Form and another in that Form and they are all in Confusion and they being out of the Fear of God which is to hate Evil and depart from it whould lead others into Ways and Forms without this Pretending to Serve God but they lead them out of the Way of Serving God who do not lead them into the Holy Fear of him for such only as hate and depart from the Evil do Fear and Serve the Lord right as Psalm 2.11 Serve the Lord with Fear But these now in our Days who pretend to be the Teachers of others the Way whereby they may Know Fear and Serve God are strangers thereto themselves and although they pretend to be Ministers of Christ yet are found to be Antichrists contradicting Christ's own words Mat. 11.27 Neither knows any Man the Father save the Son and be to whomsoever the Son will reveal him but this way of knowing the Father they deny who say That none must expect now in these Days to know God any other way than by the Scriptures which they call his Revealed Will and Word And here they shew themselves against Christ in plain Words which is their common Practice to contradict Christ's Way to know the Father to wit by Revelation but Revelations are to such as fear him as Psalm 25.14 The Secrets of the Lord are with them that Fear him which Fear they being out of are Strangers and Enemies to such who come to find the Fruits of the Fear of God to know his Secrets and here they must of necessity stand to uphold their Kingdom in denying Immediate Revelation although it be the Way and no other Way hath Christ left upon Record thereof in Scripture for any Man to know the Father by but by the Revelation of his Son But if they should yield to this then their goddess Diana their Forms made by the Invention of Man which they cry up to poor ignorant People as of great Concernment will not only be despised but also their Learning will be in danger to be set at nought by which Craft they get their Wealth And as Demetrius Acts 19. with the Workmen of like Occupation then cryed out Great is Diana of the Ephesians So it is now with the Priests and Teachers among the dead Forms they cry out Great is the use of Learning and Study to gather the Scriptures together so that one may give the meaning or make another plain so they come to know the Secrets of God which they conceive to be in the Scriptures But the Secrets of God were and are with such as Fear him which gave forth the Scriptures as they were moved by the Holy Ghost and the same that gave them forth the same opens them and nothing else can as the Scripture declares 1 Cor. 2.11 The things of God knows no Man but the Spirit of God No but the Scriptures to all such as are not led by the Spirit of God are a Mystery a Sealed Book but those who come into the Obedience of the Spirit that gave them forth to such the Mystery is revealed the Seal taken off And such who gave the Scriptures forth were the despised ones of the World and such as are brought into their Conditions are despised now by those who make use of their Words to get Gain with although their Conditions they Scorn and Deride in others as they would have done by Moses of whom it is left upon Record Heb. 12.21 that Moses said I exceedingly Fear and Quake And Jeremiah said Mine Heart within me is broken because of the Prophets all my Bones Shake I am like a Drunken Man and like a Man whom Wine hath overcome because of the Lord and because of the Words of his Holiness Jer. 23.9 And when Habakkuk heard the Word of the Lord his Belly Trembled his Lips Quivered at the Voice rottenness entered into his Bones c. Hab. 3.16 And Paul was amongst the Corinthians in Weakness and in Fear and in much Trembling 1 Cor. 2 3. And the Corinthians received Titus with Fear and Trembling 2 Cor. 7.15 Yea those Conditions which the Lord Commanded and he hath said in Scripture he would have respect unto such they Scorn and Deride by reason of their Ignorance and Malice And so with them to wit the Priests and Teachers of the People in dead Forms it is true as it was with the Sadduces that Christ spoke to Mat. 22.29 They err not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God for although the Lord commanded his Prophet by his Word Ezek. 12.17 18. Moreover the Word of the Lord came unto me saying Son of Man Eat thy Bread with Quaking and Drink thy Water with Trembling and with Carefulnesss And Jer. 5.21 22. Hear now this O Foolish People and without Understanding which have Eyes and see not which have Ears and bear not Fear ye not me saith the Lord Will ye not Tremble at my Presence And the Lord by the Prophet Isaiah declares Isa 66.3 But unto this Man will I look even to him that is Poor and of a Contrite Spirit and Trembleth at my Word And in the next verse reckons up unto them their outward Sacrifices which he did not at all accept but saith He that killeth an Ox is as if be slew a Man he that sacrificeth a Lamb as it be cut off a Dog's Neck c. And they which did all these outward Services were such as did cast forth those which did Tremble at the Word of the Lord as in the fifth verse Hear the Word of the Lord ye that Tremble at the Word of the Lord Tour Brethren that bated you and cast you out for my Names sake said Let the Lord be glorified But be shall appear to your Joy and they shall be ashamed These that did thus could have a fair pretence to say Let the Lord be glorified and it is the same now for who are more Zealous for their outward Observances They cry and say Let the Lord be glorified as tho' his Glory therein stands and so cast out and Reproach with open Mouth those that see the emptiness of them and come forth of the Form into the Power and Life to Worship God in Spirit which Service it is only that Glorifies him But those who Worship only in the Form cry out upon those that Fear God and Tremble at his Word and say Wherfore should the Ordinances be lest And so would make the Ignorant People believe That we who fear the Lord whom the World in Scorn call Quakers who have been made to Tremble at the Presence and at the hearing of the Word of the Lord as the Holy Men of God did which Condition the Lord did require and accept but those who take their Words but are Strangers unto their Life and the Power of the Lord these I say cast Reproach upon us and say That we deny and cast off the Ordinances of Christ Jesus But the time is come to our Joy and their Shame
will follow when the Lord comes to lay open their Nakedness and clear our Innocency in these things as he hath done for me which Work hasteth greatly Praises Eternal be to him alone who hath let me see by the Light werewith Christ hat enlightned me Who is the true Light which enlightneth every one that cometh into the World John 1.9 As the Lord by the Prophet Jeremiah saith Jer. 7.22 23. I spake not unto your Fashers nor commanded them in the Day that I brought them our of the Land of Egypt concerning Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices but this one thing commanded I them saying Obey my Voice and I will be your God and ye shall be my People c. And when Jesus Chrift was upon Earth and spoke unto his Disciples and told them what they must do to come after him he did not tell them That they must Sing David's Condition either themselves or others or Baptize little Children or Infants with Water or take a Text or place of Scripture of another's Condition and add to it their own Inventions But these things said he unto them Whosoever will come after me must deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luke 9.23 And in obedience to his Commands we deny our selves and take up the Cross daily that accompanies the same whereby we are by him Baptized into that one Body whereof he is Head and we being many do eat of one Bread and drink of one Cup not Carnal but Spiritual where true Communion and Fellowship lies hid from the World wherein we are altogether of one Spirit and of one Mind even of the same Mind that was in Christ Jesus according to the Apostle's Exhortation Phil. 2.5.1 Pet. 4.1 And rejoycing in the same Spirit Praises to our God for ever And we Sing with the Spirit and with the Understanding also I Cor. 14.15 And with the same we Pray But it is not so with the World's Teachers who have their Form or those who are accounted the best of them that fetch in of the Saints Words but dare not however cannot truly say That they are given them by the Spirit of God and their Singing is the like not from the Spirit of God but taking David's words by which he declared the several Conditions that he was was in and these they put into the Peoples Mounths which they do not understand and these they Sing without understanding and so instead of glorifying of God they dishouour him and this is one of the Practices used in their Church as they call it which is without in the World but the true Church is in God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as