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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A30531	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 : and this is laid down in six particulars ... / by ... Edw. Burroughs.	Burrough, Edward, 1634-1662.	1661 (1661)	Wing B6011; ESTC R14916	30,489	41

of that Spirit of God ruling in their Consciences in such their Religion yet if they suffer only for their Religion sake while yet they walk uprightly as men in all outward affairs relating to the outward man This also is Persecution and such are persecuted for their Religion sake though not wholly for Righteousness sake and none ought to suffer as such under the Authority of any King Prince or Power but if such do suffer as I have said and that for their Religion sake only so though yet their Religion is not perfectly according to God yet they are persecuted and this is Persecution And thus I have in short described and defined what Persecution is in it self and who it is that are persecuted and I shall now shew how great an Enemy Persecution for Conscience and Religion sake is unto the King's Person and Authority Persecution for Conscience sake and for difference in Matters of Religion is a great Enemy to the Person and Government of the King it is I say a destroying and devouring Enemy and the fruits and effects thereof may work terrible destruction yea this Enemy Persecution hath often wrought overthrow in Kingdoms Let the King strive to be delivered speedily from this great Enemy which is fierce and cruel and may work woful effects in this Kingdom also and the King may be more blessed in his Person and Government if he remove far from him this Enemy Persecution I. It is his Enemy because its effect is to eat out the Affections of many good and sober people from the King and may make their Love and Affections dye to the King's Government when they behold and consider the Persecution of many good and peaceable People for Righteousness and good Conscience sake when as no evil doing between man and man can justly be laid to their charge but only for the matter of their Religion and the exercise of their Consciences towards God and if such suffer cruel Imprisonment unjust Fines and grievous Vexations for such cause it may weaken and eat out the Affections of good People and divert their Love and good Desires from the King and his Government in which such Persecution is brought forth and that which diverts the Peoples Love from the King is his great Enemy and such is Persecution II. Persecution is the King 's great Enemy because it may kindle Heart-burnings Envyings Strifes and Murmurings among his Subjects while some are tolerated in the Profession and Practice of their Religion and others persecuted and imprisoned for the same cause and this kind of dealing exerciseth the King's Subjects in harsh dealing one towards another and gives great occasions for Quarrelling Envyes Debate and Malice one against another even when some execute Persecution upon others haling them to Prison spoyling their Goods and the like and this kind of dealing I say whilst the Authority of the Land persecutes one sort of the King's Subjects by the hands of others it tendeth much to great Division and Distractions amongst the People and it is not for the King's safety but for his great dishonour and disadvantage every way to have the People divided into heart-burnings and quarrellings against one another and therefore Persecution is the King 's great Enemy because it worketh such evil effects III. It is his great Enemy because it is contrary to the Trust which God hath reposed in him in promoting him to be King over these People for God hath not committed Power to him to judge in the Cases of Mens Consciences and to persecute any because of the exercise thereof whether they be of this Profession and Practice in Religion or the other yet living peaceably and uprightly as Men he ought not to persecute any nor to suffer them to be persecuted by nor under his Authority but he ought to defend and preserve all mens Persons and Estates in their Just Rights from the violence each of others without respect to what their Profession and Practice of Religion is but if the contrary be brought forth it is contrary and not answerable to the end of God's Restoring Him to these Kingdoms and if He do not what God hath justly called him unto but otherwise this is his Enemy and such is Persecution for Conscience sake it is contrary to the end of Just Government and wherefore God hath Restored him and therefore this Persecution is an utter Enemy both to the King's Person and Authority IV. It is his Enemy because it provokes the God of Heaven and Earth over all to be offended with him for He is provoked and vexed because of the Persecution of his People in this Age as ever He was in all Ages and if the King be guilty thereof it incurreth God's great Displeasure against him for God was ever offended with Kings Rulers and whomsoever that were Persecuters and he is the same at this day and whatsoever it is that provokes God to Anger against the King that is his Enemy And such is Persecution of People for the Profession and Practice of their Religion when as no Evil can be charged upon them in things between Man and Man and therefore let the King beware of this woful Enemy that waits to wound him for if the God of Heaven be provoked against him How great is that Enemy which brings it to pass V. It is the King's Enemy because it not only provokes the Lord to Anger but