of Life seemeth to the Sons and Children of men to be pleasant fruit which indeed are but such as are Death it self for I do believe that no man can sufficiently express the general worshipping of Idols where withal the corners of the World and hearts of men are stuffed How common is it for men to worship Idols and what is an Idol but to worship the true God in a false way and who is it that saith not to his own reason knowledge honesty art and wisdom thou art my God They do not thus say with their Mouthes but their whole life and their idolatrizing Mind saith as much by their deeds for they continually sacrifice to their own Drag and here it is that mortal men deny God and testifie it by their works which are without faith being dead even as a body is without the spirit for if by true faith they were alive to God they would leave vengeance to him and not so much seek to revenge themselves which doth manifest they dare not trust God with their cause to avenge for them if otherwise why are they anctiously careful why do they so exercise mischief and fraud and so deceive one another why do they make war and strife right or wrong for mine and thine why do they so lye deceive and flatter one another why do they forget God and his saying making no account of his Commandments wherefore are they so covetously minded to labour night and day and to take every opportunity to improve every unrighteous advantage against their Neighbour to get and heap up the perishing things of this Worlds Riches truly all this is because they retain not God in their Thoughts to believe that he hath any care of them or that he can provide or will revenge for them therefore is it as their works do manifest for them to believe they must not be wanting in this and the other thing but that it is most necessary to help and revenge for themselves otherwise say they we might by our Enemies be all hilled or become Slaves and Bond-men and beg our Bread And thus it is with them who will not have ought to do with good and Truth in good earnest no they must not be wanting to themselves but make their own Markets by lying deceiving cozening usury and the like these things they think will enrich them good and thus by them are the Commandments of God and his Word slighted until with many they cause his Spirit to leave striving for they oppress the seed and crucifie the just Principle of God in themselves and account the Word of God an insufficient help in time of adversity therefore it well pleaseth them to adore themselves and to kiss their own Works and to sacrifice to their own Net to speak big words and to admire themselves for who else is our God saith the whole World by their works CHAP. IV. Concerning that great Idol of Mans Wisdom and Knowledge how men kiss their own hands and the whole World doth diligently worship only self and the Works of their own hands that is the Inventions Arts and Counsels of their own Reason and Wisdom WHAT other thing is it that is the Worship of Idols Superstution Witch caft evil Doctrine and the Ordinance of Men which is no other but the Wisdom Reason Inventions Crafts Actions Instincts and Prudence of men therefore the worshipping of Idols is but to fashion such or such a form like unto God but not according to his Word as he teacheth figureth and formeth himself in man but according to their own Opinion and Judgment of him Moreover what is sin any other then mans own Will Wisdom and Counsel sown in the mind of Adam and in his Posterity by the serpent Then consider the purpose cause and life of Man where and how thou wilt and it is nothing but humane Wisdom here will man be his own God to lead teach govern revenge defend excuse enrich him self and the like and so mans own Head Will and Reason is instead of God to him though the sin and fall of Adam be nothing but the cunning Reason and Wisdom of the flesh which in Scripture is called Foâ—y and Devilish Wisdom yet how do men generally prize and magnifie it as if they were endowed from above all men therefore ought with Christ to bring man to nothing and that by daily lessening and depressing him to make him become as a Child and a Fool but instead of performing what God hath commanded it is with man clear contrary thereunto for men build up the man that so he may come to prove wise glorious and famous and for that end they have many Arts that wreched and unprofitable man may become great eminent praised and excellent and may obtain Places Titles and Names so that thereby young men are purposely inflamed with a desire of Glory for which cause many are they that are not content to abide with the teachings of Gods gift of divine Light by the Word of his Spirit but by their humane Wisdom and cunning reason of the flesh they come to domineer in Pulpits and teaching places where they are upheld to lord it over Gods Heritage and to this very end there are artificers imployed to make their Schollars accute witty and knowing in all kinds of Crafts and in all exercises arts and litteral deceits whereby it appeareth more clearer then the light that the World is contrary and an enemy to God Now here the wise and prudent of this World perish in their own way because they live without the true knowledge of God and kiss their own hands and adore the wisdom of their own wit which is to the World and its Teachers insted of God his way and word and indeed of all things it is the greatest and only sin and the very fall of Adam and the very fountain whence all other sins do flow as Job confesseth for this only to be obedient addicted to serve himself to admire and adore himself to follow his own will briefly to be his own and to serve only self being of a free will and glad to be some-what in and of himself and to do to omit and to know some what in himself and not to be utterly void of all name will work and subject only to God this is the only and most deadly sin yea rather the sinck and mother of all sins for the delight will and wisdom of the flesh is Death it self and a man is thereby no more profitable better nor religious then a dog toad or swine in his Death for when they dye all their misery endeth with them but in this state with man as death leaves so Judgment finds and he cannot repent in the grave but his torment doth increase and with him will abide forever without end which to remove all horror which to the wicked is disquietness of Mind trouble of Conscience in this life and encreaseth torment in the life to come is
Moneths c. p. 118. Chap. 19. Concerning Prophecying and Womens speaking in â—e Church p. 124. Chap. 20. Concerning Powers p. 127. Chap. 21. Concerning Oâ—thes and Sâ—earing p. 1â—â— Chap. 22. Concerning Wars and Fightings p. 136. Chap. 23. Concerning Conscience p. 144. Chap. 24. Concerning the free Love of God p. 146. Chap. 25. Concerning the Church of Christ c. p. 154. Chap. 26. Concerning the state of all men and of Gods Judgments and also of his calling the Jews c. p. 164. Chap. 27. Concerning being born and brought forth of the Immortal Seed of Gods Kingdom p. 169. Chap. 28. A Letter to the Committee in Salem p. 175. Chap. 28. Concerning covering uncovering the head p. 178. Chap. 29. Concerning the great Judgments of God upon the Inhabitanâ—s of New-England by Wâ—â—h-craft p. 179. Chap. 30. Concerning the Lords Harvest p. 210. Chap. 31. 〈…〉 God 's Judgments upon diverâ— of the 〈…〉 Priests and Rulers in New-England 〈◊〉 p. 212. The Contents of the second Part. Chap. 1. COncerning the two wonderful Trees in the Gardâ—n of Eden â—viz the Tree Knowledge of good and evil and the Tree of Lâ—â—e unknown ever since man was drove out of Paradise until admitted to return again p. 220. Chap. 2. Concerning the Tree of Life what it is and why Adam was shut out forbidden and with-holden from it and not suffered to eat thereof p. 227. Chap. 3. Concerning the Tâ—ee of Knowledge of good and evil planted in the heart of Adam p. 228. Chap. 5. Concerning the Sin of Covetousness p. â—35 Chap. 6. Concerning that Life and nature of it which God requireth of all men p. 2â—â— Chap. 7. Concerning Judgment begun at the House of God and in his House to judge down every appearance of evil p. 258. Friendly Reader ALthough the following Treatise has been very long detained in the Press yet hope thou shalt find the impression pretty clear of Errors as to the main except the mis-numbring of 〈◊〉 or three Chapters and one material error in 〈…〉 23. after Rule of Life read for Christ is the Way the Truth and 〈…〉 which pray amend CHAPTER I. Concerning the Light of Gods quickening Spirit by Jesus Christ THe Light of Christ is the Power of God by which the Righteous have been preserved in all Ages from Abel to Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph and Moses in whose day the Lord wrought wonderful great Dâ—liverances by the Power of his Light figured in the 〈◊〉 by Day and in the Pillar of Fire by Night by which was Israel's Deliverances from their Enemies which perished in the midst of Darkness Exod. 13.21 Now Israel in that day wer commanded To remain still in their Minds and not to walk after their own Lust â—nd Evil wayes in which state of â—â—â—dience to the Liâ—hâ— they came to witness great Deliverances but when Israel through their Disobedience feâ—â— back in their Minds from the Light and Power of Gods Spirit having their Minds turned by the Power of the Enemy to look back after the Flesh Pots of Aegypt them remained Death by which they slighted the Lords Mercy despising his Gift inwardly as they despised the 〈◊〉 outwardly and saving That their Souls 〈…〉 â—read Numb 21.6 for which cause of Disobedience the Lord sent firey Serpents whereof the People became wounded and many dyed in that state then the Lord in reader Mercy towards the penitent preserved a number that had not sinned unto Death whose Redemption was wrought through the Power of God by lifting up the braâ—en â—â—â—pent in the bewildered state that whosoever in 〈◊〉 to the Light of Gods Power come to beâ—â—â—â— the 〈◊〉 â—erpent received 〈◊〉 which was a true 〈◊〉 Gods 〈◊〉 fullâ—led in this Gospel Day 〈…〉 Christ 〈…〉 divine Light is to be listed up above all other things in the heart of man even as they were to look to him by Faith aâ— he was to be outwardly lifted up on the 〈…〉 their sins dye and rise again for as Moses â—â—â—ted up the 〈◊〉 Serpeat in the Wilderness even so mast the Sâ—â— of 〈◊〉 be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not peâ—â—â— but have â—ternaâ— Life John 3.14 15. And this is that Lâ—gâ—t which hath been the Path of the Just in all Agâ—â— by which the holy men of God were enlighteâ—ed to see the Glory of God