expectation will be prevented for his Reign and Kingdom is not of this World Your high nature stands and Satan is not bound nor one of the dayes of the thousand years for his limit is not yet come your minds are outward and they are your own thoughts which are vain you know not of what Spirit you are The Sufferings of Christ must you know before you can see him Reign and through his War must you strive before you can obtain his Victory and him must you own in his convincing you of sin before you can witness his reign in Glory upon Earth over sin To all you that are called Ranters THe Controversie of the Lord God is against you your Seat is in the mystery of iniquity and Satan transformed into an Angel of Light is your god and King and the Kingdom of the second Beast is your Dominion your deadly Wound is falsly healed and Satan thereby hath enlarged his Government you continued not to the end but the Prince of Darkness is more strongly entred and your latter end is worse then your beginning and your last end will be the worst of all while you have scorned self-righteousness your selves have been impudently poluted with the spiritual Wine of Whoredom and though you have cryed against and abhorred the form of Religion your selves have been in the highest power of Iniquity sold to do wickedly and given up to commit sin with greediness glorying in your shame and are become vain in your Imaginations your foolish hearts being darkened because when ye knew God you glorified him not as God The womb of your corruption is the wel-favoured Harlot begotten by the false Prophet Plead with your Mother for she is an Adultress and hath aboundantly gone after other Lovers loving their Bed of Adultry where ever she saw it naked shall she be stripped and set as in the day that she was born and no Mercy shall be to you her Children You had a Convincement under the Law and were brought under condemnation some of you but as the viperous Generation you have fled the wrath and now are become Enemies to the Cross of Christ and turn the Grace of God into wantonness which largly to you appeared which would wholly have sanctified you if iâ— it you had walked but having slain the Witness of God you now are in the cursed peace following Drunkenness and cursed Speaking and Swearing and beastly Lusts and beggerly Vanities sporting your selves as in the day time and you are the Crucifiers of Christ afresh and Putters of him to open shame in the sight of the Heathen And while you speak swelling words of vanity your selves are the Servants of corruption and of sin in the highest degree and free from Righteousness in the least measure doing despite unto the Spirit of Grace and being bound in the Chains of darkness and your professed freedom is devilish stolen by you and is not the Freedom of the Son of God purchased through death you never came through the Law but by your Oaths and Drunkenness and Prophaness have cast it behind your backs you that are in wantonness do kill the Just and you that are in pleasures are dead while you live and you that live in fleshly lusts are in War against your own souls Iezabel is your Prophetess and the Dog that is turned to thâ— Vomit again is your example and seven unclean spirits worse then the first are entred upon you that is your Parable and your House is become the Den of Robbers which was once the House of prayer the Hand of the Lord is against you and his Breath will kindle the torment of Tophet upon you and everlastingly shall it burn upon you and shall not be quenched and your professed love shall be turned into my Wrath and Fury and sin shall you find in its Vengeance though you have seen none in the action and my Witness which you have slain to gain peace shall arise to your everlasting trouble saith the Lord and your myrth shall be turned into everlasting sorrow and your communion in unrighteousness shall become your unity in the just indignation of wrath and your liberty enjoyed in the World shall be turned into your bondage in the â—ake of Fire and your wisdom and knowledge shall rot in the pit and your righteousness and uprightness which once was in you shall never be mentioned to you for your own iniquities shall you bear in the Day of the Lord With the eternal Light you are comprehended your beginning which was in judgment and your time which is in false peace and false liberty and love and fleshly joy and your end which will be everlastingly miserable And though you speak of the Light and what it once wrought yet being from it turned into Darkness bringing forth fruits of Darkness and unrighteousness the Light is your eternal condemnation and because you are the highest stone in the Building of mystery iniquity the greater will be your fall into the Ditch of deeper perdition you have been the greatest dishonourers of the true God and in the way of the upright are you a stumbling unto this day your state is read and your portion is foretold and this prophesie shall not fail but upon your heads shall be fulfilled To all you that are called Seekers and Waiters THe Lord hath many things against you and his Controversie will be with you you are the highest in the Image of many mixtures and your Tent is pitched in the Plains of feigned humility and your goodly building stand upon the Sand repaired and beautified by the scattered stones gathered out of the ruins of the former Cities of confusion among you there is a simplicity and a calm spirit for you have been poured from vessel to vessel and your scent is not so strong as the former neither is your growth so perfect in the mystery of iniquity as by appearing in so perfect a shape of the Serpent you seek not at the true Door nor wait not at the Gates of Life and your seeking will end before life eternal you find for you with the rest stumbles at the Foundation and in him who is the Light of the World and enlighteneth every man that cometh into the World you cannot believe you are airy in your words and knowledge and speak of that which through death you never obtained your knowledge is high but it ariseth out of the cursed ground which is not removed in you Form outward you deny but your Form is inward and your chiefest Idol is in your heart and while you say you eat and drink the Flesh and Blood of Christ in the Substance you slay him in his least measure and your wills prophesie a false peace which will be turned into true trouble and when you speak the mans head is covered and the womans head is uncovered and this is a shame that the woman hath not power on her head your Seeking and Waiting is of your selves and
respect of Gods Decree and Efficacy of his Death from the foundation of the world really and indeed suffer death or dissolution of Soul and Body as upon the Cross at Ierusalem more or oftner than once Answ. Here in this query thou Diviner art found adding to the Scripture thy divinations of thy own brain whereupon the plagues of God is to be added unto thee and poured upon thee for as thou sayst the Man Christ Jesus the Lamb of God slain in respect of Gods Decree and Efficacy of his Death from the Foundation of the World Oh thou Lyar let all people see where there is such a Scripture that speaks as thou speakst here but in the Light of Christ thou art seen and in the life comprehended and art for condemnation The man Christ Jesus we own and witness and the Lambs Book of Life which was slain from the Foundation of the world we witness the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world this we witness according to the Scripture praises praises eternal praises be to the Lord God for ever and thee to be the Beast that makes war with the Lamb we witness and thou Antichrist which looks at Christs death at Ierusalem alone and cannot confess him no otherwise but without thee here thou art but equal with the Pope of Rome for he confesseth Christ dyed at Ierusalem as well as thou so let all thy Congregation see what they hold up that follows thee 3. Quer. Whether did the man Christ ever really and indeed suffer in his own person for that end and after that manner which he did once upon the Cross at Ierusalem before the time or since the time Answ. Here thou full of all subtilty hast made manifest thy Poison and enmity but with the Light of Christ thou art seen and known and with it condemned for ever Christ Jesus in his own Person doth and ever did suffer by thee and such as thou art and by thy Generation he did suffer at Ierusalem and doth suffer where he is made manifest by you after the same manner and thou Blind-Pharisee and Blasphemer wouldst thou have Christ to have more ends in suffering then one 4 Quer. Whether was not that death which the man Christ suffered once and but once upon the Cross at Ierusalem so satisfactory for all the sins of the Elect as that the Iustice of God did not doth not since require any suffering or working upon that account either from Sinner or from Saint Answ. Here thou Jesuite art pleading again for a Christ far off thee according as thy Father doth at Rome That Christ that dyed at Ierusalem did not satisfie for thee who art an enemy to him and doth not abide in his Doctrine but acts contrary to his Commands and art under the wo which he cryed against them that were in the same steps where thou art and from that wo thou shalt never flee The death of the man Christ Jesus which suffered at Ierusalem we own and witness the same Christ that suffered at Ierusalem we witness made manifest and the one God and the one Mediator we witness and know betwixt God and man the Man Christ Jesus according to the Scripture And here thou Lyar art made manifest to all thy Congregation to be a Lyar who said amongst them that we denyed that Christ that died at Ierusalem so let them all be Witnesses of thy Lyes and let thy mouth be stopt thou Lyar who art for the Lake and whereas thou queries whether the justice of God be not satisfied for the sins of the Elect here let shame strike thee in the face that ever thou shouldst take upon thee to speak to any people and knowst not the Scripture where dost thou read in all the Scripture that God doth require satisfaction for the sins of the Elect or laid any thing to their charge let all people try thee here by the Scripture and see whether thou be not a blind ignorant Sot who doth not know what the Justice of God requires neither from Sinner nor from Saint Isa. 42. 1. Isa. 65. 9. 22. Luk. 18. 7. Rom. 8. 33. 5 Quer. Whether you are reconciled to God by any other obedience than that particular obedience which Christ performed in his own Person and is mentioned in the Scripture or by any other suffering or death than that which Christ once suffered upon the Cross at Ierusalem Answ. Silence flesh wouldst thou who art an Enemy to God and a child of disobedience in whom the Prince of the Air rules know how we are reconciled to God and by what obedience first own the Light in thy Conscience which condemns thee and be obedient to that and then thou shalt know by what obedience it is that we are reconciled to God for yet thou knowst no obedience nor the Death which Christ suffered upon the Cross thou dost not know but art an Enemy to the Cross of Christ and in the mystery of iniquity and in the dark power and man of sin what hast thou to do to talk of obedience who art reconciled to thy lust and sin reigns in thee and thou art blind in the broad way that leads to death as thy fruits makes it manifest who lives in strife and envy 6 Quer. Whether did not the Man Christ suffer as a publick Person in the Elects stead or in their behalf and for that end that none who believed in him might dye eternally Answ. There thou Blind-Guide makest many replys but still one and the same thing but thou makest it manifest that thou dost not know the man Christ at all nor his sufferings for that death reigns in thee yet that hath passed over all men that askes this query for a publick Person Christ is not to thee but a mystery which thou knowest nothing of and for the redeeming of the Elect from under such mouths as thine did and doth Christ suffer and those that are brought to believe deny such dumb Idol Shepherds as thee who as yet doth not believe and therefore shalt dye eternally except they repent 7 Quer. Whether the sufferings of Christ now in his Saints be all the satisfaction that is made to or which the justice of God looks for for sins past present and to come Answ. There thou Blasphemer askest thou knowest not what is not Christ the same now as ever and is not the sufferings of Christ satisfactory where ever What wilt thou have to satisfie if the sufferings of Christ do not satisfie let all people take notice what a Blasphemer thou art or what they can learn of such a one as thee who knowst neither the justice of God nor the sufferings of Christ in his Saints 8 Quer. Whether was not that Body of Iesus which consisted of Flesh Blood and Bone and which was offered upon the Cross at Ierusalem the one and onely sacrifice for sin God accepted and to which alone exclusively the Saints before under the Law and the Saints
all your Nation of Ireland our very Enemies to prove the contrary though otherwise we stand falsly accused and falsly reputed to be Disturbers and Makers of disorders to the breach of publique Peace and such like grievous things upon the false Information whereof a Warrant was issued out from the chief Ruler and Council of Ireland and we thereby were apprehended in the City of Corke and haled by Guards as Malefactors too before the Council in this City where none of all these false Accusations were or could be proved against us nor the transgression of any known Law could we be convicted of and though occasions were sought against us yet none could be found and though snares were laid for our feet yet were we not entrapped but were cleared in the sight of God witnessed by the Light in all their Consciences and were found innocent and without reproof in the Eye of the Lord and by our innocency were their orders of false Accusations made of none effect and we thus far proved to be guiltless before the Throne of true Judgment Yet notwithstanding contrary to the Light in their own Consciences and contrary to the just Laws of the Nations which afford freedom to the Free-born and Righteous were we committed to Prison without conviction or any guilt charged upon us or the least appearance of evil towards any man's person though falsly accused yet no true testimony given against us whereby our boldness in the Way of the Lord could be discouraged as having the Testimony of the Spirit of God bearing us witness in the Holy Ghost that in all good Conscience towards God and towards man we have lived to this day and so are without reproof in the sight of God and all just Men and though upon search and examination we were found guiltless thus far yet further hath the Enemy the Devil prevailed in cruelty against the Innocent that it is endeavoured that we be banished under the account of Vagabonds which last Accusation is the most false and unrighteous for we challenge this Of whom have we begged or to whom have we been burdensome or whose bread have we eaten for nothing or what evil have we done Where is the testimony of your Slanders But innocently do we suffer these things bearing reproaches and binding the cruelty done unto us as Chains about our necks and as Crowns upon our heads having the assurance that for well doing we suffer these things from the hands of the Rulers through the Lies and Slanders of the Teachers who are in Cain's way of persecution till they have fulfilled their measure of wickedness and be