Heart and tries the Reins who is a God Great and Mâ—…ty and giveth unto all Creatures Life and Breath and he will change at 〈◊〉 〈…〉 all the Children of Men and bring them to an Account before his 〈…〉 Seat wherefore let all Flesh tremble before him and let all the earth 〈…〉 〈…〉 his Presence who changeth and subdueth and over-turneth at his Pâ—… and brings men to destruction who have rebell'd against him â—…fore thou Pope chief Bishop at Rome this is unto thee from the Mouth of â—… Come down come down lay down thy Crown subject thy self 〈…〉 before the Lord God of Vengeance lest 〈…〉 come upon thee and crush â—… and thou shalt know that this hath the Lord spoken in the day â—…ry flaming Sword which is already drawn enters into thy Bosom 〈…〉 thy Honour and Renown Behold I have heard the Voice of Houlâ—…er Lamentation I have heard the Voice of War and not of Peace I 〈…〉 I have seen the Strong become Weak and the Mighty become Miserabâ—â—â—…ud and Honourable brought into Contempt yea I have seen her thâ—… a Queen and has said She never shall see Sorrow I have seen the losâ—â—…n and Widdowhood come upon her even in one day I have seen her Bâ—…â—…ed into Bitterness I have seen her Honour brought into Contempt I 〈…〉 Whore that has made all Nations drunk with her Fornications tâ—… the Golden Cup in her hand I have seen the Cup of Indignation pâ—… her to drink I have seen her cast upon the Bed of never-ceasing â—… I have seen the City that was full of people that was the Glory of I â—… that made all Nation rich with her Traffick and Merchandize I 〈…〉 that City laid desolate and dis-inhabited and made the Sorrow of the 〈…〉 Earth and I have seen the smoak of her burning ascend forever and this is 〈◊〉 must shortly come to pass and if thou hast an Ear to hear thou mayst 〈…〉 and these things are true and faithful and they shall not fail but the Wâ—… shall know the Majesty Dread and Terror the Vengeance and Indigâ—… of the Almighty This is assented unto by many and written and subscribed by one that hath a Nâ—… not seen nor known of the World but known among Men by the name of Edward Burroughs Return your Answer to me or any of the People called Quakers for me in London from whence this is sent being written the 24th of the 8th Mon. 1658. A FAITHFUL TESTIMONY Concerning the True Worship OF GOD VVhat it is in it self and who are the True WORSHIPPERS In Opposition to all the False Worship in this Nation which is Idolatry which is discover'd in its Foundation and in its Manifestation not to be ever commanded of God or practized by his Apostles and Saints but it is declar'd to consist chiefly of such things and practices as had their first Beginning and Ordination in the Church of Rome whereby the Hypocrisie of this Generation doth appear in denying and crying against the Papists Idolatries and yet are found in the practice of the same thing in their Church Ministry and Worship which were first instituted by the Pope's Authority FOrasmuch as there is in the World a great Controversie among people concerning the Worship of God one crying This is the right Worship another That is the right Worship And people in these Nations are divided about the Worship of God and divers one from another in their Performances and Practices of Worship one sort worshipping after this manner another after that and there is great strife through the whole Nation about this matter and a great dis-satisfaction among people which is the right Worship and who are the right Worshippers and Thousands are desiring after the right Worship of God and to become Worshippers of him as he requires Therefore now it is upon me to shew unto all the World what the true Worship of God is in it self and who are his true Worshippers First The Worship of God in it self is this It is a walking with God and a living with him in Converse and Fellowship in Spirit and Truth for he is only worshipped therein and to do the Truth and speak the Truth This is the True Worship of God where the Mind is guided with the Spirit of Truth and the Presence of the Lord felt at all times and his Fear in the Hearts of people and his Councel stood in and his Covenant felt which unites to the Lord in Spirit this is the True Worship of God and it is without respect of times or things And now none upon Earth can thus worship God but who are changed and renewed in heart and mind and born of the Spirit and led thereby where the Body of Sin and Death is put off such as are redeemed out of the World and out of all its wayes and nature such only can worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth and such is the Father seeking to worship him now in this present Age And there is never a one upon Earth that can worship God as he requireth who remain unchanged and are in the Transgression unrenewed and unconverted such cannot worship the True and Living God but that which they perform and practice as the Pretence of his Worship is Idolatry and Abomination and the Lord hath not required it at their hands for none can walk with God nor have unity with him but who are renewed and changed nor none can do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things but such who are led by the Spirit of Truth and such are in the Covenant of God and true Worshippers of him and all that is contrary is not the Worship of God but Idolatry as I have said And now as concerning this Worship practiced in England in these Steeple-Houses Churches so called it is not the Worship of the Living God but Superstition and Idolatry for people have not learned it by the Teachings of the Spirit neither doth the Spirit lead them therein but it standeth in Form without Power and in the Inventions and Traditions of the Fathers and there is not in it the manifest Presence of God neither do you Worshippers meet with the Lord nor enjoy his pure Life and Presence in your Practices and the substance of your Worship as it is now practized is made up of Inventions some part of your own and some part brought along from the church of Rome And is it not great Hypocrisie in you to profess a denyal of the Church of Rome and yet be found practizing some of the same things as your Worship which the Church of Rome first instituted and practized as her Worship Shall we instance unto you some particular things Was it not by the Authority of the Church of Rome that these Houses in which you worship which you call Churches were first set up and made Worshipping-places for them And is it not a little while since that the Mass and old Popish stuff was therein
Mark of the Romish Whore and have her Symptoms and Characters remaining upon them unto this day as it is manifest Object And though some may object and say That God commanded a Temple to be â—â—ilded for the worship of his Name and Ordinances to be practised in the time of the old Covenant To which I do say yea it was so a Temple was builded by Solomon for the Seed of the Iews to worship in and to come to Sacrifice to the Lord in and there was an outward Worship and Ordinances but it is many hundred years since this Temple was destroyed and Worship and Ordinances thrown down which God once commanded and his people once practiced and Christ the Life the Power and Wisdom of God was the Substance thereof and unto whom he was made manifest and in whom he was revealed in the Spirit they utterly renounced and denied the Temple and the worship therein though once God had commanded it and the Saints after the manifesting of Christ to them in Spirit and after that the Holy Ghost was given we do not find through all the Churches of the Saints that they worshipped in the Temple of the Iews but witnessed against it and said That God dwelt not in Temples made with hands neither was he worshipped in Temples made with hands but in the Spirit and in the Truth their Worship consisted and therefore were persecuted but they bare Testimony against the Temple and the Worship and those Ordinances which God once had commanded and which once his People practized though it was to the peril of their lives But as for these Temples and these Ordinances and this Worship which are now on foot they were never brought forth by any Ordination or Commandment of God but the Foundation of them is the Inventions of Men and Mens Traditions taught them and not the Spirit of the Lord and therefore against those things those Temples and those Ordinances and Worships much reason have we to cry against them all as being neither Sign nor Substance of good but wholly Inventions of men The Iews Temple and Ordinances were Signs of good things to come and when the Substance was come the Saints deny'd the Shaddows and the Figures but as for these they are deny'd wholy as being Idolatry and Abomination from the beginning to the end of them for as I have shown These things which are the matter of which your Worship and Ordinance doth consist had their rise and beginning in the dayes of Darkness and Ignorance since the Apostacy came in and so in the Name and Authority of the Lord we do declare against them even against your Temples and whole Worship to the intent to bring you to the true Worship that is in Spirit and in Truth and that you might know your bodies the Temples of God and that he might dwell in you and walk in you according as be hath promised in the New Covenant Wherefore all people awake and come out of your Idolatry and idolatrous Worships separate your selves touch no more of it that the Lord may receive you and that you may come into his Covenant which is Life and Peace for your souls for in those Worships and Temples and all your Practices therein you have not true peace with the Lord nor the Refreshments from his pure Presence but Sin and Death reigns amongst you and great ignorance is over your hearts and Idolatry corrupts your minds and the Lord hath been forgotten by you dayes without number God is not well-pleased neither hath any delight in your Worship for your worship of him and fear towards him is but taught by the Precepts of men and by the Traditions of the Fathers in the dayes of Popery and if ever he opens your Eyes you will see it for it is with the humble and contrite in heart that the Lord dwells him that trembleth at the Word of the Lord whose heart is right in his sight and hath learned his Judgments and Fear and such as are changed and renewed and born of the Seed of God and begotten by his powerfull Word such are the true Worshippers whom the Lord is seeking and such will he find to worship him And whereas there is a great cry amongst you and among many people at this day about Deceivers and being deceived you say and your Cry is one to another Take heed you be not deceived by false Teachers and false Doctrine This is the Cry of Parents to Children and Children to Parents and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sters to Servants and of Servants to Masters and chiefly it is the Cry of 〈◊〉 Priests to the people Take heed yoâ—â— be not 〈◊〉 c. Now to all this I do say That there are many Deceivers and many are 〈…〉 ved this is certainly true and plainly manifest But now to shew 〈…〉 Deceiver is and what it is to be deceived and who they are that ar◠〈◊〉 ceived First That is a Deceiver that Person that spirit or that thing that 〈…〉 eth or inticeth the Minds of people into something to do or practce 〈◊〉 speak something which the Lord by his Spirit doth not lead to I say That which leads the Creature to take up a Joy or a Delight 〈…〉 Happiness in something of this World which is under the Sun to place 〈…〉 fidence or felicity in such a thing that which thus leadeth or draweth the 〈…〉 whether it be person or spirit it is a Deceiver and deceiveth the Soul 〈…〉 or they that do follow this and give up themselves into the obedience 〈…〉 to do or speak something that is contrary to God or which his Spirit 〈…〉 not lead unto nor guide in this person is deceived of the Presence of the 〈◊〉 and of the Comfort and Joy and Happiness that is in him and hath pleâ—… and joy in something of the Creation that is not of him but besides 〈◊〉 and this Person is deceived and in Deceit who hath placed a Joy and Happiâ—… and Confidence in some Creature or thing that is not perfectly the Lord 〈…〉 another spirit besides the Spirit of the Lord hath seated it self in the 〈◊〉 and taken possession of the Mind and the Mind and Heart is thereby caâ—…ted by that way in the works and pleasures of this World and this is a â—…ved estate and thus much of a Deceiver and Deceiving in the ground in 〈◊〉 declared But now You that are crying one to another Be not deceived be not 〈◊〉 Are you not such as are deceived already and lie wallowing in the Deceit and Vanity and Evil of this World For while sin hath power over you and that Spirit that is not of God doth lead you you are deceived and thus it is with you being unchanged and unrenewed in Mind and Heart are not you deceived For you want the feeling of the Presence and of the Comfort of the Lord God and you are deceived of that for that you have not and another thing possesseth your minds and the
and divers practises thereunto pertaining it is not the true Worship of the True and Living God though never so zealously practised because it cannot be believed that the Authors and Composers of it were moved led and guided by the Holy Spirit of God in their very Institution and forming of it and whatsoever is brought forth whether in Faith or any practise in any kind of Profession and practises in any way of Religion and not onely by the Spirit of God is not the true Worship of God which is only in Spirit and Truth and consists onely of such practises moved unto and guided in by the Spirit and the true Worship of God is not otherwise neither for matter nor manner but in what things and after what manner as the Spirit of God leadeth unto and guideth in for the Father seeketh such to Worship him as Worship in Spirit and Truth 4. As for the Method and Form of the matter it is not according to the example of the Holy Scriptures nor agreeing to the practise of Worship held forth by the Apostles but different from and partly contrary to the Spirit that was in the Saints and their example of Worship as in many circumstances pertaining to the orders of Common-Prayer-Book might be instanced but even some of the Practises themselves and the manner of performing them are for the most part Invention and Tradition traduced into the World long since the Apostles days and they are not according to the Scriptures nor example of the Saints Worship in the Church of Christ in their days and therefore the Matter in it self partly and the Method of it are not the true Worship of the Living God which is not after the traditions of men as the manner of performance of Common Prayer-Book is when as the Worship of God is in and by the Spirit of God as before witnessed 5. And as for the Practice of it in this Nation as by Imposition and force upon pains penalties as it was practised for many years together as so held forth it was not the Worship of God but Abomination to him as I have shewed and that Worship which is practised by any people being forced upon them is but Hypocrisie and deceit and outward conformity in such Worshippers and God requires it not of them and such was the Worship in the Common-Prayer so called for there were many who did bow and conform thereunto even because of the terror of men even many in the Ignorance of their Consciences and some against their Consciences and contrary to the Light thereof and some were persecuted because they could not conform all which was Abomination in the sight of the Lord even the consequence of the thing was as evil as any part of either matter or manner also even while many conceited themselves in their Ignorance that they had Worshipped God and done well while they had onely performed such Worship forced upon them and which the Lord never required at their hands and that cannot be the true Worship of the true and Living God which can be performed by a People without the Spirit of God by which alone and without it God cannot be Worshipped and the practise of Worship after the order of Common-Prayer did many thousands if not most perform without the Spirit of God whereby it fully appears that in the practise of the Book of Common-Prayer the Worshippers did not Worship the true and Living God but walked only in a part of the Form of Godliness but had not the Power 6. But as for the Practise of it as now in England without Imposition upon all by force