Fore-fathers have lived under and we our selves been liable and subject to by reason of the Government standing in a single Person successively and we being forced to live under the Authority of such Men as had no right from God thereunto as I have said And now our Eyes are opened to see better things and we are in good Expectations that the Lord will Suddenly so appear as to free us from future Oppressions in this respect c. And these things we are waiting for to be brought to pass in their Season and the Hand of the Lord will accomplish it if not by you then even contrary to you Therefore take this my Council even as you hope to prosper for this I know from the Lord upon the rejecting or receiving hereof dependeth your Standing or your Fall your Renown or perpetual Reproach even your Blessing or your Curse and the time is at hand that many shall confess the Lord gave good Counsel to you by his Servant E. Burr Obs That in his Judgment it was through Ignorance that the People subjected themselves to Hereditary Governours or such as had no right to the Place of Rule or to the Government standing in a Single Person successively and he reckons it a piece of Slavery the Nation hath long been under that our Kings have attained to the Throne Hereditarily and yet G. F. c. of late tells the King and Parliament that their Hearts and Hands could seal to the Substance both of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy And G. F. saith If he could take any Oath at all upon any occasion he should take the Oath of Allegiance which Oath binds to the King and his Heirs and Successors Now if this be not Contradiction and Temporizing what is See moreover G. F's Paper taken out of the same Book that the Abstract against Kingly Government was taken p. 42. To all such as feed the Priests till they turn against them THE Black Presbyterians and Priests and Cavaliers which are stirring you being out of the Power which first had Dominion over them what now are Priests Cavaliers Presbyterians saying Curse you Meroz that will not come to fight against the Mighty meaning the Parliament and all the honest People in the Nation to destroy them And what are they now bawling against you as they have against the Quakers Will nothing satisfie the Priests and the rest but Blood Have they not been the stirrers up for War and Blood always What now are they so fat fed that they curse them that will not come to fight against the Parliament Have you fed them so fat that they kick against you like wild Horses that they snort that there is such a snorting among them against their Feeders Have you sed them like wild Bulls and Heifers that now they run against you with their Horns Surely the Fodderers of these have not well looked about them have not these been called Ministers of the Gospel But now how comes it that they preach up War These are bad Cattle Horses Heifers and Bulls that kick against their Fodderers And run with their Horns against their Fodderers I must tell you the Sun is set upon all the Priests in this Nation and such as be like minded and that is the Word of the Lord God to this present Age and many more G. F. Hear now Is Penington an Eminent Writer among them and one of good repute to the Parliament the Army and all the well-affected in the Nation who have been faithful to the Good Old Cause 1659. p. 1. THat there hath been a Backsliding and turning aside from the Good Old Cause even by the Army who formerly were Glorious Instruments in the Hand of God hath been lately confessed The Name of God hath been Blasphemed in the whole Earth and that Holy Spirit and Power which many Hearts can witness was the Beginner and Carryer on of this Work made a Scoff and Derision to the Enemies of Truth in these Nations and in the Nations round about who watched to see the Issue and Result of these things The Controversie was very great and eminent and drew many Eyes upon it the Lord was appealed to on both sides to decide it and many know that by his Presence and Power in the Army the Stale was turned even when they were very very low and cryed out for Prayers and made large Promises in the Days of their Distress yea the Lord did not desert the Army but heard their Prayers and the Prayers of his People for them carrying on the Deliverance until he had given a perfect Victory into their Hands c. Obs That by the Lord's Presence and Power in the Army the Controversie was decided and the Army made Glorious Instruments for the Good Old Cause was not then the Armies Cause once Just in the Quakers Opinion and their fighting lawful and approved of God Miles Halhead and T. S. two Eminent Men of their Ministry follow with their most plain Testimony Wounds of an Enemy c. 1656. p. 23. VVHen the Presbyterians saw the Army who were made the Sword of the Lord against Papists and Bishops would not submit to the Covenant they drew the Sword against them and not prevailing in a first War many of them joyned with the Papists and Bishops and the Common Enemy meaning the King And now an Oath of Abjuration is tendred to them to Swear who have been most faithful to the Common-wealth and its Army and have born the Brunt and Heat of the Day in the late Wars with the peril of their Lives in the Field and the loss of their Estates against the Popish Prelatical and Presbyterian Party Hath this Generation witnessed the Word of the Lord to be true above many Generations before whose Eyes and by whose Hands the Righteous God hath executed his Dreadful Judgments on the Enemies of his Elect hath he despised the Image of the King and Princes and Nobles and the great Ones and poured forth their Blood as Water on the Earth and made them a fearful desolation in the Cause of his People and of Justice and of Equity In the Iniquities that they have committed and in the Sins wherewithal they have Sinned hath He cut them off and made them the dreadful Examples of his Vengeance p. 75 76. Obs The Contents of this is plain to every capacity Take also George Roffs Testimony another of their Ministry TO thee Oliver Cromwel thus saith the Lord I had chosen thee among the thousands of the Nations to execute my Wrath upon my Enemies and gave them to thy Sword with which I fought for the Zeal of my own Name and gave thee the Enemies of my own Seed to be a Curse and a Reproach for ever and made thee an Instrument against them and many have I cut down by my Sword in thy Hand that my Wrath might be executed on them to the utmost See Righteousness c. p. 11. Obs Here the Lord is represented
Rome and it be a top of Rome then there let your Standard stand and look at the Power of the Lord God and never heed Gold nor Silver for the Power of the Lord will give you enough c. See To the Council of Officers pag. 2 3 5 6 7 8. G. F. Obs He saith it was the Power of the Lord God that first carried them on and had they been Faithful they should have required Innocent Blood of Spain and knock'd at Rome Gates and trampled Tyrants under and demanded the Pope himself and this they should have done as an Army in the Spirit and Power of God which they had lost setting up a Standard at Rome commanding the Turk and crying up Christ the only King then all that feared the Lord Quakers as well as others would have said These are the Men that are gone out for the Cause of God and his Truth Then he complains That many valiant Captains Souldiers and Officers have been put out of the Army because of their Faithfulness to the Lord that is for being Quakers as he intimates Then he crys out saying Thousands of us went in the Front of you This was a time of Sincerity when it would have been a dirty nasty thing to have talked of a House of Lords He counsels them not to stop till they have set up their Standard at Rome and never heed Gold nor Silver for the Power of the Lord will give you enough so E. Burrough says to the Army God will give their the Papists falslly consecrated Vessels and Treasures a Spoil and Prey to you if you be faithful Compare this with what they say in the other Column NOW I shall come to cite some Passages out of E. B's Books he was one of their Chief Preachers and in very great Esteem amongst them his Works they took care to reprint in Folio but withal to expunge some Passages and alter others which discovered too much of his Oliverian and their Fighting Spirit This Man is charged by Ieremiah Ives to have justified the