to Iudgment Persecution is the cause wherefore God brings grievous Iudgments and Vengeance upon whomsoever are guilty thereof and the effect of Persecution is Plagues and Misery and it incenseth God to Anger and also to Destroy and therefore let the King beware of such a deadly Enemy as should cause God to destroy him and such an Enemy is Persecution of Gods People for Conscience sake it draweth down the Wrath of God upon Kings and Kingdoms upon Rich and Poor upon High and Low that are guilty of it for it is the fulfilling of all other sins and it hastens to bring destruction upon all that are guilty and this effect it will work upon the King even this his Enemy Persecution if he turn not from it and overcome it and banish it from him for it is the cause of both inward and outward of both internal and external Plagues and Judgments of God VI. Persecution it is an Enemy to the King because it will work to weaken the hands of Iust and Sober and Righteous Men it will weaken their Love and Affections and it makes their hearts sad and Wo is unto them that make sad their hearts whom God doth not make sad and this doth Persecution and it doth not only weaken the hearts and the hands of the Righteous and Sober Persons but it strengthens the hands of the Rude Ungodly and Prophane through the Land and that which strengthens the Wicked and the Rude Multitude in Wantonness Scorning and Prophaness that is the King's Enemy but such is Persecution for a good Conscience sake

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 QVAKERS 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 Jewes 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 benefit of the King and his Government that they may be Just and Righteous and perfectly according to God By a Friend to Just Authority Edw. Borroughs 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 judge 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 waits for Iustice true Iudgment Mercy Righteousness and Truth to be brought forth by you in the Land that he might blesse you and prosper you but and if the contrary be abounding and brought forth and exercised thorow 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 wayes and works and the Iudgment of you nor of any is determined by Him but accordingly 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 lesse value and spend your dayes in Pleasures 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 Iust 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 might be well with you but if the contrary he can answer you doings with an equal reward and none can prevent him And here is a Cry and a very great Cry of Persecution under your Authority the Prisons filled with Vpright and Innocent persons to the ruine of Persons Wives and Families if the great Mercy of the Lord did not prevent more than the Iustice of men Thousands within these few months have been cast into Goals and Dungeons and nasty holes and divers have finished their lives and dyed in Prisons many being taken out of their houses and from their lawful Callings and many taken out of Meetings where they have been waiting upon God and cruel Sufferings inflicted upon them and all this for Truth and Righteousness sake and for their profession and Practice in Religion when as no Plotting or evil-dealing towards the King nor any of his Subjects could be justly charged and proved against them And thus the Innocent have been made a Prey to Prophane Persons and their Sufferings have been woful and all this under and by your Authority And are these things nothing to you or do you judge this is well doing Is this Iustice and true Iudgment Is this for your Happiness and Prosperity Let the God of Heaven and Earth judge in this matter between this People and You for the Cry of their Sufferings are very Loud in the Ears of God and they have been laid before you and you ought to have relieved them and eased their heavy burdens and shewed Iustice Pity and Love and this would have made for your Happiness But if that you alwayes neglect to hear the Cry of the Poor and of the Oppressed yet God hears and takes notice and though this People should have no Helper in the Earth yet He is their Helper and their Cause is committed unto Him Can these things stand and can you be happy in these proceedings while the Innocent suffer under you Is it in your hearts to destroy the Heritage of God do you think to extinguish an Innocent People from off the Earth Must none wait upon God and worship Him and pray to Him but after your Prescriptions and Limitations And will you kill and destroy all such as do not who cannot for good Conscience sake conform to every way of Worship and Religion imposed but must wait upon God and worship Him and pray to Him according as his Spirit teacheth and guideth will you I say destroy all such Is it in your hearts to effect it if it be the God of Heaven will not prosper you in such purposes Will ye force men to forsake the Way of their God wherein they have found his Presence will ye persecute men for their Religion-sake while yet they walk uprightly in their Conversations among men Oh Friends it is not Iustice and true Iudgment thus to do it pleaseth not God neither doth it unite the hearts of Subjects in true Love and Unity but it hath contrary effects and that you may find Indeed according to my judgment such proceedings are not good Policy nor humane Wisdom for you to seek to establish one particular Perswasion and kind of Religion and impose that by force and persecute and seek to destroy all the rest that are otherwise minded if they will not deny their Principles and Consciences and conform this seems I say no good Policy among men for if it doth gratifie one sort of men in their desires it discontenteth and dissatisfieth many more and it breaketh Love and Unity amongst Subjects and your safety is in