and penalty but by some out of supposition that it is the best way of worship and that willingly and neither forced upon them nor they forcing it upon others as thus practis'd is not so great Idolatry nor of so bad effects as if it were violently forced upon all but if any suppose it to be the best way of worship and be so perswaded such may more equally have their Liberty in the exercise thereof while they allow Liberty to others to follow what worship as they are preswaded and as it is unjust to impose by violence that or any other Form of worship upon people so it is unjust to impose penalty or punishments on the Bodies or Estates of any for their conformity to the Book of Common-Prayer or any other kind of Worship for as it is contrary to God to compel by force to that Practise of Worship so it is unjust to stop by force from that Way of Worship or to inflict Penalties upon the Persons or Estates of any because thereof for though many exceptions may be justly made by sound Arguments against that way of Worship in matter manner and effects as I have said yet none ought to be afflicted in Person or Estate for the error of their minds while their error extends not to destroy the Person and Estate of another for all force by violence that hath been put on the Bodies and Estates of men about Church-Worship Ministry and Religion of any kind hath been Antichristian and not of God even for many Generations 7. And therefore them that read the Book of Common-Prayer and all other sort of Worshippers that are either perswaded by the Spirit of God or suppose in their hearts of the Verity and Truth of their Way let them all have their Liberty in their way of Worship without force or restraint by outward Laws while they impose not one upon another violently for the true Worshippers ought not to be persecuted for their Worship but if they are it will confirm them in the truth of their Way the false Worshippers ought not to suffer affliction of Persecution nor loss of Estate though they do err in their Minds and Judgments about Worship in spiritual things but if they are afflicted because thereof it will harden them in their evil wayes and not convert them nor turn them from the evil of their wayes for men are converted to the right way and out of that which is evil by the Spirit of God and through perswading of the Conscience inwardly and not by force or violence put upon their Bodies or estates outwardly never any were converted to God by such means And this is my Answer to the Objection and my judgment of the case inquired into The Book of Common Prayer so called partly the Matter it self and the Method of it and the Manner of its performance is not the true Worship of the True and Living God no not the free Practise there of without Imposition much less the Practise of it by Imposition and force for that is altogether Abomination and hath with it woful effects upon whatsoever People it hath been or shall hereafter be forced and violently Imposed This is given forth for the Satisfaction of all that desires in this Matter The 5th Moneth 1660. E. B. A Postscript AND some set up the Institution
into Bondage in Conscience to God-wards by Laws or Men but enjoyeth Freedom and Liberty therein as much in Sufferings and in Persecutions under all the Cruelty of Men as in doing and practices when they are not persecuted for in Sufferings the Conscience is exercised and hath its Liberty in Patience and Forbearance and at Liberty of Persons in practice it is exercised and hath its Liberty in doing and performing whatsoever the Spirit of the Father moveth and leadeth unto And thus where God hath freed the Conscience and it is Free and at Liberty in him and to him nothing without can bring it into Bondage or Captivity but in all Conditions and in all Exercises whether doing or suffering the pure Conscience is in Liberty in it self and in perfect Freedom in God through all over all and beyond all But now there hath been a great Cry among many that have professed Righteousness and Religion For Freedom of Conscience and begging and craving from the Powers of the Earth to Tolerate Liberty of Conscience and that they might have the Liberty of their Conscience in Religion And thus some have been looking too much without for Liberty of Conscience from Men and from Powers without them before their Consciences were set free by the Lord within the Bond of Iniquity broken and that Burden of Iniquity and Guilt done away which hath been a Burden Bondage upon the Conscience For as I have said No Man nor Powers of the Earth can truly Free or give Liberty to the Conscience which is bound by the Cord of Iniquity within But 't is evident The Cry for Liberty hath not been so much for the Exercise of Conscience truly so as for the freedom each one of their Sect and for their Liberty in the practice of their own Worship and Conformity and thereupon have divers men of divers Sects sought to the Powers of Men and of the Earth to grant them Liberty of their Consciences whenas it hath been rather for the Freedom to and Defence of their Sect and of their Practices in their Worship than for Liberty of Conscience truly so for while they have cryed for Liberty from without yet Sin and Iniquity and Transgression have lain upon their Conscience within and they have sought from Men for the Liberty of their Sect to practice their own Worship which they have called Liberty of Conscience And to this Intent by some hath been the Cry for Liberty of Conscience that their Sect and their own Wayes of Worship might be defended from the Violence of others who have opposed their Practices and Worships for People of divers Wayes of Worship and of divers Sects have all been at Strife one with another and divided one against another and yet all professed good Conscience and cryed for Liberty thereof from the Powers of the Earth not but that the Powers of the Earth ought to grant free Liberty of Conscience in the Exercise of every Sect of Religion and to suffer all to profess and practice their Religion while they walk justly and Peaceably in a Land But here hath lodged the Deceit and Deceivableness of the spirit of Satan in the Hearts of men from the least to the greatest of all those divers false Sects and Worshippers they have therein zealously gone on and pleaded for their Sects and Worship though never so gross or dark and contrary to Truth under the denomination of Freedom and Liberty of good Conscience and the very Title and Name hath been the Colour and deceived many while a false Worship and false Sects have gone under the Name of Liberty of good Conscience and Thousands have been deceived and blindly led into such a false Sect and into such a Profession to act and perform with great Zeal false Practices in a false Worship falsly supposing it to be out of a good Conscience and that they have acted in the Liberty thereof yea and many may suffer great and grievous things and some the loss of their Lives for the very Practice of false things and false worships in a false Sect and yet under the name of good Conscience and for Liberty of Conscience as they may profess and believe But this may seem strange to be spoken to some who may enquire how it comes to pass and how this may be That many may suffer great and grievous Cruelties and some the loss of their Lives for the Practice of false Things and the Exercise of false Worships which they may suppose to be out of good Conscience and for good Conscience sake whereas it is not truly so nor rightly so But how happeneth this may some say I Answer This cometh to pass after this manner Because Conscience is made of that and of the Things and Performances which God requires not and so there is a great Zeal in the doing and performing of such a Practice and such a Worship whenas the Lord doth not require these things at their Hands and this is because the Mind and Heart and Conscience is dark and not truly informed nor guided with the Spirit of Truth and of the Father but a false spirit ruleth and leadeth the Conscience and it is not exercised with the Spirit of the Father that leadeth into all Truth So I do acknowledge that Conscience may be mis-led and mis-guided and mis-informed and Conscience may be made of doing such and such things which the Lord doth not require and there may be a Fear not taught of the Lord nor received by the sence of his Presence but only received into the Heart by the Precepts of men Example of others Custom of Times or the like and here the Conscience being not truly informed nor guided by the Spirit of the Lord there is a false Fear and Zealousness in the performing of such things which the Lord doth not require nor his Spirit lead into the practice of but only the Traditions and Precepts of men hath placed a false Law and Commandment which requires a false Obedience which many whose Understandings are blinded and being without true Knowledge they zealously perform and practice as the Worship of God thinking themselves bound in Conscience to practice such things and not to leave them undone whenas the Lord and his Righteous Spirit leadeth not to them nor yet his Just Law doth require the doing thereof but only a false Law and Commandment is received by Precepts and Traditions of men or from looking upon the Practice of others By such means as this there is a false Fear in a blind mis-guided Conscience and a Zeal without true Knowledge And thus it was amongst the Iews in the Prophets dayes They Sacrificed their Children and cut themselves and caused their Children to pass through the Fire and did many things zealously whenas saith the Lord Who hath required these things at your hands for they come not into my heart And Paul witnesseth the same of the Iews in his dayes and bore them record that they had a Zeal
and Tradition what you have studied for out of Books and old Authors you preach to people and what ye have noted in a Book that you preach by an Hour-glass and not as the Spirit of God gives you utterance and you seek out and enquire after great Benefices and much Money by the year and where there is much Tythes and Gleb-Lands and such like thither and to such a Place you go and seek after to be Minister there and there you remain twenty forty more or fewer years as you can agree with the People and while they will give you so much as will content you and maintain you your Wives and Families as you say respect not whether any be converted to God by your preaching but people remain always in blindness and ignorance generally and without the Knowledg of God for you preach other mens words and what you have collected in your Imaginations from the Saints words an Hour by a Glass leaning upon a soft Cushion and for Money and Hire preaching to the people and this is your manner of practice and Ministry in these Nations but thus did not the Apostles nor Christ's Ministers but the contrary and by your Fruits and Works it appears that you are not Followers of that Spirit that Christ and his Ministers were guided by neither are lawfull Successors of the Apostles but by your Fruits and Practice you manifest that the Lord never sent you nor Christ never called you into his Service to be his Ministers for in all your Practices and in your whole Performances of Worship you differ and do not agree but are contrary to what the Practice and Worship of Christ's Ministers and Churches were in the days of the Apostles this I charge upon you in the Name and by the Authority of the Lord God and am able to prove it against you face to face or otherwise to shew that you are not of the same spirit but contrary to the Saints and Apostles of old and so not true Succeeders of them nor lawful Ministers of Christ as to all people it is and shall be made manifest Thirdly You disagree and are contrary altogether to the true Ministry and to the Apostles in respect of your Maintenance and Wages for the Wages which Christ allowed his Ministers was into whatsoever House they entered that was worthy they might eat such things as are set before them for the Workman saith he is worthy of his Hire and the Apostles eat only of the Fruit of the Vineyard that they had planted and of the Milk of the Flock which they kept by a free gift of the People which they had begotten to the Faith and to whom they sowed spiritual things it was but as a small matter if they reaped their carnal things yet as a free gift they would do it and the Apostle said he would not make the Gospel of Christ chargeable And in this manner were Christ Ministers and Ministry in Wages and Gifts upheld and maintained outwardly in the World But your Practise and Maintenance is not such but contrary as is fully made manifest for you will have so much by the year promised to you in Tythes Money or Gleab-lands or Stipends and of Drunkards and Swearers and prophane Wordly People who are not Sheep of Christ's Flock nor Plants of his Vine-yard you will have so much of each of them and of every man in such a compass as you call your Parish and if any either out of Covetousness or good Conscience cannot pay you you sue at Law and cast into Prison for Wages and spoil their Goods and take treble nay sometimes Five double damage and through Violence and Injustice and Cruelty are you maintained in such a manner and not as the true Ministers and Apostles of Christ were but in a way and manner quite contrary as it is manifest and so herein it is proved that you are not lawful Successors of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ. Fourthly Again you follow not the Apostles and true Ministers of Christ but are contrary to them in Doctrine as this following Volumn will clearly manifest which for this very end is collected from your own Mouths and Pens that all men may see what you are and what you hold and profess and being truely laid down and answered let your selves and all sober men compare your doctrines and sayings with the Doctrines of the Apostles and they may see you agree not with them but are contrary to them And now Friends to all you that profess your selves to be Ministers of the Gospel I do hereby declare unto you in the Name and Authority of the Lord that we have a controversie with you and a great charge against you in all these things in your Call in your Practice and in your Maintenance and in your Doctrines and our Mouthes hath the Lord opened and they cannot be shut from declaring and crying against you as such whom the Lord never sent but are contrary to Christ his Prophets and Apostles in all your Ways and Practices and the Hand of the Lord is certainly against you and his Power and Dread will comeover you and lie upon your Consciences Now Reader whatsoever thou are that reads this following Volumn if thy mind be sober and thy heart right towards God thou may come to a good understanding of the Ground and cause of this great controversie between the Priests and the Professors of this Nation and us who are in scorn called Quakers for it is not unknown to Nations of this great debate and battel now for some years of continuance in this Nation no man can be ignorant what putting in Prisons and what Persecuting and what Preaching and Printing against us and what Reports and Fame hath been through this Nation for some years past and the Quakers so called have written and spoken and printed against the Priests their Worships and Ways and Doctrines and declared against them as Deceivers and false Prophets and such as never were sent of God and on the other hand thus have the Priests and more abundantly cried out against and printed against the Quakers as Hereticks and Deceivers and Witches and all what they could say that 's evil and these things being not unknown but publickly brought to pass therefore it will be good to discover unto every man the first ground and cause of this great Strife and the matter of it and its beginning so that all may know the certainty of these things and know they are not without good ground and sufficient reason on our part to wit That we have just cause to do and strive against that Generation of Priests and Teachers and that we do nothing rashly and without sufficient reason It is now about seven years since the Lord raised us up in the North of England and opened our Mouthes in this his Spirit and what we were before in our Religion Profession and Practices is well known to that part of the Country