late War against the King and is defended by Geo. Whitehead another of their chief Preachers saying Serious Search p. 35 36. Thou art pleased to tell the World twice or thrice over that we justifie the late Wars against the King And why so Because E. B. in severely warning the late Powers of their Downfal did by way of Reproof tell Oliver what God had done for him even in the same Letter to him wherein he plainly also telleth him of the Great Oppressions which the People of God suffered under him c. See saith he E. B's Works from pag. 551. to pag. 583. how plainly and faithfully he did warn Oliver and those Men then in Power of their Overthrow To be sure E. Burrough was no Temporizer Now we are to see whether E. Burrough doth not Justifie the late War against the King Counsel and Advice Printed 1659. In his Letters to Oliver Protector May 1657. he hath these Passages Pag. 4. THE Lord gave thee the Necks of Princes to tread upon and their Dominions to inherit and thou wast set a Ruler in much Dominion and hast savour in his Sight and in the sight of many People who wished well unto thee for a Blessing Many Victories honourable and remarkable was given unto thee over them who had exalted themselves against God and ruled in Tyranny over his People whom the Lord pittied and thou an Instrument in his Band wast ordained by him to lead forth a People whom he Blessed with thee against a cruel People and Generation of Oppressors who exercised Tyranny over the Lord's Heritage till they were taken away and cast out and are a Reproach unto the Lord and his People unto this day and even so shall all be that follow their Example and are Oppressors and Tyrants over the Seed of God as they were Note These Lines in Black Letter are all left out in his Works p. 552. In another Letter to him he writes thus dated September 1657. Pag. 16 17. Friend IT is upon me and also I am pressed in Spirit thereunto to give unto thee even unto the Oliver Protector the perfect measure of thy Dominions c. Many Enemies thou hast which watch over thee for Evil and not for Good who would rejoyce in thy overthrow And first there is a People scattered through all these Nations who are full of Wrath and ravening Envy towards thee Even of those known by the Name of Malignants Party in whose Hearts to this day there is continual hatred and evil surmising lodgeth against thee and all thy Off-spring and I believe that dayly advantage they seek against thee by subtle Conspiracies and secret Plottings of Maliciousness in their Evil Hearts seeking by all means if it be possible how to be avenged and not slipping any advantage how to revenge themselves and the Cause of their King I know the Lord hath Cursed them and their Endeavours to this day and thou hast had Dominion and Power given thee of God to bruise them and to break them to pieces and what thou hast done unto their King should not be reckoned against thée by the Lord if now thou wert Faithful to what he requires of thee c. Note And promote their Cause is put in instead of The Cause of their King p. 559. And the word blasted is put in instead of Cursed And all the Words in Black Letter are left out in his Works p. 560. Obs How he calls the Protector and his Party a People whom the Lord blessed against a cruel People and Generation of Oppressors that is those called the Malignant Party that were for the King he saith also The Lord hath cursed them and their Endeavours to this day and that if the Protector would own them the Quakers they would own him in the Face of all his Enemies p. 21. the chief of which were then the King 's Party How should they do that without fighting And in a Letter of his to the Protector and Council 12th Month 57. he saith p. 23. WHat Hath the abundance of this Worlds Glory and its Treasure quite overcome and stoln away your Hearts wholly from all sense and seeling of the unjust Sufferings of your Brethren meaning the Quakers who have in times past as faithfully as your selves served the Nation with their Lives and Estates to the purchasing of this Peace and Freedom out of the hands of Tyrants Tyrants is left out and the word Opposers put in its stead E. B's works p. 563. In another Letter to the Protector which was given to him the 6th Month 1658. about a Month before his Death he writes thus p. 33. ARise and stand up for the Lord and he will give thee strength and Victory and will make thy Horn as Iron and thy Hoof as Brass to push down and tread under the High Places of Idolatry in all the Apostatiz'd Churches both Papists and others And as concerning thy War and Armies
the Inquisition of Spain and Rome and that the Quakers were some of those True learts appears by those other words of G. F's expostulating Why such as feared God and trembled at his Word should be put out of the Army which might have been a Blessing to the Lord in their Generation And in page 3. of the same Declaration they say thus So those that use any Weapon to fight for Christ or for the Establishing of his Kingdom or Government both the Spirit Principle and Practice in that we deny Yet these same Men viz. G. F. and E. B. would that the Officers and Souldiers should have set up their Standard a Top of Rome and have sent for the Turks Idol plucked up Idolatry and cryed up Christ the only King Oh wonderful Again see the Quakers Plea 1661. How peaceable the Quakers are and have always been p 7. NO better Testimony can be given of us and of our peaceableness and that we shall not Plot nor Rebel against the King than Experience it self Experience is the best Witness that we are peaceable and free from Plotting and Rebellion for we have always been so since we were a People both before and since the King came in Obs These peaceable Men not only approve of what the Army did against the King and his Party but would have them to continue Quakers in the Army and to enterprise the Subduing of Spain and the Pope and the Turk in their Spirit and to invite all that are against the Pope to take part with them and they promise the Protector that if he would own them they would own him in the Face of all his Enemies Counsel and Advice p. 7. And Francis Howgil says It was a good thing that the Parliament overthrew the late King and that it is no Rebellion to call away by which he means to Depose those in Power that perform not their Trust for the Good of the People See more of this hereafter Hear farther what G. F. c. say to the King and Council after the rising of the Fifth Monarchy Men p. 2. AND now that we should be reckoned amongst a People whose Principle is to Fight and avenge themselves which astonishes all them which know it I believe your own Consciences tell you that we are harmless and would do you no harm but wish your Good c. It 's known that those you have numbred us amongst never denyed the bearing of Sword nor Outward Weapons but whose Principle is to avenge themselves Obs Could any People declare themselves more for fighting than they did How should Oliver keep his Crown but by fighting How did he get it but by fighting How should the Army set up their Standard a top of Rome but by fighting How require the Blood that has been shed in the Inquisition but by fighting In short What should Men do with Swords but to fight and yet they were not only to wear their Swords but to cut down Idolaters with them and their Sword was to be the Sword of the Lord in their Hand And E. Burrough in express for Avenging the Blood of the Guiltless through all the Dominions of the Pope and exhorts the Army to do this going forth in their the Quakers Spirit How dare these Men appeal to the King and Council 's Consciences that they are harmless and would do them no harm when they not only approve of what was done in the late War but offered their Service to Oliver to own him if he would own them against all his Enemies and some of them gave Intelligence to the Army against Sir George Booth whorose to bring in the King See p. 13. of this Book And notwithstanding all that E. B. and others have written in Justification of the Parliament's Cause against the King yet at the King 's coming in that is in the middle of May 1660. then E. B. writes In his Book called A Visitation c. p. 12. IN the beginning there were but one sort of People that were in capacity to raise and prosecute War against the King and upon such there is Guilt to be charged in the