do God service that kills you 〈◊〉 casts you from among them and the Devil shall cast some of you into prison And thâ—… things you have done and fullfilled Christs words against your selves for 〈◊〉 witness against you and to shew that you are Enemies to Christ and to his Kingdom and that you will not have him to reign as I have said Therefore whâ—… he reigneth he shall say Bring hither those mine Enemies and slay them before me O! what will the just Judge of true Judgment the God of Heaven and Earth render unto you when he ariseth to plead the cause of the poor and needy and to deliver his Inheritance from under your oppression into perfect freedom What account will you give in that day when he brings swift destruction upon you And wherewith will you answer him when the secrets of your hearts are made manifest and when the true witness in you all is awakened which will bring to your remembrance all your cruel and unjust dealing and all your bitter and hard speeches which in your envy you have brought forth against the Lord and against his people What will be done to you his Enemies when Christ Jesus whom you have persecuted comes to reign in his Kingdom and subdues the kingdoms of this World and changeth them into the Kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ and the Saints which you have oppressed receives the Authority and Dominion It shall be said All that would not that Christ should reign slay them before him when it shall be given to the Saints to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron and to execute upon the Heathen all the judgments written for behold all ye stout hearted the Lord cometh in ten thousand of his Saints to judge the World in righteousness and you shall be convinced of all your ungodly deeds for the Scriptures must be fullfilled and as you have done even so will it be done unto you when the suffering of the righteous is finished and your wickedness come to an end when the Lord shall reign you shall lick the dust off his feet and all the Persecuters of Christ shall be trodden down as mire and the righteous shall rejoyce over them and the Lord shall mock when your fear and calamnity comes which come suddenly in a day when you expect not how shall the Lord pardon you for this you have sinned against knowledge and gone on after warning and hardened your hearts after reproof and the day of your visitation you have greatly slighted ye Rulers have abused your power and ye subjects have abused your subjection and now consider what God did in Generations past unto the rebellious children what he did to Pharaoh and all his Hosts when his long suffering was finished how did Pharaoh harden his heart and his cruel Task-masters oppress the righteous even as you have done and they would not let Israel go free to serve the Lord but they kept them in bondage and this way you walk who exercise cruelty as they did and laid heavy burthens upon the Innocent grievous to be born cruel task-masters have you been over the Heritage of the Lord and in Pharaohs example of wickedness have you walked fulfilling his measure of cruelty and Pharaohs example shall you follow in a cursed end remember how the loftiness of his heart was bowed down and how his proud heart was abased in the day that God pleaded with him in his righteous judgments he and all his task-makers were confounded in a day and the bondage of the righteous was broken in a moment how was his whole strength of Tyranny overturned and turned into weakness the righteous were delivered and he and all his train overwhelmed in one day and thus shall it come to pass upon you Therefore consider this all ye that fullfill the measure of iniquity suddenly will the righteous God be awakened to take vengeance upon you and the just shall not always groan under your bondage for he that looketh from the Heaven hath pity upon the distressed for whom now his arm is stretched out to bring deliverance unto them and all their enemies will be confounded who have this long time ploughed long furrows upon the back of the righteous the oppression and cruelty and injustice brought forth in this Nation it calls for vengeance from Heaven Alas alas woe is me for you you Heads and Rulers and Judges of England what have you done and suffered to be done under you against the innocent people of God who is as dear to him as the apple of his eye for they be written on the palms of his hands and because of the cry of the poor and the needy will the Lord arise and plead their cause Oh consider and let it enter into your hearts the cruelty and injustice that hath been brought forth in this Land and remember what God did unto all the Persecuters of old how was their strength consumed and they overturned and destroyed what did he to Pharaoh and all his host who persecuted the Seed of God how was he destroyed and the righteous set free and what was done to Haman How was he justly rewarded who persecuted the Innocent Seed of God What did God to Herod and all his people who persecuted the Innocent and remember what he did unto them that persecuted the Three Children and them that persecuted Daniel how did they fall into the pit which they had digged for another and how were they destroyed and the Innocent delivered considered and remember these things ye that suffer the Just to groan by you Search through the Records of old and search what God hath done unto all them that lifted up their hand against Him and his People and is he not the same at this day his Hand is not shortened that it cannot save his people and destroy his Enemies his Ear is not dull of hearing that he should not understand this unjust suffering of his people though you live carelessely in pleasure upon Earth while the Innocent mourns yet doth the Lord regard though you spend your time in pleasure and delight your selves in vanities all the day long yet the Lord hath taken it to heart and his Spirit is grieved that his Innocent Servants should lye in Holes and Dungeons to be trodden upon and be accounted as the off-scouring of all things hardly thought worthy to have a place on the Earth Oh remember these things ye that are high minded and consider what God did to the Bishops and their crew of persecutors in this Nation your selves are witnesses how the Lord overthrew them and delivered his people in a few years time and as little as you did they think that they whom they persecuted should so soon come to have reigned over them the Lords Hand was then against Oppressors as it is at this day do you think the Lord hath forgotten or that he takes no notice of what is come to pass how should he forget his
and walks in darkness ignorance and blindness as you do turning the Grace of God into wantonness which same Grace is the Saints Teacher this is the free Grace of God which hath appeared to all men which in all Generations taught the Saints to deny ungodiness and worldly lusts and led them into purity and holiness This Grace do we witness praised praised be the Lord to be led by it which ever was the Saints Leader and through the teaching of this Grace do we deny your Hireling and all such Pharisees and Hypocrites who makes a prey upon the poor people and if you stop not into their mouths they even prepare War against you as the false Prophets of Israel did and daily are we taught by it in the Wayes of God to do his service praised be the only Lord of Glory for ever more who hath gathered us up to himself to be taught alone by his Grace out of the mouth of your Hireling who once made a prey upon us but Eternal Praise and Glory to our God who in his Light hath discovered unto us his nakedness and his shame his hypocrisie and deceit in the Eternal Light of God do we see him and all such to be blind Guides and leads the poor blind people in darkness and ignorance and none is able to come to the true Knowledg of the Eternal Truth in his Ministry for he is no Minister of God but an Antichrist denying Christ to be come in the flesh denying the Light to have enlightened every one as several times he hath done to me but my Father who is Light and Glory hath now made him manifest And in that Light Christ Jesus do I see him to be one who hath run whom God hath not sent therefore doth he not profit you at all nor puts no difference between the precious and the vile in you nor leads you to discern the clean from the unclean the pure from the impure in you but speaks the Divination of his own brain feeding your dark minds and from the Eternal Light made manifest in me from God the Father who is over all and above all do I declare against him and against all Hirelings and greedy dumb Dogs that seeks for their gain from their Quarter as he doth fâ—â—ely do I declare as knowing them to be Deceivers and blind Guids For the simple ones sake