this Nation and pretended great Reformation in the Civil State as well as the other had done in Church State And who got the Estates and Titles of their Enemies and pretended to free this Nation from all Oppressions but have not done it but have continued the old Oppressions and have been striving among themselves who should Rule and who should be great but have not Ruled for God nor in Justice and Equity though they first Warred against the King and carryed it on and removed the King and Lords and that Goverment and all this in pretence of Ruling better and in a better Government and yet kept not Engagements nor Promises made in that case Upon such is the guilt of the Suffering of the King so far as his Sufferings are unjust even upon Hypocrites who have walked in these steps who as I have said first made war against the King and got great Estates and quite forgotten the cause once pretended by them and now in flattery Cries up King and Kingly Government again though this many years they have seemed to be opposite against it upon such as these may the guilt aforesaid in measure be charged And though there are risen many Sects and Sorts of People since the beginning of the Wars yet in the beginning there was but one sort that were in a 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 and in the present Capacity wherein we now stand and under the actings of that Spirit which now we are of we have no part in the guilt of these Iniquities we have not cast out others and taken their places of great Benefices neither have we made war with carnal Weapons against any never since we were a People mark neither have we broken Oaths and Engagements nor promised freedom and deliverance and for self-ends and Earthly Riches betrayed as others have done what we pretended to and in many particulars it doth appear that we are clear from his Sufferings for we have been a Suffering People as well as they by the same Spirit which caused them to suffer which hath been much more Cruel Wicked and Unjust towards us than it hath been towards them though our Persecution hath been in another manner but what they have done against us we can freely forgive them and we would have you to follow the same example and if you could accuse them in many things so could we but this is not a time to accuse one another but to forgive one another and so to overcome your Enemies or else you will appear in the same Spirit that so he that condemns them cannot justifie you though we do condemn as well as you them that have pretended Reformation and Wared against you upon that account and when they had gotten victory did not reform but become Oppressors themselves as well as others and became Cruel towards others that would not say and do as they and for this Cause the Lord hath brought them down and may justly suffer others to deal with them as they have dealt with others yet notwithstanding I must still say and it is my judgment that there was very great Oppressions and Vexations under the Government of the late King and Bishops under his power which the Lord was offended with and many good People Oppressed by for which cause the Lord might and did justly raise up some to oppose and strive against Oppressions and Injustice and to intend and press after Reformation in all things and that Principle of Sincerity which God did raise in many in the beginning of the Wars which in some things acted them forth and carryed them on in opposing Oppressions and pressing after Reformation this Principle I can never deny but acknowledge to it though many soon lost it and became Self-seekers forgetting and foregoing the Cause pretended to having lost Sincerity and became corrupted in their way and Injustice and Oppression abounded by them and because hereof are they condemned in the sight of the Lord and not by me Justified because they have lost Sincerity and turned the War and all the Proceedings into Self-seeking and therefore is God provoked against them though had they continued in their Integrity and had really performed what some time they pretended and had forsaken all Sin it had not been thus with them neither had this guilt been upon them which now they are like to be accountable for And this is my Judgment concerning these things Quer. 6. Whether or no he may iustly think ye and with more safety to himself and happiness to the Kingdoms Tollerate and Allow LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE so called to all the many Sects and sorts of People and Worshippers that are now in beeing in these Nations Or whether he may Tollerate some and not all Or whether he may Tollerate none but reduce the Government of the Church into the way of Bishops and Prelates as it was in his Father's dayes Which of these may he do justly and with more safety to himself and happiness to his Government and Kingdoms Answ. We do believe he may and ought justly and with most safety to himself and happiness to the Kingdoms Tollerate and Allow free LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in all the Matters of Faith and Worship towards God for LIBERTY in exercise of CONSCIENCE in the Matters of God's Kingdom is a very precious thing to the Lord and very dear in his sight and he is tender of it and I do stedfastly believe he will not bless the Rulers of this Nation that shall deny to the People of this Nation and oppose LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in the exercise of Faith and Worship towards God for I do know it is not given of God to any Earthly King or Ruler whatsoever to exercise Lordship over the Consciences of People in the Matters of Faith and Worship and the things pertaining to Gods Kingdom for Kings and Rulers are but to Rule over men in a Nation in the Matters between one man and another in outward things and worldly affairs and therein only men ought to Rule in Equity over a Nation or City or Country and Magistracy in this state and for such an end is Gods Ordinance appointed of him for the preserving of peace and good order among men in outward things and it is a priviledge of the Crown of Christ's Spiritual Kingdom to be Lord and Ruler over and in mens Consciences in Faith and Worship and all the Matters of his Kingdom even as and according to his pleasure and as his Spirit leads and guides for and if any man shall assume to prescribe God a way how he must be Worshipped and shall limit his Spirit from this or to the other way of Religion and think to be Lord in mens
execute Laws in these Kingdoms and in all the Kingdoms of the World and such would be a Blessing in the Earth and the Governments under such and in the Execution of their Hands would be Blessed and Prosperous and all good Men would have cause to rejoyce therein and all Evil-doers and Transgressors would be limitted and made afraid if so be the Laws be Just Holy and Righteous and according to Equity and the Holy Law of God in all things and the due Execution of such Laws committed to Just and Righteous and Meek Men that love Judgment Mercy and Truth and would execute them in the Earth Then the happy and blessed Government will be exalted and Truth and Righteousness would reign as Judge on the Throne and in this shall all Nations and Kingdoms be prosperous and blessed when it cometh to pass 3. And as for this present Authority and Government now in being under the Name of King Charles the Second we do believe and acknowledge That according to the Purpose and Will of God and of his bringing to pass this present Government and Authority is set up and into its present being established The Lord I say hath suffered it to be effected for the Cause and End and Time and Purpose known to himself and not to mortal man And thus this Government and Authority is of God being brought in and set up in opposition to and for the reproof and correction of such as went before who had neglected Mercy Truth Judgment and Righteousness in the Earth till it was time for the Lord to cast them out and reprove them and make them a Desolation before their Enemies and this Authority was judged of the Lord fit for that use and end and reserved to be brought in as a Rod of God in his Hand to correct and smite many People And it is right in the sight of the Lord that this Authority should have this time and season to be exercised in these Kingdoms to try and prove both it self and all under it if so be that Truth Justice and Righteousness Mercy and Peace may be brought forth it these Kingdoms through it that God may establish it for long continuance and it is now a trying and proving to make it self happy and blessed or otherwise to bring it self into contempt and dishonour and accordingly as Truth Justice Mercy Judgment and Peace is brought forth by it or the contrary brought forth by it so must the Just and Equal Effects and Reward of it be from the Hand of God and it is only just Judgment Mercy and Truth Righteousness Relieving the Oppressed and the doing thereof that can alone make the Person and Government of the King Happy Blessed and Honourable in this World and hereafter and the contrary if it be brought forth must needs bring Confusion Discontents and all miserable Judgments and to say no more of it this is my present Judgement of the King and his Authority both in respect of their coming in and the Cause thereof and the Fruits and Effects that must follow which is not otherwise Determined of God but according to Desert and Merit of walking in Truth Justice and Righteousness or in walking otherwise 4. Our Obedience to this Authority must be according as before declared in the Plea of the first Case concerning Allegiance to wit For Conscience sake to God we are bound by his Iust Law in our Hearts to yeild Obedience to it in all Matters and Cases actively or passively that is to say in all just and good Commands of the King and the good Laws of the Land relating to our outward Man we must be obedient by doing and not withhold our Just Obedience but in the Cases of Conscience to wit in the Matters of Duty to God and of Worship Faith and Religion towards him we must only be obedient to God for it is he that teacheth and requireth Obedience in all those things and if any thing be commanded of us by the present Authority which is not according to Equity Iustice and a good Conscience towards God to be done by us we must in such Cases obey God only and deny active Obedience for Conscience sake and patiently suffer what is inflicted upon us for such our Disobedience to Men and we must choose Obedience to God rather than man though we suffer because thereof And this is our Principle and hath ever been our Practice to obey Authority by doing or suffering not disputing whether the Authority in it self be absolute of God or not yet being an Authority over us we are to obey it either by doing or suffering because it is an Authority and not to plot rebel or rise up with carnal Weapons against it and thus must our Obedience be to the King and his Government And if that in any thing of the Commands of the King we cannot be obedient for Conscience sake in the Cases of Conscience and when ought is required different or contrary to the Law of God we have Example hereof in the Scriptures of many of the Servants of God that could not in all things yield Obedience to the Laws of Nations and Commands of Kings when they required ought to be obeyed contrary to their pure Consciences as in the Case of the three Children Dan. 3. they could not obey the Law and Command of the King though it was absolute but refused Obedience and suffered for it and Daniel also himself disobeyed the King's Law and Commands Dan. 6. and the Apostles the same when they were commanded by the Authority of that City and County To preach no more in the Name of IESUS Act. 4. 17 18. They did not obey the Command of the Rulers in that Case but went on and preached Iesus in disobedience and contrary to the Command of the Rulers And by these and many other Examples it is apparent that it is justifiable in the sight of God and that it was practised by the Servants of God in former Ages even Disobedience to Kings and Authority in the Matters and Cases commanded contrary to the Law of God and a good Conscience and their Example may justifie such now in the same Practice in the same Case if they walk therein by the same Principle 5. And thus it is manifest That if we at any time be found not in full obedience by doing in all Cases and Things to the Laws and Authority of this Kingdom it is not out of contempt unto or Rebellion against the King's Person or Government it is not I say on that account but for good Conscience sake and because we must obey God rather than man when and where their Com mands stand in opposition the one to the other and this is that we may keep our Consciences clear in the sight of God from disobedience against him which is our care and endeavour by all means and when any thing is required of us to be done which we cannot do with a clear Conscience in
God hath reposed in him in promoting him to be King over these People for God hath not committed Power to him to judge in the Cases of mens Consciences and to persecute any because of the Exercise thereof whether they be of this Profession and Practicé in Religion or the other yet living peaceably and uprightly as men he ought not to persecute us nor to suffer them to be persecuted by nor under his Authority but he ought to defend and preserve all mens Persons and Estates in their Just Rights from the Violence each of others without respect to what their Profession and Practice of Religion is but if the contrary be brought forth it is contrary and not answerable to the End of God's Restauring him to these Kingdoms and if he doth not what God hath justly called him unto but otherwise this is his Enemy and such is Persecution for Conscience sake it is contrary to the End of Just Government and wherefore God hath restored him and therefore this Persecution is an utter Enemy both to the King's Person and Authority 4. It is his Enemy Because it provokes the God of Heaven and Earth over all to be offended with him for he is provoked and vexed because of the Persecution of his People in this Age as ever he was in all Ages and if the King be guilty thereof it incurreth God's great Displeasure against him For God was ever offended with Kings Rulers and whomsoever that were Persecutors and he is the same at this day and whatsoever it is that provokes God to Anger against the King that is his Enemy And such is Persecution of People for the Profession and Practice of their Religion whenas no Evil can be charged upon them in things between man and man and therefore let the KING beware of this Woful ENEMY that waits to wound him for if the God of Heaven be provoked against him how great is that Enemy which brings it to pass 5. It is the King's Enemy Because it not only provokes the Lord to Anger but to Judgment Persecution is the Cause wherefore God bringeth grievous Iudgments and Vengeance upon whomsoever are guilty thereof and the Effect of Persecution is Plagues and Misery and it incenseth God to Anger and also to Destroy and therefore let the King beware of such a deadly Enemy as should Cause God to destroy him And such an Enemy is Persecution of God's People for Conscience sake it draweth down the Wrath of God upon Kings and Kingdoms upon Rich and Poor upon High and Low that are guilty of it for it is the fulfilling of all other Sins and it hasteneth to bring Destruction upon all that are guilty and this Effect it will work upon the King even this his Enemy Persecution if he turn not from it and overcome it and Banish it from him for it is the Cause of both Inward and Outward Internal and External Plagues and Iudgments of God 6. Persecution it is an Enemy to the King Because it will work to weaken the Hands of Iust and Sober and Righteous Men it will weaken their Love and Affections and it makes their Hearts sad And Wo is unto them that make sad their Hearts whom God doth not make sad and this doth Persecution And it doth not only weaken the Hearts and Hands of the Righteous and Sober Persons but it strengthens the Hands of the Rude Ungodly and Prophane through the Land and that which strengthens the Wicked and the Rude Multitude in Wantonness Scorning and Prophanness that is the King's Enemy but such is Persecution for a good Conscience sake And because it weakens the Righteous in their Good and Upright Wayes and strengthens the Wicked in their Evil Wayes therefore it is an Enemy unto the King 7. Persecution is an Enemy unto him Because it tends to render him dishonourable both in the sight of God and all good men through the World for it will shew that he is cruel and bitter and perverse and that he wanteth Humility Meekness Forbearance and Patience if he be guilty and this is dishonourable to have and profess Evil Qualities and Properties and to be without the Good and by persecution this will be made manifest to all the World and ever was in all Ages that the Persecutors of good Conscience gained unto themselves Dishonour and Reproach of all good men in all Ages after them for they were men full of Rage and Malice and Passionateness and wanted Patience and Humility and this made them Dishonourable And the Case will be the same with the King if he be a Persecutor for Conscience sake and he will be Dishonourable both in this present Time and in Ages to come and this by Persecution and therefore it is his Enemy that will work many Mischiefs and Evils upon him if he be not wholy delivered from it 8. Persecution is an Enemy to the King's Person and Authority because Persecution for Conscience sake is of the Devil it is of his spirit and not of the Spirit of God to Persecute Imprison Kill and Destroy mens Persons and Estates because of their Religions sake whenas no unjust Dealing nor Unrighteous Conversation can be justly laid to their charge but only for and because of such Profession and Practice in Religion to persecute any because hereof this is of the Devil and that which is of the Devil is the King's Enemy and an Enemy to all Mankind and such is Persecution and therefore it is a deadly mortal Enemy which wounds Kings Princes and Rulers that ever have had friendship with it and therefore let the King avoid this great Enemy lest its Effects prove miserable 9. It is the King's Enemy Because it is according to the Example of all the wicked King's and Rulers that ever have been through Ages and Generations as of Pharaoh Ahab Herod Nero and many more who were Persecutors of People for Conscience sake who gained unto themselves thereby Reproach Infamy and Misery from God and men and to follow their Example is the King's Enemy and such is Persecution If he should persecute for Conscience sake and about Religion and the Worship of God then he follows the Example of wicked Kings and this will be his Enemy and will work woful effects if so be he walk in the steps of the Persecutors of old love that which is his Enemy 10. Persecution is the King's Enemy Because the End and Effects thereof is Misery and Destruction upon all that persecute the Heritage of God What was Pharaoh's end and Herod's end and Nero's end was not their end woful and miserable to God and shameful to men And Persecution for Conscience sake will bring the same Effects at this day The End of all Persecutors will be Misery and Shame even in the day of the Lord when he comes with Iudgment and Vengeance and to reward every man according to his deeds then will He reward Persecution and Persecutors with his fierce Wrath and they shall