laid waste as the Wilderness And this is our cause and hereby it comes before you by the Light of Christ in your Consciences to be judged if your Hearts be not altogether hardened and your Minds wholly blinded and we lay it at the door to receive sentence from you and without respect of persons holds forth our guiltless cause before you not begging any thing from you but herein to clear our Consciences that you may save your selves from this untoward Generation whose Root is corrupt and Fruit bitterness for while we have breath from the Lord and injoyment of his Presence our duty is to serve the Lord in bearing witness against injustice and all cruelty and oppression and shall appeal to receive justice from the present power which now rules for in the Name of the Lord we challenge our priviledge of freedom as being Free-born till we be accused guilty by the just Law of Equity unto which we are subject for Conscience sake and not to any mans will but by word and writing are bound by the Law of God to bear witness against the unjust proceedings herein of the Heads and Rulers of Dublin and shall seal our witness against them and against their unrighteous Decrees sealed in their cruelty against the Innocent with our blood if thereunto we be called Edw. Burrough Dublin the 26th of the 12th Moneth 1655. A Challenge to the Priests of Dublin to try their God and their Ministry and their Worships WE the Servants and faithful Witnesses of the most High God called and chosen of him and redeemed out of Nations Kindreds Tongues and People who are Ministers of the Word of Life and Reconciliation and Messengers of Glad-tidings and Salvation unto captive and weary Souls our glorying is only in the Lord and not in our selves who are by the World in scorn called Quakers who are at this present in outward bonds for the Testimony of Jesus Christ in Dublin and who have been in the labour and travel of the Gospel of God these six moneths and upwards in this Nation of Ireland according to the Will of God ordained hereunto and moved and commanded by his Eternal Spirit into this his Work for the Seed's sake which is not of this World to the gathering of it into the Fold of Everlasting Peace and to the clearing of the Lord from the blood of his Enemies that they may be left without excuse by his Powerful Word given unto us and uttered by us and herein we are a good savour to God both in them that perish and in them that believe and for this cause have we denied our dearest and nearest Relations and love not our lives unto death that our Testimony we may finish which is committed to us of the Lord and because of this are we Labourers under many burdens and travels in many afflictions and sufferings and are abundantly reproached and our Lord's Truth of which we bear witness greatly infamed by many slandering and back-biting Tongues especially by Teachers and professed Ministers in the ears of their People and Hearers slandering us with being Jesuits and Deceivers and Seducers and Hereticks and Blasphemers and Witches and such like and we of those false Accusations being clear and our Lords Truth the Testimony which we hold wholly innocent and are willing to be tryed and proved and made manifest to the Inhabitants of this City and Nation in the sight of God This therefore am I moved to give forth and hereby in the name of our Living Eternal God of Heaven and Earth whom we serve and worship in that Way which is called Heresie to send it abroad as a Challenge to all you Teachers and pretended Ministers of what sort and form soever and to all you People whom it may really concern and especially to all you in the City of Dublin and Places elsewhere in Ireland to whom this may come that you meet us in the City of Dublin at some publique Place at a convenient time appointed by you at which place and time if the Lord permit by the permission of the Council of Ireland whose Prisoners we are we shall meet you then there to have a fair and sober Dispute in the presence of all People who may desire to be informed or satisfied concerning us and you in these things whereof you can accuse us and also of
things unto your Idol-god hath been your defilement and pollution in the sight of the true God to Images and Pictures have you bowed and have worshipped the Saints Dayes and Names and bowed to their likeness of mans inventions but have slain their life and trodden under foot their nature and glory and buried their righteousness and knowledge in the grave of your wickedness and ignorance and in imaginations have you rested and in vain superstitions have you hoped honouring the Name of Christ and killing his Life the Womb of Darkness are you shut up in upon Earth and it will be your bed for ever in Hell and Death and your Purgatory will deceive you and your cleansing will never come Defiled defiled and loathsome are you in the pure Eye of Light which the secret of your deceit searcheth and your darkness feeleth and shall judge you for ever Rome Italy France and Spain and your Dominions to all your Kings Princes Bishops Priests Jesuits Prelates and Friers and Nuns and whole train of Idolators The Cup of my Vengeance is towards you and the Dreggs thereof you shall drink and my overflowing Whirlwind of Wrath as an inresistable Flood is against your Banks and my Fire of eternal Fury shall burn through your Stubble and my everlasting Light shall make search and inquisition for the blood of my Elect which is found in thy skirts Thou abominable Harlot of loathsome adultery Tremble tremble at my dreadfull living presence ye Worshippers of dead Images the day of repentance is well nigh past your long Idolatry will my long patience turn into everlasting Misery and Judgment and Nations shall see your shame and in the sight of your Lovers shall you be tormented And this from Authority by my Spirit of Glory is sent you a Warning and is the voice of a Trumpet which gives a certain sound against the mighty dreadfull Day of the Lord which upon you is coming to make you a Desolation for ever and ever and the Eternal Decree is sealing against you never to be altered To all you called Protestants of the Eldest sort THus saith the Lord my controversie is against you and my hand will be upon you you have a strong taste of the Bottle wherein the Wine of Fornication is and your scent is leavened with the first vessel of abomination you are seated in darkness pitched upon six of the first Mountains under another Branch of the first Tree Ignorance and are thildren of the first womb begotten in another appearance of the Whores Beauty and are more comly in stature then your eldest Brethren and little is your difference to be discerned from the first Beast in your appearance and nothing at all in the ground you say you believe for Eternal Life but your unbelief will bring upon you everlasting death your talking of Christ and his righteousness imputed which you profess will not cover your infidelity and filthiness for you are in the enmity against his Life the working of the first for life and your believing for life springs both out of one ground and while you say you eat and drink the Body and Blood of Christ in the figure you kill and cruifie him in the Substance and art partakers of thy Sisters sins in Whoredom and Idolatry and must partake of her plagues Wo wo will be your Inheritance in the Pit of Earth for ever instead of a heavenly glory which you dream oâ— above the Sky I have armed my Armies to do my work herein which hath in part and will fulfil it to break you to pieces the intents of your heart have been known to be always against my people neither could you bear any appearance oâ— me but blasphemes my Name and Truth in every discovery you have loved darkness upon Earth and in its Chains shall you be bound in the Lake for evermore To all you that are called Presbyterians and Independents THe Lords controversie is against you for you are a higher branch of the first tree deeper rooted in the cursed ground of fleshly and sensual wisdom and the Womb of your conception is the first Whores daughter more comely decked and your Cistern holds the Wine of Fornication at which you drink in a measure her abomination and where you say you believe for Justification and applies the Promises for Savation your works of Wickedness and Hypocrisie will bring Damnation and gains the promise of Condemnation who are in pride and high-mindedness and double-heartedness which is the condition of that promise and you are found wanting every whit the conditions of the Promise of Eternal Liâ—e you have reformed the outward man into the obedience unto another likeness of the Truth without the Life and are as vile in the inward in hypocrisie and self-exalting and hath covered your selves with the Saints words and laid up more in store of the report of their riches then your fore-fathers and now you are become Worshippers of the form and words of the Saints and are grown in the knowledge more then some of your Fathers Children but in extolling the Saints words you limit their Spirit and keeps in Death their Life which was not of the World neither in appearance nor ground and while you say you eat and drink the Flesh and Blood of Christ in secret and separate you put him to death openly and among the multitudes your hearts are full of bitterness against my Remnant whom I have called and aloud you cry Heresie and Error and Blasphemes my Name and loaths the Honey-comb in your full stomachs you worship the same God as your fore-fathers did only in another appearance more refined through stronger wisdom and appears in the reformed old man thinking him to be the new man and deceives your Souls hereby and are zealous in your blindness in your will-worships and feigned humility which is without the knowledge of God and you depend upon your imaginations thinking to have life in the Scripture as they did which put Christ to death and will not come to Christ that you may have liâ—e you are in the knowledge gathered from without you which is natural and in it you are corrupted and some of you are bruitish in your knowledge and are thereby pufft up into pride and vain-glory your separation from the World is sensual and self-separation and differs but a little in your appearance and nothing in the ground for the cursed ground stands within untilled and unbroken and you worship God ignorantly at a distance and feeds upon the report of a thing done many hundred of years ago and your Faith doth not give you victory over the World for it is set in your hearts and the vanities of it without is followed pride and oppression and fulness Some of you are hot and furious in your blind zeal and cannot endure sound Doctrine your fruits will wither and all your knowledge will perish and all your hopes and expectations will fail and all your praises and prayers and all
Love undefiled was your Conception begotten by the Word of immortal Life unto the Inheritance incorruptable whereof you are Heirs of the faithful Promise made free by the Son through the slaying of the enmity upon his Cross whereby you are nourished up into Immortallity to reign over Hell and Death and the Grave for evermore With thoughts of eternal Love are you remembred and read in the Lambs book of Life recorded by the eternal Spirit and of the Lord cannot be forgotten Your Mother is a Virgin unspotted and your City is new Ierusalem come down from Heaven and glorious and full of Pleasure is your Dwelling place there is no need of a candle for the Lamb is the Light thereof and the Temple therein Your God is no Image nor your Worship no Imgination nor to the great Image you do not joyn nor his power hath no dominion over you but the Yea and Amen is your Covenant and the I am whom there is none besides is your God and he that lives forever is your Rock and sure Defence and Salvation is appointed your VValls and Bulwarks Gladness is sown for you yea everlasting Mercies shall you reap and your long mourning shall be turned into everlasting Rejoycing and your present Heaviness into durable Joy your VVaters shall be sure and your Bread shall never fail your Fulness shall abound and your Plenty shall be enlarged never more to hunger nor thirst but your little Seed shall become a great Nation and the whole Earth shall be replenished thererewith and your despised Government shall rule over Kingdoms and your Laws shall all the Nations of the Earth become subject unto Ye are no part of the Image of Idolatry but your beginning is the little Stone cut out without a hand and it shall fill the Earth and become a great Mountain whereupon the Fowls of the Heaven shall be refreshed eating the flesh of Kings and Captains You are found faithful in your Tryals and the glory of the VVorld cannot steal away your Hearts you cannot be moved for your feet are set upon a Rock Satan you scorn and the glory of his Kingdom you utterly disdain upon his power you tread and your feet trample under foot his majesty and renown Your King reigns for ever and of his Government and Dominion there shall be no end but the uttermost parts of the Earth shall be given for a Possession to him his Scepter is Righteousness and his Law is Equity and his Statutes are full of Justice and Judgment And thus saith the Lord of Hosts your God and King Because you have been found faithful and have not loved your lives unto death for his Names sake and for his Glories sake but have continually abased your selves and laid down your Crowns that you might honour him therefore you will he honour and exalt and will establish your Kingdom in peace forever and all that riseth up in judgment against you shall be consounded and condemned and his Hand will be against all your Adversaries to their overthrow and dishonour everlastingly You have loved Righteousness and Judgment upon Earth and your Path hath been in Equity and you have born the Affliction and Storm with patience and have endured with joy the Burden of the Oppressor you have been tryed to the bottom and have been found Innocent and without Guile before the Throne of God clothed with the Garments of Uprightness your Light is the Candle of the Lord and your Life and Glory is the Possession of the Most High Babylon is given you for a Prey and the riches of Aegypt is given you for a Spoil and you are free-born Children of the Seed Elect the first Fruits unto God and unto the Lamb your Purchase is obtained through death and your Crown of honour is purchased through suffering and the glory of Babylon is no whit equal for thou excellest in Beauty and Vertue Whereunto shall thy Beauty be compared O thou fair and comly Virgin unto whom shall I liken thee O thou choice and free-born Daughter of Sions King thy long travel of sorrows in the womb of Anguish hath brought forth Children of a comly stature thy Babes are truly lovely upright and faithful-hearted thy Young-men are noble bold and valiant chosen of thy God and Victory is with them thy Virgins are perfect in Beauty pure and undefiled and no spot in their Garments thy Old men are lively and honourable and stedfast in the Path of Righteousness and their gravity shall be truly respected thy Body is perfect in the Lords Record and Remembrance and with an eternal Crown of infinite Glory shall the Righteous Judge honour thee because you have delighted to do his Will and have kept his Covenant undefiled which abides with you for ever sealed and signed unto you by the Spirit of Promise decreed before the World was All Nations shall call you blessed and of your fulness shall they partake Who is like unto you A People saved by the Lord elect and chosen and redeemed out of Kindreds Tongues and People and have a name better then of Sons and Daughters Praise ye the Lord and Glorifie him for evermore Young-men and Maidens Old-men and Children and all that breath Praise you the Lord for thereunto are you called and for this cause are you brought forth Clap your hands and sing for joy of heart your Redeemer is the holy One and your Maker is your Husband I know you and to you am I known and I read you within the Vail and do behold you the Train of the Most High filling his Temple Follow him forever and let his Name be testified of throughout the Earth Make War in Righteousness and prepare your selves to do his service Let not your hands be slack neither be you sloathful in our Lords Design but wound the Head of your Enemies and mannage War against Gog and Magog throughout all Generations Ride on and prosper tread down the fenced Cities and enlarge your dominion and let the Children of Strangers of the Seed of Esau be your Slaves and Bond-men and fill the Earth with your precious Seed and sow it in the morning and in the Evening with-hold not your hand though you are despised of men yet the Lord hath made you truly honorable in his Glory you appear and his Righteousness is your clothing which will never wither and though some of you for a moment suffer Bonds for his Names sake yet you are free everlasting and are not ashamed of your Testimony before the Princes and Nobles of the Earth O Sion thou art desirable because of thy Beauty and thy Dwelling-place is scituate in a very fruitful Hill and thou feedest in the Valleys of fat Pastures of eternal Pleasures where nothing that defiles can enter nor no Devourer treadeth on thy Mountain nor no Lyons Whelp treadeth in thy Path it is the Way of the Ransomed of the Lord who hath blotted out thy Transgressions never more to remember thy Sins thou Seed
