of Uniformity in Faith and Church-Government imposed upon Nations and Countries and Cities by cruel Laws of Kings and Rulers as hath been the practice through Christendom to cause a whole Nation and Kingdom to bow and conform to such Principles of Faith and Worship and Church-Government according to the Will and Pleasure of a King or a Ruler such Uniformity and Union and Fellowship among Christians hath not been of Christ where people have walked by Imitation and conformed to the Commands of Men in such a Faith or to such a Worship or Church-Government this hath not been of God neither could this Unity stand or remain forever but it hath perished and will perish where-ever it is and that Faith and Worship and Church-Government which is so set up and so held will never save the Soul nor comfort it but it is blasted of God Whilst a Nation or a Kingdom or a People have Uniformity or hold Faith Worship or Religion either in the ignorance of their Consciences or contrary to their Consciences by the force of mens commandments and not by the perswasion of the Spirit of God in their own Consciences such Conformity I say is of Antichrist not of the Father neither can it stand in the Day of the Lord but the Fire of his Wrath will consume it All the apostate Christians in their uniformity of Faith Worship and Church-Government which is some other way or by some other means than only by the Spirit of God is of Antichrist and will be confounded for there is no true Unity and Fellowship in the ways of God and his Truth and Worship but what is in the spirit and that Unity will stand forever for it is in God not feigned neither because of the Love and Fear of this World as the other is That Uniformity in Faith and Worship which is forced upon people is all but Hypocrisie and Deceit both to God and man and God will judge it in the Imposers and Imposed Therefore no true Unity in Faith nor Worship nor in Religion but what is in and by the Spirit of God for as Christians come to divide themselves into many Ways and into divers Sects when they went from the Spirit of God and lost it and whilst they have been without the Spirit they have remained in Division Strife and Contention about Religion so now the means and way to come into Union and Fellowship and Faith is by receiving the Spirit of God again and not any otherwise and as Christians are brought again to receive this Spirit and walk therein all Division and Strife about Religion will cease and the cursed Fruits Effects thereof will also wither and be no more but then Unity Peace Blessedness Everlasting Fellowship and Comfort with the Lord and one with another in all his Wayes will be witnessed amongst all People By a Servant of Truth E. B. The FIFTH GENERAL EPISTLE Being A Tender Salutation OF PERFECT LOVE Unto the Elect of God the Royal Seed the Saints of the Most High who have Believed the Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ and Walk in the Light that hath enlightened every man that comes into the World IN the Name and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ blessed forever the Tender Salutation of my Immortal Life is daily abounding towards you who are the true Flock of the Father's Love and Care who hath begotten you to himself by his Word that lives forever in us and with us that ye should be a People Chosen and Elected of him unto Eternal Blessings and to be a Praise and an Honour to him throughout the World by and through the vertue of his Life and Power and in the Fruits of his Spirit brought forth by you all who are the only Children of that Birth which is only the Lord's Well Dearly Beloved My Heart at this time is filled in the Father's Love with the dear Remembrance of you whom the Lord hath gathered with his Arm of Power and in his Spirit do I desire the encrease of all Mercies and Peace and Blessings unto you that you may be Rich and Strong and Wise and Mighty through the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving daily of his Grace may ever be preserved constant and faithful in the Heavenly Calling unto the End And forasmuch as the Lord hath began his Glorious Work in the midst of you and gathered you out of the Darkness and Ignorance and Unbelief of this World where some time your Converse hath been while ye knew not the Lord and raised you up into the Light and Power and Wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ having largely tasted of the same in the Experience of his Leadings through divers Operations and Manifestations of his Spirit so that many of you have attained to a good measure of Peace and Rest with the Lord in your inward Man Dearly Beloved seeing it is thus these things the Spirit of the Father in me travelleth to bring forth unto you for the End to Comfort you and to Confirm you and to Edifie you in the saving Truths of the Gospel of Peace 1. Consider what your former Estate hath been an Estate scattered like Sheep without a Shepherd some of you dispersed into one false kind of Profession of Religion and some into another walking in such Wayes as the Lord led you not in but ye were Driven from God into the pathes of Death and Darkness and were led by blind Watch-men in the Hypocrisie and false pretences towards God Honouring Him with the Lips while the Heart was far away this was the Condition of some of you and others of you were wallowing in the open Prophaneness of the Sinful World and such was your Estate wherein you were all Strangers to God and were without him in the World and served the spirit which leadeth Captive to Destruction and in that Way you were strayed even in the
found or whensoever you see him or meet with him or if such a one be amongst you or pass by you let him be suspected taken deemed and judged for a false Prophet and Deceiver without respect of his Name and Title in his Profession of Religion Again Christ Jesus prophesied and said That Deceivers and false Prophets should come who should have the Sheep's-Clothing but inwardly Ravening Wolves And John said The false Prophets were already come into the World in his dayes even the false Prophets and Antichrist whom Christ said should come and the False Prophets and Deceivers that Christ said should come John saw were come into the World in his dayes Now who is it and where are they that are Wolves in Sheeps cloathing that are those Antichrists that Christ said should come and Iohn said were come Even such are they that have the Outside viz. Christ's words and the Apostles words and the Saints practices they have the Sheep's clothing but inwardly are the Wolves in the evil nature and their evil nature is covered with the Saints words and practices and such are the Wolves in Sheep's clothing that have the outside of the Sheep but want the Nature of Christ and are in the contrary nature And to all people that are upon the Earth I do appeal and ask where are they that are such now and who are they whether they be Papists or Protestants or whomsoever else that are such that have the outside the sheeps cloathing but inwardly are wolves of a devouring nature such are they that Christ said should come and Iohn saw was come And such are Ministers of Antichrist whosoever they are and such are in the World and have over-spread it since the Apostles dayes and whole Christendom hath been deceived by such Wolves in Sheeps clothing even by such as have got the Outside the Saints words and Practices but wanted the Life and have been in the Evil Nature and not in the Nature of CHRIST JESUS And such now in this Age are to be taken judged and deemed false Prophets and Deceivers Wolves in Sheeps cloathing and Ministers of Antichrist E. B. TO THE Friends of Truth In and about LONDON DEarly and well-beloved in Christ our Life and Glory The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and at this time quickeneth my heart into the lively remembrance of you all herewith sending the hearty and fervent Salutation of my dear and perfect Love unto all the Faithfull amongst you for the Fathers Love filleth my heart and hath raised up my spirit into an holy frame and temper of gladness and rejoycing of great joy and comfort in the remembrance and feeling sence of what the Lord hath wrought and made manifest among his People and the fulness of his Love and rejoycing floweth out in praising and magnifying the Lord our God for evermore Oh what hath the Lord wrought for us in our day How hath his out-stretched Arm been made bare again and again for our Salvation and Deliverance How many have his Mercies been and how numberless have his Lovingkindnesses been shewed to us How hath his power and wisdom been discovered amongst his People by which we are quickned and revived into the Life of Righteousness and Peace to be Servants and Heirs of the Everlasting Father the Lord of Heaven and Earth being called by him out of Darkness into his marvellous Light And how glorious is the Light that hath appeared upon our Tabernacle and shined in our hearts and that hath led us in the Way of Peace and taught us in the Path of Righteousness Thus and much more hath the hand of the Lord wrought for us having raised us up to be a Poeple that in times past were not a people but now he hath formed us for himself and created us for his praise having gathered us as a Shepherd doth his Flock from our strayed estate in which we were strangers and afar off inhabiting in death and darkness but now raised up to sit together in heavenly places and to feed in the fat pastures of his fulness that filleth all in all This hath been effected by the Hand and Power of the most High who hath also preserved us unto this day through many tryals and tribulations and again and again when our enemies have risen up against us to destroy us even then hath the Lord been our defence and confounded our Persecutors so that we yet live blessed be the Name of the Lord the remembrance of which infinite tender Mercies from the Father that we have received have a Heavenly influence upon my heart at this time which causeth me to say What manner of Love is this Oh the hight and depth and infiniteness of the same the Beauty thereof hath ravished my heart the Strength thereof hath overcome me and the Vertue thereof hath overcome me and the Vertue thereof hath filled my Soul And this is the present frame of my spirit full of Love and Good-will to the Lord God and to all his Saints and particularly unto you unto whom my spirit desireth in the Lord the increase of Peace and Mercies and Blessings and all Heavenly Vertue unto you all for I am under particular Engagements unto you more then unto many 1. Because my labour and service in the work of the Gospel hath been more amongst you then amongst others even for divers years have I been conversant among you in the administration of the gift of the Gospel by dispensing the Word of Life to the Converting of some and to the Strengthning and Confirming of others in the way of the Lord. And let the Just God bear witness of that faithfulness and integrity and sincerity of heart in which he hath carried me amongst you while many precious dayes I have passed away with you and have not sought yours but you nor do I desire ought concerning you but your Faithfulness to the Lord and your growth and establishment in the Wisdom of Christ Jesus and that blessings and Peace may ever rest with you And seeing it is thus that some of my precious years in the service of God have been spent amongst you therefore is my heart and spirit engaged to you-wards even while I live to advise you and exhort you and to pray for you that you may be sound in the Faith and established in the Truth and Confirmed in the Possession that never fades away 2. In respect of that place of your outward Residence that great City I mean where Satans Seat is and where wickedness abounds and many temptations and provocations which may attempt to draw you from the Lord I do know the dangers are many which may easily be met withall in that place There is both the love glory and excellency of this World near unto you and also the terrours threats losses and persecutions of this evil World even dwelling with you all which may work upon some many fears and doubts and begat temptations to the denying of the Lord and
The MEMORABLE WORKS Of a SON of THUNDER AND CONSOLATION Namely That True Prophet and Faithful Servant of God and Sufferer for the Testimony of JESUS Edward Burroughs Who Dyed a Prisoner for the WORD of GOD in the City of LONDON the Fourteenth of the Twelfth Moneth 1662. The Righteous shall be had in Everlasting Remembrance Psa. 112. 6. And they that be Wise shall shine as the Firmament and they that turn many to Righteousness as the Stars forever and ever Dan. 12. 3. In the sight of the Unwise they seemed to dye and their Departure was taken for Misery and their going from us to be utter Destruction but they are in Peace For though they be Punished in the sight of Men yet is their Hope full of Immortality Wisd. 3. 2 3 4 5. 5. 4 5. Being Dead yet speaketh Heb. 11. 4. Printed and Published for the good and benefit of Generations to come in the Year 1672. THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY To the People of God In Derision called QUAKERS The Publisher of this Volumn wisheth all Peace and Prosperity in the Lord. Dear Friends I Having had much Exercise and care upon me in Collecting and for the Publishing these Books in this Volumn at length after much Travel Diligence for the effecting this Impression they are through the Assistance and Providence of God as I may well say brought forth and finished for you and your Children and such as are moderate and well-affected who shall desire any of them The reason why this Work hath been so long unfinished was partly the difficulty of Printing and partly it being also thus voluminous and weighty and partly since I began the Printing of this many other things of Truth 's Concernment intervened which required expedition in the publication howbeit this Work hath long lain as a matter of weight upon my spirit to use my utmost endeavours for its accomplishment and greater desires thereof could not be in any of you then in my own particular I having Travelled both to answer and serve Truth as also the desires of many Friends herein whom also I have been willing and desirous to serve in that true Love which stands in the Life and Truth of our God who requires faithfulness of us all that we may remain living Witnesses in our several Places this short time of our Pilgrimage and in the end lay down our Heads in Peace and Assurance of a Crown of Life and Glory as our Everlasting Reward for this is the End that crowns all The Diligence and Works of the Faithful And I having been an Eye and Ear Witness of the Faithfulness Valour and Courage of this Faithful Servant and Prophet of the Lord E. B. in his powerful Testimony and effectual Ministry which the Lord did bless with a very Glorious Success unto me and many more have found my self the more oblieged for the divulging of these his Works which though many of them were given forth in the time of his Youth soon after the Lord first raised him up and when the discovery of Truth was in its infancy both New Strange and a Wonderment to many in our Age it being after such a long time of Darkness and Night of Apostacy yet the Power of the Lord which then broke forth was very Mighty both in him and his dear Companion in the Gospel Fr. Howgill who were sent in the beginning amongst us in this City of London where though they met with much Opposition and Gain-saying by perverse spirits and formal Professors of all sorts who denied and resisted the Power of Codliness yet the Lord so accompained these his two faithful Servants and Ministers of Righteousness as to the confounding the wisdom of the Wise and stoping the Mouthes of many contentious Opposers and convincing of Gain-sayers yea the Lord did manifest and perfect his Strength through Weakness even through Instruments dispised and coutemptable in the Eyes of the Proud and Exalted of the World out of the Mouthes of Babes did the Lord ordain Strength and through Simplicity did his wisdom speak both in this his faithful Witness E. B. and divers other in the beginning So that let none contemn the honest Plainness and harmless Simplicity of any of his first Writtings or Books here inserted for many are living Witnesses that the Power and Wisdom of God did then even while he was young and tender every way appear and shew it self in him through such plainness and Simplicity to the confounding and overturning the wisdom of many that were high and lofty who conceited themselves wise with their opposition of science falsly so called And it may not be unnecessary for Friends and their Children to read and peruse these Testimonies Informations and Vindication of Truth where they are in way of Controversie with many others of like nature given forth by the Servants of the Lord in Truth 's Vindication the Perusal and Reading thereof may be of Service both to you and yours you being in the Light and Inspiration of the Almighty which gives Understanding from which all Scriptures or Writings that are given are profitable to the Man of God for his Accommodation and ought not to be slighted whether they be in plain Testimonies or in Vindications and Answers For though many are come to a particular Satisfaction in the true Light which is the Rule of the Understanding and know so much of Christ as to die for him yet cannot so well dispute for him though that be necessary and few given up and accomplished for that Service therefore there may be need for more to apply their hearts to Wisdom as to be furnished in every respect to stand up for the Truth against its Opposers to convince Gain-sayers and stop the Mouth of Iniquity where ever it opens it self against the Righteous to pervert the right Wayes of God and his Truth since the Labours and Works of this valiant Souldier of Christ are here manifest to your view and to continue on Record as permanent Monuments of his Service for the Lord and as Tokens of God's Love to many it being also apparently manifest how plainly and eminently many of his Prophesies came to pass and were fulfilled upon the Heads of the persecuting Powers Rulers and Government of O. C. and others of that Affinity who trod in the same Path who resisted God's Power in not removing Oppression from off the Innocent It is not my place much to endeavour B's applause in many words because I cannot add to him or what he hath done thereby nor yet to his Faithfull Companion Francis Howgill or his Works which many do also desire might be Collected and Published as these are for indeed he also wrote many weighty things and of much Service to the Truth which would be a very conderable Volmun that will require both much Care Charge and Industry to publish in Print and therefore it would be of much Service to Truth if Friends would so consider the
grow exceedingly in Strength Wisdom and Number and the hearts of the people enclined unto us and the Witness of God in many stired for us for to that in all Consciences in our words and sufferings and wayes we did commend our selves to be known and approved And in the beginning we were but few in number onely a few that thus were carried on and dealt withall and that had received the Power from on high in such a measure and for such a work and no sooner did the Lord appear to us and with us but the Devil and his power rose up against us to destroy us and it wrought in Rulers Priests and People and all the wayes and means invented by the Devil that could be executed by his Servants were brought sorth to quench the work of the Lord and to stop our passage in what we were called to did ye but perfectly know as we perfectly found the craftiness and policy and wickedness of the Devil how to overcome this new born Babe and how to root out forever this Plant that was newly sprung sorth it would make you admire and wonder with admiration all the Priests and Rules were in an uproar the Priests they petitioned to the Magistrates and run up and down from one Sessions and Judicatory to another and took wicked Oaths and slandered the Just with Lies and Reproaches on purpose to incense all people against us and the Magistrates gave forth Warrants for the apprehending of some and made their orders to break our Meetings and that we should not meet in the Night season and such men might not pass abroad and such stir and Opposition was made against us it can hardly be expressed or declared there were uproars in Steeple-houses and uproars in Markets and often haling before Magistrates and abused and threatned and slandred and all manner of evil done and spoken against us and great injustice cruelty and Oppression acted against us where ever we came and all through the means of the Priests who spared not to enact and conceive Mischief against us and sought daily to the Magistrates for Persecution preaching in their Pulpits and praying against us setting days apart to seek their God against us crying without ceasing in publick and private Heresie Heresie Error and Blasphemy and that we were Deceivers Witches and Seducers and such like the worst they could say and imagine to stir up the hearts of people against us and running often to the Assize and Sessions and Courts to complain and inform upon false Oathes against us and through them were the whole Countries in a Rage and Madness Rulers and People often Imprisoning and abusing and resisting us with Violence banishing us out of Towns and putting of us out of our Inns and often threatning To burn the Houses over our Heads the whole Company of Rude People in a Town often gathering and besetting a House or Inn about where we were entred to lodge in our Travels We were often exposed to difficult and hard Travels and Journeys giving our selves to the Cross to take it up against all Earthly often drinking Water and lying in Straw in Barnes after a hard dayes Journey and yet for all these things the Power and Presence of the Lord was with us and we were carried on with much Boldness and Faithfulness in Courage and without Fear or Doubtings through the often hazzard of our lives many wayes in Uproars by evil men and in Markets and Steeple-houses and also in Ttavels by Robbers and every way were we exposed to Dangers and Perils but through all and over all were we carried and are preserved to this day And after this manner it came to pass concerning us and much more might be said but this is in short declar'd how we were entreated and dealt withal by Priests Rulers and People through all the Northern Counties of England in our first going forth through which Counties we first journeyed out of Westmoreland through Cumberland Northumberland and into some parts of Scotland and Durham Yorkshire Lancashire Cheshire c. and in all these Counties much Opposition we had and exceeding Sufferings and cruel Dealings from men of all sorts every Goal may witness in every County how any of them seldom were without some of us or our Friends imprison'd in them this six Years and scarce one Steeple-house or Market in all these Counties but may witness what Beatings what Bruisings Strikings and Halings Abusings and Perils we have suffer'd and sustained and not one Priest in all those Counties can clear himself from Hatred and Malice and from envying of us and doing Mischief in Words and Works or Thoughts or Desires against us nor scarce one Justice nor any Officer of the Peace can be excused in all them Counties from plotting acting Injustice upon us and threatning cnacting Cruelty against us And I call Heaven and Earth to record and the Light in every mans Conscience and do appeal to that in all sorts and places of people That by all sorts of people we suffer'd Evil and unjust Works and Actions and Words from them and let the Witness of God in all mens Consciences in all the North give Testimony what Dealings and Cruelty we suffer'd and how we have been dealt withal and also of our Patience and Innocency under all what they have done to us But notwithstanding all what was acted against us and spoken many hundreds of the Honest and Sober People owned us and also many Rude and Ungodly Persons were converted to the Truth I say many hundreds in all these Counties in two years time were brought to the knowledge of the Lord and to own us all which time we laboured and travelled in Patience giving up our selves to live or to die and to all manner of Sufferings and Reproaches and hard Trials that we might fulfil faithfully what we were called unto Sufferings without from open Enemies and from our own Kindred and Relations and Sufferings within for the Seeds sake and we are well acquainted with griefs yet in all our Tryals and Afflictions the Lord never forsook us but his Wisdom Love and Life and Presence increased in us and with us Then in the Year 1654 as moved of the Lord we spread our selves South-ward and entred into these South Parts and came the first of us into this City of London in the fift moneth that year and laboured in the Work of the Gospel in continual Sufferings and Oppressions divers wayes and were oppressed and gainsaid by the wise Men and by the Learned and had in reproach and contempt by all the High and Lofty and Proud Professors and we were set at nought and rejected by the fat Beasts of the South and it is well known to thousands in this City and South-Country what opposition we have had from all sorts of People opposed in our own Meetings and scorned and slandered by envious and reproachfull Tongues publickly and privately encountered withall by the Wisest of
whom her rule was great like as a stately Queen For Ages by-past its now seen She hath her Whoredoms plaid And Kingdoms have bewitched been And have her power obey'd But now it s seen she shan't deceive Her Witchcrafts they are known And men no more will her believe her Misery is shown And now the wofull Bed I see of Torments great prepar'd Whereon she shortly cast must be and Plagues must not be spar'd But wo to her the wrathfull Cup is fill'd she others gave She must it now her self drink up the same she now must have And drink she must and that full deep of God's fierce Indignation And then shall all her Lovers Weep and make great Lamentation The City also I have seen which once was great and fair Destroy'd and soon laid waste hath been her Merchants did dispair Who by her got great gain and trade to make them rich withall And trafficks from far she had but now lament they shall For Fire in her is kindled bright which must her all consume And up to Heaven day and night ascendeth up her fume And Antichrist who ravened from Truth within the Light Was with Sheeps Clothing covered and rul'd Kings by his might Who had laid waste God's Heritage and had a Kingdom great The Saints against him war did wage and Truth gave him defeat Behold the Whore's Flesh burnt I've seen her beauty doth now fall All Harlots Mother she hath been her Daughters are Whores all Behold the City great and fair she 's fallen to the ground By which Nations inriched were in her no profits found Behold the Antichrist once great his Kingdom 's near laid waste The Lord will bring him from his Seat the day comes on in haste Christ's Kingdom 's coming on with speed the Lord alone will reign He will for aye exalt his Seed o'er Antichrist and 's Train The Woman I have seen return the Wilderness did take A place where she did greatly mourn and rest she there did take The springing of her Seed I 've seen the Man child now must sway By'm Nations have replenisht been for evermore I say Then Praises to the Heavenly King when come to pass this shall Oh then do ye rejoyce and sing ye Saints and Prophets all When God shall pour his Vengeance great to cause our Enemies Fall Then is the Day of Praises meet for Saints both great and small E. B. THis Epistle was by E. B. prefixed to a Book of Fox's in Folio Entituled The Great Mystery of the Great Whore unfolded published in the year 1659. which though some of it related to that Book yet it being B's Epistle and much of it of a more general Concernment it was judged meet to be here inserted and published with the rest FRANCIS HOWGIL's TESTIMONY Concerning the Life Death Tryals Travels and Labours of Edward Burrough That Worthy Prophet of the LORD SHall dayes or months or years wear out thy Name as though thou hadst had no being Oh nay Shall not thy noble and valiant Acts and mighty Works which thou hast wrought through the power of him that separated thee from the Womb live in Generations to come Oh yes the children that are yet unborn shall have thee in their Mouths and thy Works shall testifie of thee in Generations who yet have not a being and shall count thee blessed Did thy Life go out as the snuff of a Candle Oh nay thou hast penetrated the hearts of many and the memorial of the just shall live for ever and be had in renown among the Children of Wisdom for ever for thou hast turned many to righteousness and shall shine as a Star of God in the Firmament of God's Power for ever and ever and they that are in that shall see thee there and enjoy thee there though thou be gone away hence and can no more be seen in mutability yet thy Life and thy Spirit shall run parallel with Immortality Oh Edward Burrough I cannot but mourn for thee yet not as one without hope nor Faith knowing and having a perfect testimony of thy well-being in my heart by the Spirit of the Lord yet thy absence is great and years to come shall know the want of thee Shall I not lament as David did for a worse man then thee even for Abner when in wrath he perished by the hand of Ioab without any just cause though he was a valiant man David lamented over Abner and said Dyed Abner as a fool dyeth Oh nay he was betrayed of his Life even so hast thou been bereaved of thy life by the hand of the Oppressor whose Habitations are full of cruelty Oh my soul come not thou within their secret for thy blood shall be required at the hands of them who thirsted after thy life and it shall cry as Abels who was in the Faith even so wert thou it shall weigh as a ponderous Milstone upon their Necks and shall crush them under and be as a Worm that gnaweth and shall not dye When I think upon thee I am melted into tears of true sorrow and because of the want that the Inheritance of the Lord hath of thee my substance is even as dissolved Shall I not say as David said of Saul and Ionathan when they were slain in Mount Gilboa The beauty of Israel is slain upon the high places Even so wast thou stified in nasty Holes and Prisons and many more who were precious in the Eyes of the Lord And surely precious wast thou to me Oh dear Edward I am distressed for thee my brother very pleasant hast thou been to me and my love to thee was wonderful passing the love of Women Oh thou whose Bow never turned back neither Sword empty from the Blood of the Slain from the slaughter of the Mighty who made Nations and Multitudes shake with the Word of Life in thy Mouth and wast very dreadful to the Enemies of the Lord for thou didst cut like a Rasor and yet to the Seed of God brought forth thy words dropped like Oyle and thy Lips as the Honey-comb Thou shalt be recorded among the Valiants of Israel who attained to the first Degree through the Power of the Lord that wrought mightily in thee in thy day and wast worthy of double honor because of thy Works sake thou wast expert to handle thy Weapon and by thee the Mighty have fallen and the Slain of the Lord have been many many have been pricked to the heart through the. Power of the Word of Life and Coals of fire from thy Life came forth of thy Mouth that in many a Thicket and among many Bryars and Thorns it came to be kindled and did devour much Stubble that cumbered the Ground and stained the Earth Oh how certain a sound did thy Trumpet give And how great an Alarum didst thou give in thy day that made the Host of the Uncircumcised greatly distressed What man so valiant though as Goliah of Gath would not thy Valour have encountered with
while many despised thy youth And how have I seen thee with thy Sling and thy Stone despised Weapons as to war with wound the Mighty and that which hath seemed contemptible to the Dragon's Party even as the Jaw-bone of an Ass with it thou hast slain the Philistines Heaps upon Heaps as Sampson Thou hast put thy Hand to the Hammer of the Lord and hast often fastened Nailes in the heads of the Lamb's Enemies as Deborah did to Sisera and many a rough Stone hast thou polished and squared and made it fit for the Building of God and much knotty Wood hast thou hewed in thy day which was not fit for the building of God's House Oh thou Prophet of the Lord and shalt for ever be recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life among the Lord's Worthies who have followed the Lamb through great Tribulations as many can witness for thee from the beginning and at last hath overcome and found worthy to stand with the Lamb upon Mount Sion the Hill of God as I have often seen thee and thy heart well tuned as a Harp to praise the Lord and to sound forth his great Salvation which many a time hath made glad the hearts of them that did believe and strengthened their Faith and Hope Well thou art at rest and bound up in the Bundle of Life and I know Tears were wiped away from thy Eyes because there was no cause of sorrow in thee For I know thou witnessed the old things done away and there was no curse but blessings were poured upon thy head as rain and peace as a mighty shower and trouble was far from thy dwelling though in the outward man trouble on every side and hath had a Greater share in that for the Gospel sake though a Youth in thy time than many besides But now thou are freed from that and hast obtained a name through Faith with the Saints in Light Well hadst thou more to give up then thy Life for the Name of Jesus in this World Nay and to seal thy Testimony committed unto thee with thy blood as thou hast often said in thy day which shall remain as a Crown upon thee for ever and ever And now thou art freed from the temptations of him who had the power of death and art freed from thy outward Enemies who hated thee because of the Life that dwelt in thee and remaineth at the right Hand of God where there is joy and pleasure for evermore in the everlasting Light which thou hast often testified unto according to the Word of Prophesie in thy heart which was given unto thee by the Holy Ghost and art at rest in the perfection thereof in the beauty of Holiness yet thy Life and thy Spirit I feel as present and have unity with it and in it beyond all created and visible things which are subject to mutation and change and thy Life shall enter into others to testifie unto the same truth which is from everlasting to everlasting for God hath raised and will raise up children unto Abraham of them that have been as dead stones whose Power is Almighty great in his people in the midst of their Enemies This same Edward Burroughs was born in the Barrony of Kendal in the County of Westmoreland of honest Parents who had a good report among their Neighbours for upright and honest dealing among men who brought up Edward in his Youth in Learning and good Education as the Countrey doth afford He was a very understanding Boy in his Youth and his knowledge and understanding did far exceed his years He had the Spirit of a man when he was but a child and I may say grey hairs was upon him when he was but a Youth for he was cloathed with Wisdom in his Infancy for I had perfect knowledge of him from a Youth He was inclinable from his Youth upwards to Religion and the best way always minding the best things and the best and nearest way of Worship to the Scriptures of Truth and always did accompany the best men who walked in godliness and honesty insomuch I have often admired his discreet carriage and his great understanding of the things of God He was never known to be addicted to any vice or malignity or bad behaviour neither followed any evil course of life from his childhood but feared the Lord and walked uprightly according to the light and knowledge received in all things In his natural disposition he was bold and manly dexterous and servent and what he took in hand he did it with his might loving kind and courteous merciful and flexible and easie to be entreated His whole delight was always among good people and to be conferring and reading the Scriptures and little to mind any sports or pastimes which there is an insidency unto in Youth but his very strength was bended after God and was separted I may say from his Mother's Womb and fitting for the Work 's sake whereunto he after was called And when it pleased the Lord to raise up unto us the ancient Horn of Salvation among us who were reckoned in the North Part of England even as the Out-casts of Israel and as men destitute of the great Knowledge which some seem'd to enjoy yet there was more Sincerity and true Love amongst us and desires after the living powerful Presence of God then was among many in that day who seem'd to make a great flourish who ran into Heaps and Forms but left the Cross behind them and indeed were Strangers to it God out of his everlasting Love did appear unto us according to the desire of our hearts who longed after him when we had turn'd aside from Hireling-Shepherds Tents we found him whom our Souls loved and God out of his great Love and great Mercy sent one unto us immediately by his Power a Man of God one of Ten Thousand to instruct us in the Way of God more perfectly who laid down the sure Foundation and declared the acceptable Year of the Lord who indeed made the Mourners to rejoyce and the Heavy-hearted glad which yet was terrible to all Hypocrites and all formal Profession which Testimony reached unto all our Consciences and entred into the in-most part of our Hearts which drove us to a narrow search and to a diligent inquisition concerning our state which we came to see through the Light of Christ Jesus which was testified of and found it to be even what it was testified of and the Lord of Heaven and Earth we sound to be near at hand and as we waited upon him in pure Silence our Minds out of all things his Dreadful Power and Glorious Majesty and Heavenly Presence appear'd in our Assemblies when there was no Language Tongue nor Speech from any Creature and the Kingdom of Heaven did gather us and catch us all as in a Net and his Heavenly Power at one time drew many Hundreds to Land that we came to know a place to stand in and what to wait in
and the Lord appeared daily to us to our Astonishment Amazement and great Admiration insomuch that we often said one unto another with great joy of Heart What is the Kingdom of God come to be with men And will he take up his Tabernacle among the Sons of Men as He did of old And what shall we that were reckoned as the Out casts of Israel have this Honour of Glory communicated amongst us which were but men of small Parts and of little Abilities in respect of many others as amongst men Howbeit thus it seemed good unto the Lord to chose the weak things and the foolish things of this World as to the aspect of men that no Flesh might glory that no man because of his Parts might glory or because of his strength or wisdom might glory but that the Glory which is his might only be given to him Unto whom be the Glory of all his Works forever and ever Amen And from that Day forward our Hearts were knit unto the Lord and one unto another in true and servent Love not by any External Covenant or External Form but we entred into the Covenant of Life with God and that was as a strong Obligation or Bond upon all our spirits which united us one unto another and we met together in the Unity of the Spirit and of the Bond of Peace treading down under our Feet all reasoning questioning debating and contending about Religion or any part or parts or practice or practices thereof as to any external thing and we waited at time and times as God did grant us Oportunities and the more we had and could obtain from our necessary Occasions of this present life the better we were and the more we were confirmed and strengthened in our Hope and Faith and holy Resolutions were kindled in our Hearts as a Fire which the Life kindled in us To serve the Lord while we had a Beeing and to make mention of his Name and Power whilst we did live and to hold forth that Testimony which was committed to us in the sight of Men and Nations by Doctrine by Practice by a holy Conversation and mightily did the Word of God grow amongst us and the desires of many were after the Name of the Lord. Oh happy Day Oh blessed Day the memorial of which can never pass out of my Mind And thus the Lord in short did form us to be a People for his Praise in our Generation Howbeit after all this and much more which time would fail me to write of neither is the purpose of my spirit bent that way at this time we did come through very great Tribulations extream Distresses great Perplexity and passed out oftentimes hungry and hard put to it both within and without yet such was our love to the Lord and such servency in our hearts That we rather chosed to dye and to undergo every Difficulty than to dishonour or deny the Name of Christ in the midst of suffering because of that Taste that we had of his Goodness and immortal Life revealed in our Hearts this Young Man of whom I am speaking had his share though but a Youth at that time of 16. or 17. years of age Because of the I ruth which crossed all the world's wayes his nearest Relations even his own Parents cast him off as an Alien and turn'd him out from their House as not to have any Part or Portion therein as a Son nay not so much as a hired Servant which this young Man bore very patiently without Murmuring or Complaining having a taste of that then which was better then all the World and through conversing with his people and amongst them the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding entred into his Heart and the Spirit of Knowledge and sound Judgment came to be seated in his Reins and the Spirit of Prophesie came upon him like as it did upon many more through the Holy Ghost's Power and Operation and he spake of the wonderful things of God among them that believed and was one of the first among us which the Lord opened the Mouth of to shew forth his Praise and to speak of the things of his Kingdom to as many as he met with who waited for the Consolation of Israel for the Riches of the Gentiles and to as many as desired and hoped after Eternal Life At last the Lord signled him out and commanded him to go forth into Countries unknown to him as he did some more besides upon whom he laid a necessity to preach the Gospel freely without Money without Price without Tythes Augmentations Gifts or Rewards and in that he was as faithful a man none exeeeding him in his Generation for those things were an abhorrency to his heart and where he met with any such Hireling Shepherds and deceitful Workers which had gull'd the Nations and cheated the people for dishonest Gain and kept them in Blindness the Indignation of the Lord was kindled in his Heart and the Sword of the Lord was very Sharp in his Hand and whomsoever he met with which walked after this sort they were sure to feel the weight of his Weapon and the force of his Blow by which many have been deeply wounded that they have grinned like Dogs on him as greedy Dogs indeed because of their present Wound and Blow that he did give them and though he was but young in years yet he was full of fortitude and true valour The Lord oftentimes when he exercised him in such War as this hath filled his Quiver full of polished Shafts and made his Bow to abide in strength and he was as dextrous and as ready handed as any that I knew in his day against the Dragon and his power against the Beast and his Followers and indeed he was very even-handed and had a special good Arm and seldom mist the Mark God had fill'd his Mouth with Arguments so that he hath often made a breach in the Face of an Host. And it was my lot which I cannot but say fell in a good ground to be his Companion and Fellow-Labourer in the Work of the Gospel whereunto we were called for many years together And oh when I consider my heart is broken how sweetly we walked together for many Moneths and Years in which we had perfect knowledge of one anothers hearts and perfect unity of spirit not so much as one cross word or one hard thought of discontent ever rose I believe in either of our hearts for ten years together but our Souls were bound up in unity and peace having the frame of our hearts bent after one and the self same thing to wit the propagation of that Truth by which Liberty was obtained and Salvation received through Jesus Christ the true Light of the World seeing through his Light the whole World to lie in wickedness a necessity lay upon this person of whom I am speaking being constrained by the Spirit of the Lord
by which he was made an able Minister of the Everlasting Gospel to preach Repentance Conversion Salvation and Remission of Sins and accordingly he went forth in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus the Saviour of Mankind and was an able Minister of the glad Tidings of Salvation in many or most parts of this Land and also he travelled through again and again the whole Nation of Ireland and in some part of Scotland and some part of Flanders and his Ministry was made effectual through the Almighty Power of God in turning many from Darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God there are many thousands who are living in the Body and alive in the Truth who can in the Spirit of the Lord bear Testimony to the Power and Verity of his Ministry in many Countreys where he travelled for he laboured much in divers places even in the heat of the day though he began early in the morning and in the beginning of his Travels and Labours it was his share to break up rough places and untilled ground and to walk amongst many Bryars and Thorns which scratched and pricked and teared and travelled with some other not without great opposition and he often trod the pathes and wayes which had not been occupied in the Truth and where darkness had the Dominion and was as a covering he brake through as an armed man not minding the opposition but the victory and the good of all souls though to my knowledge his sufferings and tryals have not been small nor his exercise a little on the right hand and on the left in travels often oftentimes buffetted sometimes knocked down by unreasonable men who had not Faith loaded with Lyes Slanders Calumnies and Reproaches often in Weakness yea in Deaths often in Watching Fastings and Temptations often in Straits and Necessities in Perils among rude Multitudes in Perils in Idol-Temple in Perils in Streets and Markets where the Lord did move him often to go in the beginning of his time besides the exceeding weight of service from Weeks end to Weeks end insomuch that he had seldom many Hours of repose and often suffered by those spirits who lost their first love and rose in opposition He was very diligent and faithful true hearted and valiant and the Yoke at last came to be easie unto him though no ease at all in the Body as to the outward man for he made the Work of the Lord his whole business without taking so much Liberty unto himself or about any outward occasion in this World as to spend one Week to himself to my knowledge these Ten Years He had ventured himself often for the Bodies sake and a great care I know was in his Heart that them that he had ministred unto and others that had believed in the same Truth might thrive and prosper and might walk as becometh the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was of a manly Spirit in the things of God he hath engaged himself often upon the Lords account singly in great Disputes when there were many Opposers he hath stood in the Door and in the Gap against all his Enemies for the worthy Name of God and taken the whole weight of things upon his own Shoulders that others might be eased though often to the weakening and almost destroying of the outward man yet doing all in love to the Lord and for his peoples sake he did it with Cheerfulness and it was a Grief to him if any opportunity was missed of doing good He was a man of no great Learning in natural Tongues which men so much applaud yet indeed his Heart was full of matter and his Tongue was as the Hand of a ready Scribe and yet he had the Tongue of the Learned having had experiment of the Work of the Lord and being acquainted with many conditions which God had carried him through he could speak a word in season unto all who declared their conditions unto him or otherways in his publick Ministry he was very plausible and elegant in his speech and indeed had the Tongue of a learned Orator to declare himself to the Understandings and Consciences of all men with whom he conversed by which many received great profit and their Understandings came to be opened for his words ministred Grace to the Hearers and his words were forcible and very pleasant as Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver This young Man of whom I am speaking was one of the first with some others who came to the City of London where he met with no small opposition both from Professors of divers Forms and also Prophane who heeded no Religion at all and the Way of Truth seemed contemptible and without form or comeliness to them all which made the Opposition so great and the Labour so hard that notwithstanding it pleased the Lord to reach unto the Consciences of many and many were prickt to the Heart so that they cryed out what shall we do to be saved And God made his Ministry very effectual to the conversion of many in the City of London whereby a great change was wrought in the hearts of many and many hundreds brought to know the Lord their Teacher which are as Seals unto the Word of Life through him unto this day And many hundreds I may say thousands heard the lively Word of God declared by him and were convinced of the Way of Truth though still remaining in the Disobedience to that of God in their own hearts unto which he declared and many have lost their day which they had of hearing and receiving the things of God for now he is taken away which might have been a help unto them while they had time and all such are not worthy of him He continued in this City very much at time and times betwixt eight and nine years together preaching the Word of God and speaking of the things of his Kingdom to all that looked after it and great watching travel and exercise in the Work of the Lord and his earnest desire was That all might have come to know God's Salvation and the Redemption of their Souls And his great diligence was known unto many that his only rejoycing was in the prosperity of the Work of the Lord and the increase of Faith amongst them that did believe And his heart was much drawn towards this City and oftentimes hath he said to me when sufferings did come for the Gospel sake which he knew would come I can freely go to that City and lay down my Life for a Testimony of that Truth which I have declared through the Power and Spirit of God which in the end indeed came to be his share and will for ever be his Crown who loved not his life unto death for the Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ. And in the same year 1662 being pressed in his spirit to go visit them who were begotten unto the Faith of God's Elect at the City of Bristol and in divers other
our way to the promised Land which belongs to the Saints in Light we would eat our own Bread and Drink our Water and what we needed and keep our Consciences clear in our Generation we must to that which God hath promised and if we cannot have away God will make one for us and that you that set your selves against the Lord in the end shall be sure to know and feel though we shall never lift up carnal Weapon nor draw Sword neither use Bow nor Spear for God hath taught us to love our Enemies and out of these things we are come and to the end of Wars and to be for it yet God's purpose shall be fulfilled and he hath wayes enough to plead the cause of his people and he will do it and wo to all their Enemies And do you cry out of Popery because of cruelty and persecution And will you be found in the same Foot-steps and in the same nature Oh! let it never be said nor thought that ever the Church of God or true Christians did Drink the Blood of the Saints or cast them into prison for that is Babylon the Mother of Harlots that doth so Therefore be informed and warned set not Bryars and Thorns in Battel against the Lord neither stubble before devouring Fire for if you do a Consumption will come upon you and your Name and Memorial shall rot dye wither and melt away as Snailes and Glory shall rest with and upon the Heads of the Sufferers of Christ for ever Reading the 22. of the 12. Moneth 1662. By one who hath chosen rather to Suffer with the People of God called Quakers then to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season or to be reckoned as a Prince amongst the Uncircumcised Francis Howgil GEORGE WHITEHEAD HIS TESTIMONY AND ACCOUNT Concerning Edward Burroughs ANd as for E. B. our dear Brother and Companion in Travel Suffering and Consolation for the Everlasting Gospel's sake in his day his Testimony lives with us He was a Preacher of Righteousness and one who travelled for the Redemption of the Creature from under the Bondage of Corruption and proclaimed Liberty to the Captives in the Power and Authority of God and therein was a true Witness against Oppression and all the Antichristian Yokes imposed in the Night of Apostacy upon the Persons and Consciences of People and truly and valiantly he held sorth the Liberty of Conscience and vindicated it to the great men of the Earth in things appertaining to God in matters of Religion and Worship against the persecution and compulsion which had its Original and Rise from the Power of the Beast which hath made War against the righteous Seed that men might be left free to the guidance of the infallible Spirit of God which is not to be limitted in these matters and not be compelled nor brought under the corrupt wills of men nor their failible judgements nor invented Forms in these cases And the Name of this Minister of Righteousness is written in the Lambs Book of Life and all the Enemies of his Life can never be able to blot it out nor extinguish his Memorial Oh! the remembrance of his integrity uprightness and sincerity hath deep impression upon my heart and that tender love and affection in God's Truth which he was filled with towards all the upright who are lovers of peace and unity in the Lord is never to be forgotten by us who are yet remaining in the Work of the Lord and the Everlasting Gospel for which he hath left a glorious Testimony the glory of which shall never be extinguished but thousands shall praise the Lord our God because thereof yea even the Seed that 's yet in the lower parts of the Earth where darkness covers it and the child that 's yet unborn in many that 's curiously framed in the Mothers Womb whose Members are written in the Book of God shall glorifie the Lord on his behalf And this Testimony many have already concerning him that though his Body is dead his Spirit liveth in the immortallity of that Life that is immutable and shall never die not wax old and is felt among the Righteous who walk in their integrety and constancy to the Lord. And this faithfull Servant of the Lord and valiant Souldier of the Lamb as in his day was evidently apparent as to live to him was Christ and to die was Gain And though in his time many were the Sâ—fferings and Afflictions which his life went under and his upright spirit suffered by both from his open Enemies and Persecutors in the World because of the valour and courage for the Truth of God and from deceitfull and transforming exalted spirits which burthen the holy Seed but now his Life is caught up above them all and is out of their reach in the transcendent and unspeakable Glory in the Everlasting Habitation and Firmament of God's Power where he hath shined and doth shine among the Stars that have kept their Habitations as one that hath turned many to Righteousness and that hath overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of his Testimony with those holy Prophets and Martyrs who rejoyce over Babylon and her Abominations in whom their blood is found and against whom he was a faithfull Witness and valiant Warrier whose living and absolute Testimony therein God hath blessed made prosperous and will fulfil to the uttermost And though he be ceased from his Labours his Works do follow him which will be had in living remembrance and precious esteem among the Upright when his Persecutors shall be broken and laid low in the desolation and ruin of Babylon and all that continue in Enmity and Deceit and all the deceitfull spirits that have burdened his righteous Soul shall fall and their blossom wither and come to nought And if any of his Persecutors or Oppressors be yet so impenitent and obdurate as to triumph and be elevated in an exalted or prejudiced spirit because of his death and in their exaltation and pride of heart say He was taken away in Judgment or in Wrath. To such in Gods Fear I answer That thousands of the Servants of the Lord are of another perswasion not questioning but it was in God's tender Love as to his own particular that he was removed out of the Earthen Vessel in which he though a man as in the prime of his years endured great Travels in his time for the Truth 's sake and the gathering of many into the Way of the Lord and in which his Travel was the greater when the time of his dissolution drew near to be dissolved because of his Sufferings and the extremity of his Sickness occasioned thereby which many others were pertakers of who suffered Persecution and Imprisonment by unreasonable men in this City of London for the Cause of God and a good Conscience as chiefly for their meeting together singly in the Worship of God But this I testifie in the Lord as in him I have felt that
then they forgot God and regarded not to perform their Engagements neither to God nor his People for which cause the Lord cut them off in his sore displeasure and brought an utter Desolation upon them according to the words of his Servants and this Prophet of God lived to see their Desolation come which was sad to behold and his Prophesies were fulfilled in his own dayes And he also warned the present Rulers of this Nation to take heed of walking in the Steps of them that are gone before and for these things and for the publishing of the Truth of God and for bearing his Testimony with boldness against all Oppression and Cruelty he was hated of the men of this Generation but chiefly by some of the Rulers of the City of London He sealed his Testimony with his life in Bonds and so they have wilfully brought innocent Blood upon themselves and heavy will it lie upon them in the day of Account which greatly hastens wherein the Lord God will make inquisition for the Blood of the Innocent and reward every man according to his Deeds then will his Blood be upon you as the Blood of a thousand men and how will you bear your Sentence from the Lord of Hosts because you will be found guilty of the Blood of his Prophets Messengers and Servants which he sent unto you in love to your Souls to fore-warn you of the Evil which greatly hastens to come upon you Yet notwithstanding you have done all these things and the cry of Innocent Blood hath been heard so loud amongst you yet have you hardened your Hearts and go on in stiff-neckedness and persist in your Cruelty towards the Servants of the Lord that are left behind and are found casting them into Prison Oh wo is me for you where will a place be found for you in the day of the Lord or what Covering will you hide your selves under Or how will you appear before the Righteous God of Heaven and Earth Have you no consideration in you of your latter end Or else do you believe that the Lord sees not your Cruelty towards his People that you will not answer his requirings which is to do Justly and love Mercy and walk Humbly with the Lord and to do unto all men as you would they should do unto you surely if the consideration of these things were in your hearts or if you had any regard to keep your Consciences clear in the sight of God herein you could never do as you have done Wherefore consider these things and lay them to heart and repent speedily lest you sin your day away and place of repentance there cannot be found For this I tell you plainly that it is in vain for you to strive against the Lord or to seek to stop or hinder his Work which he hath begun for he will be too strong for you and he will make you bow and bend to his own Name and Power whether you will or no. And though he bear with you long and suffer you long yet his Long-suffering will come to an end and though you should be permitted to fulfill your envious Wills and lustfull Desires so far as to Banish or Kill or Destroy us from off the Earth yea all of us who are now in being which I do not believe ever shall be yet would God raise up another People by the same Power and Spirit in and by which we stand which should be a Terror unto you and should possess God's Everlasting Kingdom which is not of this World over your heads And in the time of his outward weakness he was heard to say That though this Body of Clay must return to the Dust yet I have this Testimony that I have served God in my Generation and that Spirit which hath lived and acted and ruled in me shall yet break forth in thousands and my faith is That it shall be even so for we have found him a true Prophet amongst us and to the Nations And this also near his departure he was heard to desire of the Lord That if it were possible to forgive Brown c. And so let all Friends be encouraged to wait upon the Lord in the feeling of the same Spirit that was in him which we know is the Saints Comforter that thereby you may be carried through all Tribulations and Persecutions with chearfulness that in the end you may all receive the Crown of Everlasting Righteousness with him and the rest of the Saints of the most High God and holy Prophets and Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so the Lord God Almighty of Heaven and Earth be with you all and keep you all in faithfulness unto the end Amen And this is my Testimony for that Man of God who hath been a Blessing to the Lord in his Generation and also to this Nation And in this I have eased my Spirit and am clear in my Conscience in the Sight of God having done that which was my duty to do Josiah Coale A Testimony of George Fox Concerning Edward Burroughs HIS Name is Chronicled in the Lamb's Book of Life a Righteous Plant Pure Chaste Clean Who can tax him for Oppressing them or Burdening them or being Chargeable to them Who through the Suffering hath finished his Course and Testimony who is now crowned with the Crown of Life and Reigns with the Lord Christ forever and ever And in his Ministry in his Life-time he went through Sufferings by bad spirits who never turn'd his Back on the Truth nor his Back from any out of the Truth A Valiant Warrior more then a Conqueror who hath got the Crown through Death and Sufferings who is dead but yet liveth amongst us and amongst us is alive George Fox A Warning from the Lord To the Inhabitants of Underbarrow and so to all the Inhabitants in ENGLAND Where it shall meet with them who holds up the false Teachers and false Worship and who beat stock stone and persecute and hale out of their Assemblies those who are sent by the Lord to speak his Word freely With an Exhortation that they haste to meet the Lord by true repentance by putting off the works of darkness lest the Lord cut them assunder by his Sword which is already drawn and put into the hands of his Servants Also a word to my Brethren and Companions in tribulation in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ who are by the World scornfully called Quakers With the manner of my passage through the dark World wherein the simple ones may see the deceits of the man of sin in his actings like the true Spirit to warn all to follow the true Light within which leads unto God and to beware of the Voice Lo here and Lo there TO all you the Inhabitants of Underbarrow profane ones and Professors you my Neighbours and Country men according to the flesh but Strangers as in the spirit to you all who are in the customary formal traditional Worship of
Heathen and under the barren dry and empty Ministry of Man which stands in the will of man and have proceeded out of the carnal inventions and imaginations of fallen man and is not according to God nor to the practice of the Saints in former Ages and Generations To you all do I clear my conscience in the presence of God by declaring to you in writing being that I cannot have freedom through the subtilty of the Serpent who doth work alwayes to prevent the living Truth to be declared and the deceits of himself to be discovered and made manifest to declare in word among you I have been sent by the Lord moved of him to come and to declare to you the Word of the Lord to the directing of your minds where to wait to attain the true Knowledge of the Lord and to that one Thing needful the Eternal welfare of your souls and to lay open the deceits of the Serpent who doth work in the cursed deceitful Ministry which is upheld by you whereby your souls are kept in the death and only your dark minds fed and nourished by the painted and Serpent-like expressions and declarations coming out of the carnal wisdom and brain knowledge of your Hireling who walks in the way of the false Prophets of Israel which the true Prophet called greedy dumb Dogs four several times hath the Lord by his Eternal Spirit working in me moved me to come into the Congregation and Assembly he himself is the Witness that I came not of man nor by the will of man but contrary to the will and desires of man wherein stands the true Ministry of God now as it was ever the true Prophets Ieremiah and Ionah witnessed the same and the Apostle Paul and as it is known to you unto whom I speak that I could not have liberty to declare to you the Truth from God who came not to you with entising words neither what I had gathered out of Scripture from without me neither to speak my own imaginations and conceivings as your false Hireling doth but to declare the Word of the Lord to the convincing your dark understandings that you might see the deceits by which you are and have been led that your souls might have been redeemed up to God out of the imagined worships of the World to worship in Spirit and in Truth Hear ye the Word of the Lord ye people all your carnal traditional Ordinances and Observances is abomination to the Lord all your praying and praising is odious in his sight for all your worship is an imitation and an imagination of the dark mind of man and was never commanded by God therefore consider all ye people what you are doing and reject not the Lord nor his Everlasting Truth but prize your time and now seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon his name while he is near Your souls are kept in the death under your dead Minister and under his dead Doctrines dead Reasons Points and Uses which he speakes from the Saints conditions and experiences but is an enemy to the substance and to them in whom the same conditions are made manifest in the power of Truth and he doth make manifest himself to be in the same generation of them who had the form of Godliness but denies the Power having the Letter as the Pharisees had but persecuting the substance as they did All people consider whether he be not in the generation professing God and Truth in Word as the Scribes and Pharisees were but persecuting the Son of God who is the Substance of Truth where he is born and made manifest he is in the generation of them who professed Abraham's freedom and that God was their Father but were of their father the Devil for his workes they did they said and did not as he doth as it is made manifest he is a whited Wall a painted Sepulcher which Christ the Son of God cryed wo against who was and is the Light by which all Deceivers Hirelings and false Teachers are discovered and cryed out against The Light which is Christ do I witness to be made manifest in me from God the Father of Light daily leading me up to him to live in Purity and Uprightness praises be to him for ever in which Light I see your Teacher to be a Hireling a greedy dumb Dog seeking for his gain from his Quarter one that God never sent but hath run and was not sent therefore doth he not profit you at all and from this Light which is Christ do I declare against him as knowing him that he hath not the Word of the Lord but the Letter Freely do I declare against him as knowing him to be a Deceiver and an Antichrist being once I was deceived by him but now through the rich Love of my Father who hath made himself known to me hath shined by his Eternal Light in my heart do I see him and all such to be Antichrist and no Minister of Christ from the mouth of the Lord I do declare it that you are led blindly by him your blind Guide and you are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Living Truth by his Ministry He layes heavy burdens upon you He is in the generation of them who had the Law and Prophets but persecuted him who came to fulfil the Law and who hath the substance of the Prophets He hath the Conditions and Experiences of the Saints in the Letter but who are brought to witness the same Conditions and the same strait Way in which they walked He is an enemy to all people to you from God I do declare it he is one that God never sent to speak his Word to you he calls good evil and evil good and puts Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light and therefore wo is his Portion and wo is the Portion of all that upholds him What will ye do in the end thereof He doth bewitch you to observe That calling is an Ordinance of God which he never commanded Poor people your souls lies in the death under the power of darkness and corruption under your dead Minister and under his dead carnal Observances and your dark Minds your Wit and Reason is only fed and so the enemies of the Lord are strengthned by him and you remain in ignorance and in blindness and cannot attain the true Riches for Christ only is the Way to the Father the Light in every man which leads to the Father but this Light he denies as having enlightened every one that comes into the World as several times he hath done to me in Argument Here he makes Christ a Lyar and doth not know the first Principle of Religion nor the Light which leads unto God but is a Heathen and knows not God for this is the Light which all the Servants of God in all Generations witnessed and which Light we do now
shall conquer by the sword of the Lord which the Lord hath put into their hands over Countries and Dominions For O Nation the Lord is with them and thy unjust Rulers and Officers cannot hurt them not a hair of their heads shall perish without my heavenly Father It is for a testimony of their Fathers love to them that they suffer shame and reproach and some of them imprisonment by the unjust Rulers and for a witness against them that some of them are brought before them the Lord is chusing the weak things of this World and he is making manifest his Counsels to Babes and revealing his Counsel and eternal Truth to Children and keeps his hidden Treasures from the eyes of the Wise and vulturous ones Praises praises be to him for evermore For the Lion of Judah is opening and hath opened the Sealed Book let all his Saints rejoyce for evermore This is the day of thy Visitation O Nation wherein the Lord speaks to thee by the mouth of his Servants in word and writing therefore return to the Lord thy God from whence thou art fallen Now will the Lord gather his Jewels and Chosen ones out of thee and will raise up the dead which lies slain under thy Teachers and Pharisees which makes a prey upon the people which was never sent by God to speak unto thee O Land Hear the Word of the Lord Depart from all thy Teachers for the Lord hath drawn his Sword and lifted it up against the false Prophet and the Vials of Indignation shall be poured upon him and upon all that upholds him in his Whoredoms and Witchcraft by which he deceiveth the simple therefore lest thou be partaker of their Plagues depart from them And all people mind that measure of Light within you which the Lord hath lightened every one of you withal for the Lord is risen to teach his people himself and he is fulfilling his Prophesie in thy ears O Nation they shall teach no more every man his neighbor and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will put my Law in thine inward parts and write it in their hearts Ier. 31. 33. The Lord is about his great and wonderful Work in thee and all the Wars and Contentions in thee O Land hath but been a making way for this Work of the Lord and hath not been the Work which the Lord hath purposed This Work is made known to them that feareth the Lord and abideth in his Counsel The Lord will overturn overturn the Nation and will create new Heavens and new Earth wherein shall dwell righteousness in which all the Chosen of the Lord shall rejoyce for evermore And all the Kings and Nobles shall cast down their Crowns before this Glory And all the men of War shall lay down their Armour and Weapons of War And Nation shall not lift up a Sword against Nation any more For the Lord will establish Righteousness and Peace this will the Lord bring to pass in thee O England through the destruction of that which now liveth and through the Resurrection of that to Life which now lieth in Death Hear O Land give ear O People for the Lord of Heaven and Earth is now turning the World up-side down all old things shall pass away all things shall become new by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slain of him shall be many corrupt Judges and Officers will the Lord sweep away and their name shall no more be found in the Nation the fire is kindled and the sword is drawn happy is he that keepeth himself from fighting against the Lord in this his Work and happy are ye O Brethren that stands faithful to the end to see these things accomplished great shall be the battel it is now begun many shall see death and shall yet live to see these things TO all the Despised and Contemned ones who are Persecuted and shamefully entreated by the Generation of the Chief Priests and by them who live in the highest Profession in the Word outwardly ye who are the scorn of the Nation and the derision of all the Heathen and are called Quakers you are my brethren children of my Father have been brought forth by the same Womb and have sucked the same Breast Ye are chosen out of the world out of all worldly glories and earthly excellencies and are not of this world and therefore the world hateth you you are brought out of the broad way of the flesh and are separated from all the world in their ways worships and forms of religion and are redeemed out of the mouths of all Idoll dumb Shepherds and hath one Shepherd and are gathered from all the mountains and out of all the desolate disinhabited places and are come into the pleasant sheepfold where is green pastures and fresh springs of living Waters By Faith with Abraham are ye come out of your native Country from among your kindred and out of your Fathers house And with Moses have you forsaken the glory of Pharaohs house and chosen rather to suffer affliction among the poor despised people than to have enjoyed the pleasures of sin but great shall be your reward ye Contemned ones glory and honor and everlasting happiness is prepared for you if you stand faithful to the end the Lord is with you as a mighty terrible one and therefore shall all your persecuters be ashamed and confounded the sound of a trumpet is heard among you which makes all Nations at a stand and all the Heathen to wonder and all the Rulers Nobles and chief Priests are in consultation combining together to suppress the Army of the Lord of Hosts which he is gathering together fear not nor be dismaid for the sounding of your trumpet causes an alarum and makes all the inhabitants of the Land to tremble and all bows before the sound of it for the sound of it is terrible to the Nations to all Kingdoms and Dominions the Lord of Heaven and Earth is your Captain which rides upon the Clouds and whose glory is above the World and therefore in the battel shall you obtain the conquest and all your enemies shall be put to flight and one of you shall chase a thousand for he is with you who hath all power in his hand and all your enemies are limitted by him therefore be not discouraged at the raging and swelling words of your Adversaries but be bold and valiant and faithful to him for his is the victory and by his own Right Hand will he get himself the victory Ye are my fellow Souldiers and fellow Members of the same body and my joy in the Lord stand faithfull to the Lord and be bold and valiant for the Truth upon Earth for you hath the Lord chosen of all the Families of the Earth to place his Name among you and he will glorifie his