to come in sending his Son Jesus Christ to be a Light to the whole world that as many as believed in him might be saved for they that believe in Christ believe in the Light as he is Light which redeems the Soul and keeps it alive unto God by which the Soul comes to be redeemed from the Stings of the old â—erpent the Power of the Devil whose Power the Light makes manisest and by Obedience to the Light the Soul receives pâ—â—er from God which sets up the Light above all other Lope in the heart of man which must be overcome by the Power of Gods Spirit which is Light and Lise before the Soul 〈◊〉 receive any assurance of God in Christ for he that loveth any thing more than Christ is not found worthy to receive him Mat. to 27 38 39. for where the heart is set in the love of aâ—â— thing more than to love the Light the Soul of that man remains in the broad way where the venomous Serâ—ents â—e which draw the heart and mind from the Love of God inâ—o a state of sinning against the Giâ—â— of his divâ—â—e Light which is the Gift of his Spirit purchased by the death and Resurreâ—â—â—â— of his Son the Lord Jesus Christ which some know no moâ—â— of than to call the gift of Gods divine Light in the hearts o◠〈…〉 A Stinking Vapour from Hell and The Reliques of 〈…〉 which they have said are the Checks of a Naturaâ—◠〈…〉 which words have proceeded from the Mouthes of 〈◊〉 Priest in New England which are no less than 〈…〉 Words by them in whom no goâ—d seed can take 〈…〉 for their Dischedience is against the Light for which the light is their Condemnation John 3.19 20. for the 〈…〉 Christ is the Power of God by which the Righteâ— is have been preserved in all â—ges which the faithful 〈◊〉 to the saving of their Souls in this day for the light of Christ is the Gift of God and the Gift of God by 〈◊〉 Christ is â—ernal Life to them that believe for it is the Seed of the Kingdom sown in the hearts of the faithful who witness their Life in Christ the hope of Glory in whom is the suâ—â—â—hing of things past wherein the faithful Servants of God â—â—ed and dyed in the holy Faith of Gods Promises 〈◊〉 Christ should 〈◊〉 me in the fullness of time for a Light 〈◊〉 the whole Worldâ— according to the Prophecy of Isâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 58 8. Then shall thy Light break forth as the Mâ—râ—ing and thine Health shall spring forth speedly and thy Righteousness shall go before the Glory of the Lord shall be thy Reward
Faith among all Nations for his Name Rom. 1.5 that in Ages to come they might shew forth the exceeding Riches of his Grace in his kindness towards them through Jesus Christ Ephes 2.7 and this is the Grace which is of God and is sufficient for the Salvation of them â—hat truly believe 2 Cor. 12.9 So that it is not an outward are Profession of what God hath wrought by Jesus Christ for the Salvation of others but that every man and woman live their Life in true Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace that by Faith in Christ they may witness the same Life through faith by which men are saved for the Grace of God bringeth Salvation only to them thaâ— believe in the the gift of his â—race without which no man can be saâ—ed foâ— it is by Grace that men are saved and noâ— oâ— an 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 of themselves but by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ Ephes 2 8. Then seeing it is by Gâ—ace that men are â—aved and not of themselves let every man and woman turn in the strength of the Mind to the teaching of Gods gift of Grace which teacheth to deny all Vngodliness and to live a righteous sober and godly Life in this present Woâ—â— that nothing may appear but what is good to the use of edifying that it may minister Grace to the Hearers Eph. 4.29 for where there is Obedience to the gâ—â— of Gods Grace â—â—e more of Christ dwelleth richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Sâ—ngs singing with Grace in their Hearts Col. 3.16 17. which â—s contrary to the practice of mâ—â—y thousands who profess much in the outward of God and Christ in this day whereby they gain of one another the outward Name of Christians but inwardly in the Anti-christian Practice as their outward fruits manifest for where Faith is without Works it is 〈◊〉 dead Faith and in such Grace works no effect towards 〈◊〉 peace with God in Christ by whom the Righteous are 〈◊〉 conciled to God through Faith by Grace in him 〈◊〉 requires perfect Obedience to the gift of his Grace which teaches his â—eople to pray preach and sing with Grace 〈◊〉 their hearts to the praise and honour of his holy Name and edification of one another which they that yeild 〈◊〉 their Obedience to the Spirit of Grace cannot do for which cause of their unclean Fruits their Condemnation doth follow in which state they witness no true peace through Faith by Grace in Jesus Christ whose Sons and Daughters begotten through Grace in him they continue in the Way of the Lords own â—aying out having their words seasoned as with Sâ—â—â— and Grace abounding in their hearts through which by grace they become able Witnesses for the Lord of Life that by him through grace they are made able to perform his Will in what of them he requires by his good spirit of Grace Col. 3 17 in which state the Love of God by Jesus Christ is his Peoples everlasting Consolation and good Hope through Grace 2 Thes 2 1â— Not by Works of Righteousness which they have done but according to his Grace by the washing of Regeneration and the reâ—ewâ—nâ— of the holy Ghost Tit. 3 5 Which is sufficient encourage neâ— to come with holdness unto thâ— Throne of his Grace by which they obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 For the Grace of God hath appeared unto all men teaching them that they should dâ—ny Vngodliness and Wouldly Lâ—st and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Tâ—â— 2.11 12. By which we see and know that all men have received of his Grace sufficient for the present time and state for as the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath in measure appeared unto all men so all men that have neglected the day of Gods Visitation they shall be left without any excuse in that Day of the Lords calling all to an account for the Deeds done in the Body when it shall go well with the Righteous but sorrow and trouble will reach the Wicked on every side for the Lord will not hold them guiltless which take his Name in vain Then will the Wicked which have derided at the movings of Gods good Spirit of Grace in his People come to know a Day of Trouble when the Lord shall laugh at their Distress for unto them Damnation slumbereth nor sleepeth not but will overtake all the Ungodly as a Thieâ— in the Night of their Darkness but it shall go well with the Righteous which ask in Faith without doubting unto them is Salvation through Grace by Jesus Christ who came to save his People from their sins for which end he was made a littlâ— lower than the â—ngels for the suffering of Death and crowned with Glory and Honour that he might by the Grace of God taste Death for every man Hâ—â— 2 9. that whosoever believeth in him 〈…〉 but have Life eternal for the Promise 〈…〉 â—ent to then 〈◊〉 at believe in the gift of 〈…〉 of his Will and Mind by Faith thrâ—â— Grace in Jesus Christ by whom the Souls of them thaâ— believe in him are justified in the sight of God for he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2 11. for bâ— the Grace of God are they of him who unto them of God is made Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 〈◊〉 1.30 by which People may see that the main cause why People perish is through Disobedience to the gift of Gods Grace which by Jesus Christ they have received and it bringeth the Tenders of Salvation to every man in some measure or degree which as improved leads unto perfect Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus which they that refuse do unjustly charge God that is is for want of Grace by which they perish when that it is not for want of Grace tendered unto them but for want of their Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace which is sufficient for the Salvation of them that are faithful thereunto so as the Righteous through Faith and Obedience grow from grace to grace until they become perfect in Christ Jesus so the Unrighteous through unfaithfulness by Disobedience sin away the Grace of God more and more until the Day of Gods Grace with them be over and his Spirit with them hath left striving which all ought to consider while they have time to Repent for there is no repenting in the grave CHAP. XIV Concerning the Resurrection MAny are the People that are concerned to know how the dead are raised and with what Bodies they appear â—or 〈◊〉 what Bodies they do come forth Then seeing their minds are to concerned to know with what Bodies they shall appear doth manifest that they are not come to the knowledge of Gods saving Power through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ which to know gives
to do as many say that if they live where Governours and Rulers are they must be subject to their Laws which they say are ordained of God for the benefit of Church and State otherwayes say they we cannot be subject to all Powers which are ordained of God Now this I do believe that all Powers which are to keep down sin and evil that they are ordained of God but for any to think that the holy Apostle did include the Powers of Darkness to be ordained of God is gross Ignorance in them that so believe for all the Powers of Darkness are of the Devil who is the Father of all Unrighteousness and God never ordained the Devil nor any of his Dark Towers which rule in the Children of Disobedience of whom some have asserted to me That God made the Devil as he now is a Devil but it s through Disobedience to God and Obedience to the Power of the Devil men come to grow into such gross Ignorance that they will venture to the hazard of their souls to say that which they neither know nor understand for the Powers of Darkness which God permits to rule in the Children of Disobedience are for a tryal of his Peoples Faith who are not to submit in active obedience to the dark Powers of the Earth among unrighteous men which cause the righteous to suffer for the Truth of God and Testimony of Jesus which if any refuse Obedience to suffer for the Truth of God and Name of his Son Jesus Christ they cannot be his Disciples for he that is not willing to part with his Life for the sake of Christ can never be made partaker of his heavenly Riches in the Life to come for he that denyeth Crhist before men he will be denyed of Gods Kingdom