Souls for his dishonest gain Oh! who is able to reckon up their deceipts or the number of the innocent that hath and are at this day deceived by them but the Soul which sins shall dye the death for the potter hath power over the clay and though he hide himself in the remotest part of the Garden he will find him out and a vessel of dishonour he shall be and yet after they have sinned he desireth not the death of a sinner although he be dead in sins and trespasses but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live For as I live saith the Lord I will not the death of a sinner Mark of a sinner but the persecutor and he whose tongue is at liberty who defileth his body which is the Temple of the Lord him will God destroy although he be the fattest Bull in Basan or the mightiest Cedar in all Lebanon he is but clay in the hands of the Potter and a vessel of dishonour he will make him But he that liveth in his fear and standeth in his councel and is obedient to the Fathers Commands which are all possible and in no wise grievous him he makes a vessel of honour and he is to him as the apple of his eye Be Holy be Perfect be Just in all your doings all men and let all Mark all that are athirst come and buy milk freely and take of the water of Life without money and without price Oh! Come all and it is in vain to invite them that are predestinated from all Eternity to be damned What I say unto one I say unto all watch and those that are decreed to Hell need not watch but the Lord willeth that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth and he is not like Pharaoh who willed the people to make brick without straw Oh! the Creator doth not so for a measure of himself he hath given to every man to profit withal Mark to all so that if he require the full tale of brick he doth Justly and his doings are Just and he is equal in all his wayes and let not him that is formed though a subject or a King say to him that hath formed Why hast thou made me so But come unto him or look unto him all the ends of the earth and be saved and the Gospel hath been preached to every creature under Heaven and it is he that knowes the Fathers Will and doth it not which shall be beaten but it is impossible that he can do it who never knew it but knowledge is a delitious fruit and pleasant to the eye upon which the reprobate feeds and whom I will I haâ—den but first he willeth that all men should be saved or else he might have said except Judas except Pharaoh except Esau except Pilate the Priests friend but Gods enemy Christ knew from the beginning who should betray him Mark he knew it but he did not wil him to do it for if he had it could not have been called treachery in Judas Nay he willeth not the death of a sinner but he willeth that all the ends of the earth should look unto him and be saved that is his Will and purpose for which purpose he hath and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the World that all men through him might believe and be saved Mark and note that he willeth all men I say he did not except Judas Pilate and Pharaoh if they were alive and had not sold themselves to do wickedly for which cause they were given up to a reprobate minde but there is and was some that will not come unto him that they may have life Wherefore such are ordained to condemnation of old but they that come unto him he will in no wise cast off and whom he loves he loves to the end and he that loves him keeps his Commands and he that keeps them not is of the Devil and he that is of the Devil hath no part in him for God and Belial are not one in any one thing neither do they live together and where Jerusalem is Babylon cannot stand and where the Light with which every man is enlightened bears Rule there is no darkness at all and when it is disobeyed if heeded the darkness may be felt Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated before either of those two children had done good or evil Yea the thing Jacob he loved and the thing Esau he hated before either of those two children were begotten or born after the flesh and those two seeds he onely loves and hates at this day and see that there be not a Cain nor an Esau be among ye but let the worm Jacob be cherished for it loves the Light and is the heritage of God but let murtherous Cain although he hath been Prince of the whole City and all hath been called by his sons name and Lord Esau of the mount come under for though there was a time when the seed bowed Jacob's got past and let the elder serve the younger for he sold his Birth-right for his belly Mark he had it A Birth-right or a Right-birth but he sold it and afterwards sought it with tears It was not the earth he wept for although he sold his Birth-right or Right-birth which was immortal for that which was earthly divelish and sensual The great God who created Heaven and Earth willeth that all man-kind should come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved and willeth not the death of one soul of his whole handy-work and the work of his own hands he cannot destroy and that is the infallible and true light the Son of the Father who enlighteneth every individual man and woman that commeth into the World that all through him may believe and be saved it is the particular sins of every particular man and woman that is the cause of death reprobation and câ—ndâ—â—nâ—tion and that soul which sins shall die but for the word Original fin I do not find it in the whole Scriptures but is a contrivance of the false Prophets like unto their baby-baptism but he that believes in the Light of Christ which he is enlightened with and brings all his deeds to the light and dwells and abides in the light and hath the hope in him He purifieth himself as he is pure and the wicked one cannot touch him Again and again I say if a certain and set number from all eternity be predestinated to be saved and damned What doth the hireling preach for or for what hath he his hire I am sure the decrees of the living God are yea and Amen and unalterable And there is another vaine sort of people who are as ignorant as they who say that the Scriptures is the word of God and Mathew Mark Luke and John the Gospel and that the Latin Greek and Hebrew is the Original as for the word which the Scriptures of truth truly declares of he was in the
