the lusts thereof but you must be Perfect as your heavenly Father is Perfect You regard it not but hearken unto the counsel of your own Hearts which draw you to look at the words of Paul where he saith I find a Law in my members warring against the Law of my minde so ye wrest the Scripture to your own destruction for your encouragement to live in the Flesh and say none must be free from the body of Sin while he is here in the body And thus you deceive your selves and all whom you draw from the Light in your Conscience which cries for a perfect fulfilling of the Law of God within for the Soul that sinneth it shall dye Though Paul did complain of a body of Sin it was in his growth and it was his burden which made him cry O wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me And he witnessed it put off The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death for Christ is made manifest to destroy the work of the Devil and not to destroy the Law to save Man from the condemning power of the Law while he lives in transgression of it for the Law hath power over the fleshly Man so long as he lives But he came to fulfil the Law and all the Saints bear witness of it in their measure some witness it fulfilled others wait following the Lamb daily in the Cross till they come to the fulfilling of it that the righteousness of the Law may be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Therefore mind the Light in your Consciences diligently hearken unto it and it will smite your glorious Image of Forms and Observations and break it to peices and will rend off all your glorious Coverings of your outward Profession and will let you see the Wo. is unto them that are covered and not with the Spirit of the Lord. To the Light in your Consciences I speak which will eternally witness me if you hearken unto it to be guided by it you will never find rest in outward Forms and Observations but in putting off the body of Sin through the obedience of the Spirit that the righteousness of the Law may be fulfilled in 〈◊〉 in walking no more after the Flesh but after the Spirit For they that are Christ's have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts and the body is dead in regard of Sin but the Spirit is alive unto Righteousness And this you must witness or else all your Religion is vain and your Souls will perish To you Inhabiters of England How long will you drink of the Cup of Abominations the Wine of the Fornication of the Whore which hath made you Drunk and all Nations to lay out your Money for that which is not Bread to the Merchants of Babylon who fill unto you the Cup of Abominations in drawing you from the Light in your Consciences which is given unto every one of you a measure to guide you up to God to seek for the Kingdom of God in Observations and Christ saith it is not in Observations but within so they keep you in Captivity in Babylons Kingdom under the power of Sin Hell and Death To every particular Inhabiter of England I write Come out of Babylon all Forms and Observations and Traditions which are set up by the will of Man Now is Babylon come in remembrance before God and the vials of wrath must be poured upon her and upon her Merchants for by their Sorceries are you Inhabitants of England and all Nations deceived and in her is found the Blood of the Prophets and Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth Haste haste come out of her least you partake with her in her Sins and so partake with her in her Punishment which will speedily come upon her for the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it return within every one in particular examine your Hearts and mind the Light in your Conscience and it will always let you see where your Hearts are and what they delight in for it is the Heart the Lord requires he will no longer be Worshipped in Words Forms and Observations but in Spirit and in Truth and in sincerity in the inward part Therefore every one be faithful in taking heed to the Light in your Consciences which the Lord hath given to every one a measure to profit withal for the exercise of the Conscience towards God and Men in minding your watch to wait in the Light in measure it will bring to Judgment all the powers of darkness in you and the righteous Law of God will cry through your earthly and carnal Hearts till Judgment be brought forth into Victory and your wills will be brought in subjection unto the Will of God to wait on him for refreshment from his presence who satisfieth the hungry with good things And take heed of consulting with Flesh and Blood for that leads into Pride and Disobedience into Hell and Destruction mind the Light in your Conscience which is the sure word of Prophecy that you cannot be deceived taking heed unto it as unto a light that shines in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-Star arise in your Hearts diligently hearken unto it and you shall eat that which is good and your Soul shall delight it self in Fatness There is your Teacher within you the Light in your Consciences loving it and obeying it is your Life hating it and disobeying it is your condemnation To that pure Light in your Consciences I speak which will eternally witness me when the Book of Conscience is opened in you Now you have time prize it in waiting on the Lord in the Light to make your Calling and Election sure in putting off the old Man and his deeds and putting on the Lord Iesus Christ in righteousness and holiness without which no Man shall see the Lord in so doing you shall escape the Wrath of God which is coming upon the Children of disobedience in this Nation and else where for the Lord will make the Earth as the Garden of Eden and hath begun his great and strange Work in this Nation which shall make the Ears of them that hear to tingle wherein he is exalting the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus which Kingdom shall break down all the Kingdoms of the World and shall fill the whole Earth For the mighty day of the Lord is coming that shall burn as an Oven and all you that are Proud and all you that do wickedly shall be Stubble and the day that cometh shall burn you up saith the Lord of Hosts and it shall leave of you neither Root nor Branch But unto you that fear the Name of the Lord shall the Sun of Righteousness arise
and all in the new Covenant do know the Law of God written in their Hearts and the Witness or Testimony of Jesus within 1 Iohn 5.10 bearing witness with their Spirits that they are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 and this declared is neither deceitful nor knavish which is the unsavory words thou chargest on us let the Truth of God in all Consciences judge to whom they belong the Scriptures we are not against they bear Testimony of Christ the Light whom we witness the way to the Father Mat. 11 27. None knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him by the revelation of the Spirit of God is the things of God known to his People 1 Cor. 2.9 10 13. Rom. 8.11 16. according as is recorded we witness the Scriptures fulfilled in Christ the Light who is our Life Col. 3.3 4. And whereas thou queries did ever any read of the Law and Testimony in the Heart and that the Law and Testimony in the Heart is the Law of the new Covenant Reply Who hath read the Scripture in the fear of God hath read what the Lord hath promised as declared Isa. 8.16 Bind up the Testimony seal the Law among my Disciples and Ier. 31.33 This shall be the Covenant I will make with the House of Israel in those days saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their inward parts and write it in their Hearts Heb 8.10 11 12. and the Law written in the Heart we witness and the Lord faithful in performing according to his Promise in the new Covenant And thou goest on in Page 19 and 20 calling us Impostors and Pervertors of the new Covenant and to be in Idle proud Fancies and itching Humors of our own Brains in our Apostate Condition Reply We in the Light can bear thy reproach and have witnessed the Truth that it may stand a witness against thy revilings and in the Lord we rest who will make manifest whether thou or we be the Pervertors of the new Covenant and guilty of what thou chargest us with And whereas thou in the 22d Page says that William Deusbery tells us that the mighty day of the Lord is appeared in the North of England and is rising towards the South and shall over-spread this Nation and all the Nations of the World c. what the mans fancy and design is in bruiting and making such a noise of the appearance of the mighty day of the Lord judge ye I am sure he hath sufficiently discovered his own folly in blazing abroad such Dreams of his own lying Heart c. Reply In thy 2d Page thou hast enlarged thy self concerning that Book calling it a lying Paper c. and the Truth is witnessed in answer to thy charge and this in answer to what is here written Fancies Bruitishness Folly Dreams and Lyes William Deusbery denies the Truth he hath declared as the Lord hath him moved in Faithfulness to the Souls of all People that they be not found the sloathful Servants putting the Day of the Lord afar off in this his Day wherein the Hour of his righteous Judgment is come Rev. 14.7 to all that wait on him the Truth is declared that all men may prepare in the Light the Lord to meet and no longer in sloathfulness remain least he come upon them as a Thief in the Night and if the Day of the Lord do not arise over all the World and the Kingdoms of the World became the Kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and the Lord perform not as is declared then say the Lord hath not spoken by me who is known to the World by name William Deusbery And in the 22d Page thou sayst we have set our selves in the Throne of Christ judging the whole World. Reply Thy Accusation is false self we deny to Christ we are subject who sits on his Throne and is come and coming in his Saints to judge the World Iude 14 15. 1 Cor. 6.2 and 2.5 And in the 23th page thou sayst why do not we command the Dead to rise and appear before us and many other unsavory words are there exprest Reply A wicked and Adulterous Generation shall seek after a sign and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of the Prophet Jonah Mat. 16.4 And whereas thou chargest Howgill and Burrough as thou callst them with pernitious Blasphemous Opinions Reply Thy Accusation is false they are faithful Men serving their Generation in the Light Ministers of Christ in whom is witnessed the God-head dwelling Bodily Col. 2.9 and in him we are one in God they that joyn to the Lord are one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 he that can receive it let him And whereas thou in the 29th Page saist that the Revelations of Christ that are according to Scripture are either Texts of Scripture expressed or rational Deductions Consequences and Conclusions that naturally flow from particular passages of Scriptures and not any other Revelations can be pleaded for a Rule Reply Thy dark mind is shut out from knowing the Revelations of Christ and though thou sayst that answer that was returned to these words was not to purpose it stands a witness against thee and will be found to purpose in the Light when thy reward thou shalt have for all thy unsavory words exprest in thy Book And in the 33th Page where thou falsely accuses us that we will allow of no Laws of God nor Scripture but the Revelations and Edicts of our own bewitched Hearts c. And when thou hast reviled us with false Accusation as before written thou beseechest those thou callst thy dear Friends to be serious in their Thoughts of what thou hast written in discovering our deceits and blasphemies denying the Rule that all things are to be tryed by and make themselves the absolute rule and we must not question what they say though it be never so insolent and to be abhorred of all sober Christians c. Reply Thou hast brazened thy Face to slander the Truth of God with Lies and Blasphemies which is the Foundation of all Heresie and there thou art found and thy Accusation is false Christ the Rule that all things is to be tryed by we own and deny our selves and to the Light of Christ in all Consciences we appeal whether thou or we deny the Rule thou that saist the Revelations of Christ are either Texts of Scripture expressed or rational Deductions Consequences c. as before written or we who witness Christ the true Light revealed by the Fâ—ther 〈…〉 knows the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 1â— 27 Luke 10 22. Let all that are in Christ with sobriety in the Light judge And for the rest of thy Slanders in the 37â—â— and 38th Pages where thou saist these miserable Worms un-Covenant themselves and un-Christ themselves as if they cared not for Grace and Mercy in standing before God denying the Scripture c. And in the
Hands but they themselves are as natural bruit Beasts living without the fear of God in Pride Covetousness Dissimulation and Hypocrisie full of self-Love making their Bellies their God delighting their Hearts in the Creature enjoyments and visible Objects and are men-Pleasers having their Person in Admiration and them respecting for Advantage And these Men who are ignorant of the only true God you have followed to Teach you to know God who hath drawn you to worship an unknown God in the ignorance of your minds so have they destroyed the Souls of many and you People perish for want of Knowledge Hoseah 4.6 in being caused to err with the Lies and Lightness of these false Prophets which the Lord is against who run when the Lord never sent them as the false Prophets did when the Lord sent his true Prophet Ieremiah to cry against them Ier. 23.32 All People who desire to know the living God let the time past be sufficient you have followed Men who have deceived you and cease from them and turn to the true Prophet whom Moses the Servant of the Lord declared the Lord God would raise up Deut. 18.15 his elect and chosen Servant to raise up the Tribes of Iacob and to restore the preserved of Israel whom he hath also given for a Light to the Gentiles and to be his Salvation to the ends of the Earth whom Isaiah the Prophet declared the Lord would raise up to open the Fountain of Life and Salvation to all that thirst Isa. 55.1 2 3. and now witnessed with all that hearken to his Counsel who calls He every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters and 〈◊〉 that hath no Money come ye buy and eat yea buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price Wherefore do you lay out your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfies not Hearken diligently to me and eat that which is good and let your Soul delight it self in fatness Incline your Ear and â—â—me unto me hear and your Souls shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David All People no longer look forth the glad tidings of the Gospel of eternal Salvation is heard within in this day of the Lords Mercy wherein he is â—â—â—ching his People himself as was declared by the â—rophet Isa 54.13 and now witnessed with all the Children of Light whose Minds are turned within to wait on the Lord for Teaching to establish them in the Covenant of Life and Peace who is performing his Promise to all that wait on him which he declared by his Servant the Prophet Ier. 31 33 34. This shall be the Covenant I will make with the House of Israel After those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their Hearts and write it in their inward Parts and will be to them a God and they shall 〈…〉 adâ— they shall no more teach every Mâ—n his 〈◊〉 and every Man his Brother saâ—ing â—â—ow the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of 〈◊〉 saith the Lord for I will be mercifull to their â—â—â—ighteousness and their Sin and their Iniquity will I â—â—â—ember no more Therefore every one that desires to know the onely true God and Christ Jesus whom he hath sent Turn your minds within and examine your Hearts search and try your ways with the Light Christ Jesus hath enlighted you withal that shews you in your Hearts what is Sin that Pride and Covetousness is Sin Lying Swearing is Sin Dissimulation Cheating Coâ—sning is Sin vain idle communications foolish Jesting and Unbelief is Sin and these things you know in your Consciences to be Sin by the righteous Law of God in the Heart that reproves you for them in the secret of the Heart and Conscience there is your Teacher the Spirit of the Lord within which in this Mighty Day of his Power he is pouring his Spirit upon all Flesh according to his promise declared by the Prophet Ioel. 2.28 29. and now witnessed with his Sons and Daughters who walk in the Light led and guided by his Spirit within which keeps the Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Men. Every one diligently hearken to the Counsel of the Lord the Light that witnesses for God in the Conscience give up to be guided by it thâ—n you need no more to be taught of Man neither shall your Teacher be removed any more into a Corner but thine Eye shall see thy Teacher and thine Ear shall hear a Voice behind thee saying This is the way walk in it when thou turns to the right Hand or to the left as was declared by Isaiah the Prophet Isa. 30.20 which is now witnessed and that is the living Word of God within that hath raised desires in you towards God every one in whom desires is raised wait in the Light and Power within that hath raised the desires and the Lord will them strengthen and give you Power to wait on him in the way of his Judgments till the carnal earthly sensual Mind which hath led you to delight in lusts and pleasures and created enjoyments below God be cut down and slain with the Word of God within which is as sharp as a two-edged Sword to slay down the first man which is of the Earth earthly then will you come to witness to be the slain of the Lord and the sentence of Death upon the first Man who hath led you from God with all the Wisdom Strength and Righteousness you have had in him and in the Power of the Spirit you will be brought to the true sence of the poverty of your Spirits to hunger and thirst after the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus the Light him to prize and love and self-judge and deny with his Light and in his Light wait to dwell in his Power you to guide in every word and work in the Light where your union and fellowship will be with the Father of Light who will you keep that faithful in him abide and dwel in his mighty Power and Wisdom as he ye move to witness his mind in his pure Power to the confounding of the mighty wise and prudent Men who is exalted in the Wisdom of the World and counsel of their own Hearts not regarding to be guided by the Counsel of God in Christ the Light. To you tender Babes and Children of the most High this is the Word of the Lord God in whom desires is raised towards his Name his Counsel mind in you and stand Faithful in it according to his Word declared to you and consult not with Flesh and Blood but in the Light and Life lift up your Heads and freely give up Soul and Body to the Lord God of Heaven and Earth that he the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may exalt in you to guide you in perfect Obedience to his righteous Law written in the Heart for the exercise of the
against them and notwithstanding all thy Wickedness and Rebellious walking before me in love to thy Soul I have preserved thee to this day and still doth wait upon thee to be Gracious and Merciful to thee if thou wilt still return to my Counsel and diligently hearken to it the Light in thy Conscience which witnesseth against the pride of thy Heart and loftiness of thy Spirit and calls of thee to perform thy promises thou madest to me in the day of thy distress in speedily taking away the Unrighteous Laws by which my People are Persecuted that are guided by my Righteous Law in their Conscience that they be no more given up as Sheep to the Slaughter for declaring my Word and Mind to the People as they have been and are in this Nation but that they may have free Liberty and no more be Persecuted by any outward Law for declaring what I make known to them by my Spirit Which if thou dost return to me that I may guide thee by my Power as is declared then will I heal thy Backslidings and deliver thy Soul forth of the Pit of Corruption and bring it into my Banqueting-House where thou shalt drink of the Rivers of pleasure that is in my presence where thy Soul shall be for ever with my dear Children in the purchased Inheritance that shall never fade away and this shall be the Portion of thy Cup. I once more tender to thee if thou wilt speedily return while my Arm is stretched forth in this day of thy Visitation to imbrace thee and if thou wilt not hearken to my Counsel but like proud Pharaoh still hardens thy Heart against it and continue in thy Pride and Obstinacy as thou hast done know this my Spirit shall not always strive with thee but I will hasten the day of my Righteous Judgments upon thee and the Arm of Flesh which thou trusts and leanest upon to uphold thee and protect thee where thou art shall be to thee as the broken Reeds of Egypt that shall break to peices and Torment and Wound thee and I will get my glory upon thee in breaking thee down in my Wrath and fierce Displeasure and none shall deliver thee out of my Hand which will speedily perfect my Pleasure upon thee for the time is not long ere I accomplish what I have spoken except thou Repent and thou shalt know thy Destruction is of thy self and thy Blood shall be upon thy own Head and shall confess my Judgments to be true and righteous to all that hear of it that they may be warned by thee to fear and walk humbly before me in the day that I do this saith the Lord of Hosts The Word of the Lord I was commanded by him to writ to thee and after it was written was taken from me by one Thomas Pentlow called Justice of the Peace at the Town called Willby in Northampton-Shire yet notwithstanding in the love of God to thy Soul I am again ordered by him to make known his Counsel to thee that thou mightst not be Ignorant of his mind towards thee what he hath made known to me who am a lover of thy Soul and known to the World by name William Dewsbery Prisoner in Northampton Goal for the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ. From the Common Goal in Northampton the first day of the Tenth Month 1654. The Mighty Day of the Lord is comming in which Christ knocks at the door of the Heart of Kindreds Tongues People and Nations who desire to know the only true God and Iesus Christ whom he hath sent to be the Light of the World and Salvation to the Ends of the Earth to all that obey him but a stumbling Stone and a Rock of offence to all that resist his Counsel whom he will take in their own Craft and overturn in their own Devices to the shame and confusion of their Faces but they that believe in him shall never be ashamed This was given forth in the common Goal in Northampton the 7th day of the 11th Month 1655. by William Dewsbery there Prisoner for the Word of God and Testimony of Iesus THe mighty day of the Lord is comming to you People whose natural Birth and Generation was in the Northern Islands whom the Lord of Heaven and Earth hath placed where he hath suffered you to be scattered into Barbadoes Virginia New-England and other Islands there away and Countries elsewhere and to every Kindred Tongue and People and Nations in whom there is desires raised to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent to be the Light of the World to guide the Feet of those that sate in Darkness into the Light and Way of Peace To you People the mighty Day of the Lord is coming and in his Power is appearing amongst you in raising desires in some of you towards his Name which desires cannot be satisfied with any outward Observations and Traditions of your Fathers but above them doth your minds rise in true Hunger and Thirst towards the living God for refreshment from his presence prize the Love of God to you in whom he hath raised desires towards him and look not forth at any that teaches to hearken to the Teachings of Men without who draw you to seek Christ and God without and to come to the knowledg of the Kingdom of God in outward Observations with which the knowledge of God comes not the Kingdom of God is within and as the Lightning is from the East to the West so is the coming of the Son of Man in his day whose appearance is within but you People in the day of Darkness and Ignorance that have been over the whole Earth have been deceived in looking forth at teachings of Men without and for the Kingdom of God to come in outward Observations that men have set up in their vain thoughts Wicked and carnal Imaginations of the Saints condition which is Recorded in the Scriptures of Truth but they not regarding the motion of the Spirit of God within which taught and guided the Saints they are Strangers to the Saints Life though they speak great swelling words of the knowledg of God and with them deceive the simple with the inticing words of Mans Wisdom and boasting in other Mens Lines made ready to their Hands but they themselves are natural bruit Beasts living without the fear of God in Pride Covetousness Dissimulation and Hypocrisie full of self-Love making their Bellies their God delighting their Hearts in the Creature enjoyments and visible objects and are Men-Pleasers having their Persons in admiration and them respecting for advantage and these Men who are Ignorant of the only true God you have followed to teach you to come to know God who hath drawn you to Worship an unknown God in the ignorance of your minds so have they destroyed your Souls and the Souls of many and you People perish for want of Knowledg Hosea 4.6 In being caused to err with