Sight of God who have foregone their Principles and been deceitful both to God and Men. And as for us who are called Quakers we are clear from the Guilt of all his Sufferings c. How often do they blame the Protector and others for putting of honest and godly Men out of the Army It may be because they cannot put off their Hats c. and yet tell the King They have suffered all along because they would not take up Carnal Weapons to fight withal against any and are thus made a Prey upon because say they we are the Innocent Lambs of Christ and cannot avenge our selves Declaration p 6. given forth under our Names and in behalf of the whole Body of the Elect People of God who are called Quakers G. For R. Hubberthorn I. Stubs F. Howgil G. Roberts L. Fell S. Fisher H. Fell and others Farther in the Postscript thus And all Wars and Fightings with Carnal Weapons we do deny who have the Sword of the Spirit This the People called Quakers do witness to all the World Again in P. 4. And this is both our Principle and Practice and hath been from the Beginning so that if we suffer as suspected to take up Arms or make War against any it is without any ground from us for it neither is nor ever was in our hearts since we owned the Truth of God neither shall we ever do it because it is contrary to the Spirit of Christ his Doctrine and the Practice of his Apostles These words of theirs may serve for a Reply to an Answer they make to an Objection that many of them have been in the Army against the King and Kingly Authority to which they say Quakers Plea p. 4. Though some that are now called Quakers were once in the Army under the Powers against the King when their Knowledge and Judgments were not otherwise framed but were of that Principle and Practice that Fighting and going to War in it self was lawful c. yet being now altered and turned in their Judgments to the contrary and that it is not lawful in the Administration of the Gospel to fight against or go to War with Carnal Weapons in any wise there is now no danger of Vs and now We are all of that Mind and Heart that it is on all Occasions whatsoever unlawful to go to War and Fight This pretended change of Judgment in G. Fox and his Preachers is not to be taken for a change of their Judgment for they say it neither is nor ever was in our Hearts since we own'd the Truth of God to take up Arms which is a Contradiction to their giving directions and charges to the Protector Officers and Souldiers concerning Fighting exhorting them thereunto and to go forth as an Army in their Spirit and blamed them for putting honest sober Men and those
Ionathan Clapham a most precise Stickler for a Reformation But when the Independents were possessed of the Authority 't was then the Beheaded King was by this Guide both Preached and Printed as a Toe of the Image the little Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands was to smite and therefore says The Fall of the ten Kingdoms was begun the Lord is risen out of his Habitation gainsay not for who seeth not the Alteration is of the Lord. In another place says he There can be no clearer Evidence that God is about this work of breaking own this great Image and smiting the very Feet and Toes thereof than this present Victory over the Scottish Forces at Dunbar which we are now to render Thanksgiving to God for the Cause of this War being whether this Image shall be upheld or the Feet and the Toes broken In short O ye honoured Worthies whom the Lord hath raised up to effect these great Changes carry on the Lord's Work that your People may not have cause to say we have changed our Tyrants not our Tyranny 'T was also then in a Dedicatory Epistle to O. Cromwel allowed by him of England Scotland Ireland c. Protector to whom amongst other extraordinary Complements I cannot let pass these Expressions where he invites him as God's Delegate in Honour to Jesus Christ and out of the love to the Churches of Christ for whose welfare you have this Power committed to you concluding thus The Lord of Heaven and Earth bless your Highness with the continuance of his Gracious presence with you that as you have done valiantly in the High Places of the Field that is fought against the King and Bishops so you Govern as righteously and happily in the Gates of the City Oh gross Dissimulation Now 't is he turns Eugagement Man and is imployed by the several Churches in Norfolk to Richard Cromwel on the Death of Oliver as their Representative about the Petition or Address made by the Priests in general which term the Father Moses and the Son the Joshua that should Conduct them to the Holy-Land After the King came in This Guide changes Oliver Richard or Parliment for Charles once a TOE of the Image that the little Stone was to smite of England Scotland Ireland c. The Beheaded King once the first broken Toe of the Image now he Commemorates with an Anniversary Sermon c. What temporizing is this Oh what unheard of Hypocrisie is here But Reader What is thy Opinion of the Matter Can Oliver be Moses Richard be Joshua and Charles Defender of the Faith all together p 53. Reader Will this Fig-leaf-Garment cover the Shame of this Guide's Nackedness from thy Discerning and Censure I hope not c. Obs If the Episcopal Party had done this would not the Quakers have call'd it a breach of the Act of Indemnity and disingenuous But for themselves to do it who had as much need of an Act of Pardon as others What was it Again in their Answer to John Faldo Quakerism a new Nick-name p. 109. And why poor Nonconformists after all their Preacht up Batels spoils Plunders Sacriledges Derimations c. Again p 119. These are true Gospel Ministers whose Gospel is Peace on Earth and good will towards Men and not Garments rolled in the Blood of Kings and Princes and Rulers and People no worldly Armies Battels Victories Trophies Spoils Sequestrations Decimations and the like Blood-thirsty and Tyrannical Projects in which John Faldo and his poor Nonconforming Ministers have had their Hands almost over Head and Ears till they had well nigh lost their Ears and their Heads too Obs Was not this to expose and render obnoxious to the Government and that in a time when the Nonconformist Ministers were under Persecution Should any have exposed the Quakers at such a season What would they not have said couching the treacherousness and baseness of it And it seems this Mr. Faldo whom they thus villifie was too young to be concerned 〈◊〉 those Projects But what might he now say of some Quakers in relation to the present Government See also their Book entituled A Just Rebuke to xxi Divines p. 25. HOw did the Presbyterians excite the Parliament in these very Terms Eliah opposed Idolatry and Oppression so do ye down with Baal's Priests which is as much as to say Away with your Arch-Bishops and Bishops the whole Ministry and Worship of the Church of England Again The Mouths of your Adversaries are opened against you that so many Delinquents that is to say Royalists are in Prison and yet but very few of them brought to their Tryal did he mean to release them And saith another of your Eminent Brethren before the Commons Aug 28. 1644. Ye cannot Preach nor Pray them down immediately well that which the Word cannot do the Sword shall Obs Again Is not here exposing and rendring of Persons as obnoxious to the then Government as they could This following is a Copy of a Letter I writ to G. W. 22. February 1678. being above a Year after the fore-going was sent them G. Whitehead I have lately seen your Book entitled The Way cast up c. and therein these following Passages viz. ANd how many Garments were rolled in Blood by Instigation of the Presbyterian Teachers the whole Nation was a Witness so that many thousands were made Widows and Fatherless by that War they stirred up the People unto c. p 23. Obs Was not this that War in which the Quakers said the Army were Glorious Instruments in the Hand of God and that God by his Spirit and Power was not only the Beginner but the Carryer on of that work and that it was his presence and power in the Army that gave them perfect Victory And abundance more to the same purpose Observe the other Column P. 52. Some of the Presbyterian Nonconformist Preachers are fled beyond Sea others lurk in Corners here and there and keep private Conventicles where many times they preach Sedition against their Lawful Prince by instigation of whom that Insurrection hapned in 1666. Obs Could any thing more be said by the Common Informers or by the most inveterate Enemies of separate Meetings than these Men here say and publish against the Presbyterians Is not this a high degree of Malice against them and Flattery of their Persecutors P. 53. And some of them have Printen Books in defence of the Lawfulness of making War against the Supreme Magistrate c. Obs And have not the Quakers Printed Books to the same purpose particularly F. H. and E. B. To the Committees of Safety See the other Column p. 12 13 P. 54. And in very Truth the Presbyterian Church will never be able to purge her self of the Iniquity of killing many thousands in the three Nations by the occasion of a most bloody War raised up through the Instigation of the Presbyterian Teachers Obs If the Presbyterians be thus guilty of sheding of the Blood that was shed