among you who are insnared and kept in ignorance by him under his dead dry barren sloathful Ministry Repent ye people who lies in the Captivity of Babylon under your Bahylonish Merchant now is the Lord leading his Sons and Daughters out of Egypt out of bondage and now he that hath led Captive is led into Captivity praised and honoured be the God of Saints for evermore who hath redeemed us out of the mouth of your Idol-shepherd who feeds himself with the fat and who hath enlightened our dead Consciences and hath shined in our hearts in his Eternal Light and of this have I received freely and from this do I let forth freely to the laying open the deceits of your Hireling Now is the Day of your visitation wherein the Saviour of the World stands at the door and knocketh if any open unto him he will come in therefore prize your time and hear the Word of the Lord and lay aside the works of darkness Lying and Swearing Mocking and Scorning and beating of your fellow Servants Wo unto you ye Strikers who hardens your hearts against the Lord and against those who declare to you the wickedness of your wayes the Lord will come when you are not aware and give you your Portion with Hypocrites and Unbeleevers and cast you into utter darkness Repent and turn to the Lord your God with mourning and lamentation and cease from all your former wayes and doings cease from Coveteousness and Opression ye aged people and cease from Lightness Vanity and Pride ye young people and from all your Priests and Steeple-houses for there your Lightness Pride and Vain minds are fed and nourished and the enemies of the Lord are strengthened Dear people there had I once fellowship with you in your Pride Lightness and Vanity and there was once my joy and delight but now am I chosen by the Lord out of all these things praised be him for ever to serve the Lord in declaring against all these abominations in whom they are standing For wo unto the proud and light vain minds who are tripping upon the mountains and whose hearts are not subject to the Lord against all these abominations do I Declare as from the Lord and do advise you as from him to depart out of these abominations for the day is coming when you must be separated from all your lovers a day of darkness and misery therefore prize your time and hearken unto the Light of God within you which reproves you for your filthy and ungodly deeds and words this Light will lead you to God out of all filthiness obeying it this will separate the clean from the unclean in you and will lead you to be taught of God and to have unity with God and with the Saints for it was in the Light that the Saints had unity this Light will lead you out of your hypocritical and deceitful carnal Worships to Worship in Spirit and Truth this Light will lead you to the true Baptism out of your deceitful imitation of a Baptism which your Hireling upholds among you this Light will lead you to the true Church in God out of your formal imagined Church and to the true Communion of Saints and true Singing to God out of your Heathenish Communion and Singing Therefore all ye people mind the Light for the Light hath enlightened every one which is the Saviour and Reedemer of him that loveth it and bringeth his deeds to it but is the Condemnation of him that hateth it and walks not in it therefore all people mind this Light which is of God this will lead you up to God this is the way to the Father and none comes to the Father but by me said he who was and is the Light this Light loving it and walking in it will free you from all the burdens which the Pharisee layes upon you and from all the taxes of Pharaoh's Tax-masters and will lead you into the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God to know him who is invisible and is present every where yet hidden from all dark minds who lives in the imaginations and imitations as you and your Hireling doth If you love this Light and walk in this Light it will bring you to be witnesses of the Scripture and of the Saints Conditions which you are but talkers of this is the Light from which they spoke that spoke the truth of God and from this Light did Isaiah cry who lived in the obedience of it against the greedy dumb dogs that sought for their gain from
The Seed of the Woman is but one in all generations and the Seed of the Serpent is but one which ever was is ruling and reigning in the Children of Disobedience who are disobedient to the Light of God within them and betwixt these two Seeds is Enmity the one against the other each Seed is known by its fruit the old bottle pours out old Wine the new bottle new Wine therefore all people sink down to within and call in all your wandring thoughts imaginations and affections and desires and see which seed is head in you and see what your desires and affections goes out after for where your hearts are there is your treasure see what you do possess of God in your Souls and what you are made witnesses of for he that believeth hath the witness in himself and Faith is the Victory over the world he that can receive it let him Dear people I have freely Declared to you the Truth and from the love of God shed abroad in my heart to your Souls and for the Seed sake in you which lieth in death captivated under your Wisdom and Reason have I spoken the Word of the Lord which if you own it and abide in it shall be the savor of Life and in eternal joy shall you witness me to be true in what I have Declared but if you harden your hearts and kick against the Truth and against what I have Declared shall be the savor of death unto Death and in eternal torment and misery shall ye witness me in what I say for to that which should exercise the Conscience do I speak in every one of you and to that in you have I cleared my Conscience and have freed my Spirit this is the day of your Visitation the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Remember that you have been shewed the Deceits which you live in and have been warned of the misery and desolation that shall come upon you except you lay these things to heart and turn to the Lord. Farewel By him who is dispised and had in derision among you who is not greater then his Lord and therefore is contented to be called a Blasphemer and a Seducer as he whom I serve was by them of your Generation E. B. TO all you my Country people of every degree who are Inhabitants in Underbarrow have I cleared my Conscience and have freely Declared to you the Word of the Lord and have laid open the Deceits of your Deceitful Ministry and Ministry and have directed you to that in every one of you which leads unto God and which is the way to the Father which is the true Light which hath enlightned every one that comes into the World which light all who loves and follows walk not in darkness but walks up to God out of the Fall from under the Curse into the Being but all who hates this Light and follows the imagination of their own brains and of the divination of their Hirelings and Pharisees this Light shall be their condemnation because they walk not in it even this Light which is come into the World in every man even the witness in the Conscience which is placed by God shall for ever witness against you and against all your false worships and Hirelings and shall bear testimony to what I have in this little Volume declared to be true when the Book of Conscience shall be laid open for to every mans Conscience am I made manifest in what I have to you declared as concerning your Hireling whom God hath never sent but is in the way of the false Prophets and Pharisees for he that abides not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God 2 Iohn 1. 