know the Iustice of God's Iudgments executed upon them And therefore happy will the King be if he keep himself clear and put far from him this Enomy Persecution Three Considerations I have to present unto the King for Conclusion 1. THe Strength and Safety and Prosperity of the King and his Government stands in the Union good Affection and Love of his Subjects and the People of these Kingdoms one to another and to the King and the more that the People of the Kingdoms are in Love and Union and good Affection one with another and to the King the more strong and safe and prosporous thereby is the King and his Government and the more like for a long and happy Continuance and Establishment And it is the Love and Union and Affection of the Sober and Grave and Just and Upright People and of the Meek of the Land that is the King's Strength and Safty and will much tend to his Prosperity and to the Establishment of his Government and Authority and the King's Safety and Strength and Prosperity doth not depend upon the Affections and Acclamations of the Ruder Sort and of the Wild Multitude though such profess great Subjection and cry up the King and his Government and drink his Healths and Swear the Destruction of all his Enemies and have much Love and great Union for the King and are for him to serve him and Swear Fidelity and Engage themselves very highly in Words and Gestures for the King yet the King and his Government is no whit the safer nor more strong nor prosperous because hereof For his Prosperity and Establishment dependeth upon the Love and good Affection of the Just and Upright and Temperate and Meek Men of the Kingdoms and not upon the Love of the Rude Multitude such cannot be a Blessing to him in their Vaunting and Boasting and Rudeness nor can he stand by them but must stand in the Establishment of his Government by the Love of such as fear the Lord and depart from all Iniquity by the good Affection of such and their Faithfulness and Love may the King be happy and blessed Therefore let him strive to please such and to gain their good Affections to be united to him and this may add to his long Continuance 2. It is the doing of Justice and Truth and allowing all Just and Equal Liberty to all People under his Authority that will gain upon the Hearts of all Just and Good People And as Righteousness Mercy True Judgment and Truth is brought forth in the Land and all the contrary limitted in the King's Government this will gain much upon the Hearts and Affections of all good People to be united in Love one to another and to the KING And this is the way of the King's Prosperity and to make his Government established if so be that he exercise his Rule and Authority in Love and Meekness and Equal Iustice and Mercy and love Righteousness and Truth and hate and deny all the contrary and limit it then the spirits of all People in the Kingdoms would be subjected and subdued under his Power and he should Rule over them and his Kingdoms be Established prosperously and this is the Way of an Happy Government But if so be the KING put on Rigour and be Fierce and Cruel and think to subdue all under him by Will and Force without shewing Justice and Reason to answer the Consciences of his Subjects in all his Proceedings this way can never be prosperous nor Establish him in his Authority but it will work the contrary Effect For if Oppression be brought forth and Heavy Yoaks laid upon the Back of the Poor then will the Wrath of God and of Men be kindleed against him and Murmurings Strifs and Contentions will arise in the Minds of Men against him and the Oppressions of the Poor will reach unto Heaven and God will hear and Revenge their Cause So that it is Ruling and exercising Authority in these Kingdoms in Justice Righteousness Love and Good Reason that must gain the Hearts of People unto right Subjection to make the King and his Government Happy and Established and Rigour Force and Cruelty will never make the King happy but will work contrary For the People are Wise and Understanding will not long bear any degree of the Yoak of Slavery 3. Inasmuch as the People of these Kingdoms are divers and divided and contrary in Judgment one to another in many things and so are dis-united into several Opinions and Parties the King ought to Rule in Wisdom and Love over them all and to shew Equal Justice and Liberty and to eaâ—rcise Righteousness towards them all alike notwithstanding their Difference in Religion and Judgments for if he shall give Liberty to some and Oppress others if he do joyn with one Way and promote that and the men of one Judgment be tollerated and all other Wayes and all others that are different in Judgement be persecuted and oppressed and sought to be destroyed this is not the way for the King to prosper nor to be established to perpetuity for there seems to be no one Way so strong or any one sort of People so many for the King to cleave to and allow and seek to destroy all the rest because there is of other sors of people that ballance that sort in opposition and so the King and his Government seems not secure if he take hold of any one sort of People only to stand thereby in opposition to all the rest persecuting of them because there are many of other Sects that will be discontented and murmur if not more So that the King's Safety is and the Prosperity of his Government and the Establishment of it seems to be By giving Equal Liberty and Iustice and shewing Love and Tenderness to all of all Iudgments and then he may stand by all and none will oppose him but all will be ready to defend and preserve him For he may stand established and be happy in his Government by engaging all sorts to him through Love and Righteousness and Liberty towards all but he cannot according to my Iudgment be established nor prosperous if he choose only the Men of one Judgment to stand by and cleave only to that and persecute and seek to destroy all the rest that are different and so only make one Party his Friends and dis-engage all others in Love and Affection this seems I say not the Way of Prosperity Let the King consider it and the Lord give him a Right Understanding By a Friend to Iust Authority E. B. PERSECUTION IMPEACHED As a Traytor against God HIS LAWS and GOVERNMENT And the CAUSE of the Ancient MARTYRS Vindicated against the Cruelty inflicted upon them by the Papists in former Dayes Being a Brief ANSWER to a Book called Semper Iidem Or A Paralel of PHANATICKS c. lately published by a Nameless Author Wherein is contain'd a Relation of the Martyrdom of many such as Dissented and Opposed
give in the World unto the World Fear God and give Glory to him for the hour of his Judgements is come and this is the everlasting Gospel of Salvation he that can receive it let him CHAP. XIII Concerning the Word of God and concerning the Scriptures this testimony I give unto all the World THE Word of God was in the beginning before any Creatures were made and by it all things stand and remain unto this day and the Word endures for ever and by it all things in Heaven and in Earth are brought to pass which God doth and it is from everlasting to everlasting without beginning and without end and the Word is powerful dividing and discerning all things even the secret thoughts of every mans heart it is as a two edged sword and as a fire and like a hammer to cut up to burn and to beat down the Word of the Lord reconciles man again to him and this Word is in the mouth and in the heart and the Servants of the Lord handled tasted saw and felt the Word of Life and from it spoke forth the Scriptures as they were moved by the holy Ghost through the eternal Spirit and it is an Declaration of the Word of Life which was in the beginning and endures for ever and it declares what the Saints received believed and enjoyed and none can understand it without the same Spirit that gave it forth and to such who have the same Spirit the Scripture is profitable the Word of God which was in the beginning and which endures for ever is not the Scripture which was not in the beginning neither can it endure for ever but the Scripture testifies of that Word that Word witnesses to the Scripture and they are not contrary one to the other but gives witness each of other but many hath the Scripture that hath not the Word neither knows it but they that have the Word cannot but own the Scriptures and this is the Truth as it is in Jesus Testified to all the World by us who doth deny them that hereof gives any other testimony CHAP. XIV Concerning the Devil and Damnation this Testimony I give to all People THere is a Devil which is out of the Truth who abode not in the Truth but is a Lyar from the beginning and the father of all evil doing and the author of all unrighteousness and whatsoever is contrary to God in thought word and action he is the enmity against God and against all good and by his power subverts creatures and things to another end than wherefore they were created even to the dishonour of the Creator he is the god of this World the prince of darkness and he rules King in all the childern of the first Adâ—â— who are in evil he was the cause of the first transgression and is the cause of disobedience to God to this day in all people who are led by him moving aâ—â— them to Envy Wrath Pride Whoredom Drunkenness Theft and Murther and all the works of darkness sin and death he is the Fountain and Root of 〈◊〉 these and the Leader and Ruler in the exercise of them and of every evil woâ—â— and work whatsoever which are contrary to God he abode not in the Trâ—â—â— and he hath led all mankind out of Truth into all deceit and unrighteousness and into every evil way and he dwells in darkness inhabits in thick darkness and is out of the Light and is separate from the Presence of God for ever boâ—â—â— in chains of darkness and ignorance and unbelief and he hath power in the earthly part of man and a law in the members and he possesses him that is born of the flesh his covenant is with him who is not born of the Seed of God who cannot sin such are in covenant with God renewed into his Image but such as are not hath the Divil power in to captivate and lead their minds into vanity and their affections and desires into all that which is evil by which the Spirit of God the Creator of all things is grieved and his soul vexed and all murther and deceitful works of the World and all whatsoever is contrary to God iâ— words thoughts or actions is of the Devil that wicked one and from him and all that follow his movings and worketh evil thereby they serve him aâ—â— obey him he is their god and their King and they are his people and hiâ— subjects he is their father and they are his children he is their root and they are his off-spring and brings forth fruit unto him and serves 〈◊〉 worships him and not the true God that made all things and all such 〈◊〉 be cast into utter darkness with him and shall have their portion with him in 〈◊〉 bottomless pit of darkness for ever and ever where there is no end of woe anâ— sorrow and misery for in the anger of God there the worm diâ—â— not 〈◊〉 the fire is not quenched and out of that there is on redemption for the â—â—clean and all such who are led of him who is out of the Truth and in evil are judged and condemned and damned by him who is the Truth who judgeth righteously and as he hath not ceased to work evil and to draw the children of men into evil for he continually tempteth to lead from God into Rebellion against him And they that are led by him are destroyed and he shall not cease sorrow wo and misery for ever as he hath not ceased to work evil he liveth and moveth in the anger of God his beginning was in it and all his works are in it and it shall be the reward of him and all that obey him in the separation from Gods everlasting Presence for ever and ever CHAP. XV. Concerning all creatures that God made this Testimony I give unto all the World ALL creatures that God made in their creation and beginning was very good in his sight that made them and unto man that was to use them and no Creature was evil or defiled in its Creation but mankind transgressing against his Maker he become evil and did evil in the sight of the Lord and he being possessed with evil and corrupted he makes all Creatures evil in his exercise of them corrups them and perverts them to another end than wherefore they were created and by the Creatures dishonours the Creator â—…o should have honoured him by them and they are become a curse unto man and not a blessing though in themselves are neither cursed nor evil nor defiled but is become so unto man because of his transgression and disobedience for he being in the curse and defiled all things are so unto him and in his exercise of them he is wicked abusing them upon the lust to satisfie his devillish mind and ruling over them in oppression and cruelty and hard heartedness and not in the Wisdom of God as he ought and he subverts them out from their pure vertue
not to bow to any Likeness Exod. 20. And we read Iames 2. the Apostle exhorts not to have the Faith of 〈◊〉 Lord Iesus with respect of Persons but condemns that practice of respeâ—â—ing such as are in goodly Apparel and gay Cloathing and have gold Rings above a poor man in vile Raiment and he saith plainly They that have respect to Persons commits sin and we read that the Pharisees said of Christ he respected no mans person and he is our Example And we read that the three Children were cast into the fiery Furnace with indignation before the King being bound before him and cast into the Furnace Daniel 3. And we read that Paul and all the Servants of God did Thou Kings and Princes and Rules and they spoke plainly to all men and durst not give flattering Title to any as you may read in Iob 33. so that all people may see their Practice in denying to respect Persons and in speaking plainly without flattering Titles to any man or denying to pull off the Hat or bowing to men iâ— gay Clothing or giving place to such that wear gold Rings and have goodly Apparel before such as have vile Raiment is justly according to the Scriptures though people stumble at such Practices and the People of God may claim to be maintained in this Practice of their Religion seeing it is proved to be commanded in Scriptures not to respect the Person of any man and also it was the Saints practice and therefore herein they ought not to be condemned but justified as being a practice in Religion agreeing with the Scriptures And as concerning their denying Obedience to Magistrates in some Cases this is according to Scripture also for we read that the Rulers commanded the Apostles and straitly charged them to speak no more iâ— the Name of Iesus yet the Apostles did not obey Magistrates herein neither did they cease to Preach in the Name of Jesus and though Christ was commanded or besought to depart out of their Coasts yâ—â— he did not obey their request and we read that the three Children werâ— commanded to worship the great Image yet they did not obey this Command of the King so that all people may see it is lawfull for the Saints to disobey Commands of Kings and Rulers where they command that to be done or spoken which God doth not but the contrary And I say again Where Kings or Rulers Parents or Masters doth command or require any thing of them that are under them which is not according to God in such causes Subjects or People and Children and Servants are free and not required of the Lord to subject to any thing which is not justly according to him but yet we say That Subjects and People and Children and Servants ought to subject to them that have rule over them in all things which is according to God in Truth and Righteousness and by the Law of God all People are bound to obey those that have Rule over them not to disobey them in any thing which may stand with the Exercise of a good Conscience to God so that though the People of the Lord now do deny to depart out of a Town or Place and though they will not cease to declare against sin and wickedness in Teachers and People though a Magistrate command it this is but according to the Scripture for the Apostles went on boldly declaring the Name of the Lord after they were forbidden And thus the Servants of the Lord do now they freely declare the Way of Salvation and call People to repent and reprove Iniquity in all sorts of people though wicked men command them to the contrary and falsely charges them that they are disobedient to Government and Authority though they are not no more then the Servants of God and Apostles of Christ who in the same causes did the same things and the Lord hath commanded to crâ—â—â—â—ud and not to spare but to tell people of their Transgressions and therefore many of the Lords Servants do deny to be silent or to cease from declaring against sin though a Magistrate command it And Christ hath commanded not to swear at all and therefore many do deny to swear upon any account in any place though the Magistrates do command it for the Servants of the Lord do deny to put off a Hat or to Bow in respect of any mans person though a Magisttate command it for the Scripture doth say He that respects Persons commits sin so that all people may see that what the Servant of the Lord doth in these things are not contrary but according to the Scriptures for all these things were commanded and practised by the Saints in former Ages and they said It was better to obey God then man and we ought to do it in all things and that according to the Scriptures too So that in all these practises in Religion the Scriptures justifies them and are as Witnesses to them and they might claim protection in the exercise of them by the Protectors Oath but if they be not maintained but persecuted for the practice of these things then will the Light in every mans Conscience witness the Oath is broken and not kept for it extends to uphold and maintain the practice of Religion which is according to the Scriptures as these are proved to be And as concerning their Doctrines which the World stumbles at yet their Doctrines are according to the Scripture though they say Christ is the Light of the World and lighteth every man or hath given light to every man that cometh into the World this is according to the Scripture as you may read Iohn 8. 12. and 1. 9. and though they turn people from Darkness to the Light of Christ within them and exhort people to hearken to that within them and not to seek a Christ without them to ascend or descend to fetch him these Doctrines are perfectly according to the Scripture for you may read Acts 26. 18. Pâ—… saith He was sent to turn People from Darkness to the Light and from the power of Satan to the Power of God and Rom. 10. you may read the Apostle saith What saith it The Word is nigh thee in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach and they were not to say Who shall ascend or descâ—… to fetch Christ. And though they tell people They must witness Christ in them 〈◊〉 else they cannot be saved This also is according to the Scriptures as you may read 2 Cor. 13. the Apostle saith Iesus Christ is in you except ye 〈◊〉 Reprobates And though they say Christ is the Word of God and do deny the Scriptures to be the Word by which the World was made This Doctrine also is according to the Scriptures for we read Rev. 19. 13. That the Name of Iesus is called the Word of God And Luke 1. of the Scriptures it is saâ—â— They are a Declaration by those which were Eye-witnesses and Ministers of
could take the Evidence that I spoke my words against Richard Mayo they were sufficient to try the Matter Whereby it doth appear that they had unjustly determined in themselves not to try the Doctrines but to have a Verdict against me however Again Some that were called to be of the Jury were heard to say before they saw me or ever heard the Matter If I came into their hands they knew well enough what to do with me Hereby it doth appear they were not equal men but malicious and prejudiced against me And moreover In the very time of the Tryal some of the Jury at the Bar said They would not believe any thing or take any Witness for Testimony which any of these on my part that were called Quakers spoke And this was also the Witness of their malicious and envious spirits against me who were rather as a Party against me then my Equals And were not these unjust men for the Tryal of such a Matter And moreover When all his Witnesses could not say enough to give colour for a Verdict against me one of the Bailiffs Iohn Forth by name who was one of the Judges upon the Bench proffered to come down off the Bench and swear as a Witness against me and when some spake against that he sent for a man into the Court out of the Town Iames Levite by name and whispered with him upon the Bench and told him what he should swear and he went to the Bar and took his Oath against me That I followed Richard Mayo with Reviling Language in three several Rooms in Bailiff Gunstone ' s House Which I do testifie was a false Oath before the Lord and all men and many know that I speak the Truth and that that man took a false Oath who was sent for into the Court and told by one of the Judges what he should swear I suppose Bayliff Gunston himself knows that this was a false Witness and are not these unjust Proceedings I appeal to your Consciences and upon such proceedings as these was a Verdict gained against me by much ado in above three hours time and the Foreman of the Jury himself said he would not have brought a Verdict against me but onely for the man's Oath Iames Levite which as I have said swore falsly being sent for and told by another man what he should say Again when the Fore-man of the Iury said they could not try the Cause and desired it might be referred the said Bayliff Forth on the Bench cryed no and told Richard Mayo he should have a Verdict first and ought my Judge thus to have spoken No he appeared to be rather a Party against me then my equal Judge and to all sober men these Proceedings may appear to be unjust And I hope some of you will make more conscience of your doings then to pass Judgment upon such an Unrighteous Verdict And moreover the Iury did not try the Cause which onely ought to have been tryed which was whether I had spoken truely or falsly of Richard Mayo that is to say they ought to have tryed and that was the thing in controversie between us whether these particulars alledged by me against Richard Mayo were true and sound Doctrine or damnable Doctrine and Errors for if the Particulars mentioned be true and sound Doctrine which were affirmed by Richard Mayo then I have wronged him and I must confess it and assent to your Judgment but if the Particulars be false Doctrine and Error then I have done him no wrong for I have spoken nothing but the truth and for that how can you condemn me And this was the Cause to be tryed which the Jury themselves confessed they did not try and therefore the Matter is not yet tryed in truth neither have I had a legal Tryal before you and then how can you give Judgment against me being the Action it self is so unequal and the Proceedings so unjust also and the Matter yet not fully tryed Do but consider of these things in the coolness of your spirits and let not me receive worse dealing from you because I am a Stranger neither because I am a Quaker so called but deal justly and truely for I desire nothing else of you but true Judgment for that will justifie me and clear me and respect not Persons but have respect to the Law of God which commandeth you to hear and judge the Cause of the Poor and the Strangers without respect of Persons and if you give regard to the Law of God in this Matter you cannot give Judgment upon this Verdict which is unjustly brought in by partial men as is manifest and you must either wholly arrest Iudgment or at least you must bring it to a new Tryal else you do me much wrong and injustice and all good men will so judge of it And further divers sufficient reasons hath been shewed by men of knowledge in the Law first against this Action and also against the Proceedings herein which might be reasons to you not to go on in Judgment against me but to clear me and even in your own way as I may say you have been dealt with and you have been shewed my Innocency so that if your Hearts be not hardened you cannot go any further against me but go contrary to the truth of my cause and contrary to your own Law also and though it was the dear love and respect of Friends to the Truth in freeness of their love to me more then any desire of mine or my knowledge I do own their love and justifie it yet much that hath been spoken in forms and tricks of Law and puntillio's of Law I do wave and let it pass and keep always to the naked truth of the Matter as before laid down And therefore if any Jury shall upon their Oaths justifie Mayo's Doctrines to be true and sound Doctrine and if you your selves upon your Oathes dare give Iudgment that Richard Mayo's Doctrine is not damnable Doctrine and Errors then I must lie patiently under your Judgment and under the breach of such Jury-mens Oaths and of your own Oaths also and therefore I demand of you according to right and justice let me be cleared otherwise let me first have a fair Tryal before I be condemned which yet I have not had because the Matter was perverted from that whether I had spoken the truth upon which the true Issue dependeth and upon no other thing Whether I spoke malitiously was a straining of the Cause to a wrong head and perverting it from its proper Issue and hereby was the just Cause of the Innocent clouded over and rejected and vilified and even betrayed into another meaning more then it ought to have been but it can shew its face above all this and Truth cannot be daunted though it may be vailed and lie hid for a season and though I be condemned by the Prejudiced and unfaithful Jury for speaking malitiously yet the Lord bears me witness to
