Lord these did not abide in his commands these were the vagabonds in the way of Caine though they might have habitations outward The Apostle was no vagabond nor fugitive who had no certaine dwelling place which went reasoning and disputing in the Synagogues daily Schools and Markets he was persecuted by such as were vagabonds who did not obey the commands of God who did not well such you prison now who are moved of the Lord to goe into your Synagogues Markets and other places as peace-breakers or vagabonds here let the life of the Scriptures judge you all to be ignorant of the letter and without understanding The Sonne of man was no vagabond which had no place to lay his head you that are turned from the commands of God as Caine did and are in envy and wrath and doth not well whose countenance falls though you may have great habitations in the earth you are the vagabonds and the fugitives which doth not obey the commands of the Lord and have no habitation in the Lord who obey the commands of the Lord are no vagabonds nor fugitives though they have no certaine dwelling place as the Prophets and the Apostles and Sonne of man had not To the Judges of life and death to take heed how you put man or woman to death for cattle or mony or any earthly creature or earthly thing he that sheds mans blood by man shall his blood be shed the law that was received from God according to that of God in the conscience said that they should be sold for their theft if they had not wherewith to make restitution fourfold or sevenfold To the light in your consciences I speak that with it you may be brought unto the fear of God to receive the law from God which is according to that in every mans conscience And if you act contrary to it the law of God will hew you down among the evil doers which is a terror to the evill doers and to the praise of them that do well and to you this is the word of God And to you that are Judges amongst men about earthly things to the light in your consciences I speak that with it you may be guided to doe justice according to the light in the conscience that the light in every mans conscience may witnesse you to do justice and that which is just and equity else the light of Christ in every ones conscience wil witnesse and cry against you which is according to the law of God which is just that none be burthened no persons respected if there be you that doe are convinced with the light in your consciences to be transgressours of the law of God which is perfect according to that of God in every mans conscience which light will witnesse the law of God which is perfect And to you this is the word of God to the light of Christ in you all I speak that with it your consciences may be exercised towards God and towards man and if you are contrary to it with it you are to be condemned this is the condemnation of the world the light Joh. 3. Concerning Tythes And you that do give the Priests Tithes with your Law and imprison men if they will not give the Priests tithes with your Law and make them pay treble damages and strain the goods or cattel bedding pewter or brasse of such that doth witnesse the unchangeable priesthood Christ Jesus and the new Testament and the new Covenant and the Gospel and the everlasting priesthood and sees the change 〈◊〉 the first priesthood that received tithes and of the law also It is not for the earth sending it they do not pay the priests tithes for the earth is the Lords and the fulnesse of it Now if you say that Christ saith These things ought you to have done and not to have left the other undone concerning tithes That was a time before Christ Jesus was sacrificed up but when hee was sacrificed and the unchangeable priesthood preached the changeable was denyed as you may read Hebrews the 7th and they witnessed the unchangeable priest and suffered the spoiling of their goods joyfully as we do now for Christs sake and are the gazing stock of the world as they were who witnessed the unchangeable priest as they did and deny the changeable as the Apostle and they did Now if you will give your priests tithes to oppresse the people and hold up a figure of your own making if you will act according to the priesthood in the law of God and the Scriptures you must let your priests have a Store-house as you read in Malachi and Moses his Writings and the tithes to be put into the Store-house and the priests minister it forth to the Widows to the strangers and the fatherlesse and they all satisfied within his gates that no beggar may be in England as no beggar was to be in Israel If you should do so then you might not own Christ Jesus to be come in the flesh nor owne the resurrection of Christ nor beleeve it but are haling people before Benches for tithes for Priests and others burthening them and vexing of them So all you that take tithes and give tithes and compell people to give Tythes you are under the condemnation and the ministry of condemnation and doe not owne the Apostles Doctrine who saith the priesthood was changed and the law was changed also Hebrews 7. So never a one that gives tithes to the Priests or compels to give tithes