the Lies and Lightness of these false Prophets which the Lord is against who run when the Lord never sent them as the false Prophet did when the Lord sent his true Prophet Ieremiah to cry against them Ier. 23.32 All People who desire to know the living God let the time past be sufficient you have followed Men who have deceived you and cease from them and turn to the true Prophet whom Moses the Servant of the Lord declared the Lord God would raise up Deut. 18.15 his Elect and Chosen Servant to raise up the Tribe of Iacob and to restore the preserved of Israel whom he hath also given for a Light to the Gentiles and to be his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth whom Isaiah the Prophet declared the Lord would raise up to open the Fountain of Life and Salvation to all that Thirst Isaiah 55.1 2 3 and now witnessed with all that hearken to his Counsel who calls to every one that Thirsteth Come ye to the Waters and he that hath no Money come ye buy and eat yea buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price wherefore do you lay out your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which satisfieth not hearken diligently to me and eat that which is good and let your Souls delight it self in fatness incline your Ear and come unto me hear and your Souls shall live and I will make an everlasting Covenant with you even the sure mercies of David all People no longer look forth the glad Tydings of the Gospel of the eternal Salvation is heard within in this day of the Lords Mercies wherein he is teaching his People himself as was declared by the Prophet Isaiah 54.13 and now witnessed with all the Children of Light whose minds are turned within to wait on the Lord for teaching and to establish them in the Covenant of Life and Peace who is performing his promise to all that wait on him which he declared by his Servant the Prophet Ier. 31.33 34. This shall be the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel in those days saith the Lord I will put my Law in their Hearts and write it in their inward Parts and will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and they shall no more teach every Man his Neighbour and every Man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will be merciful unto their Vnrighteousness and their Sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more Therefore every one that desires to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent turn your minds within and examine your Hearts search and try your ways with the Light that Christ Jesus hath enlightned you withall that shews you in your Hearts what is Sin that Pride and Covetousness is Sin Lying and Swearing is Sin Dissimulation Cheating Couzning is Sin vain idle Communication foollish Jesting and Unbelief is Sin and these things you know in your own Consciences to be Sin by the Righteous Law of God in the Heart that reproves you for them in the secret of the Heart and Conscience there is your Teacher the Spirit of the Lord within which in this mighty day of his Power he is pouring his Spirit upon all Flesh according to his promise declared by the Prophet Ioel 2.28 29. And now witnessed with his Sons and with his Daughters who walk in the Light led and guided by his Spirit within which keeps the Conscience void of offence towards God and towards Man Every one diligently hearken to the Counsel of the Lord the Light that witnesseth for God in the Conscience give up to be guided by it then you need no more be taught of Men neither shall your Teacher be removed any more into a Corner but thine Eye shall see thy Teacher and thine Ear shall hear a voice behind thee saying This is the Way walk in it when thou turns to the right Hand or to the left as was declared by Isaiah the Prophet Isa. 30.20 which is now witnessed and that is the living Word of God within that hath raised desires in you towards God every one in whom desires is raised wait in the Light and Power within that hath raised the desires and the Lord will then strengthen and give you power to wait on him in the way of his Judgments till the Carnal Earthly Sensual minds which hath lead you to delight in Lusts and Pleasures and created enjoyments below God be cut down and slain with the Word of God within which is a sharp and two edged Sword to slay down the first Man which is of the Earth earthly then will you come to witness to be the slain of the Lord and the sentence of Death upon the first Man who hath lead you from God with all the Wisdom Strength and Righteousness you had in him and in the Power of the Spirit you will be brought to the true sence of the Poverty of your Spirits to Hunger and Thirst after the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus the Light him to prize and love and self judge and deny with his Light and in his Light wait to dwell in his Power you to guide in every Word and Work in the Light where your union and fellowship will be with the Father of Light who will you keep that faithful in him abide and dwell in his mighty Power and Wisdom as he moves thee witness his mind in his pure Power to the confounding of the mighty Wise and Prudent men who is exalted in the wisdom of the World and Counsel of their own Hearts not regarding to be guided by the Counsel of God in Christ the Light. To you tender Babes and Children of the most high this is the Word of the Lord God in whom desires are raised towards his Name his Counsel mind in you and stand faithful in it according to his Word declared to you and consult not with Flesh and Blood in the Light and Life lift up your Heads and freely give up Soul and Body to the Lord God of Heaven and Earth that he may exhalt in you the Kingdom of Jesus Christ to guide you in perfect obedience to his Righteous Law written in the Heart for the exercise of the Conscience towards God and Man and fear not Man whose Breath is in his Nostrils who stands up to oppose the Lord in this mighty day of his Power wherein he is exalting Christ Jesus the Light to be King for ever In his Light be faithful to the Lord and though you be hailed before Rulers Governours and Kings for a Testimony against them take no thought what you shall say but keep within stand in the Counsel of God it shall be given you in the self-same hour my Heavenly Father will in you speak and his Enemies confound before his mighty Power in you and
he hath called and chosen to be faithful to him in his eternal Power rejoyce who will you all keep in that day in rest and peace in the ancient of days who shall sit to judge the Beast and the Whore their Kingdom to break down and destroy in his eternal judgement for evermore and will Rule over them by the Arm of his mighty Power and of his Dominion there shall be no end for to him it belongs forevermore Meet often together in the fear of the Lord his Power to manifest in you to his praise who is worthy forever Amen I charge and command all in the presence of the Lord God who make mention of his Name that you speak not at any time to any in your own will or to one another or to any without or to exhort them when you are guilty of the same thing in the exalted Spirit out of the Cross be silent thou Fool first judge thy self with the Light and in the Power dwell to cast the Beam out of thy own Eye and that thy own House be kept in order then wilt thou see clearly to take out the Mote out of thy Brothers Eye and how to exhort others how to walk in order to the Spirit of Truth and watch over one another with a single Eye All you that fear the Name of the Lord in tender love bear one anothers Burthens and exhort one another to build up one another in your most holy Faith God almighty be with you all his faithful Servants and Children and in his eternal Power keep you in himself that in him you may grow up in his pure nature to bear his Name in righteousness that his Image may be written in your Foreheads that all that sees you may know you to be the righteous Seed the Lord hath blessed his eternal Power preserve you and keep you and build you up in the purity of the Spirit and bond of Peace where I am with you in the eternal unity and in the unchangable Love and Life William Deusbery From Northampton Goal the 19 th of the 3 d Month 1655. A TRUE PROPHECIE OF THE Mighty Day of the Lord. Which is coming and is appeared in the North of England and is arising towards the South and shall over-spread this Nation and all Nations of the World. WHEREIN The Lord is redeeming Sion forth of her long inthral'd Captivity in Babylons Kingdom where she hath been scattered in the cloudy and dark day into Forms and Observations and there kept by the Priests and Teachers of the World who ran when God never sent them Now is the Lord appearing in this day of his mighty Power to gather his elect together out of all Forms and Observations Kindreds Tongues and Nations and is making up his Jewels his mighty Host and exalting Jesus Christ to be King of Kings to lead his Army he hath raised up in the North of England and is marched towards the South in the mighty power of the living Word of God which is sharp as a two-edged Sword to cut down High and Low Rich and Poor Priests and People and all the Powers of darkness in the Land and all the World over that are fruitless Trees that cumbers the ground defiles the Flesh and walks in disobedience to the righteous Law of God the pure Light in the Conscience For who falls on this Stone shall be broken but on whom it falls shall be ground to Powder So shall this Nation and all the Nations of the World be Conquered and the Victory witnessed neither by Sword nor Spear but by the Spirit of the Lord. A Word from the Lord to all the Inhabitants of England Rulers Priests and People to haste to meet the Lord with speedy Repentance and returning within to hearken diligently to his Counsel the pure Light of Christ in your Conscience to be guided by his Power else you shall perish in your gain-sayings For if his anger be kindled a little blessed are all they that trust in him O England who lies in the faln and lost estate separated from the true and living God by thine Iniquities notwithstanding all thy Profession of his Name in outward Forms and Observations Repent Repent and turn unto the Lord God Almighty who waits on thee to be gracious unto thee and to make thee the glory of all the Nations of the World if thou wilt diligently hearken unto his Counsel the Light that is in the Conscience of every one to wait in it upon the Lord God that he may guide thee by his Power And this I have to declare unto thee from the Lord which he hath made known unto me concerning thee O England certain years ago when the everlasting Covenant of Life was confirmed unto my Soul in the Lord Jesus Christ that I should go with the ransomed of the Lord unto Sion I enquired of my God to manifest unto me where Sion was that I might return thither to worship him in Spirit and Truth there being so many confused cries in thee O England who professes to worship the only true God some saying Lo here is Christ in the Presbyterian practice so called and the Independants so called cries Lo he is here and the Anabaptists so called saying Lo he is here and others in outward Forms saying He is here according as Christ foretold that the time would come when they shall say Lo here is Christ and lo there as it is fulfilled in thee but Christ saith Believe them not look not forth for the Kingdom of Heaven is within And as the Lightning that shineth out of the one part under Heaven and shineth unto the other part under Heaven even so shall the Son of Man be in his day And this I witness and while I was waiting on my God to make known unto me where Sion was the Word of the Lord came unto me with witness to my spirit that Christ was not divided and that there was no rent in his Garment For the Lord is one and his People one and that all thy outward Forms of Worship O England where thou art waiting for Christ in Observations is contrary to his Will for Christ saith The Kingdom of God is not in Observations neither shall they say lo here or lo there for behold the Kingdom of God is within you And that all thy strict observing of thy outward Forms is but imitating the Saints practices in thy babylonish heathenish Wisdom so there is nothing but confusion in thee and that all thy outward Forms is the outward Court which is without the Temple that the Angel was not to measure for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot and this was made known unto me from the Lord my God to be the estate and condition thou stoodst and doest stand in O England in all thy outward Forms and Observations Having a Form of Godliness but denying the
in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Repent Repent now while you have time put away the evil of your doings turn to the Lord and hearken diligently unto his Counsel the Light in your Consciences which lets you see the evil of your doings loving the Light and giving your selves up to be guided by it it will lead you to Life hating it and disobeying it it is your Condemnaâ—ion This is the day of your visitation prize it least you perish in the mighty day of the Lords anger which will speedily come upon the Children of disobedience To the pure Light in your Consciences I speak which witnesses against the evil of your doings and will witness me eternally when the Book of Conscience is opened Howl and Weep all you that live in pride and pleasure and Drunkenness Gluttony Lust and Uncleanness Lightness and Vanity idle Communication foolish Jesting and Laughter which is madness and folly cursed Speaking Lying Couzening Cheating Swearing for which cause the Land mourns you live without the fear of God Eating and Drinking and rising up to Play to please your selves your Belly is your God your end is Destruction who mind Earthly things hear the Word of the Lord and fear ye fruitless Trees which cumber the ground and defile the Flesh the Lord will cut you down and cast you into Hell For the Wicked shall be turned into Hell and all that forget God and this is your Portion in the estate that you are in own it for the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Without are Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murtherers and Idolaters and whosoever loves and makes a Lye shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second Death Repent Repent and prize your time and turn unto the Lord and mind the pure Light in your Consciences which lets you see the evil of your Hearts loving it and obeying it it will lead you forth out of all unrighteousness to eternal Life hating it and disobeying it it is your Condemnation This is the day of your Visitation prize it least you perish in the day of the Lords anger which is coming upon the Children of disobedience in this Nation and elsewhere for the Lord will make the Earth as the Garden of Eden and hath begun his great and strange Work in this Nation and is making up his Jewels and gathering his Wheat into his Garner Sons and Daughters up unto himself and will bundle up you Tares and cut down you fruitless Trees and cast you into the place prepared for you who defile the flesh cumber the ground and walk contrary to the righteous Law of God the pure Light in your Consciences to which Light I speak which will eternally witness me when the Book of Conscience is opened To all you who have professed your selves to be the Ministers of Christ and walk contrary to the Doctrine of Christ in having the chiefest places in the Assemblies standing praying in the Synogogues and having uppermost rooms at Feasts Greetings in the Markets and of men called Masters as the Scribes and Pharisees did which Christ cryed Wo against and every one of you seeking your gain from your Quarters as the false Prophets did when the Lord sent Isaiah the true Prophet to cry against them And you hold up the horrible filthy thing committed in the Land in bearing rule by your Means as the false Prophets did when the Lord sent Ieremiah the true Prophet to cry against them And you seek for the Fleece and cloth your self with the Wool and feed with the Fat and make a prey of the People as the false Prophets did which the Lord sent Ezekiel the true Prophet to cry against Thus saith the Lord I will require my Flock at their Hands and cause them to cease from feeding my Flock neither shall the Shepheards feed themselves any more for I will deliver my Flock from their Mouths that they may not be meat for them Now is the Lord gathering his People from under your Power which you have made a prey of and you make the People to err and bite with your Teeth as the false Prophets did when the Lord sent Micah the true Prophet to cry out against them and you cry Peace as they did and he that puts not into your Mouths you even prepare War against him and this is fulfilled by your going to Law with poor People for your Wages and others in raising Persecution against every one that will not obey you in your vain Traditions wherein you steal every one the Word of the Lord from his Neighbour in taking a part of Scripture and adding unto it your wisdom and so speak of the Saints conditions which you cannot witness fulfilled in your selves a false vision a divination and deceit of your own Heart and so causes the People to err by your Lyes and by your Lightness as the false Prophets did when the Lord sent Ieremiah the true Prophet who knew the Word of the Lord to be as a Fire and a Hammer to cry against them and all the Saints that know the Word of the Lord knows it to be a Fire and a Hammer in them in transforming them by its power From under the powers of Darkness into the glorious Light and Liberty of the Sons of God. See you how you dawb up the People with untempered morter seeming Vanities divining Lyes unto them saying Thus saith the Lord as you may find it written in such a place of Scripture which was spoken by the Lord in them which gave it forth And thus you steal the Saints words to speak of when as the Lord never spoke by you as the false Prophets did when the Lord sent Ezekiel to cry against them and now he hath raised up his Sons and Daughters who obey his Counsel to cry against you And this I declare unto you from the Lord Night shall be upon you that you shall have no Vision but shall be ashamed and confounded yea you shall all cover your Lips for there shall be no answer of God. Wo wo unto you you Murtherers of Souls whose Blood hath cryed unto the Lord God Almighty and he is coming in Power to require their Blood at your Hands who have shut the Kingdom of Heaven against Men as the Scribes and Pharisees your fore-Fathers did in telling people The Light of Christ which enlighteneth every Mans Conscience in which Light he is to wait for the Power of Christ to guide him out of every evil way to walk in Purity and Holiness without which no Man shall see the Lord You tell them it is the Light of a natural Conscience and you will not enter into the Kingdom your selves to be guided by the Light in your Consciences which would lead you into the Kingdom
must increase whose Baptism we own according as is Recorded in the Scripture of Truth and since he ascended there is no Scripture doth witness his sending any to Baptize with Water Paul who was sent after he ascended what he did in the liberty given him his liberty he knew when he circumcised Timothy and Baptized Crispus and Gaius and the Household of Stephanus besides I know not that I Baptized any other saith Paul for Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel not with wisdom of words least the Cross of Christ should be of none effect 1 Cor. 1.16 17. And Iohn who bore record of the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 14.6 saith I saw an Angel in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to Preach to them that dwell in the Earth and to every Nation and Kindred Tongue and People John did not say he did fly through the midst of Heaven Preaching the everlasting Gospel and Baptizing with Water we know Iohn was faithful in his Testimony of Jesus Christ who is now revealed and the Angel is come and the Gospel Preached and the Shadows done away And Bread and Wine were the Supper of the Lord in the Dispensation of time a Figure of his Death which were fulfilled when he had suffered and rose again and now he is known to stand at the Door and knock if any Man hear my voice and open the Door I will come in and Sup with him and he with me saith Christ Rev. 3.20 And we being many are one Bread and one Body c. 1 Cor. 10.17 and know the Wine renewed in our Fathers Kingdom Christ the Substance we now witness Shadows and Figures done away he that can receive it let him And the Churches set up by the will of Man we deny and the fixed Ministry set up over them by the will of Man that watch for the Fleece bear rule by their means and seeks their gain from their Quarter these we deny Ieremiah 5.31 and Isaiah 56.11 And those in scorn called Quakers do watch over the Flock of God every one as the Lord them calls and not for filthy Lucre as the Priests that bear Rule by their means do neither by constraint but of a ready mind 1 Pet. 5.2 in obedience to the Spirit of the Lord as he them move and thy Slanders thou hast not yet proved our Consciences do witness it that what thou hast accused us with is a Lie and not the Truth And thou further sayes that William Deusbery in a lying Paper as thou calls it which is entituled A true Prophecy of the mighty Day of the Lord already risen in the North of England c. In which Paper he makes it his work to slander the Ordinances of Gospel worship under the notion of outward Observations which Christs Kingdom comes not in Luke 17.20 and thus he accounts of all the Ordinances and Institutions prescribed by Christ himself in the Apostolical Churches and accounts all the strict observing of outward Forms of worship is but imitating the Saints practices in their Babilonish and Heathenish wisdom all these outward Forms are the outward Court without the Temple Pag. 1.2 Reply The Lie will be found in thy own Mouth in calling that a lying Paper a true Prophecy it is of the mighty day of the Lord and for thy saying William Deusbery makes it his work c. as before written thy Charge is false and the Truth is witnessed against vain Man who in his dark mind seeks the Kingdom of God in Observations where it comes not Luke 17.20 neither shall men say Lo here or lo there he called by name as before written doth witness they are not the Ordinances of Christ according as is declared of them they will be found and made manifest to the shame and confusion of their Faces who in their own wisdom imitates the Saints practices in Forms which they did practice in Life and Power in the Dispensation of time they served their Generation in the manifestation of the Spirit according to the Will of God. And whereas thou sayst in Pag. 4. it is more clear that he prophanely compares the holy Ordinances and Institutions of the Lord to that great Image set up by Nebuchadnezars proud nature spoken of by Daniel and that that Image was but a Tipe and Figure of this which now shines gloriously in Forms and Observations And thou sayst that in his speaking to the Anabaptists and Independents he tells them they have set up a finer Image in the Gospel Ordinances as they call them and what other Ordinances thou sayst doth these or you set up but what was practised in the Apostolical Churches thus you may see how this Impostor doth reproach the holy things of God. Reply Blush for shame who sayst William Dewsberry compares the holy Ordinances and Institutions of our Lord to that great Image c. Holy Ordinances and Institutions of the Lord is not rhere exprest by him where thou sayst he then so compares he witnesses against the Image you have set up in your minds of the Truth as you conceive where you are in confusion that doth you divide into Forms and Observations as before written to look for the Kingdom of God to come and though you call them the Ordinances of Christ you denying Christ the Light you to guide in the daily cross you are in the same nature wherein Nebuchadnazar cast the Lord Servants into the fiery Furnace because they witnessed against his Image so do you who walk in your imaginations and deny Christ the Light cause the Servants of the Lord that walk in the Life and cannot bow to your Image but witness against it to be haled out of your Meeting Places beaten stoned whipt stockt imprisoned which are the fruits of Nebuchadnezâ—rs nature as is manifest this day amongst those against whom he witnesseth and who is the Impostor and reproaches the holy things of God the fruit makes manifest he that hath an Eye to see let him see And further thou sayst that he in the height of his insolent rashness and madness saith thus The Word of the Lord came unto me saying I will gather my Peopel out of all Forms and Observations and out of all Kindreds Tongues and Nations and I will pour out my Spirit upon them And this thou sayst he writes in a different Character as if it were all Scripture by this you may see is proved what I have accused them with in denying the Ordinances and Administrations of the Gospel Churches true and yet this impudent Lyar tells me it s a lying slander they would render me a Lyar for telling them the Truth but it seems they can rather and with more ease deny the Accusation then prove themselves Saints and stand to it thus when they are pincht they will say and unsay and any thing to evade Rashness and Madness is thy own in speaking evil of that thou knowest not the day