Name by you he will accomplish his Wonders and make his power known and the greatness of his Name in the sight of the Heathen let all flesh be silent before him and let all the Pharisees and chief Priests and the wise men of the earth stop their mouths before the Lord for you have the word of the Lord and you are made patakers of the everlasting wisdom and are the beloved of God for his eternal Son is born and brought forth among you and therefore doth the wise men and chief Priests consult to take his life but wo unto your Persecuters for they are the seed of evil doers and better it were that a milstone were hanged about their necks and they cast into the sea for the Lord hath sought you to worship him and he is worshipped by you in spirit and in truth your sacrifice is accepted and therefore they that are of Cains generation persecutes you seeking after your blood you are made partakers of the blessing and therefore doth Esau threaten your destruction but your Preserver is the Lord of Hosts and therefore shall all their consultations be disappointed For wo unto them that digs deep to hide their counsel from the Lord and that takes counsel but not at the Lord All ye my brethren be ye faithful and obedient to him who hath called and chosen you out from among the heathen out of all imagined worships to worship in truth serve the Lord in singleness of heart and give up all to him freely to be ordered and disposed by him and look not back at the glory of Sedom nor at the riches of Egypt but follow him who hath enlightened your dark understandings and hath gathered you up by his eternal Light walk in obedience to the Law of God and to the Light made manifest for the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man travelling into a far Country which hath given talents to his servants to improve now all you my beloved ones improve every one your talent that the Lord may receive his own with usury that he may be glorified and that you all may receive a reward therefore all be bold and valiant in the truth and fear not man but fear the Lord God Almighty and walk in the fear of the living God and despise not the cross of Christ but let the cross be your rejoycing for through the cross is the power of the Lord made manifest Rejoyce for ever and be exceeding glad that you are counted worthy to suffer shame and reproach and some of you imprisonment for the Truths sake thus it was ever he that was born after the flesh persecutes him that 's born after the Spirit but be glad and rejoyce in the Lord for you hath he chosen and called even to shine as light in the dark world and to be as a burthensom stone to the Nations your fame is gone abroad through Nations and because of the Man-child that is born is the Nations troubled and the chief Priests and Rulers combined together but that the Lord may be glorified and for your sakes will he scatter the proud in their imaginations and will break in pieces the snares which the Pharisees and chief Priests have laid for your feet and they shall be taken in their own craftiness and fall into the pit which they have digged for you for the Lord who hath called you will set you upon a rock and will preserve you out of the mouths of cunning Wolves who devours souls for dishonest gain Sing praises for ever to the Lord our God who hath chosen us to make manifest his love and truth unto and hath gathered us up out of the mouths of all Idol shepherds that made a prey upon us and from all the mountains and hills where we were scateered in the cloudy and dark day where we were devoured by the wild beasts being without Shepherd and Sheepfold but praises glory and honor for evermore that we are freed out of the cruelty of Pharaoh and from under his tax-masters which layes heavy burdens upon the people rejoyce and be glad in faithfulness and truth unto our King for ever who is the Lion of the tribe of Iudah who hath opened this book and unlosed the seals and hath led us to himself and by suffering under all are we made Kings and Priests over all for evermore he alone is worthy to be praised who hath avenged us of our adversaries and hath given her to drink of the wine of the wrath of God who once made us drink of the wine of her Fornication I am with you you despised ones and my prayers are for you and the eternal glorious God of power be with you and keep you in the middest of this crooked and perverse generation for this generation seeks the blood of the Saints the Beast which was is and now makes war against the Lamb. E B. A true Declaration and a Discovery to all the World of my manner of Life what I have been and what now I am at present I Was brought up by my natural Parents in the profession of Religion according to the generality of this Nation going one day in seven to hear a man Preach the Word as they said to me and to be exercised in the formal worship which was then upheld to read and sing and to rabble over a Prayer but I was wanton and light and lived in pleasure without the fear of God not knowing of God but by hear-say and tradition but when I grew up toward twelve years of age something stirred in me and shewed me that there was a higher Religion than that I was exercised in and then I inquired where the chiefest of the Presbyterian Priests preached and would have gone some miles of a first day to have heard one of the best of them which seemed liker truth than the other and so I got up to be a Presbyterian and followed the highest of the Priests and Professors of that form and grew in favor with them then some small of my vanity and lightness I left and Pride grew up in me for wisdom grew up in me then some of my forâ—er acquaintance began to scorn me calling me a Round-head and the like and by my labouring here I gathered knowledge in things without but yet was ignorant of the living Truth Then when I was about seventeen years of age it pleased God to shew himself a little to me and somthing struck me with terror and when I had been praying I heard the voice often Thou art ignorant of God thou knowest not where he is nor what he is to what purpose is thy Prayer And so much fear and dread came upon me and broke me off from praying many times and trouble came thick into my mind and fearfulness fell many times upon me and I was struck off my delights that I formerly loved and what I had gathered in as of a god died and I left off reading in the Scripture for
somthing shewed me that I was very ignorant and knew not the true God and the beauty of all things vanished And I went to some asking What God was which was professed for I said I knew him not but got no satisfaction from any And I was much separated from the vain ways of the world and from vain worldly people and was made to reprove many often for wickedness in words and actions and was much decided and looked upon scornfully by many and then the Preaching of them whom I had formerly much delighted in was as withered and decayed yet then it pleased the Lord to shew himself a little in love to me and I had sweet refreshments coming in from him to my soul and had joy and peace in abundance and openings of the living truth in me which the world knew not of and the mystery of the Scripture was something opened which before I knew nothing of and I saw many glorious things in it which lie hid under the letter and I was in much rejoycing many times and sang praise for I was brought out of the Land of darkness and could say I was in the Light and I grew up to know high things but not knowing the Cross of Christ I ran forth in my wisdom comprehending the mysteries of God having a Light shined in me and I grew up into notion to talk of high things for it was my delight to comprehend in my busie mind thus being ignorant of the Cross to keep low in it I ran before my Guide up into comprehension and then was I above many of the Priests and Professors and followed only to hear the highest Notionists that Preached high things but the fleshly man was at liberty and so I became one of them in their discoursings and was looked upon by them to know much the former terrour was gone and I had got up from under the judgement and now pride grew more than ever and self-conceitedness and presumption and fleshly liberty to the carnal mind and my delight was much in discoursings where I played the Haâ—lot and the Prodigal and gave holy things unto Dogs and cast Pearls before Swine for wisdom was hid from me and here I lived pleasantly for I had the true God and the true Truth in my comprehension which by my wisdom in the Light I had comprehended and I had the world in my heart Pride Covetousness and the earthly spirit ruled and my delight was grown up to that which once I had no delight in and the beauty of things grew up which seemed to be vanished here I was â—un from my Husband after other Lovers and had left the Lord my Maker who had so graciously made manifest himself unto me and had spent my portion among harlots but I became to be darkned and had lost that which once I had and had but in memory that which before I had injoyed could tell of Experiences but they were dead to me and somthing within me began to question how it was with me for I saw my self to be ignorant more than formerly and I saw I knew nothing something desiring in me to be from whence I was come but I grew to be much given to the world to seek after riches and glory in it and I fed my self with what I had formerly enjoyed and said Whom God loves once he loves for ever but that was then head and ruled in me which he loved never I was wanton and lived in the lustful nature among heathens crucifying the Lord of Life but the blood of that which I had slain cried continually and the witness which lay slain would give me no rest which the earthly made merry over and I grew to be weary of hearing any of the Priests though never so high for something which shined deep in me shewed me ignorance in all profession and I was put to a stand many times in my self at those things which were come to pass then it pleased the Lord to send his true and faithful Servant and Messenger who is called according to the flesh G. Fox he spoke the language which I knew not notwithstanding all my high talking for it was higher and yet lower And it pleased the Lord to speak to me by him that I was in the prodigal state and above the Cross of Christ and not in the pure fear of the Lord but full of corruption and the old nature though I had professed freedom yet it was but such as the Jewes professed for I saw my self to be in bondage to my own Will and to my own Lust and through the Word of the Lord spoken to me by him I began to see my self the witness being raised where I was and what I had been doing and saw I had been making an image to the first Beast which had the Wound by a Sword and did live whose deadly Wound was healed and was full of Airy Notions and Imaginations and was worshipping the image which I had made and then I saw my self to be a Child of Wrath and that the Son of the Bond-Woman lived that Harlots had been my Companions and was no more worthy to be called a Son Then trouble and distress came upon me such as was not since the beginning of the world and I was at my wits end and a day of thick darkness and trouble a day of weeping and mourning and misery and a day of vengeance and recompence came upon me such as I had never known one vial of Wrath after another the great Whore was to be judged and to drink of the Wine of the wrath of God which had made me once drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and then I separated from all the glory of the World and from all my Acquaintance and kindred and betook my self to the company of a poor despised and contemned people called Quakers and now am I one in that Generation which is and ever was hated of the world by the chief Priests and Pharisees and Generation of Serpents and hath chosen rather to suffer Affliction with a poor despised People than to injoy the pleasures of Sin with the great multitude though the worldly pleasures were not wanting to me and now do I bear witness against all Forms of Religion and false Hirelings and chief Priests who walks in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees and of the false Prophets of Israel and was never sent of God to declare his Word And do freely Declare against all out-side Profession and Notion and do witness George Fox to be a true Minister of God one that speaks the Word of the Lord from his mouth one who was sent of God and who is the Servant and Messenger of the living God he is the Friend of God and wo unto his Persecutors they are the Seed of evil doers and now I am despised of my neighbors and carnal acquaintance and is not greater then my Lord who was called a Blasphemer and a Deceiver as
now I am but praised praised be the Lord for evermore who hath separated me from the World and worldly glories and hath made me a partaker of his Love in whom my Soul hath fall satisfaction joy and content Thus have I travelled through the World even unto the end and am now come to the beginning of that which never shall have end which the dark mind of man knows not E. B. I Am a Prisoner for the Truth sake and for Declaring to man of his Wickedness and of his Transgression of the spiritual Law of God which is spiritual and for writing of a Letter which was written from God to shew to man of his wicked ways and how he stood in the presence of God as by the spiritual Light of God which shines in the hearts of his servants was discovered and made manifest unto me for who Speaks Writes or Declares from the Light of God which doth discover all the dark paths of fallen man and all his spiritual Wickedness Speaks Writes and Declares not as from man whose light is only natural and carnal which is darkness in the pure Light which is eternal but as from God whose Light is spiritual and doth make manifest the secret Whoredom of fallen man and from this Light did the Prophets and Ministers of God who were sent by him to reprove Sin and Transgression Speak Write and Declare and in this Light did the true Prophets Ieremiah and Hosea discover Israel to be adulterous and in the presence of God to be guilty of Whoredom from whose presence they declared And all now who are sent of God to reprove for Sin and Iniquity declares from the same Light of God and by the same Spirit which Ieremiah and Hosea did For the pure Light of God is but one from generation to generation in all generation which discovers Sin and Iniquity the same Light now as in the time of the Prophets and Apostles and from this Light which is not carnal but eternal did all the holy men of God Write and Declare And all who are sent of God now witnesses the same Light and Speaks from the same Light now as they did then for who cannot witness this Light are no Ministers of God neither ever were sent of God to Declare the Truth from God but are Deceivers and blind Guids and speaâ—â— from the natural and carnal light the imagined and supposed light which hath not seen the living spiritual God for Declaring by Writing to a man that he is guilty of all manner of wickedness naming pride drunkenness and whoredom I am imprisoned I wrote not as from man whose light is only natural and carnal and doth only make manifest carnal Transgressions of a carnal Law but as from the eternal and spiritual light which doth make manifest spiritual Transgressions of a spiritual Law And in this Light is he to whom I wrote guilty of all manner of Wickedness Now this which I declared from God who is spiritual is above the reach and comprehension of the carnal and earthly Law for by the natural light through the earthly Law is no natural man able to judge of that which is spoken or declared from that which is eternal and spiritual for darkness cannot comprehend the light which light all the Servants and Ministers of God are guided by to Act Speak or Write and therefore do I deny to have this Cause put into the Judgement of carnal Lawyers who judges by the natural light through the earthly and carnal Law yet willing I am before any Authority to Answer for my self that whereof I am Accused but to the Judgement of earthly Magistrates I do not stand but to the Judgement of the Living and Eternal Judge who Judges not according to the sight of the eyes and hearing of the ears but who judges with Equity and Righteousness thus rather I chose to suffer imprisonment in the Body yet free as to God in the Truth waiting to be Redeemed not by the earthly Powers through the earthly Law but by him who is Eternal whose Law is Eternal who orders all things by his mighty Power to which Power I give up my self to be kept in it and ordered by it continually Here I have given to all People the ground of my Imprisoment in the particular of it though I might in few words have declared the thing for between the feed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent is Enmity put and he in whom the Seed of the Serpent is Ruling seeks the destruction of him in whom the Seed of the Woman is Raised And here is the Ground of all the Saints Imprisonment now as ever was the envy of the Devil working in Fallen man against the living Truth of God where it is made manifest By one who is a Labourer in the Vineyard who is not known to the World though named of the World EDWARD BURROUGH THE Walls of Jericho Razed down to the GROUND OR An Answer to a Lying Book called The Quaking Principles dashed in pieces Wherein one called Henoch Howet which goes under the name of an Anabaptist doth falsely accuse and maliciously belye us his seven Principles which he calls ours I shall lay down and what we own is vindicated and what he hath belyed the Truth in is turned upon his own head NOw is the time wherein the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is setting up a Kingdom and exalting his Name in the Earth and is exalting his own Son upon the holy Hill of Sion and is discovering the Mother of Harlots who hath made all Nations drunk with her Fornication and Iezabel shall be cast into a Bed of Torment and the fire of the Lord God is come down from Heaven and is kindled in the Earth to burn up and destroy and to consume to ashes even all those that have worshipped the Beast and hath his Image and the false Prophets that have deceived the Nations and they both shall be taken alive and cast into the pit for the Lord is grieved and wearied with this adulterous and viperous Generation who are offering up that which stinks in his nostrils and strange fire and are professing him and his Resurrection who crucifie him and put him to open shame and they deny the end of his coming and are offering in Cains nature while they slay the Just and are in the gainsaying of Corah who perished in it and so shall all those that gainsay the Lord in his Way and now the Lord of Heaven and Earth is proclaming War with the Dragon and his Angels and they shall be cast out and whosoever doth resist him in his way shall be broken to pieces as a Potters vessel and thou Henoch Howet who would limit the holy One of Israel and bind him up in thy carnal reason and stint him in his Way and Form up things in thy imagination from the Scripture and walks by Tradition thou art accusing us among the Papist but let it stand for
in your own wills despising the daily cross of Christ which if you walked in would bring down the high minde and high nature in you and through the Cross that which is low in you would be exalted and the witness of your Ordinances would you have within which you are seeking in the letter without And now Friend to the◠who wert the Speaker when I was present among you thy Name I know not but by thy nature and spirit thy spirit is the same which they speak from which thou seems to deny as false spirits and by that spirit hast thou been deceived and now it workes by thee to deceive others and that spirit infallibly by the eternal Spirit do I judge for the time is come that by the Saints the great Whore must be judged which hath made all the men of the Earth drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and which hath deceived the simple And whereas thou didst Quaery what one thing I will deny as untruth which you had spoken I answered then as now I do I do deny thy voyce and spirit for 〈◊〉 is the voyce of the stranger and not of Christ and though you sweare by that spirit The Lord lives I say surely thou swearest falsely and the false Prophets which used their tongues and said The Lord saith it when the Lord had not spoken unto them spoke the same words of the true Prophet but he that had the true spirit judged the false spirit and so it is now And therefore Friend out of love to thy soul I do advise thee to be silent before the Lord and wait upon him till he manifest himself to speak in thee and by thee for Friend thy Ministry is in the will of man and thou ministers death unto dead minds and the Ministery which is to the Seed thou art ignorant of to that in thy conscience I speak which shall witness for me before the Lord who is appearing in his power to utter his thunders and all Flesh shall tremble at his presence and all Forms of Worship will he dash to pieces at his appearance And yours which is the purest Form shall be broken to pieces that he may rule who is without form and comeliness Now Friends for the Seeds sake have I spoken and written to you and to that in your consciences have I cleared my conscience in the presence of the Lord which you shall Eternally witness whether you will hear or forbear By a Servant of the Lord who is named of the World Edward Burrough An Answer to a Book called A Voice from the word of the LORD by one Iohn Griffith against us whom the World calls Quakers wherein his false Accusations is denied and he proved to be a Slanderer and the Truth cleared from his Scandals A Certain Book being come forth into the world full of Lies and Slanders against the Innocent called A voice from the word of the Lord to those grand Impostors called Quakers to the Author of which Book who calls himself Iohn Criffith a Servant of Christ and to all to whomsoever it may come I am moved to write something in Answer that his lies and slanders and false reproaches may be made manifest and that he may proceed no further for as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses so doth he resist the truth being a man of a corrupt mind and reprobate concerning faith and is not a Servant of Christ nor a witness for his Name but a child of disobedience in whom the Prince of the aire rules And first to the title of thy Book I Answer the Word of the Lord is powerful and will cut thee down thou sensual minded man it thou knowest not but takes the words of others declared from the word which was in them and thou useth thy tongue and saith the Lord saith it but I say unto thee the Lord hath not spoken unto thee neither commanded thee to speak of his Name and I charge it upon thee in the presence of the Lord God of Life that thou art of that Generation which Ieremiah was sent to cry against Ier. 23. 31. for thou speaks thy imaginations upon their words which dwelt in the life of God but the life thou knowest not and thy whole Book is no more but an empty sound and voice and is as the untimely fruit of the womb which will wither and perish away and one of them I am whom thou calls Quakers to whom thou sayst thou directs thy speech but that we are grand Impostors I do deny for we are gathered up into the life which the holy men of God lived in and are fallen from the world and from its wayes and nature and I charge thee here to be a slanderer and from the mouth of the Lord I do declare unto thee that thou must have a slanderers reward And whereas thou sayst thou hast discovered their fleshly and filthy mindedness together with the judgments of God attending them I Answer Fleshly and filthy mindedness we have denied by the Power of the Son of God made manifest in us thou hast laid it to our charge but thou hast not proved it nor discovered it and here again thou are a false Accuser fleshly and filthy mindedness shall stand for thy own condition for there thou art in the flesh filth living to thy will in the lust of uncleanness for thou mayst remember thou camest out of the Bowling-Alley to our Meeting though Pharisee-like thy out-side is painted and made clean but thy heart is full of enmity and lies and slanders and false reproaches to that in thy conscience I do speak which shall forever witness me and as for the judgments of the Lord upon thy own head will they fall and with what measure thou metes it shall be measured to thee again we are passed from judgment and from the condemnation and who art thou thou enemy of righteousness that shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect. And whereas thou sayest thou art one that bears witness against those wandring starres I answer this shall stand for thy own condition a wandring star thou art and hath no habitation in the Heaven but speaks swelling words of vanity thou thy self being a servant of corruption we have an abiding place and an habitation in the Lord and are not wandring and here again I charge thee to be a false Accuser and a false witness who bears Witness of thy self for the Father bears no witness of thee but against thee Whereas thou sayst the most high God that made the heavens and the Earth hath moved thee and stirred thee up to bear witness to the Truth and to witness against the abominable fleshly mindedness and yet spiritual pride of those grand Impostors called Quakers by whose sorceries many are bewitched and drawn from the simplicity of the Gospell to another Gospel which is not another Gospel but the vanity of their own minds and their own fleshly and corrupt thoughts which they
that you may try every motion and every spirit and may by that which is infallible and errs not comprehend and judge that which is fallible and erring which flourisheth for a time but comes to an end is withered as that in your own Knowledge and Consciences will set to seal who have been strayed and scattered upon the Mountains in the cloudy and dark day but now the Light is breaking forth and the Day begins to appear and all you who abide faithful shall see the Glory of the Lord and shall enjoy him in the Land of the Living End of the Work of God We charge you all in the Lord that you who profess the Truth walk in it and who profess a change to let it appear by putting off the works of Darkness which by the Light are made manifest unto you and testified against by the Witness of God in you for know this that that which liveth in you which is contrary to God witnessed against by the Light of Christ shall be as a Prick in the eye and as a Thorn in the side for ever and Wrath is to be revealed upon him that spareth the best and saveth the fat from Judgment for to the slaughter all must come that Life and Glory may be made manifest and he that looks back by the way is not fit for the Kingdom and he that returns again to the pollutions his latter end is worse then his beginning and the Judgment of God cannot be escaped Therefore wait in the Power of God and stand in the Light which is the Armour against all temptations whereby the Darkness and Death and he that hath the power of Death is overcome and all that love the Light and are guided by it And all dear Friends who have tasted of the Love and Power of God and do witness the renting of the Earth dwell in the Power and pure Fear of the Lord that so all deceit may be kept down and under and take heed of the false Prophet speaking or suffering your minds to run out in the openings and so you will speak that which is opened in the Light and therefore we charge you all in the Presence of the dreadful God of Life and Power that you all wait in silence and wait to have Salt and Savour in your selves to know the Voice of Christ from the voice of the Stranger for till that be known in your selves you are not able to judge and therefore all wait in the Light which is the Eye which sees into the Mysteries of the Kingdom and none to utter a word but what you are Eternally moved unto or else that in every ones Conscience will bear witness against you and therefore be not hasty now when you see things open in your minds dwell in them and run not forth and speak but treasure them up in your hearts and take heed and keep low in the Fear of the Lord God that pride and presumption get not up nor nothing be exalted above that which is pure Dear Friends you are upon us as a great weight and burden lest we should have bestowed our labour in vain but we hope and trust the Lord will preserve you if you stand in obedience to that of God made manifest in you and so you will grow and take heed of striving and contending but judge that every one in your selves that you may all grow up in the pure Life of God And so the everlasting Power of God bless you all and keep you in his everlasting Love and Power and give the victory over your Enemies that you may come to witness eternal Life in you made manifest from God Your Brethren in the Work of the Lord E. B. F. H. To Friends in London DEar Friends in the evelasting Covenant of Life and Peace whom we bear witness of and unto whom we have declared and preached in season and out of season among yea and have often come unto in much weakness and fear and trembling and have not ceased day by day to watch over you lest any should start aside from the Hope of the Gospel which was declared amongst you in much demonstration of Spirit whereby your understandings came to be opened even by the Word of his Power which we directed you to wait in and for and you are Witnesses your selves of the Love and mighty Power of God which was made manifest among you which made the Heathen to rage and confounded the wisdom of the Wise So dear Children of Light of whom we have travelled in pains and great burdens that Christ might be formed in you fulfil ye our joy make our hearts glad in your growth up in him who hath called and spoken to you from Heaven by his Son in the Light and your ears have heard and your eyes have seen and you have been made to understand the Mystery of the Kingdom of God which is a Parable to all the World and sealed and cannot be read but to you who continue and abide in the Grace of God which hath appeared to all men which brings Salvation to all that walk and abide in it and leads to the Enterance and Earnest and the sealing of the Spirit until the time of the finishing transgreson and making an end of sin and so the everlasting Offering be witnessed which perfects for ever them that are Sanctified therfore all Friends whose minds are turn-to the Light and do witness a change in you by the working of the Spirit and now a door of Hope being set open abide in that measure every one and stay your souls upon him who is your Hope and keep low in the Fear to the just Principle of Life that you may have savour and discerning to know the Voice of Christ from the voice of a Stranger in your selves and in others and so grow up in the discerning and comprehend all spirits and judge them by the Light that makes all things manifest and all meet together in your several Meetings and watch one over another and be diligent all in your measure and take heed you neglect not and none be of a careless mind to meet and wait upon the Lord in silence for whose life stands only in words without such we deny for their eyes and ears are without and they would be ever learning and that is the silly woman that is loden with lust And all dear Babes take heed of taking liberty to the flesh nor give no ear nor liberty to the Earth but in the Cross dwell to the carnal and so you will witness the Plant of the Lord watered and a growth in the Immortal and the Seed you will see which is one in all which the Promise is to and all be still and cool and quiet and of a meek spirit that out of boysterousness and eagerness and feignedness and self-self-love you may be preserved in your measures up to God and if any be moved to speak a few words in your Meetings this we
charge you all That you speak nothing but that which is given in and in the sence and in the cross and do not add your own words for then you will burthen others who dwell in the Life and take heed of whispering and back-biting one another or uncovering one anothers nakedness but if any see any to be overtaken or walking disorderly reprove such a one privately and exhort private and bear and forbear one another and so love will encrease and your joy and your wisdom and your strength will grow and so the Lord God of Life preserve you all in his Wisdom and take heed of imaginations or running out and do nothing hasâ—ily but wait at Wisdom's Gate that so you may do all things in wisdom and all be faithful in your measures and give up all freely unto the Lord that he may take away your Enemies and bring you into everlasting Righteousness All Friends in your places Masters Parents Servants and Children in your places be diligent in that which is just unto the Lord that so the Name of the Lord by whom you are called be not dishonoured but that you may all dwell in the Counsel of the Lord in the Light of Christ single which keeps you out of all pollutions and out of that nature that starves you and darkens you and so the living God of Life preserve you for you are dear to us even all of you without respect of Persons who walk with the Lord and we cease not to make mention of you to the Lord and he hears us that you may grow up in the Life of Christ Jesus to follow the Lamb wheresoever he leads you or moves you for truly our hearts are bound to you in the Lord by one everlasting Cord and if you make us sorry who shall make as glad for you are our Crown of rejoycing in the Lord. Christ's sake E. B. F. H. To all the beloved Friends and Brethren and Sisters who are made Partakers of his eternal Word of Life by which you are gathered into one Light and Power in which is Life eternal abiding in it DEar Friends of God who have received and heard the Word the immortal Word with gladness and readiness who are accounted worthy to receive the Testimony of our Lord Christ our love in the eternal Life of God which endures for ever which is not limitted to Nations Kindreds Tongues and People is shed abroad in all and to all that wait upon Christ Jesus who is the Light the Love and the Gift of the Father which we are made Partakers of by which Gift Eternal Life and Peace for evermore is witnessed unto all them that continue and dwell in him who is Love Beloved in the Lord our thirsting is great after you that the Truth you have received from him whom we declared unto you contrary to our own wills in much weakness and much fear and often tears and much trembling and walking before you in Uprightness without fraud and dissimulation as Patterns and Examples and the Lord by his eternal working of his mighty Power made his own Ministry powerful unto you unto whom be glory for evermore So dear hearts in the Grace of God which hath appeared unto you which did convince you of sin and condemned sin in the flesh by which Power ye are saved from sin and brings Salvation unto you who walk in it in it dwell and wait for the day star of Iacob to arise and the Babe of Glory to be brought in you and made manifest and the Government may be upon his shoulders who rules in righteousness for ever There is a Crown before you and therefore our dearly beloved ones all wait and press on to the work before you in the Cross and on the Cross give up all to be slain and keep nothing back for if you do the Canaanite will vex you and trouble you and be a thorn in your eyes to blind the eye and so turn you into darkness but all keep low in the fear and wait that the head may be exalted and uncovered that so the man may bear rule who is not in the transgression and so in the living hope which is come to you from him who is the Life of men you may purifie your selves all the old Leaven may be purged out and so wait for the Faith of the Son of God which is born of God by which the Just lives and so the Everlasting you will come to see and so the Everlasting God of Life and Power preserve you all in one out of all jar and strife pure to himself in one that you may bear witness to his Name by your holy conversation in that great Place for I see there is more yet to come into the Fold in that City And so be diligent in your meeting together and his eternal Power and Presence you will see as you have done continually so grow up in the Life of God and here you are unknown to the World salute us to all the Church of Christ in the City without respect of persons whom we love and own in the Life that never dies and as many as are free write to us for a Friend here were precious indeed but none knows us here nor we are known to none but well known to the Elect and precious in whom we wait to hear from you to be refreâ—â—ed to heaâ— of you of the work of the Lord every where the Grace of God by which you are saved from 〈◊〉 be with you and in you to give you dominion over all in it we lie down with you and are your Brethren and Servants for Christs sake to whom be glory for evermore E. B. F. H. DEar Friends in the Truth of God without respect of persons grace mercy and peace from the Everlasting Father be multiplied among you thâ—t in the Faith and Love and every good work you may abound towards God and man 〈◊〉 may shew forth the praise of the Lord and walk as a People redeemed by him in all holiness and pureness that your good works may be seen and your light may shine before men Dearly beloved in the Lord my love doth salute you all who are â—â—pt in faithfulness to the gift of Grace received in which you walking Salvation it doth bring and redemption it doth manifest out of the World and out of its nature into the Image and likeness of the Son of God therefore dear Friends and Babes of God by the immortal Word of Life begotten and nourished who waiteth upon the Lord blessed are ye that wait to the end till he who is the Light of the World hath put all things under him and he to be exalted your Head if in that you dwell which from the beginning hath been heard you need no man to teach you but the Way you know and the Word of Life is your victory So keep to the measure that self-will and self-love may be judged and your Neighbour loved as
self and the living God who is Light above all who hath begun his work in you and among you with his right Hand will finish it And dear Friends keep nothing back nor the best nor the fat let not be spared from slaughter but let the Sword pâ—ss upon all that you peace may be for ever and your righteousness may never perish Oh how doth my Soul long to know and understand of the growth and unmovableness in the Truth manifested among you and gladly received by you even your Crowns you laid down at the feet of the Lamb and your glory and renown in the World Ye dispised for the Lights sake but your Reward shall be everlasting and your Inheritance shall never wither I speak not to puff you up but that you may the rather be kept low in subjection to the Light of the Lord Jesus by which self and that which would be exalted must be crucified and this is the victory and precious Faith which will purifie you and sanctifie you throughout from all filthiness of flesh and spirit in that Faith to stand as Witnesses for the Lord God in that great City and against all its pollutions and Idol gods which neither do hear see nor taste in wisdom as examples one to another in love and unity walk as children of the Day being past through he dark night where the works of darkness were committed but now being separated from the World joyn not your selves any moâ—â— to strange women which enticeth from God but sit under your own vine in peace dwelling with the Lord who is Light of whom you are become the Temple anâ— Tabernacle and watch in diligence one over another that as the day appears yoâ— may edifie one another and may be made one in the Light which is Christ upoâ— whom you have believed which unto you is precious but a stumbling Stone and a Rock of offence to all the World The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ preserve you that by it you may be preserved to walk in the pure Religion where your owâ— will is not to be done the Power of God Almighty fill your hearts with joy ad peace and love in him and this is the desire of my Soul who is a Labourer amongâ—â— you in the Work and Travel of the Gospel of Christ E. B. A General Epistle to Friends in London MY dear beloved Friends and Brethren in the Everlasting Unerring Trutâ— of which you are made Partakers who are called of God his Witnesseâ— to be of his Name and of his Truth with my dear love I do salute you dearly and tenderly and all the rest of the Begotten of God in that City whom my soul longeth after your growth in the inward man the Everlasting Father strengthen you and refresh you with the living Streams from his Presence and his Love and Power and Grace be multiplied among you unto whom he hath opened a Door and made an entrance into the true Rest which remaineth for you unto which the Lord of Glory is gathering you and leading you and carrying you as Lambs in his Arms into the Fold of everlasting Refreshing my dear hearts walk woâ—thy of the love of God wherewith he hath loved you and let your Light shew ye Children of Light forth into the World that your good Works they may see who over you watch with an evil eye Dear Friends to you that believe he who is the Light of the World is precious therefore in the Light wait that your Understandings may be opened and your Feet prepared to walk in the Wayes of the Lord which to all the Children of Light are pleasant Wayes and be not entangled with any yoak of bondage which may burthen you from running the raâ—e that is set before you but in the death of all mortal stand and there the Life of immortallity you will see and witness and the daily Food you will receive to that Life which the love of the World doth crucifie for do you not know that the friendship of this World is at emnity against God but you are called not to serve the World but God who is the Light and the World must serve you so take heed lest your affections and desires and hearts be drawn aside from the pure Way of Life into that which is visible which will not endure forever for that life is death and that glory is shame in the Light I read you and do behold many pleasant Plants springing up in the Garden of God and I bear you record some of you have laid your Crowns down at the Lamb's Feet and have scorned the glory of Babylon and Aegypt surely your Reward will be everlasting and your Câ—ps will the Lord fill in the sight of your Enemies and your Glory shall be above the glory of the Earth and your Crowns shall never wither therefore press on and look not back nor spare not the fat nor the best from slaughter but to the Sword bring all your Enemies which have been they of your own house which over you have prevailed but now the Lord is arising among you and the day you have seen of the shaking of the Earth and the Heavens and of the darkness of the Sun and of the falling of the Stars therefore wait to the end that the Crown of Immortallity you may wear and with the Instrument of the Lord the Mountains you may thresh and may give the Whore double reward into her bosom for all her wayes The day among you begins to dawn therefore put of every work of the night and walk all in the day for ye are the Light of the World and a City set upon a Hill which cannot be hid the Lord prosper you and preserve you and be with your spirits and establish you Amen Edw. Burrough Dublin the 14th of the 5th Moneth 1655 THE VISITASION Of the Rebellious Nation of Ireland And a Warning from the Lord proclaimed to all the Inhabitants thereof to make their Peace with him before his Long-suffering come to an end With a Lamentation over its Unfruitness and Rebellion after so many Visitations And an Exhortation to all the honest-hearted to meet the Lord by repentance while the patience of the Lord continues Or the Sealing of the Lord's Testimony unto all sorts of People in that Land by his Servants after their several moneths sore labours and travels and sufferings therein who loved not their lives for the Seed sake Also some particular Papers written in that Nation to several sorts of People I. An Information to the Heads and the Ground of the Law laid down to the Iudges and Iustices and to all that handle the Law through that Nation II. An Exhortation sent to the chief Commander and his Councel and the just cause of the Innocent laid before them III. The unjust Sufferings of the Iust declared and their appeal to the just Witness of God in all mâ—ns Consciences IV. A Challenge to the Priests of Dublin to try
Law which is righteous and do witness the justness and goodness and holiness of it but if you make a Law in your own wills and judge by such a Law then you will make the Innocent suffer and oppress them who walk in the Law of God and in the exercise of a pure Conscience Christ was put to death by such a Law and the Saints in all Generations were persecuted by such Laws which were made in the will of man contrary to the Will and Law God Therefore take â—eed to your selves lest God hew you down and your Law together and condemn yoâ— by his righteous Law eternally which Law of God needs not to be made but iâ— made already and to be witnessed by the Light in every mans Conscience to Justification or condemnation and is revealed in all that love Righteousness So take heed what you do and know your place and the length and breadth oâ— your law which is committed to you which is to keep the outward man in good order and the Nations in peace and truth and from Theft and Murder and Adultry and Fighting and Quarrelling and Drunkenness and Wronging one another and such like such who acts these things walk contrary to the Light and so brings themselves under the penalty of the law but over the inward man you law which is outward hath no power to bind to limit or to tie too or from any way of worship in Religion but let Religion defend it self and lay not your laâ— upon the Conscience to exercise dominion over it for it is Christs Seat in whoâ— he will rule lest you be found Tyrants and numbred for destruction nor liâ—â—â— not the Spirit of the Lord how when where and by whom it must speak for the Holy-men of God in all Ages ever cryed against such laws as were contrary to the Law of God and did limit the Spirit of the Lord and against such Rulers as did judge false Judgment and for Gifts and Rewards and against such Priestâ— and Prophets as preached for Hire and divined for Money and sought for their Gain from their Quarter and made a prey upon the People and through Coveteousness made merchandize of souls Therefore be ye warned if such you uphold by a law which act those things which the Scripture declares against which the Holy-men of God gave forth by his Spirit the Scripture which you profess shall stand a Witness against you and the Law of God will condemn you and God will lay your honour in the dust and cast you out of the Seat of Judgment But judge the cause of the Poor and Needy of the Widow and Fatherless and joyn Mercy with Judgment and lay your Swords upon oppression and all tyrany and wrong dealing that the Land may cleansed of evil Doers and Equity and Righteousness may flow down and the Nation in good order may be kept iâ— Peace and Righteousness and so God will establish you among his Children who are taught of him alone and are far from oppression To the Light of God in all your Consciences I do speak which if you make laws contrary to it and judge contrary to it it is the eternal Condemnation of you and of your laws and judgment And remember you are warned in your life time and my Conscience is cleared to you and in the Day of the Lord you shall witness 〈◊〉 to be truâ— and this to be the Word of the Lord to you whether you will hear or 〈◊〉 â—ear Written to you by a Friend of Righteousness and true Iudgment from the Spirit of the Lord as moved of him in love to all your souls to go abroad among the Heads and Rulers and Iudges in Dublin and elsewhere through the Nation of Ireland from one who is called a Quaker by Scorners whose name in the flesh is Edward Burrough Written at Dublin the 23d of the 8th Moneth 1655. And now Oye Heads and Rulers happy had you been if you had taken the counsel of the Lord and submitted to have obeyed his Word which came to you as moved of him but in that you have neglected and have made laws in your will and exercise lordship over the Conscience and have limited the Lord and have purposed to â—e a â—error to good and strengthened the wicked and have not regarded the Will of God but have persecuted and imprisoned the Innocent and â—udged 〈◊〉 your own hearts therefore according to the Word of the Lord your blood will be upon your own heaâ—s for you have not taken Warning and I am 〈◊〉 hereof for ever An Exhortation sent to the chief Commander and his Council and the just Cause of the Innocent laid at their door WE who are Servants of the Lord of Hosts who is the Protector of Heaven and Earth we who stand in his Fear and know his Coâ—nsel are moved of him who lives for ever who is I Am and there is none besides him to clear our Consciences and our Lords Truth from the Lyes and Slanders which are cast upon us and the Good Way of the Lord which envious spirits whâ—â— are proud and know nothing that cannot abide sound Doctrine do reproach and slander us and by false 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things to our charge which we never knâ—w therefore we being innocent and clear cannot but deny and 〈◊〉 witness against all those proceedings which are â—ot according to the Law of Righteousness and equity and lay thâ—… at your door whom it nearly concernâ— Unto thee Henry Cromwel who is Commander in chief for the Affairs of Ireland and to thy Council we write We have seen two several Warrants â—â—der your 〈◊〉 dated at Dublin and in them both you say You have received information at your board of great disorders and disturbances of 〈◊〉 in the Couâ—… of â—â—rkâ— and Places adjacent by Francis Howgill aâ—d Edward Burrough This we say unto you your Informer hath declared an â—â—truth at your Board and we deâ—â—re that you may make it appear where in we have made any disturbance or disorder all these things in your Warrants we deny and do charge you in the Name of the God of Justice to send for them that so informed you that have so abused you and are so bold and impudent as to declare unto you any such thing and so have caused you to bring guilt upon your selves in sending ouâ— your Warrants to bring the Innocent before your Judgment-seat and caused us to be dragged a hundred Miles from place to place as Mâ—lefactors and as though we had done some criminal act and when we have dome before yoâ— you had nothing to lay to our charge but have endeavoured to give Sentence of Banishment of us out of your Nation who are free-born English men nor have we been burthenfom to your Nation nor transgressed any known Law of the Nation and you have judged us before our 〈◊〉 came and herein you do us great injustice and you act contrary to the Law of Equity and
that which you your selves in your own case would not alloâ— to that in all your Consciences I speak Oh that ever you should thus reqâ—… the Lord for his Love and Mercy in breaking the Yoak oâ— the Oppressor from off your necks and now power is given into your hands to relieve the Innocent and to set the Opressed free to execute Judgment and righteousness upon the Transgressors whom the Law is against And this doth God require of you that his Wiâ—â— may be done and your wills denied that so the Nation may be established in Righteousness and that your latter end may be better then your beginning but if you go on in the way you are beginning and â—urâ— Justice backward and lâ—â— Equity fall in the Streets and not suffer Judgment to enter then misery will be your end Wo is me for you have all forgot the Rock from whence you were hâ—â—en and the Deliverances of the Lord to you in the time of diâ—â—â—â—ss yea you have forgotten and your hearts are lifted up and by your policy think to establish your own wills and to limit the Holy One a Way and set up your Standard by his and truâ—â— in the arâ— of flesh What is become of the liberty of tender Consciences you havâ— spoken of and we have engaged with you to purchase And is it ended in this Oâ— horrible hypocrisie that they who bear witness against all sin and iniquity and against all deceit that they should now be made a prey of And we charge all iâ— the Name of the Living God in Ireland to convince us of evil or the transgression of any Law and if it cannot be done let none lay hold on us to abridge 〈◊〉 of our liberty lest you bring guilt upon your selves And do not take counsel at them nor hold them up who are Hirelings and walk in the steps of the false Prophets and in the error of Balaam who speak for Gifts and Rewards who in all Generations resisted every appearance of God in his Saints and now would make all bow to their Image and they bend their tongues and report Lyes and make Lyes their refuge the Hand of the dreadful God of Heaven and Earth is against them yea the Lord will thunder from Heaven against them they shall be blown away in the Whirle-wind of Gods Wrath who have perverted the Way of the Lord because they stand not in the Counsel of the Lord but flatter you 〈◊〉 they have done the Princes in all Generations till all were laid waste together Wo is me for you Have you consulted have you taken counsel together agaiâ—â—â— the Lord and his Servants whom he hath sent unto you and do you thus requiâ—â— the Lord already Have you sent out your Decree to shut out and root out the Seed of Iacob in a day whom the Lord hath made choice of above all the Families of the Earth Surely your Decree will be broken and your Cords wiâ—◠〈◊〉 but as a Bulrush for them whom you now set at nought are precious in the Eyâ—â— of the Lord and unto our God shall you bow and worship at his feet Consider if there be any honesty left among you What is become of all the Persecutâ—â—â— of old And will you tell of Reformation and yet act in the foot-steps of the Persecutors If you go on you are at the brink of destruction and at â—â—e sides of the pit and you will be made a ruinous Heap and as desolate as Moâ—… Esau which is a place for Dragons Was not persecution ever blind Would they ever own themselves to be such For verily if you knew us you would 〈◊〉 have done so unto us When Herod stretched out his hand to vex certain of the Church the next you hear of him he is eaten up of Worms The dread of the Lord of Host is upon all the proud and lofty and high Oaks and the wind oâ— the Almighty shall blow them all down root and branch and all your strength is which you trust if you take counsel at Aegypt will become as a bowed Wall and as a rotten Hedg and God will make them that exalt themselves against him 〈◊〉 a Dunghil and as the Princes of Gog of Mesek and Tubal which are all perished among the rest of the uncricumcised Oh ye Potsheards do you think yâ—â— can limit the Lord will he be instructed by you he that reproves him let hiâ— answer it Can you command the wind that it blow not upon the Earth Câ—â— you stop the Waves of the Sea and say unto them he still Can you stop the Bottles of Heaven that it rain not If you cannot all be silent and 〈◊〉 not to resist the Lord in his own Work which he is bringing to pass in this 〈◊〉 own day he will confound the wisdom of the wise and bring to nought the honourable of the Earth and make all as a Plain before him who can withstand him Oh ye Potsheards fear and tremble before him who is a consuming Fire to all the ungodly who is visiting the Transgressors with vengeance dread and fury and putting into their hands a Cup of trembling and making Ierusalem a burthensom Stone all that meddle with it shall be wearied they shall faint and bow themselves and sink under it and be crushed as with a Cart-wheel to pieâ—es and their names shall rot from under Heaven and all shall know our God is the living God yea the God of gods yea there is none like him and know this no power you had of us except it had been from above We were with you in the City of Dublin near three moneths some of us and none laid hands on us but the time was not come and till the Testimony of the Lord was near finished which he sent us to do none could lay hands on us And know this though this be a time of temptation and trial yet it shall be for the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ and though you think in your hearts by sending us out of your Nation that so all will cease and Deceit will stand without molestation I tell you nay even the children that are yet in the womb shall be brought forth and hear witness against the deceit of this Generation And know this there is a Stump which is but little which is bound about as with Iron and Brass and out of it shall spring fire that shall be kindled and flame to the torment of all them who worship the Beast and have received his mark and to the tormenting of all the false Prophets in the Nation and it shall burn and none shall be able to quench it many shall bear witness unto us that we came not in our own names but in the Name of the Living Eternal God who by his power hath accomplished his own Work for his own Glory and many shall bless us in the Name of the Lord and all our Opposers shall gnash their Teeth and gnaw their tongues
as you do neither did one go from the Command which had been given to another using anothers words and excercising themselves in anothers practises when the Lord had not commanded but such they bare witness against which did use their tongue and transform themselves into the likness of true Prophets and Apostles as you have done and are in the love of the World and only separated in the appearance and not in the ground You stumble at the â—ight and therefore know not the Door of entrance nor where the Commands of Christ are to be received and the Will of God to you is to be known and so your obedience is the conformity in your own wills to that which was the Will of God to another this Sacrifice is also lame and blind and God saith to you Who hath required this at your hand For if you have observed and done all those things which the Declaration of the Law and Gospel doth require you are unprofitable Servants and yet one thing do you lack the dying with Christ and the Sufferings and Cross of Christ is not known but in the liberty of the flesh you are and not in the condition of the Promise to Life Eternal Friends you have ruâ— into the form of Godliness without the Power into a Church which is not in God but of the World into a Baptism which doth not wash away sin for you live in sin and plead for it while you live upon Earth into a Communion which is not with God which no unclean thing can enter into for the Proud and Coveteous partake with you and while some of you have said they that preached for Hire have been Antichristian you your selves are fallen into the same abomination taking Gifts and Rewards and large somes of Money and upholding such who do it Here you are unjust to your own Principle and are for condemnation with the Light in your Consciences Let shame cover your heads ye Hypocrites your covering will not hide you nor your high talking of Christ without you so long professed by you will not justifie you while you are found disobeying this Light in your Consciences which Light is one with God with Christ and with the Spirit in its measure and it doth convince you of sin and is a command to you and would lead you if you walked in it from all iniquity which is the Will of God to you and to that mind which is carnal which ruleth in you the Commands of Christ which are Spiritual are not given nor can be received but say Lo here and Lo there Christ is to be found with the Light you are comprehended which if the least measure of it you did own it would lead you to the Baptism inward of the heart and to the Church which iâ— in God whereof Christ is the Head in every Member and into the Communion with God and to follow the Lamb of God wheresoever he goeth and out of your imitations and liknesses and strife and contention about the words given forth from the Spirit who are in your own unity in Division and several Meanings and divers Constructions and Judgments and several wayes of Obedience and Worships and Belief which by your imaginations you draw from the Scripture which is the Declaration but of the one God and one Truth of one Obedience and of one Faith and thus you exalt the great Image of many mixtures your selves being a chief Member of his body You say the Scripture is your Rule but are divided into Opinions and Conceits contrary to the Scripture every one worshipping that which you imagine from the Scripture not being in the Unity of the Spirit which gave forth the Scripture which is one and not divided in Obedience Worship or Faith and while you say the Scripture is your Rule your lives are squared by the spirit of the Divel and hewn out into Pride and Hypocrisie and love of the World And to you who are called Free-willers who say Christ died for All. HErein you affirm that whereof you are ignorant which may be true in Christ but a Lye unto you for you are not dead with Christ from the Rudiments of the World but are alive against him in the World they for whom he died are dead and they who yet live put him to death Free-will unto the wayes and fashions and vanities of the World stands in you you know not the daily Cross of Christ which is unto man's will nor what it is to follow Christ and obey him which is contrary to man's will You say He that is condemned it is because he will not believe this is true in Christ but not in your carnal apprehensions of the natural man in whom there is no power to believe He that hath an ear let him hear There are some true desires among you but your minds are not truly informed to the fulfilling of your desires and your minds are outward and apply peace to that which is for condemnation Your reason and wisdom is corrupted and cannot receive Truth but call it error and this is your sin Death over you hath passed and reigns over you as over all men and your knowledge is in time and you cannot hear of things which were before the World was your wisdom is sensual and your comprehension is strong and the little simplicity in you is betrayed by the subtilty which hath dominion in your Governour Your Crown must be laid down and Fools must you become before you be truly wise or can be crowned with the Lamb. And among the rest Remember you had warning and a Day of visitation before you were destroyed and this shall be by you witnessed in the day of the Lord. To all you who say you wait and believe for the Coming of Christ to Reign in Person upon Earth HEre you the Lord's Controversie which he hath against you The Way of his coming is not prepared but Rocks and Mountains are standing and Valleys are not filled up and rough and crooked is your present way your hopes and expectations in that ground wherein they spring will wither and fade away as the Grass for your hope of his comming hath no whit purified you as he is pure for you are in the flesh and in the liberty of it which is Rebellion to his Reign and Christ is kept in Prison in exile with that mind and the Divel is yet at liberty working in your earthly members and leads you captive into his covenant in his government in seeking your selves and to strengthen your selves in the Kingdom of the World and murmur that any should be above you and that is he which put Christ to death and will not have him to reign in his Power over the Earth and to you what purpose is it to desire the day of his coming for with wrath will he come and with vengeance will â—e appear and will break your Kingdom like a Potters vessel for suddenly will he come but your
expectation will be prevented for his Reign and Kingdom is not of this World Your high nature stands and Satan is not bound nor one of the dayes of the thousand years for his limit is not yet come your minds are outward and they are your own thoughts which are vain you know not of what Spirit you are The Sufferings of Christ must you know before you can see him Reign and through his War must you strive before you can obtain his Victory and him must you own in his convincing you of sin before you can witness his reign in Glory upon Earth over sin To all you that are called Ranters THe Controversie of the Lord God is against you your Seat is in the mystery of iniquity and Satan transformed into an Angel of Light is your god and King and the Kingdom of the second Beast is your Dominion your deadly Wound is falsly healed and Satan thereby hath enlarged his Government you continued not to the end but the Prince of Darkness is more strongly entred and your latter end is worse then your beginning and your last end will be the worst of all while you have scorned self-righteousness your selves have been impudently poluted with the spiritual Wine of Whoredom and though you have cryed against and abhorred the form of Religion your selves have been in the highest power of Iniquity sold to do wickedly and given up to commit sin with greediness glorying in your shame and are become vain in your Imaginations your foolish hearts being darkened because when ye knew God you glorified him not as God The womb of your corruption is the wel-favoured Harlot begotten by the false Prophet Plead with your Mother for she is an Adultress and hath aboundantly gone after other Lovers loving their Bed of Adultry where ever she saw it naked shall she be stripped and set as in the day that she was born and no Mercy shall be to you her Children You had a Convincement under the Law and were brought under condemnation some of you but as the viperous Generation you have fled the wrath and now are become Enemies to the Cross of Christ and turn the Grace of God into wantonness which largly to you appeared which would wholly have sanctified you if iâ— it you had walked but having slain the Witness of God you now are in the cursed peace following Drunkenness and cursed Speaking and Swearing and beastly Lusts and beggerly Vanities sporting your selves as in the day time and you are the Crucifiers of Christ afresh and Putters of him to open shame in the sight of the Heathen And while you speak swelling words of vanity your selves are the Servants of corruption and of sin in the highest degree and free from Righteousness in the least measure doing despite unto the Spirit of Grace and being bound in the Chains of darkness and your professed freedom is devilish stolen by you and is not the Freedom of the Son of God purchased through death you never came through the Law but by your Oaths and Drunkenness and Prophaness have cast it behind your backs you that are in wantonness do kill the Just and you that are in pleasures are dead while you live and you that live in fleshly lusts are in War against your own souls Iezabel is your Prophetess and the Dog that is turned to thâ— Vomit again is your example and seven unclean spirits worse then the first are entred upon you that is your Parable and your House is become the Den of Robbers which was once the House of prayer the Hand of the Lord is against you and his Breath will kindle the torment of Tophet upon you and everlastingly shall it burn upon you and shall not be quenched and your professed love shall be turned into my Wrath and Fury and sin shall you find in its Vengeance though you have seen none in the action and my Witness which you have slain to gain peace shall arise to your everlasting trouble saith the Lord and your myrth shall be turned into everlasting sorrow and your communion in unrighteousness shall become your unity in the just indignation of wrath and your liberty enjoyed in the World shall be turned into your bondage in the â—ake of Fire and your wisdom and knowledge shall rot in the pit and your righteousness and uprightness which once was in you shall never be mentioned to you for your own iniquities shall you bear in the Day of the Lord With the eternal Light you are comprehended your beginning which was in judgment and your time which is in false peace and false liberty and love and fleshly joy and your end which will be everlastingly miserable And though you speak of the Light and what it once wrought yet being from it turned into Darkness bringing forth fruits of Darkness and unrighteousness the Light is your eternal condemnation and because you are the highest stone in the Building of mystery iniquity the greater will be your fall into the Ditch of deeper perdition you have been the greatest dishonourers of the true God and in the way of the upright are you a stumbling unto this day your state is read and your portion is foretold and this prophesie shall not fail but upon your heads shall be fulfilled To all you that are called Seekers and Waiters THe Lord hath many things against you and his Controversie will be with you you are the highest in the Image of many mixtures and your Tent is pitched in the Plains of feigned humility and your goodly building stand upon the Sand repaired and beautified by the scattered stones gathered out of the ruins of the former Cities of confusion among you there is a simplicity and a calm spirit for you have been poured from vessel to vessel and your scent is not so strong as the former neither is your growth so perfect in the mystery of iniquity as by appearing in so perfect a shape of the Serpent you seek not at the true Door nor wait not at the Gates of Life and your seeking will end before life eternal you find for you with the rest stumbles at the Foundation and in him who is the Light of the World and enlighteneth every man that cometh into the World you cannot believe you are airy in your words and knowledge and speak of that which through death you never obtained your knowledge is high but it ariseth out of the cursed ground which is not removed in you Form outward you deny but your Form is inward and your chiefest Idol is in your heart and while you say you eat and drink the Flesh and Blood of Christ in the Substance you slay him in his least measure and your wills prophesie a false peace which will be turned into true trouble and when you speak the mans head is covered and the womans head is uncovered and this is a shame that the woman hath not power on her head your Seeking and Waiting is of your selves and