be an Offence not to put off the Hat and give Respect to the Person of him that hath a Gold Ring and fine Apparel Hath not all the Earthly Lordship and Tyranny and Oppression sprung from this Ground by which Creatures have been exalted and set up one above another trampling under Foot and despising the Poor And is it not easie to see that Power and Authority without contempt may be preserved the Power Honoured and Obeyed and submitted unto and the Person Respected Hath not the great and heavy Oppressions of the Law been long felt and cryed out against the long delays in Courts and the great Fees of Officers which causeth many to be excessively rich out of the Ruins of the Poor which hath brought an Odium upon the Law it self for to the Poor the Remedy is worse then the Disease and while people are free to feed this Deceit there is little hope to have it amended And how full of Lyes Deceit Pretences and needless Circumstances are all your Pleadings and Proceedings to the burden of many mens Consciences and ruin of their Estates And how vile and wicked are the greatest of Lawyers that will plead any thing for Money and by their Subtilties do most commonly hide and cover the Truth And when do the Judges reprove it And how Treacherous and Deceitful are the Solicitors and Attorneys that Truth or Honesty can scarce be found amongst them And how do those eat up the People as it were Bread and grow Great and Rich by raising and increasing Suits Troubles Strifes and Debates amongst their Neigbours And we seeing these Oppressions are made to bear our Witness against them and cannot uphold them and our Testimony shall not be in vain And how is the Power given to Justices and Judges to bind to the Peace and Good Behaviour being left to their Discretion turned against the most peaceable and best-behaved Persons amongst men meerly because they cannot bow to their wills and hold their Tongues when the Lord requires them to speak Do you commend Christ Jesus his Apostles and Saints who were sent to preach the Gospel and travelled from City to City from Nation to Nation from Country to Country that the ends of Earth might hear the Glad-tidings of Salvation And do you commend those they called Puritans for going many Miles to worship the Lord and do you now condemn those that practice the same things Would not your Law against Vagabonds have taken hold on Christ and his Ministers and hindred their Work by it have many honest and good People suffered most shameful Whippings and Imprisonments who were travelling in their own Country about their outward and lawful Occasions that were of considerable Estates and could not be counted Vagabonds And what use is made of this Law throughout the Nation you cannot but hear Are not these things like the Sayings of those who said Had they lived in the dayes of the Prophets they would not have persecuted and put them to death and yet they crucified Christ and so the Cry is at this day against the Jews for their Cruelty when themselves are found exercising the same things against his Saints and Members Long hath the Beast reigned who usurped power in these things and the false Prophets who have over-spread the Earth and the great Whore who have made all Nations drunk with their Abominations and the Wine of their Fornications with whom the Kings of the Earth have committed Adâ—ltery whom Christ said should come and before the Apostles decease did come who went out from the Apostles and put on their Clothing but inwardly were Destroyers Ravening Wolves which the whole World went after who turned against the Saints who kept to the Spirit the Life which they went from and made War with the Saints till they overcame and their Power reached over the whole Earth But now is the life risen and is again made manifest which they went from which gives to see before the Apostacy was Now is the Lamb risen and rising to make War with the Dragon the Beast and false Prophets and now shall the great Whore be taken and her Flesh shall be burnt with Fire and the Saints shall have the Victory Therefore let all Kings Princes Rulers and Magistrates he warned not to take part with the Beast nor to uphold with their power the false Prophets who have long deceived the Nations but in their Place stand to keep the outward Peace that none may offer Violence and destroy another which hath been the way of the Beast and of the false Prophets the Prop and Support of their Kingdom but leave Christ Jesus in his Saints to mannage the War whose Warfare is not carnal whose Weapons are not carnal yet are they mighty through God to the pulling down of the Strong Holds of Satan and overturning the Foundation of Satan's kingdom and they shall soon see what is Truth and what is Error for great is the Truth and will prevail they shall not need to cry out for want of Ministers or that Christ Jesus is not able to send forth Labourers nor will those he sends forth trouble them for Maintenance and here is the Magistrates true Place to keep Peace amongst all men to punish him that doth Evil and to encourage him that doth well to rule the Kingdoms of the Earth in Righteousness that Justice and Equity may be exalted and that way may be made for the Lord Jesus Christ who is coming to reign and to take the Dominion to himself and we are Witnesses in our Measures of his Coming and of the working of his Mighty Power by which he is able to subdue all things to himself And this is the Testimony unto which we are called and many Thousands with us in the Unity of the same Spirit And Witnesses we stand against Priests Tythes Temples Swearing and all the carnal wayes of Worship set up and upholden by outward Laws and Powers which would limit and restrain the Spirit of the Lord which is grieved and daily cries out against these Abominations Witnesses we stand against Parliaments Councels Judges Justices who make or execute Laws in their wills over the Consciences of men or punish for Conscience sake and to such Laws Customs Courts or Arbitrary usurped Dominion we cannot yield our Obedience Yet we do declare as it is testified in all Counties Cities Goals and Prisons to Judges Justices and others That as we preach Christ Iesus alone in the things of God to be our Law-Giver so do we own him to be our King and own Magistacy in civil things not resisting any but following his Example who was made perfect through Suffering and for his Salvation we wait till he alone shall plead our Cause and therefore for Conscience sake we have joyfully born and do bear so many and great Sufferings since the day we were convinced of his Everlasting Truth These things we have declared not to upbraid you with the Injustice of others nor to
and many more other wayes have suffered grievous things as Banishments out of Towns and Whipping and Stocking and grievous unjust Abuses and none of these for Evil-doing but for Good even because they cannot bow to the Devil but are redeemed out of the World and therefore the World hates them and some have suffered hard Cruelties because they could not respect Persons and bow with Hat or Knee and from these Cruelties canst thou not altogether be excused in the sight of God being brought forth in thy Name and under thy Power consider Friend and be awakened to true Judgement let the Lord search thy Heart and lay these things to mind that thou mayst be an Instrument to remove every Burthen and mayst at last fulfill the Will of God are they nothing to thee that such things should be brought forth under thee O be awakned be awakened and now seek the Lord's Glory and not thine own least thou perish before the Lord and Men nay if Men would give thee Honour and high Titles and princely Thrones take it not for that which would exalt and honour thee in the World would betray thee to the World and cast thee down in the sight of the World and this is God's Word to thee what shall the whole Nation be perjured Men and thou the cause of it and wilt thou transgress by building again that which thou hast destroyed Then shall the Lord and his Light in every Conscience bear witness against thee let it not be but deny thy self and thou wilt find the Lord honouring thee Give heed unto my Words and understand my Speech Be not exalted by Man lest Man betray thee the Lord give thee an Understanding in this and guide thee in his Counsel and the rather above all things let thy Heart be stirred up in thee for the Lord For now is he setting up the Dominion of his Son which never shall have an End and thy Dominion must bow under it and all the Dominions of the Earth or else be confounded and broken to Pieces the Glory of the Lord is revealing and thine shall be vailed before it and the Glory of all Flesh shall fall Therefore strive not openly nor secretly against his Way for it shall prosper there is no Enchantment against us nor any formed Weapon that can prosper knowest thou not that the King of Righteousness might command thousands of his Saints to avenge him of his Adversaries and to plead his Cause against the Rebellious All Power is in his Hand yea and the Authority and Dominion shall be in the Hands of his Saints and every one that exalts himself against them shall be brought down not by an outward Sowrd or might of Man but by his out-stretched Arm and all Crowns that are Mortal shall be troden down by him whose Crown is Immortal and never fades away Therefore be wise and learned this is thy day as thou dealest or sufferest to be done with the Lord's People so to thee it shall be done in that day when their Government shall out-reach thine and be set atop of it as thou hopest for Mercy from the Lord when his Kingdom conqueres thee and thine now deal favourably and relieve the Oppressed boast not thy self though the Lord hath used thee in his Hand but know that when he will he can cast thee a Rod out of his Hand into the Fire for in his Hand thou art if thou wilt honour him he will honour thee otherwise he can yea and will confound thee and break thee and make thee weak as Water before him his Love through my Heart breaths unto thee he would thy happiness if thou wilfully contemn it not by exalting thy self and seeking thine own glory and hardning thy Heart against the Cry of the Poor and this I was moved in bowels of pittiy to lay before thee who am thy Friend not in Flattery but in an upright Heart who wisheth well unto thee in the Lord. A Friend to the Kingdom of Christ and not of this World but an Heir of Immortality with the Son of God called E. B. The Original of this was given to the Hands of Oliver Cromwell then Protector in the third moneth of the Year 1657. For the Hands of Oliver Cromwell called Protector FRIEND I am moved to write to thee from the occasion of being with thee yesterday and I take liberty from the true love and pitty stirred up in my Heart towards thee who am thy Friend and wisheth well unto thee in the Lord even that Salvation thou mayest receive and that thy way may be blessed upon Earth and the Fruits of the Knowledge of God might more abound in thee and the Fruits of Ignorance less which doth appear which I wish might be cut off before they wholly over-grow thee and remove the Blessing far from thee in this life and in the life to come and bring upon thee Destruction for the Fruits of all Unrighteousness brings Death Sorrow and Misery and the Light of Christ in thee shall answer in all things to the justness of the Judgments of the Lord. Thou sayest in effect that thou wouldest not or thou desirest not our Persecution or that we should be persecuted by Cruelty or unjust Imprisonment now consider what the cause is that what thou desirest not to be done yet is done thou having power in thy hand onely to prevent what thou wouldest not have done is it not thine own unfaithfulness to the Principle of God in thee which beareth witness against the Persecution of the Innocent Or is it that thou mayest please men and therefore rather suffer Wickedness to abound Injustice and Oppression to be acted against the Poor making it appear thou art willing to do the false Teachers of this Nation and wicked men a pleasure then to own the People of God in relieving them and â—â—sing them of their cruel Burthens and Oppressions laid upon them by unjust men for a word of thy mouth or the shew of thy Countenance in dislike of these cruel and unjust Persecutions would bind the Hands of many blood-thirsty Men and stop the Mouthes of many Devourers and therefore because of thine own unfaithfulness doth that come to pass which thou desirest not And so I must needs say This appears to be evil in thee to say In effect thou approvest not or thou desirest not out Persecution and yet it is done when the Power is in thy Hand to remove it and this in much love and great pitty I declare unto thee in the Fear and Counsel of God Further thou sayest Thâ—n art not guilty of these Persecutions acted unjustly upon us Again consider I say Thou canst not be cleared in the Sight of the Lord God from them being acted under thee and in thy Name in the Day of the Lord the Light in thy Conscience shall answer this for there seems to be rather a favouring of them in thee and by for bearance of the Actors of Cruelty by which their
the Land which if you he the Instruments in such a Work it will be your greatest Crown and your perpetual Honour for the Lord's Purpose is 〈◊〉 â—â—y or other to cleanse the Land of all these and other Oppression whatsoever that the People of this Land may be a free People from all the heavy Yâ—… of Antichrist which have long sorely pressed them down and the Purpose of the Lord is to break the Yoaks of Oppression and Tyranny from off the Necks of this People and therefore it is that he overturneth yea and will overturn all Men and Authorities that shall oppose his Work and none shall be 〈◊〉 to stand before him for the Presence of my Lord is more dreadful to a Nation when he shews himself in Wrath then any Multitude of Armed Men and Wo is unto you if you be found opposing of him and if you seek to stop his Work you shall not cumber the Earth very long nor oppress the Nations maâ—◠〈◊〉 Wherefore consider Cursed will you be if you be unfaithful in what 〈◊〉 have to do on the Lord's behalf for your Hour passeth ever that is alotted you and will be suddenly expired never to be recalled and then you cannot work And whereas there is a great Cry about Ministry For sending forth and Mainâ—…ng and Encouraging a Godly Ministry as you say Now to this I do answer on my Lord's behalf and I must tell you plainly As for a true Godly Ministry truly called and sâ—nt of God such a Ministry and such Miâ—isters you can never be able to hinder but the Lord will send them out â—â—â—â—taining them and preserving them whether you will or no and while you are â—â—â—â—bling your selves about such a matter you are but meddling with things above your Line and out of your Jurisdiction while you act in such a case 〈◊〉 it belongs to his Goverment to send out Ministers whom and as he will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maintain them and defend them according to his own Pleasure and all this without you for such Ministers truly called thereunto and sent of the Lord will not seek to you to be sent forth or maintained by you they will not be beholding to you in such a case but even without you and contrary to you must they be sent out and maintained So that the Lord will have a Ministry in this Nation purely of his own and not of Man nor by Man and such a Ministry you shall not be able to hinder And I must tell you plainly As for these men called Ministers in this Nation the way of their setting up and sending forth and the way of their Maintenance and the way of their standing and Defence and in every particular of their being such they are the greatest and most woful Oppression in the Nation even the most Abominable and unjust Cruelties and Tyrannies is acted through them as any other thing in the Nation and they are as such aforesaid the woful Cause of the Nations Groaning under Merciless Dealing and there is upon their account the Guilt of Blood Injustice and Oppression lying upon this Nation their Inqiuities their Iniquities cry for Vengeance upon their own heads for they are full they are full and the measure thereof is near finished and God's Eternal Vengeance is their next Reward from the Eternal God What shall I say of them but this The Earth is oppressed by them the Inhabitants groan under them and the Righteous God is vexed through them and they are the very men of high Indignation and fierce Wrath and all their Practices as such are the Fewel of his Anger to be consumed by the Fire of his Jealousie the Nation is weary and its Inhabitants and the Lord is weary because of these men And is this the Ministry cryed up by you as Godly and Piâ—â—â— c Are these the men that the Nation must be forced to maintain in their Pride and Idolatry Is this the Ministry that must be Encouraged Well if these be the men and this the Ministry which must be established and encouraged by you in so doing you shall never prosper but thereby gain the Displeasure of the Almighty unto you to bring a Curse upon all your doings even because hereof for I must tell you the Hand of my Lord is against them and whosoever shall seek to defend them shall not prosper in their doings because their Oppressions Cruelties Deceit and Abominations are nigh finished and fulfilled wherefore take â—â—ed unto your selves for this is my Master's Advice unto you Let this Ministry alone and joyn not your selves to Baal lest you perish neither take part with Antichrist any longer neither be ye Fighters against the Lamb and his Kingdom but free the Nation and let all its Inhabitants be freed from the cruel Tasks and Yoaks of such Men and such a Ministry as aforesaid uphold it not against the Lord for if you do you shall never be established and this is from the Mouth of my Lord unto you And last of all My Master hath a People in this Nation even a suffering People that have born the Burden of the Cruelty and Injustice and Wickedness both of Rulers and Teachers who have as it were trodden them down and made them a very Prey to their Devouring Mouthes the very Cry of their Sufferings have reached unto Heaven and the very sound thereof your Ears have heard And this People are greatly beloved and my Lord will assuredly honour them and his Hand shall be continued to preserve them and defend them against all their Enemies whatsoever and he doth reserve them to himself and for a glorious Work that he hath to do by them and he hath formed them for himself and they cannot joyn with any of the Horns of the great Beast neither can a Place of Honour pervert them from their perfect Way but my Lord he compasseth them about on every side and hath kept them in the midst of Tryals Reproaches and Sufferings and covered them in the Heat and in the Storm till his Pleasure is to make further use of them they are His and not their Own and they must fulfil His Will and none besides and they lie at Rest in Him while Mountains are overturned and while one Potsherd of the Earth breaks another and this must be even till the appointed Time And to say no more of them though much more might be said They are had in Remembrance before the Lord to do with them even for his own Glory and for this Nation 's perpetual Good and to the Authority of the Most High through them shall Kings of the Earth and Nations of the World bow and tremble wherefore ye men touch them not neither do ye afflict them even as you hope to prosper remember their Cause and suffer it not alwayes to be rejected as it hath long been but keep your selves free from the Injustice and Cruelty of them that have gone before you who have been Merciless and Oppressors