say Never was any like unto me neither any Sorrow like unto my Sorrow and in this Languishing Disparing Morning of thy Soul all things is made bitter to thee as the waters of Marah thus art thou driven from all comfort as a Child without a Father and a desolate Widow without a Husband and as a Stranger that no Eye pitieth in thy apprehension sometimes saying in thy Heart in the heat of the temptation and the Fire thou hast kindled Oh that I had been any Creature but what I am or if it were the will of the Lord that he would shorten my days that I might not be any longer on Harth to Sin against him for in thy own â—ence and feeling thou walking in the sparks thou hast kindled in carnal reasonings thou descerns not any thing but Wrath Horror Misery and Distress on every side and great languishings secretly crying out in thy Heart Oh that I were alone in the Wilderness or in any Cave or Den in the Earth that I might never see nor hear any of the Sons of Men any more but in the secret retiredness even Roare and Mourn out my days until I dye Oh thou Child of the morning of the pure eternal day of the God of Israel hearken no longer to the Enemy who saith there hath none traviled where thou art nor none drunk of the Cup that thou art drinking he is a Lyer who goes about to destroy thy pretious Soul In the Word of the Lord God I declare unto thee I drunk the same Cup with my faithful Friends who are born of the royal Seed every one in their measure have travelled in the same path and hath endured the same temptations and walked in the Light of the same sparks and layn down in Sorrow in the sence of the same misery as thou mourns under this day No longer lend an ear unto the Enemy and the thoughts of thy Heart arise arise in the Light of the Covenant and stay thy Heart and the Lord God he will throw down the Enemy of thy peace destroy the carnal reasonings of thy mind put out the Fire that thou haâ—t kindled and he will deliver thee forth of the horrible Pit and set thy Feet upon the Rock of Ages and thou shall tread down the Enemy of thy Soul in the sensible feeling of the Bowels of the love of the Father who will manifest himself to be a Father to the Fatherless in thee and a Husband to that mournful Widow and a comfort to that Immortal Babe that mourned in thee in the uprightness of thy Heart to do the will of the living God so in the Power of his might stay thy Heart and tread upon all Doubts Fears dispairing Thoughts Questionings Reasonings Musings Imaginations and Consultings arise over them all in the Light in Christ he will lead thee into the Banqueting-House of the pleasure of our God where thou shalt sit down with me and all the redeemed of my Father who are born of the immortal Seed and have passed through great Tribulations and have washed our Garments and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb therefore do we now stand before the Throne of God praising him Day and Night in his holy Temple and this shall be the Portion of thy Cup if thou diligently hearken to the Counsel of the Lord which calls thee to trust in him he will embrace thee in the Arm of his Love and thou shalt praise his Name forever God Almighty in his Light and Life raise up thy Soul and establish thy Heart in his Counsel stedfastly to wait his Power to lead thee in the Cross out of all unbelief and cause thee to lye down at rest in obedience to his will where thou shall drink the Cap of the Salvation of God forever Farewel W. D. From the Spirit of the Lord given forth in York Castle the 23 d of the 3 d Month 1661. Oh King hear the Word of the Lord God which came unto me about the sixth hour in the morning of the 20th day of the third Month 1661. Thus saith the Lord through his Servant OH fear and dread the Name of the eternal God who hath Created and Preserved thee by the Arm of his mighty Power and saved thee in the hollow of his Hand in the day of thy great Distress when he Corrected that Family and all the Nation that they might walk humbly before him and who did humble themselves before him his Presence did appear with them but when they departed from the lowliness of his Spirit and promised fair things and did not perform in the uprightness of their Hearts according to their words though they were never so Invincible for Strength and cloathed with Policy and Wisdom of this World the Lord hath and wâ—ll break them down by the Arm of his mighty Power and catcheth them in their own Craft and overthrows them in their own Devices and not any can deliver themselves out of his mighty Hand he breaks them as the Pot-sherds of the Earth and makes their Names rot and perish among Men and stink in the Nostrils of the upright in Heart thus he sets up to try Man if he will give him glory of his Works and when he kicks against him his Maker he breaks him down in his Wrath and overthrows him in his fierce Displeasure And this is the Work of the mighty God who hath preserved thee in safty whil'st Destruction and Calamity was on every side that now thou hast seen a Cloud of Witnesses before thine Eyes that in this day thou art set on the Throne wherein he is trying and proving of thee that thou mayst by what thou hast seen dread his Name and wait in his Counsel the Light of his Spirit which is his Law in thy Heart and Conscience that lets thee see thou art but Dust and if thou watch unto it and wait upon him in it thou wilt see the secret evil of thine Heart which if thou look up to him in the Light of his Spirit and in the uprightness of thine Heart judge the evil in thee with his Light and in it wait on him to be guided in the true lowliness and humility of his Spirit to seek alone his glory and nothing for thy self but wait upon him to be an Instrument in his Hand that he may govern and order thee in all his ways then will he enlighten thy understanding and seal unto thee his secret Counsel and give thee to see through all that profess his Name and know him not and what his true Worship is and he will let thee see what is Idolatry and what is the Worship which his presence shall accompany all that are found faithful therein and which he will defend with his Power against all opposers and none shall prosper that devise mischief against them that are faithful to him in this his Worship which is declared to thee to be pure obedience to his Spirit which cleanseth the Heart and
purifies the Conscience and this is his Worship he hath determined in his unchangeable and heavenly Decree to establish in the Earth and over all Nations it shall stand he will scatter all as Dust that seek to oppress his People and resist the rising of his glory and thou shalt certainly know the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it Which if thou turn thy mind within to his Counsel in thee and in dilligent watchfulness encline thine Ear to his pure Spirit that calls for Righteousness in thy Heart and Conscience and be obedient with boldness to walk in the strait way of the daily Cross and deny the evil that accompanies the day and answer his requirings what he makes known unto thee then will he guard thee with the Power of his heavenly and dreadful Presence and will make thee a terror to evil doers that a Lyar or an Unclean person shall not be found in thy House nor any worker of Iniquity shall be able to stand before thee he will Cloath thee with Wisdom and thou shalt be able to Judge all Causes that is brought before thee in Righteousness then wilt thou put away all Sports Playes Pastimes Drunkenness Uncleanness and whatever grieveth his Spirit forth of thy sight and cleanse the Land of it through thy faithful walking with God who hath made thee a Son of Affliction from thy Youth that thou mightst learn to fear his Name which if thou do he will make thee a Terror to all Nations round about that devise mischief against thee the Angels of his presence will pitch their Tents about thee thou standing in his Counsel and giving Liberty to his Sons and Daughters as he moves them by his Spirit to walk in his Service who is the mighty God that requireth this of thee that thou do not lay a Bond upon the Spirits of his People in matters of Worship as to force all to one Uniformity for thou hast seen before thine Eyes that the Kings and Princes of this Woâ—ld that have sought so to do have brought much innocent Blood upon them who have been seeking by their outward Power to establish Sion with Blood and Ierusalem with Iniquity thus hath his People been Slain from day to day in the Nations that have been building Babel in whom is found the Blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus and all that is Slain upon the Earth for whose sake he is now risen to plead the Cause of those that fear him and walk humbly before him And this he requireth of thee in all things to mind his Law in thy Heart to do unto others as thou wouldst be done unto if thou wast in their places and they in thine and let mercy be found in thy Hands to all people as thou hast found mercy at the Hands of the Lord yea to thy Enemies and in what thou mayst live in Peace with all Men and in all thy undertakings seek not thy self let the glory of God be the Object of thy mind and wait to feel his Hand leading thee in what thou doest which if thou stand in his Counsel to do as he requireth of thee to mind thy Place and to keep the people in Peace and punish Sin and Wickedness and give free Liberty for the Lord with his Spirit to Rule in the Consciences of his people as he orders them to meet in his fear and witness forth his mind where he leads them without restraint and no more be given like Lambs to the Slaughter and driven to Prison like Sheep to the Fold but to have free Liberty in their peaceable lives to serve him their God then will he raise his Name in thy Fathers House and make thee a nursing Father unto his People and thou shalt partake of the Blessings with them that fear him and all the World shall be amazed to hear of his dreadful appearance for his people that obey his Spirit in this Nation which shall convince both Iew and Gentile that the mighty God is risen to manifest his Power to them that fear him in this Nation and these Northren Countries and the day is very near wherein it shall be no more said the Lord liveth that brought up the Children of Israel out of the Land of Egypt but the Lord liveth that brought up and led the Seed of the House of Israel out of the North-Country Oh King let his goodness constrain thee and all in thy Family to humble your selves before him what could he have done for thee more then he hath done hath he not been thy relief in thy greatest straits now let his goodness ingage thee to answer what he requires of thee then will he make thee one of the number of his Elect and Chosen and thy days will be fulâ— of gladness and thy Soul shall live forever in the Kingdom of glory with all the redeemed who are led with his Spirit but if thou reject his counsel his law in thy Heart and not regard his Spirit in thy inward parts but hearken to the counsel of thy own Heart and the wit and pollicy of the spirit of this World and so set up thy self on high and rob God of his Glory and give up his people as they have been to be pulled out of their peaceable Meetings and haled to and fro as Sheep that are slaying all the day long in tumults distresses afflictions stonings stripes prisons and death and set up proud covetous Men that know not God to be Teachers in the Land which draw people into Idolatry worshipping they know not what so the Blind leading the Blind they both fall into great wickedness which grieveth the Spirit of God and the liberty which is given to Playes Sports and Pastimes which draw people into drunkenness uncleanness and great abomination and if they be not reformed by thee but suffered to go on as they have been this will be thy portion as he hath multiplied on thee his mercies to astonishment of the people and Nations round about so will he stretch out the Arm of his Power against thee and get himself the glory in his mighty Judgments which shall be revealed in the great and terrible day of his fierce wrath wherein he will cleanse the Land of all that rob him of his glory and reject his counsel the Light of his Spirit in their Consciences and thou shalt certainly know the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it through his Servant which in faithfulness to thy Soul oh King hath not hid the Counsel of God from thee but greatly desireth thy eternal welfare and in patience waits that Righteousness may be established in the Earth who is known by name William Deusbery Prisoner at the date hereof in the common Goal at York for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ. But before this could be sent unto thee with a private and safe Hand I was set at Liberty with some other of my Brethren by thy late Proclamation which we own
63. To all the Faithful in CHRIST Who Have stood in his Counsel the Light to be led in the Foot-steps of the Flock of the Companions and to all that profess the Light of Christ to be their Guide To you I write these following Lines to be seriously weighed in the weighty and ponderous Spirit wherein you may discern a Discovery of a false Birth in some that came forth with us as to own the Light in their Iudgments and go forth from us in rejecting the stroak of the pure judgments of God through the working of the mystery of iniquity and so become as the untimely Birth that doth not see the Sun in his glory nor the beauty of Sion who hath passed through death unâ—o life in her comely unity in the Spirit and bond of peace He that can receive it let him nâ—w in the cool of â—he day when Counsel may be hearkened unto and rightly understood in the Truth as it is in Iesus DEar Friends called and chosen of God in the Eternal Light and Power of the most high who have been and are his living Witnesses from the beginning of the dawning of his powerful and glorious day of his dreadful appearance which hath caused the Earth to shake and the Keepers of the House to tremble in this day of your visitation from on high And all you that in true watchâ—ulness wait on the Lord in the measure of his life you are sensible of what he did hath done and doth in the ordering of his dear and tender Children as in the subjection both of the inward and outward Man in every exercise of the Spirit as in exhortation prayer or praises which the most high God hath and doth accompany with his blessed presence in which he hath made all that hath kept their Habitations in the powerful life of the first Love to stand as Saviours upon Mount Sion to gather the scattered of Israel and to bring again the dispersed of Iacob And this is the work of all that are truly sent of the Lord to labour in his Vineyard who seeks not their own things neither sets up nor serves themselves with what the Lord hath given unto them but alone seeks the glory of God and serveth him with uprightness of Heart in the exercise of all the Gifts and riches of his Grace with which he hath cloathed them to the perfecting of his Praise and Glory and the comfort of his Heritage forever therefore do they shine as the Stars in the Firmament of Heaven in turning many Souls to Righteousness in which they enter into the heavenly Habitation of the most high God where it is known the Lord to be one and his Name one and there alone stands the union of all the flock of the Companions who have been truly baptized and buried with Christ in his Death where we could not cover our naked Souls with a Fig-leaf Garment of our own works or with any self-created gesture or posture of the outward Man but in true obedience to the Light waiting in the sence of our misery crying out of the great Deep to the God of mercy who in his appointed time in his tender compassions he casts the Skirts of his Garment over us and said unto us live In which Life we in eternal unity bear our Testimony to all the World in the Light of his Covenant sitting and feeding together at his Table cloathed with the wedding Garment where there never was noâ— ever shall be any rent but eternal harmonious joyful unity in the everlasting felicity where every Child of this Inheritance as moved of the Lord casts in their Mite in the returns of his Spirit offering up the Sacrifice of high praises to the most high God over all blessed forever Dear and tender Friends This ariseth in my Heart to exhort all that are convinced of the Truth that every one with diligent watchfulness search your own Hearts with the Light and in it know your own estates and seriously know your own conditions and that you may certainly understand what Spirits you are on and to have the seal of the Spirit of God demonstrating to you in full assurance that you walk with him in true self-denial according to your measures in uprightness of Heart with all the flock of the Companions as before written then will the Lord give you a sound and perfect judgment to weigh and try all Spirits and taste the breath from whence the words proceed and not to lay your Hands hastily upon any whatever they pretend but in that which tries and weighs your own spirits in coolness and singleness of Heart try and taste what Spirits they are on that comes amongst you in this day wherein many comes forth with us as to the owning of the Truth in their judgments and regulates the outward Man in some outward gestures like to the Children of the Truth and some have felt the stroak of the Judgment of the Lord which hath caused them to forsake some things which formerly they delighted in and in some measure of Zeal have born a Testimony to the Light enduring both stripes and imprisonment both in this Nation and some beyond the Seas while they stood in the Fear of the Lord who for his Names sake hath delivered them from the Winter Storms that they suffered under but they for want of watchfulness the Mystery of Iniquity hath wrought and drawn them from the Light into the pride of their Hearts to deck themselves with the jewels and gifts of the Spirit God gave unto them when they were humble before him but they departing from the redeeming judgment of God the Beast gets the deadly wound heal'd again and instead of giving glory to God for their deliverance they in this time of some measure of rest take their flight on the Sabbath day upon the Mountains of their high Imaginations and Sacrifices upon the high places and doth not regard to make their peace with Christ in them their Elder Brother and so to bring their gift to the Altar in the humble meek Spirit which gathers into unity and answereth to the witness in every Conscience but though they pretend zeal and Obedience to God in what they do they being gone from the Light they neither regard the Glory of God nor the good of his People for all that they now do is wrought in a self-serving Spirit where they enter into the mysterious working of the deceit of their Hearts to set up and cover themselves with a voluntary humility and feigned love gathering all the eloquent and inticeing words of mans wisdom with which they make a flourish in a discoursative spirit speaking high words of that they never did know to get entrance upon the affection of the tender hearted ones that are afraid to judge any but themselves with others that look more at high words then to feel from whence they came or to know the end for what they are spoken and these they
the Hearts of the great and mighty Men of the Earth shall fail and paleness shall gather into their Faces the dread of the holy God will be with you who faithfully give up to be guided by his Counsel in the power of his own Spirit one shall chase a Thousand and five put ten Thousand to flight the Decree is gone forth Christ shall be King in Gods time over all the Nations of the World and all the powers of the World that him withstand he will break them to pieces like a Potters Vessel so shall they become as Dust before his Breath the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it who is giving the Kingdoms of this World to his Son and to you that wait for his appearance the living sound is come that doth witness that not any Weapon formed against him shall prosper in this day of his appearance in the Hearts of his Saints In the presence of the Lord I charge you stand fast in the Counsel of our Lord Jesus Christ the Light in the Conscience and according to the measure you have received be faithful in walking with God in perfect obedience to his Will freely giving up your Bodies to finish your Testimony in Sufferings if the Lord call you for it is not given to believe but to suffer with him and they that suffer with him shall Raign with him and the Son of Man is perfect in sufferings and you that are faithful to the 〈◊〉 he will lay no more upon you then he gives you strength to bear he will guard you with the Angel of his presence and compass you about with Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks and you shall know this is to you the Word of the Lord God the day will declare it All people who dwell upon the Earth fear the living God who hath Created the Heavens and Earth and the Fountains of Waters and all turn to the Light of Christ that witnesses for God in the Conscience against Sin in its appearance in the secret of the Heart and diligently incline your Ear to the Counsel of Christ the Light that he may guide you by his Spirit least through your disobedience you perish before him in this mighty day of the Lords Power in which he is coming with Fire and Sword to plead with all Flesh and not any that transgresseth his Righteous Law in their Consciences shall escape his Righteous Judgments in this his day he is bringing down the loftiness of Man and the haughtiness of Spirit he is laying low and is exalting his Son Christ Jesus to be King and over all to Rule the Heathen he will give him for his Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for his Possession and the Kingdom he will establish to his Son whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and of his Dominion there shall be no end therefore let all the Kings and Princes of this World mind the Light of Christ to guide them to rule for God to break the bonds of Iniquity and let the oppressed go free that in all things they may have an Eye to the glory of God in obeying the Righteous Law of God in your Consciences to do as you would be done unto in taking up the daily Cross to that nature which would hinder for doing Justice and for shewing Mercy and 〈◊〉 humbly with the Lord. Given forth by the movings of the Spirit of God in and through his Servant W. D. DEar Friends Servants and Children of the most high God whom he hath called and chosen out of the World be faithful all of you in his Counsel wait his Power to guide you in all your Thoughts Words and Works in his pure fear in obedience to his Will I charge you in his presence be valiant for your freedom in dwelling in the Power of the living God that he may arm you against the fiery Darts of the Devil him to resist in his appearance in all his Wiles who goes about like a roaring Lyon to draw you every way seeking to get your minds from the pure to draw into the visible things your Affections there to captivate your Wills to satisfie in created and perishing Objects or in the knowledg of the Truth in the fleshly Wisdom to feed with the Swine upon the Huskes the form and image of what you have injoyed or what you see in the vision what you do not injoy in the possession and speak in a Drunken Spirit words without knowledg and with them sits a painted Beast the will at liberty out of the Cross and thou whose condition this is art the foolish Virgin turned from the pure Wisdom of God the Light of Christ that convinced thee of Sin and now appearest in the outward formallity in the sight of Men with a Lamp like the wise Virgins but not dwelling in the Power of God wants the Oyle of joy and glâ—dness in the power of his Love which the wise Virgins hath in their Lamps which exerciseth their Conscience and keeps all their affections in order to the Spirit of Truth which bridles their Tongues not to utter words before the Lord but in true silence wait upon him until his Spirit move his mind to declare from the living Power the Soul possesses and enjoys in Christ the Husband of the wise Virgins whom he moves his mind to declare from the living Power the Soul enjoys in true possession in Christ who is the Bride the Lambs Wife who by his Power keeps her Lamp trimed always breathing and thirsting for him to manifest his Power to take away Sin and renew the Image of God and the perfect Man to witness in Christ Jesus the Souls life to raign in her for ever And beloved are you that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness for you are the Children of the Kingdom of my Father and with you my life is bound up and to you this is the Word of the Lord fear not lift up your heads and wait in the Light with boldness in it look up to Christ your King he will appear as the Lightning from the East to the West and you shall behold him Riding upon the wilde Asses Coalt your wilde nature subjecting it to himself and skiping over all Mountains and leaping over all Hills that hath separated you from the presence of God and will heal your Infirmities and satisfie your thirsty Souls and give you the end of your hope the Salvation of your Souls where you shall sit down with him in the Kingdom of the Father to rejoyce in the Power of eternal love and life which is in his presence for ever and evâ—r and this is the Childrens Bread that comes down from Heaven But you foolish Virgins that sits in the outward form and profession of the Truth your Lamps are empty of the Power of God which should cast down your Wills and keep them in the daily Cross so you are possessed with a dull sottish drousie earthly careless spirit which is weary of waiting upon