Religion nor in the truth but is found to be in the Error and out of the Truth let such deny their Worship and Church and renounce all their Religion and confess to all the World under their hands that they are and have been deceived and for ever hereafter stop their Mouthes and never profess nor practice any more what they have done in such Religion And freely upon these Issues and Conditions we will joyn trial with them let them appoint time place and profer terms at their own pleasure and then to all the World it shall be manifest and to all people discovered whether we have not good ground and sufficient reason to war against these Priests and it may perfectly appear that what we have said and written against them these divers years have been upon a good foundation and we have had sufficient cause to speak and write against them as we have done and none thenceforth shall have cause to say or doubt that what we have spoken and written against them hath been out of malice or envy and without cause and good reason but on the contrary all shall know the Ground of Quarrel is sufficient and full of equity on our part And upon these or any equal tearms and conditions would we and are we willing to engage with these Priests and all or any one of these Sects in a lawful Tryal in Disputes or Writings for the Tryal and searching out of the Truth and the true Religion And were it not equal and reasonable that we had the same liberty among all these Priests and in their Church and Assemblies freely to declare our minds and to let forth our selves in what we hold and profess without being violently haled and beat and whipped and sent to Prison as we have been this many years which liberty we do freely grant and allow among us to all to query or declare what is upon them without such violent dealing or whipping or sending them to Prisons and Houses of Correction and the same and no other do we desire of others in this particular of freedom to declare the Truth and what we hold then what we do and would allow to others and that no Weapon be used by them against us nor dealing towards us but the Weapons of the Spirit the best they have or can bring forth against us and let them let Creatures alone and not hurt nor do violence to them and no other Weapons shall we use against them nor deal with them by any other thing but the Weapons of the Spirit of God which are powerful will bring down strong Holds and as for Creatures we shall not hurt nor do violence nor imprison them and whose Weapons are the strongest let such overcome And such as are overcome is not the true Church for the true Church of Christ which is builded upon the Rock the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against and who do overcome with such let it be manifest that God of a truth is with them and let them all cease to defend their Church and Ministry and Religion with Prisons and Whips and Houses of Correction for by such things was never the true Church Ministry and Religion defended but only the Power and Authority of God preserved them and resisted all their Enemies and so it is at this day and let all cease to cry Deceivers and being afraid to be deceived for if they be the true Church all or any of these Sects and Professions of Religions then if we be Deceivers and come among them they cannot be deceived if they be in the Election for no Deceivers nor the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against the true Church of Christ nor against them that are elect which the Devil hath nothing in And if we be the true Church of Christ in the Election then if all the Deceivers upon Earth come among us they cannot prevail against us nor deceive us for the Elect cannot be deceived and upon these terms we may engage with any people and Sect upon Earth Therefore come to this and joyn with us take you the Liberty to declare in soberness what you own and prosess you shall not be persecuted nor your Bodies nor Persons harmed by violence and let us have that liberty to declare in Meekness and Soberness and in Gods Authority amongst you what we hold and profess and let us not be persecuted and dealt violently withal and then let it appear whether we or our Enemies have a greater Testimony and more powerfull in the hearts of people And were not this a way full of equity for the trial of all things but doing contrary as you have done these many years against us by Violence and Whipping and Persecuting it shews you have not the spiritual Weapons nor the Authority of God with you nor among you and that is the cause of running to Magistrates and putting in Goals and Whippings and all Violence because the Authority of God's Spirit is wanting amongst you which all the false Sects and false Churches since the days of the Apostles have wanted to defend themselves and resist their Enemies and so all Sects have been fighting one with another and killing Persons and Creatures and desending themselves by Prisons and Inquisitions and destroying of lives and all this hath been out of the Power of God and not in it but by the power of the Dragon and of the Beast who hath caused all to worship and them that would not he hath power to kill and hath killed them by Fires and Tortures and cruel Deaths and all these have lost the spiritual Weapons and been without the Power and Spirit of God And what a Church is this of yours which hath been to be defended by Goals and Prisons and Whips and Stocks and violent Dealing this Church is not the Church of Christ for the Power and Spirit of God defends her always and not Inquisitions and Prisons and Whips these are Cains Weapons and not the Weapons of the Spirit of God whereby his true Church was ever defended for because Cains sacrifice was not accepted therefore he slew his Brother and persecuted him and thus you that are of Cains seed do the same upon the same Ground because your works are rejected and theirs accepted with whom you deal thus in this violent way of persecution and wickedness And this is the Protestant Church so called and her Ministers with whom I am now Dealing which seems to be the true Church and more then the Church of Rome for you Protestant Ministers do deny and cry against the Church of Rome as a false Church and her Ministers to be Deceivers which in it selfe is very true But yet your hypocrisie in this doth appear and your double-mindedness for let me tell you while you cry against the Church of Rome as a false Idolater and a Persecutor of the true Church and against her Ministers to be Deceivers and contrary to the Apostles are not your
your good works brought forth in your own wills in that nature in which the enmity lodges is a lame and a blind Sacrifice and of Cain's nature which God accepteth not you are in the liberty of the flesh and the daily Cross of Christ you do not know but lives daily to the World and dies not to it and your knowledge of Christ is without you by what such a Prophet and such an Apostle spoke of him and the witness of the operation of his Spirit and Power you have not in you nor his sufferings you do not know in your life but by your life make him to suffer in you in his Life the horrible filthy thing is commited amongst you and your Teachers are perfect in the false Prophets steps and some of you are as bruit Beasts in their knowledge gathered in by vain study and humane learning through Phylosophy and vain deceit and have large Quarters from which they seek their Gain and through Coveteousness with feigned words make merchandise of souls and are compleat in Balaams way of Idolatry following his Error loving the Wages of unrighteousness teaching for filthy Lucre devouring souls for dishonest Gain by trading with the Scriptures and selling their Imaginations upon them for money gaining many thousand of pounds a year thereby having stolen the Saints words into their unclean hearts uttered forth by them for advantage to themselves when the Lord hath not sent them nor spoken unto them nor ordained them for his service but their Call and Ordination have been by man and their work and testimony of themselves and have not profited you at all and yet you have loved to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof Even you that have been helped and they that have holpen shall both fall together in the Day of the Lord's Recompence which will fall grievously upon you and none shall be able to deliver you but miserable Comforters and Physitians of no value shall all be unto you and your long applyed Promises shall suddenly fly away No Peace from God is to the Wicked neither do I sow Pillows under your Elbows but to the Light in your Consciences I commend these things which Christ hath enlightened every of you withal which shines in Darkness and you cannot it comprehend nor in it believe but at it stumbles and by it shall be broken which if it you loved it would teach you in the Spirit the Living God to worship and would condemn all your set forms of worship in the imaginations the Light is given you of Christ Jesus unto Life Eternal or unto condemnation everlasting when the Hand of the Lord is upon you remember you had Warning and when you are in the Lake and in the Pit remember you had a day of Visitation upon Earth The Light in all your Consciences shall witness Gods Judgments to be just and your mouths shall be stopped To all you that are called Anabaptists WIth you also is the Controversie of the Lord for you are Children of the same seed more purged in the Fire of blind Zeal and begotten in the transforming of the Serpent into more secret hypocrisie and deeper subtilty your covering being larger the greater deceit and abomination lodges under Death reigns among you and your Kingdom is scituate in the Mountains of exaltation and you feed aboundantly in the Valleys of pride and vain glory and are nourished with the bread of prosperity you are grown high and great in your number and have joyned your selves for advantage and glory in your strength having through Policy and Craft and bowing to the beastly power highly exalted your own Horn and by Flattery have gained much of your dominion which you hold in possession by the Law of guile many simple Ones have by your curious colour and bed of fair pretences been deceived to commit Adultry with your Image brought forth in the likeness of the Saints God by imaginations from the Saints words you worship the Practice and exercise of the Saints with the same mind that the Papists do worship their Names and dayes You allow not Idols without nor a vain conversation in the World but you are stricâ—t in observation in your outward conformity in your self-righteousness which is your greatest sin you are cloathed with the Saints words and practices which you have climed up in your own wills to obtain not having entred in by the Door and while you say you eat and drink the Flesh and Blood of Christ in the Saints manner shewing forth his Death till he come to Salvation you kill him as the Heathens do till he appear unto Condemnation and you shew forth daily that you cruciâ—e him in the World eating and drinking to your selves condemnation you say Christ dyed only for you as Elect but your works make manifest that he dies by you as Reprobate You take up a command from the Letter and imitate the Apostles some of you in a lower and some of you in a higher degree in that mind and nature which in the Apostles was crucified and you say Christ commands it when the Letter doth but declare it and you are not led with the same Light which gave forth the Commands declared to observe them but say in such a Verse of such a Chapter such a Command is not having received the Command by the same Spirit Here you are proved to be them which use your tongues and say he saith it when God hath not spoken unto you but as you read it without you as the false Prophets may do the words of the true Prophets and thus you are in the Witchcraft as they were Gal. 3. who take on things in your own wills and observe Commands without from the Letter thereby drawing from the Teachings of God within by the Spirit you are zealous as they were for the Traditions and Figures and cannot see him which is the end of all that which perisheth with the using so you are not dead with Christ from the World who are yet subject to Ordinances which are of the World They that obeyed Christ and followed him were led by the Spirit and not by the Letter for they were not Ministers of the Letter but of the Spirit and such were judged to be in error and this is your condition who say such are Breakers of Christ's Commands and Makers void of the Scripture and Destroyers of the Ordinances who witness Christ the Substance and him to be King and Judg and Law-giver and in whom and upon whom the Scripture is fulfilled and so it established and the Commands of Christ kept which are in Spirit and his Law daily walked in which condemneth sin And this is not contrary to the Scripture but a fulfilling of it in Principles in Doctrines and in Practise and in Conversation The Apostles were sent to preach the Gospel to every Creature and they were all led by the same Spirit and did not go before it in their own wills
of the Temples in the Chappel and in the Kings Court and his example doth witness to our practises as the example of the Wicked in their wickedness do witness your practice whom you succeed in oppression And also you may read through the Scriptures how the children of God who were called of him were hated and persecuted by the seed of Evil-doers they slew the Prophets and persecuted them that were sent unto them David was a Scorn and a Reproach and a Hissing to his Enemies and Job was mocked of his Friends and counted a Mad-man and many of the Servants of the Lord suffered cruel deaths under the Hands of the Oppressor and they that were Sufferers and were mocked scorned and persecuted are our Example and the Mockers and Persecutors are your example Christ and the Apostles in their time were Sâ—fferers and you may read how Herod and Pilate and the Officers and chief Priests caused Christ to suffer unjustly by Imprisonments and Scourgings and Sufferings and revilingâ— though no evil could be justly laid to his charge and he is our Example in the like things and as they did unto him so you do unto us as being of the same Seed and thâ—â— he â—aid And Herod and the cruel Officers and chief Priests are your example of whose seed you are brought forth fulfilling their measure of wickedness and cruelty in this your day and time and oppressing the just with cruel bonds of iniquity And you may read how the Apostles were persecuted through the whole Book of Acts and put out of their Towns and Stoned some unto death and were forbid to speak any more in the Name of Iesus and were thought to be men not worthy to live upon the Earth were called Pestilent Fellows and Movers of Sedition and Turners of the World upside down and these were our example who had left their Callings Countries and Relations and gave themselves to be spent for the Lord's sake and declared against the false ministry which preached for Hire and Gifts and Rewards and against them that had the form of Godliness but not the Power and went into the Idol Temples and declared against them and against their outward traditional worships In these things and many more we follow them as an Example even as you follow the wicked in their cruelty and oppression Nero and Festus and Caesar and such like who were Enemies unto God as you are and brought forth the same works as you do being of the same nature and following their example so that now as ever He who is born of the flesh persecutes him that is born after the Spirit And the wisdom of this World is enmity against God and cannot receive the things of God's Kingdom Therefore repent when you have read your example of wickedness then read your example in the cursed end of wrath from the Lord God which came upon the Persecutors of old as it will come upon you The Vengeance of God you cannot flee his fierce Wrath will come upon you and Weeping and Howling and Lamentation and Misery will be your Portion O tremble to think â—pon your ignorance To what purpose have you made a profession of the Scriptures who â—…tifie those things and those men which it plainly declares against and condemns those practices and those men which it plainly witnesseth of Repent and take warning betime before the Decree of the Lord of Host be sealed against you for I have cleared my Conscience in letting you see your own ignorance and blindness ye Magistates and People And thus you are left without excuse