of that People even till my Lord hath confounded them and brought them into Confusion for there is the weight of Blood of Tyranny and Oppression lying upon the Nation in that People's Cause and my Lord will revenge them in his Season and though they are not weary of their Sufferings but are in the Patience which beareth all things yet the Nation can never be happy nor its Government ever blessed while this People are held in Bondage and their Sufferings are deeply considered of the Lord and the Season thereof is expiring towards an 〈◊〉 aâ—d when this cometh to pass then Wo unto the kingdom of Antichrist and to the Whore and false Prophet even when their strength is dryed up by which they have made War against the Lamb and his Followers yea Wo unto them Great Fearfulness shall be upon all the World when the King of that People Reigns upon the Earth and the time is at hand blessed is the Man that waitâ—â—◠〈◊〉 it and blessed is he that is not offended in his Coming but is preparâ—◠〈◊〉 receive him in his Appearing which suddenly cometh upon all the World And thus I have told the Lord's present Message unto you which I received from him and thus far I am clear and whether you accept it or reject it my Peace and Reward is forever with him who am a Subject of his Kingdom and a Frieâ—â— to this Nation however otherwise judged by ignorant Men. Edw. Burroughs The 9th Moneth 1659. To the PRESENT DISTRACTED AND Broken Nation OF ENGLAND And to all her INHABITANTS A Presentation and Declaration from the Seed of God and from the People called Quakers with their Sense and Knowledge published concerning the present Divisions and Confusions come to pass in the Land with Mourning and Lamentation over it because of its Breaches and the Causes thereof laid down and discovered And also Good Counsel and Advice held forth how Peace and Unity may be restored and how the present Troubles may be Removed OH poor distressed Nation and full of Troubles How art thou broken and divided How hath Divisions and Distractions compassed thee about and entred into thy Bowels And how are thy Inhabitants and thy People divided even to hatred one against another and how are they filled as with Mischief one towards another even as it were thirsting for the Blood of one another Oh! How are thy Rulers and thy Subjects thy Great Men and thy Poor confounded amongst themselves And how is the Wisdom of thy Wise men turned into Folly and their Union into present Contention and how do they seek the Overthrow one of another and how do they lie in wait to be avenged one against another And how are the Hearts of many filled with Envy Contention and Revenge and Love Peace and Unity are far away Meekness Patience and Long-suffering which ought to be among thy People seem to stand afar off And oh Nation this is the Day of thy Trouble and the beginning of thy Sorrows And forasmuch as it hath pleased the Lord God Almighty to bring and suffer things thus to be brought to pass as if he would make our Nation a Heap and suffer Destruction upon it and having suffered the Rulers and Great Men to overcome and break down one another and to rend and tear one another from oâ—â— the Throne pulling down others and setting up themselves even through their Ambition and Vain-glory and for corrupted Ends to themselves whereby this our Nation is brought into present Confusion and many are begotten through these â—hings into Fury Heart-burnings and Maliciousness as if men were ready to devour each one his Neighbour and their Brother about Government and Ruâ—e being greatly divided and distracted in this matter some crying up one way of Religion and Church and Civil Government and some crying up another way being each one sort of People seeking themselves and the prosperity of their own Interests and to have their own desires accomplished but few seeking the Lord and to advance him in Truth and Righteousness And because of this there is no Establishment in the Earth but Strife and Contention and Heart-burnings in the Bowels of the Nation and great want of True Love True Unity and True Peace and all the contrary doth abound among the people because of which the Nation is subject to present Misery even to Blood-shed and Murders and liable also to greater Judgments which may also come upon it because of these things all which we have deeply considered â—â—th Mourning and with Breakin gs of Heart on the behalf of the Nation the Land of our Nativity We have seen we have seen the Cause of thy Distractions to be the Sins of thy Rulers and People and we have seen the effect of them to be doleful and miserable unto thee except the Hand of the Lord turn it backward And oh How do we Mourn and Laâ—ent to see the Out goings of Men and the present Condition of the People and Rulers in this the Day of their Trouble Alas they do not behave themselves towards the Lord that his Judgments may be turned away they do not seek him in Truth and Righteousness they do not turn unto him with all their Hearts neither do they tremble at his Word but they the rather reject his Counsel and despise his Visitation and they seek themselves and exalt their own Horn and love the Honour of this World and their hearts are hardened and the great men seem to be utterly insensible of what the Lord is a doing but seek great things for themselves and each one rejoying of another's Fall and glorying in their Advantages one over another one sort being first down and another sort comes up boasting themselves over the Fall of their Enemies and not knowing that their time also is but very short And thus is our poor Nation tossed to and fro through the Ambition of men who even make a Prey upon the poor peoples Persons and Treasure for their own corrupted Ends and thy Rulers have not had respect unto the Counsel of the Lord but seem to refuse the Way of Peace and even add Fewel to the Fire of God's Wrath by heaping up one Transgression upon another and they receive not the Instructions of the Almighty Behold Oh Nation Great Trouble is upon thee and the Men that should Rule thee and which have pretended to Govern thee they do not walk in the Way of thy Peace neither do they bring healing to thee These things we have considered and thus we Lament over thee and over thy present State Oh Nation how art thou like an ungirded Vessel that is ready to fall one piece from another and how art thou like a Body without a Head and all thy Ioynts out of order and what Confusion art thou fallen into which is thy present state and art even as a Widdow without a Husband and art even left comfortless unto this day and ready to devour thy self through the Envy
Charles Stuart who is Proclaimed King and to all You that are called and known by the Name of Royal-Party and Cavaleirs and who have Suffered in your Cause and for your Principles Friends THe Lord God who is greater than all that doth whatsoever he will hath given you a Day and you are raised up again out of your Suffering State Oh that you would consider the end of it and wherefore the Lord hath done and suffered it to be done and that you would make right use and improvement unto God and this Nation of this your Deliverance and Promotion for certainly there hath been an absolute purpose in the Counsel of the Lord that these things should be thus and his hand hath even suffered it to be accomplished even in a strange and marvellous way through the confounding of your Enemies and giving of them up to the folly of their own hearts in their Councils that they should destroy themselves and bring in you over their heads and make you a Mountain and break down their Mountain and make it as a low Valley and certainly these things are in the Justice of the Lord's hand and it will be well for you if you can consider it and acknowledge it You have been a suffering People it is true for these divers years and Originally your suffering was partly just as from the Lord for there was a great measure of Iniquity and Oppression fulfilled in this Nation on the part of Kings and your Sins were great against God wherefore the Lord was Just in bringing Affliction and Tribulation upon you to humble you and he might justly raise up others to reprove you and to subdue you before them for a season and thus far even because of your Iniquities which were great in the sight of God your Sufferings and Afflictions were Just But as for those that the Lord made use of in the Execution of your Afflictions they are not justified in all what they did towards you but they went beyond in Violence and Cruelty upon you what the Lord called them unto and thereby they brought a great measure of guilt of Injustice and Cruelty upon their own Consciences in proceeding towards you beyond Justice and Equity Though some of them might be more sincere and upright in the beginning of these things when they began to War against you yet it too well appears that many of them soon lost the Just Cause and began to have respect to your Estates and Titles of Honour more than to free the Nation from Oppressions and Vexations though they pretended much thereunto yet so it was that they became fouly corrupted in their way and though they Subdued you yet did they not free the Nation but became Oppressors themselves no less than others before them and they possessed your Riches and Titles yea and in great measure Unjustly and then were exalted in Ambition and Vain-glory and began to strive amongst themselves who should be the greatest and set up this and the other and some cryed one way of Government and others another and they pulled down and set up as they would and cast down and exalted whom they would and thus they continued for some years rowling up and down in Confusion and yet the Nation under very great Oppression and Vexations each one crying his Burden was the greatest while they were exalted in their Pride and Riches and lived at ease not remembring the end wherefore they were first raised nor keeping to sincere Principles but caused them to suffer deeply that were faithful to the Lord and walked with him in sincerity and all this while you were as asleep and not thought upon by them as if ever you should call them to an Account but they thought that their strength was great and their number many and therein they gloried having no true respect unto the Lord and because thereof the Lord justly confounded them in their Counsels when their measure was full and made them weak as Water and you are now justly raised up to reprove and correct them even those that have abused Gods Mercies to them and that have forgotten God and sought to exalt themselves forever and had no respect unto the Lord and his People though these things are not said of them to upbraid them nor to kindle your Fury against them to add Misery upon their Affliction but they have already been told of their Treachery and what would come to pass And Oh that they could now humble themselves before the Lord and confess to the justice of this their Affliction they might yet partake of his Mercy through great Judgments And as for you Oh that you would consider these things and by whose purpose you are restored and from what cause and for what end it is accomplished Oh that you would mind what your Work now is and that you would not exceed your permission for you are raised up for an end and there is a Work for you to do Oh that you could do it with respect unto the Lord it should be the better for you Oh those men that have long sate as Princes in this Nation and pretended and vowed and promised Reformation in Church and State but they have not done it as they ought but as great Oppressions and Injustice as great Superstitions and Idolatries both in Church and State were continued and carried on in their dayes as in dayes before them Oh how abominable have these things been multitude of words might demonstrate but now their Reproof and judgment is come and their Fall is just upon them who should pitty them or mourn for them seeing they have deserved all this and much more which has yet happened unto them as some of them may confess and those things their Treachery Unfaithfulness and Oppressions I mean must needs be avenged one way or another How often hath it been foretold them yea it hath been often said unto them That God would bring them down and destroy their Power they have been told that these things were not right neither could they escape unavenged and it now appears as if the day were come and if you must be their Executioners and must execute the Wrath upon them who shall prevent you or say unto you stay your Hand Or rather who of them that see these things shall not be patient while you take vengeance for the Lords sake and for the sake of his People whom they have long vexed and oppressed Nay who of the Lords People shall not say Let the Lord's Will be done and his Justice executed upon his Enemies If this be your work that you are called to must it not go on till it be finished They have been hard-hearted and Oppressors towards others and by a hard-hearted People may not the Lord justly deal with them and be a Plague unto them in that very manner that they have sinned against him for this is usual with the Lord even to destroy Oppressors by the Wickedness of
Afflictions and Tribulation by them so have we in another manner and far more unjustly Wherefore we cannot justifie them nor will not plead for them in opposition to you but we partly believe we may receive as much Equity and good Reason from some of you as we did from some of them and thus we have been a suffering People even without cause And at this day we are threatned by the rage of Men as if we should be cut off and destroyed but we regard not these things but do respect the Lord whom we fear and worship in our Hearts and if we outwardly perish among them that may perish yet it is for Righteousness sake and because of the matters of God's Kingdom which we hold and if you do destroy us for this cause we are clear and Innocent Blood will be upon you and the guilt thereof will sink you into misery here or hereafter Oh take heed and defile not your selves nor load your Consciences with our guiltless Sufferings as many others have done before you even to their ruin and woful destruction you are yet in a great measure clear from our Oppressions we have not much Iniquity yet to charge upon you in our Cause of Afflictions Oh it will be well for you if you keep your selves clear the less will be your Judgement and the better success will you have in you Cause for Friends the weight of Innocent Blood it hath a loud cry and God will hear it and if you burden your selves with it it will soon overweigh you therefore keep clear and condemn them by your Practises that have said they would not persecute for good Conscience sake but have done it even contrary to all Pretences and Engagements and if you who profess not so much in words towards that thing would do it how should your Practise condemn their Hypocrisie in the sight of God Men and Angels But however I warn you and do leave it at your door and do say unto you Persecution for Conscience sake is the crying Sin which draws down Vengeance upon Kings and Governments be you warned through the fall of others least confusion come upon you as it hath come upon many others for that cause and be not too confident in your way nor too furious against your Enemies but remember your breath is in your Nostrils and he that gave it you can soon take it away And as for you we have no Enmity towards any of you nor do we seek the hurt of your Persons nor can we rise up in Rebellion against you or seek your Destruction by Craft or Policy neither indeed can we seek Covenant or League with you by flattery It is true you are in Authority over us outwardly and as you are so we shall yield subjection to you in any of your just Commands and in all things it is our Principle to obey you either by doing or suffering yet we cannot bow nor fawn nor flatter nor deny our Principles nor our Religion of which we are perswaded by the Spirit of God in our Consciences that it is right and according to God but I say we cannot revoke our Principle neither for advantage to our selves nor yet to save our lives you must find us constant and not changeable as others are who turn every way for their own advantage and cry up this or the other and pray and fight on the behalf of any thing which may make for their advantage but God is grieved with such Spirits yet we are otherwise minded and must only own your Government and Authority as it is just and brings forth Righteousness so we can own it and bow before it but as otherwise if it be Unjust and Oppression we must patiently suffer under it whatsoever you have power to do and this is all the Peace we can make with you or the Engagement that we can bind our selves in towards you though we cannot but own that this Day is given you either in Mercy or in Judgement to you yea and we cannot but own that you may be God's Executioners yea what if we say That you may be raised up to avenge our Cause upon our Oppressors though still we must bear witness against that Wicked Loose Prophane Spirit that lives and abounds in some of you and among you and works Unrighteousness even to the dishonour of God throughout this Nation this Spirit we bear witness against that it is evil and brings forth bad effects in every City and Town throughout the Land whereby the Lord is provoked against you and this Nation in an high measure Oh that you would consider of it while there is time to be corrected and amended before it hath brought forth unpardonable Iniquities which it hastens to fulfil and draws down Wickedness as with Cords Oh the Excessiveness in drinking and other Vanities Oh what destroying of the good Creatures It grieves the Hearts of the Righteous and vexeth the Sober-minded to consider it and also there is a great deal of Hypocrisie and deceitful-heartedness amongst many I have considered this thing and it is a Vexation to the Lord and cannot but be detestable to you even in that many contrary to their Principles Engagements Promises and Covenants do now cry you up for to save themselves their Lives Estates who have been deeply engaged against you publickly and privately and yet now in Hypocrisie are fallen in with you such their Proceedings are loathsome to God and your present Cause is no better because of such though as for some of you that have stood to your Principle and suffered for it this long while in your State you are more honourable and rather justified Oh let the King fear and reverence the eternal God knowing he is but mortal Man and his Breath in his Nostrils and let him keep himself clear from Persecution for Conscience-sake for that will destroy Kings and Governments who are guilty thereof and let him be meek and sober and take the Lord before him in all his Proceedings or else he cannot prospeâ— his Day and Time is now present that God's purpose is to try him if he Rule in Righteousness and Truth in Equity and Justice he may be blessed But if otherwise he Govern and walk not in reverence to the Lord and spare his People the God of Heaven shall rebuke him and deliver his People another way Consider of these things in a sober mind read them over in meekness From a Lover of your Souls E. B. This was written about the middle of the 3d Moneth called May. A few Queries I do return to you for you to consider and answer relating to the present Affairs and Proceedings in this Nation even to all you that are called and known by the Name of Royallists and Cavaliers that are really so and have Suffered for that Cause Quer. 1. TO what do you attribute the first Cause of the advancement of this present Government And whether or no ye believe that