by Jesus Christ in the World to come so that the Righteous are not to be subject in active Obedience they are to submitt and that for Conscience sake well knowing that their reward will follow in heavenly Riches of Gods Kingdom where the Wicked shall never come So all Powers that be are of God who permits the Devils Power in unrighteous men for a tryal of his Peoples Faith and that he may gain honour to his ovvn Name through their damnation which fullfils the Apostles saying Let every soul be subject to the higher Power for there is no Power but what is of God either by commission or permission for the Power of the Devil God doth permit in unrighteous men whose Power the rightous are not actually to obey for if they should actually they any unrighteous Power in so doing they resist the Ordinance of God and to themselves receive Damnation Rom. 13 1â— which according to the Apostles words no man is actually to obey any Power save the Power of God which is saving to them that through Faith live in Obedience to his Truth according as the holy Apostle did or example who hinself was accounted one of the greaâ—est Transgressors of mens Laws in that he was not in â—ctual Obedience to any of their dark Powers which â—ere then in his time for which cause he himself suffered 〈◊〉 the Name of Jesus through whose Power his People â—ome to be redeemed from all actual Obedience to the â—eviles Power which rules in Unrighteous men which â—ould force People from their Obedience to God which â—ermits the Disobedient to wrêst the holy Scriptures to â—eir own Distruction in which state they would bind 〈◊〉 others to believe in their Anti-Christian Faith that 〈◊〉 is of God and that if any man resist their Power that 〈◊〉 resisteth the Ordinance of God and to himself receives â—amnation which is the very way of promoting the Kingdom of Anti-Christ through whose Power many weak People are seduced from the true Faith and have distrusted in the Power of God by their actual Obedience of conforming to the dark Powers of the Devils setting up in wicked men but the day will come which haltens towards the wicked whom the Lord by his mighty Power will overthrow for all power is committed unto him whose power is over the power of the Devil which the power of God suffers to rule that he may see who will serve him the God of all Truth which permits the Devil to set up and pull down even to the making waste oâ— one another but they that truly serve the Lord shall stand forever for he is God and Lord over all whose almighty Power suffers one dark Power to pull down one and to set up another until his time comes whose right it is to rule in Truth and Righteousness in the heart of every man and woman and in the mean time they that rule for God are not a Terror to good works but to the evil for they are the Ministers of God for the Peoples good that they that do evil might be afraâ—d for he bareth not the Sword in vain but is the Minister of God and a Revenger to execute wrath upon them that do evil Rom. 13.3.4 Wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for Wrath but also for Conscience sake Vers 5. and for this cause pay you Tribute also for they are Gods Ministers attending continually upon this very thing Vers 6. Render therfore their due Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom is due Fear to whom Fear is due Honour tâ— whom Honour is due owe no man any thing but love on another Rom. 13.7 8. Now them that are faithfully in Obedience to the Power of Gods gift of Grace by Jesus Christ they fear the Lord and work his Righteousness through which they live in the love of God towards all men which is the fullfilling of the Law Vers 8. in which staâ—e oâ— true love they render to all men rich and poor vvhatever the Lord requireth of them to do for their obedience is to the power of his own spirit which leads every Just and upright man in Power to rule for Gods Honour through which they have Dominion over the evil Doers and praise unto them that do well such Rulers bare not the Sword in â—aine but he that respects the Person of any man in Justice and Judgment is a Transgressor of Gods holy Law is convinced of the Law as a Transgressor Jam. 2. â— for they that rule for God do no unrighteousness in Judgment neither do they respect the Persons of the Poor nor honour the Persons of the Mighty but in Righteousness judge they their Neighbour Lev 19.15 for they hear the small as well as the great without respecting the persons of either thereby they do not fear the face of any man for the Judgment is the Lords which if there be any thing too hard for them they are to wait on the Lord who in his own due time will manifest the truth of the Cause by which they may come to render true Judgment according to the mind of God Deut. 1.17 but if they respect mens Persons and wrest
the Disobedient live in and in that state of Disobedience the Wicked perish for evermore more but unto the Righteous hath God regard whose Portion is of his heavenly Riches which shall for evermore endure with his People in the World to come But the Day shall come and now is that the Lord shall suffer his Judgments to make way for the Righteous to inhabit the Earth in which the Wicked have of long time been suffered through the permission of God by the Enemy of Maus Peace to lay waste the Lives and Estates of the Righteous who shall inhabit the Earth with Peace and Quietness when the Lords Judgments have destroyed all the Thornes and Thistles with all other the Combustible high and lofty Trees which have long incumbered the Lords Earth without bringing forth Fruit unto him through whose Judgments of Famine Sword and Pestilence with other Judgments of the like Nature by which the Potsherds shall dash one against another till the Earth shall become plain and smothe from the crooked Nature of unrighteous men For every Valley shall be exalted and every Mountain and Hill shall be made low and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places plain and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all Flesh shall see it together for the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Isa 40.4 5. Luke 3.5 And all Flesh shall see the Salvation of God in that Day in which all Israel shall be saved for there shall come out of Zion a Deliverer and shall turn away Vngodliness from Jacob which is his Covenant to them when he shall take away their sins Rom. 11.26 27. for the Lord will finish the Work and cut it short in Righteousness because a short work will the Lord make upon the Earth and for that end hath the Lord begun in his Judgments among the Wicked that he may make way for his Seed in the Remnants of the Nations which shall be saved of which there is a Number already gathered unto which small Number of despised People the Lord â—s daily adding unto his chosen Heritage and elect Seed unto whom the Promise doth belong which is to all them that fear the Lord and work Righteousness unto them is the gathering of the Nations which shall be saved and for their sakes hath the Lord begun his righteous Work against the Adversaries of his Truth whom he will overthrow and bring to nought for out of Heaven will the Lord thunder of his Judgments upon them and will judge the ends of the Earth for God hath given strength to the Righteous and will exalt the Horn of his anointed and he shall only and alone rule unto whom the Government doth belong for when his Judgments are in the Earth the Inhabitants thereof will learn Righteousness for God shall arise in Judgment to save the weak of the Earch and the Wrath of man shall praise him and the remainder of Wâ—ath shall the Lord restrain Psal 7.6 9 10. And the Lord will return to Jacob and have Mercy upon the House of Israel after they have born the Shame of their Trespasses whereby they have trespassed against the Lord Ezek. 39. Then will the Lord gather them from among the Heathen and they shall know him whom their Fathers slew to be the Lord of Life then shall they sing Praises acceptable to God giving Glory due unto his holy Name and their Offerings unto him shall be in the Beauty of Holiness for they shall know the Lord and him the only true God shall they worship in the Spirit and in the Truth theâ— shall the Earth fear before the Lord and the World also shall be stable that it be not moved then the Heavens will be glad and the Nations will sing Praises to the holy One of Israel whom they shall know to rule and reign in the hearts of the Out casts of Israel for if the casting away of them have been the reconciling of the World what shall the receiving of them be but Life from the Dead Rom. 11.15 Then let the Sâ—a roar and the fullness thereof let the Fields rejoyce and all that is therein then shall the Trees of the Wood sing out at the presence of the Lord for he cometh to judge the Earth Chron. 16. And unto them that fear his Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his Wings and they shall grow up in Truth and Righteousness before the Lord and the Wicked shall be as Ashes under the solâ—s of their feet in the Day that I shall do this saith the Lord of Hosts for the Lord will pour out of his Spirit upon the Fathers and the Children and the hearts of the one shall be turned towards the other for Truth and Righteousnâ—ss shall reign in all the Earth and there shall be no more Norse of the Horses rushing into the Battle for all carnal Weapons of War shall be done a way and all the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of God and his Christ and the Lord of Life shall rule and reign in his People for evermore and happy is it with that small Number of despised Ones among men in this day who witness the beginning of these things in themselves for having set their hand to the Plow not looking back they shall be made fit for the Kingdom of Heaven into which no unclean thing shall ever enter for it is prepared of God by Jesus Christ for them that have kept his Commandments in this Life and not for them that plead for a Body of sin all their days in which sinning state they know no end of Disobedience against Gods holy Truth for sin brings Death and Death brings Judgment which is for Wrath to come upon all the Ungodly which fear not God to keep his Commands for which cause the Wicked live in a â—ell upon Earth which by the Wrath of Gods just Judgment will be enlarged to all the Wicked after this Life for for when the Righteous dye they dye to live in the Lords Rest where they enjoy Pleasure at the right hand of God for evermore but the Wicked who have disregarded the Commands of the Lord in this Life they dye to live in Everlasting Torment of the fiery Flames of Gods Wrath and Indignation which is the Reward of all the Wicked and Ungodly of this Life whose Life is far worse than the Life of a Dog or a Toad for when they dye all their Misery is ended but when the Wicked dye their great Misery then beginneth and will encrease forever and ever Which things are too little regarded by many in this Life but the Day will come in which they shall wish that others might have warning but if they will not hear Moses and the Prophets neither have they regarded the Lord from Heaven for which cause is their Misery which will come upon all the Ungodly that call not as they ought to do upon the Name of the