off But we as the holy men did gladly suffer all wrongs and our selves to be defrauded freely giving up our outward man and substance without resisting to death to the merciless persecutor but the mercenâ—ry hireling who is the only cause of our persecution is so far from being found in these the holy men and Ministers of Christs practices that they wrong all men and all men are defrauded by them most cruelly exacting where they never lent pulling where they never planted cloathing with the fleece they never wrought for feeding with the fat and sweet they never sweat for in short by force they exact and reap all manner of carnals where they have not sown spirituals nor carnals And them who are called teachers have and do exceedingly Erre and greater injustice and crueller rapeness were never commited by men then there hath been by this Legion of evil doers but for their labours if they repent not they shall be called the least in the Kingdom * Isaiah said they were all blind and ignorant and dumb dogs that never had enough and Jeyemiah said that the Prophets prophesied falsly and the Priests did bear rule by their means and Ezekiel said they fed themselves and not the flock Micha said they Preached for hire and Divined for money and Hosea said they were as a Troop of robbers that did waite for a man so the company of Priests did murther in the way by consent Reader I pray thee read Isai 56. 10. 11. Jer. 5. Ezek. 34. Mich. 2. 11. Hosea 6. 9. and compare the English Priest and see if there be any more difference then there is betwixt a Monk and a Monk and a Pope and a Pope And the Rulers that suffer these things are become blind and in a deep sleep yea a very deep sleep even the sleep of death but let all such know that their Rewarder slumbereth not neither can his vengeance tarry long and the despised light within if they repent not shall be their sure condemation for the righteous Spirit of the holy One is grieved and it shall not alwayes strive and wo be to them who set him at nought and persecute whips terrifies or suffers them to be persecuted whiped or terrified who speak in his Name thrusting causing or suffering to be thrust into dungeons Bridewells and bad places amongst bad people there to be kept in bonds under the hands of cruel men till death for the testimony of Jesus Oh! bloody and great yea very great cruelty was ever the like done by any who did but so much as profess liberty of conscience But let all such know from the highest to the lowest yea to him that sits upon the Throne to him that grinds at the Mill they do resist the mighty Prophet whom the Lord our God hath raised up and he is come and they shall be cut off and mine eye sees it and then the condition of poor Lazarus who is hardly thought worthy to live will far transcend Dives and all his fellow Gluttons and these that are at ease in the flâ—sh and are not troubled like other men and lie roleing upon their bâ—ds of pleasure spending that which was their day in madness mirth and folly and making merry over the humble witness oâ— God saying to themselves tush no eye sees us but let all such know they are seen and he that beholds them is not afar off and a day cometh shortly if not suddenly when the very highest among them shall be disrobed and utterly made bare and the greatest that is born among women shall not hide himself from the vengeance of my God who is the avenger and revenger of the righteous and vengeance is mine saith the Lord and I will repay it * Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile ye and persecute yee and shall say all manner of evil against ye falsly rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven And the Devil shall cast some of ye into prison and ye shall have tribulation for ten dayes How long Lord how long holy just and true By an owner of the sword in its place true Majestracy true Ministry Justice and sound Judgement Oh! let it flow down like a mighty torrent but an enemy to Tyranny Truce-breakers Rapines Swearers Lyers and false prophets who preach for hire and Divine for money E. B. THE END A few VVORDS To that bad Generation of people who in their reprobate minds blaspheme and belye the dreadful and Just God In saying That he hath made and created some men to be damned or that a set number are ordained from all Eternity to be saved and a set number to be damned BUT let all such know that the lyar is for the lake for the Just God who is equal in all his wayes hath not made any man to be damned nor created any to that intent and the destruction of every man is of himself for God made man after his own image and likeness and those that are godly are like God but man hath sought out many inventions and the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked and that continually but God is now and alwayes upright in all his waâ—es and his Name is Love and his Nature is Love and he is a God of Love and all the works of his hands are good and he loves them and he is a loving Father and he who sayes the Father decrees a Soul to Hell from all Eternity before the creature hath transgressed or that he was created to do wickedly he accuses the Just God falsly but the same Soul that sins as Adam did shall dye for transgression brings death and then and not till then he becomes a vessel of dishonour But he was not intended so by the Holy God in his Creation ‖ And if from all Eternity a certain and set number be created predestinated and fore-ordained to be saved and damned for what doth the Hireling preach and for what hath he his hire I am sure the decrees of God are yea Amen and unalterable Mark that Judicious Reader and do not be so ignorant as to give thy money to that Priest who holds or preaches that doctrine for under one of the two decrees thou already art And I do believe there is hardly a Hireling in England that will deny it as his belief but that there is and was from all Eternity a certain and a set number predestinated to be damned and saved Oh! how hath and doth this deceiver stand and is upholden and maintained in idleness to make Merchandizes of pretious