in your own time and the Lord is not all and in all among you for your Mother is not the Lords wife but married unto a Harlot and your seed is mixed with strange Children A Prophet was your Father and a Whore brought you forth and your Profession will wither as time passeth away and your covering is too narrow and your righteousness no more regarded then your sin for the Spirit convinceth of it as of sin with the Light everlasting your height and depth is comprehended And this to you is a Warning for a Preparation to meet the Lord and to put away your other Lovers The Beast which all the World wonders after but they whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life hath many Heads and many Horns ANd the great Image set up in the Earth worshipped by Nations and People is of many mixtures and it shall fall before the little Stone which strikes at the Bottom All your several Forms and divers appearances outward and different Judgements and Opinions will stand you in no stead in the dreadful day of the Lord which upon all flesh is coming and hastning in its glory Wo wo will be the end of all profession when Christ comes in his own way contrary to all your divided expectations and groundless hopes He was before the world was and doth and shall reign for ever when it is not and in this his day will the Lord God set up an everlasting Kingdom of whose Government and Dominion there shall be no end but it shall abide for ever and your divided Kingdom of the Beastly power and authority shall be dashed to pieces never more to be found and your Mountains shall be burned and your righteousness and your sin shall meet in the Pit of everlasting Wrath receiving the Sentence of eternal Judgment from him that sits upon the Throne of infinite Power and Glory and your rich Treasures shall be spoiled in a Day and your sun and light shall be darkned at Noon-day and all your goodly Buildings shall be thrown down and shall become the Habitation of Dragons I have viewed you all in the eternal Light and you are weighted in the Ballance of Equity and all your wise Builders stumble at the Foundation and at the Corner-Stone and Christ Jesus is become an offence unto you in his Light by which he hath enlightened every man that comes into the World of which you are unbelieving and therefore shut up in darkness and confusion groping as blind men being many Branches of one Root planted in the barren cursed ground of enmity And though you are divided as Herod and Pilate yet do you joyn your selves in one Body to war against the Lamb and his Followers who cannot bow to your great Image and you are listed in the Records of Gog and Magog against whom the Lamb is risen and his Followers come forth having the Bow and Sword conquering and going to conquer and will make you a Desolation for ever All your Sacrifice is corrupted and the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is weary with your Oblations and Offerings your hearts are far from him and your hands are full of blood and the Just lyeth slain in every corner of your Streets and the Earth covereth the blood of the Innocent and the Slain cryeth How long Lord how long But he hath heard in an acceptable time and will come forth in his Might and will slay and his Hand shall not spare and will wound and his Eye shall not pity Awake awake ye Careless and Slothful that have laid at ease in the dark night of Slumber and Come out come out ye Upright-hearted and separate your selves and touch no unclean thing nor no longer partake of their Idolatries and Inchantments The Lord is now coming to gather his own and to make up his Jewels of the Despised and his Angels are gone forth to Reap the Earth to bring in the Wheat and to bind the Tares in bundles for the fire of everlasting Fury and Babel shall be thrown down and the great Whore shall be rewarded which sits upon the Nations and Tongues and People and the Dregs of the Cup of Wrath shall be wrung out unto her and the Kingdom of the man of sin shall utterly be laid waste and every Subject shall be utterly driven away into everlasting captivity of Vengeanee and all your Sects and Opinions and many Wayes and Forms and Worships shall become heaps of Confusion for ever And your talking of Christ without you so long and largely professed by you shall not save you nor justifie you in another World who are found Enemies and Actors against his Light present in the World which is but one in you all at which you all stumble and by which you shall all be broken and which shall grinde you to powder and be your eternal Condemnation in this World and forever which Light shines in your darkness and convinceth every one of you of your sin which Light if it you love is your Way to Peace with God Eternal and will lead you into one Truth to be of one heart and one mind and to serve one God with one accord in loving him with all the heart and your Neighbour as your self and this is Sacrifice of the living God only accepted And to you all sorts of People my Conscience do I clear to the Light in all your Consciences which is but One without respect to your Persons whether you hear or forbear And this to you all is a Warning and A Trumpet sounded out of Sion your many gods and Idols to forsake and your Forms without power to turn away from and all your graven Images set up in your hearts to cast away And this is the Word of the Lord to you all which upon you all shall be fulfilled and by you witnessed when the Book of your Conscience is opened and your eternal judgment rewarded by the just Judge that sits upon the Throne of true Judgment judging nations and People righteously TO all you who are in the Light of eternal Life which doth comprehend the World who are born from above of the Immortal Word which doth live for ever who are not of the World nor of the many Opinions in Divisions but of one Heart Soul and Spirit Worshippers of the one living God with whom there is no change nor shaddow of turning who are not known to the World though by it scornfully called Quakers even you doth the Lord also remember with everlasting Kindness and infinite Love of whose beginning and end there is none and whose height and depth measure and limit cannot be found out for you hath he chosen above all the Families of the Earth to place his Name among and to stablish his everlasting Covenant with of Righteousness and Peace forever and Redemption and Salvation to you is come Judgment and Mercy in you is met Righteousness and Peace in you hath embraced each other In the womb of eternal
you filled with confusions and thus it is justly come to pass upon you because of your transgressions Again you say In the sâ—â— neglect and wâ—â—t of Activity Resolution and Integrity in Magistrates and others impowered therein for the punishment and suppression of Vice and crying Enormities I answer True it is a sad neglect and want of Activity and Integrity in the Magistrates hath been and is to punish and suppress vice and therefore it abounds in all fulness in the very Streets and it hath been wholly contrary for Vice hath gone at liberty while the Magistrates and such who have been impowered have been active and full of rigour and no neglect found in them to punish or rather to oppress and suppress the Innocent and Meek of the Earth and even they have done violence to the Harmless witness most parts of Prisons this day in England how many have been beat and abused and haled and knocked down with Staves in the sight of some of the Magistrates and how many have been imprisoned for passing on the High-wayes and through their Towns and some for declaring against Vice and crying Enormities which one day must be laid to yours and their charge for a sad neglect hath been for want of Justice and true Judgment and they that have been impowered have turned their power against the Lord and have been active to lay their Sword upon the guiltless while the guilty have gone free witness many who have been beat in your Steeple-houses by violent men and afterwards committed to Prison while the Peace-breakers and Violent have gone free and indeed it is time to lay these things to heart for till you purge your selves from these iniquities you shall never be established nor your Dominions in peace for these things and such like abominations are you filled with distractions and fears compass you about and that justly from the hand of the Lord as the Light in your Consciences shall answer in the dreadfull day of account which cometh suddenly upon you Again you say In the abominable blasphemies vented and spread of late through the Apostacy of and the abuse of liberty by many professing Religion Answ. No doubt but Blasphemy is a crying sin whereof the Land is guilty if you were able to judge thereof but rather indeed this cause is not rightly stated for you call that Blasphemy which is Truth such is the grievous ignorance of some of you And this I am sure is your greater sin condemning the guiltless rather then suffering the guilty in this particular Friends beware lest your judgment be so corrupted that you call evil good and good evil and thereupon approve the evil and reprove the good being given up to hardness of heart and blindness of mind and such were the sins of the Rulers in Israel who persecuted the true Prophets under the account of Blasphemy and such like and approved of the Prophets that prophesied falsly and of the Priests that bore rule by their means for the People loved to have it so Ier. 5. My soul wisheth that you Rulers may be wise and ye Judges may be learned in this particular lest you go in the way of your fore-fathers to destruction persecuting the Innocent without cause through false judgment of the way of Truth which may be called by you Heresie and Blasphemy who in the blindness of your minds cannot discern of the things of God for in that way which the wisdom of the World calls Heresie do we worship the God of our Fathers and verily so much the more I may warn you herein to take heed for the time to come because you have some of you been highly guilty of this transgression of late even in condemning the guiltless concerning this offence so that thus for you I may more truly state the particular In the abominable violence and oppressions acted of late upon the Innocent and them who have worshipped God in the Spirit through the wickedness of some Rulers and the abuse of liberty by them which have professed love to God and his Way through the false judgments and unsavoury opinions of many who have called Truth Error and the Way of God Blasphemy And this is your sin of which if you that are guilty repent not and turn from it and beware of it for time to come your honour shall fall into the dust and your fall shall be more deeper into confusion and destruction then any that have yet gone before you for of late the Lord powerfully hath begun to work and to vent his Truths through the Mouthes of his Servants and to bring out of the Apostacy and Blasphemies which hath reigned since the dayes of the Apostles the true and pure Religion which stands in the exercise of a pure Conscience Again you say In the little love and tenderness which is even amongst Professors themselves towards one another who whilest they contend for things disputeable lose thâ— which is certain even charity without which they become as sounding Brass or tinkling Cymbals Answ. This is also your sin and the sin of the Nation want of love and tenderness in Professors towards God and one towards another and that love which appears is but the shew and in the form and likeness of things and not from the true ground of love and peace and these are they that hate the Light and walk not in the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath lighted every man that comes into the World in which the unity of the Saints doth stand and in which their love is one to another and they that are out of the Light are without charity which is the bond of perfection and these that know not the Light of Christ to guide them in the Wayes of God are in all their profession and words and actions as sounding Brass and as a tinkling Cymbal and these are they that are in the Disputes and Contentions and Strife about the Letter drawing their own Consequences and Deductions from it in their own wisdom and knowledge and sensual understanding and those lose the Substance and know not that which is certain Christ Jesus in them to be Ruler over them but are as dry Trees to be plucked up and all their Profession will wither and all their pretended love will perish and their shew of things in the outward appearance will be confounded who know not the Light of Christ to guide them which Light is the ground of true love and tenderness and brings to the knowledge of things certain out of the contention of things disputable But further you say In allowing difference in Forms more power to divide Christians then Agreements in fundamentals has to unite them one of the dangerousest and fruitfulest seeds that hath been sown by the envious One Answ. Christians are they that follow Christ Jesus who are not so only in name but in practice and they are one and cannot be divided as they walk in the Light which comes from Christ who is
Leaf and as an ungirded Vessel full of strife and distraction fears and jealousies eveâ— among your own selves unsetled in your Wayes and Thoughts in Truth Mercy and Peace but in Gainsayings and Oppositions and Confusions stand tottering like a rotten Hedge and the Proud are exalted and the poor are despised and they that love Sion are set at nought and verily you go not the way to settle the Nations upon the true Foundation but backslides from the Way of Truth Which is the Foundation upholding of iniquity and establishing the false Prophets and Diviners by a Law and such whom the Lords wrath is against who upholds the horrible filthy thing and abominations of the Earth and confusion is upon them till they be overthrown never to deceive the Nations more Therefore hear ye Deaf and look ye Blind and understand ye Hard-hearted love Truth and Mercy and Peace in your own hearts and and depart from Iniquity and cast away your Idols and cease from evil and learn to do well and put away the evil of own doings and turn to the Lord in this the day of your Visitation and to the Light of Christ Jesus wherewith he hath lightened you take heed thereby to be guided every one in particular in fear and tenderness towards God and towards man not ruling in Tyranny and Oppression nor making Laws in your own wills according to your own thoughts as some that went before you have done till they were cut off as you are Witnesses who were made in the Hand of the Lord their Executioners and if you follow in any measure their Example of Wickedness take them for an Example in a cursed end in love to all your Souls this I write and not to shame you in your wickedness but rather that you may repent and that you may know how to exercise your selves in the Law of God towards the Nations and that every Burden may be removed and the Oppressed may go free and the Bands of Iniquity may be broken and this is the Fast accepted of the Lord required of him from you which if you observe with your whole hearts a Blessing will the Lord made you unto the Nations in this present Age and unto your selves for evermore but if you hearden your hearts against the Lord and tread in the steps of your fore-fathers and seek to limit the Holy One or to bind the tender Consciences of the People of God then shall you fall into their perdition and be swallowed up in everlasting confusion and your Memorial shall stink in Generations to come and shall be a hissing among the Heathen Kingdoms and deliverance will God bring another way unto his People to your overthrow if you walk not in the Counsel of the Lord. And whereas upon the considerations and purposes aforesaid you have ordered that a Day be observed and kept for solemn Humiliation and seeking the Face of God through the mediation of Christ in England Scotland and Ireland To which in much tenderness of spirit I desire to say That if you seek his Face in the hardness of your hearts and in the way of your own precepts while the yoke of the great Oppressions in the Nations are not broken from off the neck of the Poor his Face you shall not behold though you seek it but in vain shall you weary your selves and shall travel without issue as to that which you desire and his Countenance shall be hid from you till he shew his Face for evil against you and not for good and to you it shall be said To what purpose are your Oblations and your solemn Meeting Who hath required it at your hands even your own doings and appointed Altars of Inventions which the Lord cannot accept from you Therefore give ear ye Mountains and listen ye tall Cedars if you establish the false Prophets which makes a prey upon the people through covetousness and which acteth the abominations of Israel in preaching for Hire and divining for Money and in crying peace to the wicked by a Law and maintain them through the oppression of the Poor in the crying Oppression of Tythes or otherwise imposing such things upon the tender Consciences by any Act or Statute made or allowed by you God shall not hear your cry nor answer your request nor ever establish you in peace nor the Nations over which you are set likewise if you make a Law or allow such a one to be acted which any way may tye or limit the Spirit of the Lord in any of his Servants from reproving the abominations of the Times in Rulers Teachers or People in your Streets or Temples or places otherwise at any time whatsoever the Lord will not hold you guiltless nay assuredly if you do but hide your face from the Suffering of such who through the wickedness of some under you may be afflicted upon such an account you shall not be altogether Innocent but Gods hand shall be upon you likewise If any for Conscience sake deny to Swear upon any account according to the former vain Customs of the Nations trained up thereto in ignorance and blindness in humane traditions and thereupon suffer Imprisonment or Fining or otherwise howsoever by any Order from you or any subordinate Powers you shall be guilty in the sight of God of that suffering the Innocent in such a cause much more shall you be guilty if by any means in any cause upon any condition men be compelled by any Authority of this Nation to swear likewise if any suffer for not bowing the Hat or Knee to any of you or any of your Judges or under Officers and thereupon be accounted Transgressors the Lord shall account such things Oppression from your hands and Tyranny and Cruelty and you shall not escape unpunished as the Lord lives these and many more Abominations cries for Vengeance against some of you who have had your hands deeply dipped in such Oppression and therefore to you this is a Warning to break off these sins by righteousness and these evils by true repentance lest your Fasts prove only for Strife and to smite with the fist of Wickedness Clear your selves and wash you hands from these Abominations lest the fruit of them be given you to eat for Food and let this oh ye Rulers be acceptable councel unto you that the dayes of Happiness may appear and the long expected and waited for day of Liberty may yet dawn through this dark night of Bondage which overshadows your heads that you cannot behold the glory of the Son and herein shall you be established and we shall have cause to bless the Lord for you and with you otherwise you shall never be renowned but all your counsels and purposes shall fail and be cursed of the Lord and evil shall be upon you and upon the Nation for your sakes And all you that fear God listen and give audience and let the fear of the Lord be before your eyes and keep your selves pure from
Heaven and Earth all Nations upon Earth are but as the drop of a Bucket before him and the hearts of all men are in his Hand and by him Kings rule and the Princes of the Earth are at his disposure and you are all weighed in the Ballance of Equity and found too light before the Lord for all flesh hath corrupted its way before him Be awakenened ye that have long slept in Darkness and been at ease in the flesh ye that have had peace in this World and pleasure in the vanity thereof the Lord is coming to make war against you his Trumpet hath sounded and his Sons and Daughters are gone forth to bear witness of his Majesty and Power and Dominion and the Lord hath spoken Who can but prophesie he hath given the Word and many are they that publish it Let your ears be open to Instruction and kick not against the Lord neither harden your hearts against him but make way for him and prepare his Path for he cometh to judge the World in Righteousness and the People with equity and the Testimony of the Light of Jesus in you all shall witness for him your princely Powers must become subject to the Power of the Kingdom of the Most High and your glory must be vailed and darkned before the Glory which â—he Lord is causing to shine forth and we the Servants of the Most High do give you warning of the day of your Visitation which is upon you and all the World for the Lord is now risen who hath long winked at the time of great ignorance but now â—e warns you all to repent therefore bow down ye Stiff-necked and tremble ye Stout-hearted and be abased ye Lofty-looks our King is above you all our dominion is over you all and the line of true Judgment are you all measured with and your wayes are not found perfect in the Sight of the Lord nor your hearts right before him his Kingdom hath not been known in your dominions neither hath his Laws and his Judgments born rule but you have every one been doing that which is right in the sight of your own eyes and the counsels of your hearts have been nought but vanity before the Lord Vain-glory hath abounded among you which the the Lord's Soul hath been burdened by the honours and pleasures of the flesh have been your delight and strife and enmity hath been among you and wars and quarreling and fighting one against another and you have rejoyced in the overthrow one of another and in destroying one another and you have taken pleasure in gaining one anothers dominions you have striven who should have been the greatest and greatly oppressed the Poor you have exalted your selves one against another and drawn up your Armies one in defiance of another and the blood of Thousands have been shed to satisfie the humours of your proud hearts all this hath been evil in the Sight of the Lord and his Spirit hath been grieved and his Soul vexed by all this and he hath forborn till he hath been weary for he hath been dishonoured by all this and his Law hath not born rule and his Judgments have had no place you have been cruel-hearted one towards another and merciless and without pitty and ouy have not done to others as you would be done unto but you have rendred evil for evil and sought occasions of evil one against another and vexed one another through the pride of your hearts therefore now is the Lord risen to make war against you all and to dash you to pieces the Feller comes up amongst you he that will not spare to slay and to devour who will not be afraid of your lofty looks he will spoil you of your Treasure and lay waste your strength all ye Kingdoms of the Earth and your gathering together against him is but as Briers and thorns for he will exalt his own Kingdom over you all and all ye Kings of the Earth shall know that the Kingdom of the most high must rule in your Kingdoms and your Laws shall be changed and the poor shall no more be oppressed for he is come thâ—t proclaims liberty unto the Captives who will remove oppression far away who will change Times and Worships and Ordinances and there shall be no Law but the Law of God nor no light but of the Lamb nor no worship but the Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth for all your Worships which the Nations are full of is nought but vanity and a lye immitations and superstitions brought forth in hypocrisie and not in an upright heart vanity of vanities have abounded both in civil and spiritual affairs The root in which you stand is wholly corrupted and no good fruit springs from it but cursed fruit which must be 〈◊〉 down and cast into the fire ye have been evil and could not bring forth any good you are corrupted and your fruit is of a bitter taste a day of sorrow of lamentation and misery is coming upon you all ye that have been high and lofty and stouthearted fearfulness shall surprise you and the terror of the Lord of Hosts shall compass you about I am moved to salute you all with this as a warning and when it comes to pass remember you have been told ye that know not the Kingdom of the most High ruling men but are saying in your hearts this hath my hand done in a moment shall you be smitten and know there is one above you which must rule for it is his right to rule over all Nations and there shall be no King but Jesus thâ— Aâ—oinâ—eâ— oâ— God â—oâ—â—o Government but the Government of the Lamb there shall be no more war but war against the Dragon who hath stood to devour the Man-child which is now bringing forth and he must rule with his Iron Rod and shall subdue all under his feet We whom God hath warned cannot but warn you of these things which 〈◊〉 come to pass he is coming to separate between the Just and the unjust he will gather from among you that the wicked may be consumed from off the face of the Earth All you Rulers in the World I warn you all take heed how you persecute such as comes to warn you who brings this Message to you lest you add sin to sin till there be no place found for repentance for ye shall all know our God is the true God that made Heaven and Earth before whose presence all â—â—esh must come to Judgment By one who hath measured the Times who is come to the Day that hath made all Things mâ—…ifest EDWARD BURROUCH A General Epistle and Greeting OF THE Fathers Love tâ— all the SAINTS Called and chosen to faithfulness in Christ Jesus the Light of the World in which they believing and their faith standing in his Power many suffer for his Name sake And this is to all such as are found worthy to suffer and is an Exhortation to the strengthning of their
Dwellings and so Unbelief and Doubting and Murmurring and Lustings after evil arise in you and you be perverted from the Worship of the true God and grieve his Righteous Spirit by bowing to Idols and following of other Lovers and so the true God who hath brought you out of Aegypt and made manifest his Power in you be forgotten and the Faith of his Son made Ship-rack of and your latter end be worse then the beginning and the Name of the Lord be dishonoured by you and then wo unto you his Wrath shall suddenly break out against you Wherefore hear and fear and hearken unto the Word of the Lord He hath caused his Light to shine forth and his voice to be heard he hath proclaimed his Name amongst you and hath caused his marvellous Light to approach when you sate in Darkness in the Land of the shadow of death when you were lost he sought you and when you were driven away and scatterred he found you and brought you home when you were in your blood and no eye pittied you he had Mercy upon you and bound you up and healed you when you were dead he said unto you Live and it was so when you were led captive by the Devil under the power of death he broke the Chains and set you free and when there was none to help nor to save his own Arm brought deliverance and salvation and the Way of Life and Peace he set before you And now all this hath his own Arm accomplished that you should be a Praise unto him for evermore now if you walk in the Way which he hath set before you and keep his Covenant which he hath made with you and fulfil his Will and walk in Righteousness in Love and Unity in Meekness Lowliness Humbleness and in Soberness and Watchfulness and in Fear of his Name then shall his Presence never forsake you nor his outstretched Arm cease to defend and preserve you but he shall go before you and be your Reward and he shall be your God and you shall be his People and shall dwell in him and he shall be your Hiding-place and he will be to you a Father and you shall be his Children and his Blessing and Peace shall remain in your Habitations for ever and ever but if any of you turn aside for a thing of naught after vanity and deny the Way of Righteousness and forget the Lord and kick against him and follow the way and counsel of your own hearts and worship other gods and joyn your selves to Strangers and commit Adultery with other Lovers and make the Cross of Christ of none effect and turn from the Light of Christ within you and fulfil your own wills and the desire of your own minds and go out of the fear of the Lord into the liberty of the flesh which is not the Liberty in Christ Jesus and so seek your selves and strive for mastery to be one above another and so surmise evil one against another and the bond of peace be broken and vain contention and strife appear then shall the Rod of God smite you and his Wrath be suddenly kindled against you and you shall not prosper but his Countenance shall be hid and the terrors of the Lord and Lamentations shall possess you and Peace shall flee far from you and such shall be cast out of the Camp of the Lord and shall have no part in the Inheritance but the Blessing shall depart and the Curse shall enter till utter destruction yea and if any of you deny the Lord unto whom his Way is made manifest he will deny you and you shall have no part in him but Vengeance in Flames of Fire will he render upon the Disobedient manifold more then if his Love and Way of Peace had not been made manifest to you and the Light of the World is your condemnation for evermore if you turn from it And in the Presence of the living God I warn you all Believe not that spirit neither follow it which brings any other Message then what hath been declared from the beginning Believe not him which crieth Lo here or Lo there is Christ without you or that draweth from the measure of Christ within you to hearken to or to be taught by any other thing for that spâ—â—â—t is not of the Father which preacheth any other Christ then he that is the Light of the World and lighteâ—â— every man that cometh into the World or bringâ—â—â— any other Message then that God is Light in himself and hath given his Son a Light into the World and this is the true Testimony of the Father and of the Son and he that testifieth any other Message is to be judged and denied he is not a Worshipper of the true God bâ—â— out of the Truth and in the Error and a Deceiver being deceived Again Believe not that spirit neither follow it which ministreth to others that which it hath not learned oâ— the Father but hath the words without the Power and liveth not in the Power of what it ministreth forth in words nor is it what it declareth but is in the outward Shews in the Hypocrisâ—â— and Feignedness and reacheth not the Life of God but vaileth and covereth it and that spirit is not of the Father but is to be denyed and judged and not received nor believed Again Believe not that spirit neither follow it which is at liberty in the flesh and maketh the offence of the Cross to cease which is exalted out of the Fear of the Lord in the liberty of the earthly which crucifieth the Life and darkeneth the Eye and that spirit will boast of Joy and Peace and Experience and Knowledge and speak high words in the airy Wind and that would lead yoâ— out of your conditions to glory above the Cross till you be past feeling of the Life and that spirit begetteth into Feignedness and Hypocrisie and into the Loâ—e of the World which passeth away and beware of that spirit for it is not of the Father but to be condemned Again Believe not that spirit neither follow it which is hasty and forward and rash for that goeth out of God's Counsel and betrayeth the Just and striveth to be greatest and to be above the Weak and despiseth him and would be Master and not a Servant and would rule and not be ruled in the meek and lowly Government of Christ and that spâ—â—it will judge out of thoughts rashly and unsavourly and condemn another in secret in what it self is guilty of beware of that spirit for it is not of God but to be judged with the Life of God Again Believe not that spirit neither follow it which seeks it self to have praise of men and to be accounted and would beget into divisions and would have Parties to it self and respects persons and glories in gifts and knowledge and parts more then in the Giver and admires men more then he that gives the encrease and feeds of the knowledg
and his Arm shall watch over them to overthrow them all and to make them desolate that the Just may be delivered And all you who suffer any where Imprisonment or Finings or reproaches or any other thing because ye cannot Swear for Conscience sake nor respect Persons according to the vain Customs of the Heathen but are redeemed out of the Customs and Superstitions of men which are of the World and are evil and not of God nor justified by him you suffer for Righteousness sake and for Christs sake and are Witnesses for God herein against the Superstitions and Wickedness and Pride and High-mindedness of men and the Lord is with you if you be ruled in his Wisdom and are faithful to him and he will lift up your heads till his and your Adversaries be confounded And I charge you all in the Presence of the Lord who suffer for Righteousness sake in these things or in any other who are moved of the Lord to bear witness of the Truth and against the deceits of the World be not exalted in the flesh in your sufferings lest you forget God Nor be not cast down into sorrow lest ye be overcome of the Devil but dwell in the measure of the Power and Life of God which is above all and more then all and feel Gods living Arm to stay your hearts to watch to his own in you to refresh you continually And resist the Devil on every hand with the Armour of Light and Truth that your Life may be preserved in Dominion over all things even the Life which is not of this World in you may not be vailed nor overcome for to enjoy the Life of God with you is enough if you pass through the Fire and through the Water it keeps you and carries you above all this I witness and it is more then all outward Freedom or Liberty or Riches or Treasure of this World and walk herein in Boldness and Faithfulness and Patience as you have us for an Example in Christ Jesus who are in Jepardy every hour often in Tryals Sufferings and Dangers and love not our lives unto death for the Testimony of Jesus which we hold and that his Name and Truth may be exalted in the Earth but as the Lord moves are carried through Nations among Lyons and Devourers such as seeks our life for their Prey and yet the Lord is with us our Defence and Arm and Preserver above all Therefore look you at the Lord in all Affliction and Distress and know his Reward with you that your Burden and Yoak may be easie and not hard for his Presence makes all things joyful And know that it is for the Name of the Lord and for his Honour and for his Kingdom which God will set up through suffering for this cause are ye called to suffer and your Life nor liberty nor any other thing is not to be measured nor compared herewith So uâ—to every one of you I am moved to write and to warn you all in the fear of God be content and long-suffering and patient and finish you Testimony with rejoycing if ye seal it with your Blood and dwell with the Lord in his holy Habitation of Peace out of respect to time or places or things and give up your selves that his will in you may be fulfilled And think it not strange though you have fiery trials neither be moved at any Suffering without you or troubled in spirit neither let it break your peace nor fellowship with God by any impatiency or murmurings or temptations for then will your sufferings be grievous to you and the Enemy within and without will have ground against you to overthrow you and know it is that which ever was in all Ages and no new thing for the Seed of God to suffer by the Seed of Evil-doers for the wicked alwayes strengthened their hands in cruelty against the Righteous and laid heavy burthens upon the Just and caused the Innocent to groan under them for a time till iniquity was fulfilled that they might be broken and the Oppressed delivered and alwayes the Lord exalted his Name by the sufferings of his people as we have a Cloud of Witnesses of our Fore-fathers that went before who did bear witness to the Name of the Lord through faithfull suffering so it is no strange thing hath happened unto you but that which is common to all the Saints who enter the Kingdom through tribulation blessed are you if you be faithfull unto the end that you may reap the reward of your works of your sufferings and patience even the Crown of Life that never fades away so the Lord God of Life preserve you And all Frieds every where I am moved to warn you Dwell in love and unity and fellowship one with another in the Light and in the Spirit of the Father and fulfil the Law of Christ and bear one anothers burden and suffer with one another that none be oppressed among you in any thing whilst others are free but that the burden of all things and the care of all things in relation to the Truth be equal among you according to every ones freedom and as every one is moved of the Lord so to administer to one anothers necessities as Members of one Body to the honouring of the Head and spreading of the Truth that there be no complaining but equallity and justness and the Government of Christ ruling among you and his Wisdom in all things Feed no excess nor the lustfull devouring mind in any neither suffer the Distressed to perish for want but reach one to another in love and like mindedness suffering for one another and all caring for the Truth above all things that God may dwell among you and be known that he is in you of a truth And in this the Wisdom of God guide you all Amen By a Companion in Tribulation to all the Saints every where EDWARD BURROUGH THE Testimony of the Lord CONCERNING LONDON Witnessed in Truth and Faithfulness to the Consciences of all People in it that they may return to the Lord and Repent Also the Great Abominations discovered of this People who draws near God with their Mouthes and professeth Self-Separation when as their Hearts be far from the Lord. VVith a VVarning to all sorts of People in it what the Lord requires of them O LONDON thou art weighed in an even Ballance and found tâ—… light thou are measured by an equal Line and found to short and tâ—… narrow and thy People cannot stand in Judgment for abundance of iniquity lodgeth within thee and thou aboundst in all unrighteousness thy sins are grown over thy head and with transgression thou art covered as wiâ—… a Garment from the Head to the Foot thou art corrupted and there is muâ— unsoundness in thee O how doth Pride abound Lightness and Wantonness and the lust of the Eye and all the works of the Flesh are encreased to a large suâ— aboundance of Idolatry and Vanity springs out of
all ye young men and Prentises Learn ye the Fear of the Lord and take heed of Temptations lest ye be destroyed both Soul and Body by them learn not to Dissemble nor to Defr and nor take not Instructions how to Cozen and Cheat but first seek the Kingdom of God and its Righteousness and then all outward things shall be added unto you Give not your selves to any Evil beware of WINE and WOMEN which steals away the Hearts of many give not your selves to Vanity nor fulfil not the desire of your own minds in any thing Covet not after Riches neither study how to be Proud and Vain-glorious Give not your selves to Craft and human Policies nor to deceive any People but fear God and keep his Commandments and be subject to your Masters and obey them in all things that are good and be dutiful to them in that which is just and righteous but deny them in whatsoever is evil learn not Craft and Policy from them neither Whoredom nor Vice nor Drunkenness nor Cozening nor any other thing which is evil but rather reprove those things then in the lest to follow them and if you do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things and keep your selves from whatsoever is evil then will the Lord bless you outwardly and inwardly and the Knowledge of God will be your Crown in old Age And cease from all Gaming 's and vain Sportings and from all Wontonness and vain Pleasures and from all the works of the flesh for they that follow such things shall neither prosper in this World nor be blessed in the World to come Wherefore take heed unto your selves all ye that are young in the World be not overcome of evil nor follow not evil Divices but stand in awe continually and offend not God who gives you Life and Health and all good things And all ye Masters and Heads of Families this is a Warning to you Be Examples of all good in your Families unto your Children and Servants rule in Authority in the Fear of God but not in Tyranny nor a Rigorous mind teach and instruct in fear and not in cruelty give no bad example in Pride Vain-glory Drunkenness Whoredom Dissimulation nor any other thing but stand as a Terror over all evil and as Encouragers of all good bind not the Conscience of any under your power curb sin only and reprove not Righteousness seek ye to be taught of God and then may you instruct all under you in his Way be pittiful towards your Children and Servants and pass by offences rather then punish them with cruelty and make not a prey upon your Servants to serve your own ends only seeking your own good only and not theirs for such things are evil in the sight of God and it is to be condemned Let no Excess neither let Want be in your Families but that which is honest and right love that in all things and follow it let not your anger and passion exceed when offence is given you and do not correct in cruelty but in a good understanding and walk in the Truth and fulfil the will of God and not your own and this is of great prize and acceptable in the sight of the Lord. And all ye Tavern-keepers and Inn-keepers fear the Lord God and oppress not your Guests neither feed the lust of any till they be drunk for that is cursed of God both in you and them and that which he will be avenged of Oh great is that abomination among you much of the good Creatures is vainly and wickedly spent and abused in your Dwellings and your advantage stands in the abuse of the Creatures by excess and the Lord is grieved with you because of that And all sorts of People Rich and Poor High and Low Masters and Servants Parents and Children Buyers and Sellers Trades-men and Labourers Hearken to the Counsel of God and seek to know his Will to you in all things that you may do it in following all that which is good and denying all that which is evil that your souls may live Let not the Devil lead you nor his temptations overcome you in any thing but resist him in whatsoever he would lead you into which is against God and contrary to him Repent of all evil that ever you have acted and let the Lord be your Guide that you may not utterly perish and your City be destroyed for your sakes the Lords Love is towards you and he waits to be gratious unto you and desireth your return rather then your Destruction and would heal you if you did wait upon him and would bless your City and make you happy in it if you do his Will and deny your own I am a Friend unto all your souls and a Publisher of Peace and of Glad-tidings to all that thirst for the Lord and he hath given me Power to warn you of all your iniquities and Abominations to deny them and that which is good to warn you to follow and Oh that ye knew in this your day the things which belong to your Peace which now ye may know before they be totally hid from your eyes and there be no place for Repentance nor time of returning and this day will come upon many and they cannot escape it who now harden their hearts against the Way of their own peace and even scorn to be reproved for their Transgression and such my soul pitties who are going in the way of destruction and run hastily into perdition I have many times been made sad by reason of such when I have measured the condion of all People upon my bed I have pondred what abomination was in thee and what would be the end thereof and I have desired nothing so much as that I might faithfully warn thee and free my self and the Lord from the Blood of all men deep thoughts have been upon me concerning what the counsel of the Lord is unto you all that I might manifest the Truth and discover the Abominations and I have not spared to cry Repentance unto Sinners that Sinners might be converted and turn unto the Lord and thus far I am clear of the Blood of all men and the Lord is clear and if the Wicked perish it is because of their unbelief and gainsaying of the Lord and this is the Testimony which I give unto thee and unto all thy people O LONDON hearken and consider this is the only day of your Visitation and there is not another Way to Life nor to escape everlasting death and destruction then that which the Lord hath shewed you Blessed is he that can receive it and they that deny it do utterly perish without Mercy London the 15th of the 6th moneth 1657. I am as a Stranger among you yet well known to the Lord and the Testimony of God concerning you shall stand for ever for it is true and shall'not be confounded though the wicked reject it to their own destruction EDWARD BURROUGH A Just and
that believe and through the word of Life are they handled tasted seen and felt near at hand in power and not in words onely Many professes them in words and what others enjoyed of these things but have not felt in themselves the working of the eternall Spirit neither have the witness in themselves of being restored to God again and of being redeemed by him from under the Devils power neither are saved by Christ from sin and transgression and so are not nor cannot be saved from condemnation and wrath for who abide in their sins and in the state unreconciled to God hath not any part or portion in these things which belongs to their peace and without the knowledge of which by the working of the eternal Spirit all mankind is everlastingly miserable CHAP. VII Concering true Religion and the true Worship of the true God this Testimony I give unto the whole World THis is true Religion to be kept pure and clean from all evil and from all that which would defile in the sight of the Lord and to walk in his fear in all things this is Religion to do good and to do no evil and to speak the truth and to do the truth in all things and to do unto all men as a man would be done unto and to love God withall the heart and the neighbour as self and not to love the world and ways and pleasures of it nor to use deceit in words or actions this is true Religion and the true Worship of God to be led with his Spirit in all things and to be guided in the truth at all times on all occasions this is acceptable and well pleasing unto God above all words and outward conformity and set times and days and observances for the Worship of God is not in these things but is without respect of days places or things this Religion and Worship stands in Christ Jesus the second Adam who hath lighted every man that comes into the World that all men through him might believe and by him have their consciences purely exercised towards God and towards man in all things whatsoever and this is our Religion and Worship of the True God he that can receive it let him CHAP. VIII Concerning Justification and Sanctification this testimony 〈◊〉 give unto all People JUstification is freely by Jesus Christ in the sight of the Father and not by the works of mans own righteousness and such as are taught by Christ and guided by him in all the ways of truth and righteousness are justified by him and none else not in any word or work whatsoever but in what they are led to fulfil by him and it is the new man that is justified and not the old he that is born of God and none that are born of the flesh such cannot please God neither can such be justified by him for they are not taught of him nor saved nor restored nor redeemed and therefore are not justified nor cleared from condemnation in the sight of the Lord but who lives in iniquity and sin and the wayes and works of the World which are evil by Christ Jesus are condemned and not justified though in words they profess him yet of justification by him they have no part and sanctification is by the working of the eternal Spiri◠in the heart of the Creature which purgeth out and taketh away all unrighteousness and all the works and fruits of darkness it witnesseth against and witnesseth unto Jesus who takes away all sin and destroyes the works of the Devil that man may be holy and pure in the sight of his Maker and every one that hath the witness of his justification hath the operation by the eternal Spirit of sanctification and all that receives Christ Jesus who hath lighted every man that cometh into the World receiveth sanctification and justification by him and he unto us is made so of the Father he that can receive it le◠him CHAP. IX Concerning the Kingdom of Christ and how it is to be set up this testimony I give unto all the World THE Kingdom of God and of his Son is not of this World but is fro◠above and stands in righteousness and in truth in mercy and in peace i◠true judgement and justice and this Dominion is from everlasting to everlasting and it reacheth beyond all the World and its Government is love and unity and everlasting peace and is perfect liberty to the Just and bindeth and chaineth the Unjust in it there is on oppression but perfect freedom from all unrighteousness and it consists not in word but in power to the bringing down of the Kingdom of the Devil and to the breaking off the bonds of all injustice and all ungodliness which is the Kingdom of Satan which hath long ruled i◠the World that Kingdom whereof Christ is King which stands in Righteousness no unclean thing can have any part therein and this we believe it shall be set up and advanced in the earth but not by might of man or arm of flesh nor the multitude of an host neither by policy nor craft nor by revenge but by the arm of the Lord alone through the suffering and patience of his people and by faithful witness bearing unto Jesus Christ by doing and by suffering by doing his Will in all things in a pure Life and Conversation and upright walkking in the sight of the Lord and by patient suffering under the injustice and oppression of men and of their unjust Government and Laws till they be overturned and confounded and further we give testimony that suffring in patience under the cruelty and oppression of the Devils government and kingdom more reaches to overthrow them than the rising to rebel in any way of outward offence toward them or defence from them and the Kingdom of Christ is near to come and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and none shall have any part therein but they that are redeemed out of kindreds tongues and people this we believe he that can receive it let him CHAP. X. Concerning Governours and Governments and Subjection to them this testimony I give to the World GOvernours Rulers and Magistrates we own and do respect in the Lord and yet cannot respect any mans person whatsoever such as be a terrour to all evil in their Government and that fears God and hates covetousness and delights in Equity in Justice and true Judgement and gives diligent heed to try the cause of the poor and will judge justly without respect of men who justifies the good and gives praise to the Well-doer such Government and Governours we reverence where Sin and Iniquity is kept under Drunkenness Swearing Murther Quarrelling and all the ways and works of the flesh are terrified and a Wel-doer praised and justified this Goverment of men reaches to the witness of God in every man and that answers to the justice and righteousness of all such Governours and Government and these witness that
who have done evil against the Lords People as a gift unto them from a Friend OF a truth the Lord is arisen and he hath caused the Light of his countenance to shine forth upon his people his day is dawned and the brightness of his glory is shining forth as the Sun at noon day hâ—… everlasting Arm is stretched forth to lead out of Captivity his oâ—… chosen the days of perfect freedom is approaching he that brings Health Peace and Liberty to all Nations is come and coming who will restore the breaches and subdue all things under himself that he may raign for ever and ever who alone is worthy for he hath all Power in his hand and he bringâ— to pass whatsoever he will that all Men and Nations may fear before him and tremble at his dreadfull Presence who hath power in his hand to change Timâ—… and Laws Orders Decrees and Governments the hearts of all men he câ—… turn what way he listeth and he pulleth down one and setteth up another and whatsoever is in his heart to do his power can bring it to pass who would not fear before him and reverence his Name Who would not be afraid to offend him who giveth unto man Breath and takes it away in a moment all Nations are as the drop of a bucket before his eternal Eye he dwells in the high and holy place and his habitation is high above the World be inhabits eternity forevermore and yet abideth and walketh and dwelleth with the children of men that fear his Name and tremble at his Word he hath been as a stranger as one not known for men have been seperated from him by transgression and have been ignorant of his ways he hath been as one hidden for many ages and hath been worshipped ignorantly and hath winked in the time of ignorance but now he calleth all to repentance every where Blessed are they that wait upon him that they may know him and their souls may live and now the purpose of his heart is to bring in his scattered people into the fold of peace where Christ Jesus is the shepherd and his people shall dwell in safety and shall be a free people to worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth and every yoke of bondage shall be broken and the oppressed shall be set free and Christ shall feign and his Government above shall be established over all the World mans honour shall be laid in the dust the pride of all flesh shall be stained and the Glory thereof shall wither as a flower the loftiness of all flesh shall be laid low and the Lord alone shall be exalted and his people which now are oppressed shall replenish and fill the Earth All corrupt men and Rulers their strength and might shall utterly fail them and men that fear God and love righteousness shall take their place and all things shall be changed and the World shall be turned up-side down But because of this is all the World troubled and the Heathen is on a rage and the people do imagine vain things and men of high degree and low degree and of all sorts have set themselves against the Lord that they might stop the purpose of the most high and their hearts within them burn because of envy and the Devil hath stirred up all sorts of people to work for him and to uphold his kingdom and his power he is come down in great rage knowing that his time is but short and hath filled the hearts of all his servants with despite and ravening envy against the Seed of God The heads of the people they have conspired together against the Lord and against his Truth and have decreed unrighteous decrees that they might pervent the purpose of the most High Many of the Rulers and Judges as members of the beastly power rather than of Jesus Christ have unjustly judged and falsly imprisoned and trodden under foot the meek and upright who fear the Lord and walk in his way even such who have come from under the subjection of the worship and power of the Beast which all the World had wondered after â—ath the Beast raised his force against How many hundreds in this Nation have been imprisoned falsly and suffered grievous abuses unjustly for righteousness sake and not for evil doing as a testimony against this Generation of Judges and people and for a testimony that they are of God who have in paâ—ience born the sufferings and the cruelties of the wicked many have suffered â—he loss of Liberty and riches and some the loss of life for the exercise of a â—ure conscience towards God and for the Kingdom of Jesus many have â—uffered under the power of wicked men for declaring against sin and iniquity 〈◊〉 Townes Steeple-houses or high wayes and for crying against pride and â—anity and idolatry and coveteousness and the wickedness of Rulers Priests â—nd People whose deceits and transgressions hath abounded in this Generation â—nd others have deeply suffered grievous cruelties because they could not swear â—nd respect persons with hat or knee and so were witnesses for the Lord and his Kingdom which stands in righteousness and against the power and kingdom â—f the Beast which stands in iniquity in fainedness and flattering titles and â—isobedience to the Son of God and many hundreds are woful unjust and opâ—ressed sufferers at this day by false imprisonment and spoiling of goods because they cannot pay Tythes that abominable and crying oppression by which the Beast chiefly maintains his false Prophets and because the unchangable Priesthood is witnessed and the changable denied and Christ the Light of the World followed therefore is this suffering laid upon the just and many are sufferers under hard tasks because they cannot maintain the Idol temples and Idol worships and Idol Priests which the power of Antichrist upholds against the Power of the Son of God and against the new Covenant of life where God in Spirit and in Truth is worshipped without respect of places days or men or things and the True Worshippers they Worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth and cannot be subject to days places or things appointed and ordained by the power of men and false prophets and how many unjust fines and false indictments have been most illegally charged upon the Innocent in many Courts and Judicatories through this Nation and all in the defence of the kingdom of the man of sin lest his authority should be abated and the Authority of Christ Jesus exalted many cruelties have been done and injustice acted both by Rulers and People against such which no evil could justly be charged against nor yet the transgression of any just law by any one of them O! horrid grievances and cruel oppressions hath been brought forth in this Nation by such who should have eased the oppressed and set at liberty the captives such who should have judged justly the cause of the Poor and heard the call oâ— the oppressed have turned
the Prophets and Apostles who did zealously give their testimony against such as went for gifts and rewards as the Teachers of England do but this is that which he is offended at and calls it a persecuting spirit which is not so but in love to peoples souls that they may deny the evil and follow the good And that our Ancesters have persecuted to death as he saith This is also a lye and of the Devil for our Ancestors were the Saints who were called of God and were not of the World even as we are not of the World and we are persecuted but seeks not to persecute any and gives our witness faithfully against this Generation and against the sins both of Teachers and people and this I suppose is it even our zeal for the Name of the Lord against unrighteousness which he falsly calls a persecuting spirit 16. His sixteenth Reason is Some Interrogatories saith he What reasonable man should turn Quaker that sees the common fruit of their Doctrine whâ—â— good do they do where-ever they come but saith he hate both godly Teacher and people c. Ans. To this I answer The fruit of our Doctrine is begetting people to the Knowledge of God and a converting them from sin and death and from the wayes and works of unrighteousness to be the Servants of the Lord and every spiritual man doth see this to be the fruit of our doctrine It doth condemn unrighteousness and bring war and a sword upon Earth as Christs Doctrine did And this is the good where we come many are changed from wickedness rudeness and ungodliness to live soberly righteously and purely in this present World without offence towards God and men For to say We make people both to hate godly Teachers and people this is utterly false for we endeavour to bring people to the true Teacher Christ Jesus and to have fellowship with the Saints It 's true in the World our Doctrine doth make division and doth set a man at variance and doth set Father against Son and Son against Father even as Christ did and his Doctrine so he saith we do But again he belyes us in saying We bring people into confusion and abominable error or that we cast people into a malicious mood or tincture of bitterness this is also false and this is my Answer He that doth the will of our Father knows of our Doctrine whether we weâ—â— of God or of our selves and to all the World besides we are unknown and desires to be manifest to every mans conscience in the Sight of God and not to that wisdom which is of this World And though he scorn at such who are made to cast off their Points and Lace yet is not this more then any fruit that his Doctrine hath brought forth for as 〈◊〉 do so did the Apostle exhort against all superfluiâ—â— of naughtiness as Points and Lâ—… are and it seems that such as depart from iniquity become a prey to such wicked menâ— slandering and scornful Tongues and a matter to makes Books of to send into the World 17. His seventeenth Reason Saith he It is no great encouragement to us to turn Quakers when we consider who are their followers very few experienced sober Christians turn to them saith he but such who are ignorant and ungrounded and raw professors c. Answ. To this I answer Let no man take encourgement from without to turn Quakers or to own the Way of Gods Salvation But let every one feel a Measure of God in his own heart converting him from sin unto righteousness and drawing his mind from the vanity and hypocrisie of this World to the truth and singleness of heart And he appears to be of the spirit of the Pharisees who said None but a company of poor people which were accursed followed Christ and so saith he in effect None but such as are ignorant and such like But what if there were not any other but such who owned the Way of the Lord this is a confirmation of it rather then a cause of objecting against it when such who are ignorant are brought to the Knowledge of God But yet his words are false for it is known that very many honest humble sober 〈◊〉 and people who have all their dayes been sincere towards God in what they have known of him have and do own us and indeed all that ever owâ—â— God and Salvation shall own us for we are of God and he that is of God heaâ—… us and the whole World Lyes in wickedness And such as are self-conceited and in pride and wise in their own eyes and in the wickedness of the World such are his followers and not ours though be falsely say it for such as follow Christ have we fellowship with and not with such as walk in darkness 18. His eighteenth Reason Saith he It is an evident Iudgment of God upon these people that turn Quakers and a punishment for their former sins c. Ans. To this I answer The Lord God his Angels and all his Saints and Servants I call to record against thee and they all shall witness that it is Mercy and not Judgement upon them that owns the way of the Lord And them that owned the Quakers in truth and sincerity have and do witness a remission of their former sins and forgiveness of them by Jesus Christ and not a punishment for them And Rich. Baxter may please himself and some others with his reasonless Reasons as these are yet they are not worthy of the name of Reason they be so senceless and utterly false And though he rails against the Anabaptists as well as against us yet any man whose eye is open sees his folly and turns it upon his own head and he may conceit himself in these things for a moment but the day of the Lord will declare it otherwise and that upon us Mercy and Peace shall be and not Judgement nor Wrath. 19. His ninteenth Reason Saith he They are already in division among themselves as the contention between Nayler and Fox and their followers do shew To this I answer Though an occasion may come and be taken against the truth yet wo unto him by whom it comes and to them who do receive it for the Testimony of Truth abids for ever But as about that division he speaks of it hath been answered by writings several times and now I say It happened but as a Tryal to the Lords People and not to destroy them though the Enemy boasts himself because of it yet the Lord knows how to preserve his in the midst of Temptation But these things are now at an end though a Temptation presented it self yet it overcame not and truth is the same and the Testimony thereof doth never change and all these Refuges which the Wicked flyes unto shall not cover them when the Lord appears 20. His twentieth Reason And saith he To make all their delusions more odious wickednesse they father it upon
the Holy Ghost Ans. His words are utterly false yet we say we have received the Holy Ghost which teacheth us and leadeth us into all truth and by it are we lead out of all Wickedness and Delusion and all wicked speeches which he brands us withall and these things are his own for he is seen to be in delusion and odious wickedness and wicked speeches And saith he They speak against the DOCTRINE of the SPIRIT and cryes down the love of the Saints and against the Ordinances of the Ministers of Christ. To this I have answered In the love and union with all the Saints we are and Ministers of Christ but against Hypocrisie we declare such who profess what they are not and use their tougues and saith the Lord saith when the Lord hath not spoken to them and sprinkle Infants and saith it is an Ordinance of Christ and singing Davids experiences in Rime and Meeter with many other things which the Priests hath in their practice such things we deny to be Ordinances of Christ and them to be Ministers of Christ which do practice them and this we do say by the Spirit of Truth But that we pronounce damnation against Gods Church and holy Servants this is false again and is but the fulfilling the number of his lyes and though he charge us secretly with preaching another Gospel then that which Paul preached is false and if we duely examine it will be he that will be found preaching another Gospel whose practice is found in many things contrary to them who were Ministers of the true Gospel and so the curse pronounced by the Apostle will fall upon him and not upon us in the day of Judgement 21. His one and twentieth Reason Saith he The Quakers themselves renounce 〈◊〉 words the Ranters and Papists as a deluded sort Answer To which I answer and say Yea not only in words but in lives lives also we utterly abhor the Ranters and Papists both in profession and practice and do know that Rich. Baxter is of the same spirit though differing in words But saith he The Ranters and Drunkards cryes out against the same Ministers same exercise and godly people as the Quakers do To which I answer What the Ranters and Drunkards may do in their wickedness and unclean spirits is one thing and what we do in the fear of God and tender love to peoples Souls is another thing but how uncharitable is this man in his judgment Let us try him as if I should say The Ranters and Drunkards and Prophane and all ungodly People they are our Enemies and do oppose and gainsay the Way of God and the people called Quakers and they Beat them and Reproach them and Slander them and doth much cruelty unto them and thus doth Richard Baxter of Kidderminster he reviles them and reproaches them and belyes them and therefore he is one with the Ranters and Drunkards and prophane people and he holds part of the Papists Ranters and Drunkards doctrine and practice And thus he is judged with his own Rule according as 〈◊〉 hath judged us by the same Rule and now say I as well as he of us Let any man judge that hath not forsworn all wit and reasons whether it is likely the Holy Ghost will inspire Richard Baxter and a company of Priests of Englâ—… to acquaint them with the same Points Doctrines and Practices which the Papists Ranters Drunkards and all prophane people exercise themselves in for as all they are Enemies to the Quakers so is he and his company Aâ—… farther I ask him Whether the same things be heavenly in Rich. Baâ—… and his company which be hellish in the Ranters and Drunkards And whether Richard Baxter hath not condemned himself and the Priests of England in condemning the Papists and Ranters and Drunkards and prophane people in acting the very same things to wit speaking against reproaching reviling and slandering and backbiting an innocent people of God called Quakers 22. His two and twentieth Reason And saith he If I have any Reason to 〈◊〉 weary of the Christian Catholick Reformed Religion what reason have I to turn Quaâ—… more then to any other Sect Why saith he how do they prove they are more in the riâ—… then any other c. Ans. To all this I answer this is according to his knowledge who sees 〈◊〉 difference between good and evil between such as serveth God and such as serves him not and how can this man be a Teacher of others that is so blind himself The true Christian Religion he is out of and in a Sect whose fruiâ—… are as bad as the Papists or Familists or any others for I believe not the worâ—â— of Sects could have brought forth more lyes and slanders and scoffing worâ—â— in one sheet of paper then he hath done in this which now I deal withal And as for our proof that we are in the right way to every man that hath an eye to see and an ear to hear and an heart to conceive it 's easie to be proved and such are satisfied but as for Unbelievers and Persecutors such as himself they must hear and see and not perceive and understand 23. His three and twentieth Reason Saith he The way by which they prâ—… is not producing any evidence for they renounce that and offers all from the Autâ—… of the spirit within them c. Ans. The way by which we prevail is by the the Spirit of the Lord which 〈◊〉 within us and that was the way whereby all the Ministers of Christ evâ—… prevailed by the authority of that But yet this is false we do not deny 〈◊〉 produce Evidence but is sufficiently able and hath done it to produce Eviâ—… out of the Scriptures to prove all things which we profess or practice for Religion But saith he They must prove their Commission by Divine miracles before 〈◊〉 reasonable man can believe it c. many that fear God and are in the 〈◊〉 Reason hath Believed us already and do see the Mighty Wonders of Goâ—… brought to passe and it cannot be believed by Richard Baxter no more 〈◊〉 Christ was believed of the Pharisees in whom the mighty Power of God 〈◊〉 made manifest for though he did miracles yet this Generation could not believe them And he tells of some that said he was 〈◊〉 so might they well do and not lye his blindness is made manifest at largâ—… And saith he But can I see the Witness in them that saith they have the Witness in themselves Nay because thou art an Unbeliever thou canst not but it thou wert a Believer in Christ thou wouldst feel the same Testimony in the Brethren but by thee we are not known and therefore by thee are falsly Judged for no other Testimony do we give or hold forth but the same which the Apostles did which we have received from Christ as the Apostles did and not by any authority of our own though he falsly says it but by the Authority
all works for it is the ground from whence all works do spring and the end unto which they are brought forth that makes all mens works good or evil to be justified or to be condemned and where the Measure of the Spirit and Power of God is the Ground of and Leader in a work that work as I have said is done in the Fear of the Lord and in uprightness of heart and in love and tenderness and meekness and patience without seeking or exalting self but the Glory of the Lord is only sought by that man in all such his works But on the contrary where an evil heart and mind brings forth works to an evil end and to the wrong of others such works are maliciously and wilfully and enviously and peevishly done in forwardness and headiness and not in the Fear of God nor in uprightness of heart but with a double mind and in secret or without the Counsel of God seeking himself in his works and not the Lord and such works are wicked and wrought by wicked men who transgresseth both the Law of God and of men and must receive according to their deeds and the Law that is equal must pass upon them which the Light of Christ in their own Consciences may answer to when they are condemned for their ungodly works against which Light they act and that is the reason and cause wherefore their works are evil and to be condemned by the Law for who acteth according to the Light of Christ and is led thereby fulfilleth the Law or it is fulfilled in him and his works are wrought in God and are the testimony unto men that he is of a good conscience and for a good Conscience sake his works are done and such men and works are not to be condemned but justified And this is for Instruction to all them that bear Rule who are Magistrates and Governours and Judges of the people that they may now be wife and learn wisdom how to judge righteously and justly among people that they may fulfil the Will of God in what he hath called them unto even that they may cherish and defend and strengthen such as do well and all whose pure Consciences are purely exercised may live in peace and rest under such a Government and all Evil-Doers may be bound limitted and judged and may stand in awe and be afraid and thus Justice and true Judgment would be advanced and Equity would run down as a mighty Stream and the Nation would be blessed and yeild content and satisfaction to her Inhabitants and hereby might the Rulers and Judges gain unto themselves a good report and an honour and renown would the Lord crown them withal in Generations to come Wherefore all ye Rulers and ye that are set to judge the people be now awakened to just Judgment and to a sound discerning and put on the spirit of true Judgment even the Spirit of the Lord that you may receive it to be taught in all things how to walk with God that you may answer his call and the End of your Authority in judging justly all sorts of men rendring to every man according to his Deeds even Condemnation and Judgment to Evil-Doers and a Praise and Defence to all that do well And this is written in love to you all shewing you how to put a difference betwixt the Precious and the Vile between the Just and Unjust that you may be the more happy if this you observe not leaving your names a Reproach and a Scorn to after Ages which is the effect which doth follow all such as pervert Justice and turns true Judgment backward with Misery and Destruction upon themselves and Posterity for evermore A True and Faithful Exposition of some part of the Laws of ENGLAND ALL ye Magistrates Justices of the Peace Mayors and all other Ministers of the Law and all ye to whomsoever the Law is committed I warn you all to take heed to your selves that ye fulfil the Will of the Lord in judging Righteously and executing true Justice and Judgment and let not Envy nor false Suspitions nor Jealousies have any place in you but with a single Eye try all things and with an upright Heart judge for God and not for man and beware of causing the Innocent to suffer whose Consciences are exercised towards God though they be contrary to the World in their Wayes and Judgments for if you cause such to suffer you do not execute true Judgment but subvert the Law and the Lord will require that Suffering of his People at your hands Now consider The Law was not made for a Righteous Man but for Transgressors such whose Consciences are not exercisd towards God and such your Sword is to be laid upon to be a Terror to them and not to the Innocent for they should have Praise that do well And you must take heed lest you abuse your Power to another End then wherefore God hath ordained it for the Law was added because of Transgression to slay the Transgressor and that is the End of the Law Now you must take heed of causing any to suffer upon bare Suspition or Evil Jealousies when as no Transgression is truly charged nor justly proved against them before you And you are not to be both Accusers and Judges of any one in any Cause You have a late Act for the taking up and punishing of idle lâ—â—se and dissolute Persons such as are Vagrants and wandering Rogues Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars Now this Law is good if it be duly and justly executed upon such as are truly guilty herein and it is right that sturdy Beggars and Rogues and idle and disorderly Persons should be taken up from wandering and set on work in some good Imployment in the Creation which may maintain themselves and prevent them from worse things But now you must take heed of judging any to be such who are not really so for many of the Servants of the Lord now as it was in Generations past are moved to leave their own Country and Dwellings and Relations and go abroad in the Nations to preach the Gospel of Christ and to bear witness of his Name in the World to the turning of People from the wayes of Sin and Death to the Way of Righteousness and Truth and it may be such cannot give you an Account or sufficient Cause of their travelling abroad so as to satisfie you For that is lawful in the sight of God which you may not judge to be so for God's Wayes are not man's wayes neither are his Thoughts as man's thoughts Therefore I say unto you If you cause any such of the Servants of the Lord to suffer by that Law you abuse your power and subvert the Law for such are not Vagabonds nor idle dissolute Persons nor Rogues nor sturdy Beggars no more than Christ was who had no where to lay his head and the Prophets and Apostles were some of which had no certain dwelling place but left