enmity and all mans works are brought forth in that nature which is evil and out of that ground which is cursed his good works are not accepted and his evil deeds are condemned all which springs forth of one root of bitterness and enmity which is in the displeasure of the Creator Oh Earth be awakened and all ye Sons and Daughters of Adam call to mind your state and condition and repent and return before Destruction when no time of repentance can be found Hearken to Instruction and let your Ears be open to hear here you may all hear and understand the Way to Restoration to be restored and recovered out of this condition and out of this enmity and from under this curse of misery and destruction for a Way hath God prepared unto all mankind and is making it manifest unto the whole Earth that the Sons and Daughters of Adam may again know their Maker and have fellowship with him and this Way is but one which is ordained for all People upon the face of the Earth of what Tribe or Nation soever And all that come to the knowledge of the Creator must walk in this Way which is called Christ Jesus who is the Son of the Creator the second Adam the Lord from Heaven the Power and Wisdom of the Creator and by him all things were made and without him was not any thing formed that was brought forth he is the Restorer the Redeemer and the Deliverer for he cannot be overcome of the evil but overcometh and treadeth down all the Powers of Darkness and Death and the Devil which rise against him in all the World and the Creator hath so loved mankind though he hath transgressed against him and grieved him yet he hath given his Son into the World into all Nations without respect of Persons or People to be the Saviour of all that believe in him and receive him that they may come out of Death and Darkness from under the Devils power and may be translated and changed and renewed out of sin and death and ignorance and rebellion and out of the Kingdom of the Devil into Truth and Righteousness and into the Kingdom of God And this Restorer and Saviour the Power and Wisdom of the Creator hath lightened all mankind every one that cometh into the World is lightened by him that every one may follow him and be guided by his Power and Wisdom and every one that doth receive him sin and iniquity and transgression is condemned and the seed of the enmity is cast out by his Power which is revealed against all unrighteousness and he subdues it and works it forth of the hearts of all men and so reconciles man again to his Maker to have fellowship with him And this Restorer the second Adam comes to be revealed within every man who executes true Judgment upon the Transgressor and bindeth under the rebellious nature and death and condemnation passes upon the seed of enmity and all its fruits upon the Devil and all his works upon him that is born of the flesh and all his wayes his joy is turned into mourning his pleasures into sorrow his glory and rejoycing into sadness of heart and the life which he hath lived comes to be crucified and the wayes which he hath walked in comes to be hedged up and no more followed and his strength is turned into weakeness and all his wayes and pleasures fade and perish and the Birth which is Immortal comes to be brought forth which is not of this World but Heir of the Creators Inheritance who hath no glorying under the Sun nor no pleasure in the glory of this World which passeth away but lives unto God in all things and brings forth fruit unto the Father and is replanted into the living Vine and is leavened into a new lump and placed in the Garden of God all the old Garments are put off and old things are passed away the Devil is cast out the blind Eye is opened and the Vail is taken away which hath been spread over all and the deaf Ear is unstopped and man is again returned unto his Maker and hears and sees and understands the things which are eternal which belong to his peace the Fear of God is set up in his heart and Gods Secrets are revealed unto him he is become the Glory of his Maker to praise him to glorifie him and to magnifie him for evermore being restored again unto God's Image and guided with his Power and Wisdom and hath received dominion and authority from his Maker to reign and rule over all Creatures and to be exercised in all things to his Glory by whom they were made he is not in bondage to any Creature but in liberty over it and the Creatures are become his Servants and he servant to his Maker and the Earth yeilds its encrease unto man the Curse is removed and the Blessing restored in the Covenant of Peace and Righteousness where all Creatures come to be injoyed the covenant of Death and Hell being broken and disanulled where the curse stood and standeth in all the World where the restorer of the second Adam is not received who moveth by the measure of his Power against the evil in the hearts of all men and he knocketh at the door of the heart that he may be received and come in and dwell with the Children of men whose delight is with the Sons of men and every one that openeth to him and hearkeneth to his Cry who calls by the Light and moveth by his Power by him they receive Life and Peace and Fulness from the Father and are raised from Death to Life and redeemed from under the power of Satan to the Power of the Creator all evil in the ground and in the fruits judgment goes upon it all and condemnation And thus mankind comes to be restored again to God his Maker to be the Children of God and Heirs of his Inheritance and is no more of this World but redeemed by Jesus Christ out of Kindreds Tongues and People out of respect of Time Place Creatures or Things and sees through all Creatures to be before the World was beyond all the glory of this World to the Glory of the Lord and here is the praising and singing and rejoycing the living and walking in that Life which cannot change and in the World of which there is no end and here a greater Glory is known then the first mans glory a greater State then that which was overcome of the Devil a greater Dominion then that which was lost this Dominion never can have an end Death is swollowed up of Life all sorrow and anguish is swollowed up of rejoycing all tears are wiped here and there is no more sorrow the quickning Spirit is felt and witnessed which hath quickened again to God God's Tabernacle is with men and his Dwelling-place with the Children of men and that is felt and seen and tasted which was before the World was before
them like to the Beast none upon Earth hath bought or sâ—â—d or judged or given evidence or been respected in all the World that 〈◊〉 not had the Mark of the Beast and the number of the names of Antichrist rich and poor small and great have receive his Mark as a Seal of their subjection to the Beast whose many heads and many horns have subjected all by the force of his arm and he hath blinded the eye lest men should see him and cast darkness over all faces and the false Prophet hath deceived many a Christ hath said and all the Earth hath been wandring in the Wildernâ—… of Wickedness and the Long-suffering of the Lord hath been wearied and he continually provoked to destroy the Nations who have followed Antichrist who hath shewed himself in the Seat of God to be God and hath sat in the Seat of God in the Seat of Justice Righteousness and of Mercy and the Abomination of desolation hath long stood in the place where it ougâ—â— not for many Ages and length of Times and his many Heads and many Horns hath swayed the World through the terror of the Beast who haâ—… made all worship him and they that would not he hath killed who hath carried the great Whore who hath made all men without exception and all Nations without respect to any wholly drunk with abomination and all hath staggered and fallen into grievous iniquities and the Dragon hath stood ready continually to devour the Child of Righteousness as soon as it was born and the Woman hath been forced to flee into the Wilderness that hath brought iâ— forth and hath fed there for so many dayes and for a long season hath the Lâ—â—d been blasphemed even the Name of God and his Tabernacle and them thâ—â— dwell in Heaven But now hath the Lord considered and looked down from his Habitatiâ—n and of a truth he is risen and hath taken to him his great Power that he may reign and put all things under his Feet and subdue the power of the Beast and Antichrist and all their Government and Rule and Laws and Decrees shall be overthrown and confounded all their worship shall be broken for great Babylon is come into remembrance before the Lord to render her according to her works the Lamb is now risen and advanced with his Bow and his Sword and he is going forth Conquering and to Conquer the Beast and all that have worshipped him and they that are with the Lamb are called and chosen and faithful they love not their lives unto death and they shall overcome him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of his Testimony the Dominion of the Lamb is setting up and his Power is made manifest and the Stone cut out of the Mountain without hand is a dashing at the feet of the Image and against the Beast and his Power and against all his Laws and Decrees is he risen and he will change Times and Laws and Powers and the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever for now the Spirit of Life from God is entred into the Witnesses which have been slain and they begin to stand upon their feet and great fear falls upon the great men of the World and the Devil is cast out into the Earth who hath sitten in Heaven in the Temple of God and deceived the whole World and his wrath is great against the Saints and against the Lamb because he knoweth his time is but short and the Man-child shall grow and shall rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron if any man hath an ear to hear let him hear he that leadeth into Captivity shall go into Captivity he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword the Purpose of the Lord shall stand who is now gathering and bringing back such as have been driven away and deceived by the Generation of false Prophets who have deceived the whole World and all that dwell therein and the Lord will take vengeance upon them upon the Beast and upon the false Prophet and great Babylon shall be thrown down and shall be no more at all but shall be made desolate and the voice of Harpers and Musitians shall no more be heard at all in her but her Glory shall wither and fade away in a moment for he that hath a true Weight and Measure is appeared to divide and to give due weight and measure unto every one and all the wicked who will not come from under the worship of the Beast shall have their part in the Lake that burnes with Fire and he that is unjust let him be unjust still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still here is the dividing of all things as they were in the beginning the Glory of the Lord is risen whose name is called the Word of God and out of his mouth goeth a sharp Sword and with it be smiteth the Nations and he shall rule them with an Iron Rod for his Name is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and he is gathering his Saints together to the Supper of the Great God to eat the flesh of Kings the flesh of Captains and the flesh of Horses and them that sat thereon the Purpose of the Lord shall not be disannulled though the Beast and the Kings of the Earth gather together their Armies to make war against him that sits upon the Horse who is already gone out to conquer and the numberless number of the Saints are gathering together before the Throne of the Lamb and they have no guile found in their mouthes And the day is now dawned and the night is far spent Wo unto the World and to all the Inhabiters of the Earth who have worshipped the Beast the Lord is coming to plead with you and ye that have partaken of the sins of the great Whore shall partake of her Plagues and she shall be rewarded double according to her works for her sins have reached unto Heaven The Day of great tribulation is at hand of Anguish and Destruction men shall seek death and shall not find it but it shall flee from them when the Lord ariseth and the Lamb standeth upon Mount Sion and his Saints with him who shall tread down the Heathen and cast them out even as they have trodden down the holy City and the Worship thereof and the Kingdom of the Beast and his Seat and his great Authority which he hath received from the Dragon shall all be thrown down and the Kingdom of the Son of God with his Government Scepter and Rule shall be established in all the Earth and the utmosts part thereof shall be given him to possess this is the Promise and this shall come to pass and through the whole World Laws and Decrees Ministry and Orders shall be changed and renewed the Law and Decree of the Most High shall rule over all and the