received to profit withal Joh. 3.16 17 18 19 20 21. Mat 25. 1 Cor. 12.3 to 9. Ephes 5.13.14 So that if People would but give up in their minds to spend that time in reading the holy Scriptures which they spend in that which only satisfies the Lust of the natural Will which begets from a furder and furder obedience of retaining God in their thoughts by which the mind is fitly framed through Disobedience to veild it self a servant to the Devils Power through which they become Witches and in one degree or another are Instruments of bewitching others in which state of Disobedience the World remains in Wickedness bewitching one the other that they should not obey the Truth of God made manifest by Jesus Christ so that the greatest sort of Witch-craft by the Devil is to make men Instruments for his service and to bewitch into that which is of the most service to promote his Kingdom of Unrighteousness which cannot be higher promoted by any that serve him then when they are by him bewitcht to bewitch others into the like state that when they are destroying the lives of the Lords Children think it is of the greatest Service for God and benefit to their Souls which is the greatest sort of Witch-craft that ever was for People of the Devil so to believe Now for all other sort of Witches they only touch the outward but cannot touch the Spirit of one true Believer in Christ Jesus which according to that command of God for the destroying of Witches and false Worshippers in the time of the Law if it remain the same in this Gospel Day it reaches the Life of every Persecutor which doth bewitch that they should not obey the Truth in which state though they worship not a false God as in the time of the Law yet they worship the true God in a false way which comes under the same Condemnation of not suffering a Witch and the false Worshipper to live in the time of the Law So that Persecutors are no more the true Worshippers of God in this Gospel Day than Witches and other false Worshippers were in the time of the Law for Publicans and Harlots shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven before them that are of that Persecuting Spirit by which so many Thousands of People are bewitched that they should not obey the Truth but remain in the works of the flesh with which Witch-craft is included Gal. 5.20 for which cause the Devil is permitted to imitate the very form of the way and manner of their former proceedings against the People of God at their general Court in Boston for some of the afflicted bewitched or possessed Evidences say That the black Man i. e. the Devil in a high crowned Hat with his Priests have divers times called together about four or five hanared of their Number at Saâ—â—m they use to assemblâ— themselves together breaking Râ—â—ad and drinking Wine which they call the Devils Saâ—â—ament which practise as the Evidences with some of the confessed say is before they set upon the hight of their intended Work to a 〈◊〉 and torment others thereby to force them to conform to the same practice of the Devils way and some have confessed they have been freed from the Torment of their afflicted state upon conforming to the Devils Will who then baptizeth them into Covenant to do what he and the Priests with him command to be done Which work of the Devils general Court is as like in imitation to the work of the former Priests and Rulers against the People called Quakers as the moving shadow of a wicked man is like to the moving of 〈◊〉 corrupted Body for all that would not conform to the Faith of the Priests and Rulers to do as they did in that day were by them and their followers esteemed no better than Dogs for I never heard of any Dâ—g but received more Mercy than that Servant of the Lord William Breand received at the hands of the Priests Rulers and their Followers in that day who tyed the said W. B. neck and heels sixteen hours and laid upon his naked back thirty stripes with a three cord knotted whip and then from â—â—e of their Church Members with a pitcht Roap received one hundred and seventeen stripes only his Shirt to defend the same having his body thus beaten into a Jelly of flesh and blood he fainted away some thinking that he would not have recovered life again and the Doctor said if he did recover it would be a Miracle which through the goodness of God he did recover to 〈◊〉 and strength again whose Testimony was of great courage through the Power of God for the service of his Truth among them that did believe and for the further Condemnation of them that did not believe in which day the work of Unbelievers was of that nature against the said People called Quakers that to read the History of all their Sufferings in that day in and about Boâ—on may in Ages to come make men to wonder that such a professing People in New-England should manifest themselves so mad against an innocent people nay in that day did they not appoint their Women Church Members to search the Bodies of the Lords Hand maids for Witches whose Testimony will remain to the end on Record That one of them so searched in the bearing and bringing forth fire Children did not undergo the like trouble as the inhumane cruelty of these Church Women put her to in the searching of her Body for a Witch which she was clear of but now among their own Church Members they have as is supposed Witch-craft upon Wiâ—ch-craft the which whether true or not is a Judgment of God upon them for their not repenting of their evil Deeds against the Lord and his People who daily desire of God that they may manifest Repentance by the fruits thereof until which time of Reformation that men may come to do even as they would that all men should do unto them the Lords Anger against the Inhabitants of New-England will not be removed for they may expect that as they increase in Unrighteousness against God that as he draws off the lesser Judgment a greater for sin and evil against him will upon the Unrighteous be poured forth for God is not mocked such as men sow such they shall also reap and if the Inhabitants of New-England do not amend and repent the Lord hath yet a Work to do by Pestilence and Famine which will be more terrible than all the Lords former Judgments have been ever since they began to persecute the honest People called Quakers Of which work under Boston Government in that day I have before mentioned proving it to be the moving cause that the Lord hath as with Israel of old left the Inhabitants of New-England to further evils which with the shedding of the Blood of the innocent and their other sins these horrid Accusations of Witch-craft have increased among the Inhabitants and Churches
so called in New-England but whether true or not I do not affirm And to conclude I shall give an account of the Quakers sufterings in one small Town in New-England by which the whole may the better be comprehended which is as followeth An Account of Goods taken from the People called Quakers in the Town of Sandwich in New-England  l. s. d. Taken from Robert Harper 44 00 00 Taken from Ralph Allen 68 00 00 Taken from Joseph Allen 05 12 00 Taken from Thomas Greenfield 28 00 00 Taken from Edword Perry 89 00 00 Taken from Richard Kirby his son Richard 54 12 00 Taken from George Allen 25 15 00 Taken from William Allen 86 17 00 Taken from Matthew Allen 48 16 00 Taken from William Gifford 57 19 00 Taken from Thomas Ewer 25 08 00 Taken from William New-land 36 00 00 Taken from Daniel Wing 12 00 00 Taken from Ralph Allin 18 00 00 Taken from Peter Gaunt 43 14 06 Taken from Thomas Jenkins 19 10 00 Taken from Michael Turner 13 10 00 Taken from John Newland 02 06 00 In all 678 19 06 The other part of their Sufferings in this small Town of Sandwich was with whipping and long Imprisonment and though the sufferings of the Inhabitant Quakers of Sandwich were great yet under Boston Government the sufferings of this People did abound in Cruelty above the other Collonies adjoyning to Boston Government from which the other united colonies adjoyning took their example to persecute the Quakers as iâ— short I have before related but the Lord open the dark Understanding of their Mind and give them a heart Suitable to Repent that they may live to God as they ought to do which Repentance must appear by the fruits of Repentance otherwise there can be no Salvation to them that leave this Life without Repentance because that there is no repenting in the Grave which if men did without Repentance then they dye in their sins and cannot share with the faithfull in the things of Gods heavenly Riches which are in store for all them that love the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ CHAP. XXX Concerning the Lords Harvest and of the Labour in his Vineyard EVen now as in dayes past the Lords Harvest is Great but the Labourers are few because many have received of the Lord to work in the Vineyard but are not faithful to that of him which they have received for which cause their part of labour in the Vineyard remains not done and they remain clothed with the works of their own Labour which is not of the Spirit of God therefore do they labour in Vain for it is the diligent hand through the gift of God which enriches the Soul of him that is a faithfull Labourer in the Lords Vineyard when the negligent and floathful ones are sent empty away for all have in measure received the seed of the Harvest but through unfaithfulness the harvest of Truth and Righteousness is not perseâ—â—ed in them because through their unfaithfulness to the gift of God the Seed taketh not root for the ground proves barren which is the cause of the seeds not taking root to bring forth fruit acceptable to God for as the feed in measure hath been sown in all forts of ground it only takes root to bring forth good fruit in the honest heart which is faithfull to God in the work of the Vineyard for many are called to labour in the Vineyard that through unfaithfulness to their call are never chosen among the faithful