whether you will hear or forbear By one who is a Labourer in the Vineyard who is not known to the World though named of the World EDWARD BURROUGH THE TRUE FAITH OF THE Gospel of Peace Contended for in the Spirit of Meekness and thâ— Mystery of Salvation Christ within the Hope of Glory Vindicated in the Spirit of Love Against the secret opposition of Iohn Bunyan a professed Minister in Bedfordshire Or an Answer to his Book called Some Gospel Truths opened c. Wâ—… in also he hath mixed many Lyes and Slanders and hath secretly gainsayed the Way of Truth and Doctrine of Salvation under the account of Error and Heresie as the Generation of chief Priests ever did Or A Return of Truth in simplicity in the denial of his false Accusations aâ—… his dark Vail of false Reproaches taken off and the Innocency of the Upright appearing With some Queries given forth for him to answer that Truth may further appâ—… and Deceit may be ashamed where ever it is found READER UNto whom this may come especially you in Bedfordshire for whose sake chiefly tâ—… sent forth after the false Reproaches of a professed Minister among you who hath 〈◊〉 called himself in his Title Unworthy as is proved in this Return wherein the 〈◊〉 hearted may see that I have not striven for Mastery by multitude of words nor many 〈◊〉 Arguments to obtain a name but in simplicity of heart have born my Witness against 〈◊〉 Lyes and Vindicated the Truth as it is in Iesus not in a curious mind but in the simpliâ—… of the Gospel And unto you that are honest in any measure towards God and towards 〈◊〉 I leave this and his to be judged with an impartial mind and what is made manifest to be Tâ—… let it be owned by you and this is the end wherefore it is given forth that Truth may be 〈◊〉 braced and Deceit condemned and the Light of the World may be followed which leads 〈◊〉 eternal Life and without which there is no Salvation E. B. HOw long ye crafty Fowlers will ye prey upon the Innocent and 〈◊〉 at him secretly How long shall the Righteous be a Prey to your teeâ—â— ye subtil Foxes who seek to devour The just One against whom yoâ— Bow is bent cryes for Vengeance against you in the ears of the Lorâ— yet you strengthen your hands in iniquity and gird your selves with the zeal 〈◊〉 Madness and Fury you think to swallow up the Harmless and to blot out tâ—… Name of the Righteous that his Generation may not be found on Earth Yâ—… shoot your Arrows of cruelty even bitter words and makes the Innocent your Mark to prey upon You dispise the Way of Uprightness and Simplicity and the path of craft and subtilty you tread your Dens are in Darkness and your mischief is hatched upon your beds of secret whoredoms When will you cease to grind the face of the Poor and to oppress the Humble upon whom you tread in your vain glories and outward shews of Holiness as though you were the blessed People And you are exalted above Innocency in your feigned Hypocrisie and subtilty and yet are found out with the searching Eye of the Lord who knows your thoughts afar off to be wicked and your purposes to be vain and as with a Whirle-wind will he scatter you and your name shall rot and your memorial shall not be
Enemies lean upon thee and say Is not the Lord amongst us while they oppress the Innocent and make a prey upon the Upright and tread thy glory underfoot and despise thy Law and Ordinances and set at nought thy Children and causeth them to suffer grievous burdens under heavy hands of cruelty every one smiting with the fist of wickedness Wilt thou be pleased Lord with a Sacrifice of the unclean hands given unto thee from polluted hearts offered upon the Altars of mens own precepts in set times Wilt thou be worshipped in mens iâ—ventions and traditions in a set day of hanging down the head like a Bul ruâ—â— for a moment Canst thou accept a fast appointed by the will of man while tâ—â— bands of wickedness are not loosed nor the Oppressed set free And wilt thou be found in a way decreed by the Children of men whose way is corrupt before thee Yea Lord God men seeks but not in thy own Way and they call upon thee but not in thy Spirit and they press towards thee but not at thy door they ask of thee the Ordinance of Justice and they delight in approaching to thee and they are as a Nation that works righteousness yet doth their sins cry aloud in thy ear and their Oppression and Backsliding calls for Vengeance upon their own heads When will ye be wise ye Rulers and learned you Judges of the Earth for now the jealousie of the Lord burns like fire and his wrath is kindled more then a little and yet you do not trust in him but in the day of your Fast you find your own pleasures and in the day of your humiliation you hearts are lifted up in vain glory and you presume in his Presence and call him Lord but doth not that which he commands for the Oppressed is not eased nor the Captive is not freed nor the hungry fed nor the naked clothed the Lords soul is wearied with you and your Offrings unto him are as if you cut off a Dogs neck and your Incense is unto him as if you blessed an Idol you neglect the Fast which God hath chosen and make unto your selves a Precept and a Day in which your work is not accepted whilst your fear towards him is taught by your own precepts and they that fear the Lord mourn for you and they that know his Way wish good towards you that your eyes might see and your hearts understand that which belongs to your peace but you despise the reproof of Instruction and choose your own ways and do that which is high in the sight of your own eyes and you weary the Lord from day to day and he is pressed under your iniquities as a Cart is pressed with Sheaves And shall not his Soul be avenged upon you and upon such a Nation as this whose fear towards him is taught by the Precepts of men and whose Worship of him is exercised in the vain Traditions of their own inventions Hear ye Deaf and look ye Blind behold the Lord's Hand is upon you and you know it not his Judgments are nigh you and you are not aware but exalt your own horn and some of you seek unto your selves a Kingdom to rule in oppression over the Poor and Needy who cry to the Lord day and night under the heavy hand of cruel burdens which lie upon the Innocent but you will not touch them with one of your little Fingers Wo is me for you for your destruction comes upon you as an armed Man and your desolation as an unresistable Flood for you regard not the oppression of the Poor but make it a thing of nought you that pass by Hear and consider ye Parliament of England ye are something concerned herein if you mean to be established loose the oppression of the Innocent and let the Oppressed go free for this the Lord requires of you more then your Oblations and set dayes of Humiliation wherein you make a shew of repentance to the Lord and hang down the head for a day like a Bulrush when your hearts are not truly upright to the Lord. A Declaration I have viewed proceeding from you as the first work of your hands and therein you declare your selves to these three Nations in seeming relentings before the Lord I wish your hearts were as you profess and first you say Such hath been the outgoing of God for his People in this our Generation that nonâ— as men but must say It is marvelous in our eyes and none as Christians but must cry out It is the Lords Doings Unto which I shall answer Indeed true it is that the out-goings and dealings of the Lord hath been and are mighty and are wonderful in this Nation even for his People which now are trodden upon and oppressed to the shame of some of you and indeed some of you were partakers in a good degree of his Power and Out-goings with you while you stood in his Counsel and then it was marvelous in your eyes and you could cry out It is the Lords Doings But Friends will you consider how you now stand and into what ye are fallen so as that instead of being the Lords People you are turned Enemies to the Lords People and he is departed from you and hardly goes out with you any more While ye were little in your own eyes ye loved Justice and Judgmeâ—t but now you are exalted and lifted up and have forgotten the marvelous doing of our God and Judgment is turned backward and Equity is fallen and the hand of oppression is laid heavy upon the Lords Servants Oh that you would lay it to heart before the decree be sealed against you when no time of repentance can be found by you And further you say He the Lord hath alwayes been a ready Help in the time of need and never did his poor Servants seek his Face in vain neither did he ever lend a deaf Ear to the voice of their weeping To which I answer Verily its true he is alwayes a ready help for us his Servants in time of need neither did we ever seek his Face in vain even when we lay under the grievous oppressions of the Enemy nor you your selves some of you sought not in vain while your hearts were upright with him but had the Deliverance desired by you out of the hands of all your Enemies and their necks to tread upon but it is not so now inasmuch as you are become vaâ—… formal Seekers and Hypocritical Fasters and a deaf Ear will the Lord lend to you and to the voice of your weeping till you remove the Oppression from off the neck of the Distressed and you shall seek his face and find no answer from him for the Vision shall fail unto you and though you howl unto him and caâ—â— upon him yet will he hide his Face more and more and leave you to your selves and will not regard the voice of your crying and though you have found him a present Help in time
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
hath been and what he hath done how hath this cloud of Folly cast a stink and darkness upon his former brightness and glory and nobleness and is this the end and final farwel of once noble Oliver what only the sight of an Image carried and set up Hath the City of London and the Nations to better Memento of him But oh had he been faithfull to the end to God he would have left a more lively and heavenly Character to have been read for his sake then an Image of him and such Idolatrous practises and my life could have sorrowed upon some considerations passed through me about this business and for some hours my spirit could not rest and in the very time it lay upon me to write this And after all this said my spirit Where are all the old Priests now and his ancient Teachers who once had a great zeal against all these things and against all such practises Where are they now are they blind also said I that they cannot see this abominable Idolatry and cry against it had they any hand in it or were they Consenters to these things What is become of them Is their zeal for the Lord and against Idolatry quite gone thought I they might have prevented this disgrace to their old Master who hath served them well and set them in great places and put them in large Benefices and they might have done something for him when he is dead and have prevented this Folly and Idolatry which is acted upon him this day for certainly all people in the Nation that fear God will be offended and judge in their hearts such work the framing of an Image and sounding Trumpets and beating Drums before it and cloathing Horses in Mourning and Trayling their Pikes and even the very Honourable of the Nation clad in Mourning and following this Image and all this stir and cost and preparation for many Weeks before-hand and such decking in Mourning Attire of great and noble Men and all but to accompany an Image from one place to another whereby people are deceived who might look upon it to be the Burial of Oliver Protector whenas it was but an Image made by hands decked trimed in a vain manner as if it had bin some Poppit Play which if it had been indeed his Bones they had accompanied to the ground in such a manner that had bin less condemnable and I should not had ought against it But for the Wisemen in the Nation to be chief in these things and to exercise themselves in such Folly and Vanity this grieves the Righteous Soul and if I should justifie it the Lord would condemn me but the shame will fall upon themselves that acted it and chiefly upon their Priests and Teachers because they were consenting to such Vanity and piece of Popery as this was And had these old Doctors and Teachers feared God and their Hearts been aright towards him they would have endeavoured the stopping of this Abomination and another way might have been thought upon whereby a more lively and godly Monument of their old Master might have stood to Generations What shall the making and visiting and carrying and setting up of a dead Image for foolish people to gaze upon and run wondring after in their wicked minds Must this be all the Monument And shall we have no other Representation of once noble Cromwel Is his Life and former Glory and Nobleness shaddow'd with the sight of a dead Image Alas This presents nothing at all to such as fear God but Folly and Ignorance Vanity and Idolatry and when they look upon it they shall be grieved in their spirits and vexed when they can find no more Monument of that once noble man but an invented â—…ge and Picture and the Priests shall be ashamed and may have the greatest rebuke for they that lead the people have caused them to err And now upon the whole matter from the very beginning to the end thereof I do declare against it and that a fearful Abomination hath been committed in the sight of the Lord in relation to this Image and you have vext the Lord's Soul and his Hand you shall feel upon your Consciences and the weight thereof in the time to come the spending of so much of the Creation and wasting Money and other things the Lord will lay to your charge and the whole City hath been abused with running and wondring after the work of your own hands And now all you that have gone to gaze and wonder after an Image What saw you What beheld you What wondered you after ought except folly and vanity and a dead Image whereby the man and his Nobility was abused in honour to whom they say it was done And when many dayes were spent what were you the better What were you edified were you not convinced of your 〈◊〉 Folly And might not your Wickedness reprove you And did not the Liâ—… in your own Consciences check you and prick you and condemn your vain minds that wondred after Folly Though now you may be hardned yet 〈◊〉 day you shall confess when the Witness of God in you doth arise and bring all your deeds to remembrance then shall you say This work was Abomination and 〈◊〉 great Sin in them who invented it and caused it to be brought forth and your selves that 〈◊〉 wondred after it and the Judgments of the Lord are against all these things E. B. A MESSAGE PROCLAIMED BY Divine Authority From the chosen Assembly of the Redeemed People in England to the Pope chief Bishop of Rome and to his Cardinals Jesuits and Priests and all other the Officers of the Romish Church where it shall meet with them through the World That they may appear and come forth to Tryal and shew if they have the same Faith Power Spirit Authority and Government as had the Apostles and true Churches before the Apostacy And this is a full Invitation and Challenge to the whole Church of Rome and the beginning of Controversie with her for the perfect manifestation of the long hidden Truth betwixt them that are in the Truth it self and such as have the Form but not the Power that all things may be brought to Light and true Judgment WHereas we a poor despised and rejected People among the Nations of the Earth yet Dreadful and Mighty because the Majesty and Presence of the Lord God is with us who hath called us and chosen us and gathered us and redeemed us from among men out of Kindreds and Multitudes and Peoples into one Body and one Spirit out of all the Sects upon the Earth and we are of one Mind and one Soul having Fellowship with the Son and with the Father being come through great Tribulations and many fiery Tryals and are refined and purified and made clean and white in the Blood of the Lamb being fully recover'd out of the great Deluge of Darkness and Apostacy which hath overflown and drowned the whole World and