Testimonies with divers others that might be given it is manifest that the Saints of God in former Ages did meet together to worship God and to wait upon Him in Prayer Preaching as the Spirit of the Father taught them that dwelt in them And sometime they met publickly and sometime more private and sometime on the day-time and sometime in the night-season and they met separate from the Synagogues and wayes of publick Worship of the Iews according to the Will of God and as it was ordered among them And thus it is manifest that our Meetings for the Worship of God at this day though they are separate from the way of publick Worship of the Kingdom and are in more private houses are justifiable being after the Example of the Saints and according to the Scriptures of Truth and therefore out Meetings are according to the Law of God just and lawful III. And forasmuch as by reason of the late Insurrection of some few persons in London our lawful Assembling of our selves together in the Worship of God is under present restraint and prohibition and by Proclamation forbidden under the denomination of Seditious and Unlawful Meetings and our Friends Imprisoned and Persecuted for that cause of Assembling themselves to wait upon God Now in this Case this I plead unto the King That we are no manner of way guilty of that Insurrection upon which the Proclamatian of forbidding our Meetings was grounded and therefore ought not to suffer with the guilty being innocent from the very occasion of that Proclamation and for the King to prohibit our Meetings for and because of the ill use that others made of theirs this seems a Condemning of the Innocent with the Guilty which is no way just in the sight of God nor Men but altogether unequal that we should suffer for other ments faults though such did abuse their Liberty and pervert the end of their Meetings into rising up with Carnal Weapons against the King so did not we neither in intent nor action and therefore our Meetings ought not to be prohibited for the cause of other mens faults and miscarriages in that case And also we have the King's Promise divers times That we should not suffer for our Religion while we aded nothing against the Peace of the Kingdom and Government which yet we never have done nor made any ill use of our Meetings nor of the King's Promises nor forfeited them and therefore according to his own Promises we ought to have our Meetings and enjoy them without restraint because we have not farfeited the benefit of his former Promises in that behalf nor ever made use of our Meetings to plot or conspire against the Government to its harm or detriment and because of our innocency herein the benefit of his former Promises are yet in force unto us to protect our lawful Meetings and not to prohibit them and though upon suspition only out Meetings have been Restrained and our Friends Imprisoned by the late Proclamation yet we being proved innocent and without guilt of that which occasioned it the King and Council may and ought in Justice and good Reason to Reverse and Revoke that part of the Proclamation related to us as being innocent that we may enjoy our lawful Meetings according to the Scriptures and Example of Saints and according to the King 's own former Promises IV. All these things considered and rightly understood by the King and his Council it will appear unto them in good reason 1. That our Meetings are just and lawful in themselves because they are for the Worship of the Lord God and to wait upon Him 2. They are according to the Example of the Apostles because the Scriptures prove the like Meetings 3. And they are not contrary to his own Promises and Toleration that he gave for six Months after his coming in Because he said VVe should not suffer for our Religion if we lived peaceably and we were not disturbed by Authority from him that we know of in our Meetings till this occasion 4. It will appear That we ought in Iustice and Equity to have our lawful Meetings protected and preserved by the King's Authority and not prohibited because we are not guilty of that which occasioned this present Restraint but what we have suffered in this case it hath been upon suspition and without any just cause on our part And for these Ends and Causes I plead on the behalf of the Innocent that we may enjoy peaceably our Meetings for the exercise of God's Worship and not be prohibited in the King's Dominions under his Authority V. But and if we are persecuted and imprisoned and made to suffer for this Cause of Meeting together to worship God and wait upon Him in Conscience and Duty towards Him and for following the Scriptures Example as the Saints of old as afore-mentioned we must only commit our Cause to the God of Heaven and in patience suffer under whatsoever is unequally inflicted upon us for this matter if men shew the height of Oppression towards us and we must put on the spirit of Long-suffering and Forbearance and leave Vengeance to the Lord who will in his season redress our Cause if that we are persecuted for meeting together and for worshipping of the Lord according as his Spirit perswades our Consciences and such our Sufferings are not for