of England planted or what Flocks do they keep Their Vineyards prove not tender Grapes but wild â—ower Grapes wild Vines and not Vines to bring forth acceptable fruits and their Flocks prove not Flocks of sheep but wilde rude people who are in the nature of Wolves and Lions and if the Magistrates Law were not their Vineyard noâ— the flock would hardly yield them any maintenance the Apostles planted first a Vineyard and gathered the â—â—heep before they reaped or eat any of the fruit but the Teachers of England differ from them in this for they know what they must have before they plant or before they feed their flock and differ from the Apostles practice who first planted a Vineyard and gathered a flock before they could receive any crop and they would 〈◊〉 then use their power but kept the Gospel of Christ without charge so that this Scripture will not prove the Priests actions lawful in preaching for sums of money â—nd some other Scriptures they bring to prove the lawfulness of their preaching for â—ire which may all be answered as these are and whatsoever they can object will â—ot justifie them for their reaping carnal things and their hire and their eating â—f the milk of the flock is quite of another nature as is proved then the Apostle â—ractices were and were the people wiâ—e they would see and understand these â—hings and not be deluded through perverting of Scriptures and through wresting of them to other ends then wherefore they were given forth and this is written â—o answer some of their objections whereby they would defend themselves for â—hat though Paul took of other Churches to supply his necessities as sometimes he did yet â—his will not prove the lawfulness of their hundreds of pounds by the year most of which they spend in pride and idleness so that still this Judgment is true â—pon them which I have given all objections being answered and all defences â—eing made yoid and hereof they are guilty as I have charged them and proâ—ed it out of the Scripture They disagree to the Ministers of Christ and agrees with the Deceivers and in some particulars exceeds them for I believe all the falsâ— Prophets in Israel did not destroy any whit near a Million and a half of Money in a year considering all things it must come to little less their Funeral Sermons their great Tythes and small Tythes and Marriages and Sprinkling of Infants and Churching of Women with other such Penuries claimed by the Church of England with what is given to them out of the Nations treasure which is many hundred pounds a year also considering how much in a year is spent and consumed at two or three Colledges in this Nation in relation to the Ministry as in bringing some up to the attainment of the Ministry is they call it and upon the Educators of such with a very great abundance of such like charges consumed out of the Nations treasure which is wasted as in relation to this Ministry spoken of I do not speake against good education and learning which is in its place a vertue as for Travellers and many others neither do I account such money vainly wasted and spent but onely as to the Ministry of Christ natural learning is not there admitted to make Ministers or to enable them thereunto but that money which is thereupon spent is wasted and consumed and how much is spent in this way and for such an end onely I leave wise men to judge which will make up a large sum in the whole considering all things I say their yearly maintenance may amount to fifteen hundred thousand pounds a year which is a thousand thousand and half a thousand thousand pounds Men of weaâ— understandings can hardly reach to know how much it is and that makes me thus plainly expound it Kingston upon Thames the eighth moneth 1657. A description of the true Ministery of Christ and its Maintenance THe day hath appeared that makes all things manifest and the light is arisâ—â— that gives to discern between truth and error between the true and eveâ—â— false way and between the true worship of God which is spiritual and every falâ—â— worship of the world which is Idolatry and the true Ministry of Christ is knoâ—â— from the false Ministry by their several fruits and signes for hidden things are brougâ—â— to light and secret things are revealed but now the people of the world both tâ—â— wise and the foolish thus they object and say Seeing that you do so much coâ—… our Ministry and Ministers in their call in their practices in their conversation â—â—d 〈◊〉 their maintenance what Ministry do you own and what Ministers do you allow of 〈◊〉 whether would you have any Ministery at all seeing you throw down and declare against sâ—â— as the Law of the Land sets up and such as we have looked upon to be able Ministers 〈◊〉 after this manner are the people of this Generation begun to reason among themselves sâ—… what would this people do if they had power what Ministers would they approve of and 〈◊〉 maintenance would they allow them To all this I do answer and say The true Ministers and Ministry of Câ—… we do allow of and we would have set up and established and we wait patiâ—… ly till it be brought to pass even such as are ordained by power from on 〈◊〉 and who have received the gift of the holy Ghost who are called of God into the 〈◊〉 of the Ministry such we do approve of to be Ministers of Christ in whom he is reveâ—… and who have received him and are changed by him from death to life and out 〈◊〉 darkness into the Kingdom of the Son of God and who are born of the Spirit and 〈◊〉 led and guided by it into all truth and are called by it to follow the lamb whither sâ—… he goeth and who are taught by it in all their practices of Religion and in 〈◊〉 whole worship of God and such we own as have felt the operation of the spiâ—… in themselves and who have tasted handled seen and felt of the Word of life whiâ—â— abids for ever and such who goeth in the name of the Lord to Minister and declare freely what they have freely received of God by his Spirit and who preacheth Christ freely as the onely way and means of life and salvation unto all people even such as ministereth him the way the truth and the life the onely justifier and sanctifier and deliverer of them that believe and the condemner of them that believe not and such as Ministereth Christ onely the teacher and leader of his people and nothing else besides him and such we allow as onely seeketh and laboureth in the wisdom of God to bring people out of the wayes of sin and death unto the knowledge of God and to the things that belong unto their peace such who have no respect to large places or great benefits to seek after
is contained in the Old and New Testament of the Scriptures which Oath he is bound to perform before the Lord and unto all men Now it remains to be tried and proved what the Christian Religion is and who they are in these Nations that are of the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures seeing there are abundance of Sects and diversity of Judgements and many Assemblies and Gatherings of people who are divers in their Wayes in their Practices and in their Form of Religion in these Nations which do all profess the Scriptures and that their Form of Religion is according to the Scriptures but this cannot be but it will be manifest otherwise for the Scriptures which were given forth by the one Spirit of God bears not witness of many true Ways or unto many true Religions but unto one Truth and unto one true Religion and is the Declaration of one way of Life and Salvation by one Jesus Christ and there is no other Name under Heaven given for Salvation And they that believe in him and receive him those are they onely that are of the true Religion who are guided by the Spirit and changed thereby from Death to Life and such have unity with the Father and with the Son and one with another and are not of this World but Heirs of the Kingdom of God and these may own and claim a Title to be defended and preserved in their exercise and Practice of Religion Therefore come all sorts of People and let us try and prove who it is that is of the true Religion and who it is that he is bound to maintain and uphold by his Oath Come I say all Sects and sorts of people and appear to Trial Dare you joyn issue with me in this matter to try your Profession and Practise oâ— Religion whether it be according to the Scriptures in the purity thereof yea or nay for the Lord hath put it into my Heart to lay you all to the Line of true Judgement and to prove you whether you must be upholden and maintained in your Religion yea or nay Come claim your Priviledge if your Profession and Practice in Religion be according to the Scriptures then you may own your right and the benefit of the Protectors Oath but if your Profession and Practice in Religion be otherwise and not according to the Scriptures then you must stand back and defend your selves if you can for the Protector is not bound to maintain and uphold you in your Practice of Religion And with this Argument I shall try you all Whatsoever is professed and practised for Religion for which there is neither command nor president in Scripture is not aecording to the Scripture let this fall where it may this is Truth and therefore all people come to tryal and receive your judgement by this rule And first the true Religion is a walking with God in purity and holiness a performing of good to him and not doing any evil a belief in Christ and receiving of him and a living in him and through the operation of his Spirit to be changed into his Image and the Body of Sin and Death put off and a living to God in all things and not a living to this vain World in any thing but in all things to be guided by the Spirit of Christ This in short is a description of the true Religion and they that are of this Religion shall be saved in the Day of the Lord and in Equity and Righteousness should be protected according to the Oath before-mentioned or else the Oath is not performed in justice but rather broken through transgression And first of all as concerning that profession and practice in Religion which is most general in these Nations I mean such as sprinkle Infants and are sprinkled being Infants professing it to be the Baptism into the Faith of Christ and that it is a seal of the new Covenant and of remission of sins and that thereby people are made capable of union with Christ and that it is a sign of regeneration c. This is practised and professed by many for Religion but this Practice and Doctrine is not according to the Scripture therefore all ye through all these Nations that are made Christians and own your Title in Christianity and a right to fellowship with Christ and that ye are joyned to the Church and become Members of Christ because you were sprinkled when you were Infants and all ye that preach this for Doctrine and practise it for Religion you are not of the true Christian Religion in the Purity thereof as it is contain'd in the Scriptures this I do affirm Therefore stand you by for what you practise and profess there is neither Command nor President in Scripture if you could shew any you are now called and a Necessity is put upon you to make use of your Knowledge if you would be protected in this Common-Wealth in your Practice of Religion Likewise you sing and give to sing David's Psalms in Rhyme and Meeter professing it is to the Glory and Honour of God ye practise this as an Ordinance of God as a part of his Worship and as a part of your Religion but this Practice and Profession also is manifest not to be according to Scriptures because it was never commanded neither is there any President for this Practice in the Scriptures in Gospel Times therefore in this part of your Religion you cannot justly own to be pro tected and maintained because the Protector 's Oath reacheth not to uphold and maintain any such Practices in Religion which are not according to the Scriptures Likewise all ye that meet together to exercise your Religion and to worship God in Temples made with hands set a part by you for that Practice professing them to be Churches of Christ this is not according but contrary to the Scriptures which say God dwells not in Temples made with hands neither did the Saints of old constantly practice any such thing But they were the Persecutors that met in Temples made with hands who cast out and haled the Apostles out of such Temples so that in this Practice you cannot justly own to be protected as not being a Practice in Religion according to Scriptures Likewise All ye whose Ministers preach for Hire and have Hire for preaching so much a Year and so much a Sermon at a Town or a Parish in a settled Place and who take Tythes and compel People to pay Tythes by a Law such are not the Ministers of Christ and ye that uphold such for Ministers of Christ are false in Judgment and blind in Understanding and are not of that Christian Religion which is according to Scriptures in the Purity thereof neither Ministers nor People for the Ministers of Christ never acted any such thing they were the false Prophets and false Apostles that preached for Hire and for Gifts and Rewards neither did
thereof and in this same Spirit is the Father alone worshipped and by it God is known and his Promise is fulfilled it witnessing in all things unto the Father and is the Earnest of the Inheritance which fadeth not away and by it know we the deep things of God which the World by wisdom knoweth not and thereby are we seal'd and bound up in Covenant with the Father This is known to you that are Children of the Light and hereof you have the Witness in your selves and of God you are approved and not of men And all ye my Brethren who are call'd into the Work and Ministry of the Gospel unto whom the Word of the Lord is come and the Gospel of Christ to you committed Dwell in the Life of God and feel his Power and Authority and live in the same Life of which you minister to others that you may bring People to God and may effectually turn them from the dominion of sin unto the Dominion of Christ Jesus People may be guided out of Darkness in the marvellous Light Cry aloud spare not proclaim the Mighty Day of the Lord in all the Earth and fear ye not neither be ye dismay'd at the Face of any man but be bold and valiant for the Truth upon Earth and give your Testimony as you have receiv'd from God and preach Christ Jesus the Light of the World unto all People that they may receive him and be converted and live For Blindness and Darkness hath cover'd the whole Earth and all have gone astray from the Lord as Sheep without a Shepherd Therefore awake ye them that sleep and cause the Deaf to hear and the Dead to rise that such as have been stray'd may be gather'd for this is the fulness of time he is now seeking his Sheep that have been lost and bringing them Home that have been stray'd and you as Instruments in the Lord's Hand hath he chosen into this Work Therefore get on the Strength of the Lord and preach the Gospel of Peace even the Power of God that Sinners may be converted and the Wounded healed and the Weak may be strengthned and they that are ready to dye may be restored to Life and Salvation This is the Work of the Lord whereunto you are called therefore all who unto it are called be faithful unto the end and not only by word but by Life and Conversation also hold forth the Way of Life For you must feel that in your selves of which you minister to others and you must hold forth the Life the same which you minister in words and thereby shall you be made manifest to that of God in all People and God's Testimony shall answer for you And see that in all things you divide God's Word aright not crying Peace to the Wicked nor healing up the Wound falsly but that true Judgment in all things may be brought forth by you to all people Judgment to the Fat and Bread to the Hungry they that are Naked must be clothed and they that are falsly covered must be made bare Improve the Gift which God hath given you to him only and not unto your selves Be not hasty to utter words before the Lord but wait for Power from on High that the Way of God unto Salvation may be faithfully and truly held forth by you unto all people And faint not though your Burdens and Tryals be many but bare all things patiently love not your lives unto death that the good Work of the Lord may be accomplished which he hath begun by us and made prosperous and powerful in our hands unto this very day you have the Witness