9. but is an Antichrist and of the Devil And as concerning the Light within you that Light will bear witness to it self that every one of you to whom I speak hath this Light which shews you sin your lying swearing pride and wicked wayes covetousness and wantonness to be sin this is the true Light which is as ever was foolishness and a stumbling block to the wise ones This is the Light which your Pharisee denies to have lightned every one and this Light shall for ever witness me to be true and shall witness this poor people among you who are despised and contemned by you and scornfully called Quakers to be the servants of God whom I do own as my Brethren in the sufferings of Jesus who are my joy in the Lord. Now all people every where to you all a word from the Lord though I have spoken in this small Volume as moved by the Lord of Heaven and Earth to the Inhabitants of Underbarrow as declaring against their false Teacher and false Worships which they uphold now freely and plainly do I declare against all thy Teachers O England who are one in the same generation with him in the Seat of Christ and of his Apostles professing themselves to be sent of God but walking contrary to his commands in the same footsteps which the Scribes and Pharisees walked in which were persecutors of the Son of God and which he cried wo against they who said and did not as all these thy Teachers do who are called of men Masters as they were and have the chiefest places in the Assemblies as they had and prayed standing as these thy professed Ministers do Now the same Light which ever was which is Jesus Christ is now born and made manifest which is witnessed among the Saints in which Light I see all thy Teachers O England to be drunk with the Wine of her that hath deceived the Nations who sits upon a scarlet coloured Beast and is arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold and precious stones and hath the golden cup in her hand full of abominations whose name is written in her forehead Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and abomination of the Earth And in this Light to I declare against them all which are in the generation of the false Prophets of Israel which seeks for their gain from their Quarter and which steals the word from their neighbor and have taken the words of the Prophets of Christ and of his Apostles and selleth the divination of their own brain upon the Scriptures which the holy men speak forth freely to the poor blind people and teacheth for the Fleece and if ye stop not into their mouths they prepare War against you and which are called of men Master which Christ forbids Against all these freely as from the Lord I do Declare to be no Ministers of Jesus Christ but are Seducers and blind Guides and are Antichrists and leads the poor blind people in the wayes of death and destruction for they are no Ministers of Christ that abides not in the Doctrine of Christ these have run but have not been sent by God and therefore is not your Souls profited by them but are in the dark heathenish nature as by
their God and their Ministry and their Worships V. A Discovery of the Idol dumb Shepherds in that Nation and a Lamentation over their starved and strayed Flocks VI. An Invitation to all the poor desolate Souldiers to repent and make their peace with the Lord and their duty shewed them what the Lord requires of them ALas alas wo is me for thee thou desolate Nation of Ireland thou art to be pitied and lamented because of thy backslidings and rebellion against the Lord thou aboundest in Iniquity and thy Transgressions cannot be numbred O thou art a fruitless Habitation and barren of Righteousness and Mercy and true Judgment even from the Head to the Taile thou art corrupted and thy wickedness is marked before the Lord Thy Rulers and Teachers and People are all gone out of the Way and are disobedient Children having backslided from the pure Ways of the Lord God a deceitful Heart is found among them and a Lye is in their Hand even the best of men are as a Bryar and the most upright among men sharper then a Thorn-Hedge a cursed seed hath taken root in thee and fruit of a cursed taste is abundantly sprung forth thou aâ—t turned into the degenerate Plant of a strange Vine unto God and are become abominable in his eye thy vines brings forth a soure grape and the Lords soul hath no delight therein thou art altogether untilled and thy flowers give an ill smell thy Inhabitants have let themselves to do wickedness they imagine mischief upon their beds and brings it forth in the morning cruelty is their weapon against the Innocent and hard heartedness is their defence against the upright Wo is me for thee thou desolate Nation who have rejected the counsel of the Lord and neglected the day of thy Visitation wherein the Lord would have gathered thee but thou wouldst not How often hath the Lord spoken unto thee and thou wilt not hear his call By judgement hath he spoken and by mercy hath he drawn but thou refusest to return and wilt not be reclaimed but continues in thy Rebellion against the Lord and forgets the work of his hand in Ages and Generations past even since the beginning hast thou been a Land of wickedness and a people of a cursed seed drinking up iniquity as an Ox that drinks up water filling the measure of Transgression till the Lord was forced in grievous judgments to deal with thee even his wrath in a day broke forth upon thee and the fire of indignation was kindled in thee and thy Princes were cut off in fury thy Inhabitants fell by the plague and sword in great numbers and thou were given up to be a prey to thy enemies in thy treasures and the cruell hearted took the spoyle thou wast laid levell in the dust of deep misery and confusion and thy lamentation and sorrow was heard among the Nations and the stroke of the Lords hand was heavy upon thee and his judgements was just upon thy head and he gave no rest unto thee for many years but thou wast as a trembling leaf and as a forsaken bough and thou wast made desolate and comfortless and misery girded thee about and then thy stout heart was brought down into sorrow when the Lord contended with thee but now thou hast ease from thy bitterness and a day of rest from thy sore trouble yet hast thou forgotten the day of thy distress and art again more abundantly exalted and thy sins are much more encreased the pride of thy heart is become equall with Sodom and thy transgressions are encreased to her number and the rebellion against the Lord is grown more high and through mercies and deliverance art thou waxeâ— fat and now thou kicks against the Lord and in thy heart sayes Who is he O when wilt thou consider what the Lord hath wrought when wilt thou call to minde his just and righteous dealing who hast forgotten the day of thy former visitation and is becoming more vile in the sight of the Lord by thy secret hypocrisie of deceitful profession then thou wast in thy open prophaness when thou layest naked in thy open sins O Desolate Nation the Lord once and again hath stretched forth his hands unto thee in pity for thee and he sent his Servants and Witnesses to warn thee of these thy transgressions and to call upon thee to awake thee out of thy carelesness and he gave thee a glorious day of visitation and free tenders of salvation wherein thou mightst have made thy peace with him and repent thee of thy sin And his Servants were faithfull in thee and lamented over thee and gave themselves to be spent for thee and gladly suffered the reproach of the Heathen and the cruelty of the wicked that thereby thou mightst be reclaimed out of thy Rebellion and wickedness and they gave their back to the Smiter and loved not their lives unto death nor prized not their liberty unto bonds but diligently in sufferings and labours and perplexities called unto thee and through thy Towns and Cities proclaimed the visitation and message of the Lord concerning thee and was accounted as sheep for the slaughter that they might finish their Testimony to the gathering of thee but thou wouldst not but hast to this very day stopped thy ear from counsel hardned thy heart against reproof and contemned the day of thy visitation and hereby added to thy measure of wickedness in dealing cruelly with the Lords Servants who rewarded them evil for good and entreated them shamefully and laid thy hand of oppression upon them and rejected their message of glad tidings and would not be instructed in the way of the Lord unto salvation but gave heed unto the false visions of thy lying Prophets and took counsel against the Lord of thy Inchanters and persecuted the faithful by unjust Imprisonments and dealt wickedly with the Lords chosen and made unrighteous de crees is thy wrath and sealed them in thy cruelty and made a purpose in thy heart to root out the Seed of Iacob and to lay wast the Lords Heritage O Ireland hereby in the Name of the Lord thus far I seal my Testimony in faithfulness unto thee and binds up my many burdens and travells and reproaches and tryals and sufferings in thee in a few words which is the Word of the Lord concerning thee Ye Heads and Rulers that sits upon the Throne Repent and turn to the Lord from whom you are grievously revolted by woful backslidings a grievous sin have you committed a gross sum of hainous abomination is recorded against you the righteous God will meet you in his Judgements and once more will appear in the fire of Indignation against you and your mountains of pride and vain-glory and self-exaltation shall be layed waste as your enemies were before you and as you have thought to do to root out the Seed of Iacob and to spoyle the tender grapes of the Lords vintage even so shall it be done