Constable so called who said I should be there until the next day yet to do the people a pleasure he contrary to his word came in and took me forth and had me into the Streets where the people shouted with a loud voice as they had me to and fro from one House to another where they sold Ale till the people in one House let them in and there they set two men to watch over me until the next day which was the twenty eighth day of the Month before written on which day they had me before Thomas Dickeson who granted forth the Warrant for me to be brought before him and did me examine and it was manifest before him that what I was accused of in the Warrant and the day the Warrant mentioned my being in that place was false for I had not been in that place that day neither could they prove any such words spoken by me as I was accused of and when he had nothing against me in that Warrant then he did commit me to Prison by a Warrant that he said Judge Windham granted forth at the general Assize before written which Warrant I never saw A True Copy of the Mittimus as followeth To the Sheriffs of the said County of York and to the Keeper of the Goal of the Castle of York WHereas there was a Warrant directed for the Apprehending of William Deusbery of Stanly for the seducing the People of this Nation from Iudge Windham the last Assizes and he being brought before me and refuseth to find Surety to be of good Behaviour and to appear at the next Assize to be holden for the said County to answer the premises You are hereby required to receive into your custody the said William Deusbury and him safely to keep until he shall be delivered by due course of Law. Given under my Hand and Seal the 28th day of April 1654. Thomas Dickeson According to his command as aforesaid I was had to York Castle and there kept Prisoner until the general Assize which was holden about the 22d day of the 5th month called Iuly in the year above written and there Hugh Windham did sit Judge of Life and Death who at the Assizes before mentioned which was in the first Moneth called March gave order to apprehend me and according to his order it was done and he coming to judge the Cause between me and my Accusers it was pressed on him by some Friends of the Truth for the Truths sake that I might have the benefit as those had that were arraigned for Fellony and Murther to be brought before him and the people of the Country and there my Accusers to appear face to face to prove their Accusation that I mighr suffer according to Law if I had transgressed it otherwise that I might by it be cleered before the Country of the Lyes and Aspersions and false Accusations they had publickly charged me withal his promise was I should be brought before him and have a fair Tryal at Law as others Prisoners had but he was not faithful to do as he had said before him I was not brought at that time nor any Tryal had but at the end of the Assizes cleared me by Proclamation and sent me a Liberato as they call it to pass away Into Prison I was cast as formerly written the 28th day of the second Moneth called April and there was kept until the Twenty fourth day of the fifth Moneth called Iuly and then was turned forth as is formerly written without any Tryal or Law to me read why they had kept me in Prison that time So for the Truths sake to that of God in every ones Conscience I this day lay before He that hath an Eye to see let him see Which after the Lord by the Arm of his mighty Power had me set at liberty out of the hands of those unreasonable men I journyed as I was led by his Spirit to declare his Word in Cleveland and other parts in Yorkshire Nottinghamshire and so to Darby and as I was declaring the Word of the Lord to the Consciences of the Inhabitants of Darby there came two men and laid hold on me and had me before the men who were in Commission to have done justice who there did sit at the General Sessions holden at the Town about the twenty fourth day of the sixth Moneth called August 1654. When I before them was brought the first Question to me by them propounded was In whose presence â—oest thou now stand the answer to them was In the presence of the everlasting God the men called Justices replyed with these words Iaylor take him away put him in Prison for disturbing the Court which was done at their Command into Prison I was put and when the day was spent Thomas You ll called the Mayor of Darby sent for me and when I came before him he asked me What I came to do the answer to him I came to declare the Word of the Lord to the Consciences of the Inhabitants of Darby the Mayor replyed Wilt thou go out of the Town answer to him When the Lord orders me to go forth then I shall go till then I shall stay then Thomas You ll the Mayor commanded the man to put me into Prison again which was done the next day about the nineth hour came William Bould one of the Mayors Officers and said to me if thou wilt go forth of the Town and in it no more come I will open the Doors for thee to come forth the answer to him Out of the Town I shall not go until I am ordered of the Lord and if thou openest the Door forth of the Prison I shall not come till the man that said he had authority to put me in come by the same authority and take me out then away the man did go and afterwards did come and the man who is named Iohn Slalous who put me in Prison opened the Door and took me by the Arm and put me forth in much wrath and delivered me to the other man whose name is before written who said he had order to put me forth of the Town which he did and strictly charged me to depart out of their Coasts with many threatnings what should be done to me if in the Town again I returned but the words of vain man was not regarded into the Town I returned and there did stay till I was free in my Spirit to depart from thence Then I jourâ—â—yed to Leicester and was there the first day of the week which was the third day of the seventh Month called September And with me was many people to whom the word of the Lord was declared and after the Testimony of Jesus was finished to them I went into the high place of the Town which the people of the dark World calls their Church and after the man they call their Minister had done the Word of eternal life was declared to the Consciences of the people who
the names of Blasphemers Deceivers Seducers and Disturbers of the Peace so make Lies their refuge as that Persecuting spirit ever did in all Ages To stop the lying Mouth and for the Simple sake that desire in the truth of their Hearts to know the leadings of the Spirit of Truth in the way to know the only true God I here publickly declare to the Inhabitants of England and to all that dwell upon the Earth what I was in the fallen estate and how the Lord raised me up by the arm of his mighty Power and carried me on through the great work of regeneration that all may know the Truth I am sent to bear Testimony to the Consciences of those that dwell upon the Earth is not any Seducing nor contrary to the Truth of the Gospel but is according to the Truth as it is in Jesus He that hath an Eye to see let him see and an Eâ—re to hear let him hear The first Birth I Was conceived in Sin and brought forth in Iniquity and in that state lived and delighted in pride and pleasures lightness and vanity as all do in that nature untill I was about eight Years of Age though before that time when I did live in vanity the Light in my Conscience did witness against me and caused some trouble in me but I departed from the Light and so followed the counsel of my own Heart that lead me into vanity to live without the fear of God And about the time when I was eight Years of Age of my natural birth the Word of the Lord came unto me I created thee for my glory an account thou must give to me for all thy words and actions done in the Body which word enlightned my Heart and opened the Book of Conscience in me where all was written I had done in the Body ever since I had any remembrance and when I had read my condition how I had lived without God who created me for his glory the Word of the Lord then came unto me Shall the Axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith or shall the Saw magnifie it self against him that shaketh it as if the Staff should shake it self against him that lifteth it up or as if the Staff should lift up it self as if it were no Wood and by the Power of the Word of the Lord that spoke in me my understanding was enlightned and my Conscience bore witness that it was my condition I had lifted up my self against the living God in living without his fear who created me to live in obedience to him but I had lived in disobedience to him untill that day so deep sorrow seized upon me and I knew not what to do that I might get acquaintance with the God of my Life who created me for his own praise and glory then I ceased from my vain conversation which I had lived in and began to read the Scriptures and Books and mourn and pray to a God I knew not where he was but expected him without looking up towards the Firmament where my carnal imaginations told me he was and as I had heard those the World calls Ministers whom I went to hear whose words did witness with my carnal imagination of God they said he was above the Skies calling it Heaven but I felt the hand of the Lord within me executing justice upon the wicked in me and what way ever I turned to seek him in observations thither the flaming Sword turned which was placed against me to keep the way of the Tree Life and execute the righteous justice of God upon me So I stood before the Throne of the Lamb reading in my mournful estate the sentence of condemnation that passed upon me from the glory of his presence and in this condemned estate I continued and through the ignorance where God was what his Worship was I strove to satisfie his justice in outward observations imitating what the Saints did sometimes in Fasting and Praying which was the practice of Cornelius and others of the Saints of the most high God as I found recorded in the Scripture of Truth But notwithstanding all my strict walking in observations in which I was seeking the Kingdom of God I found him not but the flaming Sword cut me down so my sorrow increased for I found none in my condition that I could declare it to Then it pleased the Lord to order my Friends in the flesh to put me to keep the Sheep where I was retired from company so my minde was kept in my mournfull estate where my great ease was in mourning to a God I knew not nor none could tell me where I should get acquaintance with him in the place where I was in the outward being in a Town called Allathorp nigh Pocklington in Yorkshire but hearing of a people about Leeds that walked more strictly in profession of the name of God then any did where I was I had no rest in my spirit till my Parents in the flesh sent me thither to be an Apprentice not regarding what Calling so I might be amongst those that feared the living God that I might be acquainted with the God of my life who had created me for himself and the desires the Lord raised up in me were answered when I was thirteen years old of my naturall birth I was bound an Apprentice to a Cloath-maker in a Town called Holdbeck near Leeds and as I hard so it was there was much speaking of God which they called preaching and professing him in words from the letter of the Scripture what the Saints had spoken forth so intimating the Saints practice in their carnall wisdom seeking the Kingdom of God in outward observations as I had done before I came there but when I met with none that could tell me what God had done for their souls in redeeming them from the body of sin which I groaned under and separated me from the presence of God though I walked strictly with them in their outward observations running to hear one man after another which they called Ministers yet I found no rest nor peace to my weary soul but the flaming sword the righteous Law of God cryed in me for a perfect fulfilling of the Law of God and did meet with me where-ever I was that I could finde no peace in that worship of God the world hath set up as in receiving the bread and wine which they told me was the seals of the Covenant which was long ere I durst receive it because I saw not my selfe prepared for the evil of my heart stood before me and when I was to receive it I sought the Lord to keep me by his Power that I might receive it worthily and when I did receive it my desire was the Lord would seal up his love to my Soul but I found nothing sealed up to my soul with it Then much
fear seized upon my soul for a long time after and Iudas Condition was cast into my mind untill it were shewed that the seal of the Covenant was the spirit of Christ and no outward Element and the supper was the body and blood of Christ which the world doth not know nor I at that time but was made to wait for the manifestation of it to me Then I durst joyn no more wiâ—â— the world in that practise nor in their practise in singing Davids conditions which they called Psalms for the light in my Conscience let me see the evil of my heart that I was not in Davids condition the sence of which stopped my mouth and while they were singing I did mourn and weep for want of the pure spirit that David had that caused him to sing neither could I apply the promises which they told me belonged to me for I found no promise belonging to that nature but the wrath of God abode upon me for my disobeying his Counsel in me the Light in my Conscience but being ignorant it was his Counsel I departed from it and lent my Ear to those without that said they spoke from the Mouth of the Lord so was deceived and caused to err by their Lies that did draw me to seek the Kingdom of God in observations without but the Word of the Kingdom was in me and executed the righteous justice of God upon my adulterous heart that took counsel and not at his Mouth till I was consumed and my Body was brought so weak I was not able to answer the expectation of him whom the Lord had placed me with though my Conscience was clear I did what I was able and he in his carnal wisdom thought I was in a Consumption and was in minde sometimes to have sent me away to my Friends in the Flesh and other times he would have the men the World calls Doctors to apply some things to my Body for my Recovery but I was not free to let them but once for fear of giving them offence for I knew my infirmity was the evil of my heart that separated me from the presence of my God and how to be freed from it none told me and when I found no help in outward observations in Reading Praying Hearing or Meditating of what I heard my sorrow and misery was so great it constrained me to run to those the World calls Ministers and Professors which appeared to me had most acquaintance with God to ask them what I might do to be saved and they spoke smooth things to me to believe in the Name of Jesus Christ and to apply the promises but that he was to be found within me none told me which added to my sorrow telling me to believe in Christ I knew not where he was then at that time did the Wars begin in this Nation and mine Eyes being still abroad to do something in outward observations for my life the men called Ministers cried Curse ye Meroz because they went not forth to help the Lord against the mighty Then I was willing to give my body to death in obedience to my God to free my soul from 〈◊〉 that I might escape the Wrath I lay under 〈◊〉 get acquaintance with him I joyned with that little Remnant which said they fought for the Gospel but when I was amongst them I found as much ignorance of the Gospel as was in those I had been with none told me what the Gospel was but the Letter which is the outward Testimony and Declaration of the Gospel which is Christ who is the Glad-tydings to Sinners but they called the Letter the Gospel as I had heard before so I found no rest to my Soul amongst them Then I heard there was in Scotland a reformed Church whom they said walked in the fear of the Lord I journyed into that Country and to Edenbrough where I found nothing but formallity their Teachers calling to the people to seek the Kingdom of Heaven in outward observations as I had heard in England Then I returned back to England again and went amongst those that called themselves the Church of Christ who are called by the name Anabaptists and Independants who was setting up a more glorious Image in outward observations and said they were the Children of God but I could not joyn with them for the Testimony of his Love my Soul wanted And then the Lord discovered to me that his Love could not be attained in any thing I could do in any of these outward observations so in all these my turnings in my carnal wisdom seeking the Kingdom of God in observations without thither the flaming Sword turned which kept the way of the Tree of Life and fenced me from it and cut me down and rent all my Fig-leave Coverings destroyed that minde that looked out to seek the Kingdom of Heaven in observations or to hearken any more to hear the Word of the Lord from 〈◊〉 Then my minde was turned within by the Power of the Lord to wait in his Counsel the Light in my Conscience to hear what the Lord would say And the Word of the Lord came unto me and said Put up thy Sword into thy Scabard if my Kingdom were of this World then would my Children Fight Knowest thou not that if I need I could have twelve legions of Angels from my Father which Word enlightned my Heart and discovered the mystery of iniquity and that the Kingdom of Christ was within and the Enemies was within and was spiritual and my Weapons against them must be spiritual the Power of God Then I could no longer Fight with a carnal Weapon against a carnal Man for the Letter which man in his carnal wisdom called the Gospel and had deceived me but then the Lord discovered to me the deceits of all these men in England that were seeking the Kingdom of Heaven in outward observations and the Messenger of the Covenant forth of his Mouth proceeded the two-edged Sword with which he slays his Enemies cut me down and caused me to yeild in obedience to put up my carnal Sword into the Scabard and to leave the Army Then I returned to my outward Habitation and Calling I had in the World and there laboured with my Hands my minde being turned within to wait upon the Lord in the way of his judgments and this I witness the Administration of Moses in which Cain is banished Esau reprobated Pharoah plagued the first born of Egypt slain and my will brought in subjection for the Lord to do with me what his will was if he condemned me he might and if he saved me it was his free Love and in this condemned estate I lay crying in the depth of misery without any hopes of deliverance by any thing I could do to pacifie the Wrath of God till the Administration of the Prophets that witnessed to my Soul there was free redemption
give you power over them you would take away all Laws that burthened the Consciences of his people and they should have free liberty to worship him in Spirit and in Truth according to his Law written in their own hearts and according to your desires the Lord appeared while you in his counsell stood and gave all into your power according to the desires of your own hearts and now is the time of your tryall wherein the Lord is trying you all this day whom he hath put power into your hands which if you now forget the Lord God who appeared to you when you were little in your own eyes in the day of your distress and deny to perform your Promises you made to the Lord when he delivered you out of the hands of those that sought your lives but contrary to all your Promises abuse your Power you are intrusted with to build up again what you seem'd to destroy which cost the price of so much blood in establishing Laws which are contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the Conscience and by them think to scatter the power of the holy people and to weary out the Saints of tlle most high God in turning Judgment backward and keeping Justice afar of that Truth falleth in the Streets and Equity cannot enter so he that departeth from Evil maketh himself a prey to your wills and the Lord God seeth it and is displeased with you that there is no Judgment for his People Therefore to you this is the Word of the Lord that abuse your power you are intrusted with in perverting judgment as before-written thus saith the Lord God The Pit you dig for my people ye shall fall into it your selves and my people I will deliver by the Arm of my mighty power and according to your deeds I will to you repay and recompence fury and vengeance to you my Adversaries and will you sweep away with the Beesom of my wrath except you repent and your blood shall be upon your own heads and you shall not escape but come to your End and none shall help you He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear And be fore-warned now in this day of your Visitation wherein the Lord hath to you sent you to forewarn of the evil that is a coming upon you that you may speedily to him return and lay your Crowns in the dust at the Feet of Jesus Sions King and in his Counsel stand which is the Light in the Conscience that in you witnesseth against every vain thought and wicked imaginations and in the Light wait his Power you to guide to perform your Promises and to take away all Laws contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the Conscience that the righteous Law of God may be your Guide which is the Guide of all the Children of God then will the Lord God of Heaven and Earth be with you and with the Arm of his mighty Power destroy all that Plot or rise up against you before whom he will make the unrighteous Powers of the Earth to shake if you abide faithful in his Counsel and will make you a terrour to the Evil-Doers and a praise to them that do well and will bring you into the eternal Peace and Rest he hath prepared for his People but if you reject his Counsel and cast his righteous Law behind your backs as you have done and follow the counsel of your own hearts all that have an Eye to see read and understand Prov. 29.1 He that hath been often reproved and hardeneth his Neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy And in that Day I shall be clear of your blood who in love to your Souls hath not hid the Counsel of God from you which he hath made known to me that you may be left without excuse in the day of the Lords Anger when he doth perform what he hath spoken Then shall I be remembred whom the World knoweth by Name William Deusbery and by some of you that profess to minister justice cast into Prison and there kept in the common Goal in Northampton for the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ. From the Goal in Northampton the 25 th day of the 4 th Moneth 1655. O England England over all in thee I lament who Persecutes the Sons and Daughters of the most high God he hath to thee sent thee to forewarn of the evil day that is coming upon thee O That thou in this day of thy Visitation did know the things belonging to thy Peace which the living God tenders to thee in this day of his mercy wherein he waits on thee to be gracious unto thee and to make thee the glory of all the Nations of the World and in all thy Straits for thee appeared and in his mighty Power hath destroyed all that did secretly Plot and Rise up against thee to establish unrighteous Laws and them bind upon the Consciences of those that feared the Lord in thee and walked humbly before him according to the measure of Light received and now hath he appeared in the day of his mighty Power in thee O England to exalt the Kingdom of Christ in the Hearts of his Saints and hath sent them to Preach his everlasting Gospel in thee to turn the minds of the People from Darkness to Light which comes from Christ in it to wait for his Power to guide out of all Sin and Uncleaness into union and fellowship with the Father of Light which many of you People in England seemed to desire above all things and content to give up your lives to withstand them that did appear to bind any unrighteous Law upon you and by it to take advantage against you concerning the Law of God which you professed to love and to delight in your liberty in it more then in your nearest and dearest Relation or Life or any outward enjoyment and all you in that day who were faithful to the Lord according to the measure of Light manifest in you the Lord God did appear for you and in his mighty Power hath scattered those that stood up in enmity against you to bind Laws upon your Consciences which is contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the Heart and the Lord hath given you power over all those your Enemies and now have you free liberty which they cannot take from you to worship God in Spirit and in Truth according to the desires you seemed to manifest in the day you cryed to the Lord when you were in distress and now is the Lord come to visit you in his tender mercy and hath sent his Ministers to Preach his eternal Word freely without Money or Price in season and out of season to reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine which many of you People in England who promised the Lord to worship him in Spirit and Truth now his counsel reject and turns to the Teachers you have
heaped up to your selves according to your own Lusts who cries Peace Peace to you in what you do while you put into their Mouths and now is the time come to the fulfilling the Scripture in you who have itching Ears and cannot indure sound Doctrine but turns from it to Fables which if you continue in your careless minds slighting this day of your Visitation and not like to retain God in your knowledge God will give you up to reprobate minds that profess you know God but in works deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate upon whom the Lord will get his glory in his righteous judgements and if the Lord in his everlasting love had not left a Seed in thee O England thou with all thy Teachers whom thou hast heaped up according to thy own Lusts would have become as Sodom but for his own Seed sake whom he hath blessed he will do good to the Inhabitants of England who stand faithfully in his Counsel to be guided by his Power and will scatter all those that stand in opposition to his righteous Seed Christ whom he is exalting in the Hearts of his elect and chosen People in England to rule for ever over all that stand in enmity to him this is the day the mighty God is giving all power unto his Son Jesus to whom every knee shall bow and all you proud stubborn self-willed lofty ones that hate the Light of Christ in you that witnesses against Sin in the secret of the Heart and Conscience and it reject and deny to be guided by it but turn to the counsel of your own Hearts and the Teachers you have heaped up according to your Lusts and with them sits at ease in the Flesh and turns the Grace of God into wontonness and forgets the loving kindness of the Lord who delivered you by the Arm of his mighty Power when Enemies compassed you on every side and gave you your lives for a prey when they were nigh unto Death and now you abuse your liberty to walk with your Teachers according to your Lusts and with them commit this filthy and abominable thing in the Land the Priests to Teach for Hire and the Prophets they divine for Money and you People love to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof which day you put afar off and do not regard but that you shall not be ignorant of the mind of the Lord and left without excuse in the mighty day of the Lords anger who hath sent his Servants and Children early and late to fore-warn you of the evil day that is coming upon you if you do not speedily repent and turn to the Lord but slight this day of your Visitation then shall the things now belonging to your Peace be hid from your Eyes and your end shall be according to the Word of the Lord I declare to you Thus saith the Lord All these my Enemies that will not that I shall Rule over them bring them hither and slay them before me and this is your portion you Enemies of Christ that hate his Counsel as before written he will you consume with the Breath of his Mouth and the brightness of his coming which will over-take you that sit at ease in the Flesh as a Thief in the night and in flames of Fire will render vengeance on you that disobey his Gospel and will give to every one of you according to the works done in the Body and you shall not escape from Israels Judge Sions King who will all his people deliver and you proud lofty Ones bring under by his mighty Power to the praise and glory of his righteous justice who alone is worthy God over all blessed for ever Amen Remember you are warned in your life time and prize this day of your Visitation while the Lord in patience and long-sufferance waits to be gracious and merciful to you if you speedily return to his Counsel which is the Light of Christ in your Consciences that shewes you Sin and wait in it for his Power to lead you to Repentance and to cleanse you from Sin and in the straight way of self-denial and the daily Cross you to guide in obedience to the Father of Light then will the Lord God be merciful to you and heal your backslidings and love you freely and blot out your Transgressions for his name sake which if you will have none of his Counsel but it reject as you have done and still commit this filthy and abominable thing in the Land the Priests to teach for Hire and the Prophets to divine for Money which is the practice of your Teachers you have heaped up to your selves according to your Lusts and love to have it so then your Portion you must own what the Lord hath spoken he will perform and you and your Teachers shall reap the fruit of your doings according as is declared and in that day I shall be remembred when you lie upon the Bed of sorrow who is clear of all your Blood who perish through your disobedience in that I have not hid the Counsel of God from neither Rulers Priests nor People And to the Light of Christ in all your Consciences I clear my Conscience in the presence of the living pure dreadful God who will perform according to his Words and the condemnation of the Evil-doers slumbers not the Lord will cleanse the Land of you and not any that rejects Christ the corner Stone shall Rule in England for the Lord will make it the glory of all the Nations of the World notwithstanding all that oppose him his own work he will carry on in it by the Arm of his mighty Power will he exalt Christ Jesus to be King in it to Rule the People according to his righteous Law and all that will not his Laws obey and their Crowns lay down at his Feet and to him their Knee bow in perfect obedience to his righteous Law written in the Heart and Conscience he will you break in pieces with his rod of Iron and dash in sunder like a Potters Vessel and not any shall escape that doth evil and bring the Curse upon the Earth which the Lord is making as the Garden of Eden the Mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it he that can receive it let him and hath an Ear to hear let him hear And whether you People in England hear or forbear in your Consciences I shall be for ever manifest and you shall eternally witness the Truth I have declared is to you the Word of the Lord God the day will declare it William Deusbery A TRUE TESTIMONY OF What was done concerning the Servants of the Lord At the General Assizes holden at NORTHAMPTON THE One and twentieth day of the fifth Month 1655. Where Edward Atkins sate Judge of Life and Death before whom was brought William Deusbery Ioseph Storr Henry Williamson Iohn Whitehead Marmaduke Storr Thomas Cocket and Francis