To this J. P. saith he hath always been careful never to interrupt them nor to give them any disturbance otherwise than by speaking a few words either before they began to Preach or when any one of them had done Preaching and though the words which he spoke they could not gainsay but were true yet because they look'd upon t that in what he spake he meant them therefore notwithstanding his peaceable behaviour he has sometimes found himself in much danger from the Quakers who have frequently done violence to him them selves and that in the place where he has a Propriety P. 10. They would excuse G. Fox in what he says against an Earthly King c. by turning it into an Earthly oppressing King and setting an Earthly King over them p. 11. But did not King Charles the Second to whom they addressed so early professing their Innocency formerly and their present Truth and Fidelity to him challenge the Supreme Power over the Church Are not all these Elders Christians that will dote so much of an Earthly King Traytors against Christ says G. Fox And whom did they dote upon but Charles 2 and afterwards upon King James whom the Quakers do now love own and honour Neither do you read saith G. F. that there ever was an Earthly King since the days of the Apostles but amongst the Apostate Christians So then according to their own Principle when King Charles 2. was among the Quakers he was among Apostate Christians or else they temporiz'd and changed their Principles holding that there might be an Earthly King among true Christians And how could they profess their Innocency to the King and that none had any just cause against them since they had maintained such Principles as aforesaid The case of the Prophet Samuel was far different from that of the Quakers he was chief Magistrate himself and they a little part of a People that had put to Death their King and kept out the Heir by Arms of both which the Quakers sufficiently approved Now suppose Samuel had been the Representative of the Quakers and the Heir made King contrary to his mind and endeavour would he have addressed him and said You are not acquainted O King with my Principle and Practice neither have known my Innocency and Sufferings they that speak against me as a Person that was an Opposer of your Kingship and did vehemently exhort the People from subjecting themselves to your Arbitrary and Oppressive Power had no just ground for that Charge I love own and honour you and your Government Might not the King have answer'd him Are not you asham'd Samuel to play the Hypocrite in this gross manner Do you brag of your Principle and Practice and Innocency before me in this matter since if the People had acted according to your Principle and done as you would have had them I should never have recovered my Kingdoms If you are innocent who is guilty Is this your Innocent Plainness Who then is Equivocating and Deceitful Your Pride will not suffer you to acknowledge any Error in Principle or Practice because ye have profess'd to speak and write from the immediate Eternal Spirit of GOD though you are found fallible and foolish as other Men. P. 15. The Quakers Vnmask'd is cited saying Are not they in their own Judgments become Apostates for now they say we love own and honour an Earthly King G. W. answers p. 16. And where do we use these very words Earthly King on this occasion but that we love own and honour the King whom here this Mau has judged an Earthly King does this shew us to be Apostates Remark Did you ever read a more frivolous Answer Was it any other King but that very King Charles 2. whom they had writ so bitterly against under the Name of an Earthly King he was an Earthly King before when they said They were Traytors against Christ that will dote so much on an Earthly King but now the Quakers love own and honour him he shall not be called an Earthly King He was an Earthly King before when the Episcopals and Presbyterians doted on him but now he is become the Quakers King he must be somewhat else I presume not a Heavenly King but this is somewhat of the Quakers plainness P. 19. G.W. says I am persuaded that reproving him O. C. Protector for putting such as feared GOD sober Men and true Hearts because of their faithfulness to the LORD out of the Army for their Consciences was MORE upon his breach of Promise than with an intent to have them always continue in it in order to War and Fight Here G. W. or whoever writ this passage would seem to have some sense of Conscience for his saying MORE is a comparative with what follows and argues that it was written with an intent to have had them always to continue in the Army in order to War and Fight though MORE upon his breach of Promise I doubt we shall not find G. W. c. guilty of so much openness again throughout the whole Book Do not the Quakers hold that none fear GOD truly and rightly but themselves That they are in the Truth and none but they and only among them is GOD known Christ was not contradictory to himself in bidding his Disciples to sell their Garments and buy Swords and consequently to wear Swords as Peter did because He saith my Kingdom is not of this World or from hence but Christ was contradictory to the Quakers sense of that saying because if it was not lawful to Fight in any case Christ would never have bid them buy Swords But I did not intend to argue the lawfulness of Fighting only G. W. brings it in needlessy P. 21. One of their chiefest Preachers had said It is no Rebellion to call away those in Power by which J. P. understands to Depose those in Power that perform not their Trust G. W. calls this a perverse addition of a meaning as if to call away and to Depose were both one in common acceptance But G. W. is not pleased to tell us what other thing was meant by it and I am persuaded that no Man but a fore-warn'd Quaker will take them for other than both one But I must hasten read his 23 page and you will find it amount to this Had you the Army been faithful to the Power of the LORD GOD you had gon into Spain to require the Blood of the Innocent and knock'd at Rome Gates c. And done wonderful great things by wicked and unchristian Fighting or otherwise by the fear and terror of your Power Arms and Conquests without Fighting or as the Host of the Midianites fled and were overcome and yet not by Fighting on Gideon 's part but by a mean Stratagem Quere Whether they that kill by Stratagem do not Fight And when the Ephraimites slew Oreb and Zeeb and brought their Heads to Gideon and pursued Midian they did not Fight Judges 7.25 And whether