and what is that which chains him and whether art thou come to one of the dayes of the Thousand years yea or nay Quer. 12. Whether dost thou know any Christ or preach or profess any Christ who hath not lighned every man that comes into the World with the true Light of Life or of Condemnation and is he not a Deceiver that exhorts People for Salvation to any other thing then the Light of Christ yea or nay And how hath Christ enlightened every man in the World if not within him These Queries with some more in my Answer I put forth to thee that Truth may be cleared from all Slanders of envious tongues and shall leave my work and thine to be weighed in the Ballance of Righteousness to be considered of by every honest heart to whom they do come and God shall be the chief Judge betwixt us in his day A Postscript ANd now seeing we have taken in hand to discover and lay open the deceits of Deceivers that all men may come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved and led out of the snare of the crafty Fowlers these things further we shall add which are contrary to the Doctrine of the true Gospel First Iohn Burton said in a Discourse with some Friends That Christ had two Bodies and one of the Bodies was out of the sight of the Saints Secondly Iohn Bunyon said Christ's second coming 〈◊〉 not his coming in Spirit for his coming in Spirit is no comming Thirdly Iohn Bunyon said upon Discourse Of the Word of God being in the heart in the presence of divers People That there was nothing in him nor in any man to be taken notice of Fourthly One of their Brethren said That Christ and the Word of Life were two things Fifthly Some others of the same Members in the Market of Bedford said That they scorned that Light which we meaning the Quakers speak of which is the Light that convinceth of sin which Light they confessed to be in every man in the same discourse which was with some of them called Quakers Much need not be said as to the laying open of these particulars for by the words themselves the wickedness and ignorance of the broachers of them are fully seen to every one who is spiritual and to them I leave this to be judged onely this I shall further say They have not spoken onely that which cannot be proved by Scriptures but some of the particulars are also contrary to the Scriptures and are damnable Doctrines of Devils as might be largly laid open in the third and fifth particulars But I delight not in raking in such unsavory Stuff but do trample over it and return it to the Authors Having summed up their Wickedness into a Sum I leave it for to be weighed by themselves and others and if any question the truth of the particulars charged against them sufficient Testimony may be given by such who were â—aâ— Witnesses By one who hath chosen rather to suffer affliction with the despised People then to enjoy the pleasures of sin EDWARD BURROUGH Stablishing Against Quaking Thrown down and overturned and no Defence found against it Or an Answer to a Book called Stablishing against Quaking put forth by Giles Firmin a professed Minister in Essex WHEREIN His many Lyes and Slanders are rebuked and witnessed against and all his thirteen Arguments confounded and clearly confuted and he manifestly proved a false Prophet in several particulars as in his Call and Maintenance And while he hath thought to discover the Prince of Darkness in others he is found secretly lodging in his own house and powerfully working in him and is found truly guilty himself of that whereof he falsly accuseth the innocent People called Quakers who are Gods faithful Witnesses against this subtil Generation though for a moment they are a Prey to the seed of Evil-doers and a Reproach to lying Tongues THe Lord from Heaven in this his day is risen and come forth to make War with all his Enemies being the fulness of time wherein his purpose is to cut down and destroy the man of sin by the power of his coming and he must reign whose right it is and of his Kingdom and Government there shall be no end and Nations shall flow into it and Kings shall lay down their Crowns at his Feet whom God hath appointed to exalt in his Throne of Righteousness and Judgment and the war is proclaimed in his Name the Standard of the Lord is set up before him to gather together the Nations to fan them and to try them and to search and to seek out his own where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day and a prey made upon them by every wild Beast of the Mountain But the Lord hath opened his Ear to the cry of the Just and his Bowels are filled with compassion towards the Seed of his Inheritance whom no man regardeth to take pity upon but are altogether hardened in their iniquities and become equal with the Oppressor therefore in Judgment is the Lord appearing to work the purpose of his Heart and to fulfil the intent of his Mind and will not spare to punish the transgression of the wicked upon his own head and is already clothed with the Garments of Vengeance and clad with Zeal as with a Cloak and hath proclaimed Indignation in the face of the Ungodly and his Enemies against whom his wrath is kindled is joyning battel with him and Gog and Magog is prepared to resist the day of Recompence and the whole body of Darkness from the head to the tayl is risen to gainsay the Lord and strive in confusion together and their armour clashes one against another and they over-run each other through the confusion of their blind understanding and they will not be perswaded unto Reconciliation but goes on in rebellion till they be left without strength as a wounded man who shall never more vise again nor recover his deadly blow for the strength of Aegypt shall fail in the midst of it and the Warrier finds not his hand in the day of his necessity but terror is upon his loynes and fearfulness in his heart and the wrath remains upon him and wisdom is become madness and prudence is hid and the wise men of this Generation are become foolish What do ye mean Ye that have gathered your selves together all ye Sects and Opinions and ye that profess the Law of Righteousness Is your Religion turned into Envy and Wrath whereby you would slay the Upright You have made Lyes your refuge as your last defence to cover your selves from the Storm but your City is besieged and fear shall compass you about and the refuge of Lyes shall be swept away For in vain and to no purpose do men strive against the Lord and without effect as to that which they intend do they gather themselves together and band themselves in deaths covenant to war against the Lamb for the
more you strive the more you are entangled and the deeper your pit is digged for another the greater is your own fall into it for the purpose of your hearts and the intent of your wicked minds doth the Lord make void and turneth them upon your own head and strongly are you bound in your own snare which you secretly lay for the foot of the Innocent to make the Upright a prey How long ye men of the Earth will ye 〈◊〉 counsel together against the Lord How long shall the Righteous be a prey to your teeth to shoot your Arrows of Cruelty and Reproach against When will you give over your Oppression and Violence wherewith you think to spoil the tender Grape of the Lords Vintage and to devour the Seed of Iacob from off the Earth that you may rule in the kingdom in peace When will you be weary 〈◊〉 your wickedness and cease from your deceivings seeing the Lord makes you a Curse in whatsoever you take in hand You travel in wrath and bring forth nothing you strive all the day long and gather nothing but stubble and the fire kindles upon it and makes it a heap of Confusion in a moment When will you learn wisdom and refrain your selves from vanity Do you think to persist in the way wherein you walk can you overcome the Lamb or can you bring to nought the purpose of the Most High Will you make your selves equal with him and will ye gainsay the working of his Power Nay you shall fall into everlasting confusion and the remembrance of your destruction shall not suddenly pass away for the purpose of the Lord shall surely stand and his Counsel shall 〈◊〉 be made void for you are but suffered for a moment till your measure be â—ull and your transgression be finished that you may be cut off for ever and â—â—id waste as the Wilderness Long hath been the night of Darkness over all Nations wherein you have played and sported your selves as though no eye had seen you and your works of cruelty had laid hid in your bosomes but now they do appear and the day hath made you manifest and the Light hath discovered you and now ye are tryed and weighted and searched and the Fire of the Lord is kindled upon all your works and the end oâ— them is confusion and misery and in sorrow shall ye lie down and no eye shall comfort you nor no Physitian shall heal your bruise for with a grievous blow will the Hand of the Lord be upon you all you who pervert his Way who have joyned your selves in battel against the Lamb