of this Our Cause is good we seek Truth and Righteousness that it may be established in the Earth and people may be brought unto God unto this God hath called us and hath owned us in it and will never forsake us for the Work is his and the Power is his and whatsoever he will he bringeth to pass and therefore why should we doubt or be weary For we shall see the Travel of our Souls the Scattered shall be gathered and a Remnant of the Seed shall be brought in which is scatter'd in every Nation as dry Bones unable to live How shall we hide that Treasure which God hath given us from them that perish for want thereof Or How shall we rest satisfied till the scatter'd Sheep be brought Home to the Fold Our Hearts are troubled to see so many Thousands walking in thick Darkness and to see the Seed of Israel devoured by the Destroyer Therefore my Brethren let us put on strength the Lord is with us let us make War in Righteousness for the Lord against all the Powers of Darkness let us continually be armed to do and to suffer all things for the Name of the Lord that People may be instructed in the right Way we know no man can have power over us but what is given them from above and all that which comes to pass against us is not worthy to be compared with the Crown of Glory and that Inheritance of which we have already received the earnest and sealed with the spirit of Promise and the Fathers Name is written upon us therefore in all things unto which he hath called you be faithful and obedient that his Work may be accomplished And all ye Children and Babes in Christ that are begotten of God and are thirsting and seeking after him in Truth and Righteousness he whom ye seek is coming to raign amongst you and his Dominion shall be set up and enlarged and the desire of your Hearts shall be fulfilled Righteousness and Truth shall meet in one and Judgment and Mercy shall be exalted Wait upon the Lord and feel his Power and his Presence continually that you may grow as Plants of Righteousness and may partake of the Heir-ship with Christ being crucified to the World and become dead to all its Wayes and no more you to live but Christ to live in you through the Light which he hath lightned you withall hath he given you an entrance into the Inheritance of the Father And as you walk in the Light you grow into Fellowship with the Father and with the Son Abiding in the Son you cannot sin for he keeps you from the wicked One and he hath no power over you that abide in Christ who is the Power of God which is the Salvation of all that believe and a Condemnation of all that believe not therefore all you that are convinced everywhere hearken to the Voice of the Lord that your Souls may live and mind the Power of God and the workings thereof in your Hearts which conquereth Hell and Death and subdueth all the Powers and Wayes thereof and every one be obedient to the Lord as Children of one Father that of his fulness you may receive and be filled therewith and meet together in every Place and as the Day approacheth exhort one another that you may grow up in Unity as
no end and people shall be brought into that and they shall go forth no more for who come to this Time is no longer and the Kingdom and Government is delivered to the Father and he is become all in all And all that ever come to know these things must first come to the Light of the Lamb in them with which every man is lightned that cometh into the World And all that ever know these things must first be brought to the Principle of God in them which they have transgressed against And all that own the Light of Christ and walk in it shall come to know these things which to know and be in them is eternal Life Therefore all ye Christians come to the Light which Christ hath lightned you withal and that will let you see the Government of Satan and of sin and death which has been ruling in you and the Light will teach you to war against it till it be subdued the Light will discover unto you that nature in which the kingdom of Satan bears rule it will let you see the Devil who is the Prince of darkness who is the Adversary of God who is out of the Truth and he has drawn all people out of the Truth but if you love the Light of Christ in you it will teach you to war against him and against all that that is out of the Truth for all that is of Satans Kingdom that is out of the Truth and must be destroy'd by the coming of the Kingdom of Christ whose coming is in the Light which Christ hath enlightned every man withal who comes to destroy the Devil and his kingdom and all his works So to the Light must all minds be turned which will reveal the kingdom of the Man of Sin and consume it The Appearance of Christ is Light and Christ is the Light of Israel which is as a Fire to consume all fruitless Trees which cumber the ground which the Lord will consume by the brightness of his coming And now is the Man of Sin reveal'd even in the hearts of Christians so call'd and he hath long shew'd himself to be God but now the Lord will bring him down For Antichrist has rul'd for many Ages and the Lord of Life has been crucified in spiritual Sodom but Sodom shall be consumed by Fire and the Lord will avenge himself of all his Enemies and all People and Nations shal know that there is a God who executes Justice and true Judgment who is a God near at hand to reward his People with Everlasting Life and to give unto his Enemies Judgment and Condemnation Written by a Friend to the Creation a Servant of the Lord E. B. A DECLARATION To all the WORLD Of our Faith And what we believe who are called QUAKERS And this is written that all People upon Earth may know by whom and how we are saved and hope for Eternal Life and what we believe concerning God Christ and the Spirit and of the things that are Eternal appertaining to all Mankind to know and believe Concerning God Christ and the Spirit thus we believe FIRST That there is only one true God who is a Spirit and his Presence filleth Heaven and Earth and he is Eternal and Everlasting the Creator and Preserver of all things that Heaven and Earth and all things therein by him were framed and brought forth and all things â—…in unto this day by his Power and whatsoever he willeth in Heaven and Earth he â—â—ings to pass by his Word and Power And we believe That this God only is and ought to be feared loved obeyed and worshipned by all Creatures and no other thing besides 〈◊〉 in Heaven and Earth Aâ—… we believe That his Worship and Obedience and Fear and Love is to be given in Spirit even in what his own Spirit moveth and leadeth his People unto And we believe His true Worship required and accepted of him 〈◊〉 not by the Tradition of men in outward Observances or Set-dayes oâ— Places but he is worshipped only in Spirit â—…d Trâ—th without respect of Time â—…ces or things and that none can worship â—â—m in Righteousness but his â—…n who are born of his Spirit and are led and guided thereby And we believe That this God hath given his Son Christ Jâ—… 〈◊〉 â—â—e World a free Gift unto the whole World and that every 〈◊〉 that coâ—…eth into the World is lighted by him that every man miâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayed And we believe That he is given into the World and no Nation 〈◊〉 or Pâ—ople excepted but unto all Mankind is he given of God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 them and every man through the World that believeth in him and receiveth Christ who is the Wisdom and Power of the Father shall be saved with eternal ' Salvation and every one that believeth not in him shall be damned and shall possess everlasting Misery And we believe That Salvation Iustification and Sanctification are only in him and wrought by him and no other for there is no other Name given under Heaven but hâ—m alone by which Salvation is And we believe All that receive him and believe in him are reconâ—…d to God and are made alive to God to live to him in all things anâ— do receive the Forgiveness of Sins and are set free from all Unrighteousness and from the Body of Sin and Death and have the Witness of the Spirit in them and the Spirit of the Father they have received and it witnesseth in them of the Father and of the Son and of the things that belong unto their Peace and it is the Earnest of the Inheritance and the Seal of the Promise of Eternal Life and by it are the deep things of God revealed to Mankind and by it the Father and the Son dwells in the Saints and by it have they Fellowship one with mother and the Father Son and Spirit are one And this we faithfully believe Again concerning Christ we believe That he is one with the Father and was with him before the World was and what the Father worketh 〈◊〉 is by the Son for he is the Arm of God's Salvâ—…ion and the very Power and Wisdom of the Creator and was is and is to come without Beginning or End And we believe That all the Prophets gave Testimony of him and that he was made manifest in Iudea and Ierusalem and did the Work of the Father and was persecuted of the Iews and was crucified by his Enemies and that he was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures And we believe He is now ascended on High and exalted at the Right-hand of the Father for evermore and that he is glorified with the same Glory that the had before the World was and that even the same that came down froâ—… Heaven is ascended up to Heaven and the same that descended is he that ascended And we believe Even that he that was dead is alive and lives for evermore and that he cometh and shall come
again to judge the whole World wiâ—â— Righteousness and all people with Equity and shall give to every man according to his deeds at the Day of Judgment when all shall arise to Condemnation 〈◊〉 Iustification he that hath done good shall receive Life and he that hath done evil everlasting Condemnation And we believe He is to be waited for in Spirit to be known after the Spirit as he was before the World was and that is the Knowledge unto eternal Life which all that believe in him do receive and he subdues Death and destroyes him that hath the power of it and restoreth from Death to Life and quickeneth by his spirit all that the Father hath given him and we believe such he justifieth and sanctifieth and such are taught of him but he condemns all that believe not but continue in unbelief and are not taught or him And this we faithfully believe And we believe That unto all people upon the face of the whole Earth is a Time and Day of Visitation given that they may return and be saved by Christ Jesus who is givn of the Father to call the worst of men to Repentance and the most ungodly of Sinners are convinced by him of their ungodly deeds that they might believe and be converted and saved And we believe Herein is the Love of God manifested to all Mankind and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are shut out by him before they were born into the World but unto all men is a Vâ—…ation given and they that do perish it is because they do not believe in Christ and destruction is of a mans self but Salvation is of God through believing in his Son who takes away sin and reneweth into his own Image that they may become Heirs with him And we believe that there is a Crown of Eternal Glory and an Inheritance of Eternal Life to be injoyed for evermore by all that believe and are chosen of God and that there is an everlasting Misery and Destruction to be possessed by all that believe not but continue in the state of Reprobation and are not changed from the wayes of Sin and Death but walk after the wayes of their own Hearts Lusts fulfilling the will of the Flesh in the Evil of this World and follow not Christ the Light of the World that they may be saved And we believe upon all such the Wrath of God abideth and that they have no part in the Inheritance of God And we believe That it is only he that is born again of the Spirit and that walks after the Spirit who is changed from Death to Life and who is redeemed out of the World and all its wayes such only must inherit the Kingdom of God and they only have right thereunto and none besides even they that are washed and cleansed from all Unrighteousness by the Blood of Jesus by which their sins are remitted For his Blood cleanseth from all Unrighteousness and Sin yea all such that walk and abide in the Light which Christ Jesus hath lightened the World withal And we believe That the Saints upon Earth may receive forgiveness of sins and may be perfectly freed from the Body of sin and death and in Christ may be perfect and without sin and may have Victory over all Temptations by Faith in Christ Jesus And we believe Every Saint that is called of God ought to press after Perfection and to overcome the Devil and all his Temptations upon Earth and we believe they that faithfully wait for it shall obtain it and shall be presented without sin in the Image of the Father and such walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit and are in Covenant with God and their Sins are blotted out and remembred no more for they cease to commit Sin being born of the Seed of God And we believe The Gospel of Christ is the Power of God unto Salvation and that it ought to be preached freely unto all people and Christ to be held forth unto all Mankind by the Ministry sent of him And we believe this Ministry is received by the Gift of the Holy Ghost and all they that receive it are lawfully call'd to the Ministry and they may preach the Gospel of Christ freely as they have receiv'd it freely And this Ministry is not of Man but of God and is made powerful to the converting of Sinners and to the bringing of people to God and to the Knowledge of his Wayes And we do not believe That any man is a Minister of Christ without the Gift of the Holy Ghost or that the Gospel can be receiv'd by natural Learning or Education And we believe Such as preach for Hire and have Hire for preaching are not the lawful called Ministers of the Gospel of Christ such as are Proud and High-minded and Covetous Men who do not profit the people at all such as have run and never were sent of Christ who calleth by his Spirit into the Work of the Ministry and as every one hath received the Gift of that his Spirit so he may administer to others Concerning Rulers and Governour we believe That there ought to be Rulers and Governours in every Nation City Country and Town and they ought to be such men as fear God and hate every evil way who will judge for God and not for man and will judge righteously equally and justly and will give true and sound Judgment unto all men without Bribery or Respect of Persons not regarding the Rich above the Poor but being a Praise unto all that do well and a Terror to all Evil-doers whatsoever having knowledge in the pure Law of God and themselves continnally exercised therein And we believe That every Law of man ought to be grounded upon the Law of God pure Reason and Equity being the Foundation thereof that God's Witness in every man may answer to it and the Law ought to be known unto all people before Trangression be charged or punished in any man And we believe that every Transgression ought to be punished according to its nature and that the Punishment exceed not the greatness of the Transgression neither ought any Transgressor to â—…ape unpunished neither ought any upon false Suspition or Iealousies to be caused to suffer without the Testimony of true men or the Confession of the Party And we believe that the Executors of the Law ought to be Just Men and not given to Pride Drunkenness or any other Evil whatsoever and ought to be chosen every year or otherwise by the Consent of the people and that no man be stopped of his free choyce except justly taxed And we believe that all Governours and Rulers ought to be accountable to the people and to the next proceeding Rulers for all their Actions which may be enquir'd into upon occasion and that the chiefest of the Rulers be subject under the Law and punishable by it if they be Transgressors as well as the poorest of the People And thâ—â— true Judgment and Justice will be