Labourers in the work of the Lords Vineyard therefore pray to the Lord of the Harvest that he would send forth more faithfull Labourers or the Harvest is great many unfaithfull Labourers there be which hinder others from receiving the Truth for they have sown divers strange seeds in the Lords Vineyard where the many Pastors have trodden the Lords portion under foot and have made his pleasant Portion a desolate Wilderness which being desolate it mourneth unto the Lord for which cause the Lord hath sent his Servants as in dayes past to warn the learned wise rebellious Ones from the evil or their way that People may find ease from under these heavy burdens with which their Teachers have yoked them and encouraged them to beat one destroy the other perswading them it was good service for God in so doing in which state many have itching ears that will not endure to hear found Doctrine but heap up Teachers which turn them from the Truth into Fables through which the Vinyard is encumbered with a multitude of fruitless Trees Bryars Thornes and Thistles among which the Lyon waits for his prey and the Subtil Foxes have their hiding places where the Wolf also seeketh to devour which things are left for Preachers to consider and not to teach People to dash one against the other but to love one another and to pray for their Enemies and do no other thing to another then they themselves are willing to be done unto until which time the Just Judgment of God is their Reward for all their evil wayes towards him and his People for whom the Lord is making way through his righteous Judgments which take pleace upon all them that obey not his Word to keep his commands they like potsherds shall even dash one against the other until all be consumed which is not fitly framed and tempered according to the Lords own mind but the Lord is making way for the growth of his own Seed which shall bring forth abundant of increase to the praise of God and honour of his Name for the harvest is Great and the Labourers are few but the Lord will daily add more and more that by the strength of his own Power he will make his Vineyard fit according to his own defire where every one shall remaine in peace under his own Vine unto which many are gathered and unto them will be the gathering CHAP. XXXI Something of an Account concerning Gods Judgments upon divers of the chief persecuting Priests and Rulers in New-England as also relating to some of their Laws Acts and Orders for the further Reformation of them called their Churches with some what relating to their form and manner of Habit in that day IT hath been found lawful and expedient in all Ages as appears by the holy Scriptures to record the Works of the Righteous that as Land Marks they might remain for all to follow them in the way of Righteousness and also to record the Works of the Unrighteous that as Way-Marks all might take warning to hate evil and do good for had the first Inhabitants of New-England remained faithful under the Bishops Yoke in fleeing from one City and Town to the other the Yoke and Burden of Christ would have become easie and light but not bearing the Cross of Christ in opposition to their natural Wills they fled beyond the Command of God in fleeing the Land though seemingly under a fair pretence of gathering Churches and
it is said That Esau sought the blessing with Tears but could not obtain it All which makes not the least proof that the soul of Esau did perish for they themselves allow that if the Parents are Believers their Children are holy Then finding that the Parents of Esau were holy Believers why should any judge of God to be such a severe Master as to decree the soul of a Child born of holy Parents to perish without having done any evil in its own Body And as to Esau â—s being hated the Lord never hated the soul of any man as to decree its Damnation before he was born but for its sins and final Impenitency for hatred is taken in a two-fold sence for Jacob loved Rachel and hated Leah And Christ said He that hateth not Father and Mother Wife and Children he cannot be my Disciple Luke 14.26 Now if God had hated Esau with such Hatred as to decree his soul for Damnation before he was born or had done either good or evil then Isaac by Faith would not have blessed Esau for Isaac did by Faith bless Jacob and Esau concerning things to come And as to Repentance which Esau could not find it was relating to the first blessing which he could not recover being before given to Jacob the younger of whom it is said Esau the elder should serve Which no more implyes that Esau did perish than David the younger Brother whom God chose before all the rest of his elder Brethren who were to serve David their younger Brother whom God saw good to place on the outward Throne in the outward Kingdom of Israel that the outward Government might 〈◊〉 in the Line of David in which line of David's stock the elder did serve the â—ounger for so did the Wisdom of God order the outward Government of Israel in Church and State in which the elder did serve the younger And in Jacob's Line the stock of Esau served the younger until the â—â—ling of the Gentiles which then did reach the stock of Esau and all Nadons that should be found to call on his Name that they may possâ—â—s the Remnant of Edom and all the Heaâ—hen which are called by any Name saith the Lord â—mos 9.12 by which it is manifest that the Church of God remains seattered aâ—nâ—ng all Nations among whom they that 〈◊〉 God and work his Righteousnâ—â—s the same shall be saved through Faith in Christ Jesus for the gift of Gods Grace bâ— Jesus Christ is large in his love to all Nations which bâ— his promise in calling the Gentiles it frees the yoke of servitude from the stock of Esau's Posterity which is no less priviledge than to be made partakers of Gods Promise in the Government of his Grace by Jesus Christ which the stock of Jacob have refused for which cause they have lost their Interest through their Self-Righteousness in the first Covenant of Works for which cause of refusing the rich Mercy of Gods Grace by Jesus Christ they are given up in Unbelief concerning the great Work of Redemption by the Son of God whom they wickedly slew without the City Gates for which cause the Lord hath given them the Spirit of Slumber Eyes that they should not see and Ears that they should not hear unto this day And Davîd said Let their Table be a Snare and a Trap and a stumbling Block and a Recompence unto them let their Eyes be dirkenêd that they may not see and bow down their back alway Then have they stumbled that they should fall God forbid but rather through their Fall Salvation is come unto the Gentiles for to provoke them to jealousie for if the fall of them be the Riches of the World and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles how much more their fuliness For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the World what shall the receiving of them be but Life from the Dead for if the first Fruit be holy the Lump is also Holy and if the Root be Holy so are the Branches for if through Vnbelief they were broken off then it is by true Faith that there is an entrance into the Covenant of Grace which extends to the stock of Esau Ishmael and all the Nations of the World for the Lord hath said That he will call them his People which were not his People and her his beloved which was not his beloved Rom. 9.25 Hos 2.23 1 Pet. 2 10. Hos 1.10 Therefore let not any be ignorant to establish their own Righteousness but submit to that Righteousness which is of God by Faith in Jesus Christ who doth not delight himself in the death of any sinner but had rather all might turn and live By which it is evident that God hath not decreed the Destruction of any mans soul before he hath sinned out the day of Gods Visitation whose spirit shall not always strive with man whose Condemnation is of himself through the unbelief of his own hard heart and the decree of God respecteth him only as such which was the state of Pharaoh of whom it is said The Lord hardned the heart of Pharaoh that be might be honoured upon Pharaoh and upon all his host So not only Pharaoh but his People also had rebelled against the Word of the Lord by his Servants and Messengers of his Truth for which cause the Lord gave them up thorough unbelief to haronâ—â— of heart by which it is said The Lord hardened Pharaohs heart for this end to give honour to his own holy name thorough the overthrow of so great a King as Pharaoh in the Earth then was who hardened his own heart through the unbelief which he had to the Word of the Lord who permitted the Devil to draw Tharaoh from Obedience to the Command of the Lord thorough which his heart came to be hardened to the Glory of God and honour of his name for all the Devils work is by permission and is to the honour of God in the Condemnation of them which thorough Disobedience yeild their minds in obedience to the Devils Power by which their hearts come to be hardened against Gods holy Truth so that God hardeneth not any mans heart whose Condemnation is of himself in that he will not yeild his Obedience to the gift of God who desires not that any should perish but that all might do his Commandments and live for which end all men have ever had the way of good and evil set before them which proves that man do not perish thorough a decree of Gods making before they have done either good or evil hat they shall perish for tho the Decree or Purpose of God begins not in time yet it respecteth Man having had a time and day of Visitation and living in Sin until it be expired for the holy Scriptures are very full that God is clear of all mens Blood which perish for he hath tendered Life to all the Children of men by which thorough Faith in Obedince to