to leave off until they had set up their STANDARD at the Gates of Rome as may be seen in their own Writings here following And yet for them to upbraid others with that which themselves for many years were so deeply concerned and engaged in is such a piece of Wickedness as can hardly be parallel'd by any sort of People professing Christianity This this their Baseness I have in secret acquainted them withal but no Ear or Heed would they give to what I said but still went on in their accustomed manner to Defame such as had not been more engaged if so much as themselves in the late Wars yea and that in the most revengeful and highest aggravating Terms that 't was possible for their Penn to express witness those Words to the Nonconforming Ministers in Answer to Mr. Faldo viz. But why poor Nonconformists after all their Preach'd up Battels Spoils Plunders Sacrileges Decimations c. Again They are true Gospel-ministers whose Gospel is Peace on Earth and Good Will towards Men and not Garments rolled in the Blood of Kings and Princes Rulers and People No Worldly Armies Battles Victories Trophies Spoils Sequestrations Decimations and the like Blood-thirsty and Tyrannical Projects in which John Faldo and his poor Non-conforming Ministers have had their Hands almost over Head and Ears till they had well nigh lost their Ears and their Heads too Much more of this Nature may be seen towards to the latter end of the lesser Column of this Book What People setting these aside could have had the Face and Confidence to have writ such Language as this Certainly not any especially when they themselves had been engaged in the same Cause and Quarrel with those whom they now so much Reproach and Vilifie The Consideration of these things with their pretending themselves to be the Only People of the LORD and of their being the Only Embassadors and Ministers of Christ with the Discharge of my own Conscience put me upon gathering these their Writings together and having them so placed that those of the meanest Capacity may easily discern and see them to be as great Dissemblers Deceivers and Deluders of the People as have appear'd in this our Age. Reader THE first Column is what they writ before the King came in the other is what they writ since his Return and as for the Quotations I have endeavoured faithfulness therein and have cited both Book and Page where their Words may be found but they have left out many Passages and altered several Words that suited not with their Interests and Designs both of E. B's and F. H's in the Re-print of their Works which thou wilt have notice of as thou readest And where I have abbreviated any of their Writings or lest out any of their Words which were not so material to be put in or too large to insert thou wilt find a little stroke thus but have not in the least either wronged the Matter or Sense thereby as thou mayest see if thou peruse the Books I have quoted But before thou proceedest to read farther I am willing thou shouldst hear the Testimony they give of their own Writings viz. If ther you own the Prophets Christ and the Apostles you will own oue Writings which are given forth by the same Spirit and power See G. F's Answ to the Westmoreland Petition p. 30. You might as well condemn the Scriptures to the Fire as our Queries Our giving forth Papers or printed Books it is from the immediate Eternal Spirit of God You are now Answered from the Mouth of the Lord. See G. F. and R. H. Truth 's Defence c. p. 2 104 107. Now if this their Testimony be true then their Writings are to be had in as great and as venerable esteem as the Scriptures or any holy Man's Words are but if it be otherwise then are they Lyars and false Prophets and to be avoided and witnessed against Let these following Collections manifest the Truth thereof And now the time is come that as they have laid open the Deceit Wickedness and Hypocrisie of other Professors that went before them even so must their Deceit Wickedness and Hypocrisie be also laid open For the LORD whom I no Respecter of Persons But who shall live when GOD doth this J. P. Geo Fox's Judgment CONCERNING KINGLY GOVERNMENT Taken out of a Paper of his written to the Presbyterians and Others before the KING was Restored TO all you that desire an Earthly King in England Who profess your selves to be Christians whether Presbyterians or Others Do not the Priests Presbyterians and many of the Rulers cry for an Earthly King And is not this the same Nature the Jews were in And do not they in This Crucifie Jesus Are not all these Elders Christians that will doat so much of an Earthly King Traytors against Christ Now Elders if you say Peter said Honour the King This doth not hold forth that Peter bid them set up an Earthly King over them neither do you read that there were any Earthly Kings since the days of the Apostles but among the Apostate Christians c. And all these Antichrists and Presbyterians imitated Elders over them all Will Christ Reign and these Kings that have been made For Christ is King alone and makes his Disciples Kings to Reign upon the Earth These are true Christians and will these have any more Kings among them but Christ who are Redeemed from the Earth and earthly Kings I say That is the false Church that doth not live upon the Heads of these Kings Such as have the Prophets Christ and the Apostles Words the Sheeps Cloathing but out of the Life and Power that makes such work for an Earthly King Herod the King was Mad at the Child Jesus and sought to slay all the Children in Bethlehem of Judea There is ehe fruits of Earthly Kings and such a King would our false Christians and Elders have The Children of Israel when they grew would have Kings like other Nations that when People were gon from the Lord God then they set up Kings and when the Children of Israel served not the Lord God but went after other gods they desired a King which the Lord gave them in his Wrath Sam. 8. And in this manner Should a King Reign over them the King shall take your Sons and appoint them for his Chariots c. this is the fruit of your Kings The King will take your Fields your Vineyards your best Olive Trees and give them to his Servants this is the Fruit of your Kings c. Ignorant and foolish People that would have a King and Kings since the days of the Apostles The People will not hear when all these Fruits of these Kings are laid down to them But says Christians and false Elders there shall be a King over us and we also will be like other Nations So the Christians go out from Christ and set up Kings like Heathens Hos 13.11 You ignorant and foolish that is
put such out of the Army This following Letter shews that G. F. approved of Olivers Authority about which he gives him and his Souldiers Charge p. 36 37. Friend THou shouldst have invited all the Christians upon Earth in all Nations that are against Popery to thee to comein and joyn with thee against Popery for thou hast had Authority stand to it loose it not nor abuse it nor let any other take thy Crown and do not stand cumbring thy self about Dirty Priests and thou hast had Power over Nations for Nations begin to be on heaps and invite all them that profess against the Pope in all Nations to joyn with thee against him and do not loose thy Dominion nor Authority nor the Wisdom of God but with that thou may'st order all ☞ That will keep thee single in Heart and Mind to the Lord and let thy Souldiers go forth with a free willing Heart that thou may'st Rock Natious as a Cradle and keep thou in the Fear of the Lord and all the Soldiers and them that are under thee This is a Charge to thee in the Presence of the Lord God that thou nor them may loose the Dread of the Lord ☞ for that strikes a terror in the Hearts of all People c. I am a Lover of thy Soul and eternal Good an Establisher of Righteousness G. F. Obs Is not this a Just Authority which so great a Prophet exhorts him to stand to and not to loose nor suffer any to take his Crown And yet this Authority is to be defended and enlarged by Soldiers who are charged to go forth with a free willing heart and to keep in the fear of the Lord which argues they were in the fear of the Lord and so either Quakers or as good as Quakers In another Letter the same G. F. salutes Oliver thus p. 27. Dear Friend BE still and in the Councel of God stand and that will give thee Wisdom that thou may'st frustrate Men's Ends and calm Men's Spirits and Crumble Men under and arise and stand up in the Power of the Lord God ☞ The Lambs Authority and fear not the Face of Man but fear and dread the Lord God then his Presence and Wisdom and Councel thou shalt have to throw down the Rubbish and quell all the bad Spirits under thy Dominion therefore live in the Power of the Lord God and feel his Hand that is stretched out over the Nations for a Mighty Work hath the Lord to do in other Nations and their Quakings and Shakings are but entring So this is the Word of the Lord God to thee as a Charge to thee from the Lord God c. The same G. F. in the Name of the Church of Christ and Elect Assembly Known in the Nations by the Name of Quakers To Rich. Cromwel Protector p. 47 51. Friend LIve in God's Wisdom if thou wilt reign in his Power and Strength then none shall touch thee and all them that fear God will be on thy side and take thy Part and be one with