is God and Man in one Person Answ. As for the word Trinity it is invented and he hath learnt it out of the Mass-Book or Common-Prayer-Book but we own the Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ that Christ is God and the Spirit is God and there are three that bear record the Father Son and Spirit and these are one but God and the Spirit are not Persons but Infinite Beeings and the Scripture no where in true Translations expresseth God under the Name Person for Person is too Carnal to express God and Christ and the Spirit by but God was in Christ reconciling the World and this we believe and acknowledge according to the Scriptures but for this word Doctrine of the Trinity the Scriptures know no such word but the Truth we own and the Gospel and the Scriptures too They hold that Iesus Christ died onely signally or examplarily and that we are justified by the Suffering of Christ in us and to be healed by his Stripes is to be stripped off or from Sin Answ. Jesus Christ died and rose again and ascended according to the Scriptures this we do believe And Christ was and is the Substance the end of all Signs and Examples yet was he an Example to the Saints and the Apostle exhorted to walk as they had Christ for an example and while he was in the World he did and spoke and acted many things as Parables Signs and Examples the substance of which is to be received in the Saints and known by them through the Spirit and we believe Saints are justified by Christ and through Faith in him which was and is and is to come who is blessed for ever and none are justified by his Death and Suffering and Blood without them but who witness Christ within them for all are Reprobates and to be condemned and cannot be justified that have not Christ in them as thou mayest read Except Christ be in you you are Reprobates and all that believe in Christ and receive him they are healed through his Sufferings and Stripes for he sanctifies them and gives them Remission of Sin and justifies them and in him the Saints are compleat and the New-man the Regenerate is justified and the old-man is in the Degeneration and knows not Christ in him and hath not received him but onely heard of him without him and believes the Relation but this faith doth not justifie for all the false Christians upon Earth have this faith but that Faith alone justifies which gives to receive Christ and him to live in us and to dwell in us by that Faith They utterly renounce the Doctrine of Iustification by the imputation of the Righteousness of Christ or by the obedience he performed or Sufferings he sustained or underwent in his own Person without us Answ. This is partly true and partly a Lye we do indeed renounce the profession of Justification by the Imputation of Christ or his Righteousness performed without men by men while they are in the degenerated estate and unconverted and unreconciled and unborn again for by such profession of Justification many deceive their Souls but yet we say that Righteousness is imputed to us and reckoned unto us who believe in Christ and have received him even the Obedience and Sufferings that he performed without us is ours who have received him within us and witnesseth Christ in us and therefore we are not Reprobates yet we do acknowledge he wrought perfect Righteousness by Obedience and Sufferings without us and that Righteousness is ours by Faith which Faith hath received Christ to dwell in us and he and his Righteousness his Obedience and Sufferings we enjoy in us in Spirit if any can receive it let them for that he wrought Righteousness this is acknowledged but who have a part in this Righteousness that is disputable They wholly renounce the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation and it is one of the great Reasons for which they decry the Ministers because they assert it they say Jacob and Esau are in a man and the good Seed is Jacob which God electeth and the bad Seed is Esau which he reprobates Answ. The Doctrine of Election and Reprobation we do own according to the Scriptures and therefore hast thou belied us and slandered us and art found reproveable and would incense mens minds against us for advantage to thy self but to some in that House we are better known then thou canst report of us and yet thou sayest we say that Iacob and Esau are in a man and the good Seed God electetâ— and the bad he reprobates and thou mayest here see thy confusion and thy ignorance uttered in the self same Lines for thou sayest we renounce the Doctrine of Election and Reprobation and yet sayest we say the good Seed God electetâ— and the bad Seed he reprobateth and this shews what spirit thou art of and how that the spirit of unrighteousness doth possess thee and leads thee to speak without understanding and we further say man being degenerated became reprobated and cast out and all by nature are Children of Wrath and the Children of Wrath are all in the reprobate State and none are elected but who are elected in Christ the Seed of David and so in the first Adam all are reprobated and all that are in the second Adam are elected and the Election and Reprobation stands not in the Persons but in the Seeds and yet the Persons are blessed or cursed in the love or in the displeasure of God according as the Seed of God or the seed of the Serpent lives and dwells and bears rule in the Persons and we do indeed decry and deny you the professed Ministers upon many accounts more then one and we have already and may in time to come shew sufficient Reasons against you both in Doctrine and Practise and other wayes that you are not the Ministers of Christ but the Ministers of Satan generally That Iesus Christ as he is the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of Abraham is in every one and that a measure or part of the Substance that was conceived in the Womb of the Virgin Mary is in every one Answ. Jesus Christ he is the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of Abrahâ—… according to the Flesh and after the Spirit the Son of the Living God and this Christ that was and is and is to come who was dead but is alive and lives for evermore the alone Saviour of the World he hath given a measure of Light and Life unto every man and there is a Light from him that shines in the heart of all men shining in Darkness the Light shines but the Darkness comprehends it not and this was Iohn's Testimony and is our Testimony That Christ enlightneth every man or all Man-kind that cometh into the World for in him was Life and the Life was the Light of men as the Scripture saith and the Apostle preached the Light that shined in peoples
hearts and it was that Light that gave them the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God but thou hast discovered thy self to be a Stumbler at the stumbling-stone and hath taken offence at the Light like the Pharisees who professed the Scriptures as the Priests of England do but were ignorant of the Life the end of the words and knew not Christ the Substance but the Stone at which you stumble will break you to pieces and grind you to powder even Christ the Light of the World that lighteth every man that cometh into the World That the Soul is a part or measure of God as they speak and not a part of man but uncreated and so is that Light which is in every one Answ. The Soul is immortal and God is immortal for God breathed into man the Breath of Life and he became a Living Soul as saith the Scripture and the Soul is related to God for what a man works against God it is against his own Soul for all Sin is against God and against a man's own Soul And God who hath all Souls in his hand who is the Creator and gave Life into the Soul that is immortal and can never die though Death hath passed over it and hath reigned over all from Adam till Moses and Christ is the Light of the World that gives Life unto the Soul and he raiseth up the Soul out of Death and Misery and brings the Soul to rejoyce in God its Saviour and Christ is the Souls Bishop its Pastor and Feeder and who knows Christ knows him that was before the World was made and sees to the beginning and to the ending and his Soul rests in God that is over all That the Light in the Heathen who never heard that Iesus Christ died at Jerusalem is the same for the quality of it with that which is in the most godly Person onely there is a difference in the quantity And men are reconciled to God by following of it This Light they say is the sure Word of Prophesie and that it is sufficient to lead out of all Sin unto God Answ. The Testimony of Iohn is that Christ is the Light that lighteth every mâ—n that cometh into the World and if every man then the Heathen who hath not the relation of Christ's Life and his Death at Ierusalem yea and it is the same Light that is in the Heathen the same in nature and kind as it is in the Saints for the Comforter the Spirit of Truth is one in it self and the same though it comforteth the Saints and reproveth the World and the Wicked for their sins And men are reconciled to God by Christ for he was in God reconciling to himself and none are reconciled but who walk in the Light and follows it for who walks in the Light the Blood of Christ cleanseth them 〈◊〉 all Siâ— and they are reconciled and none else And the Word of God is in the Heart as the Scripture saith Deut. 30. Rom. 10. and that is the Word of Prophesie and that Word is sufficient to lead out of all Sin unto God if men believe in Jesus and receiveth him and the Spirit of Truth leadeth into all Truth all that follow it That Christ as man is not in Heaven yea that he hath ceased to be man and conseqâ—…ly to be Mediator and when I told them he should come in the Clouds in like 〈◊〉 as he ascended and that at his coming the Elements melteth one of their 〈◊〉 told me that the Clouds were scattered and the Elements melted in him Answ. Christ Jesus is ascended into Heaven and sits at the right Hand of the Father yea he is ascended far above all Heavens as saith the Scripture But that is utterly false whereas thou sayest we say he ceased to be man that is â—y Lye and so I pass it And we believe according to the Scriptures that 〈◊〉 shall come in like manner as he ascended and at his coming the Elements shall melt And it is not error for a man to say the Clouds are scattered and â—â—e Elements melted in him for Clouds are Darkness and covers the face of the Sun many times as thou mayest behold in the Firmament But Darkness is yet over thy Heart and the Elements are not melted away and therefore thou art in thy Imaginations putting Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light and calling Evil Good and Good Evil. That the Bodies of Men shall never rise again after death and that the day of Iudgement is come already and that now the Saints do judge the World Answ. We do believe the Resurrection according to the Scriptures For if onely in this Life we have Hope we were of all men most miserable And we believe that the Dead shall arise again after death and every one shall receive according to the Deeds done in the Body they that have done Evil shall arise to Eternal Condemnation and they that have done Good to Eternal Salvation in the day of Judgement And the Lord cometh with and in ten thousand of his Saints to judge the World and the Saints upon Earth do receive the Spirit of Judgement and do judge the World even all things for the spiritual Man judgeth all things even in this present Age if thou canst receive it thou mayest They are utterly against Water-Baptism and administring of the Lord's Supper with Bread and Wine because they say they have the Substance of all within Answ. As for Baptism and the Supper of the Lord we do own it and it is practiced of us in the Life and Power of God but as for your Baptism that is to say sprinkling of Infants calling it the Baptism into the Faith and that they are made Members of the Church thereby and that it is a Seal of Regeneration as you say in your Common-Prayer-Book and Directory that we do utterly deny and do say it is no Ordinance of God neither was it ever commanded by him or practiced by his Saints but is an Institution of the Whore of Rome and England received it by a Popish Institution and your practice of it is Idolatry and not any part of the true Worship of God And as for your breaking Bread and drinking Wine in that manner and form as it is practiced in the Church of England among the Unconverted and Unregenerated that we utterly deny also to be of God or to be ever commanded of him or practiced by his Saints and this is neither Heresie nor Error in us but true bearing witness against your Idolatrous Wayes and Practices with which the Nations are deceived whom the Whore causeth to drink her Cup even all people have drunk her Cup and she hath drunk the Blood of them that would not and she hath long sate upon Nations Peoples and Multitudes but now she is made bare and discovered and all you her false Ministers And whereas the Author doth say These are some of the