Anointed and lay your Plots in the deep and fetch your counsel out of the bottomless Pit that you may ensnare the righteous Seed whom the World in scorn calls Quakers who in love to your Souls do you warn as you will eternally answer before the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to give over Plotting against the Righteous and inventing evil devices against the Innocent for in the eternal Light you are seen and in your secret works of darkness you are discovered and all you that will not take warning now when the Lord calls you to turn to his Light but his Counsel rejects and continue in the evil of your doings To you this is the Word of the Lord All your Plots and Counsels shall not prosper against the Righteous for he that sits in Heaven doth laugh the Lord shall have you in derision for not any Plot shall prevail against Israel nor unrighteous Counsel stand before Zions King who will break you with the rod of Iron and dash you in pieces like a Potters Vessel that plots against him to oppose him in his appearance In the Hearts of his Saints for in what you do to the least of those you do it to me saith Christ and better a Milstone were hanged about your Neck and you cast into the bottom of the Sea than to offend the least of those that believe in my Name From the Spirit of the Lord that will not always strive with Man you are once more warned now while you have time prize it and turn to the Light of Christ in your Consciences which lets you see the secret evil of your Hearts and wait in the Light for the Power of Christ to destroy the plotting wicked inventing minde and to guide you in the strait and narrow way of self-denial and the daily Cross in perfect obedience to the Law of God least you perish in your disobedience for the Lord God of Israel is arising in mighty Power to plead the Cause of his persecuted oppressed People and to scatter all their Enemies that plot against them as Dust before the Wind for they that plot against the People of God and for them digs a Pit shall fall into it themselves for not any Weapon formed against them shall prosper for all shall know the mighty God is with Israel his People and that the King of eternal glory dwells in Mount-Sion who is the strength of his people and of his Dominion there shall be no end and in that day all both high and low rich and poor that slight the comfort of the Lord and continue in enmity against him and his appearance in the Hearts of his Saints then will you know what hath been and is declared to you from the righteous Seed is to you the Word of the Lord God He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear Witnessed by the righteous Seed whom the World in scorn calls Quakers who are in the common Goal in Northampton for the Truths sake REad with understanding in the fear of the Lord this is the Word of the Lord to you Dear Friends Servants and Children of the most high God whom he hath called out of the World be faithful all of you in his Counsel to wait for his Power you to guide in all your thoughts words and works in his pure fear in obedience to his Will I charge you in the presence of God be valiant for your freedom in your dwelling in the Power of God that he may be your Arm against the fiery Darts of the Devil him to resist in his appearance in all his Wiles who goes about like a roaring Lyon to devour you every way seeking to get into you your minds from the pure to draw into the vibsile things your affections there to captivate your wills to satisfie in created and perishing objects as in the knowledge of the Truth in the fleshly wisdom to feed with the Swine upon the Husk the Form and Image of what you have enjoyed or of what you see in the Light and Vision and doth not enjoy it in the Possession but spake in the airy drunken spirit Words without knowledge with them sits decked a painted Beast above the Cross and thou whose condition this is art the foolish Virgin that appears in the ouâ—ward formality in the sight of Men with a Lamp like the wise Virgin but not dwelling in the Power of God wants the Oyle of joy and gladness in the power of his love which the wise Virgins have in their Lamps that dwell in the pure Light and Power of God which keeps all the affections in order to the Spirit of Truth and bridles the Tongue not to utter words before the Lord but in the silence on him to wait till his Spirit move his mind to declare from the living Power what the Soul possesses and enjoys in Christ the Husband of the wise Virgin who is the Bride the Lambs Wife I charge and command you all in the presence of the living God who make mention of his Name examine your Hearts search them and try your ways with the Light that comes from Christ which will discover all your conditions in the Book of Concience there you will see how you stand in the presence of God wherein the state of the foolish Virgin in the airy Spirit feeding upon words spoken in the Light and Viâ—ion there boasting in pride of what thou possessest not and through the subtilty of the Devil is turned from the pure Power to flee the Cross and so make Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience or whether you be in the state of the wise Virgin that in the pure Light waits and dwells in the Power which chastiseth that which would your Garments defile keep daily in the Cross and then the Soul is kept pure and clean to follow the Lamb with boldness whithersoever he goes and enters with him into the rest prepared for the People of God where thou the foolish Virgin shalt not come until thou from thy folly and fleshly wisdom return to the pure Light with it to judge and in it to wait for his Power Christ Jesus the Fountain of wisdom thee to guide in faithful obedience to the Father of Light. All dear Children of the Lord be valiant bold and faithful that in the pure Light Power and Life of God you may all stand in the day of tryal which the Lord will bring upon you all that make mention of his Name for power shall be given to the Beast his Horn to exalt even to the host of Heaven for the cleansing of the Sanctuary that all painted Beasts that are enemies to the Cross that hath defiled the Sanctuary of the living God in coming before him amongst his Saints and Children for from among them shall they come trembling before the power of the Beast when he utters his voice for all to come to his Image him to worship then shall all you Children of the most high God whom
have been Persecuted and some cast into Prison by their power and this is the Beast that had power to give Life to the Image that the Image of the Beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not Worship the Image of the Beast should be killed and this is fulfilled that when the Beast received his deadly wound with the Sword of the righteous Justice of God then did the other Beast which was the power that Raigned after him give life to the Image of the Beast that the Image of the Beast spoke and this was fulfilled in giving power to the unrighteous Laws where the Priests and unrighteous Lawyers and Judges that Iudge for Rewards that as many as would not worship the Beast in obeying the will of proud flesh must be Killed cast into Prison and there Starve and be broken to pieces and by the power of proud Nebuchadnezar's nature must be cast into places some into close Prison by the wrath of proud flesh and must neither Buy nor Sell to have any benefit of the Law but he that hath the mark of the Beast and the number of his Name Here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints And you Saints of the most high God stand in his Will for these words are sealed up until the time of the end and you shall stand in the Lot at the end of the days Here is Wisdom Let him that hath understanding count the number of the Beast for it is the number of a Man and his number is six Hundred threescore and six Now if you hold up this glorious Image which was set up by Nebuchadnezar's nature proud flesh in human wisdom which that Image spoken of in Daniel was but a tipe and figure of this which now shines gloriously in Forms and Observations and deny the Life and Power of Jesus Christ you will be found to be the strength and glory of this great Image And this I declare unto you from the eternal God of Power You shall be overturned as all that have gone before you which have set up this great Image and caused all both small and great to bow down and worship it The Stone cut out of the Mountain without Hand shall smite this glorious Image and break it to pieces and it shall become like the Chaff of the Summer Threshing-Floor and the Wind shall carry it away and no place shall be found for it and the Stone that smites the Image shall become a great Mountain and shall fill the whole Earth O be valiant for the Truth upon Earth ye Rulers of England and give over building up Sion with Blood and Ierusalem with Iniquity as it hath been in this Nation by all that upheld this Image which the Lord hath overturned and cast out before you and is still held up by you The Heads thereof judge for Reward and the Priests teach for Hire and the Prophets thereof divine for Money yet will they lean upon the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst us no evil can come upon us O prize your time and stand steadfast in the Counsel of the Lord the Light in your Consciences hearken unto it let it alone guide you in all your Counsel that Christ may be Head in you all then will the glory of God be the end of all your undertakings and you will remove this filthy and abominable thing out of the sight of the Lord the Judges that judge for Rewards and the Lawyers that plead for Money and the Priests that teach for Hire and set over the People to judge their Causes Men fearing God and hateing Covetousness to judge their Causes without Rewards and that the People may be taught freely without Money or Price by the free Spirit of Christ in the Hearts of his Saints who cannot but declare freely as we have freely received Then will the mighty Power of God go along with you in all your ways if you will stand in his Counsel and walk in his fear to depart from all evil which is the beginning of Wisdom and your names will become a sweet savour through the power of the Lord among his Saints as all the names of the Righteous are and you shall partake of the glory of the Lord which he is manifesting to his chosen People in this Nation which he hath chosen to make known his Power in exalting the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and will make it the glory of all the Nations in the World and the mighty God of Power will be unto us Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks and we shall sit under our Vines and Fig-trees and none shall make us afraid And this shall be the Portion of your Cup if you will deny your selves and diligently hearken to the Counsel of the Lord the Light in your Consciences to which I speak which shall eternally witness the Truth declared unto you For the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it who hath raised up his own Seed in his People in this Nation which cannot cleave to this great Image which was set up by those that were in the place where you are which the Lord hath overturned and cast out in his Indignation and is not yet taken away by you and while you uphold it the anger of the Lord is kindled against you There is no peace to the Wicked saith my God. This is the day that the God of Heaven will set up his own Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left unto other people but shall stand for ever and ever Here I have cleered my Conscience in declaring unto you what my God hath made known unto me concerning you and the Nation which shall shortly come to pass He that hath an Eye to see let him see and he that hath an Ear to hear let him hear To all you unrighteous Judges that judge for Rewards and Lawyers that plead for Money who devour the Creation and set people at variance destroy many Families and delight in unrighteousness and to all Oppressors high and low who grind the faces of the Poor and causes them to groan under your Cruelty and Oppression hear the Word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God Howl and Weep for the misery which is coming upon you for the cry of the Oppressed hath entered into the Ears of the Lord and he is coming to render vengeance upon you and set the Oppressed free For the rust of your Money and Gold shall eat your Flesh as it were Fire for you have heaped up Treasures for the last day and ye shall be cut down ye fruitless Trees that cumber the ground and cast into the Lake for it is the place prepared for you and for all fearful and unbelieving and the Abominable and Murtherers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers Idolaters and all Lyars shall have their part
nor suffer them that are entering in to enter in and here you shut all from the Kingdom of Heaven which is within them in drawing them from the Light in their Consciences which would lead them unto the Word of Faith which is in their Hearts the anointing of the Father wherein they need not to teach one another but as the Anointing teaches which is in Truth and is no Lye which all the Children of the Lord are witnesses of in their measures who walk in the Light and see your deceits how you Murder and Destroy Souls for Money to maintain you in Pride and Pleasure though the Light in your Consciences cry against you for your practices but you hate it and will not obey it but to it I speak which will witness me eternally when the Book of Conscience is opened to your Condemnation who shut all people out of the Kingdom of God which is within them in turning them aside from the Light in their Consciences which the Lord hath given unto every one a measure to guide them into the Kingdom And then you make a prey of them in telling them they must wait for the Kingdom of God in Observations which you call Ordinances which you have set up in your imaginations of the Saints Conditions which is Recorded in the Scripture of Truth Some of you say Lo here is Christ in the Presbiterian practice and saith another Lo he is here in the Independent practice and the Anabaptist saith Lo he is here and others that walk in outward Observations say Lo he is here according as Christ fore-told that such would come that would say Lo here is Christ Lo there is Christ as it is fulfilled in you who draw people to seek the Kingdom of God in outward Obsevations but saith Christ Believe them not for the Kingdom of God comes not with Observations for as the Lightning cometh out of the East and shineth unto the West so shall the coming of the Son of Man be And this I witness but you turn them from the Light in the Conscience which would lead them into the Kingdom to look forth at the glorious Image you have set up in outward Observations and they must pay you so much a Year for it as will maintain you in Pride and Pleasure to be Masters among the Sons of Men and so you Worship the works of your own Hands offering up Sacrifice to an unknown God whom you ignorantly Worship having no Scripture for many things you do There is no Scripture for your Call into the Ministry of the Gospel of Christ by human Wisdom nor for your making Bargains with the People for so much a Year There is no Scripture for your sprinkling Water on the Face of a Child calling it Baptism There is no Scripture for your stealing the Saints Words in taking a part of Scripture and adding to it your wisdom tearing it in sunder in Doctrines Reasons Uses Helps Motives according unto the fancies of your Brains There is no Scripture for your particular Houses that you have to creep into where none must come but your selves and whom you please to declare your Sermon as you call it which is a divination of your own Hearts one day after another one year after another There is no Scripture for your putting Davids words into the Mouths of poor ignorant People to sing praises unto the Lord as O Lord I am not puffed in mind I have no scornful eye I water my Couch with my tears all the night make I my Bed to swim all my Bones do tremble When they cannot witness these Conditions and so cause them to Blaspheme the Name of God and when the Light in their Consciences cries against them for Lying in the presence of God and Blaspheming his great and glorious Name You tell them it is the Light of a natural Conscience and so murders their Souls in shutting them out of the Kingdom of God as the Scribes and Pharisees and all the false Prophets did that denied Christ to be the Light who enlightens every one that comes into the World And here you are found to be among the false Prophets Scribes and Pharisees walking in their ways and every Tree is known by its Fruits which all the Prophets walked in the Light and Christ that was the Light cryed Wo against and you are all turned out of the way in rejecting the corner-Stone Christ which enlightens the Conscience of every one to guide them unto him as the false Builders did and go in the way of Cain to Murther and greedily run after the error of Balaam who loved the Wages of unrighteousness So as a Troop of Robbers wait for a Man so do you company of Priests Murder in the way by consent as the Priests did when the Lord sent Hosea the true Prophet to cry against them for you commit Lewdness in turning every one from the Light in their Consciences which the Lord hath given unto every one a measure according unto their ability to guide them up into the Kingdom of God and you turn them aside to seek the Kingdom in Observations hearkening unto the dark inventions of your Brains in adding your Wisdom unto the Testimony of Christ and this is your Portion the Plagues written in the Book will be added upon you Here I have cleared my Conscience dealing plainly with you declaring unto you where you are as the Lord hath made known unto me that you may be without excuse in the mighty day of the Lord which will speedily come upon you wherein you shall give account for the Blood of Souls that have been shut out of the Kingdom and destroyed by you To the Light in every one of your Consciences I speak which shall eternally witness me when the Book of Conscience is opened Repent Repent and give over deceiving the People and destroying their Souls and haste haste to meet the Lord in returning within to be guided by his Counsel the Light in your Consciences which you have rejected least ye perish in your gain-saying Kiss the Son in obeying his Counsel the Light in your Conscience that lets you see the evil of your doings least you perish in the way for if his anger be kindled a little blessed are all they that trust in him To all you who have set up a finer Image in Gospel Ordinances as you call them under the Forms of Independent and Anabaptist and say you are the Saints whom the Lord hath chosen and have only right to the best of the Creatures to Eat of the Fat and be Clothed with the finest of the Wool and make merry with the Creatures and live in pleasure and when the Light in your Conscience cries against you to Vse your Liberty but not as an occasion to the Flesh to make no provision for the Flesh to satisfie it and
is in them that was in Christ Jesus Phil. 2.5 who is the brightness of the Fathers glory Heb. 1.3 7. The seventh false Accusation thou saist we say that he that trusts in Christ that dyed at Ierusalem for Salvation shall be deceived Reply This Charge is false as the other in the presence of God we witness against thee no other Christ we bear Testimony of to be the Salvation of lost Man and Woman but that Christ according to Scripture Testimony who was born of the Virgin and made a good Confession before Pilate and suffered at Ierusalem and rose again the third day and ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right Hand of God and this Christ we witness the true Light Who lighteth every one that comes into the World and saith I stand at the Door and knock who opens I will come into him and Sup with him and he with me Rev. 3.20 and we witness him faithful And as many as receives him to them he gives power to become the Sons of God and this is the condemnation of all because they believe not in him Iohn 12. 8. The eight false Accusation thou saist we reproach Christs Institutions and holy Ordinances with the odium of Mens Traditions outward Observations inconsistant with Gods Kingdom and compares them to Nebuchadnezar's great Idol c. Reply Thy Charge is false Christs Institutions and holy Ordinances we own in the Dispensation of time they were to be continued and what is now in this Dispensation of time known in the administration of his Spirit we own but who upholds any Idolatry in observing any thing by Tradition and not guided by the Spirit of Christ and so walk contrary to the perfect Law of God in the Conscience and though their words be never so glorious in outward appearance in crying the Ordinances of Christ while they deny to be guided by Christ they are no Ordinances of Christ but an Image set up in the proud exalted nature which Nebuchadnezar set up his Image in which with the Power of God shall be thrown down and thou with the rest of the Idol Worshippers shall be broken to pieces and Lies shall not save thee for the Lord will exalt his Name and his Children that observe his holy Ordinances shall raign in his spiritual Power that preserves them therein to observe the movings of his Spirit which doth lead to worship the Father in Spirit and Truth according to Scripture Testimony Iohn 4.23 24. And when thou Iohn Timson hast presented thy false Accusations and Lies to the Reader in the Preface of thy Book that they might receive the Falshoods and Lies that are written therein and these Lies and Slanders which are here laid before thee and witnessed against in the answer thereto returned will sufficiently prove to thy face and be manifest to that of God in every ones Conscience that thou hast spoken unadvisedly with thy Lips when thou saist thou Lies not and all these Lies found in thy Mouth given forth publickely for all to read and thou declares to the Reader that the Lord knows what diligence and tenderness of Bowels thou hast had to prepare it for them c. Reply Blush for shame O vain Man to appeal to the Lords knowledge of thy diligence and tenderness of Bowels to prepare so many Lies and Falshoods for People to read thou shalt certainly know that the Lord takes notice of thee and he will lay thee open and make thee manifest and Lies shall not cover thee nor be thy refuge Isa. 28.17 when our God will clear his Truth and thy Tongue and all others that rise up against him shall fall in Judgement the day shall declare it Further thou goes on saying as for those persons that have answered me who have charged me with bringing sorth many Lies and Slanders and have made a noise thereof as if I was some carnal lying wretch that matters not what I write Reply To that of God in every ones Conscience I appeal that Lies proceed from a carnal wretched Heart and the Lord is making thee manifest who would make Lies thy refuge which with the Light thou art seen and thy Lies turned upon thee that in the Light thou mayst be read what thou art and in the Light our Books are known and no such thing is in our Books as thou falsly charges us with and would make People believe is written therein in giving the sence of our words in thy dark mind and for the Simples sake an answer is returned to clear the Truth of God in what he hath given out by his Spirit both in word and writing and whether thou wilt receive it yea or nay thou shalt know and all others that Christ is the Authority of the Scripture and when he spoke them forth he spake as one having Authority and not as a Scribe and who in his Light walk cannot be perswaded to turn from him by any Lies and Reproaches thou canst cast upon them who saist we are wholly turned from the Truth which against thee witness it is not so let God be Judge and in his day make manifest what we are in whose Will we rest as moved of him to witness against the Falshoods thou hast further charged upon us in what followeth Thou hast not done justly nor honestly in that thou hast not Printed the Questions as given forth by thee and Answers as returned by us and in an answer to what is of thee required to prove the Charge thou chargest us withal in thy Reply to the Answer to the first Question and the false Accusations Lies and Slanders is not proved in all thou hast writ The one Baptism we own Eph. 4.5 and the Watch in the Church we own in the Spirit of life which in order doth keep in obedience to the pure God who is the God of order and not of confusion but keeps his Children in himself purely to live according to what is profest Further thou goest on and queries what proof would we have is it not our own prophane Language both in Papers and Conference it is no news to hear most of their Way dispute against water Baptism the Lords Supper a setled fixed Ministry over particular Churches and queries further what Quakers administer water Baptism the Lords Supper and constantly watches over a particular Flock or else for shame thou saist we must own the Charge and confess our Sin in telling the World these are thy lying Slanders Reply Prophane Language we deny and Shadows and Figures we witness done away the Substance being come water Baptism was in its time a Figure of the Substance as Iohn witnesses to whom that Dispensation was committed Mat. 3.11 I indeed Baptize with Water unto Repentance but he that comes after me is mightier then I whose Shooes I am not worthy to bear he shall Baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with Fire And Iohn's Baptism we deny to be in force he did decrease and Christ