thee in all thy Sufferings yea till death And G. For after six pages of Instructions to him concludes with these Words viz. The Lord God Almighty preserve thee in his Wisdom and Counsel and Strength over the Heads of his Enemies in thy self and in the World both And Friend take heed of putting of honest godly Men out of the Army ☞ or putting them out of their places being Iustices of the Peace In so doing thou wilt lame thy self and weaken thy Authority and remove thy self out of the Hearts of them that fear God G. F. Obs He approves of his Power and prays for his Victory over his Enemies in himself and in the World both And pray was not the King and his Party some of those Enemies and he warns him of putting honest godly Men out of the Army as he had done his Father before But when Richard was gone off the Stage and the Officers of the Army in Power then G. F. applies himself to them in these words OH Friends The Power of God ye have abused the Iust have been trodden under Foot who have been put out of the Army and Publick Services Now had you been Faithful in the Power of the Lord which once stirred this Nation needed not have been affraid of any Nation upon the Earth but your Dread would have sounded over the World But when you lost the Power of God with which you had brushed at the Out-side of Things then you turned against and put them in Prison meaning the Quakers that struck at the Root And had you been Faithful to the Power of the Lord God which first carried you on you had gone into the midst of Spain into their Land to require the Blood of the Innocent that there had been shed and have commanded them to have offered up their Inquisition to you and gone over them as the Wind and knock'd at Rome Gates before now and trampled Deceit and Tyrants under and demanded the Pope himself and have commanded him to have offered up all his Torture-Houses and his Wracks and Inquisition which you should have found as black as Hell and broke up the Bars and Gates where all the Just Blood hath been shed which should have been required and this you should have required and this you should have seen done in the Power when you had been the Dread of all Nations and you had been a Dread to them and should have set up a Standard at Rome and then you should have sent for the Turks Idol the Mahomet and plucked up Idolatry and cryed up Christ the only King and Lord and then People would have said you had gone on in the Cause of God and his Truth c. And so if you had gone to have made Inquisition for Blood and to demand all the Inquisitions abroad in the whole Christendom whereby the Innocent Blood hath been shed then all the People in the whole Christendont that feared the Lord God would have said with one consent These are the Men that are gone out for God's Cause Many valiant Captains Souldiers and Officers have been put out of the Army because of their Faithfulness to the Lord it may be for saying Thou to a single Person or for wearing their Hats c. Oh how are Men fallen from that which they were in at first when Thousands of us went in the Front of you and were with you in the greatest Heat c. Oh what a Sincerity was once in the Nation What a dirty nasty thing it would have been to have heard talk of a House of Lords among them Oh! how is the Sincerity choaked smothered and quenched by the Fatness of the Earth whereby they have forgot ten the Lord and his Arm and Power that once carried them on And if ever you Souldiers and true Officers come again into the Rower i. e. the Spirit of God which hath been lost never set up your Standard till you come to
singularity in most things that were customary in England how innocent soever And under the notion of not Swearing they only refuse the Ceremony of an Oath as the laying the Hand upon and Kissing the Book Now I pray Sir what of true Religion or real Goodness is there in these things Suppose the whole World did observe them would they be at all the better for it However by these things they have cut off all others how religious and sincere soever And if any Man oppose what they say or do instead of meekly answering they are ready with the most virulent opprobrious and threatning Language and Writings that can be found in any sort whatever They will diligently seek out and take up any thing may reproach one and will insinuate Crimes that Men are most free from Thus have they changed the Meekness and Gentleness of Christianity into Fierceness and Churlishness Humility and Modesty into Arrogance and Self-conceit Peaceableness into Contentiousness Mildness into Clamour and Blessing into evil speaking and reviling Plainness and Simplicity into-Equivocation and Craft and all this under the Profession of the most unspotted Innocency and Sincerity Truth Righteousness and Holiness But I would not be understood to impute these Immoralities to the Quakers in general nor to all their Teachers and Leading Men but to the Foxonian Party that love to Govern and have the Preheminence who have endeavoured to suppress those who have at any time proposed any thing contrary to their Sentiments Thus in a few years instead of being led and guided and being obedient every one to the Light in himself they were obliged to submit to the sense of the greater number of the Governing BODY though never so contrary to their own sense Nay this Imposing Spirit proceeded so far at a Quarterly Meeting in Barbadoes where they did not act with that Caution and Cunning as here at London that they made and subscribed this following Order viz. I desire to give up my whole Concern if required both Spiritual and Temporal unto the Spirit of God in Men and Women's Meetings as believing it to be more according to the Universal Wisdom of God than any particular measure in my self or any particulars with whom the Men and Women's Meetings have not Unity The Actings Writings and Speakings of that kind I have spoken of being observed by some * W. Rogers T. Crisp F. Bugg W. Macklow J. Story J. Wilkinson Charles Harris J. Rance Tho. Curtis J. Ansloe and many more among them who were either too wise or too honest to be persuaded that those corrupt Fruits could proceed either from the Spirit of God or from the Light within that they griev'd and mourn'd to see that excellent Principle of Reformation The Light in every Man so grosly perverted and undermined that they were made to oppose and testifie against them Sir I might go on throughout G. W.'s c. whole Book and shew many more gross Equivocations Palliations and Deceits but I will not proceed farther lest I may seem to question your Judgment in not observing those things that are so evident But I think we that read Books have just cause of indignation against those Quakers who have the face to impose upon the World such abominable Stuff under the Notion of the Teachings of the Light of the unspotted Innocency and Christian sincerity But it may reasonably be thought they write not for vindication of themselves to those that are of the World as they call all that are not in their Form but for their own Party that are so blindly addicted to their Leaders that they swallow every thing they say without consideration Unhappy Men that have given up their Minds to the Glory of a singular Party in contempt of all others and can find no other way of vindicating themselves I may need your excuse for writing so much and therefore will now subscribe Sir Yours A. C. May 23. 