doth own the Gospel and the unchangeable Priest but are acting things and compelling people to act contrary to the first Priesthood and the Scriptures who do not act with their tithes as the first Priesthood did with the life and practice of the first Peiesthood you are judged out of their practice and who witnesseth the second priesthood denyes the first and you both With the light which comes from Christ which comprehends the world with it you are seen which light is the worlds condemnation John 3. which light brings us to witnesse Christ the unchangeable Priest and to deny the changeable that takes tithes For your souls good is this given forth To the light of Christ in you I speak that with it you may see the ministration of the first priesthood which is for condemnation and the second priesthood Christ Jesus To you this is the word of the Lord and for your souls good HE that rules over men should be just for God is just for whom hee should rule and the law of God is just by which he should rule Man when hee turned from God and transgressed the command of God the law took hold upon him and cut down him that transgressed The law was not made for the righteous for against such there is no law but for the sinner and the law of God which is against the transgressour is just and equall according to the transgression which law need not be fetched from beyond the
Seas nor from above nor from beneath for all have the work of this law even the heathen written in the heart which is witnessed by the light that shines in the conscience He that walks according to the law in his Conscience he is excused He that transgresseth the law in his conscience hee is accused and condemned and so in every mans heart the work of the law being written in every mans conscience God hath a witnesse that the Law is just and good and that the punishment is just and equall Here every transgressour becomes guilty before God and every mans punishment being just every mans mouth comes to be stopped and the righteous law of God in every mans conscience justified The Law of God is perfect and endures for ever and changeth not which is the same against all Nations Languages Kindreds and People which is witnessed by the Conscience which is the same in all Nations Languages Kindreds and people The Law of God respects no mans person but is the same against every one that transgresseth whether King Noble or beggar that in the conscience is the same in King Noble and Beggar and shewes that of one mould and one blood God hath made all Nations of the earth the King the Noble and the beggar here God is just who respects no mans person the law of God is just which respects no mans person and that in the conscience is just which witnesses the law which respects no mans person here is the ground of justice the law of God here is the ground of true judgment that in the conscience which leaves witnesse to the law in every one and as is the transgression so is the law every transgression is judged by the law so is every transgression condemned by that in the conscience the law of God was and is the same and hath continued in all ages and doth endure for ever that in the conscience is the same in all ages and changeth not but doth endure for ever he that sinnes against the law that in the conscience bears witnesse to the law and by that in the conscience he is accused and condemned and so his mouth is stopped and here all the world becomes guilty before God The law of God is made already which was added because of transgression and changeth not he that acts according to the Law is justified by the Law and ever was and through the law he becomes dead to the law and is excused by that in his conscience and ever shall be here God is judge and Law giver to all whose judgments are just and righteous who hath placed a witnesse in all vvho will judge every one according to their works out of the book written in the conscience he that makes lawes with the Law of God which is made already he is judged and with that in his conscience which bears witnesse for God he is condemned he that turns from the law of God to obey the law of man had rather serve man then God and so with the law of God and that in his conscience he is judged and condemned from God He that is a Minister of God ordained by God executes the law of God which is perfect which is witnessed by that of God in every mans conscience and to him the soul is subject for conscience sake but he that makes and executes a law which is not the law of God hath no witnesse in the conscience for God that his law is just that his punishment is equal and so they who witnesse onely the law of God witnesse against him and his law and cannot obey him for conscience sake he that is the Minister of God and executes the law of God is a servant to God and judgeth for God sets not up himself in the place of God but gives all honour to God whose judgements are just and by turning his sword against all unrighteousnesse declares the righteousnesse of God and is a terrour to evil doers and without respect of persons executes the law upon him that doth evil and here he