in 1 Thess 1.1 Now these words that they Sing are true as they were spoken from David who said That he watered his Couch with his Tears but it is not so with many And the will Sing his words who could truly say That he was not puft up in Mind and had no scornsul Eye whenas too many are puft up in Mind and have scornful Eyes and the like Thus the Leaders of the People their Priests in most places put such words into the Peoples Mounths causing them to Err and make them Hypocrites in saying They are as it is not with them and so by and in them is fulfilled that Scripture Isa 9.16 17. But if any shall say Doth not the Apostle Jomes 5.13 Exhort Is any Merry Let him sing Psalms Yea and so it is with the redeemed Ones of the Lord his Ransomed witness that Prophecy fulifilled Isa 35.10 and such come to find in themselves according to the Apostle's Exhortation being filled with the Spirit Eph. 5.18 19 20. speaking unto themselves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs Singing and making Melody in their Hearts unto the Lord giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ This is to be with the Heart it is not so with the World I know it when they are Offering up their Scarifices both of Prayers and Praises they with their Mouths and Lips may be pretending to Serve God whenas their Hearts may be in another place far from Him according to Scripture Isa 29.13 And after they have been Blessing God and Singing to his Praise as they pretend How often in the same Mouth is Cursing Which thing ought not to be James 3.9 10. Thus the Leaders of the People by putting the Name of God in the Mouths of People who are not in his Fear they speak it without understanding and so take it in Vain whom the Lord will not hold guiltess And as they have no Scripture for this their Practice to Sing David's Condition neither have they and for Sprinkling or Baptizing as they all it little Children Infants with Water nor any Command from Christ in Scripture to do that to any for those who are got up in Imitation of the Letter from John's Baptizing in Jordan those that confessed their Sins Mat. 3.6 or of his Baptism yet he said There was one to come after him which was preferred before him John 1.15 30. which was to Baptize with the Holy Ghost and with Fire Mat. 3.11 And that he must Decrease but Christ must Increase John 3.30 This of Christ's being the true Baptism that was to encrease The Apostle speaks but of One Baptism in Eph. 4.5 and by One Spirit not by any Outward Sprinkling or Dipping into Water that the Saints were Baptized into One Body 1 Cor. 12.13 This Outward with Water is not the Baptism that is to Save us whereof that of Noah's being saved in the Ark was a Figure but the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ according to 1 Pet. 3.20 21. Many may come to the outward Baptism to have the filth of the Flesh put off but want the answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ This I having a sight of was through the Love of God towards me a means to keep me back from going into those other Forms in the World that differed from the publick Profession that was in this Nation I being let see that I might get into them and no change in my Life wrought And these Cries were often in mine Ears Born again a new Creature which Condition is now witnessed Praises to our God for ever by those who come to witness that Baptism of the Spirit spoken of in Scripture whereby they come to be Buried with him by Baptism into Death Rom 6.3 4. And to be made partakers of his Sufferings wherein is Rejoycing 1 Pet. 4.13 But this is not known by Water-Baptism but by the Obeying of the Spirit of our God And as the World's Baptism is without with Water so is their Communion without in Bread and Wine which they call a Sacrament For which as now used by them they have no Command from Christ nor any such Name given in Scripture
A Plain ACCOUNT Of Certain Christian Experiences Labours Services and Sufferings OF THAT Ancient Servant and Mininister of Christ Roger Hebden DECEASED Containing both Warning Consolation and Instruction in Righteousness They who are faithful unto Death shall receive a Crown of Life London Printed and Sold by T. Sowle in 〈◊〉 Hart-Court in Gracious-street 1700. The Author's Introduction SOmething in this Book is writen relating to my coming to Understand the Way of God and how I walked therein with Passages concerning my Imprisonment and Letters unto Friends and others With some Passages relating my Exercise for several Years of my Life-time with several other Passages therein written according to the Times and as there was a Service then seen The Author's Introduction With Directions therein for all that know not God how they may come for to Know Fear Serve and Worship Him in Love the Way is declared agreeable to the Scriptures of Truth and according to the Measure of Knowledge then communicated to Roger Hebden A Plain Account OF THE Christian Experiences c. OF Roger Hebden IN or about the â—â—st Month of the Year 1651 and in the Thirty First Year of my Life I Roger Hebden Son of John Hebden late of Appleton in the Street then using the Calling of a Woollen Draper and Dwelling in New Malton The Lord God of Heaven and Earth whose Love hath been to Mankind manifest in all Ages and to all Generations of Men upon the Face of the Earth about that time did manifest himself more fully than to many Ages and Generations in sending forth his Servants who in his infinite Love he had given to know his Kindness to them in placing a Witness for himself in them to lead and command them as Isaiah 55.4 And altho' this kindness of the great God the Author of the Good of all Mankind I was made partaker of with others and at sundry times had felt his Witness at work in me even when I was but Young even about the Age of Eleven or Twelve Years and at several times in my Life-time after bearing Testimony against the Evil of my Doings and condemned me for the sames yet I knew not that this was of God neither did I understand that this was given to Lead and Command me and so when I did such things as I knew to be evil was condemned in my self not knowing who it was that Condemned me as John 1.5 3.19 But the Lord God in his infinite Love towards me appeared in sending a faithful Servant of his named George Fox whom he had given to know the way of God and to direct others to know the same by his Power speaking thorow him made him serviceable to inform me and bring me to the knowledge of that Light and Grace of God within me which when I heard of it there was raised a Witness that I had felt such a thing divers times and coming to understand who it was that I had resisted and pierced it wounded me deeply and after I came to see what had been the cause of my Trouble avoiding it I had Peace as is in this Book mentioned And the Lord going on with his Work in me about six Months after poured forth his Spirit of Prayer and Prophesie upon me Thus I came to be made a Minister of Christ whom I Preach and in obedience to the same Spirit being led into the World's Assemblies occasioned my being cast into Prison Here followeth the cause why I was and am Imprisoned not being ashamed of my Bonds Unto Friends and to the World I do declare as followeth I Being led by the Movings of the Spirit of the Lord in me to be near Tadcaster amongst Friends of Truth who Worship God in Spirit The 17th Day of the 10th Month 1654. I came to a House in Newton being accompanied with divers other Friends where the People of God were met together to wait upon God whilst I there waited I was stirred in Spirit to go to the World's People's Meeting-Place in that Town where they Worship an unknown God as Paul was whilst he waited at Athens Acts. 17.16 And for speaking such words there as are hereafter expressed was I by Robert Barwicke called Justice sent Prisoner to York-Castle and kept Prisoner from the time afore-mentioned until the 16th day of the 11th Month following at which time in Weatherby at the Sessions I being called an Indictment as they call it was read wherein the Jury for him called Lord Protector did upon their Oaths present that I Wilfully and Maliciously with such like words which they use in their Form at such a time came to such a place By which Form and through Ignorance the Jurors whom I pity are led as out of the Doctrine of Christ in Swearing so into the Work of the Devil to tell Lyes as I told them then There was nothing of my Will in going thither which was and is my present Comfort The thing they charged me withal was the same in the Mittimus namely That I uttered unto Master Clapham as they called him many Railing and Reviling Speeches as Thou art a Hirelings a dumb Dog c. and the like only that whereas Robert Barwicke called Justice said in that Paper called the Mittimus that I spoke these