follow that they are false Worshippers then why they put to Death according to that Command in the Law and their Substance taken away to defray publick Charge contrary to the express Command of God in the time of the Law Exod. 22 18. Deut. 28.16 13 1â— 1â— But when men come â—o burn their Books of curious Arts then the oldness of the Law will dye and newness in Spirit will appear through the growth of Gods Word which in that day shall prevail Acts 19.17 18 19 20. until which time let Christs saying to the Rebellious Jews be sufficient that is when they brought the Woman taken in the act oâ— Adultry saying Moses in the Law commanded that such should bâ— stoned to Death Christ bids Let him that is without sin cast the first stone but no man among them being without sin the woman escaped even so may Witches not guilty of Murder escape in this day for he that â—s wholly clear of every degree of Witch-craft may cast a stone at Witches that is when as evidently proved as the Womans act was in Adultry John 8.4 5 6 7 8 9 10. for where the nature of Witchtraft remaineth it evidently appears by Peoples Threats one to the other and their living in Malice Hatred and Envy one against the other watching and waiting for the opportunity of advantage one against the other and if no advantage present of damnifying one the other yet the sin of Witch-craft in one degree is as deeply rooted in them as the sin of Adultry is rooted in him that looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed Adultry with her already in his heart Mat. 5 28. for the intent of Wickedness is of greater abomination in the sight of God than the act of sin is in the sight of sinful men Of which number I am now concerned to give an account of New England's first Inhabitants and of them which yet remain without Power but in the very nature of their fore Fathers justifying the Laws by which the Lords Servants were persecuted to Death at Boston for which Judgment after Judgment hath fallen upon this place even since and the Lords just Judgments were to bring them to a sight of that sin of Blood but instead of reâ—enting their hearts have waxed harder and harder against the Truth of God delivered by his Servants in that day in which Day of Gods Truth to them their requital was by destroying the Lives of the Lords People with whole innocent Blood New-England remains defiled for the very first stept of the first Inhabitants towards this land in may be questioned whether or not they fled beyond the command of the Lord for finding the Bishops Yoke uneasie under which if they had remained faithful the Yoke of the Lord would have been easie and his Burden light but instead of manifesting the Lords cause in the other City they fled this Land which fleeing was it not beyond what the Lord hath commanded when persecuted in one City to flee to the other that each place or each People may hear the Truth which all that are called of God are to deliver according to their measure which if any say that it was sufficient warrant from God for them to flee the Land and as Paul did preach the Gospel where Christ was not named then why followed they not Paul as for example he followed Christ who came not to destroy mens lives but to save and 〈…〉 by turning People from Darkness to Light and 〈…〉 Power of Satan to the Power of God but how 〈◊〉 they turned the Native Indians where Christ 〈…〉 named did they not in their first settlement 〈◊〉 them in to the Grave where there is no Repentance a strang turning in feed by a People that pretended so much to Gods Truth as they did and not come so far as the Law and the Prophets but to do unto the poor Natives otherwayes then they themselves would be done unto well might such a work not be expected to promote a People for the Service of God Honour of his Name who hath well rewarded the Inhabitants of New-England for their unrighteous dealings towards the Native Indians whom now the Lord hath suffered to reward the Inhabitants with a double measure of Blood by Fire and Sword which had they followed the command of the Lord to have prayed for their Enemies and done to others even as themselves would have been done unto the â—nhabitants might have been free from these great and terrible Judgments of God which for sin and evil is their Reward in this Day So its evident that through their unfaithfulness to God in their first settlement of this Land and since hath been the leading cause of their being further left to do these unrighteous things which have increased the Lords Wrath against them and their following Generation who remain guilty for not repenting of sin and evil against God for whose Truth they ought to have born a faithful Testimony in their publick â—ssemblies against all the unrighteous Ways of their fore-Fatcers which have been against the Lord and his People of which I may relate something that others thereby may receive warning not to follow Unrighteousness but to remain faithful to their measure lest the Lord deliver them up through Unbelief to hardness of heart and they do as New-England's Priests and Rulers have done which hath caused the hand of the Lord to be against them and all that actually or by silence have consented to their unrighteous ways which have been maintained by the Sword of the Magistrate which the Priests in the day of their Power whitted sharp through their false pernicious Doctrines which did encourage the Rulers of that day to deshoy all the Lords Servants that were found within their Government under the Name Quaker to whom they allotted the Valley of Achor for a door of Hope Josh 7 24.25 perverting the Truth of God through their preaching up things in the Law which Christians are not to do in the time of the Gospel Deut. 13. 1 King 1.10 2.24 Luke 9.54 which notwithstanding they would preach and pray That all were accursed that did their Work negligently against the Quakers whose living among the People the Priests did impute to be the cause of Gods Judgments which they said was the Peoples just Reward for suffering any one Quaker to live among them whereupon the Rulers with the silent consent of the greatest part of the Inhabitants did make sharp and bloody Laws against the Quakers whereby they were long imprisoned under many Hardships as in respect of the hard cold Clymate without fire and for days together without food having their Friends denyed of visiting them in any kind but as the Lord was daily with them their strength in love did increase towards him who did uphold and support them in their great Sufferings which were of that Nature that one would even wonder that a People of so much preaching and praying
should be so blind and of so unbelieving hard hearts to work in such a hight of Wickedness against the Lord and his People whom they have imprisoned whipt stockt out theâ— Ears undering them to be sold for Bonds Men and Bond Women banishing them upon pain of Death if ever they return to be offered up at their bloody Altar and to the value of twenty hundred Pounds taken from them for Fines and made a Law that every Master of a Vessel that landed any one Quaker within their Power of Government should pay one hundred Pounds and five pounds for any one that gave entertainment to any one of their Books with much more of the like nature acted and done by them to the aforesaid honest harmeless People whom in their Law they have stiled with the Name of Rogues and Vagabonds Blasphemous Hereticks and Seducers of the People from the Faith but if they have called the Master a Devil they of the same Spirit have called his People after the like manner and after the same nature have they perseented his Servants to Death at Boston which Wickedness they would cover with a Lye even as their fore Fathers did by giving large Money to the ignorant to say his Disciples stole him away by Night which large Money will not hide their Lying no more will the twenty hundred Pounds taken from the Quakers hide the Lyes of them in this day who say The Quakers hanged themselves for the Law by which they were put to Death was made after that they had been a time in the Country which after their Return according to that Law of Banishment were they in a most barbarous inhumane way put to Death being drove to their bloody Altar with Drums Guns and Swords and out down even to the breaking of their skulls and in a barbarous manner dragged their naked Bodies in a Roap with the gnashing of Teeth in which inhumane manner they threw their naked Bodies into a stinking Pit near to their Bloody Altar not suffering their Friends to secure the place with Fence by which their Bodies might be preserved from Swine and other ravenous Creatures By which it is evident they hanged not themselves but as they were persecuted in one place they kept the Command of the Lord by fleeing to the other until they delivered up their Lives as for â—xample the Lords Servants in days past have done for the Truth of God and Testimony of Jesus whom they have followed even as the Disciples and Apostles of Christ have done Then seeing that it is high Rebellion against God and the King to put his People to Death without any warrant precept command or example from either of how much lower nature is the Work of Witch-craft if really it so be in and about the Town of Salâ—m for the Lords People are to him as the apple of his Eye and he that toucheth them toacheth the Apple of his Eye Zâ—ch 2.8 Deut 32 10. Psal 17.8 for whosoever offendeth one of them bâ—tter were it for him that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Mat 18 6. Mark 9.42 Luke 17.1 2. Therefore People ought well to consider whom they establish to rule for their outward Peace among themselves for where men of Persecuting Principles are appointed by the People to rule where they once gain Power by the consent of the People to persecute their unrighteous Work draws the judgments of God upon the Inhabitants of the whole place where they rule for had the Body of the Jews withstood their unrighteous Prieâ—â—s and Rulers by bearing a faithful Testimony for Gods holy Truth they had been freed from that Judgment which now remains upon their Generation even so is it with tâ—e Inhabitants of New-England though many of them had no actual hand in shedding of innocent Blood which hath defiled the Land because they did not bear a faithful Testimony against the unrighteousness of their Priests and Rulers of that Day for which cause every Judgment upon this place reaches the whole Body of People in the general Calâ—â—â—ty for Christ charges the Spirit of Persecution with all the righteous Blood that hath ever been shed Mat. 23.35 Then seeing that this Spirit of Persecution is charged with more Unrighteousness towards God and his People then all them of that nature which they call witches who have not that influence upon People to bewitch them that they should not obey the Truth even as the persecuting Priests and Rulers have done which proves Persecutors to be the greatest Witches in the World because the one as the Devil was only permitted to touch the outward Body for the inward tryal of Faith but the other are permittnd to bewitch People to persecute one the other to Death and through the Power of the Devil cause People to believe that they are deing good Service for God when they are persecuting his People to Death Acts. 26.10 11. and 8.5 and 9.1 2. which time hath been and yet remains where the Priests bear rule Joh. 16.2.3 for as Troopes of Robbers have waited for a man