and rumors of Wars what are they to us What have we to do with them and wherein are we concerned in these things is not our Kingdom of another World Even that of peace and righteousness and hath not the Lord called us and chosen us into the possession of that Inheritance wherein strife and enmity dwelleth not Yea he hath broken down that part in us that is related thereunto and being dead in that Nature of Strife Bloodshed and Wars how can we live in strife and contention in the World or have fellowship with any therein And can we have pleasure in the confusion and distraction amongst men or joyn in any thing with them if so be we are quickened in the new life to God which is a life of love and peace and free from such things and if we are crucified in the life to this World out of which all these confusions and strife doth arise how can we live therein and therefore these things are nothing to us neither are we of one party or against another to oppose any by rebellion or plottings against them in enmity and striving with them by Carnal Weapons nor to destroy any mens lives though our Enemies so we War not for any nor against any for the matters of this Worlds Kingdom But our Kingdom is inward and our Weapons are spiritual and our victory and peace is not of this World And our War is against souls enemies and against the powers of darkness even by the Sword of the Spirit which God hath given us and called us to war therewith to convert people from sin and death and from the very occasion of wars and contentions about the things that are earthly and this is our calling and work at this day and these things all the Children of the Lord are to mind and to keep over the spirit of this World in all people which all this enmity strife and confusion that is up amongst men lodgeth in and out of it ariseth for these things are the fruits of the spirit of this evil and sinful World and the fruits of the Spirit of God are of another nature even Peace and meekness towards all and not enmity towards any in which Spirit let us live and walk admonishing all hereunto and Praying for our enemies and not hating them but doing good for evil and not rendring evil for evil but being meek and humble merciful and patient towards all and this is the true Christian life learned of Christ and this life is blessed in this World and in the World to come and them that live here are redeemed out of the World wherein is Troubles and Confusion Wars and Strifes But let us not heed any of these things for they Rise and Fall in their season and are brought forth effected in the changable and erring spirit which worketh not the honour of God but is in the dishonour to him And Friends let us be a people separate from all that live therein waiting for the deliverance of the holy seed in all and believing that through all these things the Lord will set up his Kingdom and thus it must come to pass BABYLON MUST FALL WITH A GREAT NOISE for in strife and confusion was She builded and therein hath She long stood and thereby must She fall and Tribulations must come upon the Earth that People may learn to fear the Lord through his Judgements And he will speedily do great things in the World which cannot be believed by many if it were told them for Hell and Death must be destroyed and both the Beast and the Whore must be taken alive and cast into the Lake of the anger of God But blessed are they that do wait upon the Lord and rest under his shadow and wait in his Counsel and receive his Instructions they shall see the marvellous works of his hand but the wicked and unbelieving shall be turned into darkness and shall not see the countenance of the Lord to refresh them but their sorrow shall be increased And as for me If I were no more this is the Testimony of my Love unto the Seed of God through these Nations who am a Companion to all that travel after Truth and Righteousness and that seek the Lord in their hearts that he may Rule and these things were upon me to send amongst the Flock of God to be read in all your Meetings Oxfordshire the 1st day of the third Moneth 1660. E. B. A VISITATION AND Presentation of Love Unto the KING and those call'd ROYALLISTS Consisting of I. An Answer to several Queries proposed to the People called Quakers from a supposed Royallist II. An Objection answered concerning the Kings Supremacy III. An Epistle directed to the King and those that go under the Name of Royallists IV. Certain Queries returned to them called Royallists to answer An Answer to divers Queries subscribed thus To the Quakers some Queries is sent to be answered that all People may know your Spirit and the temper of it and your Iudgment concerning the Times and Seasons and subscribed let your Answer be directed Tradite hanc Amico Regis AS concerning the Quakers that are scornfully so called We are at this day and have been ever since we were a People a poor despised and contemptible People in the eye of this World and deep Sufferers under the Injustice and Cruelties and Oppressions both of Rulers Teachers and People and we have been a prey to the Wicked and trodden down under the feet of Ambitious men that have been in power in this Nation and have Ruled in force and cruelty over us and this hath been ever since the Lord raised us up to be a People though we have not been offensive to any just Law or Government or to any sort of People otherwise then that we have given our Witness against Sin and wickedness in all People but we have not been Oppressors of others neither have we envied the persons of any but in all good Conscience have we walked towards all men doing no otherwise to any then we would be done unto and this is the very Law we walk by towards all men desiting the good of all and that all may come to Repentance and be Saved and what we are as unto the Lord if I should declare it could not be believed by many But we are his People and he hath chosen us and he is our God and we have believed in him and walked with him in the uprightness of heart and we have this Testimony in our own hearts if we die it is for him and if we live it is to him and though we have been and may be clouded with the Reproaches and Persecutions of an Uncircumcised Generation yet in the Lord's Season it shall be manifest even to the World and to our very Enemies that we are his People and chosen of him and he in the midst of us whom we serve and worship in Spirit in Truth and in Righteousness and
extream Reproaches as I have said in Contempt and Derision of that People and all this as if those People were guilty of heinous Crimes that it might appear to thee as if these Petitioners had done nothing but Iustice in what they have done and they seek to cover themselves and to hide their Wickedness before thee in what they have unjustly acted and this seems to be the Current of some part of the same Petition already presented unto thee like as if they had done no Evil though they have Unjustly Banished 〈◊〉 off Ears Whipped inhumanly and taken away lives as aforesaid And they would have thee believe they are Innocent towards thee and towards us whenas it is evident as the Sun at Noon-day that they are our Persecuters and that they have â—â—justly persecuted us unto Death for the Name of Christ and that also they are not unto thee as they Hypocritically feign themselves And therefore O King for the clearing of our selves and the Name of the Lord which we profess and for reproving of their bold impudent Insolencies both in what they have already done to us and now in seeking to cover themselves unto thee And also if there be any doubtfulness in thy Heart of these Matters for these Ends and Causes with Respect to the Fear of God and Honour 〈◊〉 the King I hereby presume to pursue their said Petition even unto thy Court and to wipe away the Slanders and Reproaches of Ungodly Men as much as possible hoping thereby thou wilt receive due and just Information in this matter of proceeding between us and them that thy just Judgment may be given accordingly And I shall transcribe some few of their own words presented to thee and thereupon spread some few Considerations before thee also and I pray God give thee an Understanding to judge justly in this and all other cases The first thing that I note is whereas they say That they have chosen rather the pure Scripture-Worship with a good Conscience in this poor remote Wilderness to â—it New-England among the Heathens than the Pleasures of England with subjection to the Imposition of the then so disposed and so far prevailing Hierarchy which we could not do without an evil Conscience c. say they The Considerations presented unto the King upon these words are divers 1. The Worship Doctrine Discpiline and Constitution of the Church of New-England is different and contrary and not purely according unto the Scriptures in the Administration of the Gospel nor in a pure Conscience purely guided by the Spirit of God though they seem to justifie their own Way and Case before the King and this may justly be made appear in his Presence upon good Occasion only at this time I assert the Case and if ever God gives oportunity I may prosecute it with Proofs and Evidences and that to the great Reproof of the Church so called of New-England who are not only in Doctrine Worship and Conversation contrary to the Scriptures but impudent and too presumptious to affirm their own Self-justification and Innocencâ— before the King when as it is manifest as the Day is from the Night that the Pastors and Members of the Church of New-England want the Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures and follow the spirit of Persecution Violence and Cruelty and are void of a Good Conscience both towards God and Men. To prove this there needs no greater Evidence than their own Deportâ—…nt towards the Harmless Quakers for these five years time who as I have said have spoiled their Goods and imprisoned their Persons cut off their Ears Banished them and inhumanely put them to Death and all this because of difference in Iudgment and Practice in Religious Matters when as no manner of Evil could be charged upon them in the things between man and man And if these be not works contrary to the Scriptures and the Spirit that gave them forth and contrary to a Good Conscience I am yet ignorant and must leave it to the Judgment of the King before whom this Matter is brought to receive his Judgment 2. Let the King consider how they have ignorantly condemned themselves in the same things for whith they have judged others for while they seem to complain of the Impositions of the Bishops which they stile prevailing Hierarchy if it was Transgression in the Bishops in dayes past to impose upon these Petitioners and to Persecute them for Non-conformists how much more are these men guilty of Imposition and Persecution of tender Consciences Nay they have exceeded in the same Transgression and become seven-fold guilty of the sins themselves which they complain against in others for they have gone further in Cruelty and Persecution towards the Innocent Quakers than ever the Bishops proceeded against them even so far further as the murdering of a man is more than cutting off his Ear And the Cause of the Quakers towards these Petitioners hath been as Innocent as ever theirs was towards the Bishops Oh hypocritical Generation who are condemning of others for that whereof themselves are guilty and imposing upon others in a far higher degree than ever the Bishops imposed on them witness their Law in New-England which judgeth every man to pay 5s per day who come not to their Assembly and imposing Fines of 40s and 50s apiece on such as meet together to worship the Lord which are evident signs of an evil Conscience as themselves speak The next thing that I note upon which the King ought to consider the Petitioners say concerning the Quakers Open Capital Blasphemers open Seducers from the Glorious Trinity the Lord 's Christ the Blessed Gospel and from the holy Scriptures as the Rule of Life open Enemies to the Government it self as established in the hand of any but men of their own Principles malignant Promoters of Doctrines directly tending to subvert both our Church and State By way of Answer to this let the King consider 1. The envious and detestable spirit of maliciousness of these Accusers and how vehement and fervent their persecuting spirit is drawn forth with reproachful Tearms in the highest degree like as if they could not utter sufficiently the Envy of their Hearts or as if they wanted words to demonstrate their Malignity and devouring Malice against that People whom they in scorn call Quakers and all this to present us Odious and Abominable before thee O King I say but this of them unto thee The Lord forgive them if they have not sinned unto Death and Unpardonably I have no desire of Revenge towards them but I leave Vengeance to the Lord who will recompence in his season neither do I desire to provoke or incense the King against them only Duty to God and the King teacheth me and Love Constraineth me and an absolute Necessity presseth much upon me to spread our Denyal of their Bitter and Malicious Accusations against us before the King unto whom we are thus foully accused And I say I
am confident That the King hath better Experience of us than to believe these our Malicious Accusars And I do appeal to him from the knowledge which he hath already of us that he believes we are Innocent and not guilty of those things thus unjustly charged upon us and I question not but he will rightly understand that these Accusations are more out of Hatred and Envy against us than out of desire to benefit the King by such Presentation 2. I do testifie unto the King and before the whole World That we do profess and believe concerning the Father Son and Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Gospel and the Holy Scriptures I say we do believe and make prefession in Truth and Righteousness concerning all these things and by our Doctrines and Instructions do perswade all people to believe and not seduce any from these Truths of the Gospel and this is known through these Kingdoms concerning us though we stand now accused falsly concerning these Matters before the King But as for the Scriptures being the Rule of Life we say The Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures is the Rule of Life Faith unto the Saints and leads not contrary but according unto the Scriptures in the Belief and Practice of whatsoever the Scripture saith And if these Petitioners did make the Scriptures the Rule of their Lives and Practices for the denyal of which they here accuse us they would not have cut off Ears Banished and put to Death for the Cause of Conscience which is contrary to the Scriptures and proceeded from another spirit than that which gave forth the Scriptures 3. Concerning Government our Principles and Practices are well known to many and partly to the King We are not Enemies unto Government it self as these our Accusers do charge us but it is our Principle and hath ever been and is our Practice to be subject to whatsoever Government is set up over us either by doing or suffering and neither to vilifie nor rebel against any Government or Governours by any Malicious Plots or Contrivances but to walk in Meekness and Humility towards all being subject for Conscience sake as I have said either by doing or suffering and I doubt not but the KING is sufficiently informed hereof and believeth this Testimony 4. As for our Doctrines tending to subvert both Church and State this is also a false Accusation and Slander for our Doctrines are to convert and not to subvert even to convert to God and Truth and Righteousness that men should live in these things and forsake all that which is contrary and this Effect our Doctrines have wrought in the World as the Testimony of many Consciences shall bear witness Oh let the King consider of our Defence as well as of our Enemy's Charge who have thought it not enough to Whip most cruelly Banish cut Ears and put to Death the Innocent but must still accuse them â—alsly and seek to cover themselves by fawning and flattering Addresses unto the King like as if they had done no Evil whenas the God or Heaven is Witness to whom we can appeal That our Brethren suffered the Tortures of shameful Death in New-England through their unjust Laws and Sentences as Saints and Servants of the Living God for the Name of Christ Jesus and for his Truth which they held until Death and not for Evil-doing And the Executioners of these inhumane Cruelties seem so far from Repentance for their Evil doing that they rather justifie themselves in what they have done and cease not to smite and wound and reproach the Innocent and that before the King and that after they have Martyred them Again These Petitioners say After all other means for a long time used in vain we were at last constrained for our own safety say they to pass a Sentence of Banishment against them upon Pain of Death such was their Dangerous Impetuous and Desperate Turbulency to Religion and to the State Civil and Ecclesiâ—stical as that 〈◊〉 unwilling soever could it have been avoided the Magistrate at least in Conscience both to God and man judged himself called for the Defence of all to keep the Passage with the Point of the Sword held towards them this could do no harm say they to them that would be warned thereby their willing rushing themselves thereupon was their own act and we with all humility conceive a Crime bringing their Blood upon their own Heads By way of Answer to this let it be considered 1. What Means was for a long time used before they put them to Death is shameful to mention Was it not by the means of Cruel Whippings Banishment Imprisonment Cutting off Ears and taking their Goods by Violence It s true by this Means the Petitioners dealt with the Quakers and never by any Christian like Means for the very first of our Friends that ever came among them they made them Prisoners ere they came on shore and inhumanely dealt with them and Banished them and this was the first and fairest Means that ever was used by them which are not Gospel-Means nor the Way by which the Church of New-England ought to have proceeded Had our Friends been in Error and such as they say of them it had been their Duty to have gained them by Love by Mercy and by Long-suffering these are the Weapons of the Spirit of God which ought to be us'd towards them that are in Error in order to the converting of them from the Error but contrary to this the Magistrates and Church-Members of New-England took Cain's Weapons and dealt Cruelly and not like Christians nor like sober Men towards the Innocent but their thus proceeding was in vain as themselves acknowledge for notwithstanding the Gospel of Christ grew and encreased and many were converted to the Faith of Christ Jesus throughout New-England 2. Let it be considered what their dangerous and desperate Turbulency was to States Civil and Ecclesiastical Did ever these poor People whom they condemned and put to shameful death lift up a Hand against them or appear in any Turbulent Gesture towards them Were they ever found with any Carnal Weapon about them or What was their Crime saving that they warned Sinners to Repent and the Ungodly to turn from his way We appeal to the God of Heaven on their behalf whom they have Martyred for the Name of Christ That they had no other Offence to charge upon them saving their Conversations Doctrines and Practices as Saints of the Most High God and this is witness'd by many of their Neighbours though themselves have hardened their Hearts against the Reproof of God's Witness And we certainly believe it was their Malice and Envy that constrained them to pass Sentence of Death upon them and not the Equity of either just Law of God or man for they deserved not the merit of Death such was the Innocency of their Cause And they are no more safe by the taking away the Lives of our