words to him Before he came forth of the Pulpit therein being taxed to be a Lyar These words before-mentioned to wit Before he came out of the Pulpit were left out of the Indictment Therein Deceit was manifest although he had given it under his Hand and Seal in the Mittimus That all that was there written was done in his presence and hearing Now Friends to You and to the World a few words As concerning what is here Charged upon me before any of these words were spoken to him he proved himself and was seen to be what was said of him and to him for before I spoke one word to him he spoke to me after he was come forth of the Pulpit Then I asked him this Question By what Authority dost thou speak He could not answer thereunto And so proved himself like the Watch-Men Isaiah spoke of Chap. 56.10 And also fled like the Hireling Christ spoke of John 10.13 before he was so called Then I being moved to speak to the People to direct them to the Anointing their Teacher within them the Way to Life that Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightned them And minding that they would have no need to follow such Hirelings whereby their Souls might be deceived And it being with me even as it was with the Prophet Micah Chap. 3.8 I was full of Power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgment For the Word of the Lord unto me before I went was Tell them of their Sins And so to every one as they came before me as I was moved of the Lord I declared unto them their Condition and their Portion without Repentance which they must find which they called Judging But as
I told Robert Barwicke if he had been upon Earth when Christ told the Jews They were of their Father the Devil he would have sent him to Prison Therefore all you who own this to be of God be not hasty to speak or act thus because it is agreeable to Scripture for a bare literal Imitation will not carry forth in time of Trouble neither will you find benefit by it For it is only the Spirit of Truth that gives righteous Judgment wait for the movings thereof And on the contrary you that talk of the Scriptures Fear to speak evil of those who are brought into the Life and Practice of them as the Holy Men of God witnessed lest the Scriptures condemn you This I was moved to write to fore-warn all of Extreams And now further top declare how I was dealt with at that place called Sessions Robert Barwicke declared Lawyer-like That he could do no otherwise with me than he had done seeing he had never seen my Face before To which I answered I had been with him upon Occasions and often I had seen him and he me Then he said I might not affront him I answered I might not suffer him to Lie but tell him of it Then after saying what he could against me he at down saying That he being concerned in the business would leave it to them others called Justices who asked me Whether I would submit or Traverse I answered In the Will of God I was and what he suffered them to do with me they might Then one of them asked me What Call or Occasion I had to that place I answered The same the Prophet Amos had to go into the King's Chappel to cry against the Altar in Bethel and Paul into the Synagogues as his manner was Acts 17.16 Robert Barwicke hearing this rose up in great Rage not heeding what he had said That he would leave it to them and begun to speak his Imaginations Priest-like wherein was no Truth and to say that he perceived and thought it was my Practice to disturb their Ministers as he called them and proceeded further using these Speeches Sirrah Sirrah Then I bid him see if these words did not come from an envious spirit But he went on with Threats that if I did so any more he would send me to the House of Correction and have me soundly Whipp'd whereupon these words were spoken O Tyranny Then he begun to take witness that I called him a Tyrant but they could not agree and so left it For one of them called a Justice said I said O Tyranny Then they asked me again whether I would submit or Traverse I answered them as before Then they concluded that they should get no other answer Then I asked them What Law I had broken And said If I had broken a Law they might lay the Penalty upon me But they would not shew me any Law that I had broken Then I asked them If the Prophets were Railers But they said that they might not discourse with me Then they caused me to be taken away And thus were they suffered to act And this is their time wherein they rule over others to their own hurt Herein they were seen and taken notice of by many both Officers Soldiers and others the Event I leave unto Him in whose Power I am who is present The next Day he who had the Charge of me brought to me two Papers called Mittimus's whereby I was by the Court ordered back again Prisoner to York Castle where I am in their Bonds but at Liberty in the Spirit of the Lord Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 This is witnessed Praises to the Lord God Almighty for evermore And all you who are guided by the Spirit of the Lord with whom I am one Praise the Lord with me who am a Well-wisher to the Souls of all Known by the Name of Roger Hebden A Warning from the Lord to Magistrates AWake awake look about you see what you are a doing You that profess your selves to be Christian Magistrates What are you doing with Christ's Appearance Do you not cast such into Prison who are brought into the Life and Practice of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles If you say They will not be subject to Authority but act contrary to Law So said the Jews of Christ We have a Law said they and by our Law he ought to dye But Pilate knew that it was out of Envy that the Jews did it What think ye was he clear of his Blood although he took Water and washed his Hands and said He was Innocent To that which is Pure of God in every one of your Consciences I leave it to judge you who am a Lover of Souls and a Lover of Justice It is not my desire nor the desire of any other that fears God that Sin should be unpunished when it is brought forth That is your Place and that is your Duty use the Sword put into your Hand for that end and the Blessing of God will accompany you But take heed lest you in your Wills or out of Zeal to prevent Sin do put in Practice those Laws whereby the Innocent are brought to suffer and so you come to be Actors of Sin instead of preventing it This I was moved to write to put you to a Search in your Selves to see how your Profession and Practice does agree and herein to you I have cleared my Conscience who am a Friend to Truth and a Witness against Deceit For which I am now Prisoner in York Castle known by the Name of Roger Hebden Copies of this was sent to those called Justices at several Sessions in Yorkshire and the City of York about the 16th of the 11th Month 1654. A Letter written to Friends in the Truth after I came to Prison before I was had to the Sessions at Wetherby This was to Friends in the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire before the 16th Day of the 11th Month 1654. from York-Castle O my dear Hearts THE Remembrance of you is precious my Bowels are even sweetly refreshed therewith even by every of you that are Faithful to the Lord in obeying the Measure of Grace received God Almighty bless you preserve you and increase the Knowldge of himself in every of you to his Praise and Glory who alone is worthy for ever and ever And all of you as Members one of another be faithful in your places watching one over another in Simplicity of Heart with a single Eye and in Love to re-call those that go astray from the Simplicity from that Spirit of Truth in them which ought to guide So the Simple will be delivered out of the Snare of the Crafty and so you will be altogether in the Unity serving God in Spirit which is the Service well-pleasing to him wherein you will come to witness the Rejoycing and Abiding therein the continuance of that Love which cannot be expressed In which Love I salute