extream Reproaches as I have said in Contempt and Derision of that People and all this as if those People were guilty of heinous Crimes that it might appear to thee as if these Petitioners had done nothing but Iustice in what they have done and they seek to cover themselves and to hide their Wickedness before thee in what they have unjustly acted and this seems to be the Current of some part of the same Petition already presented unto thee like as if they had done no Evil though they have Unjustly Banished 〈◊〉 off Ears Whipped inhumanly and taken away lives as aforesaid And they would have thee believe they are Innocent towards thee and towards us whenas it is evident as the Sun at Noon-day that they are our Persecuters and that they have â—â—justly persecuted us unto Death for the Name of Christ and that also they are not unto thee as they Hypocritically feign themselves And therefore O King for the clearing of our selves and the Name of the Lord which we profess and for reproving of their bold impudent Insolencies both in what they have already done to us and now in seeking to cover themselves unto thee And also if there be any doubtfulness in thy Heart of these Matters for these Ends and Causes with Respect to the Fear of God and Honour 〈◊〉 the King I hereby presume to pursue their said Petition even unto thy Court and to wipe away the Slanders and Reproaches of Ungodly Men as much as possible hoping thereby thou wilt receive due and just Information in this matter of proceeding between us and them that thy just Judgment may be given accordingly And I shall transcribe some few of their own words presented to thee and thereupon spread some few Considerations before thee also and I pray God give thee an Understanding to judge justly in this and all other cases The first thing that I note is whereas they say That they have chosen rather the pure Scripture-Worship with a good Conscience in this poor remote Wilderness to â—it New-England among the Heathens than the Pleasures of England with subjection to the Imposition of the then so disposed and so far prevailing Hierarchy which we could not do without an evil Conscience c. say they The Considerations presented unto the King upon these words are divers 1. The Worship Doctrine Discpiline and Constitution of the Church of New-England is different and contrary and not purely according unto the Scriptures in the Administration of the Gospel nor in a pure Conscience purely guided by the Spirit of God though they seem to justifie their own Way and Case before the King and this may justly be made appear in his Presence upon good Occasion only at this time I assert the Case and if ever God gives oportunity I may prosecute it with Proofs and Evidences and that to the great Reproof of the Church so called of New-England who are not only in Doctrine Worship and Conversation contrary to the Scriptures but impudent and too presumptious to affirm their own Self-justification and Innocencâ— before the King when as it is manifest as the Day is from the Night that the Pastors and Members of the Church of New-England want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and follow the spirit of Persecution Violence and Cruelty and are void of a Good Conscience both towards God and Men. To prove this there needs no greater Evidence than their own Deportâ—…nt towards the Harmless Quakers for these five years time who as I have said have spoiled their Goods and imprisoned their Persons cut off their Ears Banished them and inhumanely put them to Death and all this because of difference in Iudgment and Practice in Religious Matters when as no manner of Evil could be charged upon them in the things between man and man And if these be not works contrary to the Scriptures and the Spirit that gave them forth and contrary to a Good Conscience I am yet ignorant and must leave it to the Judgment of the King before whom this Matter is brought to receive his Judgment 2. Let the King consider how they have ignorantly condemned themselves in the same things for whith they have judged others for while they seem to complain of the Impositions of the Bishops which they stile prevailing Hierarchy if it was Transgression in the Bishops in dayes past to impose upon these Petitioners and to Persecute them for Non-conformists how much more are these men guilty of Imposition and Persecution of tender Consciences Nay they have exceeded in the same Transgression and become seven-fold guilty of the sins themselves which they complain against in others for they have gone further in Cruelty and Persecution towards the Innocent Quakers than ever the Bishops proceeded against them even so far further as the murdering of a man is more than cutting off his Ear And the Cause of the Quakers towards these Petitioners hath been as Innocent as ever theirs was towards the Bishops Oh hypocritical Generation who are condemning of others for that whereof themselves are guilty and imposing upon others in a far higher degree than ever the Bishops imposed on them witness their Law in New-England which judgeth every man to pay 5s per day who come not to their Assembly and imposing Fines of 40s and 50s apiece on such as meet together to worship the Lord which are evident signs of an evil Conscience as themselves speak The next thing that I note upon which the King ought to consider the Petitioners say concerning the Quakers Open Capital Blasphemers open Seducers from the Glorious Trinity the Lord 's Christ the Blessed Gospel and from the holy Scriptures as the Rule of Life open Enemies to the Government it self as established in the hand of any but men of their own Principles malignant Promoters of Doctrines directly tending to subvert both our Church and State By way of Answer to this let the King consider 1. The envious and detestable spirit of maliciousness of these Accusers and how vehement and fervent their persecuting spirit is drawn forth with reproachful Tearms in the highest degree like as if they could not utter sufficiently the Envy of their Hearts or as if they wanted words to demonstrate their Malignity and devouring Malice against that People whom they in scorn call Quakers and all this to present us Odious and Abominable before thee O King I say but this of them unto thee The Lord forgive them if they have not sinned unto Death and Unpardonably I have no desire of Revenge towards them but I leave Vengeance to the Lord who will recompence in his season neither do I desire to provoke or incense the King against them only Duty to God and the King teacheth me and Love Constraineth me and an absolute Necessity presseth much upon me to spread our Denyal of their Bitter and Malicious Accusations against us before the King unto whom we are thus foully accused And I say I
Guiltless Brethren than they were before no more safe I say but more lyable to the Justice and Terror of the Almighty and to the Justice of the King and the good Laws of England for and because of their Barbarous Cruelties But as I have said we leave Vengeance to the Lord and commit them to the Justice of God's Hand which we doubt not but it will pass upon them in his Day and Season 3. Whereas they would seem to extenuate their Crime of putting to shameful Death the Lord's Servants they tell the King as if they only kept the Passage with the Point of the Sword held towards them as if they had no intention to hurt them and this the Magistrate did both in conscience to God and man I say It is to be considered what occasions were given them to stand in the Passage with the point of the Sword towards this People Was it for any Cause on their parts but as aforesaid for reproving their Sin and crying against their Wickedness whenas their Lives Conversations were Harmless and Innocent amongst them I say This was no just Cause for the Magistrates to stand in the Passage with the Point of the Sword and therefore they were Unjust in so doing if they had done no more and proceeded in the way of insolent Usurpers For what Reason had they to stop the Passage with the Point of the Sword for hindring of as good Subjects as themselves to pass through the King's Dominions Is not this derogating from the Honour and Authority of the King for the sub-ordinate Magistrates of New-England to usurp such Authority over free-born People of England as to prevent them from Egress and Regress in lawful Occasions in any part of the King's Dominions And I suppose this will be found contrary to their Patent and Prescription delivered them by Charles the first even this standing in the Passage with the Point of the Sword towards the Innocent and imposing great Fines upon men that came â—o their Harbour to sell their lawful Commodities if they had but the Name of Quakers though no other thing could be charged against them yet they were imposed upon by Fines and Imprisonment and the Point of the Sword was held out against them and all this I suppose is contrary to their Patent and in Derogation and Dishonour to King Charles the second 4. But to extenuate their own Fact of putting to shameful Death the Innocent they charge their Death to be a wilful Rushing and their Death was their own Act and their Blood was upon their own Heads Concerning which let it be considered they no more wilfully rushed upon their Death neither is their Blood on their own Heads more then the Prophets and Apostles that were slain for the Testimony of Jesus But these Petitioners do plead These Quakers so call'd knew there was a Law proclaimed against them Sentence of Banishment upon pain of Death but they would not keep away but came again and run themselves upon the Sword point And after this manner of arguing they would make it appear their Death was of themselves and their Blood was on their own Heads but these poor Evasions and favourable Interpretations of their own Cruelties ought not to cover them from the Justice of God not from the Justice of the King for it s to be considered That where God commands one thing and men another God ought to be obeyed rather then men and it is fully believed by us That these Sufferers did not go into New-England in their own cause but in God's Cause and in the Motion of his holy Spirit and in good Conscience towards God they did rather suffer the loss of their own Lives for their Obedience towards God than to disobey him to keep the Commandments of men And this was the Apostles Case when they were commanded to preach no more in the Name of Iesus Did they at all obey it for fear of Man And when the three Children were commanded to bow to the Image did they do it for fear of Man or If they had dyed for their Disobedience of the Kings Commandment could it have been said That their Blood was upon their own Heads and that they rushed themselves upon it and this is in part the like Case that our Friends suffered under the Injustice of these Petitioners who would now cover themselves like men of guilty Consciences But the God of Heaven will let them know one Day and the King may justly do it That the Blood of our Brethren lieth upon the Heads of the Magistrates of New-England and they are guilty of their cruel Death for they put them to Death not for any Evil doing between man and man but for their Obedience to God and for Good Conscience sake towards him Again The Petitioners say The Quakers dyed not because of their other Crimes how Capital soever but upon their super-added Presumptions and incorrigible Contempt of Authority breaking in upon us notwithstanding the Sentence of Banishment bad they not been restrained there was too much cause to fear that we our selves should quickly have dyed or worse and they would not be restrained but by Death Nay had they at last but promised to depart the Iurisdiction and not to return without leave from Authority we should have been glad to have said they should not dye In Answer to this it is considerable 1. What these other Capital Crimes were which the Sufferers were guilty of here is a secret Charge of Crimes without Nomination and this is the part of Slanderers to Accuse in general without particular Proof but this is still to extenuate their own horrid Fact of putting the Innocent to Death and that the King may believe better of them than indeed he hath cause and the super-added Presumption and incorrigible Contempt of Authority what was it any more than that Unjustly and without Reason they commanded them to depart or if they did not they should be put to Death whenas no Reason could possibly be rendred for such Law Commandment but because they were called Quakers and were different in Matters of Faith and Iudgment concerning spiritual Things for as I have said No Sedition Evil-dealing Drunkenness Lying nor any of these thingt could be charged against them and therefore the Law and Commandment of Banishment was unjust and could not be actively obeyed by our Brethren but they returned again not in contempt of Lawful Authority but as they were moved and upon their Occasions which was lawful and just in the sight of God and Men deporting themselves Harmlesly towards all people and this is stiled Super-added Presumption and incorrigible Contempt of Authority but they must needs put a Good Name upon their bad Work and render the Innocent as high Offenders as Excellency of Speech can demonstrate 2. There can be no just Cause rendred wherefore they should fear our Brethren except the Guiltiness of their own Consciences for as I have said They
were never seen with any Sword or Staff amongst them nor any Carnal Weapon nor ever held Designs of Mischief and for them thus wickedly to suggest unto the King as if they would have killed them or worse this is Backbiting and Slandering in the highest degree and punishable by the Law of God and Men And its true Them whom they have killed are restrained but the Principles and Practices of the Quakers so called have entred into New-England and passes thorough the Consciences of people without Restraint And it s a shame for themselves to mention how all the Pastors and the whole Church of Boston overcame Three Innocent Persons and what Weapons they overcame them by not the Weapons of the Spirit of God but the Weapons of Cruelty and Hard heartedness even as Caiu overcame Abel and as the Iews overcame Christ and so did the Church of New-England overcome our Brethren And this is all the Confession they can make of Restraining our Friends That they cruelly put them to Death and thereby overcame them And it is not known to us that the Court at Boston hath such Absolute Power as that the Free Subjects of England may not come and return again and again according to their lawful Occasions without leave from the Authority of Boston Court I say this seems to be usurp'd Authority rather than lawfully establish'd upon them by Charles the first but it is apparent and the King knoweth it that in this case the Magistrates or Boston have taken too much upon them and proceeded further than they can justifie either before God or the King in Imprisoning Whipping Cutting off Ears Banishing and Putting to Death the good Subjects of England without either President Example or any power derived from the Lawful Authority of England And we have cause to say They were so far from desiring to spare their Lives as they would suggest to the King that they thirsted for their Blood and nothing else could satisfie them but the extinguishment of their Lives by shameful Torture Again The Petitioners fawn and flatter in these words say they Let not the King hear mens words your Servants are true Men Fearers of God and the King and not given to Change zealous of Government and Order we are not seditions to the Inte est of Caesar c. In answer to this many things are considerable 1. Why should the Petitioners seem to exhort the King not to hear mens words Shall the Innocent be accused before him and not heard in their lawful Defence Must not the King hear the Accused as well as the Accusers and in as much Justice I hope God hath given him more Nobility of Understanding than to receive or put in practice such Admonition and I desire it may be far from the King ever to condemn any Person or People upon the Accusation of others without full hearing of the Accused as well as their Enemies for it is Justice and Equity so to do and thereby shall his Judgment be the more just 2. They pretend to be Servants to the King and that they fear him and are not given to change I shall not seem to intrude into the Matters to which I am a Stranger but I leave this Case to the King to consider what their former Actings and the current of their spirit hath been towards the King I shall only instance one Particular well known to me in a Letter to one Gurden dated at Boston and subscribed by some of these Petitioners where they say There is more Danger in these Quakers as they call them to Trouble and Overcome England than in the KING of SCOTS and all the Popish Princes in Germany these be the Petitioners own words whereby it is manifest what the current of their spirit was against the King then tho gh now they have chang'd their Tale and call him High and Mightâ— Prince and Dread Soveraign and such like and that they are the King's Servants c. whenas not long since they have signified by their words quoted against them That there was Danger in the King of Scots as they called him and reputed him a Troubler of England and numbred him with the Popish Princes of Germany or amongst them Let but the King consider their own words and he shall plainly read as well the temper of their spirit against him not long since as he shall see their Hypocrisies and fawning Fatteries at this time and he may fully perceive that these Petitioners are given to Change though they would make him believe otherwise And this their Address unto the King is like the Approach of the uncircumcised Gibeonites unto Ioshua cap. 9. who wrought wilily and deceitfully using the same words to Ioshua We are thy Servants as these Petitioners have us'd to the King whose deceitful Address is equally paralel with that mention'd the case is worth observing Iosh. 9. vers 4 6 9. 3. As for being zealous of Government and Order not Seditious nor Schismatick as they say it is to be consider'd that their Government and the Order thereof is not only different and contrary to the Government and Order of the Churches of Christ but different and contrary also to the wholsom Constitution of the â—ivil Government of England who have made Laws and executed them to Banishment and Death without any Power deriv'd from the Lawful Authority of England which is absolute contrary to their Patent by which they hold their Jurisdiction which saith They shall make no Laws contrary to the Laws of England c. I shall not Charge them in the King's Presence further of Sedition and Schism than himself believeth concerning them Again The Petitioners say They could not live without the Publick Worship of God and they were not permitted the use of Publick Worship without such a Yoak Subscription and Conformity as they could not consent unto without sin c. In Answet to this this is to be considered That these Petitioners have laid heavier Yoaks of Subscription and Conformity upon others than ever was laid upon themselves witness their imposing Fines upon such as cannot conform to their Worship some Ten Shillings some Forty Shillings and some Five Pounds if any shall be absent from their Assembly it is so much a Day and if any keep any Meetings different from their Way of publick Worship it is so much a Time and these are unjust and illegal Impositions and it is a heinous Yoak of Tyranny put upon the Neck of the King 's good Subjects without any Power derived in this case from the King This they themselves do and yet are complaining of such Impositions and Yoaks laid upon them by the Bishops which were not comparable to these which discovers their own just Condemnation in the same Matters for which they accuse others And thus these Considerations are presented to the King in Vindication of that Innocent People called Quakers whom these Petitioners have accused as guilty of heinous Crimes that themselves might