is witnessed by that which is of God in every ones conscience to be just and the punishment received as from God whose law he executes who is just and so every man being condemned in himselfe his mouth is stopped no envy against the person raised but the righteous God the judge and law-giver of the world in his righteousnesse cleared and exalted The law of God is perfect and endures for ever and changeth not that in the conscience is perfect and endures for ever and changeth not All lawes which are not perfect which endure not for ever and do change are temporal and carnal and with the law of God which is spiritual are judged and their makers condemned The law of God respects no mans person all lawes which doe respect persons and are not against all sorts of persons alike are contrary to the law of God and they that make them and they that execute them are in the law condemned and convinced as transgressours The law of God is witnessed by that in the conscience all laws which have not their witnesse in the conscience are made by the will of man which is contrary to the law of God and cannot be obeyed for conscience sake by them who witnesse the law of God The law of God is just and equal life for life a tooth for a tooth an eye for an eye that law which is not equal and just is against the law of God and dishonours God whose wayes are the wayes of righteousnesse and all who inflict punishments that are not according to the offence set up their owne wills against the law of God he that takes away life for the creatures is a murtherer and the blood shall be upon his head The law of God is equal and that in the conscience cryes for equity according to the law of God that law whose ground and foundation is not equity but needs a court of equity to mitigate its cruelty is tyranny and is witnessed against by that in the conscience to be contrary to God and against the righteous law of God which is holy and just and must be throwne down and all that go about to uphold it To do unto others as they would have them do unto thee this is 〈◊〉 this is equal and equity and herein is fulfilled the whole law He that executes a law made 〈◊〉 â—he will of man to which that in the conscience doth not beare witnesse that 〈◊〉 according to the law of God is not the Minister of God but is condemned by the law of God and that in his owne conscience to act his owne will He that makes lawes which have not a witnesse in the conscience that they are according to the law of God and he that executes those lawes are the enemies of God who would not have him to reigne and against such have the servants of God been sent alwayes to declare and against such hath the wrath of the Lord alwayes been revealed overturning nations and kingdomes that his owne law might be set up He that makes laws and they that execute those laws which are not the law of God to which that in the conscience beares witnesse set themselves in the place of God to overthrow the law of God to set up their owne wills these are heathens in what nation soever they dwell and these shall answer for all the injuries wrongs and false judgements that are executed and inflicted And now is the righteous law-giver the judge of the whole earth arising in his wrath to be avenged of all his enemies who will not have him to rule and reigne of whose kingdome and dominion there shall be no end He that makes a law against that in the conscience which is pure and holy makes a law against God and he that exeâ—â—â—seth that law for gifts and rewards his heart is in the earth for selfe ends and in the same carnal nature with the Priests who preach for hire and with the light which is free which is the gift of God not to be bought and sold for money he is to be condemned and with the life of all the judges and holy men of God he is eternally judged A. P. FINIS London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1654.
A few Words To all JUDGES JUSTICES and MINISTERS of the LAW in ENGLAND From ANTHONY PEARSON TO the Judges of life and death and Judges of Nisi prius as they call it who give oathes to Justices Juries and witnesses and Justices that give oathes to Constables and others To the light which Christ Jesus hath enlightned you withal I speake that with it you may see you are out of the doctrine of Christ who saith Swear not at all in all your communications let your yea be yea and your nay be nay whatsoever is more is evil So you that swear are in the evil and with the light of Christ Jesus you may see that you be out of the doctrine of the Apostle who said my brethren swear not at all not by heaven nor by earth nor any other oath lest you fall into condemnation of the divel so you that swear are fallen into the condemnation of the divel and you that cause others to sweare or compel them or imprison them or fine them if they will not you are out of the doctrine of Christ and the Apostle your selves and seek to bring others out of his doctrine into the same condemnation of the divel where you are Praised be God with the light which comes from Christ you are seene to be no brethren of Christ who are out of his doctrine and