your Adversary although he seem Potent but joyning with that which lets you see him there lyes your Strength God Almighty bless preserve and keep you all Faithful and Obedient to the Measure of Grace received from him is the Prayer of your dear Brother in the Truth of God in his Measure your Servant for the Truth 's sake and a Watchman for your Souls good by Name Roger Hebden From York-Castle the 22d of the 12th Month 1654. THE blind Watchman cries Watch but cannot but I as to the outward being Imprisoned for the Truth am at Liberty in the Spirit of the Lord with you all that are therewith guided and rejoyce in that the World cannot comprehend where lyes the Unity and the true Welfare even Fulness for all that are Obedient to the Lord in what is made known to them to be the Will of God and are found doing it Let this Enclosed with this be read at your Meetings amongst Friends in the Fear of God in which Meeting and Waiting whilst you are together and being kept when asunder all other Fear will be kept forth and you brought into the Blessedness For Blessed is the Man that feareth always A Letter to John Hebden my Brother after the Flesh I Am in Health and Well every way being and knowing my self to be in Obedience to the Will of God in this Condition and how long here I do not desire to known for that which would is for Condemnation with the Light that comes from Christ Jesus in obeying whereof the true Peace is But this is a Mystery to the Carnal Mind but to be Carnally Minded is Death and to be Spiritually Minded is Life and Peace is witnessed Praises to the Lord God Almighty for evermore Therefore in Love running forth to thy Soul I exhort thee Consider what it is thy Mind is upon whether upon things Carnal or upon things made known by the Movings of the Spirit of the Lord in thee to be thy Duty to do A Talent God hath given a Measure of his Spirit unto every Man to profit withal and the Movings thereof in every one is cross and contrary to the Will of Man For Prophecies is times of old came not by the Will of Man but holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Say not That was so then but can any expect it to be so now Who say it cannot make God changeable and not a Fulfiller of his Promise who saith Sons and Daughters shall Prophesie and upon Servants and Handmaids he will pour forth of his Spirit and they shall Prophesie Therefore that in thee which calls with a still low Voice as if it were behind thee when thou turnest either to the right Hand or to the left from That which the Righteous Pure and Holy Law of God makes known unto thee to be thy Duty to do or to leave undone To that give heed and thou shalt do well as the Apostle Peter saith as to a light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in thy Heart And this Light shines in Darkness although the Darkness comprehend it not and so I know it is whith many as it was with me this Light did shine in me althogh the Darkness in me did not know what it was but when I came to know it and to be faithful in little things but it made known to be Sin avoiding them and by it little things which was made known to be my Duty doing them I came to find the Increase of God and whoso will not be Faithful in a little can never be made Ruler over much Who shall entrust him with it Nay that little is even taken from him and that unprofitable Servant is cast into utter Darkness where is Weeping and Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth so it was I did witness it But there is no Condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Time was when Paul found a Law in his Members warring against the Law in his Mind so it was there was something in me that would as with the Apostle have served the Law of God but he found a contrary power giving way to it led him captive to commit Sin and then he cried out of his Wretchedness But he here did not rest himself satisfied as the Professors of the World now do who take this Condition of his when he cries out under the Burden of his Misery and in his Warfare to plead for a Hold for Sin and Satan in them so long as they live but he looks up to Christ and thanks God that he gave him the Victory through him and then he says There is no Condemnation and That the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus had made him free from the Law of Sin and Death Which Condition is now witnessed the Conquest gotten by the same Conqueror and here is nothing of the Will of Man in it That hath neither Part nor Lot in this matter but the Work is the Lord 's only by that of himself in the Creature he joying to the Gift of God the Creature comes to Witness it Praises to our God for ever From a Well-wisher of thy Soul whose desire is that he may write himself thy Brother in that which the World cannot comprehend nor be bound by them wherein is the Unity of Saints and Rejoycing in the Lord in Spirit Roger Hebden York-Castle the 3d of the 1st Month 1665. From York-Castle the 12th of the 1st Month 1655 and sent into Swadale and Bishoprick to be read at their Meetings Frends ALL in the Manifestation of God's Spirit received wait for the increase of God being content with what is made known of him take heed of that desire that would be leading you before the Light for that will lead into Confusion and Trouble and that Zeal that would carry forth to Speak or Act beyond the true Knowledge which ariseth from the Light of the Son will lead into Darkness Sorrow and Lamentation when the Condemnation which comes from the Son ariseth upon it which will consume it up Therefore Friends every motion that calls upon you to Act or Speak do not lend an Ear to it so as to give obedience to it at the first although it seem at the first view to tend to Self-denial and be a Cross to your Wills but when such a motion doth arise then return in again and examine if there were not first in you a desire to do or speak such a thing as then is presented to be done or spoken it your find it so then to wait and be not hasty in the acting thereof it self be seen at the bottom then the Adversary will be ready to threaten with Disobedience if it be not presently done but do not hearken thereto but wait that you may know the Mind of God in it that you may not be deceived such waiting is not disobedience but
following Isa 1.16 17. Wash ye make ye clean put away the Evil of your doings from before mine Eyes cease to do Evil learn to do Well seek Judgment relieve the Oppressed judge the Fatherless plead for the Widow Whereupon he would be reconciled unto them and they thus doing should come to acquaintance with him and receive good from him as in the 18th and 19th Verses Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your Sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as wooll If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the Land but otherwise they might expect from him as in the 20th Verse But if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured wit the Sword For the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it And now according to these Scriptures is the Lord's requirings of his People and Answers to them I witness Praises to the Lord God Almighty for ever-more to whom alone be the Praise for ever By whom I am moved to write this forth for the simple One's sake whilst I was looking without and knew nothing but from Hearing Conceivings and from the outward Declaration of Scripture without notwithstanding all my Profession of God in Word and in Action yet I knew him not but lived in Disobedience and under the Curse and Wrath of God which I did rhen see and sometimes feel although I knew not then from whence it came nor was not obedient to that which let me see it But when it pleased the Lord who separated me from my Mother's Womb and called me by his Grace to Reveal his Son in me then not consulting with Flesh and Blood but giving up in obedience to his Commands made known in me ceasing to do Evil and hearkening to the same that called upon me to forsake the Evil to do well for that is one in all whereupon coming to see it my Duty then the Adversary within me of my Soul 's good and the Enemy of God which would have hindered me in giving obedience to the Commands of God and so to have distrusted his Love did thus within me alledge against my giving up in Obedience to his Will made known If it were possible that thou could'st keep his Commands for the time to come to be made known to be thy Duty yet what wilt thou do for what is past Then the Lord was pleased to make known unto me by the Infallible Testimony and Witness of his Spirit which endureth with plain Words within me according to the Scripture fore-mentioned Isaiah 1.18 That although my Sins had been as Scarlet they should be as white as Snow though they had been red like Crimson they should be as Wooll Whereupon I found Peace this Condition being concluded upon to be obedient unto him for the time to come This was in the Day of the Lord 's great Power wherein he did render Vengeance to His Enemies and Fury to his Adversaries in me whereby the Keepers of the House were made to tremble as Eccl. 12.3 And in this Day of the Lord 's great Power looking upon him whom I had pierced according to the Prophecy which that day I witnessed fulfilled Zac 12.10 And I will pour upon the House of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and of Supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one who mourneth for his only Son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first Born From the reading of this fulfilled did arise Comfort and much Rejoycing and no more remembrance of the Sorrow for the Joy that a Man Child was Born into the World as John 16.21 Which then I came to