Guiltless Brethren than they were before no more safe I say but more lyable to the Justice and Terror of the Almighty and to the Justice of the King and the good Laws of England for and because of their Barbarous Cruelties But as I have said we leave Vengeance to the Lord and commit them to the Justice of God's Hand which we doubt not but it will pass upon them in his Day and Season 3. Whereas they would seem to extenuate their Crime of putting to shameful Death the Lord's Servants they tell the King as if they only kept the Passage with the Point of the Sword held towards them as if they had no intention to hurt them and this the Magistrate did both in conscience to God and man I say It is to be considered what occasions were given them to stand in the Passage with the point of the Sword towards this People Was it for any Cause on their parts but as aforesaid for reproving their Sin and crying against their Wickedness whenas their Lives Conversations were Harmless and Innocent amongst them I say This was no just Cause for the Magistrates to stand in the Passage with the Point of the Sword and therefore they were Unjust in so doing if they had done no more and proceeded in the way of insolent Usurpers For what Reason had they to stop the Passage with the Point of the Sword for hindring of as good Subjects as themselves to pass through the King's Dominions Is not this derogating from the Honour and Authority of the King for the sub-ordinate Magistrates of New-England to usurp such Authority over free-born People of England as to prevent them from Egress and Regress in lawful Occasions in any part of the King's Dominions And I suppose this will be found contrary to their Patent and Prescription delivered them by Charles the first even this standing in the Passage with the Point of the Sword towards the Innocent and imposing great Fines upon men that came â—o their Harbour to sell their lawful Commodities if they had but the Name of Quakers though no other thing could be charged against them yet they were imposed upon by Fines and Imprisonment and the Point of the Sword was held out against them and all this I suppose is contrary to their Patent and in Derogation and Dishonour to King Charles the second 4. But to extenuate their own Fact of putting to shameful Death the Innocent they charge their Death to be a wilful Rushing and their Death was their own Act and their Blood was upon their own Heads Concerning which let it be considered they no more wilfully rushed upon their Death neither is their Blood on their own Heads more then the Prophets and Apostles that were slain for the Testimony of Jesus But these Petitioners do plead These Quakers so call'd knew there was a Law proclaimed against them Sentence of Banishment upon pain of Death but they would not keep away but came again and run themselves upon the Sword point And after this manner of arguing they would make it appear their Death was of themselves and their Blood was on their own Heads but these poor Evasions and favourable Interpretations of their own Cruelties ought not to cover them from the Justice of God not from the Justice of the King for it s to be considered That where God commands one thing and men another God ought to be obeyed rather then men and it is fully believed by us That these Sufferers did not go into New-England in their own cause but in God's Cause and in the Motion of his holy Spirit and in good Conscience towards God they did rather suffer the loss of their own Lives for their Obedience towards God than to disobey him to keep the Commandments of men And this was the Apostles Case when they were commanded to preach no more in the Name of Iesus Did they at all obey it for fear of Man And when the three Children were commanded to bow to the Image did they do it for fear of Man or If they had dyed for their Disobedience of the Kings Commandment could it have been said That their Blood was upon their own Heads and that they rushed themselves upon it and this is in part the like Case that our Friends suffered under the Injustice of these Petitioners who would now cover themselves like men of guilty Consciences But the God of Heaven will let them know one Day and the King may justly do it That the Blood of our Brethren lieth upon the Heads of the Magistrates of New-England and they are guilty of their cruel Death for they put them to Death not for any Evil doing between man and man but for their Obedience to God and for Good Conscience sake towards him Again The Petitioners say The Quakers dyed not because of their other Crimes how Capital soever but upon their super-added Presumptions and incorrigible Contempt of Authority breaking in upon us notwithstanding the Sentence of Banishment bad they not been restrained there was too much cause to fear that we our selves should quickly have dyed or worse and they would not be restrained but by Death Nay had they at last but promised to depart the Iurisdiction and not to return without leave from Authority we should have been glad to have said they should not dye In Answer to this it is considerable 1. What these other Capital Crimes were which the Sufferers were guilty of here is a secret Charge of Crimes without Nomination and this is the part of Slanderers to Accuse in general without particular Proof but this is still to extenuate their own horrid Fact of putting the Innocent to Death and that the King may believe better of them than indeed he hath cause and the super-added Presumption and incorrigible Contempt of Authority what was it any more than that Unjustly and without Reason they commanded them to depart or if they did not they should be put to Death whenas no Reason could possibly be rendred for such Law Commandment but because they were called Quakers and were different in Matters of Faith and Iudgment concerning spiritual Things for as I have said No Sedition Evil-dealing Drunkenness Lying nor any of these thingt could be charged against them and therefore the Law and Commandment of Banishment was unjust and could not be actively obeyed by our Brethren but they returned again not in contempt of Lawful Authority but as they were moved and upon their Occasions which was lawful and just in the sight of God and Men deporting themselves Harmlesly towards all people and this is stiled Super-added Presumption and incorrigible Contempt of Authority but they must needs put a Good Name upon their bad Work and render the Innocent as high Offenders as Excellency of Speech can demonstrate 2. There can be no just Cause rendred wherefore they should fear our Brethren except the Guiltiness of their own Consciences for as I have said They
exercise of Faith Worship and Religion to God-wards may be allowed and maintained unto all without any imposition violence or persecution exercised about the same on the persons Estates or Consciences of any in any relation to Religion the Worship of God Church Government and Ministry But that all Christian People may be left free in all these Kingdoms in the exercise of Conscience without being restrained from or compelled to any way of worship and practise of Religion upon any pains and penalties and that every one may be admitted to worship God in that way as his spirit perswades the heart and may be defended in such their profession of Religion while they make not use of their Liberty to the detrement of any other mens persons or Estates as aforesaid And let it not seem strange to you why I appear in this manner and matter at such a season as this for your very Happiness prosperity and establishment or the contrary dependeth hereupon even in allowing and maintaining liberty of Conscience in the exercise of Religion or in limitting and forcing and persecuting about the same and this may appear if you justly consider these things following 1. The Lordship in and over conscience and the exercise thereof in all matters of Faith and Worship and duty to God-wards is Gods alone only and proper right and priviledge and he hath reserved this power and Authority in himself and not committed the Lordship over Conscience nor the exercise thereof in the cases of faith and worship to any upon Earth not to perscribe and impose principles and practises of Faith and worship and Religion by force and violence on the persons and Consciences of men but this belongs only to God even to work faith in the heart and to convert to holiness and to lead and teach people by his Spirit in his worship and to exercise their Consciences in all his wayes For the Apostles themselves said they had not Dominion over the Faith of the Saints 2 Cor. 1. 24. but the Lord alone And King Charles the first said in his Meditations page 91. of that Edition Printed for R. Royston I have often declared how little I desire my Laws and Scepter should intrench on God's Soveraignity which is the only King of men's Consciences c. So that to be Lord in CONSCIENCE and Exerciser thereof in all the Matters of God's Kingdom is his Only Proper Right and to him alone it appertains 2. And therefore consider If ye do not allow Free Liberty of Conscience and give unto God the Lordship and Exercise thereof in all Matters of Faith and Worship to Him-wards but do impose by Violence in forcing to and restraining from such and such Wayes of Religion than ye take Dominion over mens Faith which ye ought not to do and ye intrench on God's Soveraignity and usurpe his Authority in exercising Lordship over the Conscience in and over which Christ is only King as before recited and ye ought not to take his right from him nor to exercise that Authority over ruens Faith and Consciences which only appertains unto him as his proper priviledge for in so doing how dangerous effects may it bring forth even ye may easily provoke the Lord to wrath against you and bring upon your selves sorrow and misery if ye exercise violence upon mens Consciences in and concerning Religious matters contrary to the Scriptures and the example of Primitive Christians who were persecuted for their Conscience sake but did never persecute nor punish any for that cause nor ever used violence about their Religion as Charles the I. in his meditations pag. 82. Nothing said he violent nor injurious can be religious c. 3. Consider if ye allow not the free exercise of Conscience in Spiritual matters but do take Dommion over mens faith and impose by violence in the cases of Conscience about Religion and do not suffer the Lord to enjoy his only right to be King in the matters of his own Kingdom then ye divert the end of just rule and government among men and pervert the end of Gods great love and favour shewed unto you in restoring of you to the place of Authority and Judgement for the end of just Government upon earth by Kings and Rulers is To exercise Justice Truth and Righteousness among men and over the outward man and to be a praise to all that do wellâ— and walk uprightly and to be a terror to all transgressors and them that do evil in their outward man and to keep the outward man in good order by just Judgment in all cases between man and man This is only the extent of your Authority over the outward man and to your Jurisdiction only this belongs to judge in Truth and Righteousness to make Laws and execute them between man and man to preserve mens persons and estates from the wrong one of another but not at all to make Laws and execute them between God and mens Consciences in the cases of his Spiritual Kingdom this power belongs to God and he hath not committed it to you to exercise and therefore let justice equity and mercy be exercised by you among men and over the outward man and in all cases between man and man but meddle not in the Cases of mens faith to God and their Consciences to him but leave that unto him alone whose right it is for it is dangerous and will bring wofull effects if ye intrench on Gods Soveraignity and if ye divert the proper end of just Government and of the Love of God in restoring you into Authority and power 4. Consider if ye allow not free Liberty of Conscience in the profession and practice of spiritual things but will compel by violence about Religion then this will inavoidably produce and bring forth cruel persecution in the Kingdoms imprisonment banishment and death and all the evil effects of persecution will fill the Nations for though never so forceable impositions be laid on the persons estates and consciences of men for the cause of difference in Judgment and practises of Religion and tocompel into Conformity yet it cannot be supposed that all will bow and conform to the denying of that way which they are perswaded in Conscience to be right and to the embracing of what they cannot in Conscience believe is of God but will rather suffer the cruelest death then conform to any thing contrary to light and knowledge and if free Liberty of Conscience be denied many such must needs be exposed to Persecution even to Death though they may be Peaceable People and profitable Inhabitants of the Kingdoms and in the things between man and man and in all matters Temporal pertaining to the King may be Just and Righteous and Unreprovable yet because of Difference in Judgment and Opinion exposed to be destroyed in person and estate and such effects will not be of honour nor saftey to these Nations if innocent and just men be destroyed and their relations ruined