and his Followers some of you smiting the Innocent with your hands and some with your tongues and in your envy deal cruelty with the Lord 's Chosen who are become a Proverb and Prey to the wicked and as a Butt to shoot at against whom you bend your Tongues and speak bitter things even from the head to the tayl the whole body of Darkness is prepared to war and every member of the great Image is stirred up in its strength thinking to prevail through subtilty against the innocency of the Simple and Lyes are become oâ—â— Enemies refuge and their trust is in a broken Reed which fails their confidence and hope and we are preserved under the shaddow of the Almighty and we are delivered out of the snare of our Enemies and through suffering for a moment shall reign for ever and ever over the Beast and his Image And unto thee Giles Firmin I do write a few words in answer to thy Book caled Stablishing against Quaking who hast helped up the measure to fulfil the wickedness of the wicked in adding thy Lyes and Slanders and Reproaches unto thy Brethren and hast cast in thy Mite into the heap of Babylons Confusion and â—ast set thy seal against the Lord's People and hast put to thy hand in the record of Sions Enemies Whom do you thus strive against And against whom is your â—ury thus kindled What are you doing in your drunken fits of fury wherein you stagger with the wine of Envy Surely when you are sober you will consider â—nd when you are come to your selves you will be ashamed and will not open any more your malice and wrath which hath drownded your honesty and civility and â—n your knowledge you are as bruit Beasts which are to be destroyed you do but gaâ—her your selves together that you may be scattered and broken to peices you are â—uffered to heap up your confusion in Lyes and Reproaches that the Lord may make you ashamed and judge you out of your own mouths And Friend what hast thou done and who hast thou established the wicked â—n his wickedness and the unclean in his filthiness and hast hardened the hearts of the ungodly by thy Lyes and Slanders least they should turn from their ungodâ—iness and be saved from their sins and so against quaking for transgression hast â—hou stablished them herein and this will be laid to thy charge in the Day of â—he Lord who healest up the Wound slightly and criest Peace Peace to the wickâ—d unto whom the Lord hath not spoken Peace And Friend thou art the man â—n whom the Prince of Darkness is discovered which now works in thee and â—rom him hast thou sent forth thy pack of Reproaches against the Innocent and â—leadest thy own cause and judgest hereof in the sight of men and hast sought â—he praise of men and not the Praise of God and so seek to obtain a good reâ—ort by flattery and not by faith and this sufficiently appears in thy first Eâ—istle wherein thou hast given flattering Titles unto man and in vain hypocriâ—ie hast fought a proof to the authority of thy Book thinking thereby the more â—o make it of force to do the work which thou intendest by it even to â—oyson the simplicity of the Upright and to devour the woman which brings â—orth the Man-Child by casting floods of evil Speeches and Lyes after her but â—hy flatteries are of no worth to thee nor thy subtil words of guile availeth thee â—ot herein for in the Light thou art seen and by it tried and thy snare which â—hou hast laid will fetter thy own foot and the mischief thou intendest is fallen â—pon thy own head and whilst thou hast thought to discover the Prince of Darkness in another thou hast covered and cloaked him in thy self under thy feigned words of flattery but through that vail he is seen and unto all men shall be made manifest and the Spirit of the Lord doth judge him and thy Rock of flattery shall not cover thee from the Wrath of him whom thou hast set thy self to oppose And in thy second Epistle thou sayest Thou madest one Sermon to discover this Generation meaning the Quakers and thou sayst thou found good success of it Friend thou hast more fully discovered thy self and that abommation which lodged in thy heart secretly which thou hast not let out into
Heaven and Earth all Nations upon Earth are but as the drop of a Bucket before him and the hearts of all men are in his Hand and by him Kings rule and the Princes of the Earth are at his disposure and you are all weighed in the Ballance of Equity and found too light before the Lord for all flesh hath corrupted its way before him Be awakenened ye that have long slept in Darkness and been at ease in the flesh ye that have had peace in this World and pleasure in the vanity thereof the Lord is coming to make war against you his Trumpet hath sounded and his Sons and Daughters are gone forth to bear witness of his Majesty and Power and Dominion and the Lord hath spoken Who can but prophesie he hath given the Word and many are they that publish it Let your ears be open to Instruction and kick not against the Lord neither harden your hearts against him but make way for him and prepare his Path for he cometh to judge the World in Righteousness and the People with equity and the Testimony of the Light of Jesus in you all shall witness for him your princely Powers must become subject to the Power of the Kingdom of the Most High and your glory must be vailed and darkned before the Glory which â—he Lord is causing to shine forth and we the Servants of the Most High do give you warning of the day of your Visitation which is upon you and all the World for the Lord is now risen who hath long winked at the time of great ignorance but now â—e warns you all to repent therefore bow down ye Stiff-necked and tremble ye Stout-hearted and be abased ye Lofty-looks our King is above you all our dominion is over you all and the line of true Judgment are you all measured with and your wayes are not found perfect in the Sight of the Lord nor your hearts right before him his Kingdom hath not been known in your dominions neither hath his Laws and his Judgments born rule but you have every one been doing that which is right in the sight of your own eyes and the counsels of your hearts have been nought but vanity before the Lord Vain-glory hath abounded among you which the the Lord's Soul hath been burdened by the honours and pleasures of the flesh have been your delight and strife and enmity hath been among you and wars and quarreling and fighting one against another and you have rejoyced in the overthrow one of another and in destroying one another and you have taken pleasure in gaining one anothers dominions you have striven who should have been the greatest and greatly oppressed the Poor you have exalted your selves one against another and drawn up your Armies one in defiance of another and the blood of Thousands have been shed to satisfie the humours of your proud hearts all this hath been evil in the Sight of the Lord and his Spirit hath been grieved and his Soul vexed by all this and he hath forborn till he hath been weary for he hath been dishonoured by all this and his Law hath not born rule and his Judgments have had no place you have been cruel-hearted one towards another and merciless and without pitty and ouy have not done to others as you would be done unto but you have rendred evil for evil and sought occasions of evil one against another and vexed one another through the pride of your hearts therefore now is the Lord risen to make war against you all and to dash you to pieces the Feller comes up amongst you he that will not spare to slay and to devour who will not be afraid of your lofty looks he will spoil you of your Treasure and lay waste your strength all ye Kingdoms of the Earth and your gathering together against him is but as Briers and thorns for he will exalt his own Kingdom over you all and all ye Kings of the Earth shall know that the Kingdom of the most high must rule in your Kingdoms and your Laws shall be changed and the poor shall no more be oppressed for he is come thâ—t proclaims liberty unto the Captives who will remove oppression far away who will change Times and Worships and Ordinances and there shall be no Law but the Law of God nor no light but of the Lamb nor no worship but the Worship in the Spirit and in the Truth for all your Worships which the Nations are full of is nought but vanity and a lye immitations and superstitions brought forth in hypocrisie and not in an upright heart vanity of vanities have abounded both in civil and spiritual affairs The root in which you stand is wholly corrupted and no good fruit springs from it but cursed fruit which must be 〈◊〉 down and cast into the fire ye have been evil and could not bring forth any good you are corrupted and your fruit is of a bitter taste a day of sorrow of lamentation and misery is coming upon you all ye that have