Papists and Prelates which went before them for are not these Ministers maintained by Tythes as the Pope's Ministers were And have they not Hire and great sums of Money by the Year or Quarterly even as the Papists and Prelates had Wherefore it is plain that the Maintenance of your Ministers is the very same for substance as theirs was that went before you which you your selves say were Idolaters and if they were Idolaters how can your Ministers be free which do practice the very same things unto the very fame end And do not the Priests of this Generation far exceed the Papists and Prelates Was there ever in Generations past such casting people into Prison and spoiling peoples Goods as is at this day through the means of these Priests and all about their Maintenance and for their Tythes and Hire and yearly Stipends and quarterly Gain Did ever the Papists or Prelates worse in this particular with any people that denyed them Wages then these do that denyed them Oh! great Blindness and Ignorance is over your hearts and great Hypocrisie among your Ministers who profess a Denyal and Dissenting from the Church of Rome and cry against them as Hereticks and that they are in Ignorance and yet practice the very same things Their Call is the very same to their Ministry and their Maintenance the same and Practice in many things the very same as theirs was which they seem to deny and this is great Hypocrisie to cast out and kill their Persons and yet to uphold in many things their practice relating to their Worship and their Ministry Oh abominable Idolatry the Hand of the Lord is against it But this is not the way that Christ's Ministers were maintained they had no such Hire nor great Sums of Money nor yearly Tythes as these Ministers have through the Pope's Institution But into whatsoever House they entred that was worthy they might eat such things as were set before them and the Apostles might freely reap carnal things where they had sown spiritual things but this was after another manner and after another nature for if they had not that yet did they not cast men into Prison and spoil their Goods that would not give it them as this Generation of Teachers do And the Lord God is risen to confound this Worship and this Ministry which is Idolatry and this Church which is but a feigned Immitation and he will establish his true Worship that is in Spirit and in Truth and his true Ministry that is by the Gift of the Holy Ghost and his true Church and this shall be brought to pass in his Day But again There is another Practice which you have which the Church of Rome and the Prelates had your Predecessors If any come in the Name of the Lord to declare against you and against your Abomination to cry against your Sin and cry Repentance among you that you may be converted to God this you account a great Transgression and persecute them that do it by Imprisoning and Whipping and Stocking and by imposing great Fines upon them and causing them to suffer cruel things and this did the Papists and Prelates in like manner as you do if any were moved to cry against them they indeed rewarded them even as you do at this day the same thing you do against such as are moved of the Lord to come among you and herein you succeed them and bring forth the same Persecution in your Churches as they did in their Churches and this is the defence of your Church and of your Ministry Carnal Weapons Imprisonment and Whipping and Stocking and causing the Bodies of people to suffer through Cruelty and Injustice and by this means is your Church and Ministry defended and preserved or otherwise it would presently fall as not being able to continue nor resist nor gain-say the Spirit and Power of God which now is risen to oppose them if they had not carnal Laws and earthly Powers and Goals and Houses of Correction to defend themselves by And is this the Church of Christ and is this Christ's Ministry that has need of such Weapons as these The Apostles and true Churches never did thus neither sent people to Prison that opposed them nor had such Cruelty to execute upon the Bodies of people though many did oppose them out of Wickedness but the Spirit and Authority of the Lord did defend them from all their Enemies But your church and ministry is manifest to be another then that was and to be defended by another means even by the same means that the Papists and Prelates of old were of a long time defended by but when the measure of these things are fulfilled they will come to an end as the measure of that Generation's Iniquity was fulfilled which went before you so in the Lord's season will your measure be fulfilled and the Lord's People shall be free and all Bonds of Iniquity broken And thus it is manifest that this Church and Ministry succeeds the Church of Rome and her Ministers far more then the Church of Christ and its true Ministers and to that it is not equal in any thing but to the Church of Rome it is comparable in many things so that it is manifest that this Church and Ministry is not quite another then the Church and Ministry of Rome but such as have dissented from them and are truly sprung out of that Root and is the same still in substance though differing in some Practices having cast out some old Inventions and brought in some new but as I have said remain still the same in nature and substance though diffented in some particulars yet succeed in many particulars as I may shew more fully hereafter And though you bare the Name and stile your selves The Reformed Churches you mean reformed from the Church of Rome But how are you reformed but by some visible Appearances and not in the Ground having put off but some of her Garments and remain the same Body for substance in nature and matter though differing only in Appearances For the Church which is the True Church of Christ is not thus reformed only changed in part and altered in degrees but the true Church denyeth the church of Rome in her very Beeing and Ground and in all her Practices whatsoever for though many Sects have risen one from another yet all the same for substunce only differing in particulars But as for you to whom this Particular is written that Worship God in Steeple-Houses you are not so much differing from the church of Rome as many others are which are not true Churches neither but the Lord God is now gathering his people wherefore come out of your Idol-Worship and Idol-Temples for God dwells not in them nor is not worshipped there but he dwells and walks in his Saints and is worshipped in Spirit and in Truth and his Day is dawned and his Glory risen and he will confound this church and ministry which bears the
till this time and at this opertunity of going to Dunkirk not having any knowledge outwardly what their Wayes and Practices were not having any knowledge I say by my sight and particular hearing concerning them without me otherwise then what the Spirit of the Lord within me did make manifest Though from a Child the Spirit of the Lord in me hath abhorred Popery and all that which savours of it But now having been an eye and ear Witness in a little measure of their Practices and Doctrines this I have to say to them and all men Blindness and Ignorance covers them as with a Mantle and they are wrapped up in the body of Darkness and gross Darkness they do dwell in and all their Wayes and Worships are but the Works of Darkness which they are led on in by the false feigned spirit of Imagination from one Generation to another being exercised therein And the sense of the Spirit of Life they have not but have wholly lost it and they know nothing at all of the Leading of it nor of its Teaching This they hiss at as a thing of nought when it is spoken of to them They have even sold themselves into the Land of Ignorance and Blindness and they hate to be reformed they are settled upon a false Foundation even the Traditions of men which the Lord will break down and their whole Building will fall And when I consider how thousands and ten thousands lie in the Captivity of Blindness and Darkness under them my Heart is rent for them upon the consideration how they are led in Darkness and Blindness and how they rest in a false confidence which will destroy their Souls and the Blood of many rests upon the heads of them that leadeth them for they that lead them cause them to err and the Blood of Souls will be required at their hands And as for the Poor and common Sort of them there is a pitâ—y in me for them because they are led by the Blind and are out of the Way but as for the Priests and Iesuites and Clergy men they are to be cut off with the edge of the Sword of the Lord God and the Wo is unto them and no Pitty because they cause the People to err and keep the People in Ignorance and Blindness under their false and unrighteous Wayes and Worships And this I know The Word of the Lord is gone forth against the whole Body of the Romish-Church from the Head to the Tail of them will God plead with them the time is at hand and his Eye shall not pitty neither shall his Hand spare to punish them The Decree of the Lord is sealed and he will take Vengeance upon their Unrighteous Laws which binds the Consciences of People and limits the Spirit of the holy One their Unrighteous Ecclesiastical Laws I mean under which is defended all manner of Idolatry and they compel people to be Idolaters by a Law and whereby they drink the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs But the Lord will take Vengeance upon them and disanul their Covenants and Decrees and his Spirit shall not be limitted but shall rend them to pieces even their Laws and Cruelties and Inquisitions by which they are defended and their Religion upheld in the World and whereby they kill the Just and murder the Innocent that are better then they for the fulness of time is come and all these shall be tumbled down for their unjust Laws and Inquisitions are the main strength and Pillars of their Church whereby their Church and Worship doth stand and if they had not these cruel Laws and Inquisitions to defend themselves by in their Religion they would be soon prevailed against for they have nothing of the Spirit and Authority of God to stand in nor to fight with against such as do oppose them but their Weapons are Carnal and Devilish and by Murders Oppressions and Tyrannies they do defend themselves and when these things are broken down then their Church cannot stand long And as sure as the Lord lives so shall it come to pass a Generation shall accomplish it and in the Generation of the Righteous Seed it shall be finished their Laws shall be broken down and Murders avenged and their weakness shall then appear and their Whoredoms and Idolatries and all their Abominations shall be made naked and uncovered and judged by the Lamb and them that follow him whom he will gather to fight his Battel And if the People were but sensible hereof as in measure I am through the Zeal of the Lord it would raise up the Spirit of zeal in them all to seek vengeance and the overthrow of all their unrighteous Laws and Inquisitions and Murders which keeps people in Darkness and Ignorance and kills the Just that the Creatures may be saved and Tyranny condemned And when once the Lord doth but reach forth his Arm then shall People be awakened to mind what I now say Who would spare their own lives for the accomplishing of such a Work that the Spirit of the Lord may have liberty and that which limits it may be dashed to pieces and that the Earth may be set at liberty and all Europe made free from the Cruelties and Tyrannies of Antichrist and of the Whore And to all you Papists I say and to all the Body of the Church of Rome prepare prepare for the Lord God is coming up against you in his dreadful Power his Word of eternal Judgemnt is gone forth and his Vials are full of Wrath to be poured forth and he will be avenged upon your Tyrannies and Murders and unequal Laws and subdue them before him And his Dread shall fall upon your Consciences ye that are Idolaters Hypocrites Ignorant wretches wilful Persons and Bond-slaves of Satan the Plagues of God and the Wrath of the Lamb shall reach unto your high Throne Repent repent for the Lord's Wrath is kindled against you and if there be any among you that feareth the Lord let him deliver his own Soul by turning from your Abominations least the Lord come upon you and destroy you altogether Give up your Inquisitions give up your unjust Laws and cease to murther the Innocent and torment the Righteous I demand this of you on the Lord's behalf Vex not the Lord any longer for his Patience is turned into Anger against you and his Long-suffering will become Fury to devour you And no little service we had in Dunkirk among our English Army divers Meetings we had in the Town and declared the Message of Salvation And I must commend the spirit of our English men for moderation more then the men of any other Nation and I did many times clear my Conscience among them both as they were men Sons of Adam and in relation to an eternal State did direct them to the Way of Happiness out of Sin and Wickedness that they might come to God preaching the everlasting Gospel that as they were Sons of Adam in
Poor nor the Laws regulated nor the liberty of pure Consciences altogether allowed but these Dominions are filled with cruel Oppressions and the Poor groan everywhere under their heavy Hand of Injustice the Needy are troden down under Foot and the Oppressed cry for Deliverance and are ready to faint for true Justice and Judgement the Proud exalts himself against the Poor and the High-minded and Rebellious contemns the Meek of the Earth the Horn of the Ungodly is exalted over the Lord's Heritage and they that are departed from Iniquity are become a Prey to Oppressors and the Crâ—â—â— hearted deal cruelly with the Innocent in these Nations and such whom the Lord hath freed in their Consciences from false Worships and Teachers and from the Wayes of Sin and Death are made Slaves and greedily preyed upon by unjust men through casting into Prisons and Dungeons and unjust Fines and Illegal Proceedings and Beatings and Abusings and Woundings and Bruisings hard to be expressed and large to be declared even the Hands of the People over whom thou art set to rule are full of Blood Merciless and Cruel and neither feâ—t God nor are subject to the just Rule and Government of Men and the Mouthes of many of thy subservant Rulers and Governours that have their Power from thee are as the Teeth of young Lions and the Upright and Hâ—rmless are devoured and made a Spoil of by them through Policy and Oppression both in their Persons and Estates if I perish I must speak the Truth my life is not dear to me for the Truth 's sake many who should have judged in true Justice and Righteousness the Cause of the Poor have been as Bryars and Thorns to ensnare and pierce the just Man and have perverted Judgement and â—uâ—nâ—d it backward and Equity hath hardly had place to enter most of the Prisons this day in all thy Jurisdictions have and doth testifie the unjust Judgement and the great Oppressions and Cruelties of some in Authority who have used or rather abused thy Name and made it a Cloak for their Hard-heartedness O my Heart is troubled and my Bowels pained at the remembrance of this how doth the Poor cry under the heavy Hand of Oppression and the Needy lament for want of true Judgement and the Oppressed groan for want of Deliverance And these things are thought upon by the Lord though not considered by thee as they ought to be and because of this will he arise to plead the Cause of the Innocent against him that is too strong for him and will dash to pieces his Enemies and break the Jaws of the Devourers and the Righteous shall not alwayes be a Prey to the Teeth of the Ungodly O Friend when wilt thou consider the Oppression of the Poor and hearken to the cry of the Oppressed within thee and without thee when shall it enter into thy Heart this cause of the unjust Sufferings of the Lord's People from which thou canst not altogether be excused for it is acted in thy Name though not by thee O let thy Ear be opened unto the Cryes of the Oppressed in the Prisons and let the Cause of the Innocent come before thee and let thy heart be pierced at the Consideration of these things which are come to pass in thy day contrary to the expectations of many and see if it be not contrary to thy own Promises sometimes vowed by thee let the Light of Christ in thy own Conscience answer and some of the multitude of the grievous Oppressions of which the Land is full have been laid at thy Door and brought unto thee but scarcely found an encrance upon thee and this aggravates the Crime of of thy Transgression in that thou knowest of these things and wonderful is it to consider that even thou with whom the Power of the Lord hath