name of the beast or the number of his names read Rev. 13. and if the present Rulers of the earth have not drunk of the whores cup how came these Priests by this Law I say is not the Popish Queen out-done and her three months imprisonment made six so that these have a Law at their command and I am sure a terrible Law hath it been to us-ward Such a Law the Jews had and by our Law said they he ought to die for he is a blasphemer and what was his blasphemy Why say they he sayes he is the Son of God So as false yet true they put the holy One to death and the English Priests Original was set over the Originals head by Priest-ridden Pilate Oh my dear friends perish not with them nor for and with their gain-saying generation but like wise men keep your eyes in your head and let that woman which hath so fowlly transgressed be silent and let not transgression plead for and uphold transgression and transgressors But ask your husband at home for the wo-man is not permitted to speak in the Church nor about Church matters but the the Daughters of the Lord as well as his Sons shall and at this day do prophesie and God is one in the Male as in the female and the Womb that is barren is accursed as well in the Male as in the Female but the Woman is to be silent in them both But the seed and birth which is immortal which sins not doth and may speak if the Lord open the mouth in the Female-man as-well as in the Male-man and if the Lord open the lips let the whole creation shew forth his prayses but let Eve for ever be silent And I know from the Lord God the barren womb is cursed and such who cannot in some measure witness the marriage are undone but the true Virgin that hath not many lovers is a holy state and she which is begotten of God as the Lord moves may utter words and Minister to the seed in others that all may be edified the deaf made to hear the blind to see the sick healed and the saving health made known the dead raised the Lame walk and the dumb made to sing for joy and in this Ministry and Gospel Phaebe and Prisâ—illa may labour with Paul or any other the holy Women at this day a seal of whose Apostle-ship I am and if you keep your eyes in your head and behold the Original in ye and ask that Husband at home ye will seal to and witnesse with me that God is truth and is one in the Male and in the Female for it is the fools eye that is abroad but the wise mans eye is in his head and the head of every man is Christ Jesus and he gives to all men and women a measure of himself to profit withall and all his gifts are good and perfect and leads to no other thing but unto perfection but no Bastard nor the thief who steals the words from his neighbour and boasts in the lines of other men shall never inherit though he be as goodly to look at as Ishmael and as Orthodâ—x as the high Priest yet he is the son of the bond-wo-man within from whence death immagination and brain-study speaks a devination of its own there the merchants of spiritual Babylon trade wch is called confusion but all this while the royal seed is in bondage and the voice of the King is not heard within without which the children of the Kingdom cannot live and the voice of a stranger the sheep will not hear and the thief or spiritual vagabond although it be Cain or Lord Esau himself with the Son of the free and first-born must not co-habit for the life of the one is the death of the other and that must become a servant which hath caused the seed to bow they who know the Original know and feel what I say and the simple hearted that are among ye may understand me right well but for those who are withered under the name of professors and are onely old in profession and iniquity who rise up early to contrive for self in whom the earth hath choaked the seed by them I do not expect to be rightly understood or justly construed for their life at the present is not in that wch discerneth and judgeth all things and in the Lords work they have been very unfaithful I shall not say much but it is very much if oveâ— the Lord trust some of them again but rather suffer a stranger to take and do that which was once in their posession and will it not be just if he who formed them doe shew them no favour but smite them as they have suffered others to be smitten and will it not be equal if the Lord reveal himself most eminently against them â—uite racing down their magnificency and for ever lay their honour in the dust And if any who are in authority be yet indeed really affected with the wayes and false worship of the hireling and offended with me for this my Testimony for the Lord and against the false hireling We who are called Quakers shall in the fear of the Lord be willing to meet them or a chosen number of them face to face before the chief Rulers Parliament or Councel and there approve our selves in our practise for religion by the words of the Scriptures and the example of the holy men of God and if we refute not the common hireling and whatsoever he is possibly able to say for himself or against us proving what he saies by Scriptures let the reasonable magistrates be judge I say if we do it not let us be used more bloodily and cruelly then we yet are if possible and we shall in that matter freely submit unto and be convicted by the Scripture which some of them are so impudent to say we deny and is their own rule though that which gave them forth is our rule and is not contrary to the Scripture so far as they are not polluted by false meanings put upon them which in their purity in themselves do not own But however there is sufficient to silence the brawling hireling for warrant from them he hath none for his preaching for hire or a set maintenance by a Law I say again let us discourse our Religion with the false hired man before ye and if then it be found that we hold any thing for Religion which is contrary to sound Doctrine or in the least derogatory to Scripture and if our practice faith hope and order be not according to the command of the Lord Jesus the example of the Prophets the Apostles the holy men of God and Ministers of Christ then countenance or discountenance as ye shal see cause And till then in the fear of the Lord God I warn you all from him that sits upon the throne to the meanest officer of peace or war Souldier or Subject whatsoever speak not evil of