been high and lofty and stouthearted fearfulness shall surprise you and the terror of the Lord of Hosts shall compass you about I am moved to salute you all with this as a warning and when it comes to pass remember you have been told ye that know not the Kingdom of the most High ruling men but are saying in your hearts this hath my hand done in a moment shall you be smitten and know there is one above you which must rule for it is his right to rule over all Nations and there shall be no King but Jesus thâ— Aâ—oinâ—eâ— oâ— God â—oâ—â—o Government but the Government of the Lamb there shall be no more war but war against the Dragon who hath stood to devour the Man-child which is now bringing forth and he must rule with his Iron Rod and shall subdue all under his feet We whom God hath warned cannot but warn you of these things which 〈◊〉 come to pass he is coming to separate between the Just and the unjust he will gather from among you that the wicked may be consumed from off the face of the Earth All you Rulers in the World I warn you all take heed how you persecute such as comes to warn you who brings this Message to you lest you add sin to sin till there be no place found for repentance for ye shall all know our God is the true God that made Heaven and Earth before whose presence all â—â—esh must come to Judgment By one who hath measured the Times who is come to the Day that hath made all Things mâ—…ifest EDWARD BURROUCH A General Epistle and Greeting OF THE Fathers Love tâ— all the SAINTS Called and chosen to faithfulness in Christ Jesus the Light of the World in which they believing and their faith standing in his Power many suffer for his Name sake And this is to all such as are found worthy to suffer and is an Exhortation to the strengthning of their
coming to take an account Your sins cry for vengeance against you and though your hands and tongues have been strengthened to speak and act ungodliness by the evil example of your Rulers yet your own iniquity shall you bear in the day of the Lord and though your Rulers and Judges have been strengthened in their unjustness and mercilesness by the false lying Teachers and Diviners of false visions which have seen vanity yet their own iniquity shall they bear and every man shall die for his own sin Wo unto your Teachers they have eaten up the sin of Rulers and people and covered iniquity and transgression by flattering and lying words they have daubed with untempered morter and healed up the wound deceitfully and cryed peace peace to the wicked that have walked in the imaginations of their own hearts when unto such the Lord never spake peace And now whereas the Rulers and people have stretched forth their hands to vex the Lords people have through unjust judgment and grievous oppressions and unmercifull dealings troden the Innocent under foot and made them a prey to their mouth and divers ways have persecuted in cruel manner the Followers of the Lamb yet also have the wise men of this World even the Priests and Teachers who have led the people and have caused them to err and have set themselves as in battel array against the Lord and his way and people How have you hardened your hearts and made your fore-head as brass against the Word of the Lord and you have been as the fountain of all this wickedness acted against the Just and strengtheners of the hands of ungodly men the Heads and Rulers you have strengthened in their cruelty of false judgments by your arguments of strife in subtilty you have been as nursers of all this Persecution and Wickedness and have interceded for oppression to cause the Just to groan whom the Lord hath raised to testifie against you the Judges they have given regard unto you and the people they have taken you for examples who have been cursed presidents to the Rulers and people who have followed your cruel steps of malice and envy and from the head to the tail they have drunk in your poysonous Doctrines and made themselves drunk therewith and out of reason in their furious zeal of madness and all have taken council together to slay the harmless from off the face of the Earth some by false judgment and oppression and others by cruel abusings as beatings and stonings unheard of or unequalized in Generations of late O ye Priests and Teachers and Wise-men and Scribes how many of you in this Nation joyned hand in hand to betray the Innocent by your false Doctrines and lying Divinations and have filled and sought to do so the mind of the people with slanders and false reproaches lying imaginations and many conceptions and jealousies against the people of God many of you have made it your study-work to bring forth evil by cunning Arguments to suggest into the hearts of people that they might not enter the Kingdom and even so have you been shutters of the Kingdom of Heaven against men and would not enter your selves nor suffer others that would Wo unto you you have taken away the Key of Knowledge and lost it and multitudes of false Aspersions and lying Assertions have you brought forth without fear by wicked consequence and lying productions that you might take away the key of knowledge thereby and hide it from men and lay stumbling-blocks of Iniquity before the people to stop the way of the Upright and you have travelled to seek occasions of evil against the Just and watched for the halting of the Innocent that you might glory and rejoyce in their fall and without any occasion by words or actious you have taken offence and made offences by evil surmisings to blind the eyes of people that your Idolatry might not be discovered nor the Way of Righteousness shine forth O be ashamed and repent for to account must you Come and the sin of Rulers and people whom you have blindy led will be charged against you who have given them wicked examples of cruelty in your Pulpits you have spent time in Railing and Slandering and Lying to infuse evil into the minds of men against the Truth and many books have you given forth and sent abroad from your lying Pens outof your vain studies of false prophesie and mens hearts have been filled with your damnable Doctrines of Devils wherewith the Simple have been poysoned and the Innocent betrayed even great numbers of Books and lying Scroules have gone through the Nation from some of you filled with false Divination and intents of evil against the Way of the Lord and his people and worse than Balaam and far exceeding him have you been you have sought eâ—chantments to curse the people whom God hath blessed altogether and some of you have done it to your evil reward of your evil work and you have not known that there is no divination against the holy Seed Oâ— what will become of you when the Lord is arisen to plead with you 〈◊〉 these things the cruelty and oppression of the Rulers shall be added 〈◊〉 your account and the sin of the people which you have swallowed down it shall be laid to your charge for you have strengthened the hands of Evil-doers so that none could turn from his evil way but have by yâ—… been hardened therein and from you prophaness have gone forth to the ends of the Earth Woe woe is approaching what account will yoâ— render in the day of the Lord you will all be speechless in that day whâ—… the swift Witness doth arise therefore to all you I am moved to write who have set your selves to gain-say the Truth and to write against the people of the Lord whom you call Quakers who walk in the Truth and have received the Truth from the Lord whom you have reproached and slandered in secret and also in open print in the face of the World and have laid many cruel and false Charges and Accusations against them and to all that hath or ever shall hereafter bend your tongues and pens to utter wickedness and falshood by writing or otherwise Repent and cease your wickedness for the wrath of the Lord is kindled against you and take this for an answer in full to all your Books and false reproaches we are of God and he that is of God heareth us and the whole World lies in wickedness and we have the Testimony that we please God and he is our God and we are his People and he hath Chosen us and we have Chosen him and the Name of the Lord is our strength and his Covenant of Life is with us and among us hath he fullfilled his promise and his Spirit is poured forth and sons and daughters do Prophesie and one King reigns upon mount Sion and the night to us is far spent and the day is