sometimes been should now suffer that people with whom the Power of the Lord is to be persecuted and thy name to be a cloak for it how many in all parts of this Nation have been and are at this day grievous sufferers under cruel bondage concerning Tythes that great Abomination and Idol and cause of heavy groanings the bodies of many just men violently surprized and cast into Goals and Prisons unjustly and some illegally their cruelly suffering the loss of their Liberties and the enjoyments of their Families and honest Assemblies and others have their Goods spoiled and made havock upon almost to the ruin of Families by unreasonable men through unjust Judgment and cruel dealings of some in Authority for so much unjustly challenged by the Priest or Impropriator it may be they distress five times so much to the great shame of the Government of a Christian Nation as may appear in a Book called The Cry of the Oppressed and how many are ready even to faint under the hard Oppression of maintaining Hireling Teachers and Idol-Temples many for that cause being unjust Sufferers in Bodies and Estates by cruel imprisoment and spoiling of Goods the very cry of this Oppression reaches unto Heaven against thee who suffers it and against the Idol-Shepherds who are the ground of it who make a prey upon Gods Heritage and the Lord God will be avenged upon them and they and their Staff shall utterly perish wo unto them and to the Idol-Worships of which the Land is full which they uphold which causes the hearts of the Righteous to mourn because of the Seed of God which is in Captivity under them again many are unjust and wofull Sufferers because they cannot swear on this or that occasion though in all causes they speak the truth and do obey Christ's Commands even such are trodden upon by unjust Fines charged upon them and imposed Oppressions the Example of which never went before many parts of this Land is witness of this and this is by the corruptness of some that bear rule under thee who rule not for God as they ought but turns the Sword of Justice and doth unjustly thereby and grieves the Lord and dishonours thee Again some suffer long and tedious imprisonments and others cruel Stripes and Abuses and danger of life many times from wicked men for reproving Sin and crying against the Abomination of the Tiâ—â—â— which the Scriptures also testifie against in Streets or Temples or 〈◊〉 Places some having been sent to Prison taken on the High-Way and no 〈◊〉 charged against them and others committed being taken out of Peaceable Meetings and whipped and sent to Prison without transgression of any Law 〈◊〉 or unjust wholly through the Rage and Envy of the Devil and such who have perverted Judgement and Justice and some in Prisons have suffered superaboundantly from the Hands of the cruel Goalers and their Servants by Beatings and Threatnings and putting Irons on them and not suffering any of their Friends to visit them with Necessaries and some have dyed in the Prisons whose Lives were not dear to them whose Blood will be reckoned on account against thee one day
Worship and Ministry thereby and this being done we do engage to suffer the like tryal in any part and every part of our Religion Thirdly Whether there be any other Foundation of Faith c. for the people of God at this day then Jesus Christ onely and alone and whether he was not the Foundation to the Fathers before the Scriptures were written and whether he that layes or preaches any other Foundation doth not dishonor Christ and speak contrary to the Scriptures These things with some others which we may have occasion to speak of are we willing to discourse with thee for the further clearing of the truth and laying open deceâ—… for yesterday I had much more to have spoken to thee hadst thou not goâ—…â—…o hastily away so if thou art willing to joyn in discourse wâ—â—h me again â—…int place and hour either this day or to morow for my occasions wâ—ll admit of either of these two days always provided that we may have all modeâ—â—tion and may proceed in meekness like men and not like Raylers as thou appearedst yesterday to thy own shame An answer hereof we do expect with speed and we are Friends to all that love Righteousness E. B. Thomas Câ—… THe original of this was delivered to the hands of C. Fowler in Reading the next morning after the dispute at East-Hamsted and being given to him at his Steeple-house-door when he was comming out from his worship he would have given them again to the Messenger after he had it in his hand and opened it but not being taken he said he would burn it and thus people may see that though he cryed against us as Deceivers behind our backs yet he is one of them dumb Dogs that cannot bark nor fright us away if we were such as he saith of us And here all sober people may understand the temper of this my Adversary and I shall leave them to judge of the proceedings between him and me but yet though he denies to meet me yet when I was passed out of the Country becaused the following paper to be fixed upon the Steeple-house-door at East-Hâ—â—sted where the dispute was drawn up by him and set there as a hidious vapour to enchant the minds of people it may be not supposing that ever it should have come to publique view as now it is like to do to his shame A true Charge in ten particulars against the people called QUAKERS 1. THey that pernitiously deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God are Hereticks and Blasphemers But those called Quakers do thus deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God therefore they are Hereticks and Blasphemers 2. They that deny the Scriptures to be the Foundation of Faith and Rule of Life they are Hereticks and Blasphemers But the Quakers do this therefore they are Hereticks and Blasphemers 3. They that do not own the Lord Iesus Christ to be God by Nature are horrible Blasphemers But those called Quakers do not own the Lord Iesus Christ to be God by Naâ—â—re therefore they are Blasphemers 4. They that say the good works of the Saints are meritorious of Eternal Life are Hereticks and Papists of the worst sort But the Quakers say so therefore they are Hereticks and Papists 5. They that deny the Ordinance of Water-Baptism and the Administration of the Lord's-Supper they are Antichristian Hereticks But the Quakers do this therefore the Quakers are Antichristian Heretick 6. They that deny the sin of Infants are Pelagian Hereticks But the Quakers deny the Sin of Infants therefore they are Pelagian Hereticks 7. They that deny the Resurrection of this Body are Hereticks But the Quakers deny this therefore they are Hereticks 8. They that deny the Christian Sabbath are very erroneous But the Quakers do this therefore they are very erroneous 9. They that quarrel at and deride the singing of David's Psalms theâ—…de â—…de of Hopkins and Sternhold the Kings Fidlers they are fooâ—… ignorant and Pâ—…ne in that But the Quakers do this therefore they are fooliâ—â— ignorant and Prâ—phane in this 10. They that publikely charge the Office and Call of Ministers with Lyes and Calumâ—… they are Railers and Slanderers But the people called Quakers do this therefore the people called Quakers are Railers and Slanderers These things through the Lord I am able to justifie and if I do not I shall be contented to be called a Deceiver Let them chuse their own time as soon as they please in witness whereof I have set to my hand this twenty sixth of November 1659. Christopher Fowler And according to providence this paper coming to my hands though it s believed without any purpose in him to which I did return my Answer as to answer his Challenge and neither time nor place being mentioned by him but both left to us to appoint I did appoint Reading for the plate and nominated a certain day â—â—r the time and he had â—â—gh a week notice from me and the time appointed I went to Râ—â—ding to attend the Service but when I came there I understood that be would not meet me according to his own Proposals and Agreement but nominated another place and another time which was supposed by me and others â—o â—e but a present evacting of the â—…er whereupon his denial to meet me at the time and placâ— appointed by me this following Letter I sent unto him C Foâ—… WHereas a Challenge of â—hine to us called Quakers for a Dispute upon ten Particulars was set upon the Steeple-house door at East Hamsted and leaving it to us to appoint time and place I did appoint Reading for the place and the fourth day of this week called Wednesday the 21th of this moneth for the time and in order to proceed upon the Particulars in dispute with thee the place and â—â—me aboveâ—â—id I ordered my occasions so as to attend upon the Service the said time but I being come into the Town this night do perceive that thou art not content with the place and time though they were left to our appointing in thy Challenge but hast appointed another place and time upon some feeble Reasons which thou givest which I might shew the weakness of and might upon many better reasons say that Reading is the only place seasonable to dispute at â—or if thou be indeed a true Minister of Christ the people of this Town best deserve to know it by hearing it to be so and if thou art a Deceiver the people of this Town had the most need of any others to know it by hearing thee disproved So upon this place I have pitched and cannot now change my resolution nor alter neither time nor place by me before-mentioned my occasion will not admit me to it Therefore I thought good to write to thee to know for certain under thy hand whether you will give a meeting or not in this Town the fourth day next as aforesaid if not this matter must yet remain as it stands between us till a
and outward Laws neither would we have you force your Religion Ministry and Church upon us by such means but we will leave the effect of all thing to the Spirit of God and come out when you will in such a way as this and this would satisfie thousands and let Meekness and the Fear of God be amongst you and this is the way to exalt Religion and we would think it a happiness more then otherwise to be joyned in sober debate and dispute against you that you and we in your Religion Church and Ministry and in ours also might be tried according to the Scriptures that all may be satisfied who are doubtful and may hear you Principles and our Principles discussed in the presence of the People who may judge by the Light and Witness in their own Consciences for to that in all we do appeal and in such a proceeding come forth when you will lay down your Carnal Weapons and take the Weapons of of the Spirit and come to the trial for the Day of the Lord is approaching upon all the World E. B. The FOURTH General Epistle To all the SAINTS Being a Visitation of the Fathers Love unto the whole Flock of Cod who are called and gathered into the spiritual Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace To be read in all the Assemblies of them that meet together to worship the Father in the Spirit and Truth in the silence of all Flesh. Dearly Beloved WHom the Father hath called and chosen into the Election of Eternal Salvation and who have handled and tasted and felt of the Judgments and Mercies of the Lord and amongst whom the God of Heaven and Earth hath appeared in his Spirit and in his Power which 〈◊〉 gotten you into the Heirship of the heavenly Kingdom Oh Friends our Kingdom and Victory is not of this World nor earthly but from above and spiritual wherein we have Peace and Comfort endless and everlasting which the World knows not of I say unto you all that know these things Live in the Peace and Victory and Kingdom which is invisible and mind the things as your greatest Treasure that pertain to that Kingdom even the weighty matters of it which aâ— eternal and infinite and that every one of you may feel and enjoy a Portion in that Kingdom Oh! it is precious for a people to be Subjects of the heavenly Kingdom and for a man to have an assurance of Life and Peace in God and to be an Heir of that Kingdom that fadeth not away and to have his name written in the Record of Life and blessed is every one whose Hope and Confidence and Peace and Assurance is in the living God and whose Soul resteth under the Government of the Almighty and who knows him to be Judge King and Lawgiver in all things and this is the Kingdom that is heavenly and is altogether blessed for Peace and Truth and Righteousness and all Vertue is enjoyed in it for evermore Now Friends you must all be subjected in all things under the Power of the Lord God and unto his will and he must work in you to will and to do for in this is true Rest and Peace unto the Soul where the Will of the Father is done and suffered in all things and not the Will of man which worketh sorrow to the Creature and not peace in the obedience to it and where it rules and that must be subjected in you even in every Word Work and Motion unto the eternal Power that you may die and Christ may live and in this you will have union and fellowship in spirit with the Lord God and he alone will be your trust and confidence and your glory if he live in you and walk in you and then you are his People and he is your God And Friends are to mind this even Peace and Union and Fellowship with the Lord and the comfort of his Presence which is the onely happiness of the Creature even the enjoyment of him that is invisible who is God infinite over all to whom mortal eye cannot approach neither can the mortal mind him apprehend but in his own Life manifested in mortal Flesh and by the measure of his own Spirit that dwells in us is he seen felt preceived and enjoyed of us so mind the Immortal Life begotten of the Father in you that that may live in you even the Heir of God which is his Image and likeness for in that alone is Covenant with God made and kept and in it is the Fathers presence enjoyed and he Worshipped without respect of time place or visible thing and if that live in you then yoâ— in that will live unto God in all that which is answerable unto him and your words and works will be accepted of him and well-pleasing to him even because it is him that worketh in you to will and to do all good things and he alone exalted in you and you subjected and the Maker is become the Husband and you married unto him and he lives in Power and Rule and Command and you livâ— In subjectiâ—â— unto him and in fulfilling his Will in what he guideth in by his Holy Spiriâ— And this life is very precious Oh Friends live in it and dwell in it always and then your Joy and Peace will be with you over all this World and you will be Comforted wheâ— Fear and Terrour comes upon all men for the Lord God whom we serve â—nd worship in the Spirit will cause his Enemies to know his Power and that he doth and can do whatsoever he will and will smite his Enemies and wound them in their Consciences for all Power Dominion and Authority is with him he is mighty to save and mighty to destroy and his Reward is to every one according to their deeds and this is the God whom we fear and worship and all Flesh must bow before him when he shews his presence though men 〈◊〉 high and lifted up and go on in Rebellion against him without fear yet thâ— hand of the Lord will be upon theâ— and he shall smite them with the â—od of his mouth Wherefore all Friends have respect unto the Lord in your 〈◊〉 in all things that you do and in all things that cometh to pass for that is â—â—â—â—â—ed in a people and they shall prosper their Souls shall be nourished and their lives refreshed with the Mercies of the Lord even all they that do waiâ— upon the Lord and have respect unto him and his Eternal Power which doth and suffereth all things that be In which Power you must dwell and walk and feel it in your hearts and it will be your Armour and Defence in all things and it will carry you through all that which worketh contrary And it is very pretious to be Armed with the Armour of God in the Day of Temptations and Tryals that you may not be overcome of the wicked nor spoiled of the Heavenly Inheritance Oh Frinds put on strength that you