all are not to be condemned that cannot swear or take an Oath for many of the Servants of the Lord who are Followers of Christ cannot swear for Conscience sake because Christ hath commanded Not to Swear at all though such do deny the Pope and all his Authority and Doctrines and whatsoever else is signified in that Oath who cannot justly be suspected to be any way adherent to the Pope in Doctrines or Practices except through wicked Envy you seek occasion against them thereby and you abuse your Power and subvert the Law if you judge such to be Popish Recusants because they will not Swear because they cannot for Conscience sake but walk in Christ's Doctrine who commanded not to Swear and follow the Apostle's Example who said Above all things my Brethren Swear not at all And such cannot justly be suspected or judged for Popish Recusants who are Followers of Christ and keep his Commands Therefore you must be considerate and search deep into those things that are thus weighty lest you cause the Guiltless to suffer and thereby vex the Lord against your selves And you must make a special difference betwixt such as will not Swear because they are guilty and such as cannot Swear for Conscience sake though they are not guilty but clear and free in the sight of the Lord of such things as may be falsly suspected and charged against them by envious men which may watch for Evil and give Information against the People of God unto you But let your Eye be single in all these things that you may save your selves from Wrath and Condemnation which will be a Reward of all such who subvert good Laws to a wrong End and seek to cover themselves in their Persecution of the Innocent by making the Law a Cloak but such Coverings will not hide in the Day of the Lord. And my Friends In the Execution of these and other Laws let the Fear of God guide you and true Judgment and sound Discerning that you may try into the Nature and Ground of every thing and may not judge only by outward Appearance but judge Righteous Judgment And this is a great Transgression in the Sight of the LORD at this Day even the false Execution of Good LAWS and the subversion of them to wrong Ends and Uses by some wicked men who are in Authority to whom the Law is committed And this we know by Experience Be the Law never so just and good yet if the Executioners of the Law be unjust and unrighteous true Justice and Judgment is turn'd backward and for want thereof the Harmless and Innocent daily suffer which kindleth and encreaseth the fierce Anger of the Lord against these Nations And likewise All you that are in Power and Authority you ought not to command any thing of any man which the Law gives you no power to Command for doing so you make your selves Transgressors as for instance You have no Power by any Law to command men to put off their Hats when they come before you neither by any Law can you justly punish them if they do it not neither can you justly punish such by any Law who deny to Swear because for Conscience sake they cannot But what hath been inflicted upon some in such cases hath been by Will and Malice and not by any Law and the Lord doth account such things against the Wicked who cause such Sufferings And of these things I have given you Warning and it is in perfect Love unto you all as to inform you truly lest you cause the Innocent to suffer I am a real Friend to the Common-wealth and a Lover of Iustice and true Iudgment and fully affected towards Iust Government and wish well to Magistrates E. B. The 9th Moneth 1657. AN EPISTLE To go abroad Among Friends IN WESTMORLAND and CUMBERLAND And elswhere among the Flock of God FRiends my love and life which is not of this World but which is in the living God doth reach unto and salute all you that are in the Light of Life and in the Truth it self which changeth not which endureth for ever which we receive of God the everlasting Father through the Gospel which came unto us in the demonstration of the Spirit and of Power to the changing of us from Death which reigned over us to Life in which we have power over Death and to the turning of us from the power of Satan wherein we were held unto the power of the living God wherein we became fruitful and a good savour unto him through Nations Dearly Beloved in the same Truth be faithful unto death in that which cannot sin nor be overcome of the Tempter which Satan hath nothing in wherein only our fellowship and union standeth one with another as we abide in the living Vine Christ Jesus the Light of the World in which you have believed unto Eternal Life and have entered into the Rest which is prepared as you continue therein you cannot be moved or shaken but are as Mount-Sion established in the Power and Life and Wisdom of the Everlasting God which condemns Darkness and all its works and gives dominion and rule over all the powers of Death and Hell which worketh in the Children of Disobedience who know not God nor receive the Truth much more in them who turns from the Light and Knowledge of the Truth into the Liberty of the Flesh to serve sin having made shipwrack of Fear and of Faith and a good Conscience who shall bear their own shame and condemnation in the Sight of God man and shall have no part with us in the Inheritance of Peace and Righteousness but the later end of such is worse then the beginning Wherefore you that are in the Covenant of Peace where sin is not remembred nor committed nor the unclean thing touched dwell and abide in the Life of God and in his Strength which reigns over all the World with its temptations and over all false Brethren and over all deceitful Workers whose Eye becometh darkned and heart hardned through the deceitfulness of sin turning the Grace of God into wantonness and giving liberty to the unclean thing which is accursed and joyned to the Harlot and become one Flesh but in the Counsel of the Lord God walk before him and keep your selves pure and undefiled and partake not of the deeds of the Wicked neither give place to the Devil to be perverted by him from the Truth of the living God which is Truth in it self for ever though the Backsliders despise the Way of it and every one abide in your own and know a measure of the Strength of Christ Jesus in you to defend you from the Enemy who seeks to beguile and to devour and to divert from the perfect Way of Life and Peace and dwell in your own measure of the Grace of God which is perfect which is sufficient to teach and lead and preserve in all the Wayes of God which the Unclean cannot walk
Members of one Head and mind always the Testimony of Truth its self and walk therein and you cannot stumble Have not respect to Persons but to the Truth only for Persons may change but the Truth abides for ever So let not an evil Eye look at Evil when it comes to pass to take occasion thereby against the Truth for then you stumble and fall but I say again have respect only to the pure Testimony of Truth which is sure and cannot err nor alter though man may change and err and that is the Testimony which is held forth for Salvation evon the Testimony of God with whom there is no shaddow of turning Therefore all take heed unto your selves that you give not nor receive any offence against the Lord and against your own souls but know the Seed of God in which stands the Election where the Covenant of God is sure and unalterable and a Birth you must all know to be brought forth in you which must inherit and that is it which is born of the Spirit which doth obtain the Promise it is not that birth which is of the Flesh which works by willing and running and thinking that obtains not the Promise of God neither is Salvation shewed unto it but in Patience and in Long-suffering is the Victory received over all the Powers of Darkness which make war against the Kingdom of God So all Friends dwell in that which lets you see before the World was and that stops and limits all Strife in the mind and gives you victory over it and none must glory in the Flesh for that glory must be confounded but let him that glories glory in the Lord in the Spirit and not in the Flesh And take heed that none of you abuse your liberty which is in Christ Jesus neither turn it into fleshly Bondage and thereby the Just comes to suffer and the fleshly part comes to rule above the Seed of God but dwell in the Cross which suppresseth every high Thought and whatsoever is against God in the first motion and thereby you will be preserved from the Enemy which watcheth for Evil against you and seeks occasion against the Way of the Lord but mind that which keeps you pure for it is the pure in Heart that sees God and it is him that is of clean Hands and of a pure Heart that inherits God's holy Mountain And as concerning all your Afflictions and Sufferings and Tryals and Persecutions and whatsoever is laid upon you by the Lord or by Men I say bear all things patiently and endure all things in Long-suffering these things are but for a moment and they are not worthy to be compared with the Price of God's Inheritance and if you dwell in the Counsel of the Lord all these things will be turned unto your good in all Tryals and Sufferings the Lord's Arm will be revealed and these things must come to pass that Truth may appear in its beauty in Victory over all that which doth oppose it and vengance is the Lord's and he will repay for he doth enquire after our Blood though no man lay it to heart or consider the cause or unjust Sufferings of the Innocent who are become a Prey to the Ungodly and unjust Men till God arise to plead our Cause And all Afflictions and Sufferings are but for to try and prove they are not to confound or destroy the Lord's People and therefore in patience they must be born and the Life of God felt which gives Dominion over all these things And receiving all things as from the Hand of the Lord then in all things your Peace will remain and God's Testimony will witness Peace and acceptance with God And of all Injustice and Abuses and Cruelty acted upon you by any at any time keep account of it and draw it up in short and plain words the occasion and manner of it and at every Quarter Sessions let a true Declaration of all unjust Sufferings be presented in prudency and singleness of heart to the Justices or Grand-Jury by such as are wise and faithful and appeal to the Witness of God in them in such Causes that that of God in all Men may witness for us Let this be done as cause is seen at every Sessions in the Wisdom and Authority of God that in all things Justice and true Judgment may be sought after and in Patience waited for till the Lord alone our King and Judge and Law-giver comes to reign over all his Enemies when all that now suffer for him shall reign with him A Servant to the Churches of Christ E. B. To the Elect and Chosen Seed of God in London TO the Elect and Chosen Seed of God most dear and precious who are redeemed to God and joyned in Covenant with him and have tasted and felt and heard of the Love and Peace of the Father and to all the Faithfull and Called of God who are Partakers of the Power and Presence of an Endless Life in particular unto you the Flock of God in and about London who fear the Lord and wait upon him and over whom he is the chief Shepherd The Salutation in the Father's Love by me a Brother and Companion unto all the Children of Sion and chiefly unto you a Friend in Heart and nothing more desiring for you then your encrease in God and that Grace Peace Love and Fellowship from the infinite Father of Heaven and Earth may be largely encreased and aboundantly multiplied amongst you and in all your hearts that you may shine forth in the Beauty of the Lord and the Garment of Righteousness and Truth may be spread over you all and that the Spirit of Holiness may rest upon you that the fruit thereof may greatly abound in you and spring forth from you whereby the Father who hath begotten you may be glorified through the Nation and among his Saints through the World and my Soul wisheth that the Fear of the Lord be amongst you and his terror upon all your Enemies Amen DEarly Beloved and much desired after in the Lord the Spirit of the Father in upon me to put you in remembrance of these things of the greatest price which belong unto your Peace which have been hid from you in the time of Darkness but now are reveal'd unto you whereof your Eyes have seen your Ears have heard your Hands have handled and your Hearts have perceived and now be not unmindful thereof but take heed unto the precious Treasure of Life Eternal which the Father hath given unto you I mean the Knowledge of himself who is manifest to dwell in you and to walk in you and to lead you and to guide in all his Wayes of Peace and Truth and this is that Treasure more desirable and of greater price then the Glory of the whole Earth yea it is Peace to the soul and Gladness to the heart and Refreshment to the life to feel and witness the Teaching of the Spirit of the Father
leading into all Truth and preserving out of all Transgression Wherefore I beseech you all let this be your whole desire and the full practice in your life and then shall the Countenance of the Lord shine upon you and his Face shall make you glad if in all things you look unto him for Counsel and wait upon the teaching of his Spirit which dwelleth in you which the Father hath given unto you because you are his Children and this he requireth from you that his own Spirit in you which hath begotten you may be the root and moving cause of all your works and words and herein will you receive acceptance with him and Peace from him and righteousness in him and everlasting joy by him continually and and this is the Inheritance unto which you were begotten Heirs to possess for ever wherefore let your love unity and felloship be in the Spirit and let your Knowledge Judgment Meeting and Waiting be in the Spirit and let your ministring and receiving be in the Power of God and in the Spirit and so shall you never suffer loss nor condemnation but all your works shall abide the Fire and shall not be consumed when the tryal of all things come and the Foundation of every work is discovered And I say again if the Spirit of Life even the Spirit which quickens to God the second Adam who is the quicking Spirit be your Guide your Leader and Teacher in all things then you shall have perfect Peace with God and your Fellowship will be encreased and his Presence shall go before you and his Righteousness shall be your Justification and Desence and his Covenant of Life and Peace shall be confirm'd unto you and there shall be no more going forth but the Tabernacle of God shall remain with you alwayes and his Habitation shall be in you forever and the Promise of the Father shall be sealed unto you and his Mark and express Image written in your Fore-heads and that quickning shall live in you and not you unto your selves and hereby shall all know that he is your God who liveth in you in Power and Dominion and that you are his People who liveth unto him in Truth and Righteousness and this is the Covenant and the Promise to be waited for by you all that you may be married to the Lord in Righteousness and Loving-kindness and your Maker may be your Husband and you subjected under his Power to rule over you and to govern you in the Way of Peace And now dearly Beloved mind that Word of God which hath begotten you from Death to Life and to be Heirs of his Inheritance of Life and feel the Word which is quick and powerfull dwell in your hearts alwayes dividing in you betwixt the precious and the vile and as a Hammer and a Fire alwayes beating down and burning up that ground and fruit which is in the disobedience from which the cause of Condemnation doth spring and so shall you be saved from every appearance of evil shall not be overcome thereby nor led captive at the will of the Enemy but shall be saved from Sin and the Wages thereof and no condemnation shall be unto you if your hearts be kept clean and undefiled by the Word of God which is pure and sanctifieth and is but one in all his Children and it begetteth unto one Life and to be of one Mind and Soul and by it only dwelling in the Heart is the encrease of God received though by the ministring of it one may Plant and another may Water yet it is my Father that gives the encrease who is greater then all unto whom the Ends of the Earth must look for Salvation and unto him must you all look for to pertake of encrease of his hidden Treasure daily that you may be refreshed as the Heritage which he hath chosen and may grow therein as Plants planted by his own right Hand growing from strength to strength in him and renewing your strength in him and may not fain nor be weary And forasmuch as mighty hath been the Power and Presence of the Lord amongst you and his Love great unto you and caused his voice to be heard when you were Dead to raise you unto Life and many of you have had the taste and feeling thereof who have seen the Way of Life before your face that you should walk therein and live I do warn you all in the Name and by the Spirit of the Lord therein to continue unto the end having your Faith established in the Power of God and your building standing on that true Foundation which can never be moved nor shaken but that perfect victory over Death and the Grave and the powers of Darkness may be trodden down through the obedience of the Cross whereby victory is obtained over all the World and the Affections and Lusts thereof condemned but such as goeth from the Cross perceiveth not the Power of God neither can overcome but are overcome of the Enemy and shipwrack is made of Faith Truth and a good Conscience and the latter end of such is worse then their beginning for the Lord is dishonoured and their condemnation will be great Wherefore my Friends be watchfull and be armed with the strength of Christ Jesus and feel his strength in you to resist the wicked One that he may not touch you to betray you of your Life and Peace and bring you into condemnation for I am not ignorant of the many temptations which are near unto you in that place Wherefore I say again feel the Strength and Arm of God reaching to you by which you may do all things and dwell in his Life and Power and that ye may overcome by the Word of God and by the Testimony of Jesus and then will your Peace be encreased and your Fellowship with God and Angels shall minister unto you as you overcome the Enemy which would subvert your minds from the obedience to the Truth and then your rest in God will be sweet unto you as you dwell where nothing can make afraid Sin and Transgression being removed far from you not having a place in you but the Life reigning which Satan hath nothing in and this is the freedom of the Sons of God who are redeemed unto him to live in him who being dead to sin cannot live any longer therein but are washed and separated from all the works of Death Death having lost his sting it cannot hurt nor wound you and the Grave having lost its victory it cannot overcome you who do witness this for Transgression is hid and Iniquity is put under and Life it self reigns through Righteousness over all and here the Seed is brought forth in which there is no Iniquity seen nor Transgression charged against it for it sins not but rules over the Sinner and fulfils the righteous Law of God and doth his Will in all things and for this you must all wait to feel God's Promise perfectly fulfill'd in
you and sealed unto you by the Eternal Spirit And again Friends feel the Life of God in your own particulars even the Bread of Life which comes down from Heaven which nourisheth the Birth which is immortal unto eternal Life never to taste of death and therein have Fellowship in the Covenant of Life and be at peace with God and one with another for that is blessed of the Lord where Brethren dwell in unity shewing love kindness and subjection one to another being of one spirit and like-minded serving one another in love not exalting your selves nor accounting your selves above another for that must come down with shame but every one approve your selves to God in all things and be known to him and not unto the World but let his Spirit witness for you and approve you and not man and the work of the Spirit springing through you let be the Evidence unto all people that you are by Grace what you are and this is well-pleasing unto God that his Spirit witnesseth for you and that Love Unity and Humility be amongst you and none think of themselves above what the Spirit of the Lord witnesseth and worketh in them and this a sweet savour will be amongst you to the Lord you being kept in his Wisdom and Counsel in good order and subject unto him walking as Examples of Righteousness to edifie one another and to be a strength one to another and in all your Conversations to be manifest to God's Witness in all people and thus shall you have praise of God and be approved of him and he will justifie you in the sight of all your Enemies I write this unto the Faithfull who do not minister Self but Self your Servant for Jesus sake And as concerning disorderly spirits who are not subject to the Wisdom of God nor to the Law or Christ such have no part with us but are judged with the Life of God and cast out and such as are not faithfull in the Lord's Treasure and hear the Word but do it not having the words without power and hold the Truth in unrighteous such have no reward in God but their iniquity stands uncovered and their transgression is manifest and not hid for Death reigns through disobedience and they are not circumcised in heart but live in the flesh and their portion is of this World and the Inheritance of Life is not their Heirship for the birth which should inherit is not brought forth but an untimely birth which receiveth not the Possession of Life But Friends dwell in the dominion over such and in peace abovâ— them and be not troubled but believe in the Truth and bear all things patiently and be not offended in Christ though hitherto you have seen occasion of stumbling yet the Lord will remove them and the Path of Life hath been plain before you for to such as walk in the Light there is no occasion of stumbling but Offences are seen through and beyond and the ground thereof judged and therefore be diligent in the Work of God that is his Work which his Spirit calleth you unto and that is his Worship which his Spirit leads you in which exerciseth your hearts always to God and keep your Meetings in the dread of the Lord over all your Enemies that the Weak may be strengthned and the Lambs sed and watch over one another as the Family of God among whom his dwelling is who is the good Shepherd that keeps his Flook and feedeth them into eternal Life whose Presence and Arm be amongst you for evermore Feel Christ the Power and Wisdom of God to reign in you and govern you all Farewel E. B. This is to be read in the Fear and Wisdom of God in all the Meetings â—f Friends in and about London TO â—harles Fleetwood Steward Robert Hatton Recorder Sackford Gunstone Henry VVilcock Bailiffs Being Judges in the Court of Kingstone upon Thames â—he state of the Controversie laid before you depending in your Court between Richard Mayo Plantiff and Edward Burrough Defendant FRIENDS THE Innocency and Truth of my Cause doth lift up its Head unto all People and stands justified in the sight of God and all just Men and in Justice and Righteousness it cannot be conâ—emned or judged guilty by any man And it is upon me yet once â—ore to state it before you that you and all men may see the counteâ—ance and favour thereof for it dares shew its Face unto you and all â—eople though much already hath been written and spoken about it which you have not taken notice of as you ought to have done but â—et many are informed in the truth of the matter and what hath been â—poken is not in vain though my just Cause lies always at the Stake and hardly thought upon by you and vilified and evil spoken of before you â—y my Adversary who alwayes seeks false Judgment against me to â—stifie himself in his iniquity and to condemn the Guiltless But the Lord knows and just Men know and the Witness of God in your Consciences may shew you That I have not wronged Richard Mayo â—or spoken of him any thing saving the truth and because thereof â—nd without any other Cause am I thus prosecuted by him in his â—leading before you and begging of you for false Judgment which if â—e should obtain it and you should give it yet should I be clear in the â—ight of the Lord though by you I may deeply suffer And your own â—nrighteous Judgment if it proceed from you will return one day upon your own heads and the weight of your own Iniquity shall the Lord â—ay upon your own Consciences in the Day when he judges the secrets of all Hearts And to God I have appealed in this thing who justifieth me because of Truth and then who shall condemn me while Truth is on my side and I not convinced to the contrary Therefore in the Fear of the Lord God I say unto you Take heed what you do in this Matter but deal impartially in the sight of the Lord in the Examination thereof and try whether I have spoken the Truth or whether I have spoken Falsly and hearken to my PLEA which I have often asserted before you and do yet once more lay before your view and I do appeal to the Light of your Consciences and let that justifie me or condemn me And this I testifie as my sufficient Plea unto you which no man hath truly answered before you That I have spoken nothing but the Truth of Richard Mayo my Adversary to this I stand to be justified and if I be condemned it is for this this resteth with me forever and if I fall I fâ—… for it viz. For speaking the Truth and if I stand I stand by it and no man whatsoever can convince me to the contrary and hereof am I invincible and if you condemn me for this to wit For speaking the Truth it will be upon you and I am clear And
the contrary that I have no malice in me against any man and I love your Souls better then that you should endanger them to destruction and to everlasting burning by giving Iudgment upon your Oaths against me upon this Verdict in this Cause which is thus unjust and unequal in it self and in its Proceeding also for if the Jury had tryed whether I had spoken the truth or whether I belyed Richard Mayo then it would easily have been known whether I spoke maliciously for if I belyed him and if his Doctrine be true and sound and not Error then may it be easily judged that I spoke maliciously because I spoke not the truth but if his Doctrines alleadged by me be not true and sound Doctrine but damnable Doctrine and Error then I have not belyed him but spoken the truth in love and not maliciously for Truth and Malice goes not together and till this be tryed to wit whether I have spoken truly or falsly who shall be able upon their Oathes without forswearing themselves to give it upon their Oathes that I spoke maliciously nay how shall any men lawfully swear that one speaks malitiously it is a hard cause to swear that any man speaks in malice for who enters into the heart of another man to know the thoughts save God and his Spirit And this I say at least and safely too that that Jury which gave into the Court upon their Oaths that I spoke my words maliciously against Richard Mayo have greatly endangered the forswearing themselves and the breach of their own Oaths and some of them know before this day that they did transgress therein against God whom God suddenly after cut off with Judgment and took off the Earth by death and though they that are yet living may be insensible of their own wickedness yet let all good men fear to dye out of this Body with that burden upon their Consciences as some have and others of them may have in this particular for breach of Oaths and though they have given it to you upon their Oaths that I spoke maliciously yet â—wo will be unto you if you shall upon your Oaths justifie they have done well and condemn me falsly upon their false Verdict and if you do condemn me it is upon their false Verdict because I spoke maâ—iciously against Richard Mayo and you cannot do that but you forâ—wear your selves and act contrary to your trust who are set in place to â—udge justly by what doth appear to your view and cannot nor dare not I know upon your Oaths say that I have spoken falsly and maliciously against Richard Mayo but and if you do one day you will feel that you have spoken against your own Oaths and Consciences and against God and against your own Souls And this is all that I can lay before you as to this Particular to warn you that you do judge justly and that you condemn not the innocent and just Cause of the Upright but that you may save your selves from the anger of the Lord who will be avenged upon all false Swearers and Unrighteous Judges that judges not in righteousness the Cause of the Poor and of the Stranger and the Cause yet remains before you to shew your selves just or Unjust Righteous or Unrighteous Judges in this Matter And whereas Richard Mayo and some of your selves spake to me to confess I have wronged him and would have me to acknowledge that I am in a fault and that I have spoken wrong of him yea it was said to me if I had not wronged him could I not confess that I had to preserve my self c To this I must answer Nay I cannot confess contrary to a good Conscience and contrary to Truth that I have wronged him if my life stood upon it as it is but my liberty at most for God hath given me to make Conscience of my words and to keep it void of offence towards him and all men and to confess that which is false to be true would stain a good Conscience in the sight of God and his People and that I may not do no not for my own preservation and the Lord deliver me from the Judgment of such who would have me confess that which I am not guilty of for that is all one to say I am clear when I am guilty as to say I am guilty when I am clear and I rather chuse to suffer what may be imposed upon me then to transgress the Truth in my own Heart and if I should say his Doctrine were sound and true Doâ—â—rine and not Damnable and Error I do believe the Witness in your own Consciences would rise against me and many more would say I then spoke falsly then doth now for I hardly ever heard any no not your own selves say that his Doctrines alledged by me against him are sound and true Doctrine neither can you in good Conscience say it So I say I cannot lye against my Conscience what ever comeâ— of it for to walk with the Lord and to have his Peace and not to lose his Presence is of more worth to my Soul that is immortal theâ— all the Sufferings that you can lay upon me can be dammage to my mortal Body for my life and soul you cannot touch but therein am I free though outwardly entangled amongst Bryars and Thorns which woâ—… pierce me and seek to catch me and if there be no other way for me to be preserved but by confessing contrary to my Conscience that I have wronged Richard Mayo I freely give up my self to suffer rather then to be preserved by such means and you do evil in putting such a thing upon me and expecting it from me which I cannot give bâ—… transgress the Law of God and offend him and my own Conscience and if you defer the determination of the Matter upon such hopes that I may confess that I have wronged Richard Mayo I desire you would not defer it one moment longer but let me be quitted of your Temptation for it is your Temptation and not true love for I cannot confess any such thing though I do acknowledge it hath now depended in your Court and at your door near two years and I should be glad that it were ended justly because I am not a man given to Suits of Law neither do I love it though it be so that I am fallen into it to offend any man or be offended in that way by any yet may I not use any unlawful means or any indirect way to obtain an end of this business but the rather I am content with what the Lord suffereth to come to pass though it be the very greatest Malice of my very devouring Enemies and because I would have Peace with all men and have all men reconciled to God and one to another to live in love and unity one with another upon that account I would this business were ended and though I do not doubt my Cause nor am
the Lord God may dwell amongst you and may never have cause to with-hold his presence from you which is Life and Peace and Rest for ever And believe not every spirit but dwell in that which discerns spirits and if any say Lo here or lo there is Christ go not after them without you for you have not been so taught but know the Christ of God the Lamb of God within you and follow him and obey his voice and be established all of you on this sure Foundation whom God hath laid and no man can lay any other and if you build thereupon and thereby you sâ—…ll never suffer loss but your Work shall abide the Fire and in the Fathers House your Bread you shall receive and never shall hunger noâ— Thirst but the Life will be refreshed and increased daily and you Lamps will alwayes shine and you shall never be darkned not stâ—…ble for that which stumbles is out of the Truth and the ground stands to receive the seed of Satan who is a Devourer of the Simplicity and the Betrayer from the Truth Therefore I charge you all in the Presence of the Living God that you hold fast the Faith and Hope which you have received through the Gospel that you may never be moved 〈◊〉 the Grace of God and from the Love that hath abounded in you â—…t may be found watching in the Door with your Light shining when the Bridegroom cometh and behold he cometh quickly and his Rewâ—…d is with him blessed are they that tarry for him This is the Testimony of my Love unto all the Seed of God who am as a Deceiver and yet true and as not known yet well known unto the â—…d E. 〈◊〉 To such as have Backslided from the Truth WHEN the Life in you all doth arise it shall witness me and answer the Word of the Lord unto Life or unto Death Friends all you to whom the Word of the Lord came and â—…n whom the Way of Truth was made manifest hear and consider How â—…t hath the Love of the Father been unto you How many and infinite have been his Mercies from day to day often visiting you with his Power and with his Presence yea when you sate in Darkness and in the shadow of Death his marvellous Light appear'd unto you and when you were held captive in the covenant of Sin and Death he stretched forth his Hand to redeem â—… he loved you while you knew him not and he brought Deliverance out of a â—…nge Land where you were strayed among Devourers and scatter'd and gâ—â—e aâ—â—ray as Sheep without a Shepherd yea when you were dead in Transgression he said unto you Live and he also bound you up when no eye pitty'd you even then when you were Enemies to him walking in the Vaâ—â—tâ—en of your own hearts and knew not him who lives forever who had been sougâ—â— by you but not found in that very day he sent to visit you with his Eâ—… Gospel of Peace and Truth to gather you unto himself I am a 〈◊〉 and he caus'd his powerful Voice to be heard and his Name to be 〈◊〉 among you and his Truth was declared in the Demonstration of the â—…rit and the Power of the Lord was made manifest in you to the bringing of you from Darkness to Light and from Death which had reign'd over you 〈◊〉 know a Measure of the Life of God Yea the Way of Life Eternal was set 〈◊〉 you that you might not perish but live and his Witness in you all 〈◊〉 iâ— but one the Word of the Lord reacheth unto you by the Mouthes of 〈◊〉 â—…ts to the revealing of Sin and judging it by his Righteous Law 〈◊〉 in your hearts causing his Terror to be known among you and his â—udgments reached your hearts and in that day beautiful was his Presence 〈◊〉 you and precious was his Truth among you in your first Love and his Liâ—â—t and Power and the Knowledge of his Ways were pleasant to you and the Sâ—…l of the Kingdom of God which you receiv'd with Joy grew up in you and â—…per'd at that day and the Lord loved you his Presence was with you â—…g his own Children whom he begat by his Everlasting Word that you 〈◊〉 be a Praise unto him forever And when the fear of the Lord and his Jâ—â—gâ—â—nts were placed among you and your Hearts were broken and while you were of a hungering Soul and thirsty after the Lord then was it well with you and the Day of Peace dawn'd unto you and the Word of the Lord was â—weâ—t unto you and he was gladly receiv'd that came in the Name of the Lord. Bâ—t O how have some of you lost your first Love and are again darkened and ready to faint and to turn aside for a thing of nought And how do such grieve the Spirit of the Lord and vex his Righteous Soul and are become a Sâ—â—deâ— to him in dishonouring his Name the envious man having entered â—nd sown his Seed in some of you and brought forth Strife and Divisions and Disorders among you which are not of the Father nor of the Truth and Prejudice and Evil-Surmisings and secret Jealousies one against another is risen in you all which is to be condemned with the Light for the Fire I judge it all under my Feet in the Power of the Lord God and am in that which reigns over it all and through these things Unity is decay'd and Love is waxed cold and there is fainting in the way and the Zeal for the Name of the Lord perisheth which ought to be among you and Rendings and Tearings Biting and Devouring one another and striving for Mastery there is which ought not to be which the Wrath of God is against all this is out of the Light out of the Wisdom and Counsel of God My Spirit is vexed and my Heart is troubled within me because of these things not for my self but for you and for the Glory of the Lord over whom I am jealous with a Godly Jealousie that you may not perish nor his Glory be dispised among the Heathen What mean you thus to deal against the Lord in dishonouring his Name in the sight of the Enemy even to the wounding of your own souls and to the piercing of the hearts of the Faithful who have watched over you and been Messengers of Glad-tidings unto you from the Lord Every one of you in particular be awakened and stirr'd up and fear before the Lord and come to the Light which the Son of God has lighted you withal and search your own hearts and try your selves that the ground of these things may be seen and condemn'd and remov'd and Love may yet spring amongst you to the Lord and one to another O Friends Consider It was one Father that begat you into the Truth which is but one by one Word of Life which is not divided and you were begotten unto him and not unto your selves And Christ Jesus which is
by another spirit then once the Christians were and that you follow another Teacher then once they did your Practices do make it manifest which are contrary and not according to what the Practice of the Christians once were Is not my Judgment just upon you Have you not lost that and are departed from it which gave the Name of Christian and so have the Name without the thing a Profession of Christianity but no true Title therein but having lost that which gave the true Title to the Name So that this is your state and this is your Condition generally ye Christians through the World A Name you have of Christianity but to the True Life thereof in every Particular are you dead And now all ye Christians upon Earth Behold behold how you are fallen and degenerated in all these things and many more which might be named I Faln I say from the true Christian Life and Practice wherein the Christians once were shewing fully to all the World that the Spirit of Christ doth not now guide you Christians but another Spirit which brings forth through you other Works and Fruits and of another nature then what the Christians once brought forth and being compared with them you are no whit equal in the very way and means whereby you are made Christians you differ from them and in all your practices and in life and conversation you are contrary to them And in respect of your Worship and Ministry in every part thereof are you altogether contrary unto what the Christians once were yea in your very Apparel you shew a Degeneration from the true Life and Practice in Christianity for the Apostle exhorted the Christians to adorn themselves in modest Apparel with Shamefacedness and Sobriety not with brodered Hair or Gold or Pearls or costly Array 1 Tim. 2. 9. And the Christians were there exorted That â—â—eir Adorning should not be the outward plaiting of the Hair or of wearing Gold or putting 〈◊〉 of Apparel But now amongst ye Christians is a practice found quite contrary What Vanity and Excess is in your Apparel striving to excel one another in Pride and Vain-Glory in your Gold and Silver and costly Array spending the Creation of God to satisfie your lustful Minds shewing another spirit then was amongst the Christians of old whose words and Name ye pâ—â—fess but are degenerated from the Life in things of greater and less moment Alas alas Oh wo is me for you How is my spirit often oppressed in the remembrance of your woful Fall What shall I say unto you but this You are revolted and gone away backward from the Way of Life and you have altogether forgotten God and are degenerated from Christ the living Vine and the Anger of the Lord is now greatly kindled against you to consume you and to confound you because you are revolted and turned aside from the pure and perfect Way of God which once was manifest amongst Christians And your Back-sliding and Apostacy is truly compared to that of the Iews who did retain the Name of the People of God after they were turned aside from his Commandments even as you do retain the Name of Christians though you are departed from Christ For the Iews had seen and known much of the Power and Presence and Hand of the Lord in many great Victories and Deliverances and the Lord had chosen them above any other People at that day to place his Name with them and amongst them and yet after all that they forgot his wondrous Works and rebell'd against him and became a Stiff-necked and Hard-hearted people much more then any other besides them and they would not be instructed nor reclaimed by the Voice of the Prophets but smote them and slew them and when Christ their Saviour came they would not receive him nor walk in his Wayes but crucified him saying They would not have tâ—… Man to reign over them And to this in every particular are the Christians now found equal and agreeing with Back-sliding Israel for much of the Hand and Power of the Lord were the Christians made Partakers of and the Lord wrought great Deliverances for them when they were few in number and under heavy Yoaks and Bondage through Persecution and cruel Dealing yet then the Lord was with them and increased them greatly in number and gave them Victory in a great measure over all their Enemies but now are they revolted even as the Iews and have forgotten God and greatly rebelled against him and have turned his Love to their Lusts abusing his Loving-kindness and are become a stiff-necked and hard-hearted people as ever were the Iews and now you will not be instructed nor reclaimed from the Error of your wayes but abound in all manner of Unrighteousness and will not hearken to the Voice of the Lord nor return to him but are a gainsaying people and will not return unto him from whom you are fallen but hate the Light which Christ has lightened you withal neither will have Christ to reign over you but crucifie the Life as the Iews did And as the Sacrifices and Oblations the Sabboth-keeping of the Iews and all the Works of Righteousness were an Abomination to the Lord after they were departed from him even the very practice of those things which God had once commanded them to perform became a Burden to the Lord and his Soul could not away with them even their New Moons and Sabboths his Soul hated Isa. 1. and all their Sacrifices were as if they cut off a Dogs Neck and their Oblations as if they offer'd Swine's-blood and their burning Incense as if they blessed an Idol Isa. 66. I say The very Practice of the Iews after they were revolted and become disobedient Children in those very things which God had commanded them to do and practice and which once the Lord accepted the doing of by his People yet after they were turned aside from the leading of his Spirit the practice of the very same Works were hateful in the sight of the Lord when they performed Works of Righteousness to him and yet their Hearts went after their Covetousness and their practizing of that which God had once commanded to be done their doing of it was Idolatry and was a Burden to the Lord's Soul and their Righteousness and all their Practices therein were as filthy Rags even loathsom in his Presence when their Fear towards him was taught them by the precepts of men and they had lost that pure Fear which 〈◊〉 was taught them of God but they were gone from his Fear which should have kept their Hearts clean and their Hears were defiled and poluted and therefore not any of their Performances to him could be accepted but were altogether become an Abomination And even thus is it at this day as concerning the Sacrifices and Performances of Christians being as I have said and made manifest departed from the Lord and from the Spirt of Christ All their Prayings and Preachings and
tell us plainly Are you Redeem'd from Pâ—… 〈◊〉 are you such as oppress the Seed as Pharoah did And tell us who was the Inâ—… of â—…our Images and who was the Former of all your graven Images 〈◊〉 not they all invented and come up since the Apostles dayes which ye have 〈…〉 and what is Purgatory and from what had it its rise and original 〈◊〉 what ground have you out of Scripture for such a doctrine And what is the 〈◊〉 of Faith and what 's Faith and what doth it give victory over and what 〈…〉 it over come and what is the â—aiâ— that hath bin spread over all Nations and 〈◊〉 is the Mountain of the House of God and what are those Mountains the 〈…〉 shall seek to cover themselves under and what are those Mountains that people expect Salvation from in vain and did not Iohn come to throw down the â—…ins and what are the Mountains that he came to throw down and what is the Valley he came to raise up answer us And what is the Sword of the Spirit and whether have ye the Sword of the spirit and the Spiritual Armour and what is youâ— Church defended and upâ—…d by Spiritual Weapons or Carnal are not your Goals carnal Weapons 〈◊〉 your Inquisitions and your killing people aboue Religion are not all these 〈◊〉 Weapons and had ever the Church of Christ such Weapons answer 〈…〉 plainly And do you not expect the Lord will suddenly plead with you and are not 〈◊〉 them that put off the Day of the Lord and cause the Seat of Violence to come near and are not ye them that have Eyes but see not Earâ— but hear 〈◊〉 Hearts and understand not and is not your Eye blind that should see God's Presence and your Ears stopped that should hear his Voice â—nd have 〈◊〉 heard his Voice and seen his Shape if you have what is he like answer 〈◊〉 And what is his Word and where doth it dwell in your hearts or is it without you and can any thing without you purifie you and take away sin 〈◊〉 of your Hearts and must not Christ be within and what are the Fruits and Signs and Marks of a Saint and why do you go Pilgrims to visit 〈◊〉 Bones what is the reason of it and who was the first that â—â—tuted it 〈◊〉 what is the meaning of your holy Water give us Scripture for all these 〈…〉 ces or else the Power of the Lord will tear you to pieces and lay open 〈◊〉 Foundation and none that love God can joyn unto you And can any o◠〈…〉 pardon Sin truly that it shall never more be remembred and are not 〈…〉 sins remembred with the Light in your Consciences sometimes and is there 〈◊〉 a Light in your Consciences that doth convince you tell me plainly And whether do you own That Christ hath lightened every one that coâ—… into the World and what is the Light and do you know Christ as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 before Abraham and have you seen his Day as Abraham did and what 〈…〉 Day of Christ doth the Carnal Eye see it give us your Knowledge and 〈◊〉 Judgment in all these things and lay down your Principles at full and 〈…〉 by the Scriptures what you hold and profess if you would have any to 〈…〉 your Religion otherwise renounce your Church and come out of â—… What is Babylon and the Mother of Harlots and what is spirituâ—◠〈…〉 and Sâ—dom where Christ is crucified and what is the Whore and what 〈…〉 flesh that has stain'd the Earth and what is the Fire that must consume her 〈…〉 Many are jealous concerning you that you are not the true Church 〈…〉 you have drunk of the Whore's Cup who hath made all Nations drunk 〈…〉 if that time be come that she hath made all Nations drunk then how 〈…〉 clear your selves being Nations and Multitudes of People To 〈◊〉 these 〈…〉 I expect your speedy Answer And what is the Death that hath raigned over all and how is Man recâ—… out of it and when and what are the Gates of Hell and what is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they cannot prevail against and whether your Church may never 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vailed against and whether they be not your Inquisitions Stakes and â—… and killing people that do principally defend your Church and if yâ—◠〈…〉 cease your Inquisitions and killing those you call Hereticks whether 〈…〉 not you be prevail'd against by many other Sects Lay away yoâ—… perâ—… of People that you call Hereticks and do not deaf with them after the 〈…〉 which you have done by Inquisitions and such like and only by sound 〈…〉 guments and the Power of the Spirit defend your Religion And dare you suffer a certain number of us to come among you and pâ—…ch what we hold and a certain number of you shall freely come among us 〈◊〉 freely preach what you hold without Persecution or any Violence as we would expect and have the same from you engage man for man with us and 〈◊〉 no otherwise deal with ours then we deal with yours and take the free liberty to deal with our men as we deal with your men but no otherwise and 〈◊〉 each of the Messengers preach and hold forth what they would have and whâ—â— they really hold and believe and convert the most either of them can to theiâ— own Religion and then let all the World see which have the Power and Spirit of God with them and whether your Ministers or our Ministers do turn the more people from you to us or from us to you and send your Answer whether you will agree to the Premises and if you do send your Messengers when you pleaâ—â— and we will engage in the Lord their Persons shall not be harmed but if they were then take Man for Man Life for Life of our Men sent to you and let that God be the true God that appeareth in most Power and Authority and let him be worshipped forever whose Power converts the most to the knowledge of him out of Wickedness and let that Church be the tâ—… Church which cannot be overcome And as you are willing to be made manifest joyn issue with us in this business and propound your own time when the men shall return and whether the continuance of the Matter be for Dayes Moneths or Years and let each of the men return without harm of Person and this will be a way truly to try and make manifest all things to all the World and whether you or we be in the right Way and of the right Church and use 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Weapon against us but the foundest Arguments you can by words according to the Scriptures and the same Weapons we will use against you 〈…〉 other but the Authority of the Spirit of God and Arguments thereby 〈◊〉 shall be according to the Scriptures the Apostles Writings and the â—…ony of the true Church And hereby in the sight of the whole World let your Church and Faith 〈◊〉 Principles and Practices
fighting That we might enjoy the Freedom of Conscience as well as outward Rights not only in the inner-Man but the free Exercise in all Acts of Piety and Religion of what the Lord should make manifest unto us But whether this was then intended or is now perverted it is that which is our Right which we must claim and no man may take it from us for this we know That Christ Jesus alone hath right to rule over the Consciences of men unto whom every one must give an Account of himself according to the just perfect and unchangeable Law of God which is revealed with that alone of God which is made manifest in man which he hath shewed unto him by which every one shall be judged at the Last Day when the Book of Conscience shall be opened And therefore all unequal imperfect and changeable Laws of men we do deny and by them and for their Transgression we shall not be judged of the Lord and all Laws made in their wills by their wisdoms in the things of God which concern Religion and the free Exercise of a Good Conscience towards God and Man against them all we do bear witness 〈◊〉 knowing the Commandments of the Lord and what he required of us and having tasted his tender Love to those that keep them and felt his Terrors against 〈◊〉 Disobedience we are made willing to bear the greatest Sufferings rather then 〈◊〉 against God And in this Ground we stand not careful what man can do unto 〈◊〉 or say of us nor to give him an Answer in this Matter For whether it is better 〈◊〉 obey God or Man let him judge Yet here to prevent Mistakes we do with the like clearness declare our free and willing Subjection in the things of this World to every Ordinance of 〈◊〉 that is just according to the Righteous Law of God and our Work is not to weaken but strengthen the hand of the Magistrate by labouring to bring all to own that of God which should exercise their Consciences To do in all 〈◊〉 as they would be done unto in which is fulfilled the Law and the Prophets whicâ— takes away the occasion it self of the Law and brings to live in Peace and Love wherein should be the Magistrates Joy and Glory And do but look on the Crimes charged against us and all the Sufferings we lie under and you may clearly see That not for any Evil done or just Law broken that concerns man are we thus punished but for things which concern our God and chiefly for bearing our Witness as we are moved of the Lord against the false Prophets and Hirelings of these dayes who by their Fruits are made manifest not only unto us but to many Thousands besides yea the greatest part of all the sober People of the Nation their own Hearers will confess it And we see and know that they and all Ministers and Worships in the World set up and standing in the will of man shall perish and come to nothing and the Rice of these men their Growth and End we comprehend and see their Downfall hastens greatly and all the Powers of the Earth shall not be able to support them and with them shall fall their Tythes their Temples their Gleab lands and Offerings their set dayes of Worship in their wiils and all Laws limitting the Holy One made to uphold their Craft and blessed are they who through the Day of Tryal shall stand in their Witness faithful unto God not fearing what man can do unto them Do not you approve Christ Jesus his going into the Temple And do not you own the Apostles who went into the Iews Synagogues every Sabboth Day and into the Market-places to testifie of Christ Jesus and reason with the people And do not you commend Luther and Calvin Iohn Wicklisf and others is Famous for their Zeal in publishing abroad what then was manifest unto them and those Persons which in Queen Mary's dayes went into the Popish Steeple-Houses to bear witness against their Superstitions which caused her to make a Law against them by which many of them then suffer'd and by which the Priests of England till the last Parliament were guarded and is it now become an Offence to practice the same things And is that a just Law made by the late Parliament by which many have suffered Are not the Priests sprung from the old Root of Popery and are they not forced to flee thither for their vindication and is not the spirit the same which makes these Laws to support hem How shall the Kingdoms of the Earth the Papists Turks Infidels Heathens be converted Your Priests sit down in their Ease and will not go they call themselves Ministers of the Reformed Churches And have not you taught other Nations how to make Laws to restrain the Testimony of those whom the Lord â—ends and is sending into all the Corners of the Earth Did the Command of God which gave Tythes to the Jewish Priesthood concern the Gentiles Was not the Command to the Iews themselves disannulled when the Priesthood was changed Did ever any of the believing Iews pay Tythes to the Apostles or did any of the Gentiles pay Tythes either Did not the Papists bring in this Doctrine and Oppression Did not many of the Martyrs in Queen Mary's dayes witness against Tythes And was not that an Article for which some of them suffered And do not you own and commend those Martyrs or do you judge them for holding an Error Have not all or most of those Countries that turned from the Pope and are called reformed cast off Tythes with the Pope and were ashamed of them And is it the Glory of ENGLAND who pretendeth to the highest Reformation to keep up Tythes the Popish Priests Maintenance and First-Fruits and Tenths the Wages of the very Pope himself and to hale before Courts cast into Prisons and spoil the Goods of all who for Conscience saâ—e cannot pay them Let that of God answer And how many have and at this day do suffer because they cannot Swear which Christ Jesus and his Apostles above all things forbid How are the Commands of Christ made void by the Customs and Traditions of Men Were it not easie by turning the Law against Lyars and false Witnesses which the Law of God is against to find out that which your Law against false Swearing never did or could discover Do you own Christ Jesus of whom the Iews that put him to Death gave this Witness That he Respected no mans Person Do you commend Mordecai who could not give the outward Honour and bow to Hamon And do you regard his words who said I know not how to give Flattering Titles to men for my Maker would soon take me away Hath not God made of one Mould and one Blood all Nations to dwell upon the Face of the Earth And doth not he that respects Persons commit sin and is convinced of the Law as a Transgressor And must it now
the Lord's Purpose is concerning you onely this I do know The Lord hath a love to the men of our Nation and there is a spirit in them most fitting for such a work even the Zeal of the Lord hath appeared and is beginning to appear against Babylon and against Rome the Seat of the Whore and the Kingdom of Antichrist shall be thrown down and the Righteous People shall go free and Nations shall worship the Lord but there are many Mountains in the way wherefore hew down the Tops strike at the Branches make way that the Ax may be laid to the Root of the Tree that your Sword and the Sword of the Lord may neither leave Root nor Branch of Idolatry Oppressions and Tyranny which the Nations are held in slavery under and oppressed withal to the grieving of the Righteous Soul and vexing of the Spirit of the Lord. Oh how great is their Idolatries you see a little part thereof amongst you oh what false feigned deceitful and hypocritical Services do they practice their Images their Pictures and their praying before them which is Idolatry their Candles burning and their Organs and Instruments of Musick and feigned singing all this is Idolatry and Superstition and a vexation to the Lord and that Law which imposeth them upon people contrary to a good Conscience and that Law which condemns others as Hereticks that will not worship thus and that Power that kills and destroyes those that act against those Worships Laws and Powers ought ye to make war against and to claim a disanulling of all such Laws and Authorities by which this Idolatry is imposed upon Peoples Consciences and established in the Nations and by which many are destroyed and condemned who cannot bow to their Idolatries such Laws are not to stand before you for these be the Bryars and Thorns which cover the great Mountains whom the Whore sitteth upon which the Lord will judge did you but know all their Unrighteous Laws Murders and all Cruelties which are abounding among them and they have a despensation to commit Unrighteousness those Laws ought to be judged and destroyed and your Sword is to be lifted up against them It is the Lord's Work I know to make men truely religious but yet the Lord may work by you to break down the Bryars and Thorns and Rocks and Hills that have set themselves against the Lord and which keep People under the Chains of Idolatry so that they commit Idolatry and are compelled to it and defended in it even by a Law but the Lord will confound all this either by means or without means for such is their Oppression in their Ecclesiastical State and their Unjust Laws whereby their Church is established and defended that it causeth the very Earth to mourn and the Spirits of the Righteous to faint and their Hearts to fail because of Oppression to Murder and Steal and Rob and to commit Adultery these are counted little Sins amongst them they are even tolerated and pardoned by the Pope for a little Money and if they slay a Man and wilfully murder him they can run to their Altar there they can have a Dispensation of a wicked Pardon and here is a Law that tolerates Murder and the greatest Sins wherewhereby it is hard for any that fears God for to be amongst them and Blood blood lies upon their whole Dominions and the Guilty go free and uncondemned and the Innocent suffer unjustly for if any diminish from about their Mass-houses to the value of a Peny that is death by their Law while Murder is tolerated and here is nought but Tyranny and Oppression abounding even great Mountains which must be thrown down and for which the Sword of the Lord must come upon them and God will make their Riches and their falsely consecrated Vessels and Treasures even a spoil and a prey unto you if you be faithful unto the Lord wherefore all you Officers fear the Lord God and be not ambitious nor vain-glorious nor seek not your selves to gain unto your selves Kingdoms to exalt your own Horn for if you go in this way and if this be your end then your end shall be frustrated and you shall not prosper for the Lord will lay you aside with shame unto you but let it be your work and your aim to require and demand the disâ—nulling of their Inquisitions and cruel Laws both in their Church and civil State and that Christ alone may exercise the Peoples Consciences neither be ye as Lords nor Tyrants over your poor Soldiers but be ye loving and meek towards them I say unto you Officers and to all you that bear rule in the Army Be loving and kind and gentle unto all under your Authority and be not as Tyrants nor Oppressors over your poor Soldiers but be Examples of all goodness unto them and give them no evil Example in your lives and conversations but lead them in the Fear of the Lord and know a measure of his Wisdom in you whereby you may walk before them and they may possess their freedoms in their Conditions and may not be as Slaves to you but as Servants to the Lord in their places and herein shall you be blessed as you fulfill that which the Lord requires And likewise unto all the Soldiers I say That ye may be sober and moderate and faithful to the Lord and not go in the Excess and Superfluity of this Creation but may be all kept low in your Hearts and tender towards God and obey them that have power over you in all things which are just and be not deboist nor given to Vanity but all of you both Officers and Soldiers live in that which keeps your Consciences void of offence and that you may be clear and free in your own spirits from the Abominations of the Nations and then you will be a Terror to the Evil in all People wheresoever you come and being clear and free in the sight of the Lord having no sin lying upon your Consciences then shall you face your Enemies with courage and not fear death but shall be ready to lay down your lives for a Testimony of Jesus in a good Cause and upon good Engagements and if the Lord be your Fear then no man can make you afraid but you will be in that which overcometh the Unrighteous Power within you and without you also and here is the true honour and in this it doth consist in victory over all that which is contrary to God and here is the true Way to Happiness and Prosperity in this Life and in the Life to come by seeking his Glory and not your own and all of you come to the Light of Christ that Christ hath lighted you withall and that will teach you all things what you ought to do and what you ought not to do for that Light of Christ within you ought to be the Guide of all the Children of Men in every State Place and Condition and upon this you
single Eye be watchful that all things in good Order may be kept amongst you that the Name of the Lord may be a Renown and his Truth kept without Blemish and your Authority in the Truth may be known a Terror upon the Wicked My dear Friends whom I judge to be Honest and Faithful this was I moved to write to you as the dear Remembrance of my dear Love and I do from the Lord commit it to you to fulfil the will of God in these things and the Lord bless you all with Wisdom and Counsel and with Power and Strength and the Lord give you Authority that you may reign with all them that come amongst you in the Name of the Lord and over all them that come in their own name The Lord bless you with a perfect Understanding in these things and my Spirit even the Spirit of the Father be upon you all to teach you perfectly in all things My Love and Life is amongst you who desires nothing more then the Prosperity of the Lord's Truth amongst you The Grace of God be with you all Amen This is to be read amongst you when you are met together whom the Lord hath set to order things in his Wisdom and this is to all the Faithful amongst you Kingstone 1659. E. B. To the Churches in New-England Barbadoes and other Islands TO the Seed of God and to all that are called of him and unto all you that are hungering and thirsting after the Lord in Truth and Righteousness in New-England Barbadoes Mevis and the rest of the Islands where the Lord hath a People to gather the Father's Love through me doth slaute you all whose Faces are set towards Sion abundantly desiring for you in the Spirit of the Father that Grace Mercy and Truth from God may richly abound amongst you and in all your Hearts that at his coming who hath given to every one of you a Measure of his Treasure he may receive his own from you with encrease that you also may enter into the Reward which is Eternal Life unto all that are called and are found faithful Wherefore arise and awake all ye that have been scattered and strayed from the Lord and come forth thou oppressed Seed of Israel out of the Darkness and Bondage and Oppression with which thou hast been loaded for many Ages whilst a long Night of Darkness and Blindness hath been over thee I say Awake and come forth for now thy Light is risen and the Glory of the Father shall rest upon thee and thy Bonds shall be broken and thy Oppression shall cease for thy King shall Reign in Righteousness over all his Enemies and they shall become his Foot-stool and his Dominion shall be enlarged to the utmost parts of the Earth Dearly Beloved be assured of this That the Lord God of Heaven and Earth is doing great things his Day-spring from on High hath visited us and his Light hath shined into our Tabernacle and his Arm hath taken hold of Strength to Redeem the Oppressed People and he hath reached forth to us from his holy Habitation out of his Everlasting Loving-kindness and hath caused us to reach forth to others from his own Life revealed in us that they may know what God hath done for his People and may also receive of the same Salvation and may taste handle and feel of the Life which is manifest of which we are Witnesses and the Lord hath spoken who can but declare and he hath lifted up his Standard to gather the Nations that he may search and seek out his Sheep and this I declare unto you and withal am willing to discover and make manifest the Way and Means whereby the Lord doth bring â—â—â—vation to his People and love constrains me knowing the Lord hath a Seed amongst you unto which my Testimony will be acceptable wherefore all people turn ye turn ye for the Lord calleth unto you harken unto his Testimony which speaketh in you even the Light of Chriâ—â— Jesus with which every one of 〈◊〉 are enlightened and search your Hearts and feel what the Lord witnesseth unto you and what his Testimony in you giveth evidence of for who walks in Pride in Wickedness in Vanity and in the Pleasures of the World and acteth against God's Witness in their Consciences such are in a State to be condemned of the Lord because they act that and speak that which is reproved with the Light shewing that they are in a State unreconciled to God their Works shewing them to be evil Trees that cumber the Ground who are to be hewen down and cast into the Fire and therefore be not deceived in your selves neither let any man deceive you with a Profession or Conceit of a Justification by Christ while yet Iniquity and Transgression and the Evil of the World are lived in and not wholly denyed for to the Wicked there is no Peace from God but the Wicked are condemned by him and the Light in their own Consciences is witness against them Therefore all come to the Light which Christ hath lightened you withal which will manifest unto you your own Condition and whether it be justified or condemned of God and believe not against the Light nor hope not against God's Witness for they that do so their Faith and Hope is vain but what the Light testifies in you that believe And all you that may find your selves sinners loaden with Iniquity and that are the Servants of Sin and have no power over Temptations believe in that Light which gives you to see this and wait till the Power of God be made manifest in you to cleanse your Hearts and to judge out all Unrighteousness for Christ hath not taken away your Sins while you daily bring them forth into the World by Action but whose sins he hath taken away them he hath washed and cleansed from their sins and given them power to resist and overcome all Temptations wherefore wait upon the Lord all ye that are afflicted because of your sins the Day of a great Deliverance is approaching and mind the Light which lets you see Sin that is the Gift of God's Love unto you which will draw you from the love of the World and crucifie your Affections and Desires which go after it and if you mind the Light of Christ in you it will judge and condemn every Motion that ariseth in the Heart towards Evil and the Temptation being judged you will not fall into Sin but will be preserved from Sin and that which doth preserve you from the committing of that Sin unto which you are tempted doth blot out and forgive all the Sins that ever you have acted and that will witnes Reconciliation and Peace with God unto you as you come to be changed and renewed in your Hearts and Minds to be created in the second Adam his Image to bear and to follow his Spirit And Friends search your Hearts and let the Lord search you and judge you for him must
and I have not spared my own Life to serve you but have given out plentifully of the Lord's Treasure that you might be made rich and I have given out from my Life of the Lord's Substance that you might be fed and nourished and I have kept nothing back of the whole Counsel of God which was needful for you to know and for all this the Lord is unto me at this day a sufficient Reward and of you I desire nothing to my self but do sincerely desire of the Father for you all That Love and Faith and Purity and all the Works of the Spirit may plentifully abound in you all that 〈◊〉 Father may be glorified through your bringing forth much Fruit. Wherefore my dear and beloved Friends Look unto the Lord who hath begotten you to himself let his Fear be before your Eyes and his Judgments in your Hearts Oh! keep near the Lord at all times for it s he that preserves his People it s he that leads them and goes before them it s he that feeds them and refreshes them at all times for its be alone and there is not another that gives you Peace and Strength Wisdom and Knowledge and all good things he is â—ot streightened to any of his that sincerely wait upon him he is the Portion of his People and the Inhaeritance of their Souls and he causeth all them 〈◊〉 trust in him to lie down in Safety and none can make them afraid Therefore oh my Friends I say again and again Love the Lord and his Way and be Faithful in the Truth unto the End love not your Life nor â—â—y other thing for his Service sake but give up all things of this World that you may receive all in the Lord be watchful against all your Enemies that you be not overcome of the Devil but resist him in all his Apâ—… that you may not be defiled nor lose your Peace with the Lord 〈◊〉 is to me and I hope to you of greater price then all other things whatsoever and this I have said among you in Faithfulness and at this present do charge yoâ— all To dwell in Love and Unity one with another and to â—ear one with another and to walk in Wisdom one towards another and to be Examples of Righteousness one before another that it may be known that God is amongst you of a Truth and he is my Witness nothing without me can more add to my Joy then to know of your Welfare in the Lord and of your Stedfastness in the Faith of Christ Jesus and for this my Heart wisheth as much as for any other thing besides And though I be outwardly separated from you according to my Father's Will who gave his Enemies power over my outward man to cast it into Bonds for a moment yet am I present in Spirit amongst you and my Love and Life salutes you all in the Fear of the Lord and though the outward man may suffer yet am I in perfect freedom and in perfect Peace and in every respect perfectly well in the Lord who is my Strength my Armour and my Crown and in his Authority I yet once more beseech you all even for the Lord's sake That ye take heed to the true Light Christ Jesus who lighteth every one of you which Light leads to Christ who saveth and redeemeth from Sin and Death and from all the Wayes and Works thereof and this ye know who are God's Witnesses of his Love and tender Mercies and of the Faithfulness of his Servant Moreover my dear Friends All disorderly Spirits who are out of the pure Fear and Wisdom of God my Life doth judge and with the Power such I do deny who are not Simply in the Power of God and them that seek themselves in any thing amongst you my God shall judge and who are rash in Judgment and forward to utter words and bring forth Fruit and not in due season such are a Burden to the Lord's Soul Therefore take heed I charge you all to the guiding and moving of the pure Spirit of God alone for that will stand and its Fruits will never wither and whatsoever is otherwise brought forth among you the Lord will confound and it shall not profit the people This is to be read amongst you in the Fear of the Lord. E. B. To Friends in Barbadoes Virginia and New-England c. TO the Seed of God and to all that are begotten of him by the Immortal Word in Barbadoes Virginia New-England and that wayes even to all that have felt and tasted of the Word of Life Grace Mercy and Truth be multiplyed amongst you Dear Friends dwell in the Truth and walk in it that ye may be a sweet Savour unto God and may have Unity with him and one with another in his Life and Spirit and wait that you may have Victory over the World and the Spirit of it in you which hath captivated your minds in the Luâ—ts of this Creation and which hath led you in By-pathes of Iniquity while you were Strangers unto God and without his Knowledge But now having received Grace and Mercy from God and his Word hath entred into your hearts whereby you are begotten into the Hope of Eternal Life and are changed now the Lord requires of you to be Faithful in his Work and Valiant for his Truth that you may obtain the Promise and be made free from Sin and become the Servants of Righteousness and feel the Word and Power of God in your Hearts which will crucifie you daily to the World and make you alive unto God that he may live in you and walk in you and work all your Works for you and this is the Everlasting Covenant where God works in the Creature both to will and to do and man lives not but Christ lives in him and speaks in him and this you must wait for to be Witnesses of in your own Consciences For what is the Profession of God with the Lips and the Profession of the Scriptures while men do not walk by the Spirit aâ— gave forth the Scriptures and enjoy God in their Hearts so you must all wait to be Possessors of the Substance Christ the First and the Last the Beginning and Ending him must you feel in you to destroy the Devil and his works and to change you into the divine Nature which is like unto God and this is Salvation God with us destroying the Enmity and reconciling man unto himself by overcoming Sin and Transgression and your hearts must be cleansed by the Word of God and that which is contrary purged out and this is the New Covenant where the Heart is circumcised and the Body of sin put off and the Creature freed from the burden of Iniquity and then there is clearness and freeness where sin is remitted and washed away and no burden lying upon the Conscience but the Heir of God born the Redeemer which maketh free from the Devil and Sin and they are the Sons of