blessed us unto this day and hath he preserved us hitherto through many Tribulations and Dangers hath he shewed infinite Love and Favour unto us to this hour And will he now suffer us to be destroyed from being a People surely no Will he give our Enemies their hearts desire to cut us all off that they may blaspheme his Name surely no and if it be the Pleasure of the Lord that some of us should seal our Testimony with our Blood good is the Will of the Lord not ours but his Will be done for the Testimony that we have born for these divers years hath been so excellent in it self and in its Fruits and Effects that the finishing of it deserves the best Seal that possibly we can signe it with which is indeed our hearts Blood and this dwells upon my spirit and yet though it should be thus my confidence is sure that the Work of the Lord shall prosper and our Testimony shall be glorious forever and this People shall never be extinguished from being a People And I know not any thing that remains upon our part at this day but that we commit our selves into the Hand of the Lord living in the Seed of God wherein our Election is sure before the World was and forever and let us remember one another and pray one for another and let us stir up all the Children of our Father to Faithfulness and Patience while we have time I say let us walk to the Glory of the Lord keeping Faith and a good Conscience to our last end our Testimony shall never dye nor our Memories never perish when we are ceased to be and though we suffer now the loss of Life and all we have yet the Effects thereof will be glorious in Ages to come and our present Sufferings will hasten the Glory of God's Work throughout the World Receive this as my Salutation to you all It is now eight dayes since I left Ireland where my Service hath been precious for the Lord for full six Moneths all which time the Lord carried me in much Faithfulness and Diligence in his Service to the confirming of many in the Truth of God and to the converting of others and through and because of the Presence of the Lord which was with me I had a very precious time and was wonderfully preserved through many Dangers and Tryals and I travelled near two thousand Miles to and fro in that Land and had very free passage in the principal Cities and Towns till my work for present was fully ended there having more time then could be expected to clear my Conscience to all People and it would be too large to mention every particular Trans-action wherein I perceived the Eminent Hand of God with me and also many things I observed concerning the present state of things which I shall not now mention for what have we to do with the Affairs of worldly Kingdoms but as for Friends it was well with them they grow and increase in the Blessings and Fulness of the Father and when I came thence all was quiet and very few in Prison though I suppose the Tydings of things as they are here will produce the same Sufferings upon them But I hope they will be bold and valiant for the Truth in giving their Testimony by faithful Sufferings till these things be finished Thus I remain in Life and Death and when I am no more in everlasting remembrance your dear Brother and Companion by doing and suffering for the Name of the Lord and his Truth I am well and at liberty as yet E. B. 11th of the 12th Moneth 1160. A JUST and RIGHTEOUS PLEA Presented unto the King of England And his COUNCIL c. Being the true State of the present Case of the People called Quakers Truly Demonstrated and Justly Pleaded on their Behalf for the true Information of the King and his Council that they may well understand the Truth and Verity of doubtful Cases and may shew Just Judgment and Mercy And this is laid down in Six Particulars viz. 1. Concerning Swearing at all and particularly of the Oath of Allegiance 2. Concerning Meeting together to Worship God 3. Concerning Tythes among the Jews and among the Christians and why we Refuse to pay them at this day 4. Concerning giving Security by Bond to live Peaceably or to answer Accusations then and there c. 5. Concerning Government it self and particularly of this present Government 6. Concerning Persecution what it is in it self and how great an Enemy it is to the King and his Government laid down in ten Particulars All which Cases are truly Stated and pleaded and the Cause of the Innocent Vindicated And this for the King and his Government that they may be Just and Righteous and perfectly according to God The Epistle to the King and his Council OH Friends this is your Day that God hath given you to try you and to prove you what you will do and whether you will Rule and Iudge and Exercise your Power for God or against him and this is the Hour of your tryal and the living God that made Heaven and Earth beholds you and his Eye is upon you and he waites for Iustice true Iudgment Mercy Righteousness and Truth to be brought forth by you in the Land that he might bless you and prosper you but and if the contrary be abounding and brought forth and exercised thorough you Blessings shall be turned into a Curse and the Iust God will deal with you after your deserts for the Reward of the Almighty is Iust and Equal unto all the Sons of men even according to their ways and works and the judgment of you nor of any is determined by him but according as He is served obeyed and feared or the contrary And seeing you have a day to do good and to forsake all evil to do Iustice Mercy and Truth in the Earth and to subdue the contrary if that you do the things you ought not and leave undone what God requires of you to do and trifle away your time in matters of less value and spend your days in Pleasures and Vanities and neglect Mercy and Iudgment in the Earth and have no regard to the Cry of the Poor and the Oppressed to deliver them from their cruel Persecutions if it be thus with you in this your day Who shall stand in the Gap to prevent the Anger of the Lord from breaking out or who shall plead for you in the day of your Reward when God himself ariseth unto just Iudgment to judge all Flesh and to deliver the Innocent Oh Friends is this nothing to you Is there no cause unto you of consideration in this matter Ought you not to lay these things to heart Why surely you are but men and your Breath is in your Nostrils and your Substance but dissolvable clay and the God of Heaven and Earth can do what he will with you and concerning you if ye please him it
that we had a reserve against the King's Person and Government and our living Peaceably might be the more doubted of but being our known Principle and Practice alwayes Not to Swear at all in any Case whatsoever this removeth all Ground of Jealousie or Cause of Suspition of us in this Case And also we being ready to confess all just Authority and Power to the King to declare Obedience thereunto solemnly and sincerely and that we shall live Peaceably and quietly under his Government and not to Plot or Rebel against him and this to confirm by Yea and Nay our Testimony of this kind may as justly be taken and stand as effectual and be as faithfully performed as the Oaths of any others for we make Conscience to perform what we say in Yea and Nay as much as any do to perform what they Swear and this is known of us in the Consciences of our Enemies So that in Good Conscience and Just Reason and Equal Justice we are excusable from all Penalties and Forfeitures in that behalf of denying the OATH of ALLEGIANCE 4. And the King and his Government is not the less safe and secure though we refuse to swear Obedience to them nor could they be any safer or securer if we contrary to our Principles and Consciences were forced by Penalties to swear Allegiance for by the same Principle which keeps us from Swearing and by which we deny it we must be preserved to live Peaceably and not to Plot nor Rebel against the King and if we renounce our Principle and our good Conscience and be induced to swear against our Consciences what likelyhood is there to perform such a forced Oath taken contrary to our Consciences and Principles For if we swear to the King and his Government because of the Fear of Men and to save our Estates c. and this contrary to our Consciences it might well be suspected of us that at Opportunity we would break such Oaths for fear of Men or some Self-end On the other hand If we had already renounced our good Consciences so that it more appears we shall perform good Obedience to the King and his Government acknowledgâ—d by Yea without an Oath and in good Conscience then by Swearing forced on us contrary to our Consciences therefore our Yea may better be accepted in this Case then Swearing can be demanded of us And also If we should Change with the Times and Renounce our Principles and Consciences and Swear we should make our selves Ridiculous and a Scorn to all men and bring our selves into a capacity not ever to be trusted in any Case if we should bow and bend to Times and Powers and for Terror of â—en deny our Religion as other Hypocrites and I very well believe the King would not trust us in our Allegiance any whit the better but rather the worse though we did swear and fawn and flatter with him contrary to our Principles neither could he reasonably judge himself the safer nor more happy nor that we would be truly subject the more to his Authority if we swore and conformed in things by Force contrary to our Consciences and Principles for himself knoweth that Oaths and Engagements made and taken by Force and for Fear in Straits are seldom or never truly performed but alwayes broken And of the like Case there are large Testimonies in the Kingdom of many that have sworn promised and engaged and sometimes by Force and Fear to this kind of Government and another and yet at Oportunities and for their own Self-ends have broken all Oaths and Engagements and Rebelled against the very Persons and Authorities to which they have sworn and engaged Fidelity and Allegiance so that many are not the more to be trusted though they swear Allegiance For the Proverb saith He that will Swear will Lâ—e and he that is forced to swear against his Conscience will hardly perform his Oath And we are no less to be trusted though we Swear not for we never yet engaged our selves by Oath to any Governours or Government and yet we never Rebelled or Plotted against any but have lived Peaceably and in a Patient Suffering Condition under all that have sitten on the Throne since we were a People And therefore our living Peaceably under the King's Government cannot justly be doubted of though we cannot engage the same by swearing But yet if we do not live quietly and in good Obedience as Peaceable People but do Rebel Plot c. then we refuse not to suffer the Pains Penalties and Forfeitures as such that swear and do not perform their Oaths I say If we do not live Peaceably but Plot and Rebel against the King and his Government then let us suffer the same in every particular as if we had sworn and not performed our Oath 5. All these things rightly considered it doth fully appear 1. That we are not Enemies neither in present Action nor future Intent to the King's Person or Authority 2. Nor that we refuse to acknowledge Just Authority to King Charles the Second as supream Magistrate over these Kingdoms 3. Nor doth it appear that we are otherwise than Peaceable and Quiet People under the King's Government 4. Nor is it manifest but that we are ready to acknowledge so to continue in all Good Conscience and Righteousness And therefore we do appeal to the God of Heaven and to King Charles and to all people whatsoever That our present Sufferings by Imprisonment and whatsoever else we may suffer in this Case for refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance it is not for Plotting against the King nor for refusing to acknowledge Just Authority to the King nor for denying just Obedience to him and the good Laws of the Land nor for denying to live peaceably in the Kingdom under the King's Authority because to all this we acknowledge solemnly in Yea and Nay Neither are our Sufferings in this Case for any Evil-doing towards God or Men but our Sufferings are for keeping the Command of Christ which to us is Matter of Conscience to perform more than to save our own Lives and Estates and our Sufferings are because we cannot Swear at all and not because we are Rebellious or that we deny just Allegiance to the King and such our Sufferings are not as Evil-doers nor Justly and Righteously as Offenders because we are not guilty of Evil in this Case towards God nor Man and our Sufferings are Cruel Persecution for our Tender Conscience sake and for the Name of Christ Jesus And we call God and just Men to witness between us and our Prosecutors that as Saints and Servants of God we suffer in this Case and for our Faithfulness and Obedience to the King of Heaven and not for Evil-doing or Disobedience to King Charles and his Authority And if any be persecuted on this Case for Refusing to take the Oath of Allegiance to the Ruin of Persons Wives and Families in this World then we shall have Cause
to say Occasion is Wrongfully taken against us to destroy us and we are proceeded against contrary to the End of Just Government which is To preserve the Peaceable and not to destroy them and contrary to the KING 's former Promises who hath said We should not suffer for Matters of our Religion and Conscience living Peaceably in the Land And if we suffer because we cannot Swear at all such our suffering is for our Conscience sake and we are therein Persecuted Unrighteously as Innocent People and without just Cause And we must commit this our Cause to God who regardeth the Oppressions of his People and will avenge their Cause in his season And for the present this is all I have to say and present concerning this Case of Swearing and concerning the Oath of Allegiance CHAP. II. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning our Meeting together to Worship God 1. WE do Meet together in the Name of Jesus Christ and in his Power and Spirit and we do come together in the Fear of God to wait upon him and to receive the Teachings of his Holy Spirit and his Council to direct us in all our Wayes how to walk Righteously towards God and Men and in our Meetings we practice our Hearts and Minds in Godliness and speak of the Things of the Kingdom of God in Preaching the Word of God and in Prayer to Him according as his Holy Spirit guideth us which is given us of God to lead us into all Truth according to his Promise Iohn 16. 13. and that we may edifie one another in the Wayes of Holiness and Truth for the benefit of our souls and this is according to the Scriptures For they that feared the Lord met often together and spake one to another and edified one another And this is our Principle That it is our Duty to God-wards to meet together and that he requires it of us and for the exercise of our Consciences to him it hath been alwayes and is our Practice to meet together in the Exercise of the worship of God as aforesaid and not for any other End as in Contempt of Authority or to Plot or Contrive or to Meditate Evil against the King or his Government or any of his Subjects we have no such end I say in meeting together But our alone only and absolute End in our Meeting is to worship the Lord our God and to serve him and to wait upon him in obedience to his Will and for good Conscience sake as our Duty towards him 2. And this our Practice of Meeting together for the End and Cause mentioned if it be in publick Houses or more private in Upper Chambers or in the open Fields on what day soever is Lawful and Just in the sight of God and is according to the Example of the Primitive Saints and provable by the Scriptures as in Acts 1. 13 14. And when the Disciples and Saints returned from Jerusalem they went up into an upper Chamber both Men and Women and Waited upon the Lord and continued with one accord in Prayer and in Supplication And in Acts 20. 7. 8. The first day of the â—…k the Saints met together and Paul preached unto them and continued his Sermon till Midnight holding forth the Matters of the Kingdom of God And they were met in an upper Chamber from whence Eutychus fell down And Acts 28. 30 31. And Paul remained two full Years preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God in his own hired House in Rome and he exhorted the Saints Not to neglect meeting together as the manner of some was whom he reproved Heb. 10. 25. By which Testimonies with divers others that might be given it is manifest that the Saints of God in former Ages did meet together to worship God and to wait upon him in Prayer and Preaching as the Spirit of the Father taught them that dwelt in them And sometime they met publickly and sometime more private and sometime on the day time and some in the night season and they met separate from the Synagogues and wayes of publick Worship among the Iews according to the Will of God and as it was ordered amongst them And thus it is manifest That our Meeting for the Worship of GOD at this Day though they are separate from the Way of Publick Worship of the Kingdom and are in more private Houses are justifiable being after the Example of the Saints and according to the Scriptures of Truth and therefore our Meetings are according to the LAW of GOD Just and Lawful 3. And forasmuch as by Reason of the late Insurrection of some few Persons in London our Lawful Assembling of our selves together in the Worship of God is under present Restraint and Prohibition and by Proclamation forbidden under the Denomination of Seditious and Unlawful Meetings and our Friends Imprisoned and persecuted for that Cause of Assembling themselves to wait upon God Now in this Case this I plead unto the King That we are no manner of way guilty of that Insurrection upon which the Proclamation of forbidding our Meetings was grounded and therefore ought not to suffer with the guilty being Innocent from the very Occasion of that Proclamation And for the King to prohibit our Meetings for and because of the ill Use that others made of theirs this seems a Condemning of the Innocent with the Guilty which is no way just in the sight of God nor men but altogether unequal that we should suffer for other mens Fault though such did abuse their Liberty and pervert the End of their Meetings into rising up with Carnal Weapons against the King so did not we neither in Intent nor Action and therefore our Meetings ought not to be prohibited for the Cause of other mens Faults and Miscarriages in that Case And also We have the King's Promise divers times That we should not suffer for our Religion while we acted nothing against the Peace of the Kingdom and Government which yet we never have done nor made any ill use of our Meetings nor of the King's Promises nor forfeited them and therefore according to his own Promises we ought to have our Meetings and enjoy them without Restraint because we have not forfeited the benefit of his former Promises in that behalf nor ever made use of our Meetings to Plot or Conspire against the Government to its Harm or Detriment and because of our Innocency herein the Benefit of his former Promises are yet in force unto us to protect our lawful Meetings and not to prohibit them And though upon Suspition only our Meetings have been Restrained and our Friends Imprisoned by the late Proclamation yet we being proved Innocent and without Guilt of that which occasioned it the KING and Council may and ought in Justice and good Reason to Reverse and Revoke that part of the Proclamation related to us as being Innocent that we may enjoy our lawful Meetings according to the Scriptures and Example of Saints and according to
the King 's own former Promises 4. All these things considered and rightly understood by the King and his Council it will appear unto them in good Reason 1. That our Meetings are just and lawful in themselves because they are for the Worship of the Lord God and to wait upon him 2. They are according to the Example of the Apostles because the Scriptures prove the like Meetings 3. And they are not contrary to his own Promises and Tolleration that he gave for Six Moneths after his coming in because he said We should not suffer for our Religion if we lived Peaceably and we were not disturbed by Authority from him that we know of in our Meetings till this Occasion 4. It will appear That we ought in Justice Equity to have our lawful Meetings Protected and Preserved by the King's Authority and not prohibited because we are not guilty of that which occasioned this present Restraint but what we have suffered in this Case it hath been upon Suspition and without any just Cause on our part And for these Ends and Causes I plead on the behalf of the Innocent that we may enjoy peaceably our Meetings for the Exercise of God's Worship and not be prohibited in the King's Dominions under his Authority 5. But and if we are persecuted and imprisoned and made to suffer for this Cause of Meeting together to Worship God and Wait upon him in Conscience and Duty towards him and for following the Scriptures Example as the Saints of old as afore-mentioned we must only commit our Cause to the God of Heaven and in Patience suffer under whatsoever is unequally inflicted upon us for this matter if men shew the height of Oppression towards us and we must put on the Spirit of Long-suffering and Forbearance and leave Vengeance to the Lord who will in his season redress our Cause if that we are Persecuted for meeting together and for Worshipping of the Lord according as his Spirit perswades our Consciences and such our Sufferings are not for Evil-doing nor as Transgressors against God nor the King but as Servants of God we suffer and fot holding the Testimony of JESUS and a Good Conscience And thus I have brought the state of our Case as concerning our Meetings unto the Kings Knowledge and must leave it to his serious View and Happy will he be if he hath regard to the Afflicted but if he stop his Ear from the Cry of the Poor and suffer them to be destroy'd who shall plead for him or excuse him in the Day of the Lord when He comes to Iudgment to reward every man according to his Deeds CHAP. III. The Case Stated and Pleaded concerning Tythes as paid among the Jews and also among the Christians and the Cause why we Refuse to pay them at this day 1. WE do acknowledge That Tythes as instituted given and received in the Law of Moses amongst the Iews and according to the Commandment of God were of Heavenly Ordination and were for that Holy Use and End of maintaining the Levitical Priesthood and the Poor the Widdows and the Strangers in Israel and we know that whilst that Levitical Priesthood of Signs and Types and Figures was yet unfinished and unfulfilled by Christ Jesus the Everlasting Priest that Law that gave and received Tythes was in force and it was sinful against God and contrary to his Law in any of Israel to with-hold their Tythes and not to pay them and such as did robbed God and the Poor and the Prophet complained against them for then the Ordination of Tythes was of God and the Practice and End of them was good and blessed But that Law and Priesthood that gave and received them is finished and ended with all the Types and Shadows of the first Covenant Heb. 7. 12. and Christ Jesus the everlasting Priest of God is come in whom is ended the first Priesthood that took Tythes and that Law that gave them and he hath put an end to Tythes Temples Priests-Office under the Law among the Iews and all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Types and Figures and First Covenant and is an High-Priest forever and the Everlasting Substance of all Shadows pertaining to the first Covenant and hath finished them and ended them even that Law and Ordinance that gave and received Tythes and that Priesthood to whom Tythes pertained so that though it was Unlawful in the first Covenant to with-hold the payment of Tythes yet that Covenant being ended and that Law and Priesthood and another Covenant and Priesthood established to whom the Law of God allows not the Tythes of mens Estates it seems now to be unlawful to pay receive or demand Tythes and for good Conscience sake we cannot do it 2. We cannot now pay Tythes according to the first Covenant nor uphold any part of the first Priesthood that stood in Types and Shadows nor submit to that Law by any Obedience to it which once gave and received Tythes seeing Jesus Christ is come in the Flesh who hath ended all that Covenant with every thing that pertaineth thereunto and we believe in Jesus Christ as the Everlasting Substance and receive the Law by which we walk in all things unto him and not from Abraham nor Moses For he is with us that is greater then they whose Law and Example we must follow in the Administration of the Gospel and not the Law and Example of Abraham and Moses in the First Covenant who did but Prophesie of Christ and did not witness him fully come but dyed in the Faith Now if we should pay Tythes according to the First Covenant and so uphold any part of that Priesthood which took Tythes which was but a Type of Christ the Everlasting PRIEST then we should deny Jesus Christ to be come in the Flesh and turn back again to the Law and to the Iews Ordinances and prove our selves Unbelievers and Antichristian for he that denies Christ to be come in the Flesh is an Antichrist 1 Iohn 4. 3. and we may as well turn back to Circumcision Sacrifices and Burnt-Offerings as to pay Tythes being all pertaining to the First Covenant and Priesthood which whomsoever doth uphold denieth Jesus Christ to be come in the Flesh and so are of Antichrist But we believe Christ is come and we have received him as the End and Finishing of the first Priesthood and we believe in him as the Everlasting Substance who hath put an end to Tythes Temples Burnt-Offerings c. and we confess unto him as our Judge and Law-giver and have renounced all Shaddows pertaining to the first Covenant whereof one was Tythes and for Conscience sake and that we may continue in the Faith of Christ the Substance and not deny him therefore it is that we refuse and cannot pay Tythes for we are Christians and Believers and not Iews nor Children of the first Covenant 3. And there is no Example by any of the Apostles or Saints in all the New Testament That ever any of the