others and often he rebukes the Sin of a People by a People as bad as themselves he may justly give unto Men from the Hands of others what they love in their own Hearts and even as those Men have loved Pride and Ambition over others and Oppression and Hard-heartedness towards others even so and much more may justly be done unto them and that according to the Will of the Lord and if this be your Work designed you by the Eternal Hand who shall prevent you But yet Oh that you would consider and that you would have respect unto the Lord lest you out-go the end of your Restoration You would indeed be happy if you could forgive your Enemies if you could reward them Good for their Evil and you would be happy if you could not exceed the measure of your Permission be not too hard-hearted towards them but shew Mercy And Oh you must take heed lest you cause the Righteous to suffer with the Wicked and that you cause not the Innocent to Groan and Mourn in your execution of God's purpose upon the Ungodly you must be aware lest while you punish Offenders you smite not them that are free Oh that you had hearts this to understand and that you could walk in the path of fulfilling God's pleasure and not go further I mean though you may be raised to be a Plague upon Hypocrites and Disobedient and Treacherous men and to avenge God's Cause and his Peoples but you are not raised to be Oppressors of the Lord's People nor to destroy his Heritage this is not your Work God hath not called you to destroy and persecute them that fear his Name and tremble at his Word though you have power to be avenged on your Enemies And Oh that your Hearts could understand this that you might distinguish in your Proceedings between executing of Justice upon Transgressors and Persecution for Conscience sake the one you have to do but the other is forbidden you of the Lord and you ought not to do it for if you persecute any for good Conscience sake or because they are of such and such an Assembly of People and worship in such a Way if you inflict Tribulation upon any because hereof or because they are such or such in their Profession and Religion then you persecute for Conscience sake and you go beyond the End and by the Path for which you were raised and if you turn your Hand and Power to persecute for good Conscience-sake then you divert the End and Purpose of this your Restoration and the Lord will require it of you if that you go beyond his Permission and Assignment and beyond his Pleasure in persecuting his People and so turn your Power to a wrong Use and End O then the Lord shall suddenly confound you and he will find out Instruments that shall fulfil his Wrath and Justice upon you as he hath found you fit to execute Wrath upon others and therefore do not O do not persecute any for Conscience-sake if you have nothing against them but concerning their Faith and Worship and their Religion do not lay your Hand upon them nor let them be touched for if you do the Lord will take it as a heinous Offence against him and in this life or hereafter he will plague you for it and you shall not escape unpunished and therefore I say once more to you as the advice of your Friend Let no Man be persecuted for his Faith and for his Religion-sake but make a difference between inflicting Wrath upon Offenders that have been Hypocritical and Deceitful and that have made themselves rich through the ruins of others and that will bow to any thing or any kind of Worship for their own ends and between such as have a Principle and do stand by it and are humble and acted in the Principles of Sincerity and follow that way of Religion which they suppose and are perswaded is the best and the rightest all such ought to have Liberty under you in their Profession and Faith and Worship and ought not to be persecuted while they live peaceable as men with one another and towards all men and the God of Heaven requires it of you and your Standing or your Fall the Blessing or the Curse unto you depends hereupon and this you shall find to be true unto you in the day of God's Righteous Judgments O therefore be not stout against the Lord but fear and tremble before him let his Dread be upon your Spirits and do not offend him nor provoke him against you and this Nation lest he tear you to pieces and number you for Destruction lest he overturn you suddenly and deface your Glory in its morning Oh how happy would you be if you would regard the Lord and reverence him and take him before you and not go beyond in any thing what his Purpose and Pleasure is who hath given you this one Day to try you if so be that any of you shall learn his Fear and turn from your Iniquities that you may be blessed and not confounded Oh therefore consider what the Will and Purpose of the Lord is towards you and wherefore you are raised up may fulfil his purpose and not your own Oh then this Day should be made happy unto you but the contrary works I mean if you do Oppress and Persecute and seek to destroy his Heritage and rule in Oppression and Tyranny then the God of Heaven shall cut your Day short and deliverance he will bring to this poor Nation without you even contrary to you and his hand shall be turned upon you and your Mountain though never so great and high shall be laid low and an Infant of the heavenly Birth shall leap over it and shall say Where is that lofty Babel that exalted it self against my God And as for us we are a very poor contemned and despised People even since we were a People unto this very day and have nothing at this present not heretofore to glory in from any Power that hath ruled but the Power Spirit and Presence of God in our Tribulations Afflictions Persecutions and unjust Sufferings these things have been our Portion even from all all have troden upon us in Contempt and Scorn and accounted us as Sheep for the slaughter and we have not to glory in any Government that hath been since we were a People we cannot justifie one or another but we say they have all been Oppressors and we have groaned with deep sighs to the Lord under the Burden of their unrighteous Dealing and herein we assent with you if you say they have been unjust Men we say the same and if you say their Government hath been Oppression and Unequal we say the same if you say you have suffered Cruelly and Unrighteously by them we say the same if you say they have Ruled by Will and Force more then by Law and Equity we verifie the same and if you can say you have suffered
because of our Bondage and strive for Liberty and also if we were men of disposions to war and plot c. it cannot be supposed by reasonable men that any Engagement by any Sum of Money would bind us from it upon occasion seeing we might hope in such attempts to save our Sums of Money and to gain far more advantage or else we hazarded to loose all and to gain a greater advantage if we were men of strife we would not doubt to attempt to lose a less and we being not men of strife we cannot bind our selves as aforesaid in this or any case neither can any in good reason desire the same of us if they rightly consider the case 3. These things considered it is fully manifest That upon good Reason and a clear Conscience we do refuse and deny to give Bond and make such and such Engagements by Forfeitures of Sums of Money it is I say In good Reason and Conscience and not in any wilfulness or stubbornness or contempt of Authority that we do it nor as though we were guilty in such matter suspected and durst not answer the Law but we do it to keep our Innocency clear and not to betray it into real cause of doubt that we are guilty 2. That we may not lay ourselves liable to a greater Suffering by answering false Suspitions and Accusations as it often happeneth in the Proceedings in course of Law 3. That we may not come under men of evil prejudiced minds that seek more occasion against us than they have and we may not fulfil their wills and to give them occasion against us when as in the Accusations they have justly none 4. That we may not expose our selves to be intrapped and ensnared into greater Sufferings to avoid a less 5. That we may walk in the Doctrine and Command of Christ Iesus who hath commanded to let our Yea be Yea and our Nay be Nay and whatsoever Oath or Engagement out of the Counsel of God is more cometh of Evil which we may not do These with some others are the Reasons and Causes why we cannot for Conscience sake bind our selves in such kind of Formal Engagements out of the Will of God to do or not to do to answer this false Suspition or the other but we do deny it out of good Reason and Conscience And also there is no Example for it that we know among the Saints in former Ages that any of them ever bound themselves to any Kings or Rulers in any such kind of Engagements neither can we at this day but as I said If we Transgress the Law let us suffer by it if we are already or hereafter be found guilty we desire nothing but the just Execution of Iust Laws and in Patience we shall bear it but before-hand we may not bind our selves in Formal Engagements out of the Will of God to promise upon Forfeitures and Penalties what we will do or say or what we will not do or say for at the Will and Disposure of the Almighty we are in all Things and Cases and it is our Principle and Belief That we abiding in the Fear and Counsel of God can be no â—ther than Peaceable Just Righteous and Innocent in the Land So that whatsoever we may do or suffer for this Case of denying to give Bond or Engage our selves so and so as aforesaid it is for Truth 's sake and such our Sufferings are Persecution and Unequal and we must commit our Cause to God who will plead it in his season if that we are persecuted for the Cause of groundless Suspition and because we cannot Engage to answer causless Objections And thus I have sought out this matter and laid it before the King and I leave it to him to consider and to shew Justice Equity Mercy and Long-suffering and in so doing he will be blessed but if the cortrary be brought forth the Effect thereof will be more miserable CHAP. V. The Case stated and pleaded concerning Government it self and particularly of this present Authority and our Obedience to it 1. WE do acknowledg Government and Rule and Magistracy to be an Ordinance of God ordained and instituted of him to be exercised among the Children of Men For to be a Praise and a Defence to all that do well and to be a Terror and Corrector to all that do Evil. And we believe there ought to be Rule and Government and Authority exercised and executed in every Kingdom Nation City and Country for the end aforesaid to wit That Evil-doers may be made afraid and corrected limitted restrained and subdued and that Sin and Transgression may be suppressed and Truth and Righteousness promoted and them that do Well praised and strengthened And this is the very end of outward Government of Kings Princes or other amongst Men upon the Earth even that the outward Man may be kept in good order and subjection in his Conversation in the World and may be limitted and restrained from all wrong doing oâ— speaking against his Neighbours Person or Estate and if he do he is punishable by such Iust Authority This is the very end of outward Government in the Kingdoms of the World but it extends not over the Inward Man to rule govern or exercise Authority over the Consciences of any in spiritual Matters and Cases between God and Man's Conscience This Dominion and Authority only partains to the Inward Government and Rule of Jesus Christ by his Eternal Spirit but not to any Outward Government of Kings Princes Parliaments or any others They I say ought only to exercise Authority over the Persons and Estates of People in all just and lawful Things and Matters but not over the Consciences of any in the exercise of Duty towards God or in the Cases and Matters of Worship and Religion 2. The Exercise and Execution of this Iust Government over the outward Man as afore described ought to be committed into the Hands of faithful just and upright men such as fear the Lord and hate Covetousness and every evil Way in all Kingdoms of the World The Execution of the Government in all just Laws ought I say to be committed to such men and not to Drunkards Lyars Covetous or Evil-minded Persons Ambitious or Vain glorious Persons in any Nation such as these ought not to be entrusted with the Execution of the Government and the good Laws of any Kingdom for such will not be a Blessing unto the Land nor unto any People but a Curse and the cause of provoking God to Vengeance and Wrath against themselves the People and the Government if such men whom God chooseth not be chosen to make Laws and execute them and to exercise Governments in any Kingdoms of this World But Men that fear God and delight in Iustice Mercy and Truth that are humble and meek and lowly Persons ought to be called to the place of Government and only such are fit to exercise Rule and Authority and to make and
and yet all these have had the name of Christians and Church Members and Worshippers of God but yet are of many wayes of Worship holding different and contrary Principles of Faith and Doctrine and also of Worship and Church-Government and thus have Nations Cities and Countries been for many Ages and thus hath it been and is at this day amongst the Apostate Christians that want the Spirit of Christ to be their Rule of Knowledge of Iudgment and Worship and of their Faith and Practices in Religion And this is a shame to whole Christendom amongst whom the spirit of Antichrist hath entered which hath thus divided Nations Cities Neighbours and Brothers for all these Divisions about Religion amongst the Apostate Christians are of Antichrist and not of God it is that spirit of Antichrist that hath wrought all these Divisions and planted them in the minds of People 2dly Concerning the bad Effects of these Divisions in matters of Faith and Worship as I have said This Division in Religion hath begotten and brought forth very much Evil throughout the World much heart burning envy hard heartedness strife and contention between Kings and Rulers and between Nations between Cities between Neighbours and between Brothers this Division hath bad Effects amongst all these so that it hath brought forth much War and bloodshed between Kings and great Persecution between Rulers and their People and great Debate and Strife amongst Neighbours and Friends so that great Murders and losse of many Lives have been produced and brought forth upon this Quarrel about Difference in matters of Faith and Religion and Antichrist hath not only divided People in Iudgment but hath also Provoked People into rage and envy to the killing and destroying of one another and even that Division about Spiritual things begotten by Antichrist amongst false Christians hath been turned into personal enmity and brought forth in the end murdering and killing the bodies of Thousands when the original debate hath arisen about Church-Government or Points of Religion and this is the woful Effect that Division of Religion hath brought forth in all Christendom And all this Fruit and Effects as well as the Cause of it hath been of Antichrist and of the Dragon and the Devil throughout the World all this Persecution and spoyling of Goods Imprisoning of Persons taking away of Lives and Banishment and whatsoever Persecution otherwise that hath risen and been inflicted upon any for and because of Differences in Religion and about Faith and Worship all this hath been of Antichrist and even all Laws made for that end and all Executors of such Laws and all Penalties of such Laws and all Wars and Bloodshed whatsoever that have ensued only and upon the account of Differences in Religion that being the first and the only ground of the Quarrel All this hath been of Antichrist and it came out of the bottomless Pit and never rose from the Spirit of God but from the Antichristian spirit of Envy and Wickedness that hath first divided People about matters of Faith and Religion and then Provoked them to envy and malice stirring up Kings to fight one against another that was not of their Religion but different and contrary to it And so the hearts of Rulers have been stirred up to persecute all under them that were different contrary in matters of Faith Worship and Religion and this the spirit of Antichrist hath effected throughout Christendom and so each King that hath been strongest would maintain the Principles of his Faith and the Practice of Religion according to his own Conceit in his Dominions And thus hath Religion Worships and Church-Government been set up stood amongst Apostate Christians throughout the World by Force and Power and by violent Laws and through Persecutions and Murders and all this hath been by the spirit of Antichrist and the Spirit of God has had no hand in those matters for