God who are thus made free whose Sins are remitted and Iniquity covered and the Life rules and reigns and hath overcome Death and Death is swallowed up of Life and this is the Promise of God which must be fulfilled in you that ye may possess the Treasure of God in your Hearts and be Feeling-Witnesses of Immortality your Hands must handle the Word and you must taste and feel and see the Word of Life within you and you must find the Pearl and your own Lamps must have Oyl in them for people have long been running without after men Lo here and Loe there and have been applying the Promises in the wrong nature but now people must turn to the Light of Christ within them for Christ is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World and this Light must men follow and then they shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life and men must walk in the Light and then the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin and men must believe in the Light and then they shall be the Children of the Light and then Light shall shine out of Darkness and the Light that shines in their hearts shall give them the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So Friends love the Light and walk in the Light for it is the Light within that lets men see whether their Deeds are wrought in God or contrary to him the Light within will let you see of what nature your Works are whether of the corrupt nature or of the Divine Nature for all mens Works are of the one of these and all the Works that spring from the corrupt nature are but Abomination unto God though they appear never so Righteous and that Righteousness which is of Man cannot be justified before the Lord but man must be a Partaker of God's Righteousness of an uncreated Righteousness and that will cover all his Infirmities and in that only can man be presented Righteous unto God So Friends Wait to be Witnesses of this Righteousness that you may be cloathed with it and may be stripped off all your own which is but as filthy Rags and will not hide mans Nakedness but his Righteousness and his Sin must be condemned together and God must be known to work to will and to do in the Creature and this is God's Righteousness for which you must all wait that you may be Heirs of it and Possessors of it unto your Eternal Peace and live in the Fear of the Lord and be not immoderate nor excessive in any thing nor let your hearts be drawn away with the Creatures for then you commit Idolatry and are overcome of this World and you want the Authority of God and are in Bondage unto the Creatures and they defile you and burden you in that state while your Minds are captivated with them So Friends Mind God's Wisdom amongst you that it may lead you in all things and live in Love and Unity one with another and let no Strife be amongst you nor Contention for that will destroy you and eat out true Love and your Hearts will be hardened but bear one with another and be in Patience and Long-suffering one towards another and then the Presence of the Lord will fill your Hearts with Satisfaction and you will be comforted in God and one in another if Love and Unity be amongst you in the Spirit And meet together in the Name and Fear of the Lord and mind the Lord's Presence amongst you mind not words but mind the Presence of the Lord and feel his Power in your hearts and the words that come from the Power will refresh the Seed of God but if any speak words out of the Power the Seed of God will be burdened and will judge such words So every one feed upon the Bread of Life that comes from God and feel the Water of Life springing up in your Hearts that you may grow unto God as Plants of Righteousness and may make your Calling and Election sure So dwell in the Light and take up the daily Cross of Christ and walk not in the Flesh but in the Spirit and so shall the Blessings of the Lord be upon you My dear Love even the same Love wherewith I am loved of my Father doth salute you all and the Seed of God in you that I know and to that am I known who am a Brother and Companion unto all the Faithfull and Upright Edw. Burroughs Let this be coppied over and sent abroad and read in all your Meetings Good Counsel AND ADVICE Rejected by Disobedient Men And the Days of Cromwell's Visitation passed over And also Of Richard Cromwell his Son late Protectors of these Nations And the many Precious Warnings neglected by them and set 〈◊〉 nought which from time to time were given unto them as declared in these following Letters whereby all may see the Kindness of the Lord towards them by his Faithful Invitations to them and their own Apostacy and Carelesness who rejected Warning till the Time and Day of their Visitation is shut up with the Vail of Darkness and Reproach which lies over them and their precious Day of Love is spent and cannot be re-called To the READER FRiend Out of the same Love from whence these were written do I put them to publick view and it was not without much Doubtings and Questioning in my own spirit 〈◊〉 at last having found perfect Freedom and Strength from the Lord knâ—… that I am 〈◊〉 and frâ—â— altogether of other Ends saving then for the Honoâ—â— of the Truth and that all may see that the Dâ—â—nfalls of these â—en were not before sufficient Warnings which makes the Lord free 〈◊〉 his Servant free from what is coâ—â— to pass upon them and even their Fall lies upon their own heads that dispised the Lords Warnings and would none of his Counsel but suffered the Innocent to be oppressed under their Power and relieved not the Heritage of the Lord from her Cruel Enemies though they had Power to do it but 〈◊〉 their own glory and how to be established in greatness in the Earth till that â—he Lord 〈◊〉 cast them â—ut and made them as a Reproach And these things that have come to pass 〈◊〉 them may be as Warnings to all other Rulers that do succeed them and they may 〈◊〉 that the Lord is 〈◊〉 and his Iudgments Righteous and whosoever shall follow their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be Oppressâ—â—s of the Lord's Heritage as they were the Lord shall extend his Iudgments 〈◊〉 them also and their Destruction shall come even like as upon thâ—se before them Therefore let all the Earth be warned I am a Lover of Sion For the hands of the Protector FRIEND MAny Wâ—rnings hast thou had from the Mouth of the Lord his Love hath been towards thee and the glorious Day of his Visitation hath shined over thy head wherein he hath called unto thee to hear
and obey his Voice and would have instructed thee in the Way that thou shouldest walk that thy Soul might live forever in Peace and Rest when this World is passed away and that in this present World he might have made thee a Blessing to thy self and Posterity and People and a Praise in thy Dominions and unto Ages after tâ—ee if thou hadst hearkened and obeyed his Voice and chosen his Way and Counsel and not thine own and then would â—e have made thine Enemies to have bowed under thee and the Force of their Policy and Arm should never have prevailed against thee and thou shalt be delivered from the Will of all that hate thee if thou yet wilt hearken unto him and receive his Instruction and set thâ— heart to seek his Honour â—ore then thiâ—e own and wilt let his Counsel be thy Guide and Ruler and not vâ—in man which must be brought to nought even now before the Day of thy Visitation be spent never more to be re-called and the time come when God will cease to strive with thee and will not call unto thee but will leave thee to thy own heart's false Judgment and the Counsels of Treacherous Men. And Friend I as one that hath obtained Mercy from the Lord unto wâ—om his Word is committed being moved of him do hereby in his Presence yet once more warn thee That thou fear before him and diligently hearken to him and seek him with all thy heart that thou mayst know his Will and Câ—â—â—sel concerning thee and mayst do it and â—â—nd Favour in his Sight and live and now is the Day that his Hand is stretched forth unto thee to make thee a Blessing or to leave thee a Curse forever and the Dayes of thy Visitation are near an end when God will no more call unto thee nor hear thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the the Day of thy Trouble thou callst to him neither will answer theeby Vision nor Dream nor Prophets but will leave thee to the counsels of Trâ—…us men who will seek after thy Life and wait for thy Over-throw and 〈◊〉 for Evil against thee that they may glory in thy Desolation and such thâ—â—â— are of whom thou hast need to beware and if thou rejectest the Counsel of the Lord and followest the Desires of thine own Heart and the Wills of men and wilt not have the Light of the World Christ Jesus only to rule thee and to teach thee which condemns all Evil then shall Evil surely fall upon thee if thou lovest not the Light in thee which condemns it and the Judgâ—â—â—ts of God nor the Day of his last Visitation with Vengeance thou mayst not escape Therefore consider and mark my words and let this Counsel be acceptable unto thee thâ—â— thy dayes may be many and Blessed upon Earth and â—â—â—st consider and let it move upon thee to Meekness to Humbleness and to fear before the Lord assuredly knowing that it is he that changeth times and things and that bringeth down and setteth up whomsoever he will and how that thou wast raised from a low estate and set over all thine Enemies and thy 〈◊〉 was exalted above them all and he gave thee the Necks of Princes to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and more Honourable and their Dominions to inâ—â—rit and thou wast 〈◊〉 a Ruler in much Dominion and had Favour in his Sight and in the â—ight of many people who wished well to thee for a Blessing many Victories honorâ—â—â—â— and remarkable were given unto thee over them who had exalted themselves against God and this thou knowest That not by Might nor by Multitude 〈◊〉 by the Arm of the Lord were they subdued and made a Pâ—ey unto thee and their Treasures a Spoil unto thy Hands and so it was that thou mightest have glorified him forever and exalted him in the great Congregation and gone on in Faithfulness unto the End and in that day when thou wast raised up when the Fear of the Lord was before thy face and thy Heart was towards him and thou wast but little in thy own eyes then was it well with thee and the Lord blessed thee and made thee honourable and his People had love towards thee and desire for thee that thou mightest have been as a Helper to the Poor and a Father to the Faithful and a Preserver of the Upright from Unreasonable Men and an Easer of the Oppressed and a Taker away of every Oppressive Bond and it was not once thought concerning thee that the hands of the Ungodly would have been strengthened against the Righteous under thee or that such grievous and cruel Burdens and Oppressions would ever have been laid upon the Just and acted against them in thy Name and under thy Dominion as unrighteously have come to pass in these three years as a large Testimony might be given and this thy suffering of such things is thy Transgression and thou hast not requited the Lord well for his Goodness unto thee nor fulfilled his Will in suffering that to be done under thee and in thy Name which the Lord raised thee against to break down hadst thou been faithful to the end Again consider and let it move on thy Heart not to exalt thy self nor to be high minded but to fear continually knowing that thou standest not by thy self but by another and that he is able to abase thee and give thee into the will of thy Enemies whensoever he will and how the Lord hath preserved thee sometimes wonderfully and doth unto this day from the murderous Plots and crafty Policy of evil Men who seek thy evil and would rejoyce in thy fall and in the Desolation of thy Family and Countries how have they and do they lay Snares for thy Feet that thou mayst be cut off from amongst men and dye unhappily and be accounted Accursed and yet to this day he hath preserved thee and been near thee to keep thee though thou hast hardly known it and the Lord's end is love to thee in all these things and yet a little longer to try thee and that thou mightst give him the Glory O that thy Heart were opened to see his Hand that thou mayst live unto him and dye in him in Peace and beware lest Hardness of Heart possess thee if thou slight his Love and so be shut up in Darkness and given to the Desires of thine Enemies and left to the Counsels of treacherous Men who may seek to exalt thee by flattery that they might the better cast thee down and destroy thee and blot out thy Name in reproach and make thy Posterity a People miserable but now O consider and let it enter into thy Heart for thou hast not answered the Lord but been wanting to him for all this and hast chosen thy own way and glory rather then his and not fulfilled his Counsel in raising thee for the Bonds of Cruelty are not loosed by thee and the Oppressed are not altogether set free neither is Oppression taken off from the Back of the
and hazarded Life and Liberty for Conscience sake to enjoy Liberty of Conscience which they cannot now possess because of thee but are cast out for the Exercise of their pure Consciences this Thing the Lord is grieved with and with thee because of it For thou didst not obtain this Victory of Peace and Freedom by thy own Sword then why should it be thus improved to thy own Ends Consider of it for this makes the Nations more unhappy and less blessed when such who delight in true Justice and Judgment are cast out of their Places and so deprived of giving their Judgment among men and absolutely this will make thy Army less prosperous and more unblessed when such who fear the Lord and against whom thou canst not justly charge Evil are cast out and despised and this in time thou mayst see to thy Sorrow And as thy Friend I â—ay this before thee and do in plainness tell thee If thou thus utterly denyst the People of God in the day of thy Prosperity and thus wholy cast them out of thy service they cannot stand by thee nor own thee in the day of thy Trouble and such as thou cleavest unto may be a broken Staff in thy time of need Ah Friend these things do shew that thy heart is not right in the sight of the Lord and that Justice and true Judgment Righteousness and Truth is even despised in this Land and not sincerely owned by thee when as such who fear the Lord are thus cast out of Judicatories in thy Government and out of Defence in thy Armies What! is this the end of that long travel in Wars and of so many fair Promises of Liberty of Conscience that just Men should thus be dealt withal The Heathen Kingdoms may Mock at this that while some have pretended Liberty of Conscience are become Persecutors of such whose Consciences are justly exercised and as I have sometime said to thee much Injustice and great Oppressions and cruel Persecutions continue daily to be acted in thy name which is numbred up against thee upon account because of hiding thy Face from the Cry of the Poor as one without Bowels of Compassion unto such who have truly served with thee in a faithful Service for the Common-Wealth who many of them now are grievous Sufferers under thee Consider of these things and search what will be the End of them the Lord open thy Understanding that more of the Wisdom of God may guide thee and less of the policy and wisdom of Man which will betray thee of God's Kingdom and may in the end cast thee down in this World also E. B. The Original of this was delivered to his Hands in the Fifth Moneth 1657. FRIEND IT is upon me and also I am pressed in spirit thereunto to give thee even unto thee Oliver Protector the perfect measure of thy Dominions and how they stand in relation to thee as concerning the Affections of the people towards thee whereby thou mayst understand thy own Condition and the state of thy Government as I have viewed it in true Judgment and marked it upon serious consideration and what I write is in perfect Love unto thee however thou mayst judge of it and of these things it will be well fâ—â— thee to consider now while it is time ere it be too late Many Enemies thou hast which watch over thee for Evil and not for Good who would Rejoyce in thy Overthrow And first There are a People scattered through all these Nations who are full of Wrath and ravening Envy towards thee in whose hearts to this day there is continual Hatred and evil Surmiâ—â—ng lodgeth against thee and all thy Off-Spring and I believe without any further knowledge that daily Advantage they seek against thee by subtil Conspiracies and secret Plottings of Maliciousness in their Hearts seeking by all means if it be possible how to be revenged and not slipping any Advantage how to revenge themselves and promote their Cause and of these scattered under thy Goverment are not a few but rather the greater number who thus stand in Affections to thee with no better purpose of good towards thee then to destroy thee by any means if it were in their power and to take away thy name in Reproach such is the Cruelty and Desperateness of some of them their own lives are not dear unto them to take away thine I have felt the strength of their Rage against thee which carries them above sence or fear to fore-go any Danger that they might see their desired End of thee Their Malice towards thee is so seated in their wrathful Hearts that it cannot easily be quenched I know the Lord hath blasted them and their endeavours to this day and thou hast had Dominion and Power given thee of God to bruise and to break them to pieces for because of the Wickedness of that Generation which was grown to the full did the Lord raise thee up as a Plague upon them because of their Unrighteousness Oppression and Tyranny and they were made as Slaves and Bondmen under thy Power and without the Lord can they not at any time do any thing against thee but what and if for thy Wickedness in the Sight of God he should make them Instruments in his hand to accomplish his Wrath upon thee even like as he made thee once his Instrument to overthrow them and such hath been the Lord's Doings even to overthrow his Enemies one by the other and to use the Wicked as a Rod in his hand to break them one against another like Potsherds and by that which comes to pass in these Nations thou seemest no less then to tread in their steps and in a measure already goest on in their way in Oppressing through Tyranny or suffering it the People of God whose Cause the Lord will assuredly plead against thee one day who now suffer under thee in Patience and who can tell the Purpose of the Lord or what he may bring to pass concerning this thing in raising up the Wicked to be a Plague to Wickedness and in suffering the Oppressors to overthrow Oppressions This is by me in Love to thee in sincerity declared and by thee with Soberness and in the Fear of God it is to be considered Again there is another People scattered through all these Dominions who are not thy Friends nor Wishers well unto thee or thy Government who secretly murmer against thee and envy thee and even seek God against thee and thy Government which they judge to be not according to God and bow not to it in Love though they are forced to submit for a time hoping continually if not hatching other wayes of Rule and Government to the overthrow of thee and thine and these are more Honest and Upright and Just in the Sight of the Lord then the former and indeed they are not nor their Purposes accursed of the Lord for many of them have been Sufferers and faithfully served their Nation
with perfect purpose of Freedom to the Lord's People and they have at this day this perfect Zeal for God and for his Wayes though not altogether according to Knowledge yet some of them are not far from the Kingdom of God though they seek it not wholly in the right Way nor look onely with a single Eye yet doth not the Lord hate them altogether because of their Integrity towards him and Zeal for him who some of them have suffered Imprisonment for Truth and Righteousness sake as they have wholly thought and their Sufferings have not been altogether slighted by the Lord and these are they known by Name of the Fifth Monarchy of whom there are more then a few with them that wish well unto them who will rise up for them rather then for thee many of whom propound well in their minds though they have not power to effect it because their intent is not altogether according to the Lord yet are many of them free from that whereof thy self is guilty and some of them are cast out and wholy rejected without any just Cause as they suppose and these things have grieved their spirits and not only kindled their Rage and Envy but moved their Sincerity and Honesty against thee wherefore they are not thy Friends but rather thy Enemies and would not stand by thee or with thee in thy need but rather I suppose would arm themselves against thee and thy Power who highly charge thee as they suppose justly too with Unfaithfulness and such like for they see that is not accomplished which hath been promised by thee but the contrary even one Finger is become as heavy as was once the Loyns and their spirits are grieved against thee for such Causes and who knoweth but that the Lord may take the occasion to try thee and prove thee by them for their Hearts are high against thee and thy Government and that upon good Ground as they sincerely think Again There is through thy Dominions a People gathered and gathering daily by Multitudes who are called and chosen of him and faithful to him who have owned him above all things and whom he hath owned and will own in the sight of the whole World and will encrease them to a Numberless Number according to his Promise and even those the Lord is making many who are redeeming out of the World into the Government and Kingdom of Jesus Christ and these thou knowest are great and grievous Sufferers by many hard and cruel Oppressions from those who are in Authority in thy Government even unjust Imprisonment and Fines and burdensome Taxations in many things hard to be expressed and they undergo grievous Persecutions under thy Government and wholy Unjustly in the sight of God and also are cast out of all Power and Place in it and almost out of all Subjects-Priviledge too many of them being counted as vile amongst men though they are not so in the Sight of the Lord Justice and Righteousness and true Judgment they cannot have in all these Nations not from thy self nor Sub-servant Judges of whom hardly can their Cause be heard but are deprived of their proper Right and of Subjects-Freedom in Judicatories and exposed to all Wrong that may be by Unjust Men through Unjust Judgment and these things are not unknown to thee and therefore art thou inexcusable in the Sight of the Lord and guilty of their Sufferings in his Presence who hath Power to prevent it but doth it not and these thus suffering in thy Goverment and under it how can they stand for thee and thy Government or out of pure Love be subject thereunto though be it known to thee that we the People of God do not envy thy Person or Government in the least neither have Purpose of seeking Advantage against thee or it to hurt or betray you by secret Plotting or turbulent Arising as others may yet Friend the want of our Prayers to God for thee is worse to thee then the secret Plotting of all Wicked Men. And how can we mention thee in our Prayers to God except it be to be delivered from thee who are daily cruel and unjust Sufferers by thee or because of thee as I have said Or how can we be Friends to that Government or subject to obey that Power under which we daily suffer such hard and cruel things as the loss of our Liberty and Estates and danger of Life also Let that Light in thy own Conscience judge though for all these things we do rather pitty thee and desire thy Repentance then Conspire against thee or wish thy Destruction yet oughtest thou to consider of these things with a humble Heart and what a Condition thou art in who art hated of the Wicked with a deadly Hatred and not loved of the Saints because thou lovest not the Lord Also it might make thy Heart to tremble to consider how that thy Dominions are thus divided and the Affections of the People thus dis-united and few of them thy real Friends some having real Offence given by thee wherefore they are forced to loath that Government which is unjust and others verily supposing of great Wrong sustained from thee wherefore they are turned against thee Moreover and besides all this greatly it may be suspected that even they in whom thou dost repose confidence who seem to cleave unto thee may not be altogether true unto thee though in appearance subject yet may have secret Hypocrisie hatching of evil in their minds if it were possible to uncover thy Nakedness and some others also there may be who may make use of Places under thee which may have no more Affection to thee nor Service for thee then while their own Ends of great Advantage are served under thee by their subjection to thy Government And now Friend these things being justly considered and viewed by thee in Righteousness how are thy Dominions as a broken Vessel that cannot easily be bound up and as a bruised Reed not to be confided in by thee and these several sorts of people being substracted out of the whole how few is it that thou wilt find that are thy Real and Faithful Friends who may stand by thee in a needful time Some out of Envy cannot be subject to thee and others for the Fear of the Lord's sake cannot own thee in such a Government whereby he Just suffer even all men are ready to stand a far off from thee and because thou hast denyed the People of God therefore cannot he be thy Trust and verily thy state and the state of thy Dominions are truly to be lamented thou hast so much sought thy self that thou hast lost almost all people and their Affections every one judging themselves to be the greatest Sufferers under thee Ah consider for thou art but the Head of a Disjoynted Body which may not easily be bound up to thee and thou art lost for lack of true Knowledge for the Lord hath done many thing for thee though
nought and let it be left off to cry out Deceivers and Heresie c. and causing any to suffer upon suspition thereupon but bring all things to light and true Judgment that what is proved to be the Truth may be owned and not persecuted any more for we are willing to be made manifest to all men and if any thing be objected against us which may not be sufficiently answered and resolved to sober men then our Enemies are more free and hath whereof to glory in against us but and if all occasion of stumbling be removed by Answers according to the Scriptures and our Principles Practices and Doctrines thereby vindicated then let all the Teachers and all our Adversaries shut their Mouthes from biting at us and railing against us and accusing of us to thee and let thy Ear be shut from believing Lyes against the Innocent and let none suffer in thy Dominion under the cruelty of men upon such a ground And hereof I shall be glad to receive an answer and to joyn issue in this Cause and in the mean time and alwayes am a Lover of thy Soul but a witness against all Oppression E. B. This was delivered to his hands at Hampton Court in the 4th Moneth 1658. For the Protector Friends Know that there is a God that doth whatsoever he will all power is in his hand and he bringeth to pass the Counsel of his own heart and he rules in the kingdoms of men and bringeth down and setteth up he killeth and maketh alive and he changeth times and seasons and Governments and bringeth to nought the counsels of men for all power in Earth and in Heaven is in him and all his doings are right and his wayes are equal and thou and all Mankind are as Clay in the hand of the Potter he can honour and exalt as he pleaseth and he can mar and break to pieces and dishonour whensoever he will wherefore be humble and low in heart before him for he is the highest power that subdueth all things under his feet if he wound who can heal and if he kill there is none can make alive and know thou it is the Lord God Almighty that doth this in whose hands are the Issues of life and death and he it is who can break thee down and build thee up who can wound thee and restore thee and bring thee to destruction and say unto thee return and to know him that doth this belongs to thy eternal peace Wherefore hearken thou to the Word of the Lord that thy soul may come out of death and live and fear the Lord God before whom thy heart is naked and bare who can mould thee and change thee and fulfill his pleasure upon thee even according to his own will and who shall say what doth he and now come to consideration and let thy heart be more upright before him and chuse his way and counsel that he may bless thee and seek his face to behold his countenance that thy soul may be satisfied by his Word and the Milk of the Word may nourish thee unto life Immortal and mind his pure presence which is life even God with thee Christ the Emmanuel to dwell with and walk in thee which is the promise of the Father and first come to the Principle of God and feel the Word of God in thy heart that will beat down the nature into which Temptations enter and the Word will bring thee to war against and overcome all thy Enemies which would defile thee or betray thee and it will bring thee to know a Birth Immortal born in thee and a Crown Immortal received from God that dies not nor fades not away and then he that rules over Heaven and Earth will be thy Shepherd to feed thee and thy Teacher to guide thee and thy Counsellor to direct thee in all things and thy immortal Soul will be satisfied with the Bread that cometh down from Heaven which the Father giveth and the Covenant of God and the Mercies of David that are sure will be revealed and his Promise fulfilled in thee and Life and Immortality brought to Light through the Gospel which is the Power of God which destroyes and puts off and confounds the first man and his knowledge and wisdom and his sin and righteousness all which is in Transgression against the Life of God and the Gospel the Power of God being received it will raise up the Seed of God in thee and bring thee to know the second Adam the Image of the Father which the Devil hath nothing in but he overcomes the Devil who hath been the Lamb Slain by Transgression since the Foundation of the World and he it is that comes out of death that must take away thy sin and destroy it and cover thy nakedness and create thee anew and give thee acceptance in the Father whereby thy soul in him may be refreshed and a habitation in him thou mayst have when this World is no more and for this thou oughtest to wait above all things And Friend thou hast need of the Wisdom of God which is from Heaven to guide thee in all thy affairs that by it thou may be preserved from the will of thine Enemies and from all that hate thee that their Eye may be blinded that watch for Evil and their Wisdom and Policy confounded and brought to nought that hatch Mischief against thee So feel a Measure of the Wisdom of God in thee to guide thee in Dread and Authority and thy Enemies will be afraid for to walk in the Fear of the Lord and in his Wisdom and Authority in Justice Truth and Righteousness that will make thee a greater Terror unto thy Enemies then all Worldly Policy and Craft the Nations will over-reach thee if thy strength be there and if Judgment Justice and Righteousness be neglected by thee how should the Lord Honour thee and Defend thee Nay he will bring Dishonour and give thee into the Will of thy Enemies For want of Truth and just Judgment causeth the Land to Mourn and her People to sit as a Widdow comfortless wherefore love Judgment Truth and Righteousness and walk therein and thou wilt leave a Praise behind thee and a Witness to other Ages that thou hast served the Lord in thy Generation and then thy Memorial shall never dye nor thy Name come into Reproach among the Heathen Wherefore let all Oppression be removed and let the Just go free and let Judgment and Righteousness run down and be thou a Praise and a Blessing to all that do Well and a Terror and a Dread to all the contrary Arise and stand up for the Lord and he will give thee Strength and Victory and will make thy Horn as Iron and thy Hoof as Brass to push down and tread under the high places of Idolatry in all the apostatized Churches both Papist and others out of the Life of the Apostles and as thou comest into the Life the Apostles were in
moved of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to be written for thy Instruction from Him THere is a Great and Mighty and Innumerable People come and coming up out of Egypts Land travelling towards the Land of Rest promised of the Lord 〈◊〉 them to be obtained and enjoyed by them and they do and have sojouâ—ned Strangers in these Nations over whom thou are called to Rule and appointed â—â—ief Governour this seven years and greatly are and have they been afflicted and oppressed and even trodden down through unjust Judgment and unrighâ—… Dealing by the Rulers and Inhabitants of the Land and all the dayes of thy Father the late Protector they were held in great Captivity and Bondage and unrighteous men made them a Prey and laid heavy Yoaks of cruel Sâ—â—â—â—rings upon them and daily increased their Task and something thy Father did for them in their Journey of great Distress yet but a little of what the Lord required of him and what the Lord looked for that he might have done for Pâ—â—er was in his hands given him of the Lord but he was not fully obediâ—â—â— and therefore was the Lord's Hand stretched out somewhat against him 〈◊〉 his Family and he was smitten of the Lord and suddenly taken away in Judgment for he hearkened not to the Counsel of the Lord concerning that People neither did fully relieve them from Oppression but slighted many Warâ—â—â—â—â— from the Lord and the Day of his Visitation passed over and Death took 〈◊〉 away in Disobedience while this People were yet under great Oppressions for he left above a hundred of them in Prisons unjustly suffering for right eousness sake and not for Evil-doing and in this he fulfilled not the Will of God but left his Name and Glory somewhat stained because of these things and though the Lord chose him and shewed Love unto him gave him Power over his Enemies and made him an Instrument in his Hand to break down great Oppressions yet he was not obedient to the end to do my Will saith the Lord but left something â—â—â—one which he was truly called unto Now this innumerable People that is come and coming up as aforesaid are them called Quakers and this Egypts Land is that great Darkness Ignorance and Wickedness and false Wayes and worships in the Apostacy and fleshly bondage to sin and death which all the World and Kindreds and Multitudes that are unconverted to God live and walk in and that Land of Rest promised to which they travel is the peaceable and quiet dwelling with the Lord free from the heavy oppression of Sin and Iniquity and cruelties of men and free in the exercise of their pure Consciences by the Spirit of the Lord as it shall move and lead them into all Truth and their sojourning as Strangers is their denying and despising the World and all its glories and walking in the daily Cross of Christ whereby they are crucified to the love and respect and renown and honours of the world and are come â—â—t of Kindreds Tongues and People counting the reproach for Christ great Riches not respecting men but the Lord altogether in all things and also their suffering unrighteously false imprisonment and spoiling of their goods for Righteousness sake this is their sojourning as Strangers And that something that thy Father did for them is he released many of them divers times out of Prifons where they were unjustly cast and he signified sometimes his displeasure against them that made them suffer and shewed love to them in hearing their Innocent Cause with some respect thereunto and that which he did not which he might have done is He took not away Tythes that Cause of great Oppression to many nor the Unrighteous Laws wholy as he ought to have done and as the Lord required of him And know thou from the Lord That this same People are the People of the Lord and beloved of him and as dear to him as the Apple of his Eye and his Presence is with them and he leads them as a Flock by his Spirit into all Truth and who shall Bless them shall be Blessed but he that acts against them shall not prosper but be smitten of the Lord for their Cause will the Lord plead in his Judgments and avenge them of their Enemies and the Dread of the Lord God shall fall heavy upon the heads of their Persecutors and though they are hated of all men and under great Afflictions yet are they a Just People and Innocent seeking the Good of all men and are Peaceable towards all and receiving all manner of Wrongs and Evil and Speakings against them by Ungodly Men but they render to no man Evil for Evil but bless them that curse and do good to their Enemies and bear all things from all men in Long-suffering and Patience for they are learned in the Practices in doing and suffering of the Holy Apostles and Prophets and are of the Seed of Abraham who was the Friend of God and they were thy Father's Friends and are not Enemies to thee nor to righteous Government but wish well unto thee in the Lord and that thou mayst not be destroyed in Wickedness but be established in Righteousness and Peace in thy Government to rule in God's Authority over all Wicked Men that may seek thy hurt And we desire for thee that the Lord may give thee Wisdom and a perfect Understanding and the Spirit of just and sound Judgment to judge Righteously in all things and to settle the Government in true Judgment that the Principle of God in every man may answer to it in defending preserving and protecting all that walk in Truth Righteousness being a Terror to all Evil-doer for for that end is Rule and Government ordained of God amongst men to be a Praise to all that do Well and a Terror to all that do Evil. And now the Lord having suffered it to be brought to pass that thou art set up in thy Father's stead to be chief Ruler amongst men this the Lord God Almighty requires of thee as thou hopest to prosper and be blessed in this Life and to enjoy Life Eternal when this World is passed away and this is the Word of the Lord God unto thee Be Humble Meek and Lowly in Heart and exalt not thy own Horn nor seek not this World's Honour but seek the Lord with thy whole Heart and let Justice and true Judgment and Righteous Government which is according to the Law of God be set up and exalted in the Nations and come to know in thy self the Dominion and Authority of the Lord God over Sin and Transgression and to keep down and condemn all that which is contrary to God in thy own Heart and that will make thee a Dread and a Terror to Men and Nations and then the Lord will be thy Crown and his People will rejoyce in thee and lift up their Hearts to God for thee If thou throwest down and abolishest all Unrighteous
season they will fall and perish of themselves and the Good Old Way and Truth and the pure Religion only will remain and let them cry one against another and rebuke one another and meddle not thou with that but only let thy Laws and Authority preserve mens Persons and Estates from the Wrong one of another that all men may live peaceably under thee and no man wrong his Neighbour's Person or Estate and that 's only thy Place to rule in outward Affairs but not to Rule over any mans Conscience to compel him to such a Worship or to limit from such a Worship in Religion that belongs not to thee but to the Lord who alone will be the Ruler and Guide and Exerciser of his People's Consciences and if thou dost meddle therein thou shalt not prosper nor be blessed in thy Deed So leave the establishing of Religion to the Lord and let all these Sects manifest if any of them have the Spirit and Power of God in them and with them and let them shew their Weapons of the Spirit for only such as have the Power and Spirit of God in them will overcome and such will be increased and grow and thou nor none can hinder and such that want the Power and Spirit of God in and with them may flourish in their Form for a while but they will be blasted and wither and it s in vain for thee or any to uphold such or endeavour to establish them but if thou meddlest on these accounts it will undo thee and confound thee therefore be wise and know what the Lord requires of thee perfectly for if thou leavest that undone which God requires then shalt thou be condemned and if thou dost that which he requires not then shalt thou not be free And this is written in Love to thee to inform thy mind how to walk towards the Lord and the People over whom he hath set thee And as for the maintaining of Ministers Let that alone also and be not troubled about it for it was ever the false Prophets and Deceivers that preached for Hire and went after Gifts and Rewards and sought Money and Gifts of people and they that do the same now were never sent of God nor are they such as shall convert people to God for who are true Ministers of Christ will not seek to thee nor to men for Wages nor Tythes nor Money but live of the Gospel and not compel great sums of Money from people to maintain them in their Families in Pride in Fulness and Idleness such things are great Oppressions in this Nation and a horrible filthy thing in the Sight of God and because thereof will the Lord's Judgments come upon the Land If thou wert but rightly sensible what casting into Goals and what suing at Law of poor People and what spoiling Peoples Goods by Restraint and all for and about Tythes and Priests Wages it would make thee admire the Wickedness of that Generation but do thou let them alone for they do shame themselves and undo themselves and lose the Hearts of all good People by their own doings and stand over them all in God's Authority and know a measure of the Spirit of God in thy own heart and thereby thou wilt discern and try and judge of the spirits of all men and their Religion and the Spirit will lead thee in the pure Religion to worship God in Spirit and in Truth So let not thy mind be cumbred at all about establishing Religion nor about maintaining the Ministers but be faithful to what the Lord requires of thee and learn his Will and do it and then thou wilt be Blessed and Honoured in this world and in the World to come And Friend Know thou that the Lord is doing of a great Work in these Nations he is raising up a Seed to serve him and to worship him aright and the God of Heaven is setting up a Kingdom over all the kingdoms of the World and he hath a Controversie with all sorts of people in as much as Corruption and Degeneration is entred amongst all and all must be purged of all Orders of men and the Evil cast out the Work of the Lord is Great and Mighty and he requires no help of thee nor any man whatsoever for his own Arm will bring it to pass yet he would not have thee to gain-say his Work and strive against it and seek to quench what the Lord is bringing forth if thou dost it then shalt thou be condemned and the Lord will speedily execute his Judgments and Remove thee and overthrow thy Power and Authority into Destruction wherefore be passive in this matter and look thou at the Lord and protect and defend mens Persons and Estates from Wrong but meddle not with their opinions and professions in Religions to exalt any of them nor yet to persecute them And thus Friend according as it lay upon me from the Lord I have written this unto thee in dear and pure Love God is Witness and I have cleared my Conscience to thee thus far and if thou fall by thy own Transgression it will lie upon thy self I have warned thee and I am clear and if thy Fall comes remember thou wast advised Who am a Lover of Iustice and True Iudgment and a Friend to this Common-Wealth and to thee wisheth well in the Lord E. B. London the 18th of the 8th Moneth 1658. This was delivered to him in the Eighth Moneth 1658. To the Protector and his Council THE Lord God will shortly make you know that we are his People though we be accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter yet our King of Righteousness will break you to pieces if you harden your Hearts and Repent not And seeing that Love will not draw thee neither the Gentle Leadings of our God have any place in you yet Judgment shall awaken you and his heavy Hand of Indignation shall lie upon your Cousciences and you will be scatterred and distracted to pieces E B. This was written in White-Hall in the Tenth Moneth 1658. to Richard and his Council For the Parliament YE that sit in Counsel that are assembled for the Nations Good hear ye the Word of the Lord God which is towards you all Rememember the Cause of God and of his People remember the Groanings of the Poor and give ear to the Cry of the Oppressed and relieve the Guiltless Sufferers and break the Bonds of Iniquity and let the Oppressed go free do this lest you perish And remember the Old Good Cause that is decayed and hath long been laid waste let it be once more revived in the Nations that God may bless you Remember the first Engagement which was for Freedom and suffer not the Exercise of pure Conscience to be trodden down by Oppressors but seek ye seek ye the Glory of the Lord and the Safety of his People and the Freedom of such as are oppressed and be not ye Oppressors nor Adders to the Sufferings of the
Innocent make no Laws to limit the Lord nor his Spirit nor his People but make such of no effect lest ye be confounded like as with a Whirle-wind by the Breath of the Almighty I am the Lord and my Name is dreadful to all Flesh mine Arm is stretched forth over the Nations and I will scatter them at my Pleasure I kill and I make alive I break down and I build up fear ye me and tremble at my Presence bow before me and have my Name in Reverence and my People in Safety and let them be free from all Oppressions and Tyranny lest I correct you with the Rod of my Judgments saith the Lord For I will rule Nations with an Iron Rod and the Governments shall be mine through the Kingdoms of the World and my People shall inheriâ— the Possessions I will beat the Mountains to Powder and strike Terror in the Hearts of the Mighty and I will Judge among the Judges and Rule amongst the Rulers of the Earth who are but Dust and Ashes before me therefore do ye the thing that pleaseth me and have my Cause and my People's Cause in respect amongst you and be ye low and humble in my Sight lest I wound you and you never be healed lest I scatter you and you never be gathered I am the Lord that doth whatsoever he will Dreadful and Mighty is my Name in the Earth and my People are my Inheritance wherein I delight spare them and afflict them not that I may spare you and not destroy you and take you Counsel at my Spirit and at my Servants that you may prosper and hurt not the Innocent nor touch my Anointed Ones lest I come suddenly upon you saith the Lord and break you to pieces for I will make you know that my People are mine and beloved of me and that I care for them and will Fight for them and revenge their Cause and deliver them from the hands of their Enemies speedily this ye shall know when my Vengeance is extended forth to all my Enemies and upon all such as do oppress my People and are Spoilers of my pleasant Heritage and now am I arisen saith the Lord. Edw. Burroughs This was written to the Parliament which began to sit in the Eleaventh Moneth 1658. which Richard Cromwell Dissolved in the Second Moneth 1659. To Richard Cromwel and to Henry Cromwel FRIENDS YET once more hath the Lord given me somewhat to say unto you in Love to your immortal Souls You had a glorious Day of Visitation and many precious Warnings from the Mouth of the Lord by his Servants but you rejected the Counsel of the Lord against your own Souls and made no account of the Servants of the Lord which were sent unto you but caused them and suffered them to be persecuted by your Power and they were made a Spoil and a Prey to their Enemies all your dayes and you sought your selves and your own Honour and you were exalted in Pride and Vain-glory and forgot God who raised you up from a low Estate and you had no respect to the Cause of his People and therefore is this justly come to pass upon you from the Hand of the Lord not that I rejoyce in it and glory over you because of it only I tell you what is justly happened unto you that ye may learn the Lora's just Iudgments in these things like as formerly I warned you of it for it could not otherwise be but that the Lord would avenge the Cause of his People upon their Persecutors and the Injustice done unto them upon you in whose Name and Power it was acted for in every Generation he hath had respect unto his People's Cause and did avenge their Cause in his season And this I well remember I was once moved to speak in the Name of the Lord unto your Father That these things that came to pass in his days that Cruelty and Oppression of the Lord's People would be recompenced and repented of in his Children's dayes For I saw that the Cruelty and Injustice that was done in his Name upon the People of God could not escape un punished in a Generation and it is now come to pass in a measure and will be more and more even for his Transgressions and your own for all of you had a Day and a Time wherein you might have done something for the Lord and for his People and you had a Price put into your hands that you might have improved to the Lord's Glory and to your own Renown to have been a Blessing unto your selves and to the People of God in these Nations but your Day is over and Night is come upon it and your Price is taken from you and given to others and you cannot now work nor act on the Lords behalf as once you might have done and you have sought honour to your selves and you reap Reproach and because you have despised the Counsel of the Lord therefore the snare hath caught you which was laid for others These things I say unto you in pitty for you rather then in boasting over you neither do I commend that spirit which acteth in too much severity towards you which upraids you rather then seeks to amend you that is not my way For your Father served the Lord in his Generation and was once the Instrument in his Hand to the accomplishing of good things till that an ambitious spirit got power over him and betrayed him and the Work was lost which God called him unto And as for these that are now in Power if they shall tread in your steps and shall not relieve the Oppressed much more then any before them shall they be overthrown and brought into Contempt And as for you Come into the Fear of the Lord God that your Iniquities may be pardoned and seek Peace with God and Reconciliation and seek after the Kingdom that eâ—dures forever and while ye have time seek after a Crown Immortal and wait to know that which will make you Heirs of that Inheritance which never fades away the Light in your own Consciences which Christ hath enlightened you with which lets you see Sin and convinceth you of your Evil Deeds that Light in you must you own to be your Teacher and must become subject unto it in all things or else you have no part in the Kingdom of God and cease from your lying Prophets who have flattered you in your Iniquities and deceived your Souls and cryed Peace unto you and Safety and said You should Prosper and they have hardened your Hearts and been a Snare to you till the Lord's Anger is broken forth against you and they found Lyars So now consider and do not alwayes reject Love but and if you do I am clear and your Iniquities will be upon your own Heads and though rejected by you yet a Friend to your Souls whom the Lord hath made often to warn you and happy had you been if you had or can now prize
Iron Rod over the world and whatsoever he saith it is done for his Word is an Everlasting Command If he saith to a man Live it is so if he saith to a man Dye it cometh to pass and if he give Peace to a Man or a Nation none can make War and if he make War with a Person or in a Nation no man is able to make Peace For why he hath all Power in his Hand and to him all Judgment and Authority is given he is the Son of the Living God the Everlasting Creator he was and is and is to come his Eye beholdeth all things and his Arm compasseth Heaven and Earth and what his Purpoâ—â— is he hath alwayes and will ever bring it to pass if he set up Rulers they must Rule and if he pull them down none can hinder whom he will he Honoureth and if it be his Pleasure he bringeth men to Shame if he break a Nation down none can build it up and if he confound Powers and Authorities in the Kingdoms of men they all fall as withered Grass before him â—ehold ye men He is so Great and Mighty and of so great Authority that whatsoever he saith it is done and whatsoever he willeth it cometh to pass and none is able to resist him and overcome his Power when his Pleasure is to accomplish a Work by him all things are that be and all things live that have Life and through him all things move and of his Fulness every Creature in Heaven and Earth receive And this my Master is altogether Honourable in Birth and otherwise and altogether Mighty in all his Works he is Just and Merciful full of Goodness Righteousness and Truth all Vertue dwells in him and his Judgement and Mercy his Authority and Meekness and his Wrath and his Love they are Companions And what are ye before him or How shall ye be able to resist him or to turn backward what his Purpose is concerning you and this Nation for ye have no Beeing nor Breath without him Behold ye men ye are verily as the Dust before the Wind so are ye to him soon blown away and your Place not found as the Grass before the Mower so are ye before him soon cut down and withered and your Beauty utterly extinguished as a Potters Vessel under an Iron Rod even so are you to him he can immediately break you never to be bound up as a Drop to the Fountain so are you to him soon dryed up and made nothing Wherefore ye Men ye Mortal Creatures ye Ignorant Persons Sons of a Transgressor ye Dust and Ashes for thus you are in comparison of him this Mighty Prince hearken to his Message which cometh to you from him Hear and Fear and be not Stout-hearted against the Lord God that is about to speak unto you As for this little Island of England wherein your present Place and Beeing is It is an Island which the Lord hath shewed great Favour unto in Ages past and in this present Time and I must tell you he hath a Purpose of Love towards it and to Honour it in the view of the World though through great Tribulations and he hath an intent of great Good unto it For he hath a Seed a precious Seed in it scattered abroad and he hath a People that fear his Name and have walked in his Wayes and he hath made them and elected them and what they are it is by him that he may dwell among them and have the whole Government over them all yea he hath a speedy Purpose verily concerning this Nation and he will purifie it in Judgment and refine its Inhabitants through the Fire of Tribulations that it may be pleasant to him and fit to do his Will He hath a purpose to work some great thing in it I must tell you as he hath said unto me so to do He will have his Name exalted and reverenced in this Island and his Terror shall be sent out of it through the World and his Branch from it shall spread over the Earth he doth purpose in his season to take it into his own hand and to sway the Government thereof with his own Scepter and to set up Righteousness alone and to overthrow all Oppressions and Oppressors and the Kingdoms of this World must become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ. True it is Such hath been the coming to pass of Time and of Things for many Ages by past that my Master hath been as it were banished from the Nation and hath not been suffered to enjoy his Right but hath been expelled even as it were by the force of Satan and Antichrist who hath long usurped Authority over the Inhabirants of this Nation and in my Master's absence Lamentable Injustice Cruelty Unmercifulness Tyranny and Oppression hath been exercised upon the Inhabitants and the poor Creatures have been held in great Slavery by their Rulers that have ruled by the Dragon's power and been kept in great Blindness and Ignorance and under great Oppression both in Body and Spirit by Antichristian Teachers for this many Years even while the great King hath been absent and as it were gone into a far Country even all this time hath Antichrist and the Devil ruled and reigned and hath made and executed Oppressing and Tyrannical Laws and Decrees both in Church and State and all the Nation hath been out of right Order and laid waste and barren of good Fruit and it hath been as a Wilderness by reason hereof and men that have ruled for many years have not ruled singly by my Master's Authority but by another power though not without the knowledge of my Lord neither as though he had not Power to have done otherwise but for his own Pleasure he hath suffered it thus to be and let men go on to rule and govern in their own Wills and after their own Lusts and people have walked wickedly towards him and towards one another and all this he hath suffered not as if he gave Toleration for it for his Messengers now and then and his Witness in peoples Consciences have been reproving their Ungodly wayes and he hath often shewed his dislike by divers Wayes and Tokens and many Judgments and strange Overturning to the way and proceeding of both Rulers Prophets and Teachers of this Nation but yet they have gone on against his Mind and contrary to his Will notwithstanding his Reproofs and Judgments not that he had not Power to have executed his Pleasure in Wrath upon them and to have destroyed them altogether and have made the Nation a Heap and as nothing long before this day for Power was in his Hand to have done it But he hath been Long-suffering and of great Patience and born all things and taken the Injustice and Cruelty and Wickedness and Idolatry and all Unrighteousness that hath abounded in the Nation upon himself and suffered under it and born it for its season while woful and lamentable Oppressions have
of that People even till my Lord hath confounded them and brought them into Confusion for there is the weight of Blood of Tyranny and Oppression lying upon the Nation in that People's Cause and my Lord will revenge them in his Season and though they are not weary of their Sufferings but are in the Patience which beareth all things yet the Nation can never be happy nor its Government ever blessed while this People are held in Bondage and their Sufferings are deeply considered of the Lord and the Season thereof is expiring towards an 〈◊〉 aâ—d when this cometh to pass then Wo unto the kingdom of Antichrist and to the Whore and false Prophet even when their strength is dryed up by which they have made War against the Lamb and his Followers yea Wo unto them Great Fearfulness shall be upon all the World when the King of that People Reigns upon the Earth and the time is at hand blessed is the Man that waitâ—â—◠〈◊〉 it and blessed is he that is not offended in his Coming but is preparâ—◠〈◊〉 receive him in his Appearing which suddenly cometh upon all the World And thus I have told the Lord's present Message unto you which I received from him and thus far I am clear and whether you accept it or reject it my Peace and Reward is forever with him who am a Subject of his Kingdom and a Frieâ—â— to this Nation however otherwise judged by ignorant Men. Edw. Burroughs The 9th Moneth 1659. To the PRESENT DISTRACTED AND Broken Nation OF ENGLAND And to all her INHABITANTS A Presentation and Declaration from the Seed of God and from the People called Quakers with their Sense and Knowledge published concerning the present Divisions and Confusions come to pass in the Land with Mourning and Lamentation over it because of its Breaches and the Causes thereof laid down and discovered And also Good Counsel and Advice held forth how Peace and Unity may be restored and how the present Troubles may be Removed OH poor distressed Nation and full of Troubles How art thou broken and divided How hath Divisions and Distractions compassed thee about and entred into thy Bowels And how are thy Inhabitants and thy People divided even to hatred one against another and how are they filled as with Mischief one towards another even as it were thirsting for the Blood of one another Oh! How are thy Rulers and thy Subjects thy Great Men and thy Poor confounded amongst themselves And how is the Wisdom of thy Wise men turned into Folly and their Union into present Contention and how do they seek the Overthrow one of another and how do they lie in wait to be avenged one against another And how are the Hearts of many filled with Envy Contention and Revenge and Love Peace and Unity are far away Meekness Patience and Long-suffering which ought to be among thy People seem to stand afar off And oh Nation this is the Day of thy Trouble and the beginning of thy Sorrows And forasmuch as it hath pleased the Lord God Almighty to bring and suffer things thus to be brought to pass as if he would make our Nation a Heap and suffer Destruction upon it and having suffered the Rulers and Great Men to overcome and break down one another and to rend and tear one another from oâ—â— the Throne pulling down others and setting up themselves even through their Ambition and Vain-glory and for corrupted Ends to themselves whereby this our Nation is brought into present Confusion and many are begotten through these â—hings into Fury Heart-burnings and Maliciousness as if men were ready to devour each one his Neighbour and their Brother about Government and Ruâ—e being greatly divided and distracted in this matter some crying up one way of Religion and Church and Civil Government and some crying up another way being each one sort of People seeking themselves and the prosperity of their own Interests and to have their own desires accomplished but few seeking the Lord and to advance him in Truth and Righteousness And because of this there is no Establishment in the Earth but Strife and Contention and Heart-burnings in the Bowels of the Nation and great want of True Love True Unity and True Peace and all the contrary doth abound among the people because of which the Nation is subject to present Misery even to Blood-shed and Murders and liable also to greater Judgments which may also come upon it because of these things all which we have deeply considered â—â—th Mourning and with Breakin gs of Heart on the behalf of the Nation the Land of our Nativity We have seen we have seen the Cause of thy Distractions to be the Sins of thy Rulers and People and we have seen the effect of them to be doleful and miserable unto thee except the Hand of the Lord turn it backward And oh How do we Mourn and Laâ—ent to see the Out goings of Men and the present Condition of the People and Rulers in this the Day of their Trouble Alas they do not behave themselves towards the Lord that his Judgments may be turned away they do not seek him in Truth and Righteousness they do not turn unto him with all their Hearts neither do they tremble at his Word but they the rather reject his Counsel and despise his Visitation and they seek themselves and exalt their own Horn and love the Honour of this World and their hearts are hardened and the great men seem to be utterly insensible of what the Lord is a doing but seek great things for themselves and each one rejoying of another's Fall and glorying in their Advantages one over another one sort being first down and another sort comes up boasting themselves over the Fall of their Enemies and not knowing that their time also is but very short And thus is our poor Nation tossed to and fro through the Ambition of men who even make a Prey upon the poor peoples Persons and Treasure for their own corrupted Ends and thy Rulers have not had respect unto the Counsel of the Lord but seem to refuse the Way of Peace and even add Fewel to the Fire of God's Wrath by heaping up one Transgression upon another and they receive not the Instructions of the Almighty Behold Oh Nation Great Trouble is upon thee and the Men that should Rule thee and which have pretended to Govern thee they do not walk in the Way of thy Peace neither do they bring healing to thee These things we have considered and thus we Lament over thee and over thy present State Oh Nation how art thou like an ungirded Vessel that is ready to fall one piece from another and how art thou like a Body without a Head and all thy Ioynts out of order and what Confusion art thou fallen into which is thy present state and art even as a Widdow without a Husband and art even left comfortless unto this day and ready to devour thy self through the Envy
must cease to do evil and learn to do well and thou must be uncovered of thy sheeps cloathing thy large profession of Religion and the multitude of thy Prayers and Sermons and the number of thy oblations and offerings these things have not been pleasant unto the Lord from thee but because hereof is he the rather provoked against thee and thou must be stripped of thy filthy garments and set as in the day that thou wast born before thou canst be cloathed with divine righteousness and O Nation thou must be changed not in name onely but in nature thou must be converted that the wrath of the Lord may be turned back from thee every inhabitant in thee must become a fighter against the evil in his own heart and the plague thereof must be sought out and removed the sin must be forsaken that judgement may cease and every one must cease to provoke the Lord and no longer vex his Spirit within them and every one must love the Light of Christ in his own conscience and become a follower of it that will lead him out of all sin and every man must put off his Transgressions and forsake himself and lay down the enmity and cast it out of his heart that he hath against persons and he must war against the Enemies of his own Soul and the Enemies of his 〈◊〉 House must be â—â—ain even his own Lusts and even the evil Affections of his own heart must he become an Enemy unto and every man must deny the false Teachers and Deceivers and must come to be taught of the Lord every one must turn to him and come into his Covenant and hear his Word and obey his Voice and become humble and meek and must tremble at the Word of the Lord aad must become upright and innocent And O Nation If it were thus with thee then shouldst thou be a happy People if thou dost these things then shall all thy Breaches be healed and thy Sorrows be turned into Joy and the Lord shall cease to smite thee and his Anger shall be turned clean away This is our Counsel unto thee Remove thy Iniquities by Repentance be converted to the Lord and he shall heal thee and his Love shall be shed abroad Peace Plenty and Satisfactionâ— Unity and Concord shall be unto all thy Inhabitants and the Lord himself shall be thy King thy Judge and thy Law-giver he will judge thee with equity and not with Oppression he will teach thee in the perfect way and thou shalt not err he will defend thee from all thy Enemies Oh Nation if thou do these things even turn to the Lord with all thy heart that he may walk in thee and dwell in thee then should thy light break out of obscurity and the dew of Mercies shall fall upon thee and it should be unto thee as a Morning without Clouds and thou shouldest be refreshed after all thy sorrow the Nation should be happy and the people blessed and the Government of Peace and Truth should be established never to be confounded any more And thus thy Iniquities being removed the Plague should cease and the cause of destruction being taken away no fruit thereof should appear wherefore let men cease to hatch Mischief one against another and to seek vengeance one of another and let them seek with all speed and sincerity to get victory over their own sins and vengeance may be taken upon their own transgressions and this is our Councel for the healing of our Nations breach and for turning away the Anger of the Lord. But and if O Nation thou continuest in thy perversness and in transgressions which the Lord hates and if thou wilt not turn to him that smites thee and love his Rod that corrects thee but wilt always grieve the Spirit of the Lord and be obstinate stout-hearted against the Lord and his reproofs and if thou wilt continue in thy accustomed sins then shall the reward thereof be upon thee even breach upon breach and one Judgment upon another and Mercy shall be with-holden from thee and the Dew shall not fall upon thee but thou shalt be as a barren Heath and thou shalt be given up to consume thy self in mischief and in thy heart-burnings one towards another if thou wilt set up Rulers of thy own proud and ambitious men and will not chuse the Lord to Rule over thee but reject him and his People then shall thy Breach never be healed by the Men whom thou chusest but through them shall thy Breach be more desperate and thy Wound be made more incurable and if thou wilt set up Teachers that teach for filthy Lucre and Prophets that divine for Money and Priests that preach for Hire and will not receive the Covenant of the Lord and him to be thy Teacher by his Spirit then shalt thou err in thy ways and stumble and fall and never know perfect Peace with God nor one with another but as thou lovest Oppression and Deceit and walkest in Transgression so shall it be unto thee and thou must eat the Fruit of thy own doings Misery upon Miseries shall be upon thee and thus shalt not see the Face of the Almighty to refresh thee Wherefore O Nation consider before the Night comes upon thee when no way will be found by thee to be dilivered for in the middst of thy Confusions God is a working he hath a Work to bring forth which shall be a Work of great Mercy and Deliverance or of Sorrow and of great Judgment even to the whole Land And as for us we hereby declare unto thee We are not thy Enemies we seek not thy hurt nor do we desire Vengeance upon our Enemies we seek not thy Destruction but we desire thy Repentance that thou mayst be healed we have not the spirit of Mischief and Rebellion in our hearts towards thee neither are we for one Party or another nor do we side with one sort against another neither do we joyn our selves to this sort or the other nor do we war against any by carnal Weapons neither shall we ever provoke the Nation against us otherwise then by our Righteous and Holy Walking and we do declare that we are not for Men nor Names nor shall we joyn with this or that sort of men but as they act Righteousness alone nor any thing that yet appears can we fully embrace or rejoyce in for they are all corrupted in their ways and that cursed spirit of Self-seeking seems to be the Rule of and to leaven their principal Actions and we rather yet chuse to suffer by all as for a long time we have done alreapy then to lose our Integrity and Innocency by joyning to any in their unjust ways for we reject all Places of corrupted Honour and we are yet kept free It is true we are a People gathered of the Lord into one Spirit and though a People little in Account and very low in Reputation and greatly reproached and 〈◊〉 suffering
