Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A43752
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From New-Gate, a prisoners just cause pleaded against all his persecutors and let the witnesse of God in all consciences be judge in this matter.
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Higgins, John, 1633-1667.
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1661
(1661)
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Wing H1952A; ESTC R18499
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5,840
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9
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From NEW-GATE A PRISONERS Just Cause PLEADED Against all his PERSECUTORS And let the Witnesse of God in all consciences be judge in this matter First BE it known unto you all that I with many more of the people of God called Quakers are not here upon the Fact of Felony or Murther or Whoredom or Drunkennesse or for Swearing c. but for the freedom of our consciences in denying to Swear according to Christs Doctrine and now whether we are guilty or not guilty in this matter of the breach of a righteous Law and so deserving imprisonment or bonds let the Witnesse of God in the conscience be judge even in this matter Again be it known unto you all that I with many more of the People of God before mentioned did never Act Plot or Agitate mischief against the KING or any other Person within his Dominion but we are peaceable men and only desire and require our just Freedom in the Nation of our nativity and also the exercise of our consciences towards God without molestation and for to be preserved in peace as we are peaceable Subjects of the Nation We in our several places pay Custome and Tribute to those in Authority that violence may not be done unto us yet behold what havock is made of us how are our goods spoiled and our bodies imprisoned and many sick and weak amongst us and some families hereby exposed to poverty and want if God take not a special care for them And now whether we or our persecutors are guilty of sin and wickedness against God in this matter let his witnesse in the conscience be judge even in this our cause Again it is well known to almost all that the KING before his coming into England whilst he was yet at Breda that he gave forth a Declaration there promising free liberty to tender consciences in matters of Religion c. provided they live peaceably in the Kingdom and this Declaration is revived since his coming to England But surely this is made of none effect for we can plead guiltless both before God Angels and men that we have not forfeited our liberty therein mentioned by any Act Plot or agitation against the KING or any other Person within the Dominion of England yet nevertheless let the Goals in England testifie what heaps are cast into them and what havock is made of the Innocent that make conscience of an oath Aud indeed it is true besides all this before mentioned in the Declaration promising liberty that we had the word of a King even from his own mouth that we should not suffer for the exercise of our consciences in matters of Religion c. But alas alas what doth this word avail us now whilst the rude multitude are let loose upon us yea insomuch that it may be truly said if God were not on our side they would swallow us up through their unsatiable desires On this may be taken up as a lamentation over England at this day that her Rulers should make no more conscience of their promises and engagements surely the guilt hereof cannot but lie heavy upon their consciences and so let the witness of God in all consciences arise and judge for us in this matter And again consider what a lingring Imprisonment we are in men and women cast in by heaps together and through the straitness of room they are much thronged together both in this Goal and others and sundry Persons of us are weak and sickly and by all outward appearance if we are thus continued in such straitness weaknesses and sickness may much more abound And alas what commiseration is there in the hearts of men in Authority towards us do we not see mercy as it were turned into cruelty even towards them that never deserved wrath at their hands and may we not hereby in truth conclude with the Prophet of old that the best of them is as a briar and the most upright as a thorn hedge Mic. 7. 4. Oh that the witness of God in our enemies and persecutors might be awakened to plead our innocent cause and this is that which we wait for and suffer in patience to see even the wicked smitten and wounded in their own hearts that their wickedness curelty and persecution may come to an end and Truth and Equity and Righteousness to be exalted even to bear rule in the hearts of both Kings and Princes Then O then rejoyce ye that love righteousnesse when our Lord and King reigns in righteousness in the Kingdoms of men Oh blessed day shall that be called when Kings raign in the Dominion of Gods pure righteous holy Spirit then shall the meek of the earth inherit their freedom and he that is a peaceable man shall have the praise and the terrour shall be to the evil doer which never shall be renowned O sink down sink down to Gods witness in your own hearts which will bring you into a sence of your own conditions and also break the bonds of oppression Oh let not the cry of the oppressed be alwayes against you for our God is mighty to save his people and to destroy his enemies but if he will not take vengeance we shall freely forgive them for the Lord our God hath given us of his Spirit to bear the contradiction of sinners yea all their hard speeches and cruelties and to suffer long in patience until the measure of their iniquity be fully finished And hereby know we that we are of God because he has given us of his Spirit which leads into unity and peace with himself and one with another out of the enmity wrath malice hatred revenge and persecution which are all works of darkness and brought forth by the children of darknesse for we know such as live in these things are not led by Christs spirit so are none of his but against him in the enmity no true Christians but of Antichrist and in the Heathenish nature and these make war against the Saints who follow the Lamb who cannot lift up a carnal weapon against any man yet in the patient suffering under the persecutor shall our victory be obtained But this may be a mystery to the children of darkness yet hear a little further and I shall shew you thus it is the innocent suffering of Gods people shall reach to the witnesse of God even in their persecutors and when they smite and wound the innocent God shall smite and wound them even the wicked in their own hearts and thus the Lord will fight our battles and work freedom and redemption to his people Therefore hear hear and fear the living God of the whole earth who is a Spirit and will judge the wicked in their own hearts yea that is he that convinces the Transgressor for the evil of his waies and he it is that will make himself manifest to be a God near at hand though men have been looking and seeking of him as one afar off yet our God is drawing