so have the company of Priests murdered in the way by consent Hos 6.9 So that these things are in all places where the persecuting Priests are rule among the People who are like their Priests Hos 4.6 7 8 .10 it is by the consent of the People that persecuting Magistrates rule and by consent of their â—urighteous Laws do the persecuting Priests destroy he outward Lives and Liberties of the Lords People 〈◊〉 which cause the Lords Wrath and Indignation is gainst the whole People so far as they are either accally or by silence consenting to these things through which the righteous suffer for the cause of Gods holy Truth who are not to give their Bread to Dogs nor to cast their Pearls before Swine neither are they to forgive further then men turn and say they repent Mat. 6.10 Luke 17.4 for nofurther then men repent of their Evil Deeds will the Lord forgive so that his will may be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven men are not to seek to unbind that on Earth which as not unbound in Heaven neither to â—â—ek to bind that on Earth which is not bound in Hraveâ— but to pray that the sin of Murder may not be laid 〈…〉 charge of them that know not what they do Mat. 5.44 Acts 7.00 for in this Day of great Trouble upon them that have not done even as they would be done unto the Lord is daily adding unto their Afflictions because they Kopent not of their evil Deeds towards him and his People whom Pharaoh-like they have opprest but the Lord hath in a great measure with-held the roaring of the Lyon and the fierce Lyon and the Teeth of the young Lyon the Lord hath broken and the strength of their power against Gods Heritage is become of no force for their striving against the holy One of Israel is brought to nought for he is a consuming fire to
which Law several honest rich Merchants in Boston received vvhich Law vvell pleased the Priests not knovving hovv little time they had to ride the Rulers at their pleasure but soon after this King Charles the second vvith his Council oâ— Parliament called them to an account and found thaâ— they had forfeited their Charter and which was condemned and for their misdemeanour towards him and his Subjects justly taken away And in that Day their pretended Holyness was such that none but them of their own Profession were admitted to bear Office or fight against their Enemies but now they will accept the Mahoque Indians or Pyrats or them highly accused of Witch-craft to be their chief Commanders and instead of differing Apparel all that can get it may wear wâ—at they please most striving who shall come nearest the newest French fashion and instead of Womens Vails in their Worship strive who can spy out the newest fashioned Apparel and the richest and highest Top-knoâ—s c. and too much let their minds out to discourse of these things till their next Worship day I write not these things to reflect upon the People of New-England but that they may repent of their evils which provoke the Lords Judgments against a People that profess him in words but deny him in Works for which cause it was that divers of the former Priests and Rulers were suddainly removed by the just hand of the Lord which reached them by suddain Death according as I have read in a printed Paper given to King Charles the second and to his Council that upon the day of putting to Death them four Persons called Quakers many people to see them put to death run over the Draw-bridge in Boston which broke down and several people hurt but only one Woman big with Child killed and that was her who had said That rather than those four Quakers should not be put to Death for want of some one to hang them that her Husband should perform the Work The next in order was their Major General whose Horse threw him in all his Pomp at the head of the Train-bands and he dyed immediately in the same place The third was the Captain of their Castle who was suddainly killed with Thunder at which time the blades of his Souldiers Swords melted in their sheathes by their sides yet all preserved alive The fourth and fifth were their two Captains which drove those innocent persons to their bloody Altar the one was deprived of his natural Reason and for filthiness degraded of his Church Brethren and became eaten of Lice and a reproach to them that met him The other was given up to strong Drink and suddainly dyed The sixth of their Rulers was one Webb who was accused of Uncleanness with his near Kins-woman he was strangely drowned when all others in the same Boat were out of danger The seventh was their Jaylor a devout Member of their Church who departed this Life in great horror of Conscience confessing it was for his great Cruelty to the poor Quakers The eight is said to have rotted alive and was he that condemned the innocent to dye The nineth bled to Death not known to have any Wound The tenth was one Vnderwood a rich Baker which wasted his Estate and became a Servant in Virginia And another which I well knew did the like The twelfth a great â—ersecutor was a rich Collonol he ended miserably being killed by the Indians in his own House in a taunting way of reproach And at the same time his Riches consumed by fire and his Daughter taken Captive The thirteenth was John Norton their high Priest in Boston who preached in the fore-part of the day and in the latter part of the day it s said he confessed the hand of God was upon him and â—o dyed And as the Word of the Lord was by the Mouth of his Servants to John Indicot Governour even so is it for his fair Dwellings in Boston are become a Barn and Stable for Cows and Horses and one can hardly find where his fair Dâ— in Salem stood And of all his other great Estate in Lands and Livings it s well known that on four pence a day for labour many honest men in Old England have and do live far more better than any of his Posterity upon the aforesaid great Estate and yet I know not any of them extravagant but things do not prosper with them Some Deep and Mysterious Matters for all to Consider BRIEFLY RELATING How Man came to fall his state in the Fall and Way of Restoration to God again CHAP. I. Concerning the wonderful and mysterious Trees in the Garden of Eden unknown ever since Man was driven out of Paradise until admitted to return again viz. the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil and the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God NOw some will have the Tree of Kowledge of good and evil to be a natural Tree planted by God in Paradise with whom I will not much contend but of such a nature it was that whosoever did eat thereof should have their Eyes opened against themselves and so to be as Gods to know both good and evil then might it be that God would admonish Adam both inwardly and outwardly of what he did inwardly and in his heart either forbid or teach him that he would 〈…〉 for the greater Evidence set before his Eyes but â—â—â—al this may be granted that what was outwardly done the same happened inwardly in the heart of Adam that he was there temped by the Seed of the Serpent viz. to make some account and reckoning of his own Wisdom Will and Nature and not submit himself unto God as void of all name knowledge or work but to be something of himself and there are two causes for it first because the promise is that the Seed of the Woman shall bruise thâ— head of the Serpent Now I do not read of any natuâ—aâ— oâ— living Serpent whose head was so bruised by the Seed of the Woman therefore it may besaid as the spiritual Seed of the Woman or Christ was in the heart of Adam so likewise was the serpents Seed for man was made good and not of the substance of God therefore is it that man turns himself always from God and inclineth to his own vanity for what is the Devil Sin Death and Hell but nothing even as many of the antient Fathers have writ especially Thaulerus that God never created them for they are a Non-entity a not being which is contrary and perfectly opposit to Entity and being and this might be the Devil that dwelt in Adam which seduced him as also in Lucifer The other cause is this that the Scriptures likewise witness that the City of God and the heavenly Jerusalam and the Kingdom of God is a Paradise within his People and furder that God and his Almighty Word is their Paradise the Tree of Life the Temple where they dwell walk sacrifice and pray as
while time is the spirit of God keeps striving to live to his Word to do his will that is to yeild their obedience to the Word of his Spirit that the Will of God may be done in their earthly Tabernacle agreeble to the desire of his Will which is in Heaven this is the way of them that to God abide faithful to keep the path of him that is Just in which their is neither variation nor shadow of turning buâ— keeping the way of Life which leadeth to enter thâ— strait Gate that is to that man that doth nothing know-nothing and willeth nothing of himself but bears and suffers and sees God making holy day in him this man keeps the Sabbath holy being void of all skill and will is subject only to God in him to do out will know both how what when and why he pleaseth God Now the whole World lieth in this Death and Sin for that it doth nothing else but kiss its own hand and Sacrifice to its own Net that is adore the purpose counsel invention and wisdom of it self and to this purpose are all things drawn and bent even the holy Scriptures and words of God namely to be consonant to the Reason of men and not to cross their own wisdom course and way but all these things must be overthrown unlearned again if they will see God therefore doth the Spirit of God and the holy Scriptures so vehemently urge the Children of Men to become Children and Fools and to vomit up again all the art and knowledge of this forbidden Tree to be purged by the strength of the Tree of Life consequently let men in this state look and observe in themselves narrowly what they do either in their worship to God or serving their Neighbour and they shall find that all this is true in their own brest that themselves is the mark they aim at in all they do J. E. T. M. CHAP. V. Concernining the Sin of Covetousness THe nature of which Lust or Devil lusteth to covet after that Which God hath expresly forbidden namely the Tree of Knowledg of good and evil which causeth men to become as Gods whose Eyes are opened against themselves to perceive the Tree good for Food and pleasent to the eyes and a Tree to make one wise therefore do they covet after the fruit of the Tree and greedily eat of it not considering how they eat Death and dye to God as Adam did even so is it with every man that is not planted into