doth not doe his will I am the light of the world and doth enlighten every one that comes into the world saith Christ now every one loving this light which Christ Jesus hath enlightned you withal it will bring you to doe his will and know his doctrine and then in all your communications you will be kept to yea and nay and never an oath shall be heard in the land for the land mournes because of oathes Now you that hate this light which Christ Jesus hath enlightned you withal you swear and compel others to sweare and with this light you are to be condemned who are out of his doctrine To the light in all your consciences I speak which shall witnesse me eternally and condemne all you that hate it and is the light of Christ which shewes your sinne and evill deeds From him who is a lover of your soules and your eternal good that with the light you may see the way to salvation to Christ from whence the light comes Concerning oathes The word of the Lord the living God to all you who be out of the doctrine of Christ swearing and doe swear and compell others to swear when Christ saith swear not at all and the Apostle saith swear not at all by any oath least you fall into condemnation of the Devill so yee that sweare and compel others to sweare are fallen into the condemnation of the Devil And seeke to bring others into the same condemnation of the Devill and Christ saith whatsoever cometh above yea and nay cometh of evill who saith swear not at all and you that swear and compell to swear are in the evill now if ye alleadg Jacob sware Joseph sware Christ Jesus reignes over the house of Jacob and Joseph who saith swear not at all this is the Sonne of God hear him who teacheth true doctrine and they that teach men another doctrine or gospell to swear they all be accursed yea if an Angell from heaven Now if you alleadge that Abraham sware who saw the dayes of the Sonne and rejoyced and if you alleadge that Moses sware who wrote of Christ who said God would raise up a Prophet like unto him him should the people heare Christ Jesus the Sonne of God who saith swear not at all here the Sonne of God is come whom Abraham saw Moses wrote of who saith swear not at all whom yee must hear Acts 7. and him you doe not hear that sweares the Sonne of God but with the light you are condemned which comes from the Sonne of God who saith swear not at all Now you that say Solomon sware and the Priests sware under the Law and the Prophets sware My answer is Christ Jesus the Sonne of God who is the end of the Law and the Prophets and a greater then Solomon the unchangeable Priest saith swear not at all but in all your communications let your yea be yea and your nay be nay for whatsoever is more is evil Now if you alleadge that men in strife sware and the oath was the end of controversies and strife among men which the Apostle brought as a figure as God swearing by himselfe who could not finde a greater who saith verily men swear by the greater My answer is this where men are in strife in that nature they be out of the doctrine of Christ and are evill and do not heare Christs doctrine who saith swear not at all Now if you alleadge the Angell sware in the Revelation My answer is this I bring my first begotten into the world saith the Lord let all the Angells worship him the Sonne of God who saith swear not at all but in all your communication let your yea be yea and your nay be nay for what is more is evil and this sonne of God is above Angells and men that are in strife and the end of the Prophets and the end of the Law and the first covenant and Priest in it and this Sonne of God reignes over the house of Jacob and Joseph a greater then Solomon or David who swore for he called him Lord whom Abraham saw the Sonne of God who saith swear not at all This is he who brings peace on the earth and good will towards men and the sword in the earth he that hath ears to hear let him hear Moved of the Lord from the Spirit of the Lord a lover of your soules and your eternall good for the establishing of righteousnesse and the doctrine of Christ and cleansing the Land of evill doers and for establishing the Gospell and a lover of the Creation Concerning Vagabonds THE word of the Lord to you powers of the earth Judges and Justices who have called them and given them the names of Vagabonds which the Lord hath sent forth to declare his word who hath forsaken their outward habitations as the Prophets and Apostles many of them did which went to speak the word of the Lord freely and did abide in his commands these were no vagabonds Cain was the vagabond who did not obey the command of God for saith the Lord to him if thou dost wel shalt not thou be accepted He did not wel disobeyed the command of God he was wroth his countenance fell he was a vagabond and a fugitive and was not accepted So all you that turne from the commands of God and are wroth whose countenance fall which doth not well you are not accepted of God You have no habitation in the Lord Caines way is your way Certain vagabond fellows rise against the Apostle and bound themselves with an oath to put him to death these had no habitation in the