see ought to have ruled which had been crucified in Sodom and Egypt within me In which Day of the Lord 's great Power and Love to my Soul in raising up the Seed in me which sins not the Witness was manifest and upon the obeying of that in me which is Pure which doth his Will I found the Witness and a Testimony of his Love but upon my disobeying of that and acting contrary thereunto I found the Witness and a Testimony of his Displeasure And so I came to witness according to the Scripture fore-mentioned Isaiah 1.19 20. If ye will be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land but if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured with the Sword Thus the Scriptures were plain and true to me and needed no meanings but as open'd by the Spirit And thus I came to know and do bear witness according to Scripture That which is to be known of God is to be known within which brings into the true Fear and Obedience of him as in Rom. 1.19 Because That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And as the Knowledge concerning God which the World hath doth arise from without so like-wise doth their Fear from what they hear of God from Man that he is Just and a Rewarder of Evil Doers and they conceive that it is thus from the outward Declaration of Scripture because it so declares of him And all this may be where there is not any true Fear of God for where the true Fear of God is this Effect it works as these Scriptures declare The Fear of the Lord is to hate Evil Pride Arrogancy and the Evil Way and the froward Mouth do I hate Prov. 8.13 And by the Fear of the Lord Men depart from Evil Chap. 16.6 Thus it is whoso truly Fear the Lord not only hate Evil but depart from it but many there be which talk of Fearing God and live in the Evil such who have their Fear towards God only taught by the Precepts of Men will plead for it that it must be so and it can be no otherwise whilst they live here And these do as they did whom the Lord complained of by His Prophet Isaiah 29.13 For as much as this People draws near me with their Mouth and with their Lips do honour me but have removed their Hearts far from me and their Fear towards me is taught by the Precepts of Men. And as the Lord then threatned what he would do unto them Therefore behold I will proceed to do a marvellous Work and a Wonder for the Wisdom of their Wise Men shall perish and the Understanding of their Prudent Men shall be hid So it is now at this Day those who have been every one in their own Way and according to the counsels of their own Hearts seeking into the Mysteries of God the Sealed Book to teach others the Way to Fear God the Counsel of God is hid from such and they are at Strife amongst themselves about the Serving of God one saying Thus and another So one saying Lo here and another Lo there one in this
the more Money And for their often exchanging fained words they do not want saying sometimes that they are sorry to leave them others that they do not see that Fruit of their Ministry which they desire and thereupon they do and may exchange as one did to wit Priest Sinclare of Slingsby near Malton in Yorkshire who having within a few Years time been at three Places or Livings as they are called being come unto the fourth I asked him the cause Why and How they could so often exchange He answered That they might when they did not see that fruit of their Ministry that they desired As if it were to see a change of Reformation in the People as he pretended then But unto me it doth plainly appear since that it was fained and that in his Conscience will witness with me that it was his own Earthly Profit more than the People's Good For this I know that in respect of the People's Wickedness he had as much cause to exchange as before Little Fruit or Reformation of Life doth appear the same fained excuse he might have if he knew of a greater Living For where he is now is near if not more than double the value of that he left and there he had continued longer than at two places before And thus it is with most if not all of them when they exchange Place and People it is for the greater Profit Self is in it commonly plain to be seen And herein they go from Christ and do not take that way to come after him that he hath set down Luke 9.23 If any Man will come after me he must deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me But their way that they pretend to folow him in is in pleasing themselves and to have their Wills at Liberty and rule over others And although Christ Command Those that will find Rest to their Souls to take his Yoak upon them and learn of him to be meek and lowly in Heart Mat. 11.29 Yet these Pretenders are not so for Who more Proud or Impatient than they Or greater Patterns of Pride in the Parish than their Wives and Children in most places I leave to all who have any Eyes to see and behold and judge as there is just cause If any shall say Pride lies in the Heart I know it but as the Tree is known by its Fruits even so the Heart may be known by its Fruits for the Image of its delight is set up within before it be set up without this or that thing which they desire or see others have the Heart thinks is Good or Decent and it would have the like And are not they to wit the Priests their Wives and Children such as follow the Fashions of the World in using needless things which are to satisfie the vain Mind and the lustful desires of the Heart and the Apostle's Exhortation they are out of 1 Pet. 1.14 and so shew themselves to be in Ignorance and lust alive many contending for the continuing of Sin and the Devils Kingdom These Scriptures fore-mentioned being by the Priests practised are recommended unto them for to read unto the People which they ought in Plainness and Simplicity as it doth concern them to take them to themselves and acknowledge that they are their Conditions and that they are the Men that have done these things and are guilty and thereupon forsaking and no more practising that horrible and filthy thing that hath been committed in this Land by them to bear rule by their means to seek for their Gain from their Quarter to Teach for Hire and other-like Practices heretofore mentioned committed by them they not only as they come to see it simply confessing it but honestly forsaking it then they shall find Mercy but if they cover and hide their Sins they shall not prosper And this I was moved by the Spirit of the Lord to write unto them that they may not plead Ignorance Now you are warned of the Evil that shall follow whilst you have time prize it and return unto the Lord lest you remember this when it is too late which is from him who is a lover of your Souls And this word is to you O Priests And in the mean time until your Priests come unto this Honesty as to confess and forsake these filthy Practices all you that profess your selves to be Christians and own the Scriptures search the Scriptures and see if these things be not so and if you find that it be so and that your Teachers are such in their Practices as the true Prophets Christ and his Apostles spoke against then take heed I warn you from the Lord how you joyn with them to hold them up in their Sins lest you partake of their Plagues Now you are forewarned of the Evil know that the Light is arisen that discovers their Ways and Deeds of Darkness in their Practices therefore come forth from amongst these wicked Men who fear not God but live in these wicked Practices fore-mentioned And this word is to you O People Object Now if any shall say as they must if they will but speak Truth We know it is so with the most of them but if we leave them How shall we do for Teaching They have Learning and they are most likely to know the meaning of the Scriptures Answ The Scriptures were not given forth by the Learning Wisdom not Will of Man as in 2 Pet. 1.21 The Prophesie came not in old time by the Will of Man but holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost And in the fore-going verse he saith Know this first that no Prophesie of the Scripture is of any private Interpretation and that nothing but that which gave them forth can open them And so in vain it is for you to go to such as say They are not guided by the Spirit that gave forth the Scripture nor do therewith speak when unto you they do speak of the Scriptures nay their Fruits their Lives and Conversations will Witness it against them if they should affirm it with words This know likewise many of those who gave forth the Scriptures were Unlearned Men in the World's Learning nay from the World's Learning they did not speak them forth but from the Mouth of the Lord by the movings of his Spirit which the World's Wisdom cannot reach for Man by this Wisdom knows not God nor the things of God We read that Jacob and David were keepers of Sheep and Elisha was a Plowman that Amos was an Herdsman and they said of Christ How knows this Man Letters having never learned John 7.14 15. Peter and John being brought before the Rulers Acts 4.13 The Rulers perceiving that they were Unlearned and Ignorant Men marvelled and divers of the Apostles were Fishermen and Paul tho' a learned Man yet was a Tent-maker Acts 18.3 And what things formerly he accounted gain to him he accounted loss for the excellency of the