it in our Prayers and Desires yea and otherwise even that which hath the Image of our God upon it whenever it shall appear we shall rejoyce therein and be glad to see it prosper For for the establishing of Righteousness in the Earth have we laboured and it cannot be charged upon us That we have sided with one or another for we have beheld all hitherto out of the Right Way as we have said but we truly seek the general Good of our Nation and though we are accounted so and so yet we have not lost true Reason nor Understanding but we well know what is wrong and what would be right even in way of Government but the time appears not to be yet when Innocency and Simplicity of Heart can be embraced for men are yet too wise in their own wisdom and cannot receive the Counsel of the Lord that they may prosper and therefore are they and must they be confounded amongst themselves and dashed one against another till they learn the Way of Righteousness and Truth The substance of this was given forth the Twentieth Day of the Tenth Moneth 1659. being moved of the Lord by his Spirit thereunto through Edward Burroughs A PRESENTATION TO LONDON Being an Answer to the Young-Men and Apprentices returned to some part of their Petition and Address directed by them to the Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council Assembled And this is directed to them for their better Information and to the Citizens of London for their better Satisfaction if the Lord shall so work upon their Hearts as to bring them to Moderation and the Spirit of Meekness fit for his INSTRUCTIONS WHereas you say It hath pleased the God and only Wise God for yours and the Nation 's Crying-Sins to manifest his Displeasure for many years together against these Nations and yet you say this Honourable City hath been no great Sharers in the Calamity which your Brethren in other parts have suffered c. Answer Friends it s very true because of yours and the Nations Crying-Sins the Lord's Displeasure is against you and the Nation and his Judgments bang over your City and the Nation even because of your Crying-Sins O! the Pride the Hypocrisie and Double-dealing and Wantonness and all other the abominable Wickedness which abounds among you which are your Sins which indeed is the Cause of God's Displeasure against you and the Nation which he will shew one way or other upon you for Iniquity is full But seeing that your Sins have provoked the Lord is it not now time to come to Humility and Repentance and to forsake your Sins that the Displeasure of the Lord may be turned from you or Is it a time for you to be envious and to seek Revenge upon Men and to make Insurrections and Tuâ—â—lts and Bloodsheds and so to add Sin unto your Sins It s not a time for you to proceed thus for hereby you will gain God's Displeasure more unto you and not turn his Wrath away And its true this City hath been wonderfully preserved from the Miseries and Calamities which have come upon some in this Nation and therefore its time for you to answer the Lord's Love unto you by Meekness and Fear and Righteousness and not to abuse his Mercies by opposing the Work of the Lord and setting your selves to fight as against him in his Proceedings though the time is at hand even because of your own multiplyed Iniquities when you may bring Calamity and Misery upon this City and it may partake of the Nation 's Tribulations and Sorrows And then you complain of the general decay of Trading But what can you attribute that unto but to your Sins also For there hath been so much Double dealing Deceit and Wickedness in the way of your Trading that it is just with the Lord to turn your former Mercies into a present Judgment in that respect but in this case you ought to be contented and to be still and not to murmur against God nor against any others in the Nation but the rather to Repent that the Wrath may be turned from you And whereas you seem to make an Appeal to your Lord Mayor Aldermen Common-Council-Men of this City as if they should be Instruments for the settling of the Three Nations and for the removing of the Troubles and for the Peace of the Church c. Answ. Alas my Friends These Troubles Distractions and Miseries that are approached and which further may ensue is the Fruit and Effect of yours and the Nations Sins and cannot be removed nor remitted but as you and the Nation repenteth and turneth from your Sins so that you take a wrong course to remove the Judgments of the Lord from you and this Nation for its certain That Repentance from sin that removes the Judgment for sin and it s not adding one sin to another neither is it in the hand of those to whom you do appeal to remove the Judgments of the Lord for what are they but Mortal Men like your selves and Transgressors with your selves and have a part in the Sins acted by you and must have a part in the same Judgments though you stir them up to improve themselves and their Tallent for the Peace of the Church as you say whenas alas its Jesus Christ only that must keep his Church in Peace by his good Spirit and not Mortal Men with Mortal Weapons Though you say The Discharge of their Trust may make these Nations Happy or leave them Miserable To which I say If they be faithful to their Trust then they will keep your City in Peace and doubtless they would be blessed therein but yet the Happiness of these Nations dependeth not upon them nor upon what they can do for while many are supposing that they improve their Trust its possible they may be persecuting Righteousness under the Name of Heresie and persecuting Christ in his People under the Name of a Deceiver false Prophet this hath often come to pass in this City and Nation men have improved their Power and Places to the Dishonour of God and the persecuting Christ in his Members while as they have been thinking they have been punishing Sin Heresie and Error and in such cases some have improved their Tallents not truly for God but rather against him But whereas you say You humbly present That the Priviledges of the Gospel the Faithful Preaching and Dispencing of God's Holy Word and Sacraments with the Labour of so many of his Faithful Servants in the Ministry and you humbly desire the Ministry may be Countenanced and Encouraged the Universities upheld and maintained c. Answ. Alas my Friends What do you think concerning the Lord God Surely you have low Thoughts of him and little Belief in him Do not you think he will maintain the Priviledges of the Gospel and the faithful Preaching and Dispensing of his Word and his faithful Ministry without you Do you think that he hath forgotten to be Gratious or that his Power
but they also neglected to serve God and the Nations to serve themselves and because of the Ambition and Pride of some of them the Lord suffered them to make this last Interruption upon you which was great Treachery in mans account that thereby their measure might be filled up and that he might give you occasion against them and suffer you to be filled with Indignation towards them to break them to pieces And what you do to some of them in casting them out and afflicting them you are but God's Executioners therein you are the Executioners of his Anger in what you do to them and who shall prevent you or forbid you to go on for they have long enough dissembled with the Nation in professing more then others and doing less and their Downfall is now come And God hath looked upon you to be hard-hearted and cruel enough and very fit Executioners of Vengeance upon such men as I have mentioned But now concerning you and your present state as you are in present Place and Power I have something to say to you Though they are fallen and you yet stand and you have a little time after them but this I say do not glory over their Fall neither glory as though you should stand forever for they were not greater Sinners then you are neither are you one whit more Righteous then some of them but you are as sure to fall as they are fallen with no less measure of Dishonour and Affliction then is come upon them and you are in your last Hour and I dare not say that God expects much more from you then for the End aforesaid viz. To be the Executioners of Iustice upon men as sinful as your selves So do not glory over them that are fallen but know that your time also is but short and your Fall may prove to your Destruction and theirs may prove to make them better and refine them And if God hath chosen you to execute some part of his Wrath upon them for their Wickedness he will doubtless find Instruments to execute his Wrath upon you else he will do it with his own Hand for he purposeth not to spare you for your Sins cry as loud as any other People and the Oppressions are as great under you as under them whom you condemn And I desire if there be any good men amongst you that such who are wise may consider and mind the Hand of the Lord in and through all these things that are come to pass for God is working as well as you he is seeking to set up a Kingdom as well as you and his Government and yours cannot stand together and he will make you know that he is stronger and his Government of more force and your kingdom cannot stand in place with his Therefore oh that you would take heed oh that you would be wise if so be some of you may be spared and be not too zealous in your way nor too furious in your proceedings do but to others as you intend to receive from others and from the Lord and go not beyond your Commision for a Permission at least you have from God even to scourge Hypocrites and to be a Judgment upon that Hypocritical seeming Religious Generation of men aforesaid which have many a time as it were mocked God pretended love to him with their Lips when their Hearts have yearned after Self-honour and Treasures of this world I say your present hour and permission is for this end but not to persecute the people of the Lord nor to destroy God's Heritage but if you shall extend your Power unto such a work and if you do persecute the Innocent without cause and make war against the Lamb his Followers and make Laws and execute them to the oppression of the Saints of the Most High then you go beyond your Commission for God hath not called you unto this but to be Instrument in another Cause And the Children of Zion they trust in the Living God fear not the terror of mighty men neither can they be afraid at the roaring of the Sea nor at the present threatning of the Heathen for God is with them And I say to you The Servant of the Lord hath pondered and considered all these proceedings and viewed the present state of things at this day and there is no Vision from God unto you of Peace and Comfort nor of a happy and lasting Government as you now stand If any Prophet shall divine this unto you he speaks what he hath not from the Lord but the Vision of his own Heart and he deceives you and himself for you are not established upon a right Foundation neither are you acted by a right Spirit which can truly Govern for God but the Spirit of Wrath and Fury is put into you for the work which you are called And I know not how to warn you that you do not persecute the People of God For why It may be you must fill up your measure of Wickedness thereby that God may break you perpetually yet the less will be your Judgment if you do it not but and if you do it the Lord will take occasion against you to wound you and you shall never be healed and as you do afflict others so and much more shall it be done unto you from the Lord. Wherefore consider what I have said for this is the Vision of the Almighty unto you that shall not go unfulfilled And what you do you must do it quickly for your time is short and your Power will God subdue and his Kingdom and Power will he speedily exalt over your heads and make you and the Nations know that he is God and that all Power is with him and that he can do whatsoever he will and it is his Right alone to reign and his Childrens Portion to possess the Kingdom with him Let the whole Earth and all the Powers thereof Bow and Tremble before him let not your Hearts be stout and rebellious against him for he can grind you to Powder and sink you into Confusion and Misery as a Stone into the Sea This was directed for the hands of the Speaker in Parliament and accordingly was given to William Lenthel being inclosed to him with these Line following Friend THE inclosed I do commend unto thee for to present unto the House and to endeavour sincerely the reading of it in your Assembly for it is of special Concernment to you all and in the Name of the Lord and by his Spirit I do charge thee not to be negligent in this matter as though it were not of worth to you and I do lay it upon thee as a Work of Righteousness and Truth to be done by thee as thou wilt answer the contrary in the dreadful Day of God when the King of Righteousness shall judge thee and all Mankind Edw. Buroughs The 24th of the 11th Moneth 1659. AN ANSWER TO A DECLARATION Of the People called Anabaptists In
manifest though you deny them in some particulars some of you yet you can cry against that in some of them and yet uphold the same thing I may lawfully instance that some of your Brethren some in this Nation and some in Ireland take or have lately taken Tythes for Preaching and have Yearly Stipends and so much by the Year out of the States Treasure for Preaching One Hundred Pound Two Hundred Pound and Three Hundred Pound a piece by the year which indeed doth shew that you are not intending to destroy their oppressing and abominable practices but the rather that you would turn them out of great Places and Benefices and turn your selves in Oh Deceit and Wickedness which I am forced to lay open upon this Occasion of your own just Provocation hereunto And as for their preserving you and you them against such as do oppose you they may easily joyn with you in this if they could hope in your Faithfulness for some of you and your Members have shewed as much Enmity have been open Persecutors even as they and their Members have been and your Members have been sending the People of God to Prison and persecuting them even as the common Priests of the Nation and you appear to be guided by the same spirit in many things and if they be Antichristian in their wayes and practices its sure that you are not of Christ because you are like unto them in Nature And in that you say You would have none tollerated in their Religion that deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God but you would tollerate Episcopacy Presbytery or a â—â—inted Form c. say you To which I say I know that spirit that you are of if it had its full authority would tollerate none but your selves for your spirit in nature differs not from the spirit of the Church of Rome And what are you now for tollerating Episcopacy who were once your selves in your Zeal for God when your sincerity was not darkned nor your hearts so much corrupted through Places of Honour and through such things as now they are Instruments to the pulling down of Episcopacy and will you now tollerate it again and help to set it up and build what you have destroyed as if you recanted of what you had done but plainly shewing that you are not of the same Spirit that once you were of but have lost Sincerity and can embrace Idolatry for once ye were the men that did oppose it and did violently help to pull it down but now you are for tolleration Oh! unconstant men this is to you not herein discovering my Judgement in the case and if Episcopacy why may not Popery be tollerated seeing they are one and the self same in ground and nature and not much different in appearance and you may agree to tollerate a stinted Form in others because your selves are in a stinted Form also for what is yours else but a form crying up your water and bread and wine and differing from the World onely in these outward things when as the City and Nation knows you are men as covetous as worldly minded as ambitious as self-seeking of honour and places as any others in the Nation and your Religion appears to be a stinted Form as much as others Alas poor men you have discovered your hearts in your Declaration and according to the corruption thereof I cannot but answer you and there are some that deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God and say they are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise of what the Saints believed and enjoyed and Christ is the Word of God that may in time to come be tollerated in their Religion in this Nation though you have renounced them but while they are owned and regarded of the Lord they respect not your love nor hatred who are mortal men and your breath in your nostrils and must fall and perish as the dung in all your beauty and your profession of Religion before the coming of the Son of God And in your Post-script you say you have under you hands sent forth your Declaration in behalf of your selves and others of your Iudgement but I must tell you I do believe there are some even of those called Anabaptists which will reject your work and to them my answer is not for I spare them but to you fearful Hypocrites in a time of danger that have in this juncture of time renounced us without ground or reason in the Sight of God but for your 〈◊〉 as if you would gain the favour of the Nation and City by denial of â—â—s and looking upon your selves to be reproached because of us when as you are a Company of unworthy men even unworthy of our reproaches and to escape them have denied us as seeming to clear your selves but you are deceived in this matter and it shall turn to work against you in the Nation and in the City for we have a more surer witness in their Consciences even in the Consciences of all people that we are of God then you have for take but away your outward water and Bread and Wine and some few outward Practices and what do you differ from the worst sort of men in the Nation for doth not Pride and Hypocrisie and Self-Love and Covetousness and the love of this World abound amongst you as much as amongst any others the Witness in Peoples Consciences knows it which shall be a Witness for us and against you You may indeed have gained League with the worst sort of men in the Nation but you have not gained the sincerity in people and while we have that on our side to witness for us take you the rude multitude for we are not discouraged at all concerning this thing but the rather do glory in the Lord though we be denied of all for though men forsake us yet the Lord careth for us and your own doing shall return upon your own heads and thus much is sufficient to the substance of your Declaration and if I receive any reply I shall expect it under the hands of you all that I may further search and discover you unto your selves and to the Nation And whereas there is a Manuscript goes abroad consisting of five particulars which is said that it was delivered in to the Committee of Safety as Advice and Counsel to them but who the Authors of it are is something uncertain but certain it is that some of the called Independant Ministers and Pastors were the chief Promoters of it and in the Copy which was delivered to my hands it is said These five Particulars were the result of a little Synod made up of Presbyterians Independants and Anabaptists but whether it is so or no I leave that and would say something to some of the Particulars and even to the Committee of Safety and Officers of the Army and all others of the Nation for their better information then the same Paper describeth to
Just and Sober Men and to your condemnation in the Sight of God who takes notice of your wickedness and unseemly behaviour which you may call to mind and remember that you may repent of your ungodly words and cruel speeches and rude bruitish gestures which appeared in you without any Fear of God to your shame be it spoken and like Priests like People all out of the way in folly and vanity erring through Lightness and Wantonness not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God but perverters of the one and despifers of the other the sin of the Priest will be charged upon the People because you love to have those things so and uphold him in his wickedness and the sin of the people will be charged upon the Priests who through Lyes and Lightness cause you to err and profits them not at all but is a blind Leader of ye blind People till both fall into the Ditch together who close your Eyes that you may not see and shut your Ears lest you should Hear and harden your Hearts that you may not understand and your Destruction is of your selves and your Blood is upon your own Heads who scorns to be reproved and despiseth the Way of the Lord and will not receive his Truth in the Love of it that you may be saved but is a blind willful and stiff-necked people some of you who have hearts and cannot understand Is these the fruits of your long Profession Railing Mocking Scorning Laughing Hooting Foolish and Vain Words Nick-naming and Reproaching these things abounds openly among you to your shame especially at such a time when Meekness and Soberness and Moderation had much better become you to have been brought forth by you your Priests exceeding the rest in vileness and some of your Rulers hardly being clear remember your work and call to mind your words and ways and let shame cover your heads from the highest to the lowest of you and thou proud wild reproachful professeâ— Minister cease thy vain presumptious boastings against the Innocent and now when thou puts off thy armor if thou hast gotten a victory glory or rather hide thy face for shame and stop thy mouth in the dust whose Lightness and Wildness hath super-abounded some of thy fellows who may be ashamed of thee in thy words and behaviour whereby thou art sufficiently proved to be one that was never sent of God if we had no other testimony Thy proud presumptions boast against the Quakers was with soberness and in the Fear of the Lord answered to thy shame in the sight of all such whose hearts are not altogether hardned and given up to believe Lies and to do Wickedness that they may be damned that believe not the Truth and first as to the manner of the dispute on his part were his Railing Envious Reproachful unsavory filthy words of God or of the Devil with much impudency many times uttered in the discourse as Villain Sirrah Wretch Blasphemer Rogue and such like lying words of Bitterness more like the words of a brawling Drunkard then for a Minister of Christ and were his booting laughsing and clapping his hands and rude and unseemly gestures and behaviour of God or of the Devil more like in appearance to a Stage-player then to a Minister of Christ to his shame I mention it consider and answer these things and let that of God in your Consciences judge to which I stand to be approved in meekness and he to be reproved and condemned in his filthiness and bruitishness in the Sight of God may not you who owned him in that discourse be ashamed of him in these his words and actions which appeared who boastingly gave a Challenge to dispute of the things of God and then to mannage it in Rudeness and Wildness without any Fear of God in Lying and Slandring and at the end when things came to the head for Tryal to run away and not to stand to the end though several times he was charged to it I appeal for Answer to the Light of Christ in all your Consciences not like a Minister of Christ in any measure he appeared but as one that knows not the Living God nor his Law and Fear nor Judgements and an unfit fellow upon tryal I found him to dispute the Precious things of God and through some Nations I have hardly met with a worse which caused me to be the more silent then otherwise I would for I chosed rather to be accounted a fool by silence then to offend the Just Law of God by giving holy things to Dogs or casting Pearls before Swine in which nature he and some of you appeared who fasly Slandered the Innocent with the name of Jesuite and such like crying away with him with Bitter and Cruel words and gestures pushing with your hands and crying a Prison were the fittest or such like even like unto your fore-Fathers the Pharisees who persecuted Christ under the account of themselves being righteous and he a blasphemer and they laid snares for him to entrap him in his works as you did who when I would not answer according to your provoking that you might ensnare me would hardly suffer me to answer any thing to clear and defend to the Truth against the boast of the Wicked but by Hooting and Laughing and Clapping of Hands and Foolish Jeastings and unreasonable Rudeness prevented me from speaking and them that would have heard from hearing as much as you could even as bruit Beasts or Heathens and not like civil people much less like godly Christians nor like such as would or could soberly debate the Truth of God to edification and truly may I say I fought with Beasts at Reading after the manner of men but all was to make your selves and your pretended Minister manifest and all could not be so blind but might understand his wayes and words not to be guided by the Spirit of God but by the spirit of the Devil who is the Father of such Works and Conâ—… as was brought forth by him in the Meeting in many uncivil actions and reproachful words of envy And also as to the matter of dispute on his pâ—â—t managed was but a vain contention boastingly uttered without the Fear of the Lord in a proud presumptious spirit and a Snare laid in the mid'st of his Questions and Arguments to entrap the Just but in vain was the Snare 〈◊〉 in the sight of the Bird and I chose rather to appear a Fool to your wisdom then to be made a prey upon by you and caught in your deep-laid Snare for we are learned to be as wise as Serpents and deeply did he and sâ—â—e of you fall into the Snare of Confusion and Wickedness and False Doctrines as would have been laid open if he had durst to have staid or you to have heard The Principal Question was whether the Scriptures are the Word of God which he affirmed but could not prove by plain Scripture â—â—to which much might have
The Scripture was the Foundation of Foundations but when he heard this he ran away and fled like a Hireling and would not stay and I was and am ready in the Presence of God and any sober men to prove this to be false Doctrine and of the Devil and him to be no Minister of Christ who holds it forth And all you sober minded men may be ashamed of him who managed his work with so much wickedness and impudency while he staid and when it came to the very trial then he run away and would not stand though I desired him hereby did his guilt appear is flying the tryal and this is the substance of the Business though not every particular word and I have gathered it up to send you and him that when you see it and consider and read what you have done you may be ashamed of him and of your own unreasonableness And further He is already proved and may be more largely hereafter to be one that God never sent both by Conversation and Doctrine and no Minister of Jesus Christ and not only in the House but when we were come forth such was your Violence to the stopping of us when we were pasting and had not the Mayor prevented it our Suffering from some of you had been more then it was let the Fear of God strike you and let his Light search Wicked and Ungodly Hearts and repent of your doings and cease to do Evil and turn from your Deceiver if you love your own Souls and learn the Way of Righteousness and Peace which you have not yet known for in the broad way you are and the end of it will be unto your everlasting Destruction And to you this is a Warning and a Visitation from the Lord by a Lover of your Souls who is true though by you called and counted a Deceiver and this in Love to your Souls is sent unto you E. B. Here also followeth certain Queries to Christopher Fowler the same time to which he never yet could give any Sober Answer therefore I here insert them that he may yet give his Answer Christopher Fowler SEeing thou art a man so irrational and so unsober to speak and fairly to debate things in Discourse and thy Auditory so rude and inhumane in Behaviour and words therefore to thee these few Queries I propound to try thee whether thou wilt shew the spirit of a Man by writing more then by speaking seeing therein I have tryed thee to be more like a Wild Inhumaine Creature than a Sober and Upright Christian. Seeing the Scripture saith the Word of God was in the Beginning and the World was framed by it and it shall endure forever hence I query of thee I. Whether the Scriptures be the very Word of God yea or nay Seeing the Scriptures were not in the Beginning neither was the World framed by them neither can they endure forever hence I query of thee II. Whether the very Word of God be Scripture yea or nay Seeing it is confessed that which is written of and declared of in the Scriptures is the Word of God and the Truth which shall endure forever hence Iquery of thee III. Whether the Scriptures the Writings and the Thing or Subject declared and written of are not two distinct things so as one may have the one and not the other yea 〈◊〉 nay Seeing God and his Word Will and Mind is Eternal Infinite and Endless hence I query of thee if thou hast an Understanding answer IV. Whether God his Word Will and Mind is or can be contained or holden in Scriptures and Writings or but only part of the Declaration of him of his Word Will and Mind yea or nay Seeing such were false Prophets which preached for Hire and divined for Money and sought for Gain from their Quarter hence I query of thee V. Whether by this Rule art not thou proved a false Prophet who preachest for Hire and takest Hire for Preaching and hast a Quarter reading of some part of it from which thou seekest Gain answer in Plainness Seeing every Tree is known by its Fruit as Christ saith hence I query VI. Whether by this rule thou that bringst forth the same fruits as the false Prophets did viz. Lies Lightness Pride Covetousness and false accusing art not the same Tree viz. a false Prophet Seeing they were false Prophets who ran and were not sent and did not profit them the people at all but clothed themselves with the Wool and prepared War against them that put not into their Mouths c. hence I query of thee VII Whether by this rule thou art not proved a False Prophet who canst not prove that thou art sent of God neither are the people profitted by thee but are rude and wanton and wicked and thou preparest war against them that put not into thy mouth by suing them at law for Tithes c Seeing Scorning Lying Slandering Envy Hatred Lightness c. with much more of which thou art guilty are the fruits of the flesh and of the Divel hence I query of thee VIII Whether by this rule art thou not proved to be no Minister of Christ but of the Devil and a Servant to him and a Liver to the Flesh and not in the Spirit in whom these Fruits of Darkness and of the Flesh are abounding Seeing the Scripture saith the Word of God was in the beginning and Christ Jesus is the Foundation and no other can be laid hence I query of thee IX Whether by this rule thou art not proved a Deceiver and thy Doctrine false and Error and contrary to Scripture who said the Scriptures are the Word of God which were not in the Beginning and said that the Scriptures which are not Christ are the Foundation of Foundations and whether this Doctrine of thine doth not deny Christ and so art proved to be Antichrist answer according to Truth Seeing thou confessest thou hast Hire for Preaching yet sayst thou preachest not for Hire hence I query of thee X. Whether any of the People of Reading would give thee so much a Year if thou didst not preach to them and if no then whether they do not give thee so much and thou receive it because thou Preachest unto them or did they give thee so much before thou preachest or will they give thee any when thou dost cease to preach to them try them when thou wilt and prove thy self a true Prophet by Preaching some years and receiving nothing and till then I charge thee to be a false Prophet Seeing the Ministry which Christ Jesus sent by the Apostles did bring people that they needed no man to teach them but as the anointing within them hence I query of thee XI Whether by this rule thy Ministry is proved not to be of Christ Iesus nor thou sent of him by which none can come to this condition that they need no man to teach them produce any one if thou canst and so a Ministry of Anti-christ
Slow-Bellies these names and tearms did Christ the Apostles and Prophets use unto such as are some of the Ministry of this Nation and not with Revilings and Reproachings but with the Spirit of Authority from God that reproves the Wickedness of Prophets Teachers and People And tell me Have not some of you sued men at Law and cast them into Prison in this City because they would not give you Money and Tythes and Hire though such as have not heard you nor receiv'd you as Ministers nor received any thing from you and such as you did never any Work for have you sought Wages from and caused them to be imprisoned that would not give you And tell me in good earnest Can any less be said of such who thus walk but that they are insatiable Hirelings and as bad as Beal's Priests and even Cheaters and greedy dumb Dogs let the Witness in your own Consciences answer and you shall have a Reply Now I come to your third Particular which are other Causes and Symptoms of God's Wrath hanging over your heads the frequent disappointment from time to time of all Hopes of coming to any settlement in Government in the Nation occasioned by strange Confusions which is a clear Evidence that God hath in Displeasure darkened our Eyes and hid Counsel from us say you Answ. It is very true that from time to time of late dayes the Lord hath disappointed the purposes of men even concerning settling of Government and there have been almost strange Confusions in Changes But to what can this be attributed Have not your sins been as great a Cause of it as any others And have not you and your Generation been the Counsellors in all these Matters Were not some of you or your Brethren in Oliver's dayes and in Richard's dayes and in the Army's dayes and in the Parliaments dayes and are not you and your Brethren busie at this day in ordering a Settlement in Government in this Nation But the Lord hath hitherto disappointed you and them that you have counselled and he hath broken you into Confusion and Distraction and turned back even the proceedings of Rulers and Teachers and the spirit of deep Sleep and of Slumber is poured upon you all and the Vision of these things is as a sealed Book unto you even because of God's displeasure against you And in that you say Your Eyes are darkened and Counsel is hid from you In that you say true though to your own shame And what trust can be put in such Watchmen What Confidence can be placed by your people in you whenas you acknowledge that your Eyes are darkened and Counsel is hid from you The Scriptures mentioned by you do prove there was darkness upon the Land but Isaiah doth not say nor David that Counsel was hid from them or that their Eyes were darkened neither did ever the Apostles say so but witnessed That the Lord was their Light and in him their Eyes were opened and Counsel was revealed to them Secondly you say This sadly presages of Unchurching the Nation or the Departing of the Glory of God from you Answ. By Unchurching the Nation I suppose you mean making the Church no Church which if this can be done then the Gates of Hell may prevail against the Church contrary to the words of Christ who said The Gates of Hâ—â— should not prevail But I must tell you The Nation of England as to the general part of it hath been long and yet is unchurched that is ungathered by the Eternal Spirit into the true Fellowship in the Body of Christ for the Night of Apostacy and Darkness hath been over the World since the Apostles dayes and over this Nation in particular and your Churches have been no true Churches nor the people under your Ministry truly joyned and united in true Church-Order and under true Church-Government though I do not say but that there are Thousands of sincere People that love the Lord yet remaining among you And the Day of the Lord is appearing which will confound the Whore the false Church which hath been set up in this Nation and through the World and Assemblies which have had the Name of the Churches of Christ will be found to be otherwise in the Judgment of the Lord and all the false Ordinances Practices and Ministers must be thrown down that the Glory of the Lord may again appear Further You seem to charge your selves With leaving your first Love and former Zeal for the Truth and worship of God but the present Coldness and Indifferency in the things of God together with your Barrenness and unanswerable walking to the Gospel of Christ c. say you Answ. Though to your own shame yet do I believe this is truly acknowledged that you have lost your first Love and Zeal which once was in you in the dayes when you were persecuted under the Bishops you were full of Love and Zeal for the Truth and Worship of God according as it was made manifest and then you were sufferers your selves but now you are Causers of others to suffer and there is indeed much Coldness and Dryness and Barrenness amongst you and your People I do truly desire you may repent you thereof that if so be the Lord may heal you and your Walking indeed is Unanswerable to the Gospel of Christ to wit Your taking of Tythes and so much by the year for Preaching and suing people at the Law that will not give you Wages though you do no Work for them these with many other things which you practice is an unanswerable Walking to the Gospel of Christ and seeing you have confessed your sins in some measure Repent and sin no more that your Iniquities may be blotted out Again You complain of the prevalency of Atheism and doting upon Error Endless separations Common Ignorance Unbelief Prophaneness the Prejudice against wholsom Doctrine and all Order of Discipline in the Church and many other Confusions are upon us c. say you Answ. Alas so it is but where is the Blame Oh you Watch-men should not you have better preserved your Flocks should not you have fed them with Living Food should not you have been Examples of Righteousness and Truth unto them and should not you have nourished them with Knowledge and Understanding But because the Shepherds have been lazy and idle and fed themselves and not their Flocks but the Shepherds have rul'd over their Flocks with Force and Cruelty and their Ministry and Preaching hath been a very Burden and Oppression upon the People and therefore it is that their Flocks are divided into many Sects and Separations and great Confusions are in your Assemblies and among you even the sin of the people in some measure will be charged upon you their Teachers whose Flocks are run into Errors and Atheisms and despise wholesome Doctrine and are out of true Order and Church-Discipline even in the Traditions of Men Therefore oh that you Ministers would consider and
that you would learn more Wisdom and that your people would come to receive the Spirit of the Lord into their Hearts whereby they may be led into all Truth and into the Covenant of God where there is no Unbelief Ignorance Prophaneness nor Confusion but Peace Love and Unity altogether and if you and they did come into this you might be happy and the Judgments of the Lord would be removed Now I come to some Particulars which you do promise for your selves First That you will use all holy Endeavours to keep Cod and his Truth among you Secondly That you will be more diligent in watching over your Flocks Thirdly That you shall endeavour the Establishment of your Congregations against Popish Delusions To all which I Answer You must first make clean your own hearts and you must first Repent of your own Iniquities before you can heal others and you must first learn Obedience to God in your own hearts before you can truly instruct others therein And indeed there is need enough for you to mourn before the Lord and to fast and to confess your Sins as you say for the Lord has been long departed from you and his Presence from your Assemblies and that is the Cause of Deadness and Dryness and Barrenness among the people because God's Presence is wanting among you and you had indeed need to be more diligent in watching over your Flocks for you have been negligent therein and have fed your selves and not them and you have sought theirs and not them it s partly evident and it is time for you now to amend and to put away the Evil of your Doings but first before you dispence the Word to others you must feel the Word in your own Hearts to be as a Fire and as a Hammer in you and you must know another Foundation for Ministers than you have long stood upon even the Lord Jesus Christ must be your Foundation and you must cease to Preach for Hire and to Divine for Money and then should it be better with you and your Flocks would have comfort in you if you had received freely from the Lord and ministred freely to them but while you do it for Ends to your selves they can have no good Hopes nor Confidence in you And whereas you exhort your Congregations in divers Particulars First To take heed of false Teachers trying their spirits and holding fast that which is good especially to beware of Popish Insinuations c. say you Ans. Your Exhortation is good in it self but you should have demonstrated more plainly how false Teachers should be known comparing their Fruits now with what they were in the dayes of old when the Scriptures were written and that had been a good way to have discovered false Teachers That Mat. 16. mentioned by you bids them beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees and Christ said They were such as were called of men Master stood Praying in the Synagogues loved uppermost Rooms at Feasts went in long Robes and of such Christ bids beware and of such now the People in London are to beware where-ever they are for such as do these things are in the steps of the Scribes and Pharisees which Christ cryed Wo against and the true Prophets cryed against such in their days as preached for Hire and that sought for their Gain from their Quarter and such you ought to cry against now as seek for their Gain from their Quarter except the guilt of these things in your selves stops your Mouthes from crying against them in others and the Apostles cryed against such as went for Gifts and Rewards such as taught for Filthy Lucre and such as made Merchandize of People for Gain for themselves such the Apostles and Christ declared against and such you ought to declare against But the People of your Congregations may say Who are such now and Where are they That I leave to their Consciences to judge who they be and where they are now and whether there be any of them in this City now and in the Nation that are called of men Master and love uppermost Rooms at Feasts and that preach for Hire and Money for Gifts and Rewards seek for their Gain from their Quarter teach for filthy Lucre and Gain who are found in these things now such are false Teachers who ought to be taken heed of I shall not now say it is any of you but I shall leave it to you and to your Peoples Consciences to whom your Exhortation is And as I have said before let all Popish Inventions and Popery be first cast out of this Nation and then if you joyn with us against it through the Spirit of the Lord we will endeavour the keeping of it out and that it shall no more enter in amongst us into this Nation And you say That your Knowledge here and all other Graces here are imperfect To which I say Then you are imperfect Saints imperfect Ministers But what do you mean by here I suppose that you mean upon Earth Now there are none of the Graces of God that are imperfect but the Grace of God is perfect in it self and the Spirit of God is perfect and every Gift of God is perfect as say the Scriptures Now that you should say the Graces of God are imperfect this is Error even abominable Error and you shew unsoundness in Judgment even in the things of God and hath belyed the Graces and Gift of God which in their measure are perfect And thus I have looked over your Exhortation and thus I have returned to you again not but that I know it is the Duty of Christ's Ministers to exhort their Flocks and that Exhortation in it self is good but when I find where Lyes and false Accusations are against the Quakers whom I dearly love and own upon that account and not otherwise have I engaged with you and what I have done it is not rendring Evil for Evil but rather to reprove your Evil and to undeceive your Congregations who might otherwise take all for true that you have said if it were not reproved Again You exhort your Congregations That they manifest Sincerity not only by hatred of Error but by a Love of the Truth c. Answ. Sincerity of Heart is indeed precious especially where the Spirit of the Lord is the rule of Judgment and doth mannage that Sincerity but where a false spirit rules in the Judgment the Sincerity is often betrayed into a Zeal against the Truth and against the Wayes of the Lord rather than otherwise and thus it was with the Iews whose Sincerity through their Error of Judgment was turned into Zeal and Bitterness against Christ And thus it is to be feared it is with many in your Congregations who may have a Zeal without Knowledge and be short of true Discerning between what is Truth and what is Error I speak not this of all but of some for it s no small thing to discern between Truth and Error
and outward Laws neither would we have you force your Religion Ministry and Church upon us by such means but we will leave the effect of all thing to the Spirit of God and come out when you will in such a way as this and this would satisfie thousands and let Meekness and the Fear of God be amongst you and this is the way to exalt Religion and we would think it a happiness more then otherwise to be joyned in sober debate and dispute against you that you and we in your Religion Church and Ministry and in ours also might be tried according to the Scriptures that all may be satisfied who are doubtful and may hear you Principles and our Principles discussed in the presence of the People who may judge by the Light and Witness in their own Consciences for to that in all we do appeal and in such a proceeding come forth when you will lay down your Carnal Weapons and take the Weapons of of the Spirit and come to the trial for the Day of the Lord is approaching upon all the World E. B. The FOURTH General Epistle To all the SAINTS Being a Visitation of the Fathers Love unto the whole Flock of Cod who are called and gathered into the spiritual Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace To be read in all the Assemblies of them that meet together to worship the Father in the Spirit and Truth in the silence of all Flesh. Dearly Beloved WHom the Father hath called and chosen into the Election of Eternal Salvation and who have handled and tasted and felt of the Judgments and Mercies of the Lord and amongst whom the God of Heaven and Earth hath appeared in his Spirit and in his Power which 〈◊〉 gotten you into the Heirship of the heavenly Kingdom Oh Friends our Kingdom and Victory is not of this World nor earthly but from above and spiritual wherein we have Peace and Comfort endless and everlasting which the World knows not of I say unto you all that know these things Live in the Peace and Victory and Kingdom which is invisible and mind the things as your greatest Treasure that pertain to that Kingdom even the weighty matters of it which aâ— eternal and infinite and that every one of you may feel and enjoy a Portion in that Kingdom Oh! it is precious for a people to be Subjects of the heavenly Kingdom and for a man to have an assurance of Life and Peace in God and to be an Heir of that Kingdom that fadeth not away and to have his name written in the Record of Life and blessed is every one whose Hope and Confidence and Peace and Assurance is in the living God and whose Soul resteth under the Government of the Almighty and who knows him to be Judge King and Lawgiver in all things and this is the Kingdom that is heavenly and is altogether blessed for Peace and Truth and Righteousness and all Vertue is enjoyed in it for evermore Now Friends you must all be subjected in all things under the Power of the Lord God and unto his will and he must work in you to will and to do for in this is true Rest and Peace unto the Soul where the Will of the Father is done and suffered in all things and not the Will of man which worketh sorrow to the Creature and not peace in the obedience to it and where it rules and that must be subjected in you even in every Word Work and Motion unto the eternal Power that you may die and Christ may live and in this you will have union and fellowship in spirit with the Lord God and he alone will be your trust and confidence and your glory if he live in you and walk in you and then you are his People and he is your God And Friends are to mind this even Peace and Union and Fellowship with the Lord and the comfort of his Presence which is the onely happiness of the Creature even the enjoyment of him that is invisible who is God infinite over all to whom mortal eye cannot approach neither can the mortal mind him apprehend but in his own Life manifested in mortal Flesh and by the measure of his own Spirit that dwells in us is he seen felt preceived and enjoyed of us so mind the Immortal Life begotten of the Father in you that that may live in you even the Heir of God which is his Image and likeness for in that alone is Covenant with God made and kept and in it is the Fathers presence enjoyed and he Worshipped without respect of time place or visible thing and if that live in you then yoâ— in that will live unto God in all that which is answerable unto him and your words and works will be accepted of him and well-pleasing to him even because it is him that worketh in you to will and to do all good things and he alone exalted in you and you subjected and the Maker is become the Husband and you married unto him and he lives in Power and Rule and Command and you livâ— In subjectiâ—â— unto him and in fulfilling his Will in what he guideth in by his Holy Spiriâ— And this life is very precious Oh Friends live in it and dwell in it always and then your Joy and Peace will be with you over all this World and you will be Comforted wheâ— Fear and Terrour comes upon all men for the Lord God whom we serve â—nd worship in the Spirit will cause his Enemies to know his Power and that he doth and can do whatsoever he will and will smite his Enemies and wound them in their Consciences for all Power Dominion and Authority is with him he is mighty to save and mighty to destroy and his Reward is to every one according to their deeds and this is the God whom we fear and worship and all Flesh must bow before him when he shews his presence though men 〈◊〉 high and lifted up and go on in Rebellion against him without fear yet thâ— hand of the Lord will be upon theâ— and he shall smite them with the â—od of his mouth Wherefore all Friends have respect unto the Lord in your 〈◊〉 in all things that you do and in all things that cometh to pass for that is â—â—â—â—â—ed in a people and they shall prosper their Souls shall be nourished and their lives refreshed with the Mercies of the Lord even all they that do waiâ— upon the Lord and have respect unto him and his Eternal Power which doth and suffereth all things that be In which Power you must dwell and walk and feel it in your hearts and it will be your Armour and Defence in all things and it will carry you through all that which worketh contrary And it is very pretious to be Armed with the Armour of God in the Day of Temptations and Tryals that you may not be overcome of the wicked nor spoiled of the Heavenly Inheritance Oh Frinds put on strength that you
offended in Christ who cannot be offended in him nor separated from him by Principalities nor Powers of Darkness nor Death nor Life of any thing And in this growth was the Apostle which the same is to be waited for blessed is he that obtaines it for that which takes offence against Christ is of the same with that which gives it for all offences against him ariseth from the corrupted nature which knows him not and that which receiveth any offence against him is the same which knows him not Yea though an offence may be justly given yet that in which the offence takes place knows not the Father not the Son And Christ said offences should come but woe unto him by whom they come and woe unto that which stumbles and fâ—lls through offences Therefore every one is to minde the certain evidence of the Spirit of God and of the Truth and Way of Salvation in his own heart and being perswaded concerning the Way of Salvation by the Spirit of God â—â—at Spirit will judge every offence that is given and not embrace it and that Spirit which judges and casts out that which gave offence against God in that Spirit may a man be preserved above all offences so as nothing can separate him from the love of God but though this offence or the other whatsoever may arise yet such a one feels and possesses the Mercy Love and Peace from God in his own spirit and such a one lives in the heavenly Life and cannot make the evil example of another an occasion of iniquity to himself but he rather hears and fears and keeps in more diligence and respect to the fear and presence of God in his own heart yet he covers not the offence that is given in it self but with a Spirit of judgment treads it down and walks over it and this is the right Way for a man of God to walk in and that Spirit is not right before the Lord nor that heart which takes unto it self an occasion to stumble at or deny the Power and Mercy of the Lord because another may abuse them But if one be from the Spirit of God in their own hearts their mind unsetled upon that and unseasoned with that then the offences enter and works darkness and prejudice in the mind and the wrong part being up it receives all things to a wrong end and it abuses Gods Mercies and also wants the Authority to pass Judgment upon offences and because hereof is a man undone for prejudice will eat out the good and destroy Simplicity and wound the Soul and bring men into Death and bitterness of spirit Therefore this is to all Friends that you may be kept in the Spirit of Judgment which will not receive an offence into the wrong part but will Judge all offences in themselves and hereby all will be preserved and Truth must travel through all his enemies and blessed is he that is kept faithful to the end in the Power of the Lord God that Reigns over and Judgeth the Power of Darkness in every appearance of it Inwardly and Outwardly And as concerning the times and seasons and the present Confusions and Distractions that is amongst men much might be spoken but certainly the end of all these things shall be turned for good unto us and unto all that do abide in Faith and Patience unto the end and though the present times be of an heavy countenance towards us like as if we should be swallowed up through the roaring of the Sea and because wickedness doth abound by the spirit that now is exalted yet in this let us respect the Lord for certain it is that Times and Seasons are in his Hand to change them at his pleasure and to take them from one and give them to another when he will the day is his and the Victory is in his Hand Oh! let not mortal men glory against him mans time is but for a moment and it is our Blessedness and Peace to be still to be still And to have a Respect to the Lord through all these overturnings And though the spirit that now is be wicked and abounding in iniquity yet the Lord will limit its way And as for the men that now are in Power it is very Just with the Lord to let them have their Day even to try them what they will do many others before those have had also their Day that have promised great things as to Liberty and Freedom of the Nation even much more than these but they abused times and seasons and opportunities and were deceitful towards God and Man and sought themselves more than the good of others and therefore are they justly under reproach and sufferings even for their disobedience sake who would not give ear to the Cry of our oppressions though they were called unto but made our Yoaks more heavy and our Tasks more great though the Lord looked for better things from them yet they were rebellious till they were sunk into Confusion and we yet stand and they are fallen that thought to destroy us And this spirit and these men who now are which once the other had power over is now justly set in Power over them And all this is accomplished in the Justice of the Lord's Hand and therefore Why should we murmur against God or say Why hast thou done it But let us travel in Patience through all the Oppressions and in the Power of the Lord we shall work through them as through others heretofore even till the Lord deliver us For this Spirit that now is must Rule until the pleasure of the Lord be fulfilled concerning it May not the Lord do something through it unworthy of a better spirit to be imployed in God hath vessels of dishonour And the King of Assyria and Nebuchadnezzar must serve his pleasure when he will use them And therefore no man at present is found able to divert the Authority of it for it seems right unto the Lord that it have its season if not in love to it yet in his wrath that its measure of wickedness may be filled up in this occasion given unto it that the Lord may destroy it for though it have all Power to Rule and to subdue that which riseth against it yet this is not because the Lord is on its side but thus he suffers it for a Rod to correct others that have been unfaithful even till the Lord correct it also with his Judgements And the purpose of the Lord is to prove the men if so be some of them may learn Righteousness and be saved though some of them want the shew of Religion which others have had yet God hath not left himself without witness in them And the Lord may be nigh to some of them if he smite they must be wounded let us walk in Wisdom and Innocency towards them and be faithful towards the Lord concerning them and leave them to him And as for all the confusions and distractions
and rumors of Wars what are they to us What have we to do with them and wherein are we concerned in these things is not our Kingdom of another World Even that of peace and righteousness and hath not the Lord called us and chosen us into the possession of that Inheritance wherein strife and enmity dwelleth not Yea he hath broken down that part in us that is related thereunto and being dead in that Nature of Strife Bloodshed and Wars how can we live in strife and contention in the World or have fellowship with any therein And can we have pleasure in the confusion and distraction amongst men or joyn in any thing with them if so be we are quickened in the new life to God which is a life of love and peace and free from such things and if we are crucified in the life to this World out of which all these confusions and strife doth arise how can we live therein and therefore these things are nothing to us neither are we of one party or against another to oppose any by rebellion or plottings against them in enmity and striving with them by Carnal Weapons nor to destroy any mens lives though our Enemies so we War not for any nor against any for the matters of this Worlds Kingdom But our Kingdom is inward and our Weapons are spiritual and our victory and peace is not of this World And our War is against souls enemies and against the powers of darkness even by the Sword of the Spirit which God hath given us and called us to war therewith to convert people from sin and death and from the very occasion of wars and contentions about the things that are earthly and this is our calling and work at this day and these things all the Children of the Lord are to mind and to keep over the spirit of this World in all people which all this enmity strife and confusion that is up amongst men lodgeth in and out of it ariseth for these things are the fruits of the spirit of this evil and sinful World and the fruits of the Spirit of God are of another nature even Peace and meekness towards all and not enmity towards any in which Spirit let us live and walk admonishing all hereunto and Praying for our enemies and not hating them but doing good for evil and not rendring evil for evil but being meek and humble merciful and patient towards all and this is the true Christian life learned of Christ and this life is blessed in this World and in the World to come and them that live here are redeemed out of the World wherein is Troubles and Confusion Wars and Strifes But let us not heed any of these things for they Rise and Fall in their season and are brought forth effected in the changable and erring spirit which worketh not the honour of God but is in the dishonour to him And Friends let us be a people separate from all that live therein waiting for the deliverance of the holy seed in all and believing that through all these things the Lord will set up his Kingdom and thus it must come to pass BABYLON MUST FALL WITH A GREAT NOISE for in strife and confusion was She builded and therein hath She long stood and thereby must She fall and Tribulations must come upon the Earth that People may learn to fear the Lord through his Judgements And he will speedily do great things in the World which cannot be believed by many if it were told them for Hell and Death must be destroyed and both the Beast and the Whore must be taken alive and cast into the Lake of the anger of God But blessed are they that do wait upon the Lord and rest under his shadow and wait in his Counsel and receive his Instructions they shall see the marvellous works of his hand but the wicked and unbelieving shall be turned into darkness and shall not see the countenance of the Lord to refresh them but their sorrow shall be increased And as for me If I were no more this is the Testimony of my Love unto the Seed of God through these Nations who am a Companion to all that travel after Truth and Righteousness and that seek the Lord in their hearts that he may Rule and these things were upon me to send amongst the Flock of God to be read in all your Meetings Oxfordshire the 1st day of the third Moneth 1660. E. B. A VISITATION AND Presentation of Love Unto the KING and those call'd ROYALLISTS Consisting of I. An Answer to several Queries proposed to the People called Quakers from a supposed Royallist II. An Objection answered concerning the Kings Supremacy III. An Epistle directed to the King and those that go under the Name of Royallists IV. Certain Queries returned to them called Royallists to answer An Answer to divers Queries subscribed thus To the Quakers some Queries is sent to be answered that all People may know your Spirit and the temper of it and your Iudgment concerning the Times and Seasons and subscribed let your Answer be directed Tradite hanc Amico Regis AS concerning the Quakers that are scornfully so called We are at this day and have been ever since we were a People a poor despised and contemptible People in the eye of this World and deep Sufferers under the Injustice and Cruelties and Oppressions both of Rulers Teachers and People and we have been a prey to the Wicked and trodden down under the feet of Ambitious men that have been in power in this Nation and have Ruled in force and cruelty over us and this hath been ever since the Lord raised us up to be a People though we have not been offensive to any just Law or Government or to any sort of People otherwise then that we have given our Witness against Sin and wickedness in all People but we have not been Oppressors of others neither have we envied the persons of any but in all good Conscience have we walked towards all men doing no otherwise to any then we would be done unto and this is the very Law we walk by towards all men desiting the good of all and that all may come to Repentance and be Saved and what we are as unto the Lord if I should declare it could not be believed by many But we are his People and he hath chosen us and he is our God and we have believed in him and walked with him in the uprightness of heart and we have this Testimony in our own hearts if we die it is for him and if we live it is to him and though we have been and may be clouded with the Reproaches and Persecutions of an Uncircumcised Generation yet in the Lord's Season it shall be manifest even to the World and to our very Enemies that we are his People and chosen of him and he in the midst of us whom we serve and worship in Spirit in Truth and in Righteousness and
the Cause wherefore the Wrath of God may justly come upon the whole Nation it self if these things be not speedily repented of and forsaken And whether the Life and Practise and Subjection of an upright QUAKER so called whose Principle is to obey all just Commands and patiently to suffer under all that which is unjust and that lives in Meekness and Fear and Soberness and Love towards all Men whether or no such Men and such Practises are not more Honourable and Blessed in the sight of God and Men than this kind of Rudeness and Wickedness Singing and Drunkenness Ringing and Swearing and hanging Ribbins and Feathers about themselves and their Horses and many other things which are said to be done in honour to the King and his Government But whether there be not a Principle in your Consciences which doth rather condemn your selves than justifie you for these things and rather justifies a Sober Life and is not that more blessed Quer. 12. Whether or no all that cry you up and your Government do it really and out of good Conscience and from Principles of Sincerity Or whether they are turned to you in Feignedness and Hypocrisie and to save their Heads and Estates which some of them have gotten even such as have been your Enemies and Preached and Prayed and Fought against you and now cry you up and pray for you but whether can you trust that these will be faithful to you that thus deny their former Ways and Religion and Worship And whether thus to deny their Principles their Faith their Religion their former Oaths and Engagements is commendable and Justifiable in the sight of God and you Or whether a Quaker so called that will stand to his Principles and not deny his Faith nor Religion though he suffer for it nor will bow and bend in Hypocrisie under every sort of Men is not more justifiable and condemnable in the sight of God and your Consciences also I say do not they condemn these Hypocrites that have fought against you and prayed against you and yet bow under you with deceitful Hearts in the time of their danger Quer. 13. Whether or no you do not believe and know in your Consciences that the QUAKERS so called are a Sober Innocent and Harmless People and of an upright Conversation dealing justly towards all and such as do not Envy the Persons of any nor Plot and Project Mischief towards you or any And whether if you should proceed to persecute and seek to destroy such a People concerning whom you have such a witness in your Consciences Iustifying them as aforesaid would not be greatly unjust in the Sight of God and the very Cause to provoke God to destroy you and your proceeding if so be that you persecute them for their Conscience-sake while they live Soberly and Uprightly as men and injureth no mans Person or Estate by their Religion Quer. 14. Whether or no you do not believe or may not have just Cause to believe that your present Proceedings are not and may not prove to be the very natural Cause of Outward Visible external Judgements upon you and the Nation even Iudgments of Pestilence and Famine And do not you proceed in the very path hereof Is not your spending the Creation in such Excessive manner in Eating and Drinking and wasting the good Creation after this manner as you do Whether is not this a natural Cause to bring want and Poverty and also oppressing your very bodies with Excessiveness in Drunkenness Inflaming your selves through Excessiveness of Wine and Beer and through the abounding of uncleanness and through excesse and as well Defiling and Oppressing your very Persons as wasting the Creation by so doing Whether this is not a very Natural Cause to bring and beget Pestilence and Famine besides your provoking the Lord through this means as being works in themselves hateful and abominable in his sight and for which Cause he may justly bring Wrath and Judgements even Plague and Famine if there were no other Cause for it And whether you ought not seriously to Consider of this thing and to Turn from these Transgressions which are Natural Causes of great Judgements and also provokes the Lord to hasten and inflict Judgement Oh that the Sober minded among you would lay this to heart Consider these Queries in the Spirit of Soberness for they are worth your regarding and be not high-minded nor wicked in your way least the Lord who hath all Power in his hand meet you and bring you down and destroy your Cause which he can do if you provoke him This was written in the middle of the 3d Moneth called May 1660. E. B. TO THE Friends of Christ IN LONDON DEarly Beloved and much Respected in the Lord who are of the Election before the World began in everlasting Love do I often remember you and your Remembrance is Pretious and Pleasant to me even because the Lord hath chosen you and called you into his marvellous Light and formed you a People for himself to shew forth his Praise and herein I do behold you very often for I have seen you as a few pleasant Plants in a great Forest of fruitless Trees and I have seen you as a speckled Bird among the Birds of the Wilderness and even as a choice Virgin are you among Harlots in that great City even as a few righteous Persons whom the Lords regardeth amongst a Multitude of thousands of ungodly Men thus have I seen you and thus doth the Spirit bring you into my remembrance with earnest desires to the Lord God for you that you may be preserved through all Times and Seasons and over all this World that you may be alwayes unto the Lord as a pleasent Garden bringing forth Fruits of Acceptation unto him wherein his Soul may be delighted Now dear Friends live in the Seed of God and walk in the Faith which overcometh the World and feel your Election in Christ Jesus and grow up into it daily that you may have the Seal of Assurance of Mercy and Peace and Favour with the Lord God and wait that you may receive the Promise of the Father even of the same eternal Life the same Spirit the same Power of the same heavenly Vertue into your Vessels as was in Christ Jesus in whom dwelt the fulness of all things and in us the Fulness is manifest by measure and this is the everlasting Comforter that will abide with you for ever even the Appearance of Christ Jesus in Spirit God with us and the knowledge of him as he was before Abraham and this Life Immortal born in us and this Knowledge revealed to us is everlasting and remains for ever and if ye be gathered up into this to know him and to be in him that was in the beginning then are you builded upon the Rock and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against you neither can the Flood of Death break in upon you And Friends walk in the Love of the Lord
Immortal Life I am known to you where I desire only to be known of you and though I have been as weak amongst you and in fear and trembling yet the Lord hath been strong and mighty in his Spirit and though I have been as poor and lowly before you yet the Lord hath filled me and you with his Riches and given victory and authority even in your presence though many times I have laboured in Tryals and under great Burdens amongst you and in much opposition by many potent Enemies that have appeared against the Lord yet the Lord hath carried above all and given dominion over them through his eternal Spirit and of these things you are Witnesses Oh when I remember the dayes past and how the pretious presence of the Lord hath been with us and amongst us while I was with you as I hope it is at this day and will alwayes be continued I say the remembrance hereof even of the goodness of the Lord filleth my Heart with holy Praises and the same I desire for you that the Love of the Father and his Presence which hath been is and shall be may be alwayes fresh in your remembrance that you may be comforted for evermore And at this present I know nothing but that the Lord in his Presence and Love and Life is more large and precious then ever and he hath opened his Fountain and we receive of his fulness more abundantly he hath made us strong and we are rich in him even at this day to give our witness for his Name and against Antichrist and all the powers of Darkness in as much Boldness Plainness and Faithfulness as ever yea it is in our Hearts to be as diligent and valiant in the Work of the Lord and to publish his Name and to proclaim the destruction of Antichrist's false Church false Ministry and Worship now more then ever Oh how are our Hearts filled with zeal to go on in this Work we have no fear of man upon us not of him that can but kill the Body we are not afraid of the Storms and Threats and Persecution of the Ungodly for we fear the God of Heaven and him we reverence and worship in our Hearts and not mortal Men whose breath is in their Nostrils and who are as Clay and their Substance soon desolved and what shall these do against us they can effect nothing without the Lord who is our Shepherd that keeps us and as for the Work of the Lord we find it goes on and is prosperous and the Flock of God every where is pleasant and they grow in Knowledge in Wisdom in Faith and in Patience and the Power and Presence of the Lord is with us as ever and Truth keeps its Authority and the Lord hath blessed it with a good Report even to the confounding of our Enemies to perceive the Constancy and Boldness and Faithfulness of the People whose destruction hath long been threatned and waited for but we are yet alive even in him who lives for ever and we live because he lives in us and it is well with us even because he is our saving Health and we can speak of his Praise because he speaks by us Meetings are very large and precious every where in these Parts because of the Presence of the Lord God who is the Fulness of all and filleth all with his Mercy Peace and Blessings and that the same be continued unto you even that you may be filled with the Fulness of God and ever comforted in him is the desire of him who is yours as he is the Lords Sommerset-Shire 25th 4th Moneth 1660. E. B. A TESTIMONY Concerning the BOOK of Common-Prayer So called Being an Answer to an Objection Whether it be not in it self and as practised in this Nation heretofore and at this present the True Worship of the True and Living God Answ. 1. THE Book of COMMON-PRAYER so called in its first Institution and Practise in this Nation did not but differ little from POPERY and the Men that were the Authors of it and that constituted it into that Form and Method as now it is were of much Zeal for their Form and some Sincerity and of more Tenderness and good Conscience towards God in what they knew then were they of the Church of Rome who cryed out against them as Hereticks and the like and they had so much Light from God by his Spirit as that they saw the Idolatry and Corruption of the Church of Rome and did dissent from her and denyed her Worships and Practises in part though they were because thereof persecuted and the Lord stirred up their Hearts to bear Testimony against the Abomination of that time as it was in both Church and State so called and they sought after Reformation and did in some part Reform this Nation and did deny the Popish-Mass and the Popes Supremacy and many Idolatries both in Doctrine and Discipline and instead of the way and manner of Worship as held forth by the Church of Rome these Reformers set up the Common-Prayer to be performed as the Worship of their Church supposing that to be more acceptable then the other and no doubt but the first Institution and Practise thereof was in much sincerity and zeal by many and they were held under persecution and suffered some of them even death â—or denying the Church of Rome and her ways and worships even them who did first ordain and compose the Common-Prayer so called though yet there was much error in their Judgments and darkness in their Understandings and a vail of great Ignorance in many things upon them even while it was brought forth and these things effected in the very beginning and proceedings of them 2. And when it was formed it being imposed on this Nation by force and penalty and set up by compelling all people into the practise of it by violent Laws upon the Bodies and Consciences of men this was great Abomination in the sight of God and made the practise of it detestable unto him for it is contrary to God in the dispensation of the Gospel the way of forcing by compelling constraint through outward Laws any kind or form of worship though in it self never so holy and like unto the true worship yea if the very things that the Apostles practised for worship were imposed on any people by force when as the Consciences of Men were not first perswaded thereunto by the Spirit of God even this were Abomination unto God and not the true worship of him which is not of force but of a willing mind nor in the Ignorance of Mens minds but in the Light risen in their Hearts So that because of Imposing the practise of the Common-Prayer by force it was hateful to God as so practised and the performance of it while it was so held forth in this Nation was no better then the Idolatrous Mass nor no more acceptable to God 3. And as for the Matter in it self partly