the Assembly and stood praying in the Synagogues and loved the uppermost rooms at Feasts and that were called of men Master and such like and the Apostle said such were Deceivers to take gifts and rewards and lucre and that loved unrighteous wages and that were Back-biters and false Accusers and Covetous and having a form of Godliness but denying the Power who ever taught and the people were not able to come to the knowledge of the truth with many other such like Now this is my appeal to all mens Consciences in the sight of God whether thou art not found under some of these Charracters at least or whether thou art not one in union and fellowship with such who act these things yea thou are among them and not crying against them and so art guilty of their sin though not as fully in the act as are some may be so that I doubt not but they who have not hardened their hearts and blinded their eyes will see how thou hast condemned thy self in confessing the truth and the time is coming that further it will be made manifest concerning thee only at present thou art sufficiently discovered to be out of the truth in the way of perdition and however though thou hast covered thy self as much as is possible from the stroke of thy own hand and from the guilt of thy own confession yet Ioh. Burton thou hast condemned an hundred I think of Independant Ministers so called thy brethren who are known to be found guilty of those things all or most of them which thou confessest are marks of a false Prophet and while thou bidst us examine our selves thou art the man or among them that are proved truly guilty He saith He is not come to one of the dayes of the thousand years of Satans being chained and this is truly confessed and so he is in the Reign and Government of the Devil and Satan is not bound but at liberty in him as it well appears and Christs reign is not known and so it must needs be true that he is of the Army of the Dragon against the Lamb. Some of the same Members with him said in Bedford That they scorned that Light which convinceth of sin which the Quakers speak of Further most falsly I am charged by him with railing against the Lord Jesus which is absolute false my words are spoken in fear and reverence of the Lord Jesus Reader these things I leave to thee to be judged of his false Slander and his Damnable Doctrines and wicked lying Accusations and Contradictions which his nine sheets of paper is filled with as if he had set himself to lye and slanders and speak wickedly against the truth which is over him and is a testimony against him and though opposed by him yet not confounded but him it confounds and by it he shall be judged and condemned and the time comes when further he may be made manifest if this be not sufficient out of the abundance of his heart hath his wicked Tongue uttered these things which are but a little of what lodges in him but let him prove these things first and then utter more AND now Iohn Bunion thou and thy false Witnesses and all thy Company and brethren in iniquity Remember and repent for the day of your visitation is upon you blessed were you if you could receive it before it be spent not to be recalled and before the long suffering of God come to an end and you be shut up in utter darkness And indeed friends the day hastens wherein every man shall receive according to his deeds he that hath done evil shal not be cloaked and he that hath done good shall not be uncovered in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open and searched with the eternal Eye the end of my work is to clear the Truth and the Way thereof God is witness from thy slanderous and lying and perverting Tongue and only I reprove thee by the Spirit of the Lord and so leaves thee to receive thy reward from the Just God of righteous Judgement who upon thy head wilâ— render vengeance in flames of Fire in his dreadfull day which upon thee comes suddenly even when thou and you cries peace peace then shall destruction come as an armed man from which thou shalt not fly to escape though now you all be hardened against the Lord and his Way and Truth and hath even bent thy Tongue for Lyes and hath reproached the Innocent to the piâ—â—cing of thy own soul and one day shalt thou know it therefore bow and tremble before the Lord God thou and all thy Companions a Lyar and Slanderer thou art a Perverter and Wrester of the right Way of God and of the Scriptures a Hypocrite and Dissembler a holder forth of damnable Doctrines an envious man and false Accuser condemning another falsly in what thy self is fully guilty of these things I lay to thy charge justly in the presence of the Lord God and upon thy account are they reckoned by him and proved by testimony in the sight of man and may be more fully hereafter if any thing be wanting and one day shalt thou feel the burthen of them though now thou be above shame and all thy Lyes Slanders Deceits Confusions Hypocrisies Contradictions and damnable Doctrines of Devils with impudency held forth by thee shall be consumed in the Pit of Vengeance and then shall the Witness in thy Conscience justifie the Lord in condemning thee and me to be true in reproving thee and this I say to thee and you all the Living God you know not nor his Son Jesus Christ but are Enemies to God and * persecuters of the Lord of Life and shall perish among the Uncircumcised Ye false Witnesses and wicked Helpers you may be ashamed of your testimony subscribed at the beginning of his lying scribble will you yet say through Grace those things are true the rather stop your mouthes in the dust who hath offended the Lord more then defended him or your selves and be ashamed in the presence of God and man much more may be said hereafter to lay you further open if you yet harden your hearts in your wickedness but I do rather reprove you then strive with you and rather desires your return to God then your Condemnation by him and with this I shall end and by what is said in short is sufficient to manifest you and Iohn Bunion to all honest people what Generation you are of and that you are guided by a lying and unclean spirit and that you are doing the Devils works in gain-saying the Way of Truth and Righteousness by your multitude of Lyes and Slanders and damnable Doctrines and what ever you account or falsly judge of me yet am I true though as a Deceiver and the Lords Servants and a Witness for him and against all your Lyes and Slanders and Wickedness hatched amongst you and brought forth by a lying Orator whom you have
but one the same to day yesterday and forever who is the Foundation of God and abides forever was preached unto you all to be the Way the Truth the Life and Salvation and there is none besides him why then are there Divisions amongst you and some for one and some for another And herein are you carnal and your minds abroad and not'staid upon him which gives the increase and all this is to be judged with the Life of God Wherefore I beseech you in the Fear of the Lord as you love him and his Glory yea as you love your own souls Come to the Light which lets you see all this and condemns it and strive not one with another nor exalt not your selves one above another but let all that be condemned and all your evil Surmisings and foolish Jealousies separate Worshippings Backbitings be brought to Judgment and let condemnation pass upon it all never more to appear to hinder your Fellowship with the Lord and know the Life of God in you all which is but one which is not at strife nor divided and let that arise that all Vails may be taken off and Hardness of heart judged and the Countenance of the Lord may shine upon you when that exalted spirit which has appear'd in some is brought down of which I charge you all to beware lest there be a total departing from the Lord and his Name be reproached through you among the Heathen and it had been better for such they had never been born Therefore I say unto you all lay it to heart till the Judgments of the Lord take it away and purifie your hearts from all these things which ariseth out of that which is not of the Father that my joy may be renewed who have been in travel for you tell Christ be formed in you that he alone may rule in you over all those things which are at enmity against the Life and hinders your growâ—â— And if you yet harden your heart against Reproof who are stubborn well the Lord will ease him of his Adversaries and break you as a Potter's Vessel And though you oppress the Life of God for a moment yet my Peace with him â—â—â—ll these things never take away but over all these things I tread am not offendâ—â— in him who is my Peace forever And though those things cause sadness of heart yet the Lord giveth no cause of Sorrow to them that are faitful to him but will arise to confound all Deceit and Deceitful Workers who err from his Way and count the Knowledge of his Wayes a Burden and of you all though you perish I am clear who am not hated of the Lord though falsly judged by his Enemies over whom I trample as the Dust and the Living God gives Victory over you all I am not of this World E. B. Something of TRUTH Made Manifest In Relation to a