whilst ye seemingly live thus doth many of you consume yourselves substance and precious time And do ye think to live Dives his live and not dye his death Can ye think to sow to the flesh all manner of corruption all the dayes of your lives and not reap the same in the day of the Lord And do ye think as the tree falls it will not lye and as death leaves Judgement will not find and from Hell there is no Redemption Oh friends I can truly say my bowels ernes for ye who are called Nobles and are great in the earth above any sort of people that are without Also I know and feel that the witness of God lyeth near in very many of ye although the lofty and surly nature is not willing to bow nor sink down and become one with the witness which is meek and â—owly and calls upon ye in secret for purity in your inner parts Oh! let the consideration of Eternal Life constrain and even necessitate ye to turn in the eye of your mind to within and consider what ye shall do to be saved for verily the eye of the Lord is pure and runs to and fro thorow the whole earth and all that 's earthly and cannot behold your present iniquities Wherefore in the fear of the Lord cease to do evil and learn to do well and let the time past be sufficient least the Lord forthwith dash ye in pieces and sweep ye from the face of the earth and your memories utterly rot Therefore seek the Lord with all your hearts whilst he may be found for this is the day of your visitation but your day passeth away and the night swiftly cometh wherein no man can work yet a little while and the Light is with ye I say commune with your own hearts and be still and in the cool of the day when your lusts boilâ— not sink down willingly joyn and adhere to the measure of God in your consciences which is given to man to profit withall Oh take it for a leader for it is the true Light which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the World that all men through Him might believe the same is a swift witnesse for the Lord against all the evil of your doings and cannot nor ever did consent to sin the same is truth leads into all truth was before the man of sin the house of Ham the stock of Nimrod the cunning hunter Ishmael the scoffer Lord Esau of the Mount bloody Cain or the Dukes of Edom were and is before all invention or the ridiculous Tythes about which many of you fight kill boast and rend many a bloody oath and when ye have all done it may be prove your ancester an ancient murtherer come into England with William of Normandy killed an English man and took his possession and as your selves sprang from blood rage and cruelty so in the same many of ye continue but beware that your latter end be not worse then your beginning great quantities of earth ye have and the Lords hand is in no wayes shortened towards ye But verily very many of ye spend it wholly upon your lusts and that 's not the end for which it was given but ye are to honour God with your substance and whatsoever he hath given ye he that defiles his body defiles the Temple of the Lord and him will God destroy Therefore whether ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do learn to do all to the praise and glory of God and do not Lord it over Gods heritage in the General nor in your own particulars for Christ is in ye except ye are reprobates and this know that no man was or ever shall be heir of two Kingdoms and God and Mammon ye cannot please and if ye truly serve the one the other with all his lusts ye must deny Mark all his lusts ye must deny and a death ye must feel upon your present lives that ye may come to know the birth which is immortal seek to know the Lord if it be but as a consuming fire to burn up and consume your lusts which separates between ye and your maker for he that envies is a murtherer ‖ For love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him Herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the day of Judgment because as he is so are we in this present world there is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment he that feareth is not made perfect in love If any man say I love God and hate his Brother he is a lvar For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen And this Commandment have we from him that he who loveth God loves his Brother also 1 John 4. 7 12 16 18 20. and he that lusts after a woman hath committed adultery and I say unto ye all above men and all things swear not And to see a great man a good man is a rare thing even an ornament in his Countrey a strength to the righteous a sinew to the feeble a nerve to the oppressed a help to the helpless and of all men if ye could but see and trust in the truth as it is in Jesus how transcendently happy might ye be even in this life beloved of God and good men and all evil men maÌ„de to fear ye And I do believe many of ye cannot but see the hireling and his covetousness deficiency and deceipt and in some measure see the truth and the vessel to be good but to sea in it ye dare not go for if the greatest of ye deny the hireling his ungodly gain a war he will prepare and the waves will beat the billows boil and the stormes arise But help us Lord and we cannot perish although the greedy man may toss us from one Goal and Dungeon to another and if there in faithfulness to the Lord we lay down or lives yet we live for ever and have life Eternal And that 's much better then the airy title of Duke Lords Knights c. which put them all together will not buy a morsel of bread in this very life and in the life to come the Beggar as the King and his Nobles and Tophet is not prepared in vain and it is well if some of yee who are called Noble-men and cals your selves Christians be not found in the day of the Lord more ignoble to the now despised Christians then Festus Agrippa or Claudius Lycias were to Paul who were called heathens but were truely Noble to Paul and such Nobility I own who puts no man to death nor hurts no man tell the accuser and the accused comes face to face