1691. POSTSCRIPT SIR AND besides what I said about Fighting I am credibly informed that some Quakers have not only fought but that with great Courage and Magnanimity The first I shall mention is Mr. William Mead an eminent Person who being set upon by three High-way-men and having only a Cudgel or Staff in his Hand did not only bravely defend himself therewith but knock'd down one of the Robbers so wounded that the other were forced to carry him away whilst Mr. Mead escaped their Hands The next shall be one Matthew Renshaw Master of a Ship who fought both with great and small Guns till he was overpowered by the Turks Another one John Thompson who fought exceeding stoutly and killed a great many Men before he was taken by the Enemy These two Masters were not only Quakers themselves but their Owners generally if not every one such More might be named but these suffice to shew that the Quakers will fight in a just Cause and that stoutly too which puts me in mind again of G. Fox To the Council of Officers c. p. 5. who says of those that had been put out of the Army for being Quakers Of whom it hath been said among you that they had rather have had one of them than 7 Men and could have turned one of them to seven Men. And since my writing the above I have spoken with Mr. Pennyman touching the Accusation against Stephen Crisp mentioned in The Quakers Unmask'd folio p. 14. and which in their Answer p. 14. they say Steph. Crisp absolutely denies that he either forced him or that the Party did shew any dissatisfaction before he Signed and Sealed the said Paper Oh! what shall we say to these Men who not only use Equivocatious in their Writings but do absolutely deny matter of Fact to which Mr. Pennyman was an Eye and Ear-Witness and is ready to attest it if called thereto but would not then subscribe as a Witness being greatly dissatisfied with the unworthiness of the demand I will add here something concerning the Nature of an Oath whereby it may appear that the Quakers are mistaken about it Of the Nature of an Oath WHen the Author to the Hebrews says Ch. 6.16 Men verily Swear by the greater and an Oath for Confirmation is to them an end of all strife he plainly shews us that an Oath is the greatest and utmost Evidence of Truth and Sincerity that can be given for if a Man openly appeals to GOD who searcheth the Heart and therefore knows not only what is outward in Men's Words and Actions but their most inward thoughts that Man gives the utmost assurance he can possibly give for he that falsifies in the prefence of Men calling them for Witnesses who know the matter and whose office it is to ludge and punish incurs all that reproach infamy and other punishments which so great an offence and abuse deserves So he that falsifies in the presence of God calling Him for Witness incurs the greatest punishments of Divine Vengeance as one that makes God Almighty a Partner and Confederate to a Lie presumptuously and to his very face So that however God perhaps is not expresly invocated to do vengeance upon him yet in appealing to God as a Witness that is implyed because He is such a Witness as is also the Supreme Judge whose Justice and Truth is herein appealed to Therefore calling God to Witness is as much an Oath as any other form of Words as having as much evidence and assurance as any other Form whatever and as great Penalties attending it Now to assert any thing in the presence of Men expresly is all one as to call them for Witnesses So also to assert any thing in the presence of God expresly is all one as to call God for Witness Farther see several Forms of an Oath viz. I Do hereby testifie in the Truth of my Heart and in the Presence of HIM that knoweth all things and in the Presence of these Faithful Witnesses * The Quakers Form p. 25. c. Or GOD is my Witness I call GOD to record on my Soul The GOD and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ knows that I lye not GOD is Witness between me and thee Any of which or the like without laying the Hand on the Book or other Ceremony or more Words is not only an Oath but as saith a knowing judicious and worthy Person if Authorized by Act of Parliament is as much a Legal Oath as any now in use amongst us And as the Quakers have been mistaken about an Oath so they have been about their paying of Taxes in that they allow'd and paid the Royal Aid Tax and that of carrying on the Waragainst the Dutch and the like yet they would not pay towards the Trained Bands notwithstanding they are chiefly intended for a Defence and the other not only to Defend but to offend our Neighbours as the Government sees cause So that 't is plain the Tax they then refused was more justifiable than that they allowed and paid inasmuch as to Defend is more allowable and justifiable than to Offend FINIS
abroad in Spain something there is in it known to the Lord seek not thine own Honour in it but be Faithful and leave the issue of all things to the Lord make no Covenant with Idolaters but tread down their Idol-Gods that they have set up and hew down their Mountains in which their Confidence stands and Plow up their ground that the Seed may be sown after thee It 's Honour enough to be the Lord's Plowman p. 35. These foregoing Lines in Black Letter are left out in the reprinting of his Works p. 568. Obs How he exhorts the Protector to push down and tread under the High Places of Idolatry and where In all the Apostatiz'd Churches both Papists and others And this he intimates is to be done by his Armies and he would not have him to make any Covenant with Idolaters c. These are the Men that in their Declaration since the King came in deny both the Spirit Principle and Practice of them that use any Weapon to fight for Christ or his Government And yet hear in the following Passage how this E. Burrough declares to Governour Lockart and the Officers in the Name of the Lord that if they went forth as an Army in that Spirit that was among the Quakers they should then overcome their Enemies Take his own words as reprinted and not expunged and so owned afresh by G. F. G. Whitehead and their Party 1672. An Alarm sounded in the Pope's Borders 1659 E. B's Works p. 536. AND this lay upon me to declare in the Name of the Lord to Governour Lockart and his Officers That if they did enterprise any business as they were an Army in a Spirit in Opposition to us and in that Spirit that did reject us and deny us and gainsay us then should they never prosper in any Enterprise whatsoever But if they went on in any degree in the Fear of the Lord and in that Spirit that was among us then should they overcome their Enemies and none should have Power over them to overcome them Obs What was it they were to do as an Army in the Quakers Spirit See that in his Instructions to the English Army c. in and about Dunkirk viz. AND that there be no more a looking back till you have visited Rome and enquired after and sought out the Innocent Blood that is buried therein and avenge the Blood of the Guiltless through all the Dominions of the Pope the Blood of the Just crys through Italy and Spain and the time is come that the Lord will search it and seek it out and repay it and it would be your Honour to be made use of by the Lord in any Degree in order to this Matter And this also believe that the Lord will do it or make way hereunto even by you the Men of our English Nation if you be faithful c. p. 537. What are these few poor Islands that you have run through and laid many Mountains low they are but little in comparison of the great part of Christendom in which Idolatry and great Oppressions do abound which the Hand of the Lord is against and which he will take Vengeance upon p. 538. But there are many Mountains in the way wherefore hew down the Tops strike at the Branthes make way that the Ax may be laid to the Root of the Tree that your Sword and the Sword of the Lord may neither leave Root nor Branch of Idolatry Oppressions and Tyranny your Sword is to be lifted up against them It is the Lord's Work I know to make Men truly Religious but yet the Lord may work by you to break down the Bryars and Thorns and Hills that have set themselves against the Lord. P. 538. God will make their Riches and their falsly consecrated Vessels and Treasures even a Spoil and a Prey unto you if you be faithful c. p. 539. Your work hath been and may be honourable in its day and your Victory hath been of the Lord So be low in your own Eyes and seek the Glory of God and the Freedom of the Oppressed and in that you will be Blessed and prosper till you have set up your Standard at the Gates of Rome p. 540. I am a Lover of your Souls E. B. Obs That both the Army-Sword and the Sword of the Lord were not to leave Root or Branch of Idolatry In so doing he promises them Blessing and Prosperity The same E. Burrough to Rich. Cromwel chosen to be Protector See Council and Advice p. 53. AND as for thy Father the late Protector great things and honourable did the Lord do for him in raising him up and casting out his Enemies before him and giving him Victory and Power and Renown through Nations and we know the Lord shewed favour to him and gave him Strength Wisdom and Valour and a Right Spirit and he was called of God into that great Work to subdue the grievous Tyrannies once ruling over Tender Consciences and to break down the great