who witness them true and to have been fulfilled in us and in obedience to the same Power are kept can read with Comfort from the Testimony within our own selves wherein we may and do rejoyce in Persecution and Suffering for Righteousness sake which none knows but as they are guided by the Righteous One wherein is our Happiness that although we be numbred amongst the Transgressors of Men's Laws yet we suffer not as evil Doers for who goes under the name of Quakers and suffers for evil Doing are neither owned by us nor know our Joy who suffers as Christians herein can Rejoyce in as much as we are made Partakers of Christ's Sufferings and can and may read 1 Pet. 4.13 14 15 16. Our Sufferings being for the same that the Prophets Christ and the Apostles practised to wit for speaking against Formal and False Worships and Worshippers and against Sin in Plainness even in their publick Meeting-places as they did as in 1 Kings 13.1 2. By the Word of the Lord the Prophet cryed against the Altar in Bethel Jeroboam standing by And by the Word of the Lord Amos prophesied in the King's Chappel in Bethel and in plainness speaks of the Judgments of God to befall Jeroboam Amos 7. But this was not from the Letter the outward Declaration of Scripture that they spoke but from the Movings of the Spirit of the Lord in them as Prophesies came 2 Pet. 1.21 And the Father and Mother of Jesus found him in the Temple amongst the Doctors both hearing them and asking them Questions Luke 2.46 And the Apostle Paul an his manner was went into the Synagogues and Reasoned with them three Sabbath Days together out of the Scriptures And into the Synagogues he went at three several places to wit at Thessalonica at Berea and at Athens read Acts 17. for which he was then Persecuted And it is the same Generation in Nature now which Persecutes for the same Practices as then He that was Born after the Flesh persecuted him that was Born after the Spirit even so it is now Gal. 4.29 And so all that live in Persecution Hating and Envying and in Pride Covetousness Drunkenness Swearing Lying or any such like Wickedness take the Scriptures and look who they were that did such things and what was to be their Portion And this use you may make of the Scriptures Search them and see every one where you can find your own Condition for this I know and so you shall find That if you do apply the Promises to your selves which do not belong to that Condition which you live in that will do you no good at all in the time of trouble Therefore all consider betimes now whilst you have time and now that you are warned And all People of all Professions cease from looking at your Profession and see whose Work you do and what Fruit it is that you bring forth whether it be the Works of the Flesh or the Fruits of the Spirit of God which are different as the Scripture declares Gal. 5.19 20 21 22 23. Now the works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witcheraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Sedition Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law And be not deceived God will not be mocked for such as you sow such shall you reap If ye sow to the Flesh then ye shall reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting which is witnessed as in Scripture declared Gal. 6.7 8. Therefore with Bowels of Love running forth towards your Souls I exhort you all to consider whose Will it is that you are doing and what it leads into For the Will of God is your Sanctification 1 Thess 4.3 Therefore take heed I charge you all in the Presence of the Lord and by his Spirit how you go on in any Wickedness and lay the blame upon God and say When the Lord will it shall be otherwise It is not his Will that any should go on in their Wickedness but that all should turn from their Wickedness and Live but your Destruction I do declare unto you all to be from and of your selves running on your own Wills working the Works and delighting to live after the Flesh which brings Death as the Scripture declares Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Flesh ye shall live And the Lord is not wanting on his part for to bring to Life but by the Spirit of his dear Son he calls upon every one for to return from the Evil of their Ways and as Obedience thereunto is given the Deeds of the Flesh come to be mortified and so they come to witness Life But if any say Hath every one the Spirit of Christ I answer with the Apostle Rom. 8.9 If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his that is such as do not live up to the Spirit of Christ so as to enjoy its Indwelling For a Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit with And so every one as they stoop down in Obedience to that of God in them which is pure which rises up within them and shews them Evil Deeds and calls upon them to depart there-from they owning this to be of God from thence this Fear comes to be placed in the Heart that they dare not act contrary thereto but the same they obey and so him serve and worship who is a Spirit and is worshipped in Spirit and Truth Which that you may all do is my Desire and Prayer to the Lord for you all by whom I have been moved to write this forth unto whom I have cleared my Conscience and unburdened my Spirit in the informing your Understandings in the way of his Worship who is God over all and Blessed and Praised for evermore Hallelujah to the Highest Written by one who desires the Welfare of Souls R. H. Who was committed Prisoner to York-Castle for speaking the Truth To Enoch Sinclare Parish-Teacher of Slingsby this is A Copy hereof being sent to go unto him the first that went forth with what in this foregoing is thereunto added as in the Conclusion of this expressed is Friend I Being moved for to write something forth for to inform the Understandings of such as have been scattering and wandering in the cloudy and dark Day as I was whilst following the Inventions of such as thou art who knows nothing of God but by Hear-say conceivings of the Scriptures and looking upon things without Such pitying and in love unto their Souls I have
declared as I have received where they are to wait even within to hear That of God even his Word which is nigh them even in their Mouths and in their Hearts as in Deut. 30. Rom. 10. speaking unto them and so come to know something of him near them even what is to be known of him Rom. 1.19 Seeking him where they may haply feel after him and find him though he be not far from every one of us as in Acts 17.27 Which being known and obeyed will bring into the true Fear of him which must be before he can be served or worshipped who is a Spirit and is worshipped in Spirit and Truth which is witnessed as in Scripture declared John 4.24 And although it be so now with me and such like as it was with those which did Tremble at the Word of the Lord Isa 66.5 That this Generation doth cast Reproach upon and say That we deny the Ordinances of Jesus Christ and for a pretence say Let the Lord be glorified as they did But the Lord hath already arisen to our Joy who have been made to Tremble at his Word and his Commands obey And your Shame will follow when the Lord lays open your Nakedness to all the World as he hath done to me which hasteth greatly Praises Eternal be unto Him alone who hath let me see by the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightned me who is the true Light which enlightneth every Man that cometh into the World John 1.9 That divers of your Observations in your pretended Worship of God are not the real Ordinances of Jesus Christ but the Inventions of Man for which you have no Command from Christ nor Example in Scripture as they are used by you And naming thee and thy practice as is hereafter written it came to me for to send thee in Writing what was written of thee before it went forth unto any other With a Warning therein written unto thee and the rest of thy Brethren Priests who live in these Practices hereafter mentioned who take Tithes as the Priests did who were of Levi but the Stranger the Fatherless and the Widdow have no liberty for to eat thereof with you and to be satisfied therewith as it was required Deut. 14.29 And your Store-house that you instead of keeping for them is for your own particular Prosit and not to receive them into for to distribute forth as the Lord required And so as you own Tithes take the Name of Priests who were of Levi and do as they did and never make mention of the Name of Christ who was of another Tribe to wit of Judah of which Tribe Moses spake nothing of Priesthood Heb. 7. 