Souldiers came unto Christ and askt him Master what shall we do Be content with your wages and do violence to no man accuse no man falsly But for the whole rabble of Duke Marquesse Lord Knight Gentleman by patents I find no room place or example or allowance for in Scripture but that onely declares of as I do believe one Lord one God over all blessed for ever amen who made all kindreds tongues and Nations of one blood and all these earthly Lords and who exercise unjust dominion are come up since and in the Apostacy for in the beginning it was not so and those who are redeâ—med from the earth and risen with Christ and onely seeks the things above Fathoms and comprehends all these things and are come to the beginning are in that which was before false Prophets Anti-chriâ—â— Babylon Pope or Whores cup was of which the Kings of the earth have drank and been made drunk in which drunken fiâ— and when all the Nations reeled under the persecution of the beast and false Prophet and the Saints and Martyres blood was swallowed down as other cups of pleasure and the woman was fleâ— into the Wildernesse and the man-child was caught up to God I say in that black dark night of Apostacy when none was able to make war with the beast when the Kings of the earth fought for the earth was created and by the beasts power at this day is created Lords Knights c. and having lost the Cross of Christ the power of God within a painted cross is borne in your ensign without and that is the sign of your Christianity and so into sects and opinions and the Irreligious have and do kill one another about Religion precedency names titles and the earth and all this is earthly Devilish and sensual THE END Here followeth a relation of some signs examples and judgements for the accursed Generation who desire a sign for many to my face have temptingly said shew us a sign but they are miracles to those that believe and let such reach hither their hands and with me feel and see the wounds that the Lord of life hath received in his members by this unnatural and unparaleld Generation to whom and upon whom these examples are and have been shewen as it is written the wicked shall not live out half their dayes but let the despisers behold and wonder and perish for the work is wrought in their dayes although they cannot believe EXAMPLES ESSEX John Clerk Priest for 20. l. Tythes by him demanded of Robert Nicol of Coln-Engain by warrant from Dioâ—ysius Wakering and William Harlackenden Justices so called took and drove away from him Cattel worth 50 l. and his greedy mind not therewith satisfied sought after his body to but those his persecutors aforesaid being at London at that time he threatened to go to London to get a Warrant from them to put him in prison but the Lord prevented him for he came home and died in few dayes after SUFFOLK Robert Newton Goaler of Edmund-bury and his wife who had been very cruel to George Fox in the 55 weeks imprisonment he suffered under him by beating him very often and taking from him his bed cloaths and a coat and after his release detained him twenty eight weeks more for as he pretended a years sufficient lodging both the goaler and his wife not long after was cut off by death SUSSEX Priest Cussinâ— who caused Thomas Leycock to be imprisoned a whole year in Horsham Goal for speaking a few words to the people in love to their souls after he the said priest had done soon after this persecution he was cut off by death John Chatfield Priest of Horsham who caused Thomas Leycock and Bryan Wilkinson to be imprisoned and caused Thomas Patchins Cattel to be drove away soon after fell into a dropsie and remained in a miserable condition half a year and then died Priest Cuffly of Arundel who was a chief instrument in Thomas Leycocks persecution and did strive with the Magistrates of Arundel to have had Joseph Fuse who had faithfully served the Parliament in the wars 11 years sent over Sea as a bond-slave suddenly after this he died The Priest of Green who caused Alice West to be sent to prison for speaking some few words in the Steeple-house suddenly after died Edward Haughton Priest of Nuthurst who was the first in this county that caused friends to be robbed for Tythes was soon after cut off by death Priest Channel called a Doctor one of the chiefest high Priests so counted in this Nation a great opposer of truth was striken with madnesse and is out of his natural senses A Tythe-monger in the Parish of Beding who wickedly and malitiously trod out the corn of Minion Brocket making havock of the same within a week after was cut off by death John Gurden a Justice so called an eminent persecutor of the innocent people of God in this county whose name hath spread to New England among his brethren of the inquisition there hath been smitten by the Lord in a great weaknesse of body and dimnesse of eye-sight and hath appeared as one likely to pine away under the hand of the Lord which is evidently turned against him since he became such a cruel persecutor Roger Gratick a Magistrate and Priest Snelling consenters to much of the persecution of this county both slain with a thunder bolt in one day NORFOLK John Benton being one of Priest Claphams witnesses of Wramplingham whom he procured to swear against Benjamin Lynes in a matter concerning Tythes who was so evidently forsworn and his partner with him that the Justices themselves would not accept of their testimony and soon after which time the said John Benton got into the Steeple-house of Wramplingham and there hanged himself in a Bel-rope Edw. Humt keeper of the prison of Norwich who after Geo-Whitâ—head was discharged at the Sessions brought his action against him for 4 d. a night and although he had layn on the floor most part of the time yet was by him unjustly detained but the Goaler was soon after cut off by death HARTFORD-SHIRE Geo-Fage an unmerciful Bayliff who for 5 s. Tithe took away goods worth 4 l. from Richard North and entered into his house none being within but two poor children ransacked the poor mans house and took the very covering from off the bed of the children and exposed them to sufferings in the midst of winter for which the Lord God visited him and cut him off suddenly before he had made sale of the goods GLOUCESTER-SHIRE The first three friends that were committed in the County of Gloucester the two Justice of peace which did commit them the one called by the name of Justice Webly the other called by the name of justice Raymond these three friends did all live in or about Thornbury and were called to the Bar that Assiâ—e next holden for the County of Gloucester one of these Justices which did commit