Father draweth by the power of his unlimited Spirit and never any shall know the Father but he to whom the Son reveals him and he that thinks to attain the way to eternal Life by reading the Letter of the Scripture and regards not the Light that comes from Christ that witnesseth for God in the secret of the Heart and Conscience he deceives himself for the mystery of eternal Life is Sealed up in the sealed Book from all the Sons and Daughters of Men and none shall ever know it by the outward Testimony of Scripture but by the Inspiration of the Spiriâ— of Jesus Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah who is found worthy to open the Seals of the Book And is the Way the Truth and the Life to all that in his Light wait his Power them to guide in faithful obedience to the righteous and perfect Law of God written in the Heart for the exercise of the Conscience which keeps them void of offence towards God and towards Men according to Testimony of Scripture Acts â—4 1â— 23.1 4. 〈…〉 Light of Conscieâ—â—â— which is 〈…〉 Fall be the remains 〈…〉 Beliques lesâ— of the first Adam in reference to the Covenant of works or whether her common to all from the Redemption of the second Adam as flowing from the Covenant of Grace or how else I desire you would clearly express your thoughts in this Ans. Man in the fallen estate hath not any Light as the remains of the first Adam in him to guide him to do any thing well-pleasing to God as he stand in the state of corrupt Nature for all his Righteousness is as â—ilthy Rags and as a menstruous Cloth the Light that convinceth Man and Woman of the evil of their Hearts and discovers the filthiness of all their own Righteousness is the Light that comes from Christ the true Light that lighteth every Man that comes into the World Iohn 1.9 And this Light is not common to Man by nature it is the great gift of God his Grace that hath appeared and teacheth all that are guided by it to deny all Ungodliness and worldly Lusts and to live Godlily and Soberly in this present evil World and all that walk contrary to the Light this is their Condemnation the Light Iohn 3.19 5. Qu. Whether the end of God in giving and continuing this â—ind of Light to all Men in the World was not to be 〈◊〉 and câ—rb to the exorbitant lusts of so corrupt 〈◊〉 as Man and so made subserviant to God in the Government of the World in order to the peace and continuance of the same and to leave all without excuse Or what beside this the end of God was that this kind of Light should be minded and improued according to the power of Man by what he is from Creation 〈…〉 or Redemption in order to eternal happiness and the 〈◊〉 this Light in all Men shall be the only condemnation of the World. Or whether this Light be the Gospel or Christ or his Spirit or whether it be a Light either equal with or inferiour to or of a different kind with the Scriptures Ans. The Light which comes from Christ is given of God to guide the Creature out of its own strength and power to Christ the mighty Power and Wisdom of God the Creature to guide with Moderation in the use of all Creatures and to order and govern the Creation to the Praise and Glory of God And this Light is of the pure Nature of God and leads to Christ the Everlasting Gospel And this is the condemnation of the World that hate the Light which comes from Christ because they believe not in him Iohn 1.8 6. Qu. Whether the Light of Conscience the Light of Scripture the Light of Providence the Light of Grace ought noâ— to be prest upon all to reform them and draw them up to a higher pitch of Christian Obedience according to the written Word of the Lord Ans. Thou by all who are in the Light is seen to be in thy Wisdom querying after many Lights but 〈◊〉 is formerly written in answer to thy 4th Question there is but one true Light Christ who lighteth every one that comes into the World and all his Ministers turns the Minds of People froâ— Darkness to Christ the true Light in it to waâ—t on him for his Power to destroy the Power of Satan and to lead in the strait narrow way of self-denyal and the daily Cross which is the way into the Kingdom of God who ever will be my Disciple saith Christ be must deny himself and take up his Cross daily and follow me Luke 19.23 7. Qu. Whether a Sinner condemned by the Law is made just before God unto Eternal Life by an inherent Power within or work of Sanctification or whether by the Satisfaction and Suffering of Christ in Mans nature and behalf rested on by Faith Ans. The Creature whose Conscience is awakened by the Light the Righteous Law of God in the Heart which shews it its sinful state and stands condemned before the Throne of God for disobeying the Light shall never be justified by any self-Righteousness for it is uncleanness in the Sight of God for justification is through Faith in the Lord Jesus but this Faith which layes hold on Christ for justification is not attained by any Power the Creature hath of its self neither can any know it who receive honor one of another Iohn 5.44 How can ye believe who receive honor one of another and seek not the Honor that comes from God only Faith is the Gift of God given to the Children of Light who wait in the Light on the Lord in the way of his Judgments Isa. 26.8 till judgment be brought forth into Victory that the Creature be brought into true Poverty of Spirit forever to perish without free Redemption in the Lord Jesus which the Father in his appointed time reveales the Son to the Soul that stands condemned befoâ—e him and by the Arm of his mighty Power creates it to a lively Hope and he that hath this Hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure so whom he justifieth he sanctifieth and he that saith he is justified and liveth in Sin deceiveth himself for Faith purifieth the Heart and purgeth the Conscience from dead Works to 〈…〉 witnessed in the 〈…〉 of Scripture Heb. 9.14 8. Qu. Whâ—ther the Person or Essence of Christâ— or his Spirit dwellâ— in any upon Earth or whether by his Gifts and Graces only or whether all those that have Christ in them must forsake all outward teaching of Men and 〈◊〉 the Scripture be but a dead Letter and of no use otherwise then Christ within doth witness unto them Answ. He that knows not Christ to be in him is a Reprobate for he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is 〈◊〉 of his and he that is guided by the Spirit of Christ needs not any teaching of Man for you shall not need to teach one
Conscience towards God and Men and fear not Man whose breath is in his nostrils who stands up to oppose the Lord in this mighty Day of his Power wherein he is exalting Christ Jesus the Light to be King for ever in his Light be faithful to the Lord and though you be haled before Rulers Governours and Kings for a Testimony against them take no thought what you shall say but keep within staid in the Counsel of God it will be given you in the self-same hour my Heavenly Father will in you speak and his Enemies confound before his mighty Power in you and the Hearts of the great and mighty Men of the Earth shall fail and paleness shall gather into their Faces the dread of the holy God will be with you who faithfully give up to be guided by his Counsel in the Power of his Spirit one shall chase a Thousand and five put ten thousand to Flight the decree is gone forth Christ shall be King over all the Nations of the World and all the Powers of the World that him withstand he will break them with his iron rod and dash them in pieces like a potters Vessel so shall they become as dust before his breath the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it who is giving the Kingdoms of the World to his Son and to you that wait for his apperance the living â—ound is come that doth witness that not any weapon formed against him shall prosper in this day of his appearance in the Hearts of his Saints In the presence of the Lord I you Warn and Charge stand fast in the Counsel of the Lord Jesus Christ the Light in the Conscience and according to the measure you have received be faithful in walking with God in perfect obedience to his Will freely giving up your Bodies to finish your Testimony in sufferings if the Lord call you for it is not given only to believe in him but to suffer with him and they that suffer with him shall Raign with him and the Son of Man is perfect in sufferings and you that are faithful to the Lord he will lay no more upon you then he gives you strength to bear with the Angel of his presence he will you guard and campass you about with Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks and you shall know this is to you the Word of the Lord God The Day will declare it ALL People who dwell upon the Earth from the highest to the lowest fear the most high and living God who hath Created Heaven and Earth and the Fountains of Waters all return to his Counsel the Light of Christ that witnesseth for God in the Conscience against Sin in its appearance in the secret of the Heart and diligently encline your Ear to the Counsel of Christ the Light that he may guide you by his Spirit least through your disobedience you perish before him in this mighty Day of the Lords Power in which he is coming with Fire and Sword to plead with all Flesh and not any that transgresseth his righteous Law in the Conscience shall escape his righteous Judgment in this his Day He is bringing down the loftiness of Man and the haughtiness of his Spirit laying low and exalting his Son Christ Jesus to be King over all to Rule The Heathen he will give him for his Inheritance and the uttermost Parts of the Earth for his Possession and the Kingdom he will establish to his Son whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and of his Dominion there shall be no end Come down ye Kings Princes and Rulers in the World who in the Throne sit in Pride exalted to rule in your Wills contrary to the pure perfect Law of God the Light of Christ in your Consciences to which you must come and own your Condemnation for your Pride and Disobedience and to his Counsel the Light in your Consciences return in subjection to Christ the Son of God and at his Feet your Crowns lay down and Honours in the Dust before him and wait on him in his Counsel the Light that he may guide you by his Spirit in the fear of God to walk humbly before him in your Places to Rule for God to break the Bonds of iniquity and let the Oppressed go free that the glory of the most high God alone you seek and not great things for your selves as you have done and in this day of darkness while you have lived without the fear of God not regarding to be guided by his pure perfect Law the Light of Christ in the Conscience let the time past be sufficient you have lived to your selves without God in the World and with all diligence obey the Word of the Lord which is to you declared in this day of your Visitation wherein the Lord tenders eternal Salvation to you in Christ the Light in whom the Father is well pleased with all that obey him which if you be obedient to Christ and wait on him to guide you by his Counsel the Light he will you lead in the strait and narrow way of self-denial and daily Cross into the holy City new Ierusalem the Light of which all Nations that are saved walk therein and the Kings of the Earth shall bring their Glory and Honour unto it where your Souls will be refreshed with the living mercies of God in Christ the Light to praise him for ever in the beauty of Holiness but if you his Counsel reject and walk in Pride self-Love delighting your Hearts in the glory of the World and the pleasures therein and so slight this day of your Visitation then the things belonging to your Peace will be hid from your Eyes and sudden Destruction as a Whirlwind shall overtake you for Sions King whom you disobey will break you with his Rod of Iron and dash you to pieces like a Potters Vessel and you shall be cut down and slain with the Sword that proceeds out of the Mouth of him whose Name is called the Word of God. Now while you have time to him submit and kiss the Son in obeying his Counsel the Light in the Conscience least you perish in the way for if his anger be kindled a little Blessed are all they that trust in him Remember you are warned in your Life-time he that hath an Ear to hear let him hear The Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Raign for ever and ever Rev. 11.15 He that can receive it let him Dear Friends BRethren and Sisters in the Eternal Light of Christ Jesus whom my Heavenly Father hath gathered you to wait upon him that you might be the holy Presthood and Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus every one in particular mind your calling in the Light and watch diligently in the Light the Life to feel a raising you up in the pure being with God in Christ your Souls to delight in the pure Fellowship with the Father in the Lord Jesus and
seek to overcome with their subtle enticing words to draw them into singularity and self-separation that they may set them up with admiration and to carry on their own Interest they make use of those they overcome to seek all occasions with themselves to speak evil some both by writing and printing against those that God hath raised up to keep their Habitation and to stand unmovable upon the Foundation Christ the Light to discern and judge their subtle crafty wicked proceedings and to lay them open that they be such as intrude into a Ministry and runs when God never sent them therefore they do not profit the people at all for they go not in at the Door which is the Light to be led in conformity to Christ in his suffering and Death so come they to be ignorant of the saving gathering word of eternal Life because they in self-strivings climb up over the true judgment of God and in pride and fleshly wisdom pretends to enjoyments of high things in a self-boasting spirit some saying in their Hearts as it is written I see and know and am rich and want nothing when they are blind and miserable and naked and wants all things and must come again to the Light to bâ—y eye-salve of Christ that they may see and raiment to cover them or else their nakedness will forever appear For this birth which is generated in the Myâ—tery of Iniquity as before written it cannot live but in singularity and self-separation setting up self some times in visible Formes Gestures and Postures to be seen distinct from others as Clouds tossed to and fro to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever except they repent for God will make the Womb of this Births Conception to be the Grave whence again it shall return and there to be buried to its eternal consummation the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it through his Servant that hath and doth labour day and night according to the ability of the Grace I have received of the Lord for the restoration of all those that have been in danger of destruction through the snares and working of the Enemy as before written And amongst many some hearked to counsel and have been again restored in obedience to the Light but who rejected the counsel of God through his Servants and desperately goes on in a self-serving spirit though often reproved they harden their necks destruction hath doth and will come upon them and that without remedy Oh! How did my Bowels earn for the preservation of I. P. in what I could to have drawn and separated him from that spirit which gave forth the paper that propagated the keeping on the Hat in prayer and reflected judgment upon those that called upon the Name of the Lord with their Heads uncovered but after much counselling of him in tender love to have stopt that paper from going abroad but he would not be separated from that spirit that gave it forth Then I cleared my Conscience in the Word of the Lord which now in my freedom in God I declare to the Children of Sion what the eternal judgment was that did arise in my Heart in words to this purpose Iohn â—f then propagate what thou hast written in this paper thou wilt wound more Hearts and cause more trouble of spirit amongst the tender hearted People of the Lord then when the temptation entred dear I. N. who deeply suffered but the Lord restored him again by true repentance And as to my particuler it is not my nature to be found striving with thee or any upon the Earth but having declared the Truth to thee I will return to my rest in the Lord and let every birth live the length of its day and time manifest what is born of God for that Spirit that stands up in self-striving will weary it felf and dye and end in the Earth And this will certainly come to pass upon all that do not diligently wait in the Light to judg the out-goings of their minds and to be lead in true self-denial which is the Foot-steps where the Flocks of the Companions delight to walk every one serving one another in love seeking to restore one another with the Spirit of love and meekness forth of what any have done through the violence of Temptation or weakness Oh! Dear Friends feel the earning Bowels of the Lord through me to you all in which I beseech you that what hath come to pass in this day of great tryal and hour of Temptation you may all in dear love to the Lord of Life return to his Light to feel his Power restoring into a true understanding with him to walk in true self-denial where you will feel his Presence filling your Hearts and binding you up in eternal Unity of the Spirit and bond of Peace every one forgetting all things that are behind and not any one stand up in self-striving but in the tender broâ—herly love informing the Judgements of one another in the Light and Power of the endless life and in it submit to the low estate of one another serving one another in love which is the washing one anothers feet and here is Christ and his Disciples in eternal unity and powerful Dominion against whom every tongue lifted up shall fall in Judgment and every weapon formed shall not prosper but come to naught for the Mountain of the Lords House shall be more and more set upon the top of the Mountains and established over all the Hills and all the faithful shall more and more in eternal unity praise and magnifie his Name in the beauty of holiness who sits upon the throne and liveth and reigneth forever and ever And dear chosen Vessels who hath known and doe abide and keep your state with God in the perfecting power manifest in your inward man which truly buries self in the death and hath raised you up and sent you forth in the Resurrection and power of the endless Life which seeketh not any thing but to glorifie the Lord in all your travels and undertakings where-ever the Lord calls you Oh you blessed amongst the people what can be said of the goodness of the Lord that hath been and will be more and more manifest to you whose care and burdens labours and travels is known to the Lord and your reward is with him forever Dear Brethren though great be the wrath that withstands the work of our God which wrath worketh openly and mysteriously to lay burdens upon the innocent and to add affliction unto the afflicted In the Word of the Lord that ariseth in my Heart I declare they shall but weary themselves and all their hopes shall fail them and their expectations shall come to nought who wait for evil concerning you who love the Lord better then your lives and delight to wait to feel his Power at all times leading and ordering in the limits and bonds of the Spirit of the Lord c. I know there is of you my
whom they have power over not considering how you are driven out from the Presence of the Lord wherein you were placed in the beginning and some there are that feed upon the letter of the Scripture conprehending God and Christ in their Wisdom from what the Saints of the most high God had spoke forth from the Life they enjoyed in Christ Jesus which was in them the hope of their Glory and Man in his Serpentine Wisdom steals the Saints words into his understanding and never knows the Life and Power thereof in himself and so speaks a divination of his own Brain a Riddle to his own Heart and while he speaks to others himself is a Cast-way Every Man and Woman in particular deal justly with your Hearts and see where your Hearts are and what they delight in for in some of these created objects you delight in and feed upon if you cannot witness your change by the Eternal and Powerful Word of Truth for into the Earth you are driven from the Presence of God and these are the Fruits which spring forth of the Earth which is in your Hearts Self-love Pride Covetousness Anger Revenge Hastiness Frowardness Back-biting hard-Heartedness Cruelty and Oppression Lust and Uncleanness Drunkenness Impatiency and Unbelief and you are fenced out from coming to the Tree of Life with Cherubims and the flaming Sword which turns every way to keep the Tree of Life So every one see what you can witness of your return again unto God from whence you are separated by the Disobedience and evil of your Hearts and see what is the Ground of the hope of your callings and by what Power you are acted in your Obedience unto God whether by the Power of the first Adam or by the Power of the Second for if thou upon the Convincement of the evil of thy ways do not wait in the Light which is in thy Conscience that convinceth thee of the evil of thy doings for Power from the Lord to guide thee forth of the evil which the Light discovers which would guide thee into the Kingdom of God but thou runnest out into the Wisdom of the first Adam to seek the Kingdom of God in outward Forms and Observations according as thou comprehendest of the Saints practices and thou imitatest their practices in thy Wisdom and though thou walkst never so strictly in these outward Forms thou art alive in the first Adam sewing fig-leaves together to cover thy nakedness a piece of new cloth in an old Garment thou art putting new Wine into old Bottles and art building up a Tower to get up to God in thy heathenish and Babylonish Wisdom and confusion will come upon thee in the day when the Lord comes to look for Fruit thou wilt be found a fruitless Tree that cumbers the Ground Cain with his offering up Sacrifice unto God in thy first nature Esau seeking the Birth-right with Tears who shall never find it and all the Fruit that is raised in thee is from Hagar the Bond-woman and thou hast thy end for thy self in all that thou dost which is thy Hire which thou expectest in the end life for thy Labour and Obedience and thou regards not the Glory of the Lord and his Fear is not before thine Eyes therefore every Man and Woman deal justly with your own Hearts under what name or title soever thou be whether thou be a Teacher of others or a Professor of what thou comprehendest to be Truth from the Testimony the Saints gave forth from the Life and Power of Christ that was in them and thou expectest Life in thy outward Forms and Observations and mindest not to be guided by the Light which is of Christ in thy own Conscience which Light guided the Saints that gave forth the Scriptures and while thou disobeyest that Light profess what thou wilt thou art in the fall first Adam is yet alive in thee Cain is not yet banished nor Esau reprobated nor the Bond-woman and her Son cast out which are all figures and types of the first nature which is yet alive in thee and thy will is thy guide and thy Heart is in the Earth notwithstanding all thy profession and thou art a painted beast made drunk with the Wine of the wrath of the Whore which is thy Wisdom which comprehends that which thou never didst know manifest in it self and sits deckt as a well favoured Harlot above the Cross of Christ thou wilt be found a Thief and a Robber who comes not in by the Door Jesus Christ but climbs up some other way and thus far went the Scribes and Pharisees and the young Man who had kept the Commandments from his youth but when he should have sold all for Christ he went away sorrowful And thus far went Paul when he persecuted Jesus Christ according to the Law he walked blameless and all thy strict walking to get Life in Observations according to the Letter is striving again to get to the Tree of Life by thy own power who art fenced out with Cherubims and a flaming Sword which turns every way to keep the way of the Tree of Life And if thou never sawest thy self fenced out from the Presence of God notwithstanding all thy righteousness in observations thou art not come so near God as to see the flaming Sword which is placed to meet thee in every way thou turnest to get life in thy own power and to cut thee down and kill thee that Christ may be thy life thou art alive in the first Adam and art in the death for death reigns over all from Adam to Moses and Moses is until the Prophets and the Prophets till Iohn and Iohn until Christ and if thou canst not witness that thou art come to Moses profess what thou wilt thou hast not set thy Face towards God nor one step in the strait and narrow way to Eternal Life but art going the broad way to destruction whatever thou be whether a Teacher of others or a Professor of what thou comprehendest to be Truth from the Letter of the Scripture under what Form Name or Title soever thou be thou art a dead Man and a dead Woman and the wrath of God abides on thee though thou seest it not Rom. 7.9 There Paul witnesseth I was alive without the Law once but when the Commandment came sin revived and I dyed Friends every one in particular deal justly with your Hearts see what you can witness of your death with Christ by the powerful word of Truth which enlightens the Conscience and condemns sin in the flesh for every one would ascend with Christ to be partakers of the Life and Glory with him but he becomes a stumbling Stone to be Baptized with him into his sufferings and death and this thou must witness before ever thou come to sit with him in Heavenly Places for it is they and they alone that