evil-doing not as Transgressors against God nor the King but as Servants of God we suffer and for holding the Testimony of JESUS and a good Conscience And thus I have brought the state of our Case as concerning our Meetings unto the Kings knowledge and must leave it to his serious view and happy will he be if he hath regard to the Afflicted but if he stop his Ear from the Cry of the Poor and suffer them to be destroyed who shall plead for him or excuse him in the Day of the Lord when He comes to Judgement to reward every man according to his deeds CHAP. III. The Case stated and pleaded concerning Tythes as paid among the Jews and also among the Christians and the Cause why we refuse to pay them at this day I. VVE do acknowledge that Tythes as instituted given and received in the Law of Moses amongst the Iews and according to the Commandment of God were of Heavenly Ordination and were for that Holy Use and End of maintaining the Levitical Priesthood and the Poor the Widows and the Strangers in Israel and we know that whilest that Livitical Priesthood of Signs and Types and Figures was yet unfinished and unfulfilled by Christ Jesus the Everlasting Priest That Law that gave and received Tythes was in force and it was sinful against God and contrary to his Law in any of Israel to withhold their Tythes and not to pay them and such as did robbed God and the Poor and the Prophet complained against them for then the Ordination of Tythes was of God and the Practise and End of them was good and

the uniting of Peoples hearts to you and one to another in Love and Liberty and not in the Divisions and Distractions of people surely this canot be for your safety When as if you did give Liberty to all that were peaceable in their Lives and Conversations in the exercise of their Religion in Faith and Worship to God-wards this would cause all to love you and none to be discontented with you in good reason If one sort of People had as much Liberty as others in the way of their Religion I mean and none more than others this doubtless would encrease Content among Subjects and be a blessing to you and your Authority and to proceed in that way which may keep the people in Love and Unity one with another and to you-wards this were good Policy for your Establishment to perpetuity and there seems to be no other way than in shewing Iustice Mercy and Liberty to all in all right wayes and in the exercise of their Consciences towards God And this is my Iudgment the way for you to prosper is to leave the prescribing the way of Worship unto God as his Spirit shall teach and perswade the Conscience and to leave the Iudgment in all Cases of Conscience about Spiritual things unto Him and not to meddle about imposing Religion nor persecuting men for that cause for it is not your place to do it but you are to rule well over the outward man and to judge in the Cases of wrong between man and man but not at all in the Cases between God and mens Consciences But you may say Who art thou inferiour man that seemest to advise us that are high and potent and wise enough for our selves Well though it be thus though I am so and not much acquainted with the State-affairs nor do I profess Policy in the Governments of this World yet this I say What soever my Birth or quality be and whether I live or dye yet these things you must find true one day for I speak not as a Politician but as a Servant of God that your Prosperity and Happiness in this World and hereafter standeth in shewing and executing true Iustice and Iudgment and Mercy and equal Liberty towards all without respect of their Title in the Profession and Practice of Religion and in allowing Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Faith and Worship and Duty to God-wards to all Christian People equally in your Dominions and not to persecute or destroy any in their Persons and Estates for the exercise of their Religion to God-wards This is the way of your Prosperity and the contrary is the way of your Destruction if that ye persecute men for their Conscience sake and exercise Lordship and Authority over mens Conscience in Spiritual things and if ye prescribe a way of Worship and seek to destroy all that cannot conform thereunto if ye do thus this is not good Policy to establish you Well I shall say little further but that these things I write not as your Enemy but as your Friend who would have you saved both soul and body and not as in any kind of harshness in my spirit towards you do I write but in love and compassionateness to you and these Kingdoms And I have here in brief stated and pleaded the Case of the Innocent People called Quakers who are at this time under great Afflictions and Tribulations by your Authority and it hath been in my heart divers times to declare the substance of these things unto you but at the 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 presumptuously 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 I am a lover of Justice and Mercy Truth and Right●●usness ● B. London the10 th day of the second moneth 1661. CHAP. I. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning Swearing at all and particularly concerning the Oath of Allegiance I. VVE 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 always 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 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 Governours or Government 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 Iustice 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 lyes neither may we