them being come into the Town that morning when the Assize did begin was struck with the hand of God so that he was speechless for many dayes and faint to lye in the Town before they could get him to his own house and since is dead never coming to Assizes or Sessions more and the other Justice which committed them was suddenly after put out of Commission and since is dead And likewise at the first coming of Friends into the County of Gloucester there was a man called by the name of a Captain that did send to a Justice of the Peace wishing him to take a course with these people called Quakers and with some bitterness said else he would take a course with them himself but within a few dayes after near his own dwelling at an Ale-house he fell out with a Rag-man and killed him insomuch that the said Captain was tried for his life the next Assiâ—e following There were three young Women that were friends coming from a meeting and in the way as they came there were people setting of Beanes and amongst them there was a man and a great Boy which Boy laid himself down over the foot-path and laying hold on one of the young women did abuse her in such an unseemly manner as with modesty cannot be expressed untill the other two did pull her from him and afterwards did set dogs on them and both the man and the boy did follow them with clods and stones for a great way and within a short time after the same man and boy being together so fell out that the boy was wounded by the man and within 24 hours after died and the man was tried at the Bar for his life this last Assiâ—e held for the County of Gloucester Richard Hobbs who had sworn in behalf of Priest Davis of Frampton for Tithes against John Tyler to the value of 16 or 20 s. for which the said Tyler was ordered to pay â—0 l. 1â— s. besides 3 l. 10 s. charges The aforesaid Rich. Hobbs being thatching a Rick of Wheat was questioned by the man he wrought for about his swearing and shewed what errour he had run himself into he seemed to be troubled for it and said if he had known so much before as he did since he would not have done it in a little space after the man was gone the said Rich. Hobbâ— saw on his hand and on the Rick of Wheat the appearance of fire being troubled thereat left off his work and went to his Master and told him of it who would have perswaded him it was not so but he affirmed it to be so and not many dayes after the said Rich Hobbs he being Clerk of a Parish and as he was Ringing a Bel was taken up with the Bel-rope and tossed up and down that the scull of his head was broken and his body sore bruised that he lay for dead in the place but being recovered again he was carried to his house where he lay senceless 2 or 3 dayes and so died HEREFORD-SHIRE Henry Davis of little Ducburch a Persecutor of many friends who meeting James Merrick of Ross and because the said James did not speak to him turned his Gun after him and threatned to shoot him and in a short time after the said Henry Davis fell off from his horse and broke his neck WORCESTER-SHIRE EVISHAM George Kemp Mayor of â—visham being the first and also an eminent Persecutor of the Innocent people of God in Evisham shortly after the heat of his persecution was out off by death Rich. Martin another of the persecuting Justices was shortly after sued at the Law by his onely Son and thereby being forced to leave his habitation soon after died Edwaâ—d Younâ— Mayor of Evisham aforesaid who exceeded all his Brethren in persecution not long after he was out of his Maiorality he also was cut off by death Samuel Gardner one of the persecuting Justices of Evisham aforesaid not long after his persecuting the people of God he fell distracted so that he was kept tied in his bed Thomas Ordway one of their Council a great professor of the Scriptures a friend to truth lent him a book which was in answer to a Catechism set forth by 42 Priests and after he had looked over it he wrote on the backside of the book It is pitty but all such books were burned and them that made them and set his name to it but very suddenly after was he cut off by death HUNTINGTON-SHIRE Thomas Lawrence Priest who had sued 4 of the Parish of Coln in the Exchequer and one of the 3 friends meeting him on the way asked him what he sued him for the Priest very wrathfully and churlishly answered him I will speak with you another time but within 10 dayes he was cut off and his body laid in the earth LINCOLN-SHIRE Francis Ball of Sibsey who sued and cast into Prison Edmund Woolsey for Tithes and the said Francis had told several people that he was perswaded that if Edmund Woolsey did believe in his Conscience that he the said Francis Ball had right unto the Tithes he would have paid it him and yet for all that he the said Francis Ball kept him in Prison But the Just indignation of the Lord is since fallen upon the Family of the said Francis Ball for his Wife presently after died and two more of that Family the Daughter and her Child and the people hereabout concluded it to be a just Judgment from the Lord. DERBY-SHIRE One Brittlin of Thorncloft a Steward of a hundred Court who had Judged Thomas Boyer to pay about 4 times what the principal of the Tithe came too soon after the Lord did cut him off by death SHROP-SHIRE Edw. Dod who wrote a false accusation against Friends and is a great Proselite of Sam. Smith Priest of Cresit who caused many Friends to suffer fell off from a Bridge and broke his leg and the Priest came to visit him and said one step further and into Hell and he said his people were a damned Crew and he had preached 7 years to them and not one brought to the knowledge of God HAMP-SHIRE Justice Cobb who had been a great Persecutor of Friends in Winchester Goal and would not suffer Stephen Beviâ— Prisoner to work in the Prison on his own Calling and he being Judge at another Sessions would noâ— do any thing towards the releasement of the Servants of God in Prison though their unjust imprisoment was laid before him but gave order to restrain other Friends from coming to them several papers being sent to him for Justice the last of which was that being six men and one women in Prison that the women or any one of them might have the liberty to go forth and provide necessaries for the rest to bring them in work and carry out work and bring in food and such things as were necessary which reasonable and righteous thing was by him denied and within a