Oppressions which for Ages had caused the Just to groan and the Lord was with him in Victory and went before him and was his Defence and preserved him from great dangers and from the Wills of all his Enemies and made him prosperous against them all And as for thee who art now set up in his stead we certainly believe that the Hand of the Lord is in this Matter c. Note Tyrannies is left out and the word Cruelty put in in his Works p. 574. As concerning the Armies abroad let faithful and just Men that will not seek themselves be put in trust for the Army is of great Concernment to thee to stand or fall through them as to Man's account and the War against Spain be faithful to God in it and let trusty Men have Authority the Lord may accomplish something by it to his Honour and to thine if thou be meek and humble and walk with the Lord and to say no more about it there is something in it known to the Lord and he may bring it to pass in its Season p. 64. London 18th 8th Month 1658. These Lines in Black Letter are all left out in his Works p. 580. Obs He saith that the Lord in casting out his Fathers Enemies and giving him Victory did not only do great things but honourable that he shewed him favour and gave him a Right Spirit Is it not plain the Quakers held that God commanded a Right Spirit to Fight and that Oliver was called of God thereto E. Burrough to the Protector 's Kind ed his Wife and Children p 37 38. Friends REmember that by the Lord you were raised from a low Estate he gave you the Palaces of Princes and threw out the High and Mighty before you because of their Wickedness which was great in the Sight of the Lord. Oh! remember this every one of you and be of a tender Spirit and exalt not your selves lest the Lord cast you down and make your Name and
Posterity a Reproach as he hath done many before you even for that cause was the Generation of the Stewarts cast out Note All these Words in Black Letter are left out in his Works p. 569. Obs That he saith for exalting themselves in Pride c. was the Generation of the Stewarts cast out and their Palaces bestowed on the Protector and his Family And pray G. W. c. was not White-Hall one of those Palaces Now let us hear what Francis Howgil saith in Justification of the late War See his Advice to the Army Committee of Safety c. 1659. p. 3 4 5 6 7. THE Long-Parliament against the late King which in Man's account could be looked upon to be no other than Rebellion yet God gave a signal Testimony to the one while they stood in the Power of God and against the other The antient Courtiers having found so much Ease and Profit by the late King turned all Cavaliers and cryed up the Prerogative of the King above Law and Equity c. Setting that aside wholly which all Good Government was intended for as the Safety of the People and fréedom from Oppression Tyranny and Vsurpation and that none might be embondaged in the Worship of God but when he to wit the late King and his Assistants sought to inthral all and Imbondage all both in Civil and Ecclesiastical things as they were called the Long-Parliament and People that aided them at that time counted it no Treason to oppose him seeing the End was not answered he should have satisfyed and God decided the Controversie in overthrowing the one and establishing the other for a season yet many are so blind to this day that they judge the Nation cannot be established in Freedom without a King as though such a Name were essential only to Freedom and without it could not be obtained but the Iudicious will see this Ignorance c. So now many are so doting on the Name of a Parliament as though it were Essential c. and cry up the Privileges of Parliament as the former did Prerogative and would fight about a Name and lose the Thing intended though they be the Representatives of the People to do good to the People and not hurt they are accounted as good Servants to God but if they would set up a particular Interest to the Imbondaging of the whole and then cry up their Privileges to do what they list Then it is no Rebellion in Gods Account neither in the account of Iust Men to call them away when they do not perform the Thing intended And as for the Long-Parliament by whom God did Good Things and Great Things in the overthrowing that Power which was deviated from the aforesaid End to wit the late King What they did they had the Approbation of God and Good Men yet they went not through with the Work purposed and intended Note All these Lines in Black Letter are left out in F. H's Works When a Company of greedy hireling Priests came from Leicester-shire to sound their Trumpet in the House and to tell you they had not ingaged with the rest of their Brethren in Cheshire and Lancashire with George Bâ—oth they were immediately called in and thanks returned as though they had done some great Service for the Nation that they joyned not in the Rebellion but them who were your real Friends called Quakers who gave you and the Army intelligence about the late Insurrection in Cheshire who were spoiled by the said Rebels of their Goods c could never receive any satisfaction or incouragement from you c. Note All the foregoing Lines in Black Letter are left out in F. H's Works Obs He saith God gave a signal Testimony for the Parliament against the late King That it is no Rebellion to call them who were in Power away when they do not perform the Thing they are intrusted for That God did good and great things by the Long-Parliament in overthrowing the late King wherein they had the Approbation of God and good Men that they who joyned with Sir George Booth joyned in Rebellion that at the same time the Quakers were the Parliaments real Friends and gave them and the Army Intelligence See also E. Burrough to the new Committee of Safety 1659. to the same purpose concerning Deposing Governors E. B's Works p. 593. AND though some of you present Rulers be looked upon as great Traytors and Tyrants in your dealing towards them i. e. the Parliament but alas this is nothing for the Lord doth not account as Men and if you were faithful to what the Lord requires of you in your Proceedings what you have done unto them i. e. in turning them out should not be reckoned on account against you neither by God nor Good Men. Likewise see the Declaration of their Faith touching Governours E. B's Works p. 442. Printed 1672. WE believe that all Governors and Rulers ought to be accountable to the People and to the next succeeding Rulers for all their Actions which may be enquired into upon occasion and that the chiefest of the Rulers be subject under the Law and punishable by it if they be Transgressors as well as the poorest of the People Note This Article of their Faith they also printed in the year 71. in their Book called The Principles of Truth p. 51. But as I was not so I am not willing any Observation should be made thereon and that for their sakes Now hear E. B's Advice to the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England c. against Heriditary Government 6th October 1659. But after K. C. 2. was restored then they left all this Paper out in the Reprint of his Works AND while thus it hath been in our Nation that our Kings have attained to the Throne of Government Hereditarily and by the Succession of Birth and thus it hath continued for many Ages and our Nation hath been under the Bonds of Slavery in this respect even because Men Govern'd that ought not and while Men for Earthly Honour in Birth an Breeding have claimed to be Princes over us successively and to be chosen our Rulers according to Custom and because of this the Free-born People have deeply suffered the cruel Oppressions of proud and ambitious self-seeking Men who have long Ruled for themselves and not for the Lord and have come into place of Authority otherwise than by Appointment and right Calling from the Lord And thus the Government of our Nation hath been out of Course while great Darkness hath remained upon the Hearts of the People which hath so blinded them that they have not known their own Bondage nor yet how to be redeemed into perfect Liberty while they have subjected themselves through Ignorance to be ruled by such Men as had no right from God to that Place of Rule and Government But now the Lord God our Deliverer hath begun to appear for the Freedom of the Nations and hath shewed us the Captivity and Bondage that our