setting up and contriving of false Faith false Worship and false Church-Governments all this hath depended upon the Powers and Authorities of the Earth through many Ages and what Religion and Church-Government or Way of Worship that Kings or Queens have set up that only hath been promoted but all the rest Persecuted and restrained by force and violence and all this hath been of Antichrist And now to all ye that are of divers Judgments in matters of Faith and Worship in Religion this is a Caution to you all and I do warn you all in the presence of the living God that though ye be divided in the belief and practice of Spiritual things yet live in peace and unity with all men in all outward relations and do not envy nor hurt one anothers Persons though you are in difference about Religion yet suffer not that Difference to grow into persecuting or envying one anothers persons but seek to inform one another and instruct one another in the Spirit of Meekness and perswade one another out of that which is evil to that which is good by patience gentlèness and long-suffering and do not force one anothér by violence nor persecute one another neither by words evil-deeds nor actions but live in love to the persons every one of another and fight not with Persons nor kill one anothers Persons with carnal weapons about Religion but take the spiritual weapons war with the spirit against the evil one in one another and love persons though they are enemies this is Christs Doctrine neâ—er hereafter let your divisions about Spiritual things grow into personal quarrels to the envying or killing one another And this is a Charge to you all in the presence of the living God Lastly The Means and Way to be reconciled and to come out of all Division and Strife and to come into Peace with God and one with another about Faith and Church-Government is by the Spirit of God and every one of you in particular must receive the Spirit of Christ that it may work in every one of your hearts true Faith and teach every one of you the true Worship of God and the way of Doctrine and true Church-Government it is the Spirit of Christ in every one both male and female that must reconcile and bring into unity with God and one with another in all Spiritual things for it is that which is the bond of peace and love among true Christians and it is that which reconciles Peoples hearts into oneness And if you receive that Spirit every particular person of you it will bring you to be of onâ— Faith of one Worship and then your Doctrine and Church-Government will agree if you receive the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures it will work in you the same Faith and lead you in the same way of Worship which the Scriptures speak of and then you will cease taking up Conceits and making Imitations of Church-Governments from the Letter but the same Spirit will work in your hearts Faith and Knowledge in the fulfilling of the
together wherefore be faithful to perform your duty to God in that particular whatsoever sufferings should be infflicted upon you by the men of this World And as concerning refusing to take any Oath ye know it hath been our Principle and practise so to do since the Lord hath given us knowledge of his wayes and the spirit of the Lord that dwels in us perswadeth our hearts to deny all swearing both as it was practised under the Law according to the command of God and in the Types and Figures and as it is practised among the Christians since the Apostles daies which is as now practised Idolatry and Superstition And I say the Spirit of Christ doth confirm our hearts in this trutâ— even to deny all swearing and also we have the express command of Christ and of the Apostle Iames forbdiding all swearing by Heaven and Earth and all other Oaths which bears witness to the truth of our refusing to swear at this day likewise we have the Testimony of many holy Martyrs and Prophets since the Apostles daies who denied to swear on any wise who suffered for such their Testimony All which evidences may justly confirm the hearts of Gods people at this day faithfully to hold out their Testimonies of refusing to swear at all seeing we have a cloud of witnesses that testifie with us the express Command of Christ and the Apostle thâ— Testâ—â—â—â—â— of 〈…〉 divers â—ges who suffered for the same and the present 〈…〉 Spirit of Christ in our own Hearts All which are sufficiâ—â—t to give Courage and Boldness under all Sufferings and Afflictions that we may 〈◊〉 withal for refusing to Swear Well Friends Be faithful to God in these and all other things which God hath given you Light and Knowledge in and I do 〈…〉 Conscience and not to sin against the Light and Knowledge that God hath given you either by denying to profess and practice that Truth which the Lord hath perswaded your Heart of or by conforming to anything which ye know is not of the Truth and this is the Way of Eternal Peace with God But if any shall through the Temptations of the Adversary and for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this World deny the Lord and renounce good Conscience â—… such must bear the Burden of the Lord's Anger because 〈…〉 Revoltings from the Wayes of God True it is This is a Day of great Tryal yet the Lord is strong and gives Strength unto all his People that 〈◊〉 upon 〈◊〉 And let us be mindful what our Controversie is and â—… this Day our Controversie is for the Lord and his Truth to Do Faithfully and Suffer Patiently whatsoever the Will of the Lord is unto us and not to renounce and deny the exercise of our pure Consciences in those things that God hath perswaded our Hearts of the Truth of For if any this Day should be Unfaithful either by doing what they should not or leaving undone what they know they should do If any deny the Lord and his Truth and conform to the false Ways and Worships of men such lose the Controversie and give the Cause of God into the hand of your Enemies which is a fearful Abomination and the Controversie is with that spirit which opposeth us in these things which we know are of the Lord. It is with that spirit that we must contend contend I say by the Spirit of the Father in Long-Suffering and Patience and Good-will towards all men and not with the Weapons of this World in envy to any even with that spirit which doth oppose our meeting together to worship God and would impose Oaths and Things upon us contrary to our Consciences And these things are the main Matters of Controversie this day which the Spirit of Christ in us must oppose being imposed on us by the spirit of the World So all Friends are to mind to be Faithful to the Spirit of Christ and its perswasions and against that spirit which is not of him For the Opposition is between the two spirits and none must say the things required to be forborn or to be done are but small matters in themselves and may be done or not done without Offence this kind of Reasoning may be dangerous and may easily divert from the Obedience of Christ for we are not to look so much at the things in themselves which are required to be done or to be forborn as at the spirit which doth impose upon us in such cases against pure Conscience if the spirit be not of God we must not obey it in the least things for this is indeed the matter of Conscience not so much particular things or actions as the spirit that is not of God where it requires things against good Conscience for whatsoever that spirit requireth be it little or much in respect of the Action it must not be obeyed and that for Conscience sake for this is a good Conscience that cannot do nor conform to any thing which the spirit that is not of God enjoyes though therefore suffering be inflicted on the outward man And last of all I do advise and exhort That ye have Love and Unity in the Spirit of the Lord and one with another that oneness of Heart and Soul and Spirit may be amongst us being bound up in the holy Covenant of the Father even willing to do or suffer one for another and in this Spirit of Unity the Lord will bless us and make us strong and able to go through joyfully all our Afflictions but if any Strife or Division be in the Body it weakens the whole if one Member vex another through discord this is not of the Father but contrary to him this is not for the safety of the Body but bruises it and wounds it and maâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—fflict the Sâ—… 〈◊〉 the Righteâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 outâ—…d Enemies â—nd Stâ—…â—…d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may sooner work 〈◊〉 â—…throw than 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from men O◠〈◊〉 therefâ—… 〈◊〉 Brother to 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to many and 〈◊〉 Servant to all let me entreat and beseech That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fo◠〈◊〉 thâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrisâ—…â—…ed you and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…minded in all things even one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—ther 〈◊〉 the Son are one and so shall 〈◊〉 Blessings o◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 frâ—â— yâ—◠〈◊〉 deâ—…r 〈◊〉 The Lord haâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alwayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to â—…ll 〈◊〉 with his Riches and Treasure â—nd are noâ— we Veâ—…s of Honour is not his Name in ou◠〈◊〉 heads 〈◊〉 not we the Flock of â—is Foâ— therefore let us Honour him by the Works of Trâ—â—h 〈◊〉 Love of Mercy and all the Works of Righteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uâ—…o the 〈◊〉 thereby proving that we are true â—â—â—ches in Christ the 〈◊〉 let 〈◊〉 give up to suffer all things Patiently for the Testimony of his Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Hearts if we Live let it be to him only and if we Dye let
or in the day of Judgment when we and all Man-kind shall appear and come sorth to tryal and every mans work shall be tryed and all shall receive according to their deeds And so gladly would we be made manifest to all the World if that after the reading of this Book any be unsatisfied still in this matter And if any especially of the Heads and Rulers have doubts or Jealousies raised in them concerning us and the Priests and that they further would be satisfied and resolved for that end let any Wise-men propound for full satisfaction of all sorts of People that we with the consent of the chief in Authority that have power in this Nation who may preserve peace and safety among people and thereby to stop all Jealousies may freely and chearfully Four Ten Twenty Thirty more or fewer of us give as many of the wisest and ablest of the Priests and Professors a meeting for dispute at any place in England at what place time and for what continuance as they shall ascribe and consent unto and to dispute and controvert betwixt us and them any such thing and every such particular as shall or may be objected by any of the Heads and Rulers or other Grave Understanding Men wherein they are doubtful betwixt us and would thereof be satisfied that by such Dispute and opening of such causes objected full and real and toal satisfaction may be given to the whole Nation and every particular man and member therein Otherwise Let the Priests or Professors or any of them object what they can against us in our Principles Profession Faith and Practice and our whole Religion And if they shall affirm and alledge any one or more things against us that any Principle we hold or Practice we profess in any part throughout all our Religion are false Principles and false Practices and not according to Truth nor the Scriptures but shall affirm that our Religion is not the true Religion nor we of the true Church of Christ and they shall have free liberty to give their best proof and reason for what they affirm and alledge yet by the Strength of Christ and in the power and authority of God and according to the Scriptures we shall confute all their Proofs and strongest Reasons and on the contrary we shall joyn our Principles Doctrines and Practices and all our Religion and every part and particular thereof to be the very truth and agreeing with the Scriptures according to that shall maintain by lawful Arguments and plea that our Religion and Worship and all that we profess and Practice is according to the mind of the Lord and justified of him and that whatsoever is and may be spoken against us upon that account is utterly false and to be condemned and upon this we will ingage with them and with any of our Enemes of what Sect and Profession soever to the intent onely that Truth may be manifest and embraced and Deceit and Error discovered and denied And also upon such an Engagement we should agree to have the liberty freely and soberly to object against the Priests concerning their Ministry their Call their Practice their Maintenance and their Fruits and Effects and concerning their Church and Principles and Worship and whole Religion and shall hear patiently all that can be said in defence thereof by any or all of them and shall prove by the Spirit of the Lord and according to the Scriptures that their ministry is not the true Ministry of Christ nor they true and lawfull Ministers of the Gospel but shall manifest by evident Arguments that their Call Practice Maintenance Fruits and Effects are not according nor agreeing but contrary and differing to what the true Ministry was and its Call Practice Maintenance Fruits and Effects were in the true Apostles and among the true Churches and furthermore by the Grace of God we shall prove their Church their Worship and their whole Religion in all parts thereof to be degenerated from what the true Church was the true Worship and true Religion in the days of the Apostles and true Churches of old and these things shall we make manifest by faithful and sound Arguments according to the Scriptures that all the Earth may know and all people perceive who is in the Truth and of the true Worship and Religion and who are in the contrary and whether the Priests and that which they profess and practice for Religion or the Quakers and that which they profess and practice for Religion be of God and according to him and whether are contrary that the end of this long Travel and War and controversie may be desided and justly ended between us and all people may be resolved and satisfied concerning us and them that do oppose us And let all the Priests and Professors lay aside and give over their Houses of Correction and imprisoning people and whipping of them and stocking of us and dealing in this manner of violence and cruelty as for years by-past they have done in defence of their Religion and resisting of ours and let them lay aside their carnal Weapons and fighting against our persons and imprisoning of us about our Religion and let them come forth in sound Arguments the best they have and let us see what spiritual Weapons they have to resist us and defend themselves and let us try whether their spiritual Weapons or ours be the strongest and the most powerful and mighty and let theirs that are so prevail against the other be it ours or theirs and this is the way to try the truth and to make all things manifest and to deside and end all the whole controversies between us and them which hath been great this many years and let the Truth be set up and exalted where ever it is and all Deceit thrown down to the Ground and let us war with the Weapons of the Spirit against Errour and false Religion one in the other but le ts not hurt Creatures nor imprison Persons nor stock and whip Creatures and make them to suffer but let us thresh Deceit and whip and beat that and all false Opinions let us throw them down where they are found whether in them or in us and let us fight with the Weapons of the Spirit that are spiritual let them fight no longer with such cruel carnal Weapons and then let such as get the victory and overcome appear to be in the truth of the Church and such as falls and is overcome be manifest to be in the Error and of the false Church and Religion and let us love one anothers persons and let them act no otherwise towards our persons then we do upon theirs and towards them and let them take the liberty to deal with us and our persons as we deal with them and their persons and no otherwise And let such whether them or us that cannot prove our selves to be the true Church of Christ nor of the true Worship and true