of Calvin or Form of Prayer as these have now the Common-Prayer and both the one and the other have cast off the POPES Form and brought in their own get into a Form of words a Forâ— of worship without either Life or Power The PAPISTS in some things that they begin to do will say In the Name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost And the Protestants or them who call themselves of the reformed Church that are come off from the Papists some of them when they go about to do a thing will say Our help is in the Name of the Lord which made Heaven and Earth Here both the one and the other have a Form of words but out of the Name the one as well as the other out of the Life out of the Power and Authority of our Lord Iesus Christ. Therefore what they do how can it be done in his Name which themselves are out of Though they may be in the words and do a thing in the words But that is not a doing it in the Name for to do things in so many words in their own Time and Will that which themselves have brought in is one thing But to do it in the Name Power and Authority of the Lord Iesus Christ is another for words is not the Name nor the Power and the Kingdom stands in the Power not in words Therefore all people see what you do that it be done in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ the true Light of the World who lighteth every man that cometh into the World in his Light in his Power then that will bring you to cease from your own words and following your own ways doing it in his Power in his Strength out of your own words your own ways and your own wills in his Name For what hath form or words either one or the other hitherto produced or brought forth without Life or Power Hath your long Profession and Forms of the words brought any of you yet into the possession of the things Or will it ever do If not What serves it to Who hath required it to have it done And is it not his right alone who is to be worshipped to direct himself how he will be worshipped Or is not all other service and worship in the will And so Will-worship that is not of his own direction or appointment And the Scripture saith John chapter 4. as you may read God is a Spirit and he will be worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth Mark that He who is a Spirit will be worshipped in the Spirit and in the Truth that which the Devil abode not in for into a Form of words Drunkards Swearers Lyars Prophane Persons unrighteous which are shut out of the Kingdom may get into words in such a worship out of the Spirit but that is not the worship which God requires And is it not equal that he alone direct how he will be worshipped that is to be worshipped And thou art so to perform thy service towards him that of him it may be accepted and so it is rightly done when done as he hath appointed it as he hath directed And Obedience is more than Sacrifice whom thou art to obey if thou wilt do him service who is worshipped or served in the Spirit and in the Truth whose Will then comes to be done and not thine who will be so worshipped and so served But otherwise is it not thine own will and not his that is done Therefore whosoever will come to worship the KING the LORD of HOSTS must come to worship him in his own way not in their ways to bow down to his Light to bow down to the measure of his Spirit in them for the Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withal Otherwise will not People Teachers and Professors be always in the profitless condition Ever learning and never come to the knowledge of the Truth E. B. TO THE BELOVED and CHOSEN of GOD in the Seed Elected Particularly in LONDON And elsewhere who have seen the day of Christ and received the Message of Peace and Reconciliation in these last Dayes of his Glorious Appearance THe dear salutation of my life salutes you all in the most pure and dearest love with which I am beloved of the Father and with which also at this present my Heart is filled and issueth forth towards you and the whole Body of the elected Ones and the remembrance of you in the Lord is very precious unto me as I see and behold and have fellowship with you in the Immortal Life which the Father hath begotten in you and in me and in which my knowledge is of you and my unity with you and therein only is the remembrance of my dearest love unto you and in which I hope I am also known and remembred of you even in the spiritual Relation and Heirship of Immortality being fellow Citizens of the heavenly Ierusalem and Children of her conception and bringing forth Now my dearest Friends seeing you have believed in the Light and Life of men even in him that was and is and is to come and have also tasted of that all Fulness that is in him you have a Witness in your selves even of the Spirit of the Father which is greater then all and you need no other Testimony but that of the Spirit That the Lord is good and full of Grace Truth Mercy Peace and Joy even the Fountain and Treasure of all Vertue and Blessedness in this present time and hereafter I say If you have tasted and felt of Immortal Life and if the Fountain hath been opened in you and you have seen his Glory and received of his Treasure then the Evidence dwells in you of eternal blessedness and no man needs to teach you of these things nor to say unto you know the Lord if you dwell in him and go no more forth yet bear with me a little that I may speak and be refreshed not to diminish from what Testimony you have in you but the rather to add towards it for my witness is not another but the same which ye enjoy which is faithful and true and this I say Oh how great how mighty and powerful is the Lord our God everlasting and infinite he is that eternal Spirit that filleth all the Creator and beeing of all things that are the life and vertue in all and the invisible Substance greater then all he is in himself the immeâ—â—rable and infinite Fulness the Fountain of Life of Mercy and Righteousness and Peace and of all Vertue and of every good Thing who can declare his beginning or end he is without Time Place or thing yet gives beeing to all and is present in all yet not known saving of himself and by his own Spirit yet he effecteth all things and worketh whatsoever he will who can utter his wonderous Works Who can number his Mercies Who can account his Infiniteness who can
behold his Invisibility Who can reach his endless Beeing He filleth Heaven and Earth and of his Fulness every Creature in Heaven and Earth receiveth and by him doth subsist though it is only given unto Man-kinde to behold and perceive of him it is only his Gift unto his Saints that fear him to understand of his Wayes and in us he hath opened of his Fulness and Treasure even in our Hearts and the divine Mystery of this Infinite God is revealed and discovered in the Hearts of the Sons of Men whom he hath chosen and he hath given us to enjoy and possess in us a Measure of that fulness that is in himself even a Measure of the same Love and â—ife of the same Mercy and Power and of the same divine Nature and a Measure of the same heavenly quality and property which is in him in all fulness dwelleth in us his Saints by measure even in all that are born of him in whom the Immortal Birth is brought forth which is of his own nature and is Immortal Spiritual Holy Meek Merciful even as the Father for the quality of him that hath begotten is in us that are begotten of him we bear his Image and are of the Father Partakers of his Substance Immortal and Infinite and are one with him in Nature and Fellowship and perfect through him that dwells in us and hath changed us into his likeness these things ye know if ye be born from above and if the Immortal Birth live in you and you be constant in the Faith then are you Heirs through it of the everlasting Inheritance of eternal Life and already have received the Earnest and Assurance thereof and all are yours because you are Christ's and he is God's and you have the Father and the Son And this Life and Immortality is brought forth in us and Infiniteness it self dwells with us and eternity possesseth us and Fulness it self is shed abroad â—n our Hearts and we have the Treasure of Life of Wisdom of Knowledge and of divine Fulness in our Tabernacles of Clay which also are sanctified by his Word and Power to be fit Habitations for the eternal God to dwell in And oh what love is this with which we are beloved by him Oh what Mercy is this of which we partake from him Who are become the Sons of God and Children of the most High in whose earthen Vessels dwells Immortallity and Life and Infinite Substance being gathered into his Shepherds Fold of defence where we have Immortal Food and are established on the holy Mountain where nothing can destroy and are at rest and peace and under the shadow of the Rock of Ages that Hell nor Death nor wrath of Man can terrifie Oh what Eye hath seen this what Ear hath heard it and what Heart hath perceived it and not admired the loving-kindness of the Lord who among you are Witnesses of this that sayes not great and Infinite is the Lord and Immeasurable in Mercy and Truth and Righteousness Oh Friends if you know these things and if ye receive daily of this Fulness and if the Measure of that Immortal Life be risen in you and hath raised up you with it self into its own fulness which once was descended out of its own fulness of eternal Rest and Strength and was manifest in its Measure in poverty and weakness in your Hearts in the feeling of Afflictions and Wrath because of Sin but it descended to suffer all and to bear Transgression that you might be raised with it into its Life and Glory and Fulness and if this be finished and effected in you Oh then how shall you not live to his Glory and Praise in your Generation and in Love and Peace and Unity with himsel and one with another and magnifie him in Soul and Spirit that hath called you and chosen you and now works all your works in you and for you and you live by him because he lives in you But though it is thus that some are entred into the Rest and have received of his fulness and have the Testimony of Life and Assurance in the Father and are risen with Christ yet are you and we and all the Children of the Father so set and placed in this Creation as that there is an Enemy to be ruled over and also a service to be fulfilled by us for the Lord that hath chosen us and therefore watchfulness and faithfulness is required from us and unto this I cannot but exhort you all even to walk in the Fear of the Lord in watchfulness and faithfulness in Humility and Meekness in Truth and Justice and in every good thing and that you fulfill the Will of the Lord in all things whatsoever the Motions of his own Life draws you unto that every Member of his Infinite Body which is highly exalted at his right Hand may be preserved in dominion over Sin and Death and also may shew forth the Honour and Glory and Praise of him who is the Head even Christ whose vertue hath an ointed every Member and is shed abroad through the whole Body I say Friends of every Member is required the duty and service thereunto partaining according as it is placed of him that the Treasure of Life may shew forth its vertue in one manner or another through you all in all well-doing to the glory of him who is God above all and that in the sight of your Enemies whom you know watches for evil and would rejoyce in any occasion against you that they might speak evil of the Lord because of you you may walk without offence in the answer of a good Conscience and if you walk as such as are the Lord's you will cut off all occasions from them that seek it and they will be confounded and you preserved in the blessedness and peace everlasting and you will grow in Immortallity and into the knowledge and fulness thereof more and more till you know the Father even as you are known of him And be not unmindful of the Word of the Lord which begat you which first entred into your Hearts and wrought mightily in you to the wounding and destroying of Death and Enmity and remember the Travel of the dayes past and the Indignation which once you felt because of Sin through the Word of God and the Word endures for ever of which you are begotten and if any appearance of Iniquity or motion thereunto arise in you into desire to be fulfilled the Word will quench it and give you dominion over Sin and Death and save you from the effects thereof for the Word changes not but is the same alwayes but if man change and pervert his Way into Iniquity it reproves and corrects and so delivers him for this Word keeps clean the Heart and it sanctifies and also keeps in subjection the mortal man with all his thoughts desires and actions and destroyes the Man of Sin the sinful Man by whom the whole Creation hath been corrupted and
perverted into evel in its practise of degenerate man and if you forget the Word then Iniquity prevails again and the love of this World and its vanities and the Riches and Pleasures of the mortal man steals away the Heart and they possess the Habitation of God unrighteously and all things are become sinful and the Body of Death comes over the pure Life and Peace with God in the Conscience is lost and that because the Word of God is forgotten which once begat unto God and where the unclean spirit enters again the latter end of such is worse then the beginning more finful against God and more hated of him and therefore let none follow the way of such for it leads to Death and Darkness and Misery will be the end of it But Friends mind him and feel his Power who is the Preserver of Men in Peace and Righteousness and let not up that part in you into liberty into which Satan enters and sows his seed of degeneration but live in the Cross of Christ and in the meek and lowly Spirit tha◠you may not do your own wills but the Will of the Father and may fear him and his Goodness and that subjecteth the ground of Temptations that Sin cannot prevail so shall your Peace be everlasting and your Life as a River of pleasure and Joy and Gladness shall be your daily Portion and the Lord shall never forsake you but be unto you a Tower of Strength and Habitation of Peace and a Crown of Victory and Reward in this present time and for ever And if ye abide in Christ the Vine into which you are planted by Regeneration then will your Fruit be of the Vine and acceptable unto the Father who is the good Husbandman and through his Vertue you will grow into Perfection as partaining to the Conscience where all guilt of sin is taken away and the burden of Iniquity and body of Death clean removed away from you for that is Perfection as partaining to the Conscience where Sin and Transgression is done away and Power received over it both in Motion and Action and the Guilt of it and the Conscience sprinkled with the Immortal Blood of the Lamb and no stain nor guilt remaining but Peace altogether by the holy Spirit in the Conscience and this is perfection which was not attained to by outward things in the first Covenant but is witnessed in the second which the Lord hath made with us and confirmed unto us where Sin and Iniquity is blotted out and Innocency and Immortallity lives and raigns and such stand before the Throne of God without fault before him and no guile in their Mouthes and these sing the Song of the Lamb and of the Redeemed where all sorrow is fled away if so be that the burden and guilt of all Transgresion be removed then there is no cause of sorrow and blessed are they that dwell here and that are entred into the everlasting Rest even into God for he is the Rest of the Immortal Soul and the Life of it and if ye know these things ye have satisfaction and comfort which none know but they that have it it s the portion of the Redeemed whose Father Master Ruler Judge and King is the Lord God and the Lamb and we are Subjects of that Kingdom and free born of that City the heavenly Ierusalem and we are made free through the price of Immortal Blood and then how can any of you that are such serve this World and the Vanities of it by any immoderate care or desire or exercise in earthly things for this is the bondage of Egypt but the Children are free from it and are not entangled concerning the things of this World but they are subjected under and the Inheritance of a better Portion is their Crown and Substance and Esau's portion is the Earth he that hath no assurance in God wherefore live above this World in the Seed of God and be without immoderate care in every thing as to earthly matters not taking thought what shall come or be to morrow neither cumbring your selves about uncertain riches but leave the issue of all things to the Lord in whose hands are Blessings and the Curse to give or take away according to his pleasure and be not Servants unto but Rulers over all affections in earthly things for spiritual Blessings are the Crown and the Earth is the foot-stool of the Lord's Redeemed And as for the dayes and seasons in which we now are let none be troubled as though it were not well or could be better for all things are well that are come to pass because the Will of the Lord hath effected them either as the Cause or as the Means and it is good for us that these things are so for the prosperity of our Kingdom is going on through all the Hammer is beating upon the Rocks that will beat them to pieces and the Axe is hewing down the Cedars and the little Stone prevails against the many-headed Beast and the Image of Idolatry is weakening and the holy Seed grows in strength and vertue and the Purpose of the Lord can none prevent But the light of the Son must be as the light of seven days amangst us and the Day-Spring from on high hath already visited us and we have seen of his Glory wherefore let all the Upright have Patience and Long-suffering till the Measure of Iniquity in our Adversaries be filled which is hastening to be accomplished and Transgression grows full and Sinners grow ripe for Vengeance and we must pass over their Mountain of Darkness and in the mean time the Lord hides us under his shadow even 〈◊〉 Transgression be finished and covers us from the storm and blinds the enemy and turns his rage backward and we are not destroyed but our life is renewed and righteousness mercy and love are a defence about us and how great is the kindness of the Lord herein mine eye hath seen it and my heart meditateth thereon the power and wisdom and love of the Lord herein are very great and who can find out the depth thereof or declare his immeasurable power and wisdom And thus the salutation of my life unto all the faithful is expressed and I am well in him who is my fulness and desire no more concerning you then your faithfulness in the cause of God for without controversie the cause of God is with us and on our part and as you are faithful therein that is my reward concerning you and the addition to my joy and in the Heavenly Spirit of the Lord God Almighty are you committed unto him who is able to keep you even to the end and in the end to glorifie you in eternal life in rest and peace for ever and this is the portion of the faithful and my desires on your behalf and my salutation of you hoping that you have not so learned Christ as to deny him because of the love or terror of this World
if you do thus and will not allow clearly and freely Liberty of Conscience but will by force and violence limit the Spirit of the Lord and tender Consciences this shall be a Snare upon you and a Rock oâ— offence against you to break you to Pieces for in so doing the God of Heaven will be displeased with you as with others if so be that you take upon you to prescribe the Lord a way how he must be worshipped and will take upon you to rule and judge in the cases of Conscience and in the matters of Christ's spiritual Kingdom which appertains to Christ alone to be Iudge of and Ruler in and not man and to him alone you ought to give the whole Rule and Government in all the matters of his own Kingdom and that he may prescribe and teach Worship and Faith and Duty to himself in all spiritual things and this I claim of you on his behalf even that you give unto him the whole Rule and Authority in all the matters of his own Kingdom and that you allow Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Faith and Worship to all Christian people in these Nations and that no man be compelled or forced to or from by outward violence any kinde of profession of Faith or practises of worship for it is of Antichrist so to do if that you impose any Sâ—rt of Worship and Religion contrary to mens Consciences upon penalties on mens Persons or Estates if you do thus you exercise not the Power of Christ but of Autichrist and it is â—â—depriving of Christ of his Heirship and of the Government of his own Kingdom which will be reckoned against you as a fearful abomination if you â—â—lk therein And therefore let men believe in Christ and Worship him according as they are perswaded in their own Consciences for a tender Conscience in the Sight of God is a thing greatly regarded of him and if you limit it and do violence upon it the Lord will be provoked against you and these Nations will not bear it but it will beget fiery contentions in the mindes of men if any Religion and Worship contrary to their Consciences be imposed upon them and while some men are gratified others will be displeased and if you allow not free Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of spiritual things the effect of it may prove sad and Miserable to your selves and your Government and this shall you know in time to come even the good effect of Toleration in Liberty of Conscience and of woful effect upon the contrary Therefore be wise and instructed ye Rulers of the Earth and kiss the Son lest ye perish out of the way of Peace and Happiness Now you have your day and time to be made happy or to be left miserable that your Government may be blessed or otherwise deprived of all Blessedness These things have I Written to You in Love and Honour towards You That Ye may know and be informed what the Lord requireth of You if so be You may escape the Wrath that is to come And love nor Wrath to You Your prosperity nor overthrow is determined upon You or prophesied unto You by me but as You walk in Justice Truth and Righteousness or as You walk contrary and bring forth Oppression and Persecution Bristol City the 4th day of the sixth Moneth 1660. Edward Burroughs A PRESENTATION of Wholsome Informations unto the King of England c. THe Servants of the Lord and his People that feared his Name and trembled at his Word never wanted false Accusers in any Age to repute them vile and to reproach them by slanderous words and that even to the Rulers of the World and to the Kings of the Earth have the chosen People of the Lord been falsly accused and reproached by the slanderous Tongues of ungodly Men in all Generations as in many Particulars might be proved out of the Scriptures by the Example of things in the dayes of old For even in those dayes it came to pass that the Elect People were reproached and falsly reputed by the men of the World as in the Case of the Iews in their building of the Temple again when they returned out of the Captivity How were the People of God at that day accused and reproached and that by the wise men of that Kingdom even unto the King Ahasuerus Ezra 4. 15 16. That good City of Ierusalem the Habitation and Dwelling of the Iews and then only named People of God was accused of being a bad rebellious City and hurtful to Kings and that the People moved Sedition therein to the danger of the Revenue of Kings c. And Neh. 4. 2. the People of God were scorned and reproached and called feeble Iews who builded the House of God and it was said in derision of them that a Fox should go up and break down their Wall And also how were the holy Prophets and Servants of God rejected reproached and accused even to the Princes and Rulers of the Earth in Generations past as Daniel to the King how was he accused Dan. 6. 13. and the three Children were accused to the King Dan. 3. 8. and the Apostles were reproached under the slander of being movers of Sedition and such-like Acts. 24. 5. being many times accused and haled before Felix Agrippa and divers others of the Rulers of the Heathen and it was told the Apostles by Christ That all manner of evil should be spoken against them for his Name sake And throughout the whole Scriptures there is very large Testimony how that in Ages past the Servants and People of God were accused and falsly reproached before Rulers and Kings by their Enemies that sought their destruction The truth of this is so clear and full that it needs no further Testimony And as it was in this case in the days of old so is it happened in this day who more now accused and falsly reproached then the Innocent People of God Is not all evil spoken against them and that even to Rulers and Governers and Kings And this is done by their Enemies that seek to destroy them even by such as would not have the Work of the Lord to prosper and his People to be preserved and on this account the cry is great against us every where as if we were Hereticks Blasphemers Seditious and Enemies to Magistracy and Government to Church and Ministry and such like And these with such like have been and are the Accusations against us whereby we are reproached falsly before men and this hath been our portion in this World since we were a People by the Men of this Generation and the very same is come to pass upon us in this case as was upon the People of God in former Generations and as it was done unto them so it is done unto us and therefore we are in Patience under all our Afflictions and Sufferings whether we are persecuted by Actions or Words and for the Name of
to the Living God lest they Perish in the Day of Vengeance which is near at hand And this is a Message of Reconciliation to all People every where in general but more particularly to the Inhabitants of Ireland and to all sorts of People therein even to the Rich and to the Poor to the Professor and to the Prophane that every one may be stir'd up to seek the Lord by Repentance With certain Propositions of FAITH laid down which every one must believe or else they cannot be saved And certain Objections answered relating to the present dayes With the Way of a Happy and Blessed Government Discovered in the Kingdoms of this World c. OH Ireland The Day of God's Visitation of Love and tender Mercy hath been upon thee to try thee and to prove thee and the Lord would have gathered thy People into Covenant and Fellowship with himself to live in Love Unity and Peace and the Lord would have made thy Inhabitants Blessed but they would not but many have refused the Day of his Love and they have neglected his Loving-kidness and have chosen their own wayes of Iniquity and Unrighteousness rather then the Way of Truth and Peace Though the Lord hath often smitten and caused his Judgments to be known in the Land and suffered great Destruction in dayes past even Plague Sword and Famine were sore upon thee have thy Inhabitants forgotten the Dealings of the Lord towards thee Are his Judgments and Mercies clean gone out of Remembrance which the Lord shewed in thee not many years since And because of thy Iniquities and Transgressions which were grown very great against God he was angry with thee and provoked against thee and did give up thy Inhabitants to Hardness of Heart and Cruelty of Mind one against another so that they were given up to destroy and cut off one another and Thousands of them fell through the Malice and Wickedness of each others Hearts and Hands and cruel Murders Robberies Treacheries and a very great Destruction was committed amongst thy People and this was because Iniquity at that day was full Pride and Oppression Drunkenness and Whoredom Double-dealing and Treachery and all manner of Unrighteousness was grown to the height and therefore did the Lord suffer a very great Rebuke in the Land and by Sword Plague and Famine did he plead with thy Inhabitants for some years together even that he might humble thee and correct thee and that thy People might turn unto him and forsake their Iniquities Oh! why hast thou forgotten the Dealings of the Lord running into the same Abominations For since the Lord stayed his Judgments Iniquity is increased even as before Though the Lord hath given thee Rest and Peace for divers years and healed thee of thy Sorrows and Miseries and replenished thee with People and thou hast had Peace and Fulness for a good season but yet thou hast not made a right use of these Mercies as thou oughtest to have done Though the Lord hath shewed Love and Favour towards thee in delivering of thee from thy former Troubles and Miseries yet thou hast turned to thy own huâ—t â—is Blessings into a Curse through thy abuse of them And now through Reâ—… and Peace and Fulness thy Inhabitants are corrupted and become abominably sinful and they have loaden themselves with Transgressions and heâ—ped up Wrath against the Day of Wrath even Wrathful Matter for the Wâ—ath of God and former Judgments and Mercies seem to be both forgotten many having abused them to their hurt though the Lord intended them for their good and thy Inhabitants are as before many of them hardened in Iniquity rather then turned from it and they are turned into their old Paths and drink of the same Cup of Abominations and Pride and Oppression and all Unrighteousness in every part of it is grown as high as ever it was in thee Oh! how doth Wickedness abound Drunkenness Wantonness Vain-Pleasures Envy Wrath Contention Heart-Burning Covetousness and Earthly-mindedness Double-dealing False-heartedness Idolatry and Hypocrisie and all Fruits of the Flesh how do they abound in thee even as high as ever before as though thou hadst never felt Judgement because of thy sins and as though thou hadst never tasted of Mercy that thou shouldst live a better life but both Judgment and Mercy by-past are neglected and the Remembrance of them worn out and thou hast said in thy heart We love this world its Pleasures and Vanities and after our wayes will we go Oh Nation and Kingdom this is thy Condition and thy present State Thou drinkest up Iniquity as an Ox drinketh Water and thou addest sin to sin as if all thou couldst do were too little and like as if thou wert appointed for no other end but to commit sin and thou hatest Reproof and despisest Correction and him that reproveth thee thou countest thy Enemy for the whole Pleasure of many of thy people is in sinning against God and thus thou thinkest to serve him with thy sins and requitest the Lord evil for his good towards thee and his Judgments and Mercies have no place in thy Heart though yet thou hast been warned for these divers years that thy People should turn from their Iniquities and serve the Living God Repentance and Forsaking of Sin hath been preached thorough thee and Warning hath been given of the Judgments of God that are to come but hereof hast thou taken no notice as thou oughtest to have done but thy Inhabitants have despised the Lord's Servants and persecuted them and thou hast held in Derision and under great Afflictions the People of the Lord and persecuted them for good Conscience sake And this is the fulfilling of Wickedness in thee and the heighâ— of thy Inhabitants Transgressions in that they have persecuted such who have warn'd them and despised the Lord's Reproof and would not hearken to the Advice of his People but do alwayes reject the Message of God's Light which reproveth people in their own Consciences because of Sin that they should turn from iâ— and be saved this Message hath been proclaimed thorough the Land even for some years together wherein the Lord hath visited thee with his Love that he might gather thy People and condemn their Iniquities and save their Souls but thy People have rejected this Message and would not be turned from their Idolatrous Wayes and Worships nor from the Hypocrisie of their wayes that they might be healed But thy people have forsaken the Living God and rebelled against the Light and the Way of Peace they have refused and turned their Backs towards the Lord and not their Faces and after Covetousness and the Love of this World they have gone though there hath been a great Profession of Worship and Religion in thee much Preaching and Praying Sabboth-keeping and professed Church-Fellowship Ministry and Ordinances and a Sect here of one sort and there another that have cryed Lord Lord and have made a shew of Worships and Duties towards him
and Over-reaching your Neighbours your Riches so gotten shall never prosper noâ— be blessed to you but shall be a Curse to you and your Children And your Covetousness will God plague Ye that have gotten Goodt and not by Right shall leave them in the midst of your dayes Wo unto you Carnal Minds all the Treasures of them are corruptible your Lands Gold and Silver are fading Treasures The Day of the Lord's Judgments are at hand upon you and the Rod of his Wrath will smite you and ye shall have Poverty and want instead of Fulness and Excess and ye shall have Leanness and Barrenness and God will plead with you in the way you have sinned against him The Time of your Visitation draws near Wo unto you Merchants Traders Buyers and Sellers that have been Double-Dealers and Double-Tongued and dealt deceitfully in your Commodities with your Neighbours Wo unto ye that have got Gain by Double-dealing and by feigned and flattering Speeches have beguiled one another and sought to out-reach in your Bargaining every man his Brother these things have ye done O ye Covetous Men ye have even robbed the Poor by your Craft and Guileful-dealing by your smooth and flattering Tongues and if any amongst you could not use Fraud and Dissemble such have been your Prey and Scorn and it s your Use to discommend a Commodity when you buy it and to praise it when you sell it and ye make a fair out-side to please the Eye and ye use multitude of words and fair speeches and decâ—ive the Simplâ— and get Gain by Oppression Craft and Deceit Wo unto you Repent of this your sin Cleause your Hearts you Sinners and purifie your Hearts you Double-minded I charge you by the Lord Give over your Double-dealing and deceitful Merchandize cease to Lye and Defraud cease your Flattery and Feigned words and speak the Truth every one to his Neighbour and come out of your Iniquities use not a bad Conscience any longer for its a fearful Abomination against the Lord But mind the Light of Christ in you which will convince you in your Consciences of your noughty and sinful wayes and that Light will exercise your Consciences to do the Truth and speak the Truth to your Neighbours in all things and this is Blessed and the Gain that is thereby gotten is not a Curse for ye ought in all your wayes to reverence the Lord and respect him that he should lead you and guide you in your exercise of all Earthly things For the Earth is the Lord's and the Fulness thereof and it ought to be exercised to his Glory and there is suffient in this Creation for all People and therefore covet not Earthly things one from another neither oppress nor over-reach one another about them neither treasure up Earthly things while the Poor want for if ye do you hide your selves from your own Flesh laying Field to Field till there is no Place for the Poor and Wo unto such the Day of the Lord will be upon you But learn the Wisdom of God how to be ordered and how to order all things of this Creation and be in Unity and good Agreement amongst your selves and do not fall out nor strive nor contend nor envy one another about Earthly things but if ye have much or if ye have little be contented with what you have and do not grind the Hearts and Consciences one of another to get Earthly things for they will fade and perish away and seek not after that which perisheth but after that which is unto Eternal Life For the Day of the Lord is at hand and his Judgments upon all Oppressors Double-dealers and False-hearted Flatterers that are Covetous of Earthly things Wo unto all ye Drunkards and Swearers Whoremongers and Prophane Persons the Judgments of the Lord are upon you unawares ye that destroy the Creation upon your Lusts that are rnn into the Excess of Wine and Beer and that covet it excessively and that drink till ye inflame your selves and spend your time in it ye are like the Beasts of the Field and like the Swine that wallow in Filthinefs ye pervert the right use and End of the good Creatures of God and spend them upon your Lusts and have not regard unto the Living God and one sin even begets another Drunkenness begets Swearing and prophane Words and Whoredom and beastly Affections and thus ye add sin to sin and heap up one sin upon another conâ—â—ary to the Light in your own Consciences and thus ye serve 〈◊〉 â—…il and Satan committing Iniquity with both hands as it were by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and swearing and taking the Name of the Lord in Vain and 〈◊〉 Spâ—â—â—â—es and falling out one with another and your Minds are eâ—â—ed 〈◊〉 the Lord and 〈◊〉 abuse your selves and your 〈◊〉 Bodies which were made fâ—â— the service of God and not 〈◊〉 whorâ—… 〈◊〉 and ye slay your own soulâ— by your own Iniquities and mames provoke the Lord to destroy both Soul and Body Wo unto you 〈◊〉 â—lagues of God are your Portion and Misery your â—nd here and hereafter 〈◊〉 of your Iniquities and turn from them left the Lord find you in 〈◊〉 Iniquities when he comes to Judgâ—ment 〈◊〉 if you continue in them 〈◊〉 can never be pardoned but you siâ— unto death and the Lord will come â—pon you suddenly for ye that followed Drunkenness and Propâ—â—â—ess you live contrary to the Light in your own Consciences and you sin against your knowledge against that Knowledge that God hath given you and this is your greatest sin even because ye do the things which ye know ye shoulâ— not do 〈◊〉 the Light in your Consciences doth sheâ— you that these things are evil before you do them but ye doing the things contrary to the Light in your 〈◊〉 Consciences this makes your Crime 〈◊〉 and your sin uâ—pardonable 〈◊〉 â—e continue in sin and prophaness contrary to the Reproof of God's Spiâ—â—◠〈◊〉 your own â—nsciences Wherefore ye prophane Persons cease to do evil â—est the Lord's Judgements come upon yâ—â— suddenly to your Dâ—struction and the Lord smite you and you never be healed Wo unto all ye â—â—ypoâ—riâ—iâ—â—l and deceitful Profâ—ssors of Religion that hold the Truth in Unrighteousness thâ—â— have a talk and a shew of Religion and that have the Name of Church-members and of Worshippers of God but are 〈◊〉 in Sins and Trespasses ye that are Christians by Name but want the Nâ—â—ure who are Wolves in Sheep's cloathing that have Christ's words the Prophets and Apostâ—â—s words but want their Spirit and Life Wo unto you the Dâ—â— of the Lord is at hand upon you ye Hypocrites ye that serve God with your Liâ—â— and with your â—outhes profess much love whenas your Hearts are full of â—â—â—y Covetousâ—â—â—â— and Earthly-mindedness ye are the Apostate Christians thâ—â— have taken the Form of Godliness upon you but want the Power ye preach and pray and hear sermons and keep Sabbath Dayes and perform Duties 〈◊〉 ye
extream Reproaches as I have said in Contempt and Derision of that People and all this as if those People were guilty of heinous Crimes that it might appear to thee as if these Petitioners had done nothing but Iustice in what they have done and they seek to cover themselves and to hide their Wickedness before thee in what they have unjustly acted and this seems to be the Current of some part of the same Petition already presented unto thee like as if they had done no Evil though they have Unjustly Banished 〈◊〉 off Ears Whipped inhumanly and taken away lives as aforesaid And they would have thee believe they are Innocent towards thee and towards us whenas it is evident as the Sun at Noon-day that they are our Persecuters and that they have â—â—justly persecuted us unto Death for the Name of Christ and that also they are not unto thee as they Hypocritically feign themselves And therefore O King for the clearing of our selves and the Name of the Lord which we profess and for reproving of their bold impudent Insolencies both in what they have already done to us and now in seeking to cover themselves unto thee And also if there be any doubtfulness in thy Heart of these Matters for these Ends and Causes with Respect to the Fear of God and Honour 〈◊〉 the King I hereby presume to pursue their said Petition even unto thy Court and to wipe away the Slanders and Reproaches of Ungodly Men as much as possible hoping thereby thou wilt receive due and just Information in this matter of proceeding between us and them that thy just Judgment may be given accordingly And I shall transcribe some few of their own words presented to thee and thereupon spread some few Considerations before thee also and I pray God give thee an Understanding to judge justly in this and all other cases The first thing that I note is whereas they say That they have chosen rather the pure Scripture-Worship with a good Conscience in this poor remote Wilderness to â—it New-England among the Heathens than the Pleasures of England with subjection to the Imposition of the then so disposed and so far prevailing Hierarchy which we could not do without an evil Conscience c. say they The Considerations presented unto the King upon these words are divers 1. The Worship Doctrine Discpiline and Constitution of the Church of New-England is different and contrary and not purely according unto the Scriptures in the Administration of the Gospel nor in a pure Conscience purely guided by the Spirit of God though they seem to justifie their own Way and Case before the King and this may justly be made appear in his Presence upon good Occasion only at this time I assert the Case and if ever God gives oportunity I may prosecute it with Proofs and Evidences and that to the great Reproof of the Church so called of New-England who are not only in Doctrine Worship and Conversation contrary to the Scriptures but impudent and too presumptious to affirm their own Self-justification and Innocencâ— before the King when as it is manifest as the Day is from the Night that the Pastors and Members of the Church of New-England want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and follow the spirit of Persecution Violence and Cruelty and are void of a Good Conscience both towards God and Men. To prove this there needs no greater Evidence than their own Deportâ—…nt towards the Harmless Quakers for these five years time who as I have said have spoiled their Goods and imprisoned their Persons cut off their Ears Banished them and inhumanely put them to Death and all this because of difference in Iudgment and Practice in Religious Matters when as no manner of Evil could be charged upon them in the things between man and man And if these be not works contrary to the Scriptures and the Spirit that gave them forth and contrary to a Good Conscience I am yet ignorant and must leave it to the Judgment of the King before whom this Matter is brought to receive his Judgment 2. Let the King consider how they have ignorantly condemned themselves in the same things for whith they have judged others for while they seem to complain of the Impositions of the Bishops which they stile prevailing Hierarchy if it was Transgression in the Bishops in dayes past to impose upon these Petitioners and to Persecute them for Non-conformists how much more are these men guilty of Imposition and Persecution of tender Consciences Nay they have exceeded in the same Transgression and become seven-fold guilty of the sins themselves which they complain against in others for they have gone further in Cruelty and Persecution towards the Innocent Quakers than ever the Bishops proceeded against them even so far further as the murdering of a man is more than cutting off his Ear And the Cause of the Quakers towards these Petitioners hath been as Innocent as ever theirs was towards the Bishops Oh hypocritical Generation who are condemning of others for that whereof themselves are guilty and imposing upon others in a far higher degree than ever the Bishops imposed on them witness their Law in New-England which judgeth every man to pay 5s per day who come not to their Assembly and imposing Fines of 40s and 50s apiece on such as meet together to worship the Lord which are evident signs of an evil Conscience as themselves speak The next thing that I note upon which the King ought to consider the Petitioners say concerning the Quakers Open Capital Blasphemers open Seducers from the Glorious Trinity the Lord 's Christ the Blessed Gospel and from the holy Scriptures as the Rule of Life open Enemies to the Government it self as established in the hand of any but men of their own Principles malignant Promoters of Doctrines directly tending to subvert both our Church and State By way of Answer to this let the King consider 1. The envious and detestable spirit of maliciousness of these Accusers and how vehement and fervent their persecuting spirit is drawn forth with reproachful Tearms in the highest degree like as if they could not utter sufficiently the Envy of their Hearts or as if they wanted words to demonstrate their Malignity and devouring Malice against that People whom they in scorn call Quakers and all this to present us Odious and Abominable before thee O King I say but this of them unto thee The Lord forgive them if they have not sinned unto Death and Unpardonably I have no desire of Revenge towards them but I leave Vengeance to the Lord who will recompence in his season neither do I desire to provoke or incense the King against them only Duty to God and the King teacheth me and Love Constraineth me and an absolute Necessity presseth much upon me to spread our Denyal of their Bitter and Malicious Accusations against us before the King unto whom we are thus foully accused And I say I
appear Innocent of the Cruelty and Injustice and shedding of the Blood of Just Men without Cause being men of Guilty Consciences upon whom the Terror of God and of the King seems to be because of what they have done But now let the King rightly consider of the Case between us and them and let him not hide his Face from the hearing of the Cry of Innocent Blood And for a further Testimony of the Wickedness and Emnity of these Petitioners and to demonstrate how far they had proceeded contrary to the good Laws and Authority of England and contrary to their own Pattent hereunto was annexed and presented to the King a Brief of their Unjust Dealings towards the Quakers so called which the Reader may see at large in the Reccord of Sufferings E. B. To all My DEAR COMPANIONS In the Travel and Labour of the Gospel of Christ And in the Faith and Patience in the Sufferings for his NAME 's SAKE DEarly and Well-beloved Brethren in the Heavenly Relation and Blessed Immortal Birth of which we are born most dearly in our Father's Love my Salutation extendeth unto you all as one with you perfectly in Sufferings and in Rejoycings in Faith and Patience and even in all things which you do and suffer for the Name of the Lord our God and my Soul greets you and embraces you and servently wisheth Peace Love and Unity and the Increase of every good Gift unto you all for I am perfectly one with you if you receive of our Father's Fulness I am refreshed and if you Rejoyce I am glad and if you suffer and be in Heaviness I freely partake with you whatsoever is yours whether Liberty or Bonds whether Life or Death I partake of the same and whatsoever I enjoy the same also is yours we are of one Birth of one Seed of one Line even of the Generation of him who is without Beginning of Dayes or End of Life who is an High Priest made after the Power of an Endless Life and as he was blessed of the Father so are we because we are of the same Birth and are Partakers of his Nature and he lives in us and we in him Well my dear Companions I need not multiply words unto you as if you knew not these things for What know I that you know not or What can I say but you know the same Yet bear with me for my Heart is very full and my Soul ready to be poured forth that I may once more express a little quantity of what is abounding in my Heart for Love even perfect Love even that Love wherewith we are beloved of the Father filleth my Heart at this time towards all of you from the least to the greatest and I know nothing but Love towards you all and I doubt not but in the same Love you do receive this my Salutation which is from the Fountain of Love which at this time is opened in my Heart Now Dearly Beloved The present Considerations of my Heart are very many concerning the great Love of the Father which hitherto hath been shewed unto us we all know how that he called us by his Grace and turned our Hearts from the Vanities and Evil-wayes of this World and sanctified us by his Word and put his Image upon us and called us by his Name and redeemed us unto himself and gave us the Testimony of his holy Spirit in our own Hearts That we should be his People and he would be our God he taught us and instructed us and fed us and gave us Peace and Rest in himself and freed us from the Bondage of Sin and Corruption and from his Terror because of sin and he removed our Transgressions and blotted them out and ceased to smite us any more but brought us into the Land of Rest flowing with Mercy and Peace and Knowledge and all good Things this did the Lord our God do for us in the dayes of our Infancy even when we were yet in our sins he called us forth and cleansed us from them and when we were Strangers to him he made himself known unto us and when we were wholly ignorant he gave us Knowledge and when we were not a People he raised us up and made us worthy to be called by his Name and thus and after this manner did the Father love us and shew his Love unto us this you know even as I do and the Consideration of it causeth me thus to express it Again when he had thus wrought for us and shewed Love unto us he was pleased to call us out into his Work to the turning and converting of others unto the Way of Life he put his Spirit into us and gave us Gifts of Knowledge and Utterance and armed us with Wisdom and Strength and Courage and every way fitted us for that work and service in which he hath carried us he I say fitted us for his Work and called us into it and carried us on joyfully in it and all this of his free Love and infinite Power and what we have been and what we have done it hath been only of the Lord and not of our selves even of his Love which to us may be admirable for alas what were we but Children and neither Prophets nor Prophets Sons and our Education unanswerable for these things and to perform this Calling and therefore it is the Lord and only him that hath effected his own Purpose through us and by us as Instruments mean of our selves but by him very excellent Again he hath mightily prospered us in his Work and a glorious effect we have beheld of our Labours and Travels and Testimony yea the Lord hath been with us abundantly and his Arm hath compassed us about and he hath often given us great victory over the Wise and Prudent of this World he hath made his own Word often very powerful in our Mouthes to the wounding of the Consciences of our Enemies and the Lord hath blessed our Testimony to the confounding of the Wisdom of this World and to the gathering of many unto himself and he hath gone forth before us in his Authority and been alwayes with us in his own Work and our Testimonies Labours and Travels have been very precious and pleasant unto the Lord and all his People and the effect thereof causeth my soul to rejoyce because the Lord hath been with us and prospered us unto a great People who have received our Witness and accepted thereof unto their Salvation and unto the Lord alone the glory of all this appertaineth And for these eight years and upward the Hand of the Lord hath carried us thorough great Labours and Travels in his Service and many Dangers and Persecutions and Afflictions have attended us all this time and ye know that many a time hath the Lord delivered us from the Hands of such as would have destroyed us and we have been delivered again and again out of Dangers and Difficulties and the Lord hath been a
it hath been in my Heart divers times to declare the Substance of these things unto you but at last I have chosen to write my Mind to present to you concerning the Matters very needful for you to be informed in and it is for your sakes as well as theirs that I have done it that you may not run on to act any thing against them upon Suspitions and Accusations of others without hearing our Defence and therefore it is for the avoiding and stopping of Persecution in the Land for this Cause have I taken in hand Submissively and not Presumptiously to state this Plea before you and I must leave it to your Considerations and cannot impose my Faith upon you to believe as I believe but having laid the Truth before you I shall leave it to the Lord to work Faith and Love and Iustice Mercy and all good things in your Hearts that you may bring them forth in the Exercise of them in the World London the 10th day of the second Moneth 1661. I am a Lover of Justice and Mercy Truth and Righteousness E. B. A Just and Righteous PLEA presented unto the KING of England and his COUNCIL c. CHAP. 1. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning Swearing at all and particularly concerning the Oath of Allegiance 1. WE do acknowledge our selves to be free-born People of this Kingdom of England the Land of our Nativity and we do assert That we have just and lawful Right and Title as such to possess and enjoy our Lives Liberties and Estates both by the Laws of God and Man having never unto this day since we were a People forfeited our Birth-right as men by any Rebellion Sedition Contempt or otherwise but have alwayes been and are a People exercised in the Law of our God by walking justly towards all men and doing to others as we would be done unto and have been and are a Peaceable People under every Government and Authority that hath been over us since the Lord raised us up And I do hereby declare That we now are and shall be Faithful Innocent and Peaceable in our several Stations and Conditions under this present Government of King Charles the second whom we acknowledge supream Magistrate and Governour over this Kingdom and for Conscience sake we are obedient and submissive to him as such in all his Commands either by doing and performing of what he justly requireth or by patient suffering under whatsoever is inflicted upon us in the Matters for which we cannot be obedient for Conscience sake when any thing is required of us different from the just Law of God And to this Subjection to the King and his Government we are bound by the Law of Righteousness and such hath ever been our Principle and Practice and is unto this day even to be Quiet and Peaceable and Patient under every Authority that is set over us and not in Unrighteousness to Plot or Contrive or Rebel against any Government or Governours nor to seek our own Deliverance from Injustice and Oppression in such a way And we are perswaded to seek the Preservation of the King's Person and Authority by all just and lawful Means and not to Rebel against him with carnal Weapons and so far as his Government is in Justice Mercy and Righteousness we declare true and Faithful Subjection and Obedience thereunto and wherein it is otherwise we shall be subject by patient suffering what is unequally imposed upon us and yet not Rebel in any Turbulent way of Conspiracies and Insurrections For our Principles are not for War but for Peace with all men so much as in us lie neither may we render Evil for Evil to any but are to be subject to the King and his Government Actively or Passively upon the Conditions aforementioned And we renounce all Forreign Authority Power and Jurisdiction of the Pope or any else from having any Supremacy whatsoever over the King oâ— any the good Subjects of England And this we Declare Acknowledge and Testifie in the Fear and Presence of God to whom we and all Mankind must give an Account and that without secret Equivocation or any deceitful mental Reservation 2. But as for all Oaths and Swearing we utterly deny for Conscience sake towards God because Christ Jesus hath commanded Not to Swear at all Mat. 5. And the Apostle saith Above all things my Brethren Swear not Jam. 5. And it was the Principle and Practice of divers holy Martyrs even some of the Protestant Church since the Apostles dayes in all Ages Not to Swear at all in any Case so for Conscience sake and according to the Example of Saints in former Ages we do refuse to Swear in this Case of Allegiance to the King and in all other Cases whatsoever and we cannot Swear at all Though the Truth and Verity of all Things in all Cases so far as known to us and as Occasion requireth we can acknowledge and testifie with Yea and Nay as in the Fear and Presence of God and with true Intent and Meaning to discover the Truth as is needful to be known And in this manner we acknowledge just Allegiance to the King and his Government that we shall live Peaceably and not Plot nor Rebel against him according to the Law of God and a safe Conscience but without any Oath or Swearing at all for we may not break the Command of Christ nor walk contrary to the Example of the Apostles and Saints by Swearing though we suffer the Loss of all because thereof And it is our known Principle and Practice ever since we were a People that in no Case whatsoever though of great Dependancy oft times to our selves both in respect of Advantage to us and also in avoiding of Sufferings we have not taken any Oath nor Sworn at all whereby it is manifest that our refusing chiefly to take the Oath of Allegiance is not because it is that Oath but because it is an Oath and for Conscience sake we cannot Swear at all 3. And thus the state of our present Case about this Oath of Allegiance is different from some others from all such who can swear and take Oaths in other Cases to whom taking of an Oath in it self is not matter of Conscience but as for us we make Conscience of an Oath in it self and that upon just Ground as we are able to demonstrate and therefore our Refusal of this Oath of Allegiance gives no Ground at all of Doubt or Suspition concerning us as if we would not live peaceably and quietly under this Government or as if we would Rebel against or Plot to destroy the King's Person or Authority and so deny to take this Oath as if we would leave our selves clear to proceed in such wayes this Judgment cannot justly be given of us because we deny to Swear at all in all Cases which if it were not so but that we could Swear in other Cases and not in this then we might justly be the more suspected
know the Iustice of God's Iudgments executed upon them And therefore happy will the King be if he keep himself clear and put far from him this Enomy Persecution Three Considerations I have to present unto the King for Conclusion 1. THe Strength and Safety and Prosperity of the King and his Government stands in the Union good Affection and Love of his Subjects and the People of these Kingdoms one to another and to the King and the more that the People of the Kingdoms are in Love and Union and good Affection one with another and to the King the more strong and safe and prosporous thereby is the King and his Government and the more like for a long and happy Continuance and Establishment And it is the Love and Union and Affection of the Sober and Grave and Just and Upright People and of the Meek of the Land that is the King's Strength and Safty and will much tend to his Prosperity and to the Establishment of his Government and Authority and the King's Safety and Strength and Prosperity doth not depend upon the Affections and Acclamations of the Ruder Sort and of the Wild Multitude though such profess great Subjection and cry up the King and his Government and drink his Healths and Swear the Destruction of all his Enemies and have much Love and great Union for the King and are for him to serve him and Swear Fidelity and Engage themselves very highly in Words and Gestures for the King yet the King and his Government is no whit the safer nor more strong nor prosperous because hereof For his Prosperity and Establishment dependeth upon the Love and good Affection of the Just and Upright and Temperate and Meek Men of the Kingdoms and not upon the Love of the Rude Multitude such cannot be a Blessing to him in their Vaunting and Boasting and Rudeness nor can he stand by them but must stand in the Establishment of his Government by the Love of such as fear the Lord and depart from all Iniquity by the good Affection of such and their Faithfulness and Love may the King be happy and blessed Therefore let him strive to please such and to gain their good Affections to be united to him and this may add to his long Continuance 2. It is the doing of Justice and Truth and allowing all Just and Equal Liberty to all People under his Authority that will gain upon the Hearts of all Just and Good People And as Righteousness Mercy True Judgment and Truth is brought forth in the Land and all the contrary limitted in the King's Government this will gain much upon the Hearts and Affections of all good People to be united in Love one to another and to the KING And this is the way of the King's Prosperity and to make his Government established if so be that he exercise his Rule and Authority in Love and Meekness and Equal Iustice and Mercy and love Righteousness and Truth and hate and deny all the contrary and limit it then the spirits of all People in the Kingdoms would be subjected and subdued under his Power and he should Rule over them and his Kingdoms be Established prosperously and this is the Way of an Happy Government But if so be the KING put on Rigour and be Fierce and Cruel and think to subdue all under him by Will and Force without shewing Justice and Reason to answer the Consciences of his Subjects in all his Proceedings this way can never be prosperous nor Establish him in his Authority but it will work the contrary Effect For if Oppression be brought forth and Heavy Yoaks laid upon the Back of the Poor then will the Wrath of God and of Men be kindleed against him and Murmurings Strifs and Contentions will arise in the Minds of Men against him and the Oppressions of the Poor will reach unto Heaven and God will hear and Revenge their Cause So that it is Ruling and exercising Authority in these Kingdoms in Justice Righteousness Love and Good Reason that must gain the Hearts of People unto right Subjection to make the King and his Government Happy and Established and Rigour Force and Cruelty will never make the King happy but will work contrary For the People are Wise and Understanding will not long bear any degree of the Yoak of Slavery 3. Inasmuch as the People of these Kingdoms are divers and divided and contrary in Judgment one to another in many things and so are dis-united into several Opinions and Parties the King ought to Rule in Wisdom and Love over them all and to shew Equal Justice and Liberty and to eaâ—rcise Righteousness towards them all alike notwithstanding their Difference in Religion and Judgments for if he shall give Liberty to some and Oppress others if he do joyn with one Way and promote that and the men of one Judgment be tollerated and all other Wayes and all others that are different in Judgement be persecuted and oppressed and sought to be destroyed this is not the way for the King to prosper nor to be established to perpetuity for there seems to be no one Way so strong or any one sort of People so many for the King to cleave to and allow and seek to destroy all the rest because there is of other sors of people that ballance that sort in opposition and so the King and his Government seems not secure if he take hold of any one sort of People only to stand thereby in opposition to all the rest persecuting of them because there are many of other Sects that will be discontented and murmur if not more So that the King's Safety is and the Prosperity of his Government and the Establishment of it seems to be By giving Equal Liberty and Iustice and shewing Love and Tenderness to all of all Iudgments and then he may stand by all and none will oppose him but all will be ready to defend and preserve him For he may stand established and be happy in his Government by engaging all sorts to him through Love and Righteousness and Liberty towards all but he cannot according to my Iudgment be established nor prosperous if he choose only the Men of one Judgment to stand by and cleave only to that and persecute and seek to destroy all the rest that are different and so only make one Party his Friends and dis-engage all others in Love and Affection this seems I say not the Way of Prosperity Let the King consider it and the Lord give him a Right Understanding By a Friend to Iust Authority E. B. PERSECUTION IMPEACHED As a Traytor against God HIS LAWS and GOVERNMENT And the CAUSE of the Ancient MARTYRS Vindicated against the Cruelty inflicted upon them by the Papists in former Dayes Being a Brief ANSWER to a Book called Semper Iidem Or A Paralel of PHANATICKS c. lately published by a Nameless Author Wherein is contain'd a Relation of the Martyrdom of many such as Dissented and Opposed
exercise of Faith Worship and Religion to God-wards may be allowed and maintained unto all without any imposition violence or persecution exercised about the same on the persons Estates or Consciences of any in any relation to Religion the Worship of God Church Government and Ministry But that all Christian People may be left free in all these Kingdoms in the exercise of Conscience without being restrained from or compelled to any way of worship and practise of Religion upon any pains and penalties and that every one may be admitted to worship God in that way as his spirit perswades the heart and may be defended in such their profession of Religion while they make not use of their Liberty to the detrement of any other mens persons or Estates as aforesaid And let it not seem strange to you why I appear in this manner and matter at such a season as this for your very Happiness prosperity and establishment or the contrary dependeth hereupon even in allowing and maintaining liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion or in limitting and forcing and persecuting about the same and this may appear if you justly consider these things following 1. The Lordship in and over conscience and the exercise thereof in all matters of Faith and Worship and duty to God-wards is Gods alone only and proper right and priviledge and he hath reserved this power and Authority in himself and not committed the Lordship over Conscience nor the exercise thereof in the cases of faith and worship to any upon Earth not to perscribe and impose principles and practises of Faith and worship and Religion by force and violence on the persons and Consciences of men but this belongs only to God even to work faith in the heart and to convert to holiness and to lead and teach people by his Spirit in his worship and to exercise their Consciences in all his wayes For the Apostles themselves said they had not Dominion over the Faith of the Saints 2 Cor. 1. 24. but the Lord alone And King Charles the first said in his Meditations page 91. of that Edition Printed for R. Royston I have often declared how little I desire my Laws and Scepter should intrench on God's Soveraignity which is the only King of men's Consciences c. So that to be Lord in CONSCIENCE and Exerciser thereof in all the Matters of God's Kingdom is his Only Proper Right and to him alone it appertains 2. And therefore consider If ye do not allow Free Liberty of Conscience and give unto God the Lordship and Exercise thereof in all Matters of Faith and Worship to Him-wards but do impose by Violence in forcing to and restraining from such and such Wayes of Religion than ye take Dominion over mens Faith which ye ought not to do and ye intrench on God's Soveraignity and usurpe his Authority in exercising Lordship over the Conscience in and over which Christ is only King as before recited and ye ought not to take his right from him nor to exercise that Authority over ruens Faith and Consciences which only appertains unto him as his proper priviledge for in so doing how dangerous effects may it bring forth even ye may easily provoke the Lord to wrath against you and bring upon your selves sorrow and misery if ye exercise violence upon mens Consciences in and concerning Religious matters contrary to the Scriptures and the example of Primitive Christians who were persecuted for their Conscience sake but did never persecute nor punish any for that cause nor ever used violence about their Religion as Charles the I. in his meditations pag. 82. Nothing said he violent nor injurious can be religious c. 3. Consider if ye allow not the free exercise of Conscience in Spiritual matters but do take Dommion over mens faith and impose by violence in the cases of Conscience about Religion and do not suffer the Lord to enjoy his only right to be King in the matters of his own Kingdom then ye divert the end of just rule and government among men and pervert the end of Gods great love and favour shewed unto you in restoring of you to the place of Authority and Judgement for the end of just Government upon earth by Kings and Rulers is To exercise Justice Truth and Righteousness among men and over the outward man and to be a praise to all that do wellâ— and walk uprightly and to be a terror to all transgressors and them that do evil in their outward man and to keep the outward man in good order by just Judgment in all cases between man and man This is only the extent of your Authority over the outward man and to your Jurisdiction only this belongs to judge in Truth and Righteousness to make Laws and execute them between man and man to preserve mens persons and estates from the wrong one of another but not at all to make Laws and execute them between God and mens Consciences in the cases of his Spiritual Kingdom this power belongs to God and he hath not committed it to you to exercise and therefore let justice equity and mercy be exercised by you among men and over the outward man and in all cases between man and man but meddle not in the Cases of mens faith to God and their Consciences to him but leave that unto him alone whose right it is for it is dangerous and will bring wofull effects if ye intrench on Gods Soveraignity and if ye divert the proper end of just Government and of the Love of God in restoring you into Authority and power 4. Consider if ye allow not free Liberty of Conscience in the profession and practice of spiritual things but will compel by violence about Religion then this will inavoidably produce and bring forth cruel persecution in the Kingdoms imprisonment banishment and death and all the evil effects of persecution will fill the Nations for though never so forceable impositions be laid on the persons estates and consciences of men for the cause of difference in Judgment and practises of Religion and tocompel into Conformity yet it cannot be supposed that all will bow and conform to the denying of that way which they are perswaded in Conscience to be right and to the embracing of what they cannot in Conscience believe is of God but will rather suffer the cruelest death then conform to any thing contrary to light and knowledge and if free Liberty of Conscience be denied many such must needs be exposed to Persecution even to Death though they may be Peaceable People and profitable Inhabitants of the Kingdoms and in the things between man and man and in all matters Temporal pertaining to the King may be Just and Righteous and Unreprovable yet because of Difference in Judgment and Opinion exposed to be destroyed in person and estate and such effects will not be of honour nor saftey to these Nations if innocent and just men be destroyed and their relations ruined