13 14. Neither did Christ ever that we read of in Scripture speak any thing concerning this being continued for to be his Ministers Wages But if any say When were they taken away I answer The Apostle saith That the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change of the Law Heb. 7.12 And none will say but that Law which made the Priests gave the Tithes and so must end together by right For Christ's Ministers were not for to stand and for to condition with People for any such Wages but as they had freely received so freely give Mat. 10.8 And into whatsoever House or City they did enter if they were received there to remain Eating and Drinking such things as they had given them and this was the Hire he appoints his Luke 10.7 But thou and such like will either see or hear from Man what you may have before you will sit down with a People and so plainly shew that you dare not trust but live by Sense and not by Faith in the Son of God And as you are ordained and ordered by Man to your Places and your Wages of Man's setting down and the Will of Man only to be seen in all these things so never profess your selves to be more than Ministers made by Worldly Men and for Worldly Ends and then poor Ignorant People may know you as you are who have long been deceived by you looking upon you to be Ministers of Christ or else prove that it is otherwise But it was not so with the Apostle He was not of Man Gal. 1.1 neither by Man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the Dead and such an one I own and all others who walk contrary I testifie against as Deceivers of the People And now for to write unto thee at present in short thus Concerning those things which you use and call some of them Ordinances of Christ which I say he did not Ordian And prove that he did if thou canst by plain Scripture and let me hear it in Writing and do not Back-bite that is a work of Dark-ness and condemned with the Light that comes from Christ jesus Therefore do to me as thou wouldst be dealt withal And what is said of thee and thy Brethren do not call it Railing for it is no harsher than Christ's telling the Jews That they were of their Father the Devil although they pretended to be of Abraham yet the Fruits which proceeded from their Lusts made them manifest as yours also do to be as he said John 8.44 And as to your Practice this I say That when Christ Jesus was upon Earth whom in Words some of you pretend to be Followers of when he told his Disciples what they must do to come after him he did not tell them That they must Sing David's Words either themselves or others not being Witnesses of his Conditions Or Sprinkle little Children or Infants with Water Or take a Text or Place of Scripture another's Condition and add to it their own Inventions But these things said he unto them Whosoever will come after me must deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luke 9.23 A Letter written to Friends in the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire to be read at their settled Meetings ALL Friends In the Measure that you have received of the Spirit of God dwell and wait for increase from him and do not fear Want not do you distrust the Love of God but there wait upon him in the Obedience to his Will made manifest being content with what is made known by him That Mind in you that would know more than he gives you to know is proud and is not willing to do what is made known Therefore take heed of that which would be high that is not of God It 's the Lowly that the Lord loves and he will give more Grace to the Humble but he resists the Proud and the Rich and Full must be sent empty away So all of you I exhort to dwell low at the Feet of Jesus wait for to hear his Word every one at the least Appearance of his Light and Grace which is pure in you bend down in Obedience and herein only do you Worship God who is a Spirit and is Worshipped in the
shall come to sit Judge in thee thou shalt then be made to confess that these thy words are vain Boasting and that his Merits and Mercies thou art ignorant of nor never canst know until thou return to be guided by that which checks thee in secret for the Evil of thy Doings and whatsoever thou dost not therewith being guided it is Self-Righteousness and of the Devil and so art guided by the Fancies of thy own vain Mind For that Mind is vain that leads the Creature into Vanities Now consider if it be not so with thee that such things as thou didst see a Vanity in thou art returned back to do those things again Therefore let Shame stop thy Mouth for accusing others of what thou art guilty of thy self And for the Rash Judgment thou speakest of casting upon our fellow Creatures which are the Workmanship of God's Hands as well as we who lives in the height of Conceits above all the People in the World Hence I do declare thee from whence this is to be a false Accuser for the Judgment is not past upon the Creature as it is the Workmanship of God's Hands but chiefly upon the wicked One in the Creature and only upon the Creature as subject to him which is the Enemy of God And saying We live in Conceits That is thy own Condition as will be made manifest and thou may'st as well condemn them who said That they knew that they were of God and that the whole World lay in Wickedness And no other Light do we speak of to be guided by but that Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightned every one that cometh into the World which Light thou say'st is the Conceits of our own Minds And here I charge thee in the Presence of the Living God to be an Evil Speaker of that Light which comes from his dear Son saying It is the Conceits of our own Minds So I charge thee to make it appear that thou didst hear any of us ever speak of any Light to be guided by but the Light of Jesus Christ in the Conscience and if thou canst not then let Fear take hold upon thee and Shame smite thee in thy Face to say That Light is the Conceit of our own Minds that carries us on in the Work But the Grace of God and his Mercies thou sayest are above all our rash Judgment and Conceit I answer The Grace of God and his Mercies thou hast turned into Lasciviousness and out of a vain light Mind thou speakest of Blessing and Praising his most Holy Name and says in thy Conceits That he will sit as Judge him self to confound the Conceits and rash Judgments and Imaginations of high Aspiring Spirits of boasting Men of which Spirit and Mind Quakers are of thou sayest and so in Scorn writest Adieu Quakers How couldst thou get this written and not be condemed in thy Conscience that it was in Scorn Nay consider let the Search pass through and a Wirness shall speak in thee for me That these words were in Scorn written And although thou sayest God himself will sit Judge to confound the Conceits and rash Judgments and Imaginations of high Aspiring Spirits of boasting Men of which Spirit and Mind Quakers are of here consider what thou hast said That God should sit but thou art Exalted as if got into his Seat to judge not with his Spirit but with Scornful Mind speaks of that Condition which his People Witnessed and he Commanded And here thou shews to all that have any Understanding or Eyes to see That thou hast no Bridle to thy Tongue and so thy Religion is in vain Then thou asks out of a vain Mind What Rule we have in Scripture for our high Conceits of our selves Here Ishmael makes himself manifest in thee And further says If we imitate our formed Weekly Meetings from the Apostles and Disciples we Err for they lived in the Truth and we live in the Conceits of Mind I answer meer Imitation without the Spirit we deny But this is known that who are guided by the same Spirit that the Apostles were it will bring them to follow their good Example And did they not meet Weekly Deny it if thou canst And whereas thou sayedst They lived in the Truth and we in the Conceits of Mind Here again I charge thee that so speaks to be a false Accuser And thou sayest God is Judge of the whole World Himself Whereas he Judgeth by his Son and Saints For do not the Scriptures say That the Father Judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son John 5.22 and in the 27th verse And hath given him authority to execute Judgment also because he is the Son of Man And in the Epistle of Jude 14 and 15 verses Behold the Lord cometh with Ten Thousands of his Saints to execute Judgment upon all c. But thou shewest thy self to be an Opposer of Christ and it is true and nor rash Judgment to say so of thee who art found in the Enmity And it is not for us to work before the Eternal Creator of Heaven and Earth doth work in us but his Acting in the Creature is a Mystery to thy carnal Mind and thou art not Judged