the Tree of Life and new born of Christ regenerated and brought forth by the immortal Seed the Word of God the Spirit of Truth and Seed of his Kingdom but on the contrary covet after the perishing things of this World thereby to enrich themselves there-with contrary to what God hath commanded first to seek the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof unto which is the promise of adding all other things for as the Promise was on condition to Adam To do and live so hath it been the same to all men in every age and is the same in this day therefore let none deceive themselves for the doers of the Law were only them that kept the Word of the Lord who accounted them worthy of receiving Life to live with God forever for to the Disobedient who are only hearers of the Word and not doers of the Word there is no true peace neither in this Life nor in the Life to come for there is no peace to the Wicked saith my God so that the doers of the Law were they and only them that kept the Commandments of God and by faith in him were the works of the Law imputed to them for Righteousness So not in this Gospel Day Christ is given for a Light to lighâ—â—n the Gentiles and for Salvation to the ends of the Earth that whosoever will believe in him might not perish but have the Light of Life Therefore as Christ hath dyed for the sins of the whole World that every man in the World may be left without excuse God hath given unto them a gift of divine Light which is to them a Talent and Seed of the Tree of Life as is else-where called the â—ord of Faith being a manifestation of the Spirît given to every man to profit withal which as they hear to obey and do it they also profit by it to perform the Commandments of God and of this nature is their strength in the Tree of Life renewed which causeth the Seed to grow and makes rich the berren land through purging out the old Leaven that the new Lump may take place which bringeth forth holy Fruit abundantly to God so that the Children of her that was barren now bringeth forth and become many and thus do the faithful grow who covet after the better part namely to fear God and work Righteousness to 〈◊〉 Justly love Mercy and walk humbly doing no other thing to any then as themselves would be done unto This is the Law and the Prophets and also what God hath commanded for all men to do in this day that they may come to pertake of his Promise to grow in the Tree of Life from Grace to Grace until by Grace the work of God in them is wholly perfected but these things are to a Coveteous man even as the wise Charmeer is to the deaf Adder for having ears to hear they hear not to receive the Truth in the love of it because the love of Money is their pride in which they delight to become wise rich and what not in the perishing things of this life Here coveâ—ous men grow from one covetous desire to another until through pride and covetousness they come to â—all as Angels have done and yet may remain as many covetous Usurers do who have cloathed themselves with the Prophets and Apostles words that thereby they may appear in the sight of mâ—n to be knowing prudent and wise and accounted men of good Reason yea and withal religious and righteous whenas indeed it is but their own work and the Righteousness thereof which is as filththy Rags and fig-leave Garments of Unrightecusness where-with they vainly seek to hide themselves from the presence of God whose all seeing eye beholdeth the wayes of every covetous mans setting up for himself to walk in for which cause God that searcheth the heart and knoweth the intents of the mind and checks reproves and condemns for every vain thought evil intent and idle word and Unrighteous work for which cause often times covetous and proud unrighteous men and woman fall into such condemnation by the Power of God that they even despair of Mercy yea the horror of their condemnation is such that Preist nor Levit nor the dark Watch-men of the night can afford no help to the wound of a troubled Conscience in which state of a wounded Spirit who can bear which for remedy the physitian of no value is set to work who in his own will
Lord. CHAP. XXVII Concerning the begetting being born and brought forth of the Immortal and Incorruptible Seed of Gods Kingdom by Jesus Christ THe Immortal and Incorruptible Seed of Gods Kingdom in Jesus Christ is of that Birth which the World by all their Wisdom in outward Learning are never able to find neither can any ever know to witness the new Birth further than by Faith and Obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit by Jesus Christ whose Spirit of Life makes frâ—â— from the Law of Sin and Death for the Seed of the Kingdom is of a heavenly divine Nature which hath no fellowship with the Works of Darkness in which all that disobey the Lord of Life remain by which their Birth is of the Enemies Seed which alienates the Heart of Man and Woman from true Oâ—edience to God â—n which state they are Strangers to the nature of the New Birth which is not born of Blood nor of the will of the Fleâ— nor of the Will of Man but of God Iohn 1.13 for it is born of the Spirit of God and brought forth by Gâ—ace through Faith in Christ Jesus by whom the Children of men have received a measure which though but as a grain of the smallest of all grain it is of the little leavens Nature to purge out and leaven the whole Lump into the nature of Gods Kingdom in Christ Jesus whom the World by all their Wisdom can never know for the things of Gods Kingdom are hiâ— from the Wise and Prudent of this World and revealed to the Children of God whose Life remains in the Babe-like Nature of God in Christ whose Babes they are begotten of God by the word of his Spirit through Faith and Obedience to the Lord of Life in whose Life and Nature every true Child of God in their measure live move and have their being in the nature of him for as his nature is the New Birth and all that are born of him hey bring Fruits acceptible to him for they are the Children of the Day which live in the Light and walk in the Light which the Children of the Night cannot do for the Day of Gods Visitation by the gift of his divine Light is unto them a dark thing at which the wise stumble and the prudent cannot receive for by their own Wisd 〈◊〉 in their own prudent way is their Understanding darkdarkened as to the things of God and Nature of his Kingdom neither can any grow to understand the things of 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ buâ— as they grow in Grace through the affectual working of his divine Life and Light by the quickening Word 〈◊〉 his Spirit which opens the understanding and enlarges the gift of his divine Nature through which 〈◊〉 the holy Seed increâ—seth more and more and in the increase bringeth forth fruit more and more abundant to the praise of God and honour of his Name and well-being of the Soul in Christ Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of his own Work of Righteousness in his true begotten People who are begot by the gift of Gods good Spirit of Grace Life and Light in which the faithful see Light Psalm 36.9 for by Light is all and every Deed of Darkness manifested so that Faith in Christ Jesus and Faithfulness Obedience to the gift of Gods divine Light is the first beginning of an acquintance with the divine Nature of Christ who draws the heart of every faithful man and woman into the assurance of Faith having their hearts sprinkled from â—n evil Conscience and their Bodies washed with pure Water Heb. 10.22 and of this Nature is the Seed of Gods Kingdom in the hearts of them that belong unto him the nature of whose Kingdom the wise prudent part in man cannot comprehend for the wise unregenerated part is that which ramains in the Fall and is alienated from the true Seed of the Kingdom which will not take root in any other ground but in that honest heart which is made willing to bear the Cross in all things to the self will in which state of subjection to the will of God the Seed takes root down-ward and brings forth Fruit upward to the honour of Gods holy Truth so than all reasoning with Flesh and Blood is shut out by the Power of Gods Spirit in every upright honest heart to wards God in which life of Obedience there is no giving way to the Earthly part which ramains in the Disobedient through which they oppress the Seed of God and cause his Life in the measure of the Seed to depart which if they were but faithful to the measure of Seed received the Life of Gods Spirit of Grace would increase to the withstanding of all the Enemies Power which through the willingness of the obedient part being yeilded to him the true Seed of God will take no root of abidance in any sort of ground whatever where People live in a state of sinning against God and his Christ Mat. 13. So they that are new born of the incorruptible Seed they first come to dye through the Cross of Christ which crucifies the self will prudent part for Knowledge without Obedience brings Death over the Soul in which state the Kingdom oâ— God is hid For that which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit John 3.2 3 4 5 6. So they that are truely begotten of God in Christ theâ— witness the New-Birth which is not born of Flesh and Blood nor of the Will of Man but of the incorruptible Seed the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever 1 Pet. 1.23 Now the Word of God which abideth forever is of his Spirit 〈◊〉 Life Light and Grace which floweth into the hearts 〈◊〉 true Believers through Faith in Christ Jesus who drawâ— the willing mind to partake of Gods heavenly Riches iâ— and through him who is the Lord of all Grace Life anâ— Light which by measure lives moves and abides in thâ— heart of every sincere Believer in him through whoâ— Power they witness a daily decaying of the first Nature and a daily increase of Newness in a holy Life unto Goâ— who gives power to the weak feeble through which there is no distrust in the Power of God which they daily experience to give them Victory over every Thought which would exalt it self above the Witness of God and hinder the growth of the Seed of the Kingdom of Heaven in which no man can enter without being born again the benefit of which no man is denyed of God by Jesus Christ who hath said by his Spirit of Truth Whosoever will let him take the Water of Life freely Rev. 22.17 Isa 55.1 2 3. By which it is clear that the Spirit of God hinders no man of any benefit by Jesus Christ for the Salvation of his Soul that is as Man keeps faithful to God according to what he hath commanded by the Son of his Love the Lord of Life Postscript MUch more might