all take your full delight in his joyful presence and all in pure love walk together the glory of the most high God rest upon you and your beloved Families and Children whom the Lord hath blessed you with And all the People shall confess in the day determined that you with the rest of the faithful are the righteous Seed that the Lord hath blessed to whom the wicked shall bend and come under to the power which is our Life forever who feel the Life in the Infallible passage and secret Salutation in God where my Soul imbraces you in the eternal Fountain of love and taketh her solace in the dear and near Union where there can be no Separation but everlasting fellowship one with another forever where my Soul goeth with you in the eternal welfare Dear Brethren and Sisters whom my Soul loves and gives glory to God that ever you had a being in this World to glorifie the Name of the Lord in your Generation with him who remains your Brother W. D. Warwick Common Goal the 2 d day of the 5 th Month 1665. The Word of the Lord to all the Inhabitants in England from the Highest to the Lowest that they mey know his Determination and so be entreated to break off from their Sin in true Obedience unto him that they may escape in the day of his dreadful appearance when no flesh shall stand before him TO all Rulers Teachers and People in the Nation of England and to all the Inhabitants in these Northren Countries in which the mighty Jehovah Lord God omnipotent over all hath determined to raise up his righteous Seed to the exaltation of the glory of his great Name to the fulfilling of the Scriptures of Truth as is Recorded in Ieremiah the 23. Chap. and 7. and 8. verses It shall no more be said the Lord liveth that brought us out of the Land of Egypt but shall be said the Lord liveth that hath raised his Seed and brought it forth of the North Countrey and out of all the Nations where it is scattered and this I have to declare to you all in the Authority of the Word of his Holiness The Lord will manifest according to the determination and purpose of his mind unto a poor people that fear before him and seek the Lord with strong cries and tears day and night that if it be the Pleasure of the Lord all the Inhabitants in England and else where in these Northern Countries might break off from all the evil of their doings in a true resignation to the Light of Jesus that reproves for sin in the secret of their Consciences that so the Lord may turn his fury away and spare the People of the Land of our Nativity that not any be found sealed up to destruction in that day wherein it shall be said Let him that 's filthy be filthy still and let him that 's holy be holy still Oh sad will it be to them who hath neglected the day of the Visitation of the Lord God to their Souls and have not their Consciences washed and their Hearts purified in the Blood of the Lamb for they shall cry but not be regarded and call to the Lord but he will not hear them because the Decree of the Lord will be sealed against all that reject the Counsel of the Lord and the tenders of his Mercy and sport away their precious time in leud and wicked ways amongst the Workers of Iniquity whose condemnation slumbereth not the Day of Gods Vengeance will come as a Thief in the night great destruction will come upon them all that reject the Government of the Soul-saving sanctifying Spirit of the Lord Jesus in this day he is making up his Jewels and putting a difference between them that serve him and them that serve him not and between them that swear and them that fear an Oath Oh what shall I say concerning the People of the Land of my Nativity Oh my Bowels my Bowels are moved within me for her Inhabitants from the highest to the lowest with all in these Northen Countries and in the tender compassion I cannot be silent but in the force of the Spirit of the Lord exhort all who yet witness not redemption from their vain conversations turn turn why will ye die for the Lord God will not be mocked he is of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity Oh reject not his Counsel neither kick at the reproofs of the Lord for the day of his Patience will not extend for ever neither will his Spirit always strive with man for he is jealous of his Glory Oh turn turn all People and diligently hearken to the Counsel of God the Light of his own Spirit that reproves you secretly in your Hearts and Consciences and look up to the Lord with the eye of your minds in true watchfulness and dependency upon the Lord that he may save you from your iniquities that you may find peace with God whatever befal you in these days of great calamity which is upon the Face of the Earth Oh People if you reject God's Counsel and harden your necks against the reproofs of the Spirit of the Lord. Oh what shall I say unto you seeing there is no minding the Fear of the Lord but every one doth what seemeth good in your own Eyes Oh the pity that 's to you from one that cannot help you but in the sence of your misery that rejects Gods Mercy saith in my secret mournings for you Oh that my Eyes were as a Fountain of Tears that I might water thy Altar Oh Lord day and night that if it were possible thou mightst be prevailed withal and change thy purpose concerning this stiff-necked and hard-hearted People that reject thy Counsel in the Land of our Nativity But notwithstanding all this simpathizing Bowels as one who hath received favour at thy Hands Oh Lord I leave all with thee spare thy People Oh Lord and inable them to go thorough the trial of the day and sweeten their passage and the Cup they are to drink who fear before thee and tremble at the Word of thy Holiness even so be it with them oh Lord. Once more I cannot but exhort all People look about you yea from the highest to the lowest and who hath not desperately sold themselves to do wickedly take a view of the Lords dealings with the People of the Land how he hath shaked the rods of his many Judgments over the Nation which did smite upon many and they were mown down as grass which caused many that feared the Lord to wrestle with him with strong crys day and night that he would stay the hand of the destroying Angel and the Lord heard his poor People and stayed his Hand in a great measure waiting to see if the People of the Land would mend their ways and the Rulers therein would give over persecuting imprisoning spoiling and banishing his poor People who fear before him and serves him in uprightness of their
Hearts day and night and dare not disobey him in what he makes known unto them though they hazard their Liberty and all enjoyments yea life it self so tender are they over the Glory of the Lord who hath given them victory over sin and all selfishness through the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony no more to love their lives to death c. But Oh you Rulers though God hath stayed his Hand in a great measure that the sound of mortality is not so loud in the Ears as hath been yet how do you answer the end of the Lord seeing that few Prisons in the Nation but the Lords People are in them because of the exercise of their pure Consciences towards the Lord and other cruel proceedings in rending Husband from Wife and Wife from Husband and Parents from Children and Children from Parents and inhumanely banishing them out of their Native Country for these things and other wicked proceedings the Hand of the Lord is stretched out still and the pale Horse is on his way passing to and fro in the Nation and he that rideth thereon is Death smiting and cuting down with the Sword of Plague and Pestilence and if so be you proceed as you have done in executing these cruel Laws against the innocent then will the commission of the Rider of the pale Horse be enlarged and what flesh can stand before the pale Horse seeing the Rider thereon is Death as is recorded in the Scriptures of Truth Rev. 6.8 Oh my Bowels is moved within me for the calamity that will come upon the Nation if you Rulers continue your Persecution for the day of the Lord hastens that they that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the Maker thereof shall be as a Spark and he will blow up the flame in the fierceness of his wrath and who can stand in this terrible dreadful day wherein Christ shall be revealed in flames rendering Vengeance on all them that know him not and obey not the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ c. Further this I exhort all mind what you say and do who hath hardened their Hearts in a boasting Spirit and said we see no difference but these People we cast in Prison God cuts off in a common Calamity as well as others the sence of their sufferings causeth many a Cry and Tear to be poured forth before the Lord and the mighty God answered and said unto my Soul I have beholden the cruelty of Men how they have stowed my People up in Prisons and in the Ship where the infection was and them that hath been taken away their Blood shall be required at their Hands who cast them into Prison and as to all in general that fell in the common Calamity that feared my Name it was to stain the pride of the glory of all Flesh as well amongst my People as others that my People might wait in my Light to stand in a true preparation for the day of their dissolution therefore I take away my People in my everlasting loving kindness from the evil to come but the wicked I cut off in my Fury and they shall reap the fruit of their own doings and this is the substance of what the Lord hath said in taking away his People in this common Calamity therefore let the stout-hearted bend and no more boast themselves in loftiness of their minds to see the righteous taken away for if the judgment begin at the House of God and the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the wicked and ungodly and Sinners appear for yet a little while and the Lord will plead the cause of his People with terrible Vengeance he will manifest himself and the Rod of the wicked shall nor always lye upon the backs of the righteous but their long continued Afflictions will be accomplished in time therefore you meek gentle and peaceable quiet People who abhor every appearance of evil abide in the Word of Patience and pray for them that Persecute you that if it be the Will of God we may prevail with the Lord that their Eyes may be opened and their Hearts softned that they may break off from their evil doings and so escape the terrible vengeance as is before written wherein the Lord will break the Battle out of the Earth and establish purity and peace amongst a people called by his Name that as they have sowen in Sorrow and long-suffering they shall reap with Joy in this great and terrible day of the coming of our Lord which is nigh to be revealed wherein he will say to the wicked that hath imprisoned and afflicted his People Go ye cursed into everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels and to his righteous Blessed suffering Seed he will say Come you Blessed of my Father enter into the Kingdom prepared for you before the Foundation of the Earth was laid so shall every one reap the fruit of their doings whether it be good or evil according to their deeds so shall be their reward from the Lord who is over all Blessed for ever Oh London London yea I say once more you Inhabitants of London whose lives was given you for a prey and you stand as Monuments of Gods Mercy to this day while many of your dear Relations Neighbours and Acquaintance were cut down with him that rid upon the pale Horse Oh that you would lay it to Heart who are yet living before the Lord and all turn to the Counsel of the Lord the Light and Manifestation of his Spirit in your own Consciences to guide you in all fear and dread of the Eternal God to wait upon him to feel the opperation of his holy Spirit to guide you in all your words and works that so you may be a good savour unto the Lord in your faithful Obedience to the measure of his Spirit that so he may take delight in you and take away the reproach that hath been cast upon you the Inhabitants of the City of London c. But if you People in the City of London do not prize the Mercies of the Lord but slight all his kindnesses and harden your Hearts and not regard the reproofs of his Spirit but delight your Hearts in pride pleasures pomp riches and glory in this present World and with so doing provoke the Eyes of the Glory of the Great God Oh then what shall I say unto you Inhabitants of London who thus requiâ—e the Lord notwithstanding all his Favours and boundless Mercies which he hath manifested to you in the sight of all People this day Oh if you do not speedily return to the Lord by repentance and break off from all your ungodly ways in obeying the sin-reproving Spirit of the Lord God in your own Consciences I must take up a Lamentation for you in the sence of the misery that I feel will come upon you for the Lord hath determined to bring you down and if you will not be intreated to hearken to
thee in the Pleasure of our God in whom I remain Thy dear Brother W. D. A General Epistle Dear Friends WHom the Lord hath in this his Glorious Day visited and in his Light plucked as Brands out of the Fire to wait upon him that his Great Work of Regeneration may be perfected in all of you to your Eternal Comfort and the Glory of the Name of our God forever c. And my dear Friends seeing many are Called and few Chosen many Convinced that are not Converted and many come forth with us and go forth from us that are not of us as by sad Experience hath been witnessed c. and from the deep Sense of this working of the Enemy I am constrained to send this Epistle amongst you knowing the Kingdom of God is compared unto Ten Virgins Five Wise and Five Foolish who had all Lamps and slumbred in the Secure Mind until they were awakened to enter in with their Lord then were the Foolish Virgins made manifest that though they had Lamps like the other yet wanting the Oyl they neither did or could enter c. Oh! dear and tender Friends let all Dread the Lord who make mention of his Name in the Light of Christ for this Parable is to you unto whom the Lord hath sent to preach to you and in you the Word of his Kingdom And this is upon my Spirit in the Word of the Lord to you all convinced of the precious Truth of our God turly to examine and search your Hearts with the Light of Christ Jesus that you may have a certain Knowledge how it is with you and how you escaped the subtil Wiles of the Enemy which have hindred so many from the Possession of the Life of Truth and that you may truly discern how the Enemy draws into the Foolish Conceitedness in the Out-side and Formal Profession of the Truth feeding upon the Knowing Part and so stoppeth the Hunger that should reach the Life and then in an Exaltedness saith I See Know am Clothed and want Nothing when they are Blind Naked Miserable and want all things and this is the State of all the Foolish Virgins who dwell in the Outward Court and place all their Confidence in the Form and Outside and Profession of Truth and so has lost the Sense of that Heavenly Hunger which must possess the Life hid with God or else it must mourn out its days in Sorrow Therefore all dear Friends watch diligently to the Heart-searching Light that this Mystery of Iniquity you may all discern that so the Enemy may not prevail against you to turn you aside either to the Right Hand or to the Left that whatever the Lord has convinced you of to be Evil you may wait upon him for Strength to preserve you out of it that so you may Answer God's Witness in the Regulation of your Conversation in the Uprightness of your Hearts so you may stand clear before the Lord that you are willing to do and suffer whatever the Lord should call you to and when you have done all this then be you watchful to the Heart-searching Light that the Enemy doth not draw your Minds to place your Confidence in the Work of Righteousness you have done as the Ground of your Hope and Calling in Christ and want Faith in him and so cause you to rest in your Services and so come short of the hidden Life enjoyed through Faith in the Light and Life of Christ our Righteousness I beseech you dear Friends Wait to know your Passage in this great Mystery where the Entrance is into the Straight Gate where all the Foolish Virgins though their Lamp in the Outward Profession be never so Glorious yet through Pride in their Attainments never entered into this Rest and here is the farthest that ever any come that make a Profession of Truth that go from us and are not of us So tender Friends that truly seek God's Glory and so love his Light that you are willing to give up Life and all to do his Will and when the Enemy would draw you to rest in what you have done and so take the Jewels of God and play the Harlot and deck Your Selves you Dreaâ— the Lord and in his Light you see more Light and you see That all that you have done is your Duty and your reasonable Service which you must do or otherwise you perish eternally and yet your poor Souls in the Light travail on in the Foot-steps of the Flock of the Mournful Companions who are weeping in Secret and inwardly seeking the Lord God to be Married unto him in that hidden Life which is hid with Christ in God and until you enjoy the Marriage-Union in deep Humiliation you wait in the Light for the Lord to create you to a lively Hope in Christ Iesus the Second Adam And you tender Children of my Father who can understand in your Heavenly Travail and Exercise of Spirit what is here written Lift up your Heads and stay your Minds in the Light of the Lord Jesus which ransacks your Hearts and doth not only keep you in Holiness of Conversation but makes you weary of living under the Dominion of your own Thoughts and Wills Therefore I beseech you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ watch to the Heart-searching Light that discerns your Thoughts and Intents and judgeth your Thoughts and all Fearfulness and Unbelief and wait in the Measure of the Light and Life that quickeneth your immortal Souls and hath begotten heavenly Breathings Hungerings and Thirstings to eat the Flesh and drink the Blood of the Lord Jesus Oh thou blessed Birth let not Streightness be upon thy Spirit for the Bowels of the almighty God earn towards thee which cannot be satisfied with any Thing but the pure Presence of Christ to reign in thy Heart and to exercise heavenly Authority in his Throne in thy Conscience Oh tender Babe born of the immortal Seed leâ—d not thy Ear to any of thine own Thoughts Doubts and Unbelief neither to the Accuser who seeks every way to discourage thee for trusting in the Name of the Lord but diligently incline thou thy Ear to the righteous Counsel which is the Light and Life The Lord will satisfie thy Hungry and Thirsty Soul with his everlasting Loving-kindness in Christ Jesus and will create thee to a lively Hope and marry thee to himself in his own Righteousness where thou wilt receive Dominion to reign over thy own Thoughts and thy own will and to walk in his Strength in the Word of Faith which will give thee Victory over the World within and without so will thy Heart be kept pure thy Conscience clean and thou cloathed with the glorious Garment a meek low and a quiet Spirit and so become the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus the second Adam and the Lord of Life and Glory and here is the Dwelling-place of all the Sons and Daughters of Sion Citizens of the new Ierusalem who walk
of the Lord goes before them Therefore let all dread and fear the Mighty God who have received any Gift to see that the True Birth possess the Gift which Birth makes Self of no Reputation that so the Lord of Life may exercise every one in the Improvement of their Gift to the Comfort of his People and his Eternal Glory and none go further then they have Assurance they are called of the Lord and his Heavenly Powerful Presence goes before them so will the Lord bless the Travel of every Soul and the Body be kept in the Pure Sweet Seaâ—oned and Savoury Life which edifieth the Body in the Love and Life of God which cannot be exprest and all that will not wait thus to be exercised as is here written but go out of their Places burthen the Life weary the Faithful and if they do not give over and submit to the Government of Christ to reign in them and wait in true Silence that they may speak no more of him but as he uttereth his Voice through them my Soul pitieth them for they will be as Wandring Stars and Darkness will come upon them therefore be Warned whose Consciences witness what is here written to be your Conditions c. And all tender Friends be very watchful and careful to keep your Meetings upon all Services on Truth 's Account both Sons and Daughters born of God that there may be no Confusion but a sweet Submission to one another in the Light and Life of Christ Jesus that as the Lord hath blessed your Meetings and Labour of Love for the Body's sake keep your Minds stay'd upon the Lord out of all Consultings with Flesh and Blood or any Strivings to appear to be any thing but what the Lord is in you to keep you all in Humility in a pure Subjection unto Christ that he may silence all the Councils fo Flesh in you and keep you in his holy dread and pure Fear to receive Wisdom from him to guide you to determine all Matters brought before you so that every one have your Eye to the Lord to eye his Glory in all your Words and Works so will Love abound and the Blessing of the Lord will be in the midst of you to guide you all in his pure Fear to do to every one as you would be done unto and watch over one another with a Pure Single Eye at all times that your Single Eye may be to the Good in one another and your Tenderness in the Love of God in all Humility to reach to the Measure of God to raise it up and thus will you stand in the Heavenly Nature Saviours upon Mount Sion to bring again them that stray and so restoring them with the Spirit of Meekness and here is Christ and his Desciples Washing one anothers Feet in all Humility and Heavenly Condescention one unto another the Strong bearing the Burden of the Weak and gently leading them forth out of that which burdens the Pure into the Light and Path of Life where the building up one another is in the most holy Word of Faith where we sit together in our Heavenly Places in Christ where Self is made of No Reputation but every one Serving the Lord casting down our Crowns before his Throne and with one accord singing the Songs of the Redeemed from the Earth all Glory all Honour all Praises and Thanksgiving Dominion be giving unto him who is found worthy to sit upon the Throne in our Consciences to feed us with the Brâ—ad that is sure and refresh us with the Water that never â—aileth so we that are many are made one Bread eating the Flesh of Christ and drinking his Blood where we have Life and that abundantly and we comforted together in our Heavenly Mansions in our sweet and pure Fellowship of the Gospel in Christ our Righteousness who is One his Name and Nature One in all his People and Salvation is unto us for Walls and Bulworks and here have we Peace in this Holy City New Ierusalem which the World knoweth not neither can they take it from us and here is no Strife nor Contention within her Gates but we witness the Promise of the Lord fulfilled I will make Ierusalem a Quiet Habitation In this City there is no more Curse but the Name and Image of God is written in the Foreheads of them that dwell therein that all that have to deal with them as they mind God's Witness in any Measure will confess These are the People of the Most High God born of the Righteous Seed which the Lord hath Blessed And in this Heavenly Government dear Brethren and Sisters all keep your Meetings and the blessed Persence of the Lnrd fill all your Hearts and inlarge his Love in you and amongst you to your mutual Comfort one of another and the Honour of his Great Name who is over all God blessed forever So will you dear Friends and Brethren comfort the Hearts of all Travelling Friends and Brethren who have not loved their Lives to Death to serve the Lord and gather you home into this Heavenly Rest the very Sense of their faithful Labours and Travels seeking nothing for Themselves but the Honour of God and your Establishment in this Rest it takes deep Impression upon my Heart both they that have finished who here did wear the Garments of Humility and now the Crown of Eternal Glory and my dear Brethren that are yet on this side the Grave who are labouring in the Service of the Lord in Faithfulness in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus dear Friends let your Hearts be affected as mine is that the End of their Labours may be answer'd in your Faithfulness in keeping your Meetings according to all the Exhortations that you have had through the Faithful Labourers and is expressed in this Epistle that you may grow up as an Holy Priesthood offering up the living and holy Sacrifice in your faithful Testimony and pure Unity of Spirit and Bond of Peace where my Soul is bound up with you in this Heavenly Rest in Christ Jesus our Light and Life over all exalted in us to Reign who is worthy forevermore in whom I rest Your Dear Brother W. D. London the 14 th of the 11 th Moneth 1675 Titus Oates's Certificate concerning William Deusbery and the Quakers Mr Whitfeald YOurs I Received in which mentions one Deusbery his name is William Deusbery a Quaker whom you would do well to Discharge He is no Iesuit nor like one I look upon it to be more discretion not to medle with any Protestant Dissenters in this day but bend our forces against the common Enemy of the Protestant Religion the Papist And endeavour to win by Arguments those that are Dissenters from us Sir here is a Certificate from some that hath known him these Twenty years and upwards who are Men of repute in their Generation and Protestants And I pray did you ever know that there was ever such a