the sight of God such Commands we cannot yield Obedience unto and yet it is not out of Wilfulness Stubbornness Contempt or Rebellion against the Authority but it is for this End and Cause that we may not sin against God nor against our own Consciences by doing any thing that is contrary thereunto lest we should bring the Wrath of God upon our own Consciences so that all these things rightly considered it doth appear 1. That we acknowledge Magistracy and Authority to be the Ordinance of God to be exercised and executed in the Kingdoms of the World among men 2. That Iust and Righteous men are the only Persons fit to execute Iust Laws and Authorities in the Earth 3. That we acknowledge this present Government of King Charles and that according to the Purpâ—se of God it is now set up 4. That we are to be obedient by doing or suâ—â—eriâ—g in all things to the Authority of the King as the Supream Authority 5. That if in any case we are disobedient thereunto and cannot wholly perform every Command by doing yet it is for Conscience sake to God and that we may not sin against him and not out of Rebellion or Contempt of the King or his Power And all these things truly considered if we do suffer Tribulations Afflictions and Imprisonments under and by this present Authority for and because of our Profession and Practice of Religion without evil or wrong doing to our Neighbours Persons or Estates though we do not in the things contrary to our Consciences obey actively this present Authority yet we are persecuted for the Name of Christ and as so we receive our Sufferings and not as for Contempt or Denial of Authority or as Rebellion against it but for Conscience sake to God our Sufferings are and our unjust Persecution will be upon our Enemies in the effect and reward thereof with great Indignation and Wrath from the Lord God that rewards all according to their works Thus much about Government And now I shall shew what Persecution is in it self CHAP. VI. Concerning Persecution what it is in it self and how great an Enemy it is to the King's Person and Authority 1. PErsecution is when a Person or a People do suffer Tribulation Affliction Imprisonment Bonds or Death whether by a Law or without the Law for and because of his or their Principle and Practice in Religion As when a Person or a People are reproached falsly accused imprisoned or put to death only for and because of their Religions sake when as no evil-dealing in the things between man and man can be justly charged and proved against them but only because they are righteous and walk in the Wayes of the Lord and cannot conform to the Wayes and Vanities of this World but are separated from it in its Prophaneness and in its formal Profession also of Religion and because thereof Sufferings are imposed upon them while yet they walk justly innocently and harmlesly towards all men This is Persecution for Conscience sake and such are persecuted if so be they suffer for and because of Righteousness sake and because they will not deny their Principles nor Profession of ReÌ„ligion nor conform to Times nor Laws contrary to a good Conscience and yet suffer because hereof this is Persecution 2. Persecution is when a Person or a People is afflicted and any kind of sufferings imposed upon them whether by any Authority or without Authority and only because they are of such a Profession and Practice in Religion though yet their Profession and Practice in their Religion is not perfectly according to God nor by the Exercise of that Spirit of God ruling in their Consciences in such their Religion yet if they suffer only for their Religion sake while yet they walk uprightly as men in all outward Affairs relating to the outward Man this also is Persecution and such are persecuted for their Religions sake though not wholy for Righteousness sake and none ought to suffer as such under the Authority of any King Prince or Power but if such do suffer as I have said and that for their Religions sake only so though yet their Religion is not perfectly according to God yet they are persecuted and this is Persecution And thus I have in short described defined what Persecution is in it self and who it is that are persecuted and I shall now shew how great an Enemy Persecution for Conscience and Religions sake is unto the King's Person and Authority Persecution for Conscience sake and for Difference in Matters of Religion is a great Enemy to the Person and Government of the King it is I say a destroying and devouring Enemy and the Fruits and Effects thereof may work terrible Destruction yea this Enemy Persecution hath often wrought Overthrow in Kingdoms Let the King strive to be delivered speedily from this great Enemy which is fierce and cruel and may work woful Effects in this Kingdom also and the King may be more blessed in his Person and Government if he remove far from him this Enemy Persecution 1. It is his Enemy because its Effect is To eat out the Affections of many good and sober People from the King and may make their Love and Affections dye to the King's Government when they behold and consider the Persecution of many good and peaceable People for Righteousness and good Conscience sake whenas no Evil-doing between man and man can justly be laid to their Charge but only for the matter of their Religion and the exercise of their Consciences towards God and if such suffer cruel Imprisonment unjust Fines and grievous Vexations for such Cause it may weaken and eat out the Affections of good People and divert their Love and good Desires from the King and his Government in which such Persecution is brought forth and that which diverts the Peoples Love from the King is his great Enemy and such is Persecution 2. Persecution is the King 's great Enemy Because it may kindle Heart-burnings Envyings Strifes and Murmurings among his Subjects while some are tollerated in the Profession and Practice of their Religion and others persecuted and imprisoned for the same Cause and this kind of dealing exerciseth the King's Subjects in harsh dealing one towards another and gives great Occasion for Quarrelling Envies Debate and Malice one against another even when some execute Persecution upon others hailing them to Prison spoiling their Goods and the like And this kind of dealing I say whilst the Authority of the Land persecutes one sort of the King's Subjects by the hands of others it tendeth much to great Division and Distractions amongst the people and it is not for the King's safety but for his great Dishonour and Disadvantage every way to have the people divided into Heart-burnings and Quarrellings against one another and therefore Persecution is the King 's great Enemy because it worketh such evil Effects 3. It is his great Enemy Because it is contrary to the Trust which
Matter and Manner of it and by the Effect that would follow if the Author's Aim and Purpose were fulfilled By all which I must in true Judgment conclude from the Appearance Disposition Temper and Constitution of the spirit of the man and from all Causes and Effects pertaining to the said Semper Iidem That the Author thereof is indeed chiefly a Member of the Church of Rome to wit mostly a down-right Papist holding forth the Principles of Antichrist in perfect form and manner for the perfect End and Cause of Persecution even Burning again in Smithfield and else-where and killing and destroying even all sorts of people under the scurrilous reproachful name of Phanaticks that are in Iudgment and practice of Profession contrary to this man's Way and differing from the Papists Religion This I say I truly find to be the current and disposition of the Nameless Author and his Proceedings in his Method and Matter of his Semper Iidem c. and I have taken in hand at this time to answer him a little and to unfold some of the dangerous Intents towards England which may inhabit and secretly lodge in that spirit of the Church of Rome according to the current of the said Book and from which I have just cause to suppose the thing that I partly assert even that the spirit which hath Indicted the said Book waits its Opportunity to effect its end and to revive and renew Fire and Faggot again to the extinquishing and destruction of all that differ and are contrary minded in Principles and Practices of Religion and Worship from themselves for the Fury and Reproach of the said spirit that indicted and published Semper Iidem reacheth not only to others whom they call more Phanatical as Quakers Anabaptists c. but to the very Protestants themselves even to all whatsoever that differ from the Church of Rome for such by the Nameless Author are no less termed and vilified by that scornful term PHANATICKS distinguished by the Name of Ancient and Modern as hereafter I shall make it appear And First I shall shew a little concerning the Signification of the Term Phanatick as of late used and the first use of it in these late Dayes and the exchange of the word from one Sort to another and in whose mouthes it now remains and who are now so accounted 1. NOt to discuss the Etimology and signification of the word Phanatick in it self and what its Original is and from whence derived this I shall not now proceed to do as being not needful to my Occasion though there is difference of Judgment amongst some in this matter and some say the original and root of the word is from Phanos a false Godd and some say otherwise and they are not in unity among themselves that do most of all use the word concerning the Derivation and Signification of the word in it self Neither shall I spend time to seek out a Judgment and to give it in this case as counting the recompence that can be obtained not answerable to such a work but the signification of it as now used at this day among People is this All that differ in Iudgment and Practice of Religion and Worship from the generality of People and cannot conform unto such Way of Religion as generally practiced in the Land such are called PHANATICKS and this Signification the word beareth among People as now practiced Such as meet together to Preach and Pray out of Publick Places and cannot either out of Knowledge or Conscience conform to the Publick Way of Worship held forth such are called Phanaticks and Reproached by that Name from the Mouthes of Scorners and Revilers of the Wayes of God Numbers of whom do now abound and also Such who make Conscience of their Wayes and cannot run on in the Wayes of Iniquity in Lying and Drunkenness and such like but have been and are more sober and do walk more in Meekness and the Fear of God and have separated themselves from the Evil Company of men and from all Evil Wayes and could not run into the same excess of Riot with the Multitude such have been called of these late dayes Phanaticks by the Scorners Generation And thus much in brief of the signification of the word as used of these late dayes 2. As for the first use of the word Phanatick in this Age it is but of very late use for till within these two Years or less we had very little or no use of the word Phanatick until about the time of then General Monk's Army coming out of Scotland to London when the Army was new model'd and many of the Sectaries so called were turned out of Places about the Eleaventh Moneth 1659. then began the common use of this word Phanatick and the Anabaptists and such as were turn'd out of the Army and called all by the Name of Sectaries that were different from the publick Way of Worship then held out which was for the most part of it Presbyterians these were called Phanaticks and then the use of the word so common began about this time as I have said as now practiced in our dayes For the Rage and Indignation of the then Presbyterians so called and that Party was such against the Anabaptists and such as differed in Iudgment and Practice from them that scornfully they called them in Derision Phanaticks And so far as I know this was the Time and Occasion of the first use of this word as of late Practiced or at least it was the first Time and Occasion of my Observation of the common use of the word Phanatick 3. And now as concerning the exchange of the word from one sort of People to another and how it hath been used by divers sorts of People against others that have differed from themselves this is also observable That the word Phanatick hath not so much proper relation to any one sort of People as that it is only perfectly true to one sort of People more than to others but the properness of the word Phanatick is only as Scorners and Revilers will wickedly use it and as they will turn it to this sort of People or to the other to scorn them by it whom they have an Emnity against and whom they list to abuseby reproaching And this is the end of the use of the word to this day and not of any truth or verity in it to any People but only it s used as a Term of Reproach and Scorning by the Mouthes of ungodly men against such as differ from them and their Wayes though they are better in Practice of Life and Conversation than themselves And the Term hath been changed divers times and divers sorts of People reproached by it by others since its first use as first The People called Presbyterians as aforesaid they used it towards such as were otherwise-minded than themselves and reproached the Anabaptists and others that differed from them in Iudgment and Practice of Religion by the
called Quakers And why they testifie against the Vain Customs and Practices of the World presented to the Parliament Anno 1659. p. 499. An Answer to a Great Cry up and down the Nation That the Quakers Meetings must be broken and suppressed and that this present Parliament intended to do it p. 502. A Cry of great Iudgment and Vengeance upon the Wicked near to be Executed as it was received from the Lord into his Servant E. B. p. 504. To the Rulers and to such as are in Authority Being a true and faithful Testimony concerning Religion and the Establishment thereof and sheweth How it may be established in Persons and Nations page 508. Satan's Design Defeated Being an Answer to a Manuscript sent by Priest Jackson of Sussex to a Member of Parliament p. 514. A Visitation and Warning proclaimed and an Alarum sounded in the Pope's Borders Beeing 1. The Account of a Iourney to Dunkirk p. 525. 2. A Letter to the Deputy Governour p. 527. 3. Queries to the Fryars p. 529. 4. Propositions as a Charge against the Romish Church with a Letter to the chief Iesuit Rector in Dunkirk p. 534. 5. A Warning to the Officers and Souldiers of the English Army p. 537. 6. Some Propositions to the English Priests p. 541. Good Counsel and Advice rejected by Dissobedient Men and the dayes of O. Cromwell passed over and of Richard Cromwell his Son late Protectors of these Nations Shewing the many precious Warnings neglected by them which from time to time were given to them p. 551. To the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England sitting in the year 1659. a Warnining to them to take off Oppression that Truth and Righteousness might be established in the Earth p. 592. A Message to the present Rulers of England Delivered to them in the year 1659. p. 588. To the present Distracted and Broken Nation of England Being a Mourning and Lamentation for the Confusions and Distractions that were then over the Land giving good Counsel and Advice how Peace might be restored p. 598. A Presentation to London Being an Answer to the Young Men and Apprenteces returned to some part of their Petition directed by them to the â—â—yor and Aldermen of the City p. 607. To the present Assembly Members of Parliament at Westminster presented to them in the 11th Moneth 1659. p. 612. An Answer to a Declaration of the People called Anabaptists in and about the City of London p. 615. An Answer to a great Cry The Quakers will soon fall c. p. 623. A Discovery of some part of the War between the Kingdom of the Lamb and the Kingdom of Antichrist Being an Account of several Disputes between E. B. and one Christopher Fowler a professed Minister in London p. 625. A Return to the Ministers of London By way of Answer to their Seasonable Exhortation so called directed to their Congregations p. 642. A Visitation and Presentation of Love unto the King and those called Royalists Consisting of 1. An Answer to several Queries proposed to the People called Quakers from a sâ—â—sed Royalist p. 667. 2. An Objection answered concerning the King's Supremacy p. 678. 3. An Epistle directed to the King and those called Royalists p. 679. 4. Certain Queries returned to them called Royalists to answer p. 684. A Testimony concerning the Book of Common-Prayer so called Being an Answer to an Objection Whether it be not in it self and as practiced in this Nation heretofore and at this present the true Worship of the true and living God p. 693. A Presentation of wholsome Informations unto the King of England Being an Answer to certain Accusations charged before him in a Printed Book called The Thrice Happy Welcome of King Charles the Second by one Geo. Wellington of Bristol City against them whom in Derision the Accuser calls Quakers p. 702. The Everlasting Gospel of Repentance and Remission of Sins held forth and declared to the Inhabitants of the Earth Being a Message of Reconciliation to all People every where in General with certain Propositions of Faith laid down which every one must believe or else they cannot be saved p 724. 732. A Vindication of the People of God called Quakers Being an Answer to a Book put forth by one Geo. Pressick of Dublin in Ireland in which many Lyes and Caluâ—…nies were written against the People of God p. 743. Some Considerations presented to the King of England Being an Answer to a Petition and Address of the General Court of Boston in New-England subscribed by John Indicot delivered to the King in the 11th Moneth 1660. thinking thereby to cover themselves from the Blood of the Innocent p 756. A Just and Righteous Plea presentented unto the King of England and his Counsel Being the true State of the present Case of the People called Quakers 1. Concerning Swearing at all and particularly of the Oath of Allegiance p. 773. 2. Concerning Meeting together to Worship God p. 776. 3. Concerning Tythes among the Jews and among the Christians and why we refuse to pay them at this day p. 779. 4. Concerning giving Security by Bond to live Peaceably or to answer Accusations then and there c. p. 782. 5. Concerning Gâ—â—ernment it self and particularly of this present Government p. 784. 6. Concerning Persecution what it is in it self and how great an Enemy it is to the King and his Government laid down in ten Particulars p. 787. Persecution Impeached as a Traytor against God his Laws and Government Being a Vindication of the Cause of the Ancient Martyrs against the Cruelty inflicted on them by the Papists in former dayes containing an Answer to a Book called Semper Iidem or A Paralel of Phanaticks wherein several of the Martyrs are vilified and and reproached by the Name and Term of Ancient Phanaticks p. 793. The Case of Free Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Faith and Religion Presented unto the King and both Houses of Parliament Declaring it absolutely needful for them to grant it and shewing the woful Effects and ill Consequence which will infallibly follow upon the contrary to the Misery and Destruction of these Nations p. 813. A Discovery of Divine Mysteries Wherein is unfolded the secret things of the Kingdom of God Being a Testimony 1. Concerning Life and Death with their several Fruits and Effects distinguished p. 823. 2. Concerning the Mystery of God and Godliness and concerning the Mystery the Devil and Iniquity p. 827. 3. Concerning true Liberty of Conscience what it is in it self and how it is obtained and what the true Guide and Rule is of the Exercise of Conscience p. 830. 4. Concerning the Diversity of Iudgments in Religion p. 834. Antichrist's Government Justly Detected of Unrighteousness Injustice c. Shewed and declared 1. In the Case of Imposing upon Conscience in Matters Religious by Force of outward Violence or Pains and Penalties on the Persons and Estates of Men p. 850. 2. In the Case of Heresie shewing what it is in it self who