few dayes after the said Justice Cobb went to his bed not appearing to be sick and in the Morning was found a dead Corps Pistor Hide a Councellor who sometimes sat as Judge where Friends have been tried who refused to do them Justice and several times acted unjustly against them went forth in the streets at Winchester being the place of his residence where were dogs fighting which he did strive to part and presently afterwards went into his house and sate down and was suddently strook dead Martin Miller being Clerk to William Wither Justice who committed James Potter being at Harrow was strock down by the horses and the harrows drawn on him and he was sorely bruised and torn and lived a few dayes after and was by this accident much troubled in conscience for what he had sworn against James Potter A labouring man being at work in harvest upon the abovesaid Justice Withers land was suddenly strook dead in a tempest of thunder and lightening WILâ—SHIRE William Stompton Priest who for seven shillings tithes caused to be taken from Richard Hawkins eleven sheep worth fifty five shillings at five shillings a sheep and sold them at two s. and six pence a sheep But Jeremy Wig who bought the sheep died presently after and the said Priest also soon after was fain to have his leg sawn off and said he would forgive any one that would knock him on the head and died a miserable death SOMERCET-â—HIRE Thomas Dowlesse who had much abused two friends John Dandee and Peter Walter As Peter VValter was speaking to the people this Dowless did often swear hee would stop his mouth with his staff and did often strike the said Peter VValter endeavouring to hit him on the month and in a short time after the said Dowless being at work and he having but one eye before a stick strok in that eye and put it out and so remains blind Thomas-Edwards Priest of Kingston-Seymor who caused Edmund Beeks of Blâ—â—kwel to be committed to prison the said Priest being at the Town of Axbridg and being drunk fell off from his horse and broke his neck by which means Edward Beeks was freed out of prison VVilliam Cole of Naylsey called Justice who before had sent Edith Michel and VVilliam VVilley to prison onely for going to the Steeple-house and the one of them did not at all speak to the Priest shortly after a man was brought before him for stealing of Sheep the said Justice Cole told him that he would send him to the Goal to the Quakers and he and they should be sent altogether to the Gallows soon after the said William Cole being providing to ride abroad was suddenly taken ill and died the same day Nathaniel Sanders and John Langley called Churchward ens of Keynsham who had taken goods from friends for their Steeple-house died both in the forepart of their year John Laungley upon his death-bed said he was perswaded the Quakers were an honest people and whereas he and Nathaniel had taken goods from them he had payed the summs of money charged on them and gave a charge to his Servant that if he died those goods should be restored to them again and he took his servant-maid by the hand and made her promise him to do it Robert Allen of Bath who had very much abused Thomas Morford in the street and had beat him with a great staff this Robert Allen had a fine lusty young boy that was able to go up and down miserably scalded to death John Boyse Mayor of Bath aforesaid who had committed the above said Thomas Morford to Prison for declaring against the deceit of the Priest by which he remained in prison neer two years this John Boyse Mayor was smitten with a sore disease in his legs and lims for the most part of his Majorality also the Goaler was smitten with the same lamenesse so as he was fain to leave the Prison and then came another who Tyranized over the said Thomas Morford and forced him out of his room and from his bed and other abuses and the Hand of the Lord fell also on him and cut him off by death suddenly Thomas Hurlstone of Milbury Osmond a common disturber of Friends in their meetings and at one time climed upon a wall behind John Scaff while he was speaking to the people in a meeting at Evershot and fell down upon him and strook him down to the ground from the place whereon he stood and when he had so done went his way and received six pence in strong drink for his wickednesse And at another meeting in the same Town of Evershot as John Scaff was speaking to the people the said Thomas Hurlstone came into the street without the door of the said house in a very rude and bruitish manner with a bull hide about him and the horns on his head sporting among the rude people endeavouring to make a disturbance the said Hurlstone would often mock and scoff and deride the people of God and as he met them would be thrusting out his tongue at them And at another meeting at the same Town on the same day there was to be a Bull-baiting not far from the said Evershot unto which the said Thomas Hurlstone was going and as he was passing through Edminster he told some people that he should have been to day at the Quakers meeting but that he was going to the Bull-baiting and was boasting how he had served John Scaff and being at the Bul-baiting the Bull broke forth and came full at the said Thomas Hurlstone and strook one of his horns under his chin near his throat up into his head into or near his brain and he falling down yet rose up again and with his tongue hanging out of his mouth and presently sunk down and died Humphry Smiths Testimony of some Examples as he was an eye-witnesse of DORSET-SHIRE When I was Prisoner in Dorchester the hand of the Lord was havy upon them like as his hand was heavy upon Ashdod and the Philistines who had taken and kept the Ark of God for about twenty or more died in that time I was there that were in the Goal and prisoners in it and great was the cry concerning it so that the report was the plague was there and Judge Nicholas who cannot stand in Gods Judgement durst not come near for fear of the hand of God but had a place set up in the field to keep the Assiâ—es in And also in Dorchester Prison a most wicked man being condemned to die came a beging to our Chamber door and being not spoken to was filled with envy and came into the chamber and shut the door having murther in his heart the which I perceiving I rose up in the strength of the Lord by which he was overcome without any outward resistance and though I afterwards laid his murtherous intentions to his charge several times yet he never denyed it and shortly after the heavy Judgements of the Lord came