before the time and this Judgment wherewith the wicked One in thee and others is judged shall not Condemn us for That of God in your Consciences shall witness it to be true and Condemn all for you who live in the Filth of the Flesh and Conformity to the World Acting contrary to what you are Convinced of for Self-Ends and Fear of Man And further thou proceed'st and say The turning of the Mind what way we will that we call the Word of the Lord Thou false Accuser and evil Speaker of the things thou dost not understand how long wilt thou suffer the envious One to rule in thee and to speak Evil of that thou understandest nor If thou knowest the Word of the Lord which is as a Fire shut up in the Bones Jer. 20.9 and how it comes thou wilt know that it is not in our power to turn it what way we will Therefore make out what thou sayest otherwise thy Mouth being stopped own thy Condemnation upon thy false Accusation Thou sayest The Word came by Revelation but how it comes thou knowest not neither canst thou say in the Presence of the Lord and not Lie That the Lord ever spoke one Word unto thee for to declare abroad and yet wilt be Judging of others Then thou further proceeds for to bid John Brown Let high Aspiring Thoughts and Conceits depart and let Brotherly Love be placed in his Heart and Tenderness and Pity possess his Soul This I know that Tenderness and Pity doth possess his Soul and in his Heart he doth love them that are Brethren in Christ Jesus But to the Deceit that rules in thee and others which would have fair and pleasant Words those who are guided by the Spirit of Christ cannot speak Peace
rise in London whereby a great Disturbance was occasioned then presently Proclamation was sent forth and we who were called Quakers were reckoned with Ranters and them who made the Disturbance and so were numbred amongst the Transgressors though Innocent Then by the Proclamation we were not to enjoy our Meetings for to wait upn God under any Pretence of Worshipping or to that purpose were words in it as formerly but if we did which many durst not neglect then we were to be Apprehended and had before Justices of the Peace and there we were to have the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance prosered which if we refused then by the Proclamation we were either to find Sureties for good Behaviour or go to Goal until the next Assizes To this purpose was the Subfrance of the Proclamation as I remember By this means we were hunted for and sought out at our Meetings by wicked Men who were glad of such an opportunity and this gladded the Hearts of the Wicked and made the Hearts of the Righteous sad for a time but the Lord comforted and made His meet together with boldness although some few did faint and with boldness we were carried before the Magistrates and could not Obey their Commands nor own that we were of Evil Behaviour by entering into Bonds for the Good Behaviour and to take the Oaths and so break the Commands of Christ Jesus who saith Swear not at all Mat. 5. And so we were sent to Prison to York-Castle There were committed upon that account between four and five Hundred and some of us I and others were continued a Quarter of a Year's time or more but the Lord cleared or more but the Lord cleared our Innocency and they set us at Liberty in the Lord's time therefore it is good to trust in Him Presently after this the King consented to that Act of Parliament which they made against us That was to this purpose That if we to wit the People called Quakers did meet together upon pretence of Worshipping of God to or above the number of Five we were to be apprehended and be proceeded against for the same by Fines and Banishment But this dismayed not many although many for meeting together to wait upon the Lord as formerly in obedience him were Apprehended and Fined and some as I have heard in London where their Cruetly was grear were haled forth of their Meetings and cut by rude and wicked Persons and one died of Wounds that he received others by Magistrates were Sentenced to Banishment but the Lord disappointed them But as for me I was not cast into Prison upon that Account but was called before the Magistrates But herein was and is may Comfort that I did not see that I neglected my Duty in meeting amongst the Lord's People for fear of Man And after a time the Rulers they forbore pursuing that Act and we had our Meetings much quieter than could have been expected and Truth did spead and Desires in People after the knowledge of the Way of God encreased and the Lord God gladded the Hearts of his People by letting them see now by this Power the Wicked were chained And then the Bishops they set themselves by their Power to terrifie the Lord's Host the Followers of the Lamb but prevailed not Praised be the Lord but the Lord's Mercies were multiplied upon his People both Inward and Outward After this it pleased the Lord for the Trial of this People and that his Power might be manifest to suffer the Powers of the Earth in the following Year to make another Act against our Meetings more strict and cruel than the former the Substance whereof was to this purpose to wit That if we namely those People called Quakers should after the first Day of July 1664. meet together above the number of Five under a pretence of Worshipping God we should for the first Offence according to the pleasure of them in Commission for Justices of the Peace pay a Sum of Money under Five Pounds or suffer a time of Imprisonment not exceeding Three Months for the Second Offence the Prenalty was doubled and for the Third Offence they were either to pay One Hundred Pounds or to be Banished into some of the King 's Foreign Plantations and if they within Seven Years time should return without Liberty then to be proceeded against as Felons And the like Penatly they were to undergo in whose Houses or Grounds such Meetings were kept But Praised be the Lord all this prevailed not nor terrified the Lord's People neither durst they neglect their Duty For even the First Day of the Week after this Act took place at my outward Being where there might be above a Hundred Friends of Truth and others there was no Molestation from without But upon the 8th Day of the Month following I being with several other Friends met together in Sherif-Hutton for to wait upon the Lord the sence of God's Goodness to me and his People being upon my Spirit and I being kneeled down and expressing the same as the Spirit gave utterance There rushed in one rude Man with some Soldiers who haled me forth and that Man with the Constable had me before one Sir Thomas Gowre who was a Parliament Man and in Commission to do Justice who asked me If I spoke any words amongst the People Or to that purpose My answer was as is afore expressed And after I expressed the same he said That was a Transgression of the Act. My Wife standing by and hearing him say so thought in her Mind as she said since If that were a Transgression of the Act for me to express the Sence of God's Goodness upon my Spirit she was well content that I should suffer for it or to this effect things passed So the next Day he and George Mountain being in Commission for to do Justice by their Warrant commited me and a Friend named John Hicks at whose House the Meeting was to Prison to York-Castle for the space of Eleven Weeks and Five Days The Cruelties of Men were much seen in pursuing this Act in several parts of the Nation especially in and about London Sentencing many for Banishment and Banishing some but they were much restrained of what might be intended for that Summer that many might have been sent away there was Wars by Sea and the Pestilence very hot about London which I believe did as the Lord saw it good put a great stop to them in sending many away who were Sentenced for Banishment although many of our dear Friends in that common Calamity the Lord took away by Death that all might be humbled as as shown me at that time when I was Prisoner the Second time upon that Act in York-Castle which was thus occastioned I being at a Meeting of Friends of Truth namely those People called Quakers at Bishop-Wilton in the East-Riding of Yorkshire upon the 14th Day of the 3d Month 1665. the Constables came with a Warrant and there with took us our Meeting being as they said an Unlawful Meeting and the next Day had us before Tobias Jenkins and Liebard Robinson in Commission to have done Justice who committed me and nineteen other Friends to Prison for three Months In all these things the Lord's Support was much seen by those that Feared Him and the Prosecutors of the Act who thought to have wearied us grew weary in many places and Meetings became very quiet for some time and Truth prevailed exceedingly Blessed be Lord for ever whose work it was to Strengthen His and to give them Courage and Comfort every way FINIS