and Ungodliness and Oppression and Cruelty whether may not you thereby destroy your Cause and lose it and provoke the Lord to Anger against you and your Cause to confound you and destroy you and whether you do seriously consider of this And is it not your Duty so to do and ought you not to endeavour to stop this Flood of Wickedness that is broken out which if it be not stopped may provoke God against you to overthrow your proceedings Quer. 7. What is the very End of Rule and Government outward in this World And for what Cause did God at the first ordain it whether upon this or not really consider Was it not that Evil-doers might be punished and them that did Well might be praised And was not the outward Law added because of Transgression and to punish Transgressors but for the preserving the Peaceable and Meek who walked in the Law of God and when the People had forgotten God and his Law in their Hearts and his Power that executed Judgment and Mercy Was it not then that the Law outward was added and committed into the Hands of Men to execute upon such as regarded not the Law of God in their Hearts And is not this the very End of Rule and Government and Magistracy at this very day Whether ought it to be extended further than only over and concerning the Affairs of the outward Man to keep that in good order not to be a Load and Burden and Vexation and Bondage upon a Nation and People but to suppress that which would load and burden and oppress the Creation and People that all men may be preserved in their just Right and not vex and oppress one anothers Persons and Estates And if your Government be not from this Ground and this very end shall it ever be blessed and happy either to the Governours or Governed Quer. 8. What do you believe of and concerning LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in all Matters appertaining to the Kingdom of God Whether ought not you to give the LIBERTY in your Government that every Man and all sorts of People may believe in God and Worship God according as he or they shall suppose and be perswaded in his or their Consciences provided still that he and they annoy not or oppress his or their Neighbours Person or Estate for if he or they do that then he and they go out of the true Faith and breaks the Law of God and the outward Law is to take hold of him and them But whether it is not a just Right and may justly be allowed from you to all the People of this Nation to live under what Ministry and under what Worship and to go to what Assemblies as they shall suppose or be perswaded in their Consciences is the best and rightest And whether or no it be not GOD's proper Right alone to be Ruler and Lord over mens Consciences and that he alone should Prescribe Instruct and Teach Faith Worship and Duty in all things in the matters of his own Kingdom And whether God hath committed that Power and Authority ever since the days of Christ to any Emperor King or other Ruler whatsoever to be Lord and to exercise Lord-ship in and over Mens Consciences in the Matters appertaining to God's Kingdom And whether it is not God's only and alone peculiar Priviledge to be Lord there and not any Man to impose one upon another in Spiritual Matters And whether you your selves would be imposed upon in such case that is Whether you would have such a Church Government and Ministry imposed upon you upon such or such a Penalty which you know or believe or suppose is not right nor according to God nor suiting with your own Consciences And then how can you with good Conscience in the sight of God Impose upon others whenas your selves would not be Imposed upon in such a Case Quer. 9. Whether or no If that you cause any to suffer Loss or to be Afflicted in Person or Estate for and because of their Conscience-sake that is because they are of such a Faith and of such a Worship and of such a Principle in Religious Matters though different from others and from you yet if they walk Honestly and Soberly and Peaceably as Men and not Plotting and Contriving any Mischief in the Nation I say if you cause any such to suffer upon that account while you can charge nothing against them but Matters of Faith and Iudgment and Opinion in Spiritual things Again I say Whether or no such Suffering is not absolute Persecution and Innocent on his or their part that so suffereth any Injustice Cruelty Tyranny and Oppression on your part that do Inflict and will not the Lord require it of you if you bring Innocent blood and Cruel Sufferings upon your selves And is not that Innocent blood which is spilt and Unjust and Cruel Sufferings which are Inflicted upon a Man or a People for his and their Conscience and Religions-sake when no matter of wrong or evil dealing amongst Men and in that Relation is or can be charged upon them And whether do you not believe that God will avenge such a Suffering which is for Conscience-sake upon the Heads of the Cursers and Inflictors of it in his Day and Season Quer. 10. Whether or no you have not so much Reason and Conscience in you as will give you to discern and cause you to put a difference between such who have acted and been zealous against you from corrupt Principles of Self-seeking and have raised themselves into worldly Honour and great Estates through your Sufferings and Losses and have lorded it over you in Ambition though now such may bow under you and fawn upon you I say Whether will you not or whether ought you not to put a difference both in respect of guiltiness in your Cause of Suffering and in respect of your dealing towards them in Reward and between such as have formerly acted against you upon sober reasonable Principles and have not raised themselves to Honour and great Riches not by your Afflictions but ceased to act against you when they perceived the Wickedness and Injustice and evil Proceedings of your Enemies and many such there are and whether or no you have not so much Reason and Equity in your Consciences as to put a difference between such in your proceedings towards them Quer. 11. What is the truest Honour that can be given to the King and his Government and wherein and in what kind of Words and Actions and Practises doth true Honour consist And whether or no you do believe in your Consciences that these kind of Practises as drinking Healths and Bonfires and this exceeding Lewdness and Wickedness brought forth in the Nation by way of Rejoycing for the King and his Government be true Honour and rightly honourable Proceedings and Practises to him and his Government Or whether these things and ways be not wofully dishonourable unto you and him and this whole Nation and
the Cause wherefore the Wrath of God may justly come upon the whole Nation it self if these things be not speedily repented of and forsaken And whether the Life and Practise and Subjection of an upright QUAKER so called whose Principle is to obey all just Commands and patiently to suffer under all that which is unjust and that lives in Meekness and Fear and Soberness and Love towards all Men whether or no such Men and such Practises are not more Honourable and Blessed in the sight of God and Men than this kind of Rudeness and Wickedness Singing and Drunkenness Ringing and Swearing and hanging Ribbins and Feathers about themselves and their Horses and many other things which are said to be done in honour to the King and his Government But whether there be not a Principle in your Consciences which doth rather condemn your selves than justifie you for these things and rather justifies a Sober Life and is not that more blessed Quer. 12. Whether or no all that cry you up and your Government do it really and out of good Conscience and from Principles of Sincerity Or whether they are turned to you in Feignedness and Hypocrisie and to save their Heads and Estates which some of them have gotten even such as have been your Enemies and Preached and Prayed and Fought against you and now cry you up and pray for you but whether can you trust that these will be faithful to you that thus deny their former Ways and Religion and Worship And whether thus to deny their Principles their Faith their Religion their former Oaths and Engagements is commendable and Justifiable in the sight of God and you Or whether a Quaker so called that will stand to his Principles and not deny his Faith nor Religion though he suffer for it nor will bow and bend in Hypocrisie under every sort of Men is not more justifiable and condemnable in the sight of God and your Consciences also I say do not they condemn these Hypocrites that have fought against you and prayed against you and yet bow under you with deceitful Hearts in the time of their danger Quer. 13. Whether or no you do not believe and know in your Consciences that the QUAKERS so called are a Sober Innocent and Harmless People and of an upright Conversation dealing justly towards all and such as do not Envy the Persons of any nor Plot and Project Mischief towards you or any And whether if you should proceed to persecute and seek to destroy such a People concerning whom you have such a witness in your Consciences Iustifying them as aforesaid would not be greatly unjust in the Sight of God and the very Cause to provoke God to destroy you and your proceeding if so be that you persecute them for their Conscience-sake while they live Soberly and Uprightly as men and injureth no mans Person or Estate by their Religion Quer. 14. Whether or no you do not believe or may not have just Cause to believe that your present Proceedings are not and may not prove to be the very natural Cause of Outward Visible external Judgements upon you and the Nation even Iudgments of Pestilence and Famine And do not you proceed in the very path hereof Is not your spending the Creation in such Excessive manner in Eating and Drinking and wasting the good Creation after this manner as you do Whether is not this a natural Cause to bring want and Poverty and also oppressing your very bodies with Excessiveness in Drunkenness Inflaming your selves through Excessiveness of Wine and Beer and through the abounding of uncleanness and through excesse and as well Defiling and Oppressing your very Persons as wasting the Creation by so doing Whether this is not a very Natural Cause to bring and beget Pestilence and Famine besides your provoking the Lord through this means as being works in themselves hateful and abominable in his sight and for which Cause he may justly bring Wrath and Judgements even Plague and Famine if there were no other Cause for it And whether you ought not seriously to Consider of this thing and to Turn from these Transgressions which are Natural Causes of great Judgements and also provokes the Lord to hasten and inflict Judgement Oh that the Sober minded among you would lay this to heart Consider these Queries in the Spirit of Soberness for they are worth your regarding and be not high-minded nor wicked in your way least the Lord who hath all Power in his hand meet you and bring you down and destroy your Cause which he can do if you provoke him This was written in the middle of the 3d Moneth called May 1660. E. B. TO THE Friends of Christ IN LONDON DEarly Beloved and much Respected in the Lord who are of the Election before the World began in everlasting Love do I often remember you and your Remembrance is Pretious and Pleasant to me even because the Lord hath chosen you and called you into his marvellous Light and formed you a People for himself to shew forth his Praise and herein I do behold you very often for I have seen you as a few pleasant Plants in a great Forest of fruitless Trees and I have seen you as a speckled Bird among the Birds of the Wilderness and even as a choice Virgin are you among Harlots in that great City even as a few righteous Persons whom the Lords regardeth amongst a Multitude of thousands of ungodly Men thus have I seen you and thus doth the Spirit bring you into my remembrance with earnest desires to the Lord God for you that you may be preserved through all Times and Seasons and over all this World that you may be alwayes unto the Lord as a pleasent Garden bringing forth Fruits of Acceptation unto him wherein his Soul may be delighted Now dear Friends live in the Seed of God and walk in the Faith which overcometh the World and feel your Election in Christ Jesus and grow up into it daily that you may have the Seal of Assurance of Mercy and Peace and Favour with the Lord God and wait that you may receive the Promise of the Father even of the same eternal Life the same Spirit the same Power of the same heavenly Vertue into your Vessels as was in Christ Jesus in whom dwelt the fulness of all things and in us the Fulness is manifest by measure and this is the everlasting Comforter that will abide with you for ever even the Appearance of Christ Jesus in Spirit God with us and the knowledge of him as he was before Abraham and this Life Immortal born in us and this Knowledge revealed to us is everlasting and remains for ever and if ye be gathered up into this to know him and to be in him that was in the beginning then are you builded upon the Rock and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against you neither can the Flood of Death break in upon you And Friends walk in the Love of the Lord
appear Innocent of the Cruelty and Injustice and shedding of the Blood of Just Men without Cause being men of Guilty Consciences upon whom the Terror of God and of the King seems to be because of what they have done But now let the King rightly consider of the Case between us and them and let him not hide his Face from the hearing of the Cry of Innocent Blood And for a further Testimony of the Wickedness and Emnity of these Petitioners and to demonstrate how far they had proceeded contrary to the good Laws and Authority of England and contrary to their own Pattent hereunto was annexed and presented to the King a Brief of their Unjust Dealings towards the Quakers so called which the Reader may see at large in the Reccord of Sufferings E. B. To all My DEAR COMPANIONS In the Travel and Labour of the Gospel of Christ And in the Faith and Patience in the Sufferings for his NAME 's SAKE DEarly and Well-beloved Brethren in the Heavenly Relation and Blessed Immortal Birth of which we are born most dearly in our Father's Love my Salutation extendeth unto you all as one with you perfectly in Sufferings and in Rejoycings in Faith and Patience and even in all things which you do and suffer for the Name of the Lord our God and my Soul greets you and embraces you and servently wisheth Peace Love and Unity and the Increase of every good Gift unto you all for I am perfectly one with you if you receive of our Father's Fulness I am refreshed and if you Rejoyce I am glad and if you suffer and be in Heaviness I freely partake with you whatsoever is yours whether Liberty or Bonds whether Life or Death I partake of the same and whatsoever I enjoy the same also is yours we are of one Birth of one Seed of one Line even of the Generation of him who is without Beginning of Dayes or End of Life who is an High Priest made after the Power of an Endless Life and as he was blessed of the Father so are we because we are of the same Birth and are Partakers of his Nature and he lives in us and we in him Well my dear Companions I need not multiply words unto you as if you knew not these things for What know I that you know not or What can I say but you know the same Yet bear with me for my Heart is very full and my Soul ready to be poured forth that I may once more express a little quantity of what is abounding in my Heart for Love even perfect Love even that Love wherewith we are beloved of the Father filleth my Heart at this time towards all of you from the least to the greatest and I know nothing but Love towards you all and I doubt not but in the same Love you do receive this my Salutation which is from the Fountain of Love which at this time is opened in my Heart Now Dearly Beloved The present Considerations of my Heart are very many concerning the great Love of the Father which hitherto hath been shewed unto us we all know how that he called us by his Grace and turned our Hearts from the Vanities and Evil-wayes of this World and sanctified us by his Word and put his Image upon us and called us by his Name and redeemed us unto himself and gave us the Testimony of his holy Spirit in our own Hearts That we should be his People and he would be our God he taught us and instructed us and fed us and gave us Peace and Rest in himself and freed us from the Bondage of Sin and Corruption and from his Terror because of sin and he removed our Transgressions and blotted them out and ceased to smite us any more but brought us into the Land of Rest flowing with Mercy and Peace and Knowledge and all good Things this did the Lord our God do for us in the dayes of our Infancy even when we were yet in our sins he called us forth and cleansed us from them and when we were Strangers to him he made himself known unto us and when we were wholly ignorant he gave us Knowledge and when we were not a People he raised us up and made us worthy to be called by his Name and thus and after this manner did the Father love us and shew his Love unto us this you know even as I do and the Consideration of it causeth me thus to express it Again when he had thus wrought for us and shewed Love unto us he was pleased to call us out into his Work to the turning and converting of others unto the Way of Life he put his Spirit into us and gave us Gifts of Knowledge and Utterance and armed us with Wisdom and Strength and Courage and every way fitted us for that work and service in which he hath carried us he I say fitted us for his Work and called us into it and carried us on joyfully in it and all this of his free Love and infinite Power and what we have been and what we have done it hath been only of the Lord and not of our selves even of his Love which to us may be admirable for alas what were we but Children and neither Prophets nor Prophets Sons and our Education unanswerable for these things and to perform this Calling and therefore it is the Lord and only him that hath effected his own Purpose through us and by us as Instruments mean of our selves but by him very excellent Again he hath mightily prospered us in his Work and a glorious effect we have beheld of our Labours and Travels and Testimony yea the Lord hath been with us abundantly and his Arm hath compassed us about and he hath often given us great victory over the Wise and Prudent of this World he hath made his own Word often very powerful in our Mouthes to the wounding of the Consciences of our Enemies and the Lord hath blessed our Testimony to the confounding of the Wisdom of this World and to the gathering of many unto himself and he hath gone forth before us in his Authority and been alwayes with us in his own Work and our Testimonies Labours and Travels have been very precious and pleasant unto the Lord and all his People and the effect thereof causeth my soul to rejoyce because the Lord hath been with us and prospered us unto a great People who have received our Witness and accepted thereof unto their Salvation and unto the Lord alone the glory of all this appertaineth And for these eight years and upward the Hand of the Lord hath carried us thorough great Labours and Travels in his Service and many Dangers and Persecutions and Afflictions have attended us all this time and ye know that many a time hath the Lord delivered us from the Hands of such as would have destroyed us and we have been delivered again and again out of Dangers and Difficulties and the Lord hath been a