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A41053 A declaration and an information from us the people of God called Quakers to the present governours, the King and both Houses of Parliament, and all whom it may concern / M.F. Fox, Margaret Askew Fell, 1614-1702. 1666 (1666) Wing F628; ESTC R18345 6,412 8

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A DECLARATION AND AN INFORMATION From us the People of God called QUAKERS To the present Governors the KING and Both Houses of PARLIAMENT And all whom it may Concern This was Delivered into the Kings hand the 22 day of the Fourth Moneth by M. F LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons and Robert Wilson 1660. WE who are the People of God called Quakers who are hated and despised and every where spoken against as people not fit to live as they were that went before us (a) 1 Cor. 4 9 10 11 12 13. who were of the same spirit power Life and were as we are in that they were accounted as the off-scouring of all things by that Spirit and Nature that is of the world and so the Scripture is fulfilled (b) Gal. 4. he that is born of the flesh persecuteth him that is born of the Spirit We have been a suffering people under every Power Change and under every profession of Religion that hath been born the outward power in the Nation these 12 years since we were a People and being that throw the old Enemy which hath continually appeared against us not only in the profane people of the Nation but also in the highest profession of sorts and sects of Religion we have suffered under and been persecuted by them all Even some p●rsecuted prisoned till death others their bodies bruised till death stigmatized bored thorow the tongue gagged in the mouth stockt and whipt thorow Towns Cities our goods spoiled our bodies two or three years imprisoned with much more that might be said which is well known to the Actors thereof and this done not for the wronging of any man nor for the breach of any just Law of the Nation nor for evil doing nor desiring any evil or wishing any hurt to any man but for Conscience sake towards God because we could not bow to their worship and because we could not maintain a Ministry which Ministry we could not joyn with nor own So we look upon it to be unjust to maintain them we receive nothing from nor cannot trust our Souls under their Teaching who Teach for hire and Divine for money which the Prophets of the Lord cryed wo against And Christ said a hireling was a Thief and a Robber (c) Joh. 10.12 13. and would fly because he was an hireling And they are maintained by Tithes contrary to Christ and the Apostles Doctrine (d) Heb. 7.12 who said the Priesthood was changed that took Tithes and the Law also that gave them and who witnessed CHRIST JESUS to be the Everlasting Offering once for all who saith such an High-Priest hath become us which is holy harmlesse undefiled separate from sinners and made higher then the Heavens who in the dayes of his flesh when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryes and Tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared though he was a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered (e) Heb 5.7 8 9. and being made perfect be●ame the Anthor of Eternal Salvation unto all them that obey him And for obedience to him and his commands do we suffer who hath said swear not at all (f) Mat. 5.34 35. Jam. 5.12 Jam. 2.10 And he said Call no man Master upon earth for ye have one Master in Heaven and who hath said How can you believe that seek Honour one of another and not the Honour that comes from God onely and who hath said let your Yea be Yea and your Nay Nay for whatsoever is more then this cometh of evil And because we cannot respect persons which is contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and practise who hath said (g) Act. 10.34 Mat. 22.16 of a Truth God is no respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousnesse is accepted of him And the Apostle James exhorted his Brethren not to have the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons for if you respect persons you commit sin and are convinced of the Law as Transgressors and contrary to this Faith and Doctrine we are made Transgressors by the Powers of the Earth because we cannot respect persons and commit sin and be made Transgressors of the Law of God And this hath been the onely ground and cause of our sufferings because we obeyed the Command of Christ the Author of our Eternal salvation and observed the Apostles Doctrine and practise and not for any other cause or end have our sufferings been but for Conscience sake because we cannot bow to mens wills and worships contrary to the Command of Christ Jesus our Everlasting Priest King and Prophet whom we serve with our spirits and worship in that which the World calls Heresie (h) Act. 24 14. And now because that several of you who are most concerned in this Government are not acquainted with our principles and practices neither have known our Innocency and sufferings and the Old Enemy by whom we have suffered at this time being ready to incense and instigate and infuse secretly into the minds of them who are strangers to us against whom we have not transgressed neither do we desire to give any just occasion of offence to these present Governors who yet have not done us much wrong in making any Law against us that we know of And we do believe would not if ye did rightly understand our Innocency and Integrity nakedness and singleness in our carriage towards all men upon the face of the earth and if ye would but examine and search out our carriage and behaviour towards all mens persons Souls and Estates if these things were scarched out and Examined thorow the Nations and that no prejudice were let into your minds from others words which proceed from secret envy malice and hatred not from any just ground they have against us but as it is from a contrary spirit and mind as it was in the Jews against Christ and in all others against the Apostles so it is the same now against us but this we commit to the Lord who will plead our cause and clear our Innocency who hath said vengeance is Mine and I will repay it And now that they know we cannot swear nor take an Oath for Conscience sake but have suffered because we could not take them Now do the Magistrates of several Countyes of the Nation through the suggestion of the Priests envy which is inveterate against us Tender us an Oath which they call the Oath of Allegiance with several other Engagements what their own wils can invent on purpose to ensnare us that upon the denial thereof they may cast us into prison have already cast several of us into prison at their own pleasure We do therefore declare to take of all Jealousies Fears and Suspitions of our Truth and Fidelity to the King and these present Governours that our intentions