though some may profess good Conscience and cry for Liberty thereof in their false Sect and Religion not taught them by the Spirit of Christ yet the Civil Magistrate ought not to punish and use Violence to such for their Religion but if they do they persecute and the Lord will lay it to their charge But yet this is safe for all first to obtain true Liberty of Conscience to God-wards and to receive the Spirit of Christ to be taught only by it in the Exercise of Conscience and Religion that they may not err in Conscience and Judgment in spiritual Matters nor suffer Wrongfully under pretence of Righteousness sake whenas it is not truly so CHAP IV. Concerning the Diversity of Iudgments in Religion TO all ye that are of divers Judgments and Opinions in and concerning Spiritual Matters who are divided about Faith Doctrine Worship and Church Government some of you holding one thing some another different and contrary to that being diversly divided in mind and heart concerning the matters that are one in themselves to which you all assent as to the things in themselves and yet are different contrary minded about the self-same things To you all I am moved to write that so ye may be informed perfectly First What the Cause is of your Divisions and why it is thus amongst you And Secondly Of the bad Effects and Fruits such Divisions have brought forth And Lastly The Meant and Way of Reconciliation that ye may come into Love and Peace and Unity with God and one with another in all things pertaining to his Kingdom First The Cause of your Divisions and of the Diversities of Judgments and Opinions that are amongst you concerning the Things and Matters of God's Kingdom is Because you want the Spirit of God to guide you and it is not the Rule of your Knowledge and Iudgment and you wanting the Spirit of God in which is Unity among Saints therefore is it you are so divided and divers and different and contrary one to another in these things it is because ye want the Spirit of God I say which only teacheth the true Knowledge of God and gives an Understanding in all his Wayes and Matters It is the Spirit of God that teacheth true Faith true Doctrine and true Worship and all things about Church Ministry and Religion and if that you had the Spirit of God in you and were taught and guided by it it would teach you into one Faith and one Truth and into the true Worship and into the true Church-Government and you would be in Unity and Peace And if you all had the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and by which Spirit the Saints of God were guided in dayes past it would teach you into Unity and to be of one Mind one Heart and one Soul in all the Matters pertaining to God's Kingdom in Faith Worship Doctrine and all things else If you had the Spirit of God I say and were taught by it then you would have Unity with God and one with another in all his Wayes and there would have been no Division nor Contention amongst you about spiritual Matters but because you want that therefore you have Strife and Division amongst you even throughout all Christendom Here 's a Nation and a Kingdom holding such a Faith and Worship and there 's another People holding Faith and Worship contrary to that and here 's one Sect of People and there 's another different in Faith Judgment and Opinion and this is a Shame to whole Christendom That all should profess Christ Iesus and Faith in him and Salvation by him and his Doctrine and Worship and yet be in strife division and in great contentions concerning the same some holding and practizing one manner of Faith Worship and Doctrine and others holding contrary and different and this shews that ye are all fallen from the Life of Christianity as it was held in the Apostles dayes amongst the true Churches for they were of one heart mind soul and spirit as it is written they were of one Faith of one Worship of one Doctrine and had one way of Church-Government and this continued amongst the Churches of Christ till there were some that had Erred from the Spirit of God in their own Consciences and then they also Erred in Faith in Doctrine and in all other things relating to God and these were the Apostate Christians that had erred from the Spirit and divided themselves from the true Church and differed in Judgment amongst themselves and this was because they had erred from the Spirit of God which would have kept them in Unity with God and one with another for the Spirit is the Bond of Peace and the Seal of the Covenant of Love amongst the Saints So now All ye who are divided in your Knowledge and Iudgement and are in contention one with another about the matters pertaining to God's Kingdom you are the apostate Christians and you are without the Spirit of Christ The first apostate Christians erred from the Spirit and so became divided from the true Faith and from the true Worship and also among themselves and you never yet received the Spirit of Christ that you might come into Unity and Fellowship with God and one with another and that is the Reason of all your Divisions in Religious matters because you have not received the Spirit of Christ to teach you and to unite your Hearts to God and one to another but you having the Scriptures traditionally by discent through Ages which do describe and declare of that Faith and Doctrine and of the Worship and Church-Government which were among the Saints of old which they held and practised and from the Scriptures which declare of the things from thence you take up a Conceit and false Judgment and an Imitation and a false Conformity and then each sort of you call that your Faith and Church-Government and some after one manner of form and some after another and thus you are divided because you want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures which Spirit did work true Faith in the hearts of them that gave them forth in dayes of old and it taught them Worship Faith Doctrine and all things concerning Gods Kingdom for the Spirit led them into all Truth and now you wanting the same Spirit that wrought in them and taught them and you having but their words to wit the Scriptures from thence in the Wisdom which is below and in the carnal Reason and in the first mans understanding each Nation takes up a conceit that it is so and so and takes up an Imitation of Worship and Church-Government according to their own sensual wisdom and according to the breadth and depth of their Conceits and then imitates and that severally and diversly and in a divided manner and this is amongst Kingdoms and amongst Neighbours and Brethren this Division in matters of Faith Worship and Doctrine and Church-Government
Separation from GOD being in the State of Enmity against Him till the Lord Jesus Christ the good Shepherd of ISRAEL found you out in the Estate of Darkness and brought you Home from your strayed Condition even unto the Sense and Feeling of his Power and Spirit in you which called you out of the Wayes of Sin and Death and also changed you and regenerated you into the Inheritance of a better Kingdom and Glory than that which is of this World And ye now know Christ Jesus to be your Shepherd his Spirit to teach you his Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification to dwell in you being Partakers of the same through the Eternal LIGHT which once shined in Darkness and the Darkness could not comprehend it but now it is risen in much Glory and Power and Death and darkness is swallowed up of Life and Light and the Fruits thereof subdued These things are True and Faithful unto many let all such Rejoyce and be Glad in the Lord who have thus seen his Day and tasted of his Power and are Witnesses That the Kingdom is come which never fadeth away 2. Consider what the Tender Dealings of God towards you and his Gentle Leadings have been since he hath called you out of your formeâ— strayed Estate Hath not his Light shined upon your Tabernacles with much Clearness perswading your Hearts fully of his WAY and TRUTH Have not your Hearts often been Refreshed and Souls truly Comforted by the Refreshing Presence of the Lord Hath not the Way of Life been made so clear unto you and the way of your Peace so perfectly discovered that no Occasion hath been left of Unbelief or Stumbling unto the Upright in Heart Surely the Lord hath not been wanting to you in any of these things but he hath so reached Home by his Word and Spirit to your Hearts and Consciences with such full Convictions and perswasions in the Wayes of Salvation that no sincere Heart can doubt or waver concerning the Things pertaining to his Soul's Peace and Comfort 〈◊〉 For so Large and Evident hath God's Testimony been unto you even since he first called you by his Grace that no Man having Sense and Experience thereof but must bear witness That the Lord hath been Good Long Suffering full of Mercy and Righteousness towards all that feareth him I am perswaded ye know these things and that the Taste and Vertue of the Lord's Mercies and Power remaineth stedfest in your Remembrance and Enjoyment even his Mercies and Loving-kindness that have been made manifest to you since ye have known the Lord who hath â—â—d you by the Hand as a Father doth his Children and carried you in his Arms of Preservation and born you on his shoulders in all your Afflictions insomuch that through his Power and Wisdom only we are yet alive and the Adversary hath not prevailed against us though his Attempts have often been great to Destroy us 3. Consider what iâ— now your present state and standing How is it with your inward Man In what Life and Strength and Dominion is he Is he â—â—â—ong over all the Corruptible or is he Weak under Corruption Is he in â—â—e growth of a Perfect Man of the Stature of Christ Jesus Is he so begotten and born in you that Life hath swallowed up Death Hath he Victory over the Grave And doth he Raign in you even the New Man the Spiritual Man the Immortal Man Christ iâ— you Is he come in Power and Dominion to dwell with you Deâ—rly â—â—loved mind each particuâ—… in what state you are and what is your present standing to God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye had Faith in God and Love to God and Boldness for God And are ye firâ—ly continued therein Or Is any such Weakened and Decreased in these things Is your Love grown cold and your Zeal lost and your Confidence decayed If it be thus with any their present state is not â—â—ght before the Lord but they must Repent and return to their first Love and return again to the Witness of the Spirit of Christ 〈◊〉 in them that their Strength may be renewed for they only that dwell with the Lord in Faithfulness and abide in Covenant with him 〈◊〉 see his Glory and be fed daily with the Bread that comes down from Heaven and refreâ—… with the Fountain of endless Mercies if so be ye be perfect with the Lord after your inward Man Strong and Lively and Zealous Faithful and constant having a clean Heart and a pure Conscience guiltless and undefiled before God this is to be perfect with the Lord and if ye are thus blessed are you if ye be encreased daily in the Love and Life of the Father if your inward Man grow in the Wisdom and Power and Knowledge of the Creator if ye receive the assurance of Eternal Life in your selves if this be your present State Oh happy People Who is like unto you because ye are saved of the Lord 4. What is the present work of God in your own hearts Ye must alwayes feel the Word of God abiding in you even the Word in the heart hear that Word and do it alwayes and your souls shall live by the Word of God that Word beats down whatsoever tempts and draws from God which would defile you and load your Consciences and vex the Spirit for if any obey the Temptations they become darkned unbelief enters and the fruits of it grows and then there is a falling from the Lord and a departing from his way of Salvation therefore mind the Power and Spirit of Christ in you and be constant and faithful therein that you may be Preserved unto the finishing of the WORK of the Lord in you that at last ye may sit down in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus in places of Peace and Comfort and Assurance for ever where the Lord is enjoyed all in all which you must wait for to be accomplished in you according to the promise and you must witâ—â—â—s the work of Christ in you he must work in you by his Spirit Regeneration Reconâ—…on Sanctification Justification and all good things 〈◊〉 it is not sufficient to profess that Christ in his Person hath 〈◊〉 the works of God but every one in particular must witness at thâ—â— day the work of the Spirit of Christ in his own heart even the Work of Reconciliation and Salvation that ye may in each mans particular receive the Knowledge and Experience of the Lords Work of his Love and Life and Salvation and Redemption in particular for though never so large Testimonies in general should be given to you or received by you concerning Christ Jesus and his Salvation yet the particular feeling of 〈◊〉 Love and Power of the Lord God in your own hearts must you staâ—â— by in the Day oâ— Tryal for that alone can uphold in the Day of Trouâ—… even the Testimony of the Spirit of Christ unto Salvation felt in each particular heart And seeing the Lord hath brought you to the knowledge
of his truth so in conversion and regeneration that many can say the Way of the Lord is so made manifest that we look not for another nor are doubtful of the Way of Eternal Life therefore be established stedfast and constant in that way not easily moved nor tossed too and frô with men nor new Doctrines nor changeable things but approve your hearts in uprightness before the Lord by being faithful to the end faithful I say to be and do according to the measure of Light and Grace and Knowledge that God hath already committed to you that ye may not offend against the Grace of God but may glorifie the Lord in your Souls and Spirits being joyned in your hearts and married to the Living God and the Lord becomes Your Husband according to the Promise but if any be of a changeable Spirit such will receive Temptations and go out of the Covenant of God and abuse the gift of God if their heart be not meek and lowly and humble and perfect in the sight of God though there may be a taste of the Love of God yet there can be no assurance of it if the heart be not aright before the Lord and faithful and constant in his Truth and therefore all must wait to receive the assurance of Eternal Life in themselves even such an assurance of Life and Peace and Joy and Comfort that there can be no departing away being established in the Heir-ship never to loose the Crown Heirs of the power of God of his Wisdom of his Righteousness inheriters and Possessors of the Eternal Life that ye may dwell in the house forever not onely as Servants but as Sons not onely as such that have tasted of the Love of God but as such as are born Heirs thereof and must inherit the same forever Now dear Friends if this were my last unto You more then this the Lord hath not to say by me and last of all in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus I charge all the Saints to be faithfull to the Principles and Doctrines which Ye have heard and received and been taught of Christ through his Gospel Oh be not inconstant and unfaithful in those Principles and Doctrines which the Spirit of God hath perswaded your Consciences of the truth of for if any are unfaithful they deny the Lord of Life before men and must be denyed of him before the Father therefore let us put on strength and courage to be faithful and constant in life or death to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes and if we must suffer for our profession and practice of those truths which God hath perswaded our Consciences of the verity of we shall never be ashamed nor confounded before the Adversary though we gaom Tribulations Persecutions yea death it self for the Name of the Lord and his Truth yet we shall obtain the Crown of Glory which never fades away and verily all the Suffering and afflictions of this Present time are not worthy to be compared to that weight of Peace and comfort which is and shall be revealed amongst us And as concerning our Obedience to Government ever since we were a People Ye know what our Principle and Practise in that case hath been even to obey all men in all things either by doing or suffering if at any time ye are required to do any thing by any in Authority which is not agreeing but contrary to the Scriptures example of the Saints and the Spirit of Christ in your own consciences then ye are to suffer whatsoever if it be death it self rather then to obey and submit to the doing of that which is contrary to a good conscience this hath ever been our Principle and Practise since we were a People agreeing with the practise of the holy Prophets Apostles and Martyrs in all ages who rather did suffer grievous oppressions and persecutions then to obey any command of men in power by doing any thing contrary to the testimony of the Spirit of God in their own particulars let us all be like-minded this day not to do nor bend nor be in any wise contrary to the Spirit of Christ that dwels in us but rather suffer whatsoever may be imposed then to sin against that Light and knowledge of the Spirit of Christ which he hath given us but let us keep a clean heart and a pure Conscience to God-wards and therein we shall triumph over all in our inward Man though our outward man be afflicted and in this we shall have peace and comfort in God over all our Adversaries And as concerning your meetings the Lord hath given you the testimony of his Spirit in you for the verity and righteousness thereof though ye should suffer persecution for the same yet ye have the Spirit of Christ testifying in your hearts that this Way and Practise of meeting together as our practise hath been is of God and he Justifies us in the same and we have sufficient of assurance by the holy Spirit to stand faithful in that practise of assembling together to Worship God First we have the testimony of Scriptures and example of Saints in the Apostles daies to prove this practice of Meeting together The first Christians they met together in this manner and way as we do now they met in private houses and from house to house separate and apart from the Publique Synagogues and all other Sects and it is clear that we have the example of Saints and Scripture Proof for this our practise of meeting together 2. We have our own experience for these divers years how that the Spirit of the Lord hath moved our hearts to assemble together and the presence and power of the Lord Jesus Christ hath been amongst us and we have tasted of the goodness and love of the Lord being so met together how often hath the Lord met with us and his countenance shined upon us and our souls have been refreshed strengthened and comforted in this practise of meeting together these things are true and may confirm us in this practise of meeting together and to be faithful to the end 3. We have the full perswasions of the Spirit of God lively and fervent in our hearts at this moment that we ought not to neglect the Assembling of our selves together but that God requires it of us and it is his will that his People meet together to worship him in Spirit and Truth separate from all the world even in one Spirit and in the Name and power of Jesus I hope ye are all like-minded herein and that the Spirit of Christ perswades your Consciences in the Truth of that practise therefore be faithful unto God herein and sin not against the testimony of Scriptures and example of the first Christians nor against your own experience nor against the admonitions of the Servants of the Lord who are the first fruits unto God since the Apostacy and have again and again in the Name and Spirit of Christ exhorted you to meet
of his People he is at a distance from the Lord God and the Spirit which should comfort him doth daily vex and judge him and the people among whom he should be saved he is separated from and cast out to Satan is now among the Sons of Belial the Children of Wickedness and Ignorance that must be condemned And this man is now rejected of the Saints that once was embraced of them and thus he is punished for it is the greatest Punishment and Vexation for a man that hath once tasted of God's Love Mercy Peace and Blessings amongst God's People and to be forsaken of God and without his Love in his Anger in his Judgment and in the Curse amongst the Wicked without Peace and Blessings amongst the Saints this is Punishment indeed from which the Lord deliver all his People that fear him Yet notwithstanding this kind and manner of Punishment pertains to Hereticks as such most properly and not to be destroyed in Person or Estate by outward Penalties this I onely mean and intend where the Error of a man and his Heresie in his Mind and Judgment doth only extend to the hurt of his own Soul and against God and not to the harm of his Neigbours Person or Estate in that Case he ought only to suffer as before-mentioned To be delivered up to Satan and to be rejected c. But if his Error and Heresie do extend further then onely against God and his own Soul even to the wronging injuring and defrauding of his neighbours person and estate and outward wrongs or evils or violence or visible mischiefs be committed as Murders or other the like visible crimes against men to the injuring of others then I forbid not outward external punishments to be corporally inflicted upon the person and estate of such a man but it ought to be done and that by Laws of men provided for the same end even such a mans Error in such his wrong dealing may justly and lawfully be punished with death banishment or penalties according to the desert of the crime if his sin and error be against men let men deal with him and punish him accordingly If his offence and error be onely against God and his own soul let God deal with him and punish him by his wrath in his Conscience which one day will be executed upon all that err from the Truth and tribulation and anguish shall be upon his soul that doth evil as it is written But it is utterly unlawful and sin against God for men to kill burn or banish men for the error of their minds and judgments in Spiritual matters while they do walk justly and truly as men in the things pertaining to men and are not injurious to the Persons or Estates of any by reason of such their Error but they only sin and err against God and their own Souls to the hurt thereof and not man by any outward Punishments or Violence executed upon their Persons but God and his People in the way and manner of the Spirit of Christ as afore declared ought for such their Errors and Heresies to deal with them and proceed towards them in respect of Punishment for the same Lastly These things are but said in general concerning Error and Heresie how they are to be judged and Punished and by whom and to manifest that there is Error and Heresie Hereticks and Erroneous Persons in the World for as I have said before it was not now my work to ennumerate the particular parts of Errors and Heresies that are held in Principle Doctrine and Practice in the World at this day they are so many and large but yet more particularly thus I would in brief define Hereticks and Heresie That man whatsoever he be is in Error in all parts of his Principles and practises held and maintained by him in point of Religion and Worship of God especially that is not Perswaded of the Truth and verity of his Way by the holy Spirit of God and led guided and taught in the performance and practice thereof by the same Spirit of Jesus if the holy Spirit of God dwell not in him and doth not preswade the heart in the belief of the Truth and teach and lead the man in the practice of it such a man even that man Errs and is in Error in all what he is and what he doth in point of Religion and Duty to God-wards and that because the Spirit of Truth and Righteousness is not the only Leader and Teacher in the things professed and practised but either Traditions Example of others or Custom of Places and Times or something else besides the Spirit of God which only perswades into the belief of Truth and teaches into the performance of the same and thus is distinguished and known A man that is Erroneous in his Faith and Practice not taught and perswaded by the Spirit of Christ in what he is and in what he doth he is in Error and in a degree of Heresie erring in Mind and Judgment and Conscience in Principle and practice and subject to err in all things Now as for the Case of Error and Heresie as the matter hath stood in distinguishing of Hereticks and Heresies in judging of the same and in proceeding with Hereticks in the manner aforesaid for many Generations in the Apostacy since the Apostles dayes all this hath been wrong and not in the Spirit and Power of Christ Jesus but Men Cases and Proceedings all have been perverted from Truth in that matter because the spirit of darkness and ignorance hath ruled and not the Spirit of God in the Hearts of men and the spirit that is not of the Father which Spirit of the Father is only pure perfect and infallible because it is of God and can truly judge and determine in these Cases has been Lord and Judge in this matter and men out of their Envy and Hatred one towards another have judg'd one another to be erronious and Hereticks and proceeded against them thereupon and such as have differ'd in Iudgment or Opinion one Sect and Sort from another and would not conform to one another in their Wayes Practices and Religion it hath been common for all different sorts of men to cry out one upon another and against each other Heresie Heresie Hereticks Erronious Persons and the like and proceeded against one another men against men differing from them and sect against sect contrary to it self and especially that sect or sort of People that hath had the Government of Nations and Countries in their Power could and hath easily proceeded against all others dissenting upon the account of Error to the destroying of many absolutely through envy hatred and prejudice and not upon the Truth Soundness and Verity of Judgment in that matter and this hath been common for many Ages Sometimes according to the occasion offered Papists have destroyed Protestants and sometimes Protestants have destroyed the Papists on this account of Heresie and Error All which
That there should arise false Christs and false Prophets and should shew Signs and Wonders if it were possible to deceive the very Elect Mat. 24. 24 which doth signifie that the Antichrists and false Prophets should come into the World after his Prophecy which are already come since that time They should pretend to be Christs and should shew Signs and should deceive many with the Profession of Christ and Signs of Godliness and they should have upon them and be covered with Sheep's-Clothing that is with the Saints words and practices in outward appearance but inwardly that is in their own proper Nature Fruits and Works should be ravening Wolves that is Destroyers of the Flock Mat. 7. 15. and the Antichrists which Iohn speaks 1 Iohn 2. 19. they were such as went from the Saints that were in the Power of Godliness they went out of the true Church and carried with them the Form of Righteousness and Truth and the Profession of Christianity but without the Power and had lost it and were departed from the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of Antichrist had possessed them and now led them and ruled them and they were Antichrists to wit against him and contrary to him And these were the false Prophets and Deceivers that went out into the World and deceived it and led many aside into Error and many followed their pernitious and hurtful wayes as Peter saith 2 Pet. 2. 2 3. And Paul speaks of such as had the Form of Godliness but denyed the Power and in Words professed God but in Works denyed him Such were the Antichrists and Deceivers in the Apostles dayes and such they are this day in the World whereby it is manifest that Antichrist often appears in the World as a Saint as a Righteous one and the many Antichrists they have gotten the Form and Appearance of Church Ministry Worship and Ordinances and thus they appear deceiving the World and them that dwell therein with the Appearance and Vain-shew of Faith Worship and Religion without the Power of Godliness for unto that Antichrist is an Enemy even a Destroyer a Persecutor and Gainsayer of Christ and his Works and the Power of Godliness and true Faith brought forth by the Spirit of Christ though to deceive the World he can transform himself into and appear as an Angel of Light 6. Again So Deceivable and Mysterious is and hath the Appearance and Working of Antichrist been in the World that he hath not alwayes dwelt in one kind of Form and Profession of Religion and Righteousness but he hath dwelt in many Appearances and removed out of one false Form into another according to his Oportunity and Advantage whereby he could deceive and sometimes dwelling in one Form with pretence of Zeal and performance of Duty to God he hath envyed Persecuted and destroyed many others in other Wayes of Profession more Zealous Upright and Sincere to God than themselves have been in the other Form and by the colour of Zeal and Performance of Duty hath Antichrist clothed himself in his Envies Persecutions and Murders of others as if he did not persecute nor impose upon the Conscience of any nor exercise that Rigour or Justice as he hath named his Proceedings though never so Cruel and Unjust towards any upon any terms or account of Wrath Bitterness Envy or Cruelty but Zeal Duty and Love to Religion and to entinguish Heresie c. This hath been the Pretence and Cloak of Antichrist in his cruel and hard Dealing with many men that have differed in Principle and Practice of Religion he hath often shewed himself in his present Form of Godliness so zealous and dutiful for the truth of his Way though never so Idolatrous against all that have opposed it and gainsayed his Form and Vain Shew that he hath killed slain and exercised Cruelty towards all that have been contrary or different-minded and though this hath been brought forth by Antichrist as he is the Devil in himself and in down-right Envy Malice Persecution and Wickedness yet it hath been acted and effected under the Cloak of Zeal Duty and Sincerity and out of Pretence of Love to Christ and his Church and out of Pretence of Hatred against the contrary Thus hath Antichrist though the Devil that Wicked One as he is in himself in his own Nature Kind and proper Sphear appeared in the World as a Zealous Church-Member as a Saint as a Promoter of Righteousness and a Destroyer of the contrary With these false Covers hath Antichrist been cloathed and hidden from men and appeared to be in his Works and Transactions as a Good Man as a Lover of God and Hater of Iniquity while in the mean time he hath been deceiving Men and destroying the Innocent and leading the World to perpetual Misery and Destruction 7. Again So Deceivable hath the spirit of Antichrist been in the World that he hath alwayes put the Name of Christ and the Name of his Church and the Pretence of Duty to God and the Name of Gospel Doctrine Ordinances Ministry and Worship upon whatsoever False Way Feigned Worship and Deceitful Profession that he hath gone about to set up and promote in the World among men I say Upon the Worst and most Idolatrous Wayes of Superstition and the most false Feigned Formal Worship that ever hath been in the World Antichrist hath put the Name of Christ his Church and Worship upon them and Imposed and forced the Belief and Practice of much false Worship false Doctrine and formal Wayes under the Name and Title of the true Christ his Doctrine and Worship and upon Pains and Penalties hath enjoyned and commanded the Belief and Practice of such things not as if they were of Antichrist Superstitious Evil False or Feigned but as if they were of Christ altogether and must be believed and practiced as by his Name and under his Authority Thus hath been the working of the Mystery of Iniquity of that Man of Sin the Antichrist all the Evil Wayes he hath conceived and brought forth in the World all the Idolatrous Worship and false Faith and Doctrine and all the Cruelties Murders and Unjust Dealing to the very destroying of the Saints and all the Unrighteousness and Deceivableness exercised by Antichrist in the World hath put all this on the Name of Christ and pretended Christ for it as if it were indeed and in Truth of him and from him when indeed and in Truth it hath been contrary to the true Christ and tended to kill and destroy him Thus hath Antichrist the Devil been cloaked with false Covers and deceitful Pretences in his working among men that wicked spirit hath falsly called the greatest of Pride and Ambition Decency and true Honour Covetousness and Deceitful Dealing hath he stiled Good Husbandry and Prudent-Walking and the most Cruel and Unjust Iudgment the Oppression of the Poor and the Grinding of the Face of the Innocent hath that spirit falsly titled Equal Proceedings Iustice and according to Law
Worldly Government for so much as hath been brought forth in any Government in any Nation at any time of Unrighteousness Injustice Oppression Idolatry false Worship and Persecutions and of any othor Evils even so much of Antichrist's kingdom government and power hath been in that Kingdom and Government and that Kingdom and Government wheresoever in what Nation and Country soever hath been Antichristian even in so much and by so much as Injustice Wickedness Cruelty Persecution or any Acts of Sin and Wickedness have been or are brought forth into action in that Government And thus it is manifest what and where Antichrist's Government is Now I shall briefly shew Who the Subjects of his kingdom are 1. All the ungodly unrighteous and unconverted Persons in general throughout the World are the Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom all the Sons of fallen Adam in Transgression all that are in the first Birth in degeneration in the alienation and separation from God even all that are wicked and do wickedly that are in the Enmity against Christ and unholy unsanctified and unregenerate these are aâ—â— of Antichrist's kingdom Subjects of it and Servants to it and it rules in them and over them and Antichrist is their Ruler in all these their wicked wayes and in this their present state and condition 2. All Hypocrites that profess God in words and in Works deny him that make a shew of Religion and Worship when their Hearts are far from the Lord that with their Mouthes profess much Love to God and with their Lips honour him but are departed from his Fear and stand not in his Counsel all such are Subjects of the Goverments of Antichrist even all false-hearted and dissembling Hypocrites that profess more of God then they know of him by the operation of his Spirit that have an outward conformity in appearance of Worship and duty to God-wards and their hearts are not conformed to the Power of God by his Spirit all such are of the government of Antichrist and his kingdom and power dwells in them and they are under the dominion thereof 3. All Idolaters false Worshippers Hereticks and erronious Persons such as cry up Church and Ministry and profess Faith and Godliness and yet are not guided by the Spirit of Christ nor led of it into all Truth these are Subjects of the aforesaid Government of Antichrist even all they that are sensually-minded and have not the Spirit of Christ guiding them in the Way of Righteousness and Truth who are not converted and born again and renewed into the Image and Likeness of Christ Iesus and yet practice Holiness and Duty to God-wards in outward appearance and are in the profession of the words of Christ and his Prophets and Apostles but have not the same Spirit and Power of the Lord Iesus Christ as the Prophes and Apostles had these are covered with Sheep's-Clothing and profess Christ and his words but are against Christ and contrary to him in kind and nature and all such are of the government of Antichrist and he governs them and rules over them 4. All Backsliders and them that have forsaken the right Way of the Lord all that are turned against the Truth of God which once they knew and believed and were convinced of and sometimes professed these are all Subjects of Antichrist's raign and authority even all the Unfaithful and False-hearted who are treacherous to God and men and unconstant unchangeable Time-servers Hypocrites who have denyed Christ before men and turned against him and his Saints such are under Satans power and he works in their hearts and Antichrist deceives them and they are under his power and dominion and are Subjects of his government 5. All Persecutors of the Saints all violent and cruel Men all that persecute such as are contrary-minded to themselves are of Antichrist and Subjects of his kingdom even all that kill and burn and destroy for difference of Faith and Religion who themselves profess Love to God and his Way and yet will persecute others and destroy them by cruel dealing and that would not suffer any to live but themselves and will not do to others as they would be done unto but hate the Neighbour and persecute Brother and impose upon his Conscience in things against good Conscience and are violent Doers all such men are Subjects to Antichrist's kingdom in all Nations throughout the World Therefore let all consider This is the Day of the Lord God will discover and destroy Antichrist and his kingdom let the Wicked and Ungodly turn from his evil way lest God destroy him with perpetual Destruction Lastly 'T is the Property of such who are Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom to profess and cry up much of Christ in words of what he said and did of his Life of his Death of what he hath been and what he shall be and do deny the present enjoyment of Christ to that Antichrist is an Enemy he can well away with it to speak of Christ at a distance but he cannot bear it if any hold forth a present enjoyment of Christ That Christ takes away sin and forgives it and that his Blood cleanseth from it and that he is the Iustifier and Redeemer and Saviour the Profession of all this in words from the Letter without and that they are things true in themselves Antichrist can bear and make a shew of in Profession but if any of the Saints of God do witness these things and shall testifie in the Power of the Lord the enjoyment of these things and that they are at present in this Life possessed to wit Christ now lives in us and is come and his Blood hath clensed from sin and he hath forgiven it and he hath justified redeemed and saved I say if any do witness these things in present enjoyment and that they are now in this present time witnessed in the Spirit of Christ and not onely professed from the Letter without but experienced by the Work of God within Antichrist opposeth this and gainsayes present enjoyment And such indeed are Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom who have the profession of Christ in words but no present enjoyment of him but want his Nature and are in the Nature contrary to him and feed upon Reports of things done by him without and upon the expectations of what he shall do hereafter and in this present state are without Christ and are Sinners and Transgressors against the Life of Righteousness unconverted and unregenerated by Christ all such as these are the Subjects of Antichrist's kingdom And as concerning the Rise and Fall of Antichrist the Beginning and Ending of his Kingdom these things in season may be declared if God permit E. B. A Hue-and-Cry AFTER THE FALSE PROPHETS AND DECEIVERS Of Our AGE And a DISCOVERY of them by their WORKS and FRUITS And who they are in this Age that follow the same spirit and act the same things as did the false Prophet in former Generations FOrasmuch as in
seeing the danger is such to you-wards in that place even more then to some others therefore is my soul engaged to admonish and instruct and Pray for your preservation unto the end that ye may walk as the Lords and to his glory 3. And also my desires are for you that blessings and Peace may be multiplied unto you and that you may walk in the Wisdom and Power of the Lord in this respect that Truth may be honoured and crown'd with dominion and Authority and good report in that great City by your faithfulness and patience and diligence and all the fruits of righteousness for as many temptations do attend you as I have said before so also many eyes are upon you beholding what you are and what you do and what will become of you and if you Walk in Faithfulness and Righteousness and be preserved unto the Lord in boldness and valour for his Names sake this will magnifie the Truth and crown it with honour and strengthen and comfort many that are weak and be a joy to all the upright and it will confound your Enemies and put them to shame and limit the unreasonable spirit of the power of darkness when our enemies see your just faithful righteous and inoffensive manner of walking in all things And therefore for this cause my heart is engaged to pray for you seeing the eyes of many are upon you to mark your wayes and doings and what will be the end And now dearly beloved as by the free grace and kindness of God ye are called unto this Calling and are renewed and changed into the Life of Righteousness so it is by the same Grace and Power of the Father that ye must stand and be preserved unto the end for by Grace and Faith we all stand even through Diligence Faithfulness and Watchfulness in the same Grace being obedient unto its teachings and fruitful in its motions and walking by its Rule in meekness and lowliness of heart in sincerity and godly Fear not being or doing any thing of our selves distinct or divided from this Grace but being and doing all things through the Grace of God dwelling in us and this is the highest Perfection of Saints Every ones highest state admits of Watchfulness and Faithfulness and Obedience and to Hearken to the Lord and do his Will in all things and whatsoever is of our selves and related to the outward World may be kept in Subjection by his Power that he alone may Rule and be exalted in Heaven and Earth and in all things what we are and what we do And wait upon the Lord that ye may be established and settled in the Truth and that ye may be confirmed therein forever as being natural Heirs of the possession of Grace and Truth to do and walk and live according to his will being so inherited never to go forth any more and able to say Nothing can separate us from the Love of God not Death nor Life nor any other thing For I would put you in mind and ye also know it How that many have been touched in their Heart with the sense of the Lord and his Love yea and many have enjoyed of the good Gift of God and walked with us for a time that have not remained unto the End but have started aside from the Lord and been overcome with the Temptations of this World even to the forsaking of the Way of Truth and Righteousness and such have dishonoured the Lord and forfeited their Peace and Inheritance in God and become hardened in their Hearts and dead to God and the Latter-end of such hath been worse then their Beginning though yet for a time such walked with us and tasted of the good Gifts of God yet are become Reprobate because their Hearts have not been firm and constant and sound and approved to God but of an Evil Frame and Temper of Spirit Ambitious Vain-glorious Self-seeking and such like which spirit could not retain the Gift of God but abused it and perverted it from it proper End And therefore dearly beloved it is exceeding precious to have a Heart and Spirit tryed and approved of the Lord a good and honest Heart an upright and contrite Spirit for that will abide in Faithfulness unto God through all Tribulations and Tryals if the Heart be right in the sight of God whatsoever the Knowledge be or whether the Gifts be little or great yet the Lord's Presence is there and such are blessed so that it s not enough only to have a touch and taste of the Loving kindness of God but every one must be established therein in an approved Heart and tryed Spirit which can endure all things and not be shaken nor moved and its only that kind of Spirit which is Meek and Lowly Sincere and Upright which is established in the Truth and which only can remain unmovable And according to the ancient Doctrine of Christ which ye have believed every one must look to your own particular standing and must feel your own particular Joy Peace and Comfort and must receive the assurance of Life in your own Souls for it is an Everlasting Word Every one must stand by their own by what they feel and enjoy of Eternal Life in their own Hearts that only is every ones Security and Assurance in the Kingdom of Peace and Glory And it is the height of Perfection To have the Seal of the Spirit of God in our Consciences witnessing to us That we are the Lord's and Blessed are they that have this Testimony even that of the Spirit of the Father which is the Everlasting Comforter against all Sorrow and the Perfect Seal against all Doubts and the sure Guide against all Opposition This is the Office of the Spirit of the Lord and its Work in the Hearts of his Children Therefore my Advice is to you as from the beginning Look to your own to your own Measure of the Gift of Grace and Truth that only stands when all Wandrings after men and things fall and in that is your security as I have said And let your Conversations and Walkings be such as becometh the Gospel of Christ in all Faithfulness and Righteousness that you may be an Honour to the Lord in your Generation for this only have we to do in this World even to shew forth his Praise and Glory who hath created us in Christ Jesus All things in relation to Truth are well in these Couâ—…ies the Dominion of Truth is set up over the Heads of the Wicked and it is a Terror to its Enemies and the Joy of all Good men and Friends are Faithful in the Power of the Lord and look over this World to the World that hath no End and their Hope and Confidence is in that and Meetings are generally quiet and the Presence of the Lord is amongst his People And thus to the Grace Power and Wisdom of the Lord God are ye committed who is the only Preserver of his Children Grace and Peace
be with you all Edw. Burroughs Underbarrow the 18th day of the 8th Moneth 1661. THE CASE Of the People called QUAKERS ONCE MORE Stated Published TO THE WORLD VVith the ACCUSATIONS charged upon them and their ANSWERS WE are an afflicted and Suffering People in these Kingdoms at this day Mocked Reproached Haled before Magistrates Violently abused and Imprisoned and much Hard-dealing exercised upon us This is apparently visible to all people and needs no further Proof But whether these Afflictions and Sufferings Imprisonments and Hard-dealing be Just or Unjust according to our Deserts or out of the Malice and Enmity of our Adversaries this is the Question to be enquired into Unjust and Unrighteous and out of Malice and Enmity and not of true Desert say we are these Sufferings imposed on us But Justly and according to Desert and the Laws of the Land say our Adversaries Who shall be judge in the Case between us Even the Law of God the Gospel of Christ the Scriptures of Truth the Example of Primitive Christians our Neighbours and the Witness in every Mans Conscience and to the Judgment of all these we appeal and shall abide their Sentence First We are Accused of an Heinous Crime and as if we deserved the greatest Punishments Because we are Dissenting and Differing from the Church of England and cannot Conform to all Her Worships and Ceremonies therefore are we said to be Hereticks Because holding and practizing Different Things from Her c. Plea First The Scriptures of Truth which are according to both Law and Gospel do say and Judge That they who sometimes did Dissent and Differ from some of the Church of Christ in some Principles and Practices and could not practice in all things what some others did as Romans 14. where it is signified That some of the Church of Christ believed they might eat All Things some others of the Church did eat Hearbs some esteemed One day above Another others esteemed Every day Alike this kind of dissenting and difference about Meats and Dayes and Ceremonies were amongst the Members of the True Church but What is the Judgment of Scripture in this case of Difference amongst them Not that the Dissenters one from another should be Punished and Imprisoned and Banished but ver 5. Let every man be perswaded in his own mind And One was not so much as to Judge Another in this case of Difference and Dissenting much less to Imprison one another for that Cause And in Phil. 3. 15. it is there signified That if any persons were dissenting and different in Judgment or in the growth in Grace from the rest of the Church every one was to walk in that measure of Truth as he had attained to And if any were otherwise-minded viz. Different in the Growth in the Grace of God then God should reveal the same unto them And notwithstanding their difference in Judgment whether in cases Substantial or Ceremonial yet they were still to be in Love and Unity and walk in their measures to which they had atained and they were not to be Imprisoned and persecuted as we are at this day Hence observe That the Judgment of Scriptures which the Law of God and Gospel of Christ are according to is clear for us and against them that hate us that imprison us and afflict us for dissenting and differing in some Doctrines and Practices from the Church of England But Secondly If we were indeed Hereticks and Erroneous People suppose so which never yet was truly proved of us nor can be What Judgment do the Scriptures which are according to the Law of God and Gospel of Christ give in that case Not that we should be thus imprisoned and Afflicted with corporal punishments but according to Titus Tit. 3 10 11. we should first be Admonished in Love and Exhorted once and again and then if we gain-say and will not hear Reproof to be Rejected cast Out and Denyed of the Assembly of Saints but not imprisoned and banished and according to 1 Cor. 5. where it is signified That some in the denomination of the Church did Offend against Christ and the Church and were Hereticks and Dissenters because of their Evil deeds from the True Church yet these were not to be imprisoned and persecuted in their persons but delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the Flesh that the Spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord they were to be Spiritually dealt withal and they were to be cast out into the Wicked World anong the Ungodly to have their portion from God with the Wicked to be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the Flesh that it might be destroyed and the Spirit saved in the Day of the Lord. So if we were indeed such as these were Dissenters and in Difference from the true Church because of some Wickedness yet the Judgment of Scriptures are against our Enemies in this Case who persecute and imprison us for thus it ought not to be done unto us if the Church of England were the true Church of Christ and we in difference from her by False Principles or Evil Conversation or any thing else Thus you see the Judgement of the Scriptures and of the Law of God and Gospel of Christ is against our Persecutors Thirdly But suppose we doubt That the Church of England and its Ordinances Discipline its Worship and Ceremonies be not according to the Scriptures of Truth but are in the Form of Godliness without the Power suppose we in Conscience believe this and think we can prove it which is the very truth of the Case and therefore do deny Conformity to her lest we should sin against God and wrong our own Consciences at least as we believe What Judgment doth the Law of God and Gospel of Christ give in this Case We are Exhorted and Comanded in Scripture 2 Tim. 3. From Covetous Men and Proud Men Lovers of themselves false Accusers Despisers of them that are Good High-minded Men and Lovers of Pleasures they that have the Form of Godliness but deny the Power from all such we are to turn away And therefore we believe we are Justified by the Scriptures in turning away for these divers years past and till we be otherwise perswaded by sound Doctrine from the Ministry and Churches that are in England or lately have been and sound Reason hath not been yet shewed us to the contrary by you because they are such as the Scriptures exhort us to turn away from and because we have judged that they have had the Form of Godliness but not the Power so we are not to be imprisoned and persecuted though we differ and dissent and turn away from all them that are Covetous Proud Boasters Lovers of themselves Despisers of them that are Good High minded Men and such as have a form of godliness but not the Power But we are Judged Just and our Case not condemned by the Law of God and Gospel of Christ and by the holy
is a Heretick who are the true Iudges of it and what Punishment pertaineth to such as are truly convicted thereof and that to kill burn banish or to punish Hereticks as such Corporally is of Antichrist c. p. 859. 3. Concerning Antichrist and his Mystery of Deceivabless what he is in himself and how he appears in the World what his Works are and what his Government is and where it is and who are the Subjects of his Kingdom p. 868. A Hue-and-Cry after the false Prophets and Deceivers of our Age Being a short and full Discovery of them by their Works and Fruits p. 879. The Case of the People called Quakers once more stated and published with Answers to the Accusations charged upon them p. 888. Several Epistles written to Friends in Truth A Word to the Brethren and Companions in Tribulation by the World scornfully called Quakers page 12 13. To the Camp of the Lord in England Shewing 1. The Work of God which hath broke forth in this Nation p. 64. 2. And where it first arose p 66. 3. And iâ— exhorts to put on the Armor of Truth and to keep the Watch-Tower p. 66 67 Several Epistles to Friends in Truth in London at their first Convincement from p. 64. to 76. Containing these Exhortations following viz. 1. To dwell in the Iudgements of the Lord and to abide in the Counsel of God p. 68. 2. To mind the Light which keepeth out of all perishing things and discovers aâ— Deceivers and to keep to the Cross of Christ and to do nothing Rashly p. 69 70 71. 3. To keep in Lowliness p. 73. 4. Sheweth what the Living Hope is p. 75. The First General Epistle and Greeting of the Fathers's Love to all the Saints Being to all such as are found worthy to suffer for the Truth 's sake an Exhortation to the strengthening of their Faith whereby they may continue boldly witnessing to the End Also an Exhortation to try the Spirits and the Marks of the wrong spirits made known p. 204. to 213. An Epistle to Friends in Westmoreland and Cumberland Exhorting all to know a Hiding-place in God and to put on the Armour of Light c. p. 364. The Second General Epistle to all the Saints Being an Exhortation 1. to the Brethren who are called into the Work and Ministry of the Gospel 2. To all the Babes and Children in Christ to live in Unity and to bear their Afflictions and Sufferings with Patience p. 368 369. To thâ— Elect and Câ—â—â—sen â—…ed of God iâ— London Câ—…aining Exâ—…tations to be watchfull and to keep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disâ—…erly spirits p. 373 374. To all Friends that are moved of the Lord to go into other Nations p. 386. The Third General Epistle to all the Saints Being an Exhortation to seek the Glory of God above all p. 387. Two Epistles to Friends in London Being a Testimony against deceitful spirits and such as profest the Truth and turned from it and were unfaithful to the Lord p. 392. An Epistle to Friends in London concerning how to proceed against disorderly spirits 543. To the Churches in New-England Barbadoes and other Islands Exhortations to be obedient to the Light and to dwell in the dâ—ily Cross c. p. 546. An Epistle to Friends in London Exhorting to dwell in Love and Unity one with another and to be Examples of Righteousness c. p. 547. An Epistle to Friends in Barbadoes Virginia and New-England c. p. 548. The Fourth General Epistle to all the Saints Exhorting To feel the Immortal Life begotten of the Father in them and to dwell in it alwayes that they might not be overcome by Tryals and Temptations p. 662. To the Friends of Christ in London Exhorting to live in Patience in all Tribulations and to follow the Lamb wheresoever he goes p. 690. To the Beloved and Chosen of God in the Seed Elected particularly in London and else-where Exhortations to mind the Word which first begat them and none to be troubled at the Dayes and Seasons p. 700. An Epistle to all his dear Companions in the Travel and Labour of the Gospel of Christ and in the Faith and Patience 〈◊〉 the Sufferings for his Name 's sake p. 764. The Fifth General Epistle Being a tender Salutaion of perfect Love unto the Elect of God the Royal Seed the Saints of the Most high containing Exhortations to Friends 1. To consider their former Estate p. 839. 2. The tender Dealing of God towards them since p. 840. 3. To consider what their then present State and Standing was p. 841. With several other weighty Things very necessary to be often read and kept in mind by Friends To the Friends of Truth in and about London Which Epistle sheweth wherein every oxes Preservation standeth and that in the highest Estate there is need of Watchfulâ—â—ss c. p. 884. THE END 1 Cor. 12. 9. 1 Cor. 1. 27 Psal. 8. 2. 1654 Act. 6. 58. from 51. Isa. 56. 10 11. Ier. 1. 6. Ionah 〈◊〉 3. Gal. 1. 1. Isa. 66. 3. Ioh. 9. 21. Prov. 15. 9. Isa. 55. 6. Mat. 2. 5. Ioh. 8. 44. Mat. 23. 3. 27. Mat. 2. 5. Isa. 5. 20. Ier. 5. 31. Ier. 23. 24. Ioh. 14. 6. Mat. 23. 13. Gal. 1. 1. 12. Gal. 6. 7. Mal. 4. 1. Mat. 3. 1. 1 Cor. 10. 14. Ior. 6. 53. 1 Cor. 14. 15. Eph. 5. 19. Rev. 14. 3. Isa 35. 10. Amos 6. 5. Rom 2. 6. Mat. 5. 1 Cor. 1. 18. 21. 1 Cor. 2. 4. Rom 10. 8. 17. Isa. 66. 18. Mat. 12. 34. Mat. 7. 18. 1 Cor. 3. 11. Ioh. 1. 9. Mat. 7. 29. Ier. 23. 29. Mat. 6. 5. Luk. 24. 5. Ioh. 14. 6. Isa. 2. 25. Isa. 29. 13 Ezek. 33. 31 Ier. 5. 31 Luk 6. 26. Ioh. 5. 43. Ezek. 14. 9. Pro. 21. 15. Amos 5. 18. Mat. 23. Isa. 25. 6. Mal. 1. 1. 2 Thess. 1. 8. Mal. 3. 2. Isa. 33. 14. Ier. 9. 25. Ier. 7. 20. Rev. 6. 16. Hab. 1. 13. Psal. 102. 7. Mic. 3. 11. Ier. 23. 31. Mat. 3. 10. Heb. 4. 12. Ioel 2. 2 to 12. Exod. 7 8 9 Chap. Rev. 14. 7. Pro. 28. 13. Ioh 1. 5 9. Ioh. 8. 12. Ioh. 11. 9 10. Iude 1. 4. Tit. 2. 11. Ezek. 34. from 2. to 9. Mic. 3. 5. Ioh. 1. 7. Ezek. 22. 6. Is. 56. 10 11. Rev. 13. 10. Ezek. 34. 2 Cor. 4. 6. Rev. 3. 20. Col. 3. 8 9. Mat. 24. 48 to 51 Ioel 2. 12. Na. 1. 16. Isa. 2. 12. Ioel 2. 2. 1 Iohn 1. 7. Ioh. 4. 24. 1 Thess. 1. 1. Iohn 3. 19. Iohn 14. 6. Mat. 23. 4. Isa. 56. Ier 23. Ezek. 34. Mich. 3. Mal. 2. Rev. 17. 1 2 3. Mat. 23. Mat. 10. 33. Acts. 26. 24. Iohn 14. 6. 1 Iohn 2. 10 11. 1 Ioh. 5. 19. 1 Ioh. 4. 6. 2 Tim. 4. 3. Gal. 1. 16. Mat. 11. 25. Rev. 14. 6. Nahu 3. 4. Mat. 13. 20. Mat. 24. 48. to the end Psal. 50. 22. Iohn 3. 19. 2 Pet. 2. 20 22. Rev. 21. 1. Rom. 6. 16. Rom. 2. 6.
the iniquities which the rest love to drink in and though your power be shorter and your vote lower then the uprightness of your hearts desire yet unto God be faithfull in bearing your Testimony for him and against all that which with the Light of Jesus yoâ— see to be contrary to him and be awaked unto Righteousness Judgment and Mercy the Light is springing over your heads and the day of the Lord is dawning out of darkness and a Seed is sown in your Dominions which cannot be rooâ—ed out till it have overspread the Earth with the precious Fruit thereof and though it be striven against to be plucked up yet shall the Branch and Root thereof be everlastingly renowned for it is of the true Jew and he that falls before it shall never more rise up again And this is by a true Lover of your Souls in faithfulness to God given forth 〈◊〉 your sakes who fear the Lord. EDWARD BURROUCH A Measure of the Times AND A Full and Clear Description of the Signs of the Times and of the Changing of the Times and of the Reign of Antichrist who hath long reigned and of his down-fall which is at hand And of the Kingdom of Christ which is now setting up in the Earth Shewing unto all People in all Nation what the State of things have been in Ages past and what the State of thing are at this present day and also what shall be the State of things hereafter which suddenly cometh to pass the time is at hand for times are changing and renewing and the Kingdoms of this World shall be translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God And also here is manifest concerning Teachers of this Age and the Root from whence they sprang who are manifest to be of that stock of false Prophets which Christ prophesied of should come and which the Apostles saw was coming in their dayes and how that the night of darkness hath been upon all for many Generations and how that the Beast hath reigned over Nations and Kingdoms and his false Prophet hath deceived the whole World who have all worshiped the Beast and wandred after him who have warred against the Saints and overcome them and the whole Earth hath been made drunk with the Abominations And also The Restauration is described which shortly cometh wherein Christ shall Reign whose right it is and shall change Laws and Decrees and the Lamb shall be the Light of all Nations and there shall be no need of any other light when the Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of Christ and he alone shall bear the Government and no other King for he shall rule all Nations with his Iron Rod and the Kingdoms of the Beast shall be overthrown and his power subdued and they that have given their power to him shall be ashamed and all the Kings of the Earth shall lay their Crownâ— down at the feet of the Lamb and the numberless number of the Saints is gathering and the Dominion shall be in their hands and their King shall possess the uttermost parts of the Earth THe Lord hath opened my heart to declare and the words of my mouth shall be the words of Truth and of a good Understanding to every one who hath an ear to hear whose ear the Lord hath opened to hear and understand things of old and the state of things as they have been in Ages and Generations past and as now the state of things are at this day Hearken and consider and let your ears be open to Instruction For the Word of the Lord is towards you that your hearts might understand the things that belong to your Peace now in your dayes before the time come that they be hiâ— from your eyes and your eyes be darkened never more to perceive but you leâ—â— to perish and to dye with the Uncircumcised Behold and give ear ye Inhabitants of the World see and consider in what state you are fallen even in a time of Darkness and Apostacy wherein thick Darkness covered all the World and a vail of Ignorance the faces of all People Death hath reigned King over all and the Cloud of thick Blindness hath lain on the hearts of all men O how hath Darkness Blindness and Ignorance covered all men even as a Cloak and a Garment How hath the Eye been blinded the Ear stopped and the Heart hardened So that the Lord God and his Way his Truth and Salvation hath not been manifestly known heard not selt nor witnessed for Ages and Generation the words thereof have been professed but the Life and Power thereof hath not been enjoyeâ— But men have been deceived with the Form of Godliness without the Power and cheated with a likeness of things without Life and have sought the living among the dead and worshipped Idols which have been without sence and understanding and with lying imaginations and feigned likenesses hath the carnal part which ruled in People above the Seed of God been fed and with shadows and outward appearances and the soul hath been starved Alas alas wo is me because of these things my heart within me is broken and I am perplexed The shadow of Death hath been the lodging Place of all People and the vail of Ignorance hath been a Covering and the darkness of Heart hath been followed for a Law and a blind Understanding hath been the Guide 〈◊〉 Ordinances and Statutes and Death in the beastly power hath ruled as King in all the Dominions of the Earth and in all mens hearts and men have been without the Wisdom of God even every eye blind and every ear deaf and â—…ry tongue dumb and every heart corrupt and void of understanding and every 〈◊〉 lame and all men have been altogether imperfect for the living God hath beeâ— as a Stranger unto the Children of men less known by men then the Ownâ—… the Ox and less perceived then the Crib by the Ass and all flesh hath corrupted its way before Lord. Wo is me when I consider how man who was planted with the chosen 〈◊〉 even God's Image and was a noble Plant is degenerated into the Plant of a strange Vine unto God and bring forth wild Grapes and sower Grapes wâ—…d the Lord's Soul loathes and thus hath the Vineyard and the Plants thâ—… rewarded the Husbandman with Fruit of a bitter taste and with the reward corruption And man is condemned in his transgression for want of the Kâ—…ledge of God more then the Ox and the Ass. Pride Covetousness Lust and Envy Backbiting Lying Drunkenness Wâ—…dom Theft Murder and all manner of evil and sin against God more theâ— can be expressed is abounding and superabounding among men in this Geâ—eration Iniquity is grown to the full the measure is up and the number oâ— transgression is sealed that the Lord may arise who hath been pressed as a Caâ—… with Sheaves and now is the Lord arising and he hath said Ah I will easeâ—… of my Adversaries and be
present help unto us in the time of our trouble for the plotting of the Wicked and the purpose of ungodly Men hath often been broken for our sakes even many a time have we been delivered out of the Snare that hath been laid for us and we have seen our Enemies fall before us on the right Hand and on the Left even the Wise in their worldly wisdom and the Foolish in their brutishness both Professors and Prophane hath our God often cut short in their desires and endeavours of our destruction and we have been wonderfully preserved unto this day and all this I attribute to the infinite Love and Power of the Lord God who is blessed for evermore And through all these things we are yet alive and the Lord doth not fail us unto this hour but he lives and walks in us and with us and his Testimony is with us even the Seal of his good Spirit in our Hearts that we are his Sons and Servants and we are confirmed by many tokens that he is our God and we are his People and that great Oppression which we have met withal hath not restrained us but thorough it all have we grown and prospered unto this day and concerning the things whereof we have testified these divers years I am no way doubtful but our God will fulfil them neither can my confidence be shaken by what is or can come to pass for Antichrist must fall false Ministry and Worship false Ways and Doctrines God will confound false Power and false Church the Lord will lay low and Truth and Righteousness must raign and God will gather his People more and more and glorious dayes will appear God will exalt his Kingdom upon Earth and throw down the kingdom of the man of sin all Oppression must cease and the Oppressors shall no more be and God will free his People and they shall be happy in this World and forever These things have we prophesied from day to day and my faith is constant and unmovable that God will effect these things in his season for the Lord never yet deceived me but what he hath said will surely come to pass And therefore Brethren let us be in Hope and Patience and live in the Word of Patience and not be faint-hearted as though the Lord had forgotten us or was unmindful of us or as though he would not perform what he had testified of by us for he is not a Man that he should lye nor as a Man that is given to change But lift up your Heads for the Lord is with us even in our greatest Tribulations and Afflictions and he will accomplish his Purpose for he is mighty to save his People and to destroy his Enemies It is true the Gates of Hell at this time seem to be open against us and we are a People like to be swallowed up of our Enemies and floods of wickedness seem to over-flow and the waves of the great Sea seem to be void of mercy and the hope of our Adversaries is to extinguish us from being a People and to destroy us from the face of the Earth and the Hands of our Persecutors are highly exalted at this day as though all that we have done for the Lord by our Labours and Travels should now be made of none effect Well dear Brethren though it be thus yet our God can deliver us and confound our Adversaries and we can appeal unto our God and can spread our Cause before him and he knows that our Sufferings and Afflictions are altogether Unjust and Unequal and Unrighteous and that our Persecutors do afflict us out of their Envy and without any just cause administred unto them by us our God knows it Angels and Saints know it that we are at this day a Persecuted People for Religions sake and this our present Affliction is not any just Punishment either from the Justice of God or from the justice of men For God hath given us the Witness of his eternal Spirit that Wrath is not in him towards us his Wrath be to his Enemies but unto us is Joy and Peace for evermore and the Lord clears us and he justifies us who then shall condemn us he chargeth no guilt upon us as if we were unto our selves the cause by our evil deeds of this our present sufferings and as if this were come to pass upon us as punishment from the Hand of God I say it is not so these our present Sufferings are not out of God's Anger towards us for his Love is to us let his Wrath be to his Enemies and as I said neither is this suffering in the justice of men for unto all the World we can say and God himself shall plead our Cause whom have we wronged or done evil to What evil have we done to any Mans Person Whose Goods have we falsly taken or coveted Against whom have we designed Mischief even the Lord himself be Judge between us and our Persecutors in this matter for unto him we are known that we do desire the good of all and not the hurt of any and yet we are dealt with as Evil doers whenas the God of Heaven is Witness in our Consciences that we neither plot nor contrive nor agitate in thought or word the hurt of any mans Person but we walk justly towards all being our Principle to do to others as we would be done unto and we can plead our cause unto our God and he shall plead our cause with our Enemies and this is the present state of our case what we suffer at this time it is singly in the Cause of God and for Righteousness sake and for the Testimony of Jesus which we hold therefore freely let us commit our Cause unto the God of Heaven and if we dye it is for him and if we live it is to him and we seek not vengeance against our Enemies but leave it to the Lord to plead with them And dearly Beloved I hope I need not exhort you to be patient and faithful in this day of our tryal knowing that the Cause is so excellent in which we are tryed it is God's Cause and not our own and I hope you all have the Testimony of his Spirit in your Consciences verifying the truth of the Cause for which we suffer and having that Evidence we need not to be doubtful as towards God not ashamed before-Men if so be that every one feels the Evidence of the Spirit of God bearing witness that we suffer for Righteousness sake and for the Name of Christ Jesus And so dear Brethren lift up your Heads and be asâ—…d that we are the Lord's and in his Cause we are tryed and he will judge and avenge our Persecutors in his season and we shall be a People when the Egyptians lie dead upon the Sea-Shore and when the raging Sea is dryed up this saâ—e People shall be safe for hath the Lord done so excellent things for us hath he led us forth and
blessed us unto this day and hath he preserved us hitherto through many Tribulations and Dangers hath he shewed infinite Love and Favour unto us to this hour And will he now suffer us to be destroyed from being a People surely no Will he give our Enemies their hearts desire to cut us all off that they may blaspheme his Name surely no and if it be the Pleasure of the Lord that some of us should seal our Testimony with our Blood good is the Will of the Lord not ours but his Will be done for the Testimony that we have born for these divers years hath been so excellent in it self and in its Fruits and Effects that the finishing of it deserves the best Seal that possibly we can signe it with which is indeed our hearts Blood and this dwells upon my spirit and yet though it should be thus my confidence is sure that the Work of the Lord shall prosper and our Testimony shall be glorious forever and this People shall never be extinguished from being a People And I know not any thing that remains upon our part at this day but that we commit our selves into the Hand of the Lord living in the Seed of God wherein our Election is sure before the World was and forever and let us remember one another and pray one for another and let us stir up all the Children of our Father to Faithfulness and Patience while we have time I say let us walk to the Glory of the Lord keeping Faith and a good Conscience to our last end our Testimony shall never dye nor our Memories never perish when we are ceased to be and though we suffer now the loss of Life and all we have yet the Effects thereof will be glorious in Ages to come and our present Sufferings will hasten the Glory of God's Work throughout the World Receive this as my Salutation to you all It is now eight dayes since I left Ireland where my Service hath been precious for the Lord for full six Moneths all which time the Lord carried me in much Faithfulness and Diligence in his Service to the confirming of many in the Truth of God and to the converting of others and through and because of the Presence of the Lord which was with me I had a very precious time and was wonderfully preserved through many Dangers and Tryals and I travelled near two thousand Miles to and fro in that Land and had very free passage in the principal Cities and Towns till my work for present was fully ended there having more time then could be expected to clear my Conscience to all People and it would be too large to mention every particular Trans-action wherein I perceived the Eminent Hand of God with me and also many things I observed concerning the present state of things which I shall not now mention for what have we to do with the Affairs of worldly Kingdoms but as for Friends it was well with them they grow and increase in the Blessings and Fulness of the Father and when I came thence all was quiet and very few in Prison though I suppose the Tydings of things as they are here will produce the same Sufferings upon them But I hope they will be bold and valiant for the Truth in giving their Testimony by faithful Sufferings till these things be finished Thus I remain in Life and Death and when I am no more in everlasting remembrance your dear Brother and Companion by doing and suffering for the Name of the Lord and his Truth I am well and at liberty as yet E. B. 11th of the 12th Moneth 1160. A JUST and RIGHTEOUS PLEA Presented unto the King of England And his COUNCIL c. Being the true State of the present Case of the People called Quakers Truly Demonstrated and Justly Pleaded on their Behalf for the true Information of the King and his Council that they may well understand the Truth and Verity of doubtful Cases and may shew Just Judgment and Mercy And this is laid down in Six Particulars viz. 1. Concerning Swearing at all and particularly of the Oath of Allegiance 2. Concerning Meeting together to Worship God 3. Concerning Tythes among the Jews and among the Christians and why we Refuse to pay them at this day 4. Concerning giving Security by Bond to live Peaceably or to answer Accusations then and there c. 5. Concerning Government it self and particularly of this present Government 6. Concerning Persecution what it is in it self and how great an Enemy it is to the King and his Government laid down in ten Particulars All which Cases are truly Stated and pleaded and the Cause of the Innocent Vindicated And this for the King and his Government that they may be Just and Righteous and perfectly according to God The Epistle to the King and his Council OH Friends this is your Day that God hath given you to try you and to prove you what you will do and whether you will Rule and Iudge and Exercise your Power for God or against him and this is the Hour of your tryal and the living God that made Heaven and Earth beholds you and his Eye is upon you and he waites for Iustice true Iudgment Mercy Righteousness and Truth to be brought forth by you in the Land that he might bless you and prosper you but and if the contrary be abounding and brought forth and exercised thorough you Blessings shall be turned into a Curse and the Iust God will deal with you after your deserts for the Reward of the Almighty is Iust and Equal unto all the Sons of men even according to their ways and works and the judgment of you nor of any is determined by him but according as He is served obeyed and feared or the contrary And seeing you have a day to do good and to forsake all evil to do Iustice Mercy and Truth in the Earth and to subdue the contrary if that you do the things you ought not and leave undone what God requires of you to do and trifle away your time in matters of less value and spend your days in Pleasures and Vanities and neglect Mercy and Iudgment in the Earth and have no regard to the Cry of the Poor and the Oppressed to deliver them from their cruel Persecutions if it be thus with you in this your day Who shall stand in the Gap to prevent the Anger of the Lord from breaking out or who shall plead for you in the day of your Reward when God himself ariseth unto just Iudgment to judge all Flesh and to deliver the Innocent Oh Friends is this nothing to you Is there no cause unto you of consideration in this matter Ought you not to lay these things to heart Why surely you are but men and your Breath is in your Nostrils and your Substance but dissolvable clay and the God of Heaven and Earth can do what he will with you and concerning you if ye please him it