Correspondency betwixt Iesuits and Quakers as might render them suspicious or did you ever know any Priests or Iesuits in their Meetings and there suffered to Preach c. For I know the Iesuits and the Quakers and there is such vast difference in points of Religion that it is as possible to reconcile Light and Darkness as to reconcile them though they may appear different from us yet I think they are no Murtherers as the Papist have been and are I have no more but that I am yours though unknown T. O. The 13 th of March 1678 9. An Exhortation to all People to prize their Time in making their Calling and Election sure before they go hence and be no more As it hath pleased the Lord God in his tender Mercy in his Heavenly Power in Christ to assist his tender Hand-maid Mary Sam and give her full Assurance of her Eternal Salvation who lived with her Grand-Father William Dewsbury at Warwick where he was and is Prisoner for the Testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ And there she departed this natural Life when she was the Age of Twelve Years and sixteen Weeks and in her Sickness declared to all about her what God had done for her Soul. A brif Account whereof Follows ALL People mind the fear of the Lord who created the Henvens and the Earth the Seas and Fountains of Waters and all turn your Minds to the Light of Christ Jesus in your own Consciences that reproves for Sin in the secret of your Hearts and this God requires of you all to search your Hearts thorowly with the Light of Christ Jesus which is the true Light that lighteth every one that comes into the World as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth Iohn 1.9 And as you are faithfull to the Light it will let you see how you have lived and spent your precious time that is gone over your Heads then will your Consciences be awakned with the Light of Christ and you will be made sensible of your careless sinful and miserable state and condition that you have lived in so will the Lord in great Mercy to your Souls set your sin in order before you and the Iniquity of your Heels will compass you about so will you be made sensible of your lost and perishing State and Condition that if the Lord did not look upon you in his Mercy in the Lord Jesus to give you strength to forsake every evil Way and Repentance for what you have done you would perish forever So from the deep sence of your own nothingness and the need of the help of Christ Jesus the true Light and blessed Saviour to whom you Cry and Pray continually That he would perfect his great work of Regeneration in leading you in the foot-steps of the Tribulated Companions who go weeping and seeking the Lord their God asking the Way to Sion with their Faces thitherwards no more to let your Eyes slumber in peace nor your Eye-lids have rest until you be assured the Lord is your God and that he hath blotted out your Sins and done away your Iniquities for his Name sake and hath accepted of you in his new and Everlasting Covenant of his Mercy in Christ Jesus So you that were afar off in your Rebellious Nature of which you are now ashamed through true Repentance and Obedience to the Light you are made nigh in the Blood of Christ which gives you full assurance of your Eternal Salvation and purgeth your Consciences from dead Works to serve the Living God and whoever you are that come to witness this blessed Work of Regeneration wrought in your Hearts as before written in your being created to a lively Hope in Christ Jesus Mark you are to watch and pray that in the Exercise and Improvement of this Hope you may receive Strength to purifie your selves as he is Pure â—o comes all that are Worshippers of the Father to Worship him in Spirit and in Truth for such the Father seeks to Worship him and these are they whom he Perfects forever through the Sanctification of his Spirit So is this Scripture fulfilled in you He that doth Truth brings his Deeds to the Light that they may be manifest that they are wrought in God John 3.21 And these are his Children who walk in the Light and have their fellowship with the Father of Light in Christ Jesus their blessed Saviour and one with another in his humble meek pure and blessed Nature and so becomes his chosen Jewels and Citizens of Sion who walk in the Light of the New-Ierusalem as it is written in the Scriptures of Truth The Nations that are saved shall walk in the Light thereof And whatever any of you suffer who are redeemed from the Earth and have your Confidence in the Lord alone Christ takes as done unto himself as it is written Mat. 25.31 to the end of the Chapter When the Son of Man shall come in his Glory and his holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory and divide the Sheep from the Goats when he hath set the Sheep on the right Hand and the Goats on the left then will he say to those on his Right Hand Come you blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World for I was hungry and you gave me Meat thirsty and you gave me Drink a stranger and you took me in naked and you clothed me I was sick and you visited me I was in Prison and you came unto me Then shall the Righteous answer him saying Lord when saw we thee hungry and fed thee or thirsty and gave thee drink When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in or naked and clothed thee or when saw we thee sick and in Prison and came unto thee And the King shall answer and say unto them Verily I say unto you in as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me Then shall he say unto them on the Left Hand Depart from me ye Cursed into Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels He gave them to understand why they must depart they had not done to him as those at the right Hand had done as you may read at large from Verse 41. to the end of the Chapter So all may see how Man's destruction is of himself in not regarding the Counsel of Christ Jesus the Light to guide them in a Humble Pitiful Compassionate Pure and Blessed Nature so they go into Everlasting Punishment but the Righteouss that are guided by his blessed Spirit as before written they shall go into Life Everlasting which is the Inheritance of all that walk in the Light faithful unto Death the Crown of Life they shall enjoy forever and for evermore as it pleased the Lord to give a full assurance to his tender Handmaid of her Eternal Salvation in his blessed Work upon her Spirit as the following
Lines do manifest W. D. These following Lines are what was exprest by Mary Sam Daughter to Iohn Sam of Hutter Congquest in Bedfordshire who dwelt with her Grand-Father William Dewsbury at the Sergeants Ward in Warwick where he was and is Prisoner for the Testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. THe first day of the second Moneth 1680. it pleased the Lord to afflict her with a violent Feaver that brought her very low in a little time and great was her exercise of Spirit as to her Condition and State with God many times weeping when â—he was alone Her Aunt Ione Dewsbury asked her Why she walked alone so often in the Garden when she was well and why she was so sorrowful She answered and said Dear Aunt I am troubled in my Conscience for want of a full assurance of my Eternal Salvation for not any knows my Exercise but the Lord alone what I have gone through since I came to Warwick it was begun a little before I came but it was but a little but since I came to Warwick this was my Exercise I thought I should not live long and that if I did dye I did not know whither my Soul should go but I hope the Lord will give me satisfaction before I dye but it s but hope and though but hope yet for this hope my Soul shall praise the Name of the Lord forever And so she continued praising the Name of the Lord and making Melody with joyful Sounds many times in her great Affliction The next day some Friends being in the Room with her She was much opened in declaring how she had observed the dealings of the Lord with her in time past saying I have been twice in my days nigh unto death but the Lord in his tender Mercy prolonged my days that I might seek his Face in the Light of Christ and come to be acquainted with him before I go hence And also she said If this Distemperdo not abate I must dye but my Soul shall go to Eternal Ioy Eternal Eternal and Everlasting Life and Peace with my God forever Oh! Praises Praises to thy Majesty Oh my God! who helpeth me to go through with patience what I am to endure Then after some time she said Friends we must all go hence one after another and they that live the longest know and endure the greatest Sorrow Therefore O Lord if â—it be thy will take me to thy self that my Soul may rest in Peace with thee and not any one to see me here any more Oh! Praises Praises be unto thy holy Name forever in thy will being done with me to take me to thy self where I shall be in Heavenly Ioy yea in Heavenly Ioy forever and forevermore The day following she desired all to go forth of the Room for she desired to be alone and after a considerable time when we heard her groan upon her sick-bed her Mother and Grand-Father went to her then she said unto them I have now received full satisfaction of my Eternal Salvation it is now done it is now done And dear Mother when thou or any of my Sisters dye I desire the Lord may go along with you for I am very willing to dye that the Lord may Glorifie his Name this day in his will being done with me And many times would she be praying to the Lord day and night O Lord lay no more upon me than thou givest mâ— strength to bear and go though with patience that thy Will may be done that thy Will may be done many times together Oh help me help me O my God! that I may Praise thy holy Name forever And so continued very often Praising the Name of the Lord with joyful Sounds and singing high Praises to his holy Name forever and forevermore she being much spent with lifting up her Voice in high Praises to God through fervency of Spirit and her Body being very weak her Grand-Father went into the Room and desired her to be as still as possibly she could and keep her Mind inward and staid upon the Lord and see if she could have a little rest and sleep She answered Dear Grand-Father I shall dye and I cannot but Praise the Name of the Lord whilst I have a beeing I do not know what to do to Praise his Name enough whilest I live but whilst there is Life there is hope but I do believe it is better for me to dye than live And so continued speaking of the Goodness of the Lord from day to day which caused many Tears to fall from the Eyes of them that heard her Her Grand-Father coming to her asked her how she did she said to him and to her Mother I have had no rest this night nor to day I did not know but I should have dyed this night but very hardly I tugged through it but I shall dye to day and a Grave shall be made and my Body put into a Hole and my Soul shall go to Heavenly Ioy yea Heavenly Ioy and Everlasting Peace forevermore Then she said Dear Grand-Father I do believe thou wilt not stay long behind me when I am gone He answered Dear Grand-Daughter I shall 〈…〉 fast as the Lord orders my way Then she praised the Name of the Lord with high Praises and Joyful Sounds for a season and then desired her Mother To let her be taken-up a little time saying it may be it will give me some ease Then they sent for her Grand-Father who said to her If this be thy last day and thereon thou art to dye it is not safe for thee to be taken forth of thy Bed dear Mary thou shalt have all attendance that is convenient as to set thee up in thy Bed and to lay thee done again but to take thee up ' we are not willing to do it She answered Well Grand-Father what thou seest best for me I am willing to have it so Then her Mother and Aunt set her up in her Bed she said it did refresh her and give her some ease And as they were ordering what was to be done about her Bed she said Oh! what a great deal of do is here in ordering the Bed for one that is upon their Death Bed. Her Aunt Ione Dewsbury said Mary dost thou think thou art upon thy Death Bed She answered Yea Yea I am upon my Death Bed I shall dye to day and I am very willing to dye because I know it is better for me to dye than live Her Aunt replyed I do believe it is better for thee to dye than live She said Yea it is well for me to dye Then her Mother said to her Mary art thou well satisfied in thy leaving me and thy Sisters and in thy coming to Warwick to thy Grand-Father She answered Yea Mother I am very well satisfied for I saw my way was made so Clear for my coming to Warwick and my Grand-father and I have lived so comfortably together that I am fully satisfied as to my coming
therein and if any Man take away from the words of the Prophesie of this Book God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the holy City and from the things which are written in this Book and this is your reward you add your Wisdom to the Prophesie of this Book and the Plagues written in this Book will be added to you and you take away from the words of the Prophesie of this Book in drawing the people from the anointing within them which the Father hath sent to be their Teacher according to the Prophesie of this Book to seek for the Kingdom of Heaven in carnal Observations you have set up contrary to the Prophesie of this Book and in the estate you here stand your names are taken out of the Book of Life and out of the holy City and from the things which are written in this Book Repent ye Reprobates who reject the Counsel of Christ in you and give over deceiving the people and mind the Light in you that discovereth to you the evil of your Hearts and give up to be guided by it least you perish in your gain sayings Kiss the Son in obeying his Counsel which is the Light in you least you perish in the way for if his anger be kindled a little blessed are all they that trust in him W. D. Dear Friends ANd Children of the living God mind your watch every one in particular and dwell in that which is of God which is the Light that searches the Hearts and discovers the Seed of the Serpent and its ground and being and ministers to the Seed of the Woman which Seed is Christ who is the Fountain and Treasure House where you shall receive of his Fulness Wisdom and Power to stand against the Serpent in all his appearances so will his Head be bruised and the eternal pure Eye will be opened in you to know what is to be blest and what is to be accurst therefore every one in your measures stand faithful in the Counsel of God which is the Light the eternel Witness of his Spirit which witnesseth against all deceit in its ground where it appears I charge you all in the presence of the living God that you consult not with Flesh and Blood nor look not down at the Corruption as to discouâ—age you and cause you to distrust in the Mercies of the living God thou that dost thy Condemnation slumbers not for the Wrath of God abideth on the All dwell in that which is pure stand out of your own wills and thoughts but keep in that which is of God that witnesses against all deceit in its appearances and all hold fast your confidence which is the measure of Faith which is the Witness of the eternal Spirit so will all deceit be kept under and the Serpents head will be bruised and the pure holy Seed of God the righteous Babe who works no Iniquity and in whose Mouth is found no guile will be set at liberty raised up to reâ—gn King over all the Earth and to do the Will of God so shall your Souls enter within this holy City and you shall have right to the Tree of Life feeding on the Feast of fat things the eternal Riches of the free Mercies of God in the free Covenant of Life in the Lord Jesus and there you shall rest with the Lord forever where nothing shall enter that works Abomination or makes a Lie but that which is written in the Lambs Book of Life and this is the rest that 's prepared for the people of God where the workers of Iniquity shall never come All dear Friends joyn with the Seed of God that works no Iniquity and take heed of lending your Ears to the Counsel of the Serpent that would draw your minds to look out at Experiences which you have partaked of in the Dispensation of the Power of God in rendering Plagues upon the works of Iniquity wherein thou comest to witness in the Name of Christ Miracles wrought in thee and Devils cast out wherein thou wast in Bondage by their power and thou who comest to witness the Lord ministring to his tender Seed in opening to thy Soul the riches of his Love laid up in Christ Jesus and so comest to Prophesie in the Name of Christ but not abiding in the Counsel of the living God who would destroy the works of Iniquity and would cast out the works of Darkness and would lead through Prophesies and Openings to the Inheritance in Christ which will never fade away but in departing from the Counsel of the Lord you are bewitched with the Serpent that tells you you are some body now that hath tasted of the Power of God and secret pride gets in and others out of the Prophesies and Openings of what they see and do not wait 〈◊〉 they come to the Possession and there gâ—â—s in secret Pride and so becomes a wandering Staâ— flown up into the Air and the worker of Iniquity yet stands notwithstanding all your experiences that you can witness Devils cast out in measure in the Name of Christ and that you have prophesied in the Name he will say unto you I know you not ye workers of Iniquity to that in thy Conscience I speak lend thine Ear unto it it will rip thee up and search thy Heart and pass true Judgment upon the Head of the Wicked and will eternally witness me notwithstanding aâ—l thy experiences Therefore all dear Freinds all take heed that none of you come short of your rest but dwell in the pure Power of the living God which judgeth the Wicked and casteth out Devils dwelling in it it will dispossess the powers of Darkness and as â—e in his tender Love appeareth to the mind and lets you see into the Inheritance laid up in Christ dwelling in the Power you will be kept in the pure fear not to avish your selves out to speak of that you possess not but to wait low in his Will where you will be kept in a true sence of your conditions how the Seed is oppressed by the worker of Iniquity and so will be kept by the Power of the living God waiting on him in the Faith until you overcome by the Blood of the Lamb aâ—d the word of his Testimony then will the worker of Iniquity be destroyed and cast out and the Power and holy Seed of God raised up which can work no Iniquity but stand perfect in the Will of God and there you enter into the Rest prepared for you in Christ Jesus where nothing shall enter that works Iniquity and I shall be with you forever in the Lord And the Lord God Almighty be with you his dear â—abes and Children bless guide and keep you all by his eternal pure power clear and holy that you may be a peculiar People and holy Priesthood to give up your Souls and Bodies a living Sacrifice unto the Lord God Almighty that he may order you and guide you
own Devices to their everlasting shame and contempt to the Glory of his Name who alone is worthy God over all blessed forever W. D. This is the Word of the Lord to you DEar Friends Servants and Children of the most High God whom he hath called out of the World be faithful all of you in his Counsel to wait his Power to guide in all your thoughts words and works in his pure Fear in Obedience to his will. I you charge in the Presence of God be valiant for your Freedom in your dwelling in the Power of God he you to Arm against the firy darts of the Devil him to resist in his appearance in all his wiles who goes about like a roaring Lyon to devour you every way seeking to get into you your minds from the pure to draw into the visible things your affections there to captivate your wills to satisfie in created and perishing Objects or in the Knowledge of the Truth in the fleshly wisdom to feed with the Swine upon the Husk the Form and Image of what you have enjoyed or of what you see in the Sight and Vision and doth it not injoy in the Possession but speaks in the airy drunken Spirit words without knowledg with which you sit deckt a painted Beast above the Cross and thou whose condition this is art the foolish Virgin that appears in outward formality in the sight of Men with a Lamp like unto the wise Virgin but not dwelling in the pure Power of God wants the Oyl of Joy and Gladness in the Power of his Love which the wise Virgin hath in her Lamp that dwells in the pure Light and Power of God which keeps all the affections in order to the Spirit of Truth and bridles the Tongue not to utter words before the Lord but in true silence on him to wait till his Spirit move his mind to declare from his living Power what the Soul possesseth and enjoys in Christ the Husband of the wise Virgin who is the Bride the Lambs Wife I you all charge and command in the Presence of the living God who make mention of his Name examine your Hearts search them and try your ways with the Light that from Christ comes with it all read your conditions in the Book of Conscience there will you see how you stand in the Presence of God whether in the state of the foolish Virgin that in the airy Spirit feeds on words speaking in the Vision and Sight there boasting in pride of what thou possessest not and through the subtilty of the Devil is turned from the pure Power to fly the Cross so makes shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience or you be in the state of the wise Virgins that in this pure Light waits dwells in the Power which chastiseth that which would your Garments defile daily in the Cross and there your Souls are kept pure and chaste to follow the Lamb with boldness wheresoever he goes and enter with him into the rest prepared for the people of God where thou the foolish Virgin shall not come until thou from thy foolish wisdom return to the pure Light thy self with it to judge and in it wait for the Power of Christ the Fountain of Wisdom thee to guide in faithful Obedience to the Father of Light. All dear Children of the Lord be Valiant Bold and Faithful that in the pure Light Power and Life of God you may all stand in this day of tryal which the Lord will bring upon you all that make mention of his Name for power shall be given to the Beast his Horn to exalt even to the Host of Heaven for the cleansing of the Sanctuary that all painted Beasts that are Enemies to the Cross that hath defiled the Sanctuary of the Living God in coming before him amongst his Saints and Children they shall come trembling before the power of the Beast when he utters his voice all to command his Image to worship then shall all you Children of the most High God whom he hath called and chosen to be faithful to him in his eternal Power rejoyce who will you all keep in that day in rest and peace in the Ancient of days who shall sit to judge the Beast and the Whore their Kingdom to break down and destroy in his Eternal Judgment for evermore and will rule over them by the Arm of his Power and of his Dominion there shall be no end for to him alone it belongs forever Amen Meet often together in the Fear of the Lord his Power to manifest in you to his Praise who is worthy forever Amen I charge you and command you all in the Presence of God who make mention of his Name that you speak not at any time rashly in your wills one to another or to any without as to exhort them when you are guilty of the self-same thing in the exalted Spirit out of the Cross be silent thou Fool and first judge thy self with the Light and in the Power dwell to cast the moat out of thy own Eye and that thy own House be kept in order then wilt thou see clearly how to take the beam out of thy Brothers Eye and to exhort others how to walk in order to the Spirit of Truth and in the pure single Eye aâ—l you that Fear the Lord watch over one another in tender love bear one anothers Burdens exhort one another to the building up in the most holy faith God Almighty be with you â—all his faithful Servants and Children and in his eternal Power keep you in himself that in him you may grow up in his pure nature to bear his Name in righteousness that his Image be written in your Foreheads that all that see you may know you to be the righteous Seed the Lord hath blessed and his eternal pure Power preserve and keep you bind you up in the unity of the Spirit and bond of Peace where I am with you in the Eternal Unity in the unchangable Love and Life W. D. Dear Friends ANd Friends of God whose minds are truned to the Light with which Christ Jesus hath inlightned you in his Light all wait and with boldness in him in whom your life is hide look up to him in his Light believing in his Name which is his Power to guide you with boldness in every thought word and work in faithful Obedience to the Light that in it you may shine forth in the brightness of the glory of his Power to be manifest to the Consciences of the Sons and Daughters of men that you are the Children of the Day which are come out of the Night in the Light up to Christ to judge the World in his power guiding you in a pure Life and holy Conversation that men may see your good works and glorifie your heavenly Father who hath raised you up by the Arm of his mighty Power in his Light to be Lights to the Children of the World that sit in darkness to