beginning before the Scriptures began and Heaven and Earth may passe away with which the Scriptures must passe but the Word lives and abides for ever the Letter killeth but the Word gives Life and is quick and powerful and sharper then any two edged-sword and divides assunder betwixt the joynts and marrow and he that hath the word hath life and Simon Magus could not buy the Word for money but â— man may buy learn and have the Scriptures and be a Judas and quote them as the Devil did to Christ and yet be a devil and the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and His Name is the word of God and his vesture is dipped in blood and the Word is the Light the Hope the Way the Gospel the Door the Vine the Shepherd the fairest of Millions the Original the Kinâ— and Kingdom the way to the Kingdom and this Way this Word this Door this Hope this King and Kingdom this Christ this Original is above aâ— and all in all and in ye all except ye be reprobates for the Kingdom of Heaven is within ye and that which may be known of God is manifest in ye and these manifestations within doth the Scrâ—ptures of truth truly declare oâ— the same is the Original and not the Lat. Gr. and Heb. neither is it so much as a help to know the true and Living God for a man may have the tongues of men and Angels and yet be without God in the World and Pâ—â—ate may understand the Latin Greek and Hebrew full well and set it over the Originals head and go to hell with his understanding and those that have the tongues may be mad and at this day do wrest the Scriptures to their own destructions for want of learning as Peter said they did of old calling the book-learnt men an unlearned generation and himself had no letters and it is like Christ spake to none of the meanest letter-men when he said they had at no time seen the shape of God nor heard his voice and I am suâ—â—â—â— was because they were not good Schollars nâ—r willing to learn for I am the Lords witness that he is found of all that truly learn to seek him and learnt of all those that fear him for his very secrets are with them that fear him and to know and believe in him and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent is absolute life eternal and he that believes not is condemned already and to day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts for it is the same voice within that calls to ye for equity and truth in your inner parts as did to them of old it is not another then what the Scriptures truly declareth of and let him that preaches or brings a Gospel contrary to that which they delare of be an athema maranatha so it is not sufficient to have the Latin Greek and Hebrew and be accounted Orthodox and an able Diviner when the womb is barren and the eye not kept in the head and that which brought the wo-to-man or the wo-man prevail which is not permitted to speak in the Church but is to be silent and ask the husband at home whether they be married or unmarried according to the flesh and happy and onely happy are they who are espoused to the Lamb and can witnesse the eternal mariage the unseparable tye which neither heights nor breadths nor depths nor lengths nor tribulation persecution principalities or powers whatsoever can separate And he that hath the word of God abiding in him which was in the beginning before the Scriptures Prophets holy men and Apostles were by whom the World was made before it was made He deserneth all things judgeth all things Mark all things Orthodox and non Orthodox Pilate and his Original and himself is judged of no man And the grace of God which brings salvation hath appeared to all men and that is the true light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the World And this is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are evil for every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light least his deeds should be reproved but he that doth truth cometh to the light that his deeds might be manifest that they are wrought in God John 3. And this is my testimony for the Original the Lord Jesus and is according to the word that Original which was in the beginning before the Scriptures began to and against all Babilonians from whence came and is derived all confusion and diversity of tongues but in the beginning it was not so for God was the Word and the Word is God E. B. THE END A VVORD To those who are called Dukes Marquesses Earles Viscounts Lords Barons Bannerets Baronets Knights of all sorts Esquires Gentlemen and to the women who are called these mens Ladies upon which rabble of appellations depends and hangs most of the bad people of this Nation And who is the deboicher and vitiator of women-kind I leave it to that of God in the Conscience of these who are called Lords and Ladies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen to judge AH Poor men and women repent repent repent for the Lords righteous Judgement is nigh even at the door to be poured forth against many of you who even hate to be reformed but like evil men and deceivers wax worse and worse being as it were rivetted to all manner of sin grown old in iniquity And although you are called Lords Ladies Gentlemen and Women yet for the most part ye are ungentle untame without the yoke your tongues at liberty to blaspheme the Name of the dreadful pure and living God and Ishmael-like scoff and speak evil of dignities and things ye know not cursers swearers fighters and killers one of another fierce despisers of them that are good many of you are and yet calls yourselves Gentlemen c. When as patience and long suffering is the thing ye truly know not and soberness with many of ye makes no long tarrying and with your lusts ye are led captive at the Devils will and amongst many yea very many of ye oppression is your constant in-mate envy cruelty lust exaltation and pride the very beloved of your bosoms and in your own particulars ye hurt the innocent ye grieve that which would be righteous ye slay and make merry over the witness swallowing down the cups of pleasure and iniquity as the Ox drinketh water ye oppress the seed ye put the Lord of Life to open shame ye crucifie him afresh and that continually In spiritual â—â—â—ne and Egypt all the day long ye are content to dwell and in the night season lye down in your beastialities and in the morning ye rise up early to drink wine take pleasure and commit sin with greediness boiling in your own lusts overwhelmed in gluttony wholly swallowed up in all manner of worldly delight being dead