Dispute at Draton in the County of Middlesex in the first Moneth last In Opposition to the False Account given of it by one Philip Taverner in his Book stiled The QUAKERS ROUNDS OR A Faithful Account c. FOrasmuch as one who hath I suppose ambitiously stiled himself Mr. Philip Taverner hath taken in hand to set forth to the view of the World an Account and Relation of a Dispute hapning in the eleaventh Moneth last at Draton near Colebrook to which Relation I am a little engaged to write something by way of answer thereunto that all people may know the Truth and being the Truth is somewhat concerned herein that is the Reason wherefore I have taken in hand to write a little by way of answer to his Relation being without any prejudice towards the man as concerning any Wrong he hath done to me though me as well as the Truth he hath wronged as may appear to such who desire to know the Truth It 's true a publique dispute I had the time and place mentioned with a company of Priests and this same Philip Taverner was one of them and the occasion of the Dispute was thus I being a few weeks before at a Meeting with some Friends in the said Town one Richard Goodgroom in his relation mentioned was present at the hearing of what was spoken but at that time did not object any thing though afterwards in London and other places he went up and down in a backbiting manner and gave forth That I had held forth blasphemous Doctrines or the like whereupon I much desir'd a Dispute for the tryal of those things and it was accomplished and that day the Truth was much made manifest and Deceit confounded And as to all the things objected against me by Richard Goodgroom which he would have seemed to have taken great occasion thereby as if some great matter of Heresie and Error had been utter'd by me I say the very Truth of all these things was demonstrated according as I had laid them down and his Arguments against them made of none effect And though such as hardened their Hearts might go unsatisfied and in greater Unbelief then they came yet I am sure the Upright-hearted and such as desired the knowledge of the Truth were wholy satisfied and this many can give Testimony of with me And though by his Relation it may appear otherwise to some yet wherein he hath related falsly it shall fall upon his own head and his Folly shall truly more appear in the End then he would have or seem to cause any in me to appear at this present and so he might with more Credit to himself been silent then to have meddled in that wherein he hath shewed himself so imperfect For I believe That this same Philip Taverner hath given a Relation of four times as much as he did speak at that Meeting and hath related as though he spake that which he never uttered by so many times fo much as I have said and hath not related so much by many times as was spoken by me and them of my part as many may witness Which Work of his seems not to be perfect neither yet altogether honest as sober Men may judge but such a thing must redown more to his own Dishonour then to the Truth 's Disadvantage And first As to the Title of his false Relation which is stiled The Quakers Rounds or A Faithful Account c. To this I answer That the very Frontispiece and Title of his Book savours of a vain light scornful spirit and so every Spiritual Man may judge of it to be so But why dost thou Philip Taverner say A Faithful Account but that to confirm Falshood with audacious words having a shew of Confidence upon it thereby the more easily to enter ento the Hearts of the People as if it were irreprovable coming also from the hand and under the hand of a Mr. Philip c. having so stil'd thy self to make thy Fame great and to publish thy Work under a seeming Authority but hadst thou had more Humility less
Church come up in the Apostacy and these things we have to argue with them if the Heads of them will admit dispute otherwise to charge these things upon them from the Lord and by his Authority and if they do any of them receive our Testimony and turn from their Idols and be converted unto the Truth they may be happy but if they shall reject our Testimony and not believe the Truth then shall they the more be fitted for Destruction and the Day of their Destruction the sooner approacheth and the Lord shall be clear of their Blood and our Reward shall be with us from God for our Testimony shall not return to us in vain but shall accomplish its end wherefore it is sent and the Word of the Lord by us shall either convert to God and to the Truth that they may be saved or shall through rejecting of it harden the Heart against God and against the Truth that they may the more justly be condemned and the Lord and his Servants be the more clear and no other thing saving this do we promise to our selves as the success of our endeavours and not so much in relation to the men of our English Nation are we come though the Gospel of Salvation is freely come to them also that they may be freed from the Captivity of Sin and Death and we may not work nor cause any disturbance or grief to any of them further then what they may take at us for the Truth 's sake or for declaring it in the fear of God and without any just cause given by us to any of you or them though we dare not promise to you nor our selves what we will do or what we will not do onely this we say if the transgression of any just Law can be charged upon us we refuse not to suffer what shall be imposed and this we do believe that the Lord will so keep us and order us by his Spirit of Truth and carry us in Meekness and Righteousness towards you while we stay amongst you be it weeks or moneths that you will have no just occasion against us by any Offence justly ministred by us and if you do take occasion against us without any just cause given be it upon your selves to your own Shame and Condemnation in the sight of God and men for we are clear onely this we do give unto the Lord and cannot unto Men the exercise of our Consciences and to be obedient unto the Teachings of his Spirit in all things as he shall guide and lead us and if he commands to do or not to do any thing and you the contrary we must obey him though we disobey you for its better to obey God then Man and when he bids speak in what Place or Season soever we may not be silent for to keep our Consciences clear in the sight of God in all things by Obedience to him is our care and study and that which we are given up to do and if you set your selves to gain-say this it will turn to your own destruction for no other promise then this can we make for our selves but to do and speak amongst you as the Lord our God shall move us and lead us and this Testimony we do bear for the Lord he doth not move us nor lead us to any thing saving to what is Just Good and Holy which may tend to the Happiness and Peace and Welfare of your Souls and Bodies also and in the Father's will we stand and as we came in his Will so we cannot submit to stay or go at any Man's will save the Lord 's alone And as concerning our coming and staying and Work here this is a sober account to you which may satisfie you and any sober and reasonable men And as concerning our being with you yesternight many things passed from some of you and your Ministers chiefly to which I had a great desire to have answered and to have cleared the things objected against us but time and his patience afforded not the opertunity therefore now this I do propound about the Call to the Ministry which was the thing in dispute to which I then could freely have spoken whether he will give me and us a fair meeting in some publick Place that is convenient for your selves to hear and be judge between us to discourse this Matter viz what the true Call to the Ministry is which is truely according to the Scripture and that to be laid down first and then to compare his Call to his Ministry and also his Call to Dunkirk with what the true Call is which is allowed of and approved in the Scriptures and also to compare our Call to the Ministry and even our call to Dunkirk with what the true Call of Christ s Ministers was as declared in the Scriptures that it may be seen whether his Call or our Call is the most different from or agreeable to the Scriptures and even the Light in your own Consciences shall be Judge between us in this Cause and upon such an Issue upon a just Determination would we gladly joyn tryal and such a Meeting upon such Grounds and Proceedings may tend to satisfie your selves and many more and such a Meeting I do fully desire with your consent and concurrence who may preserve the people in Peace and Soberness that all may be â—dified in the things of so great moment as this is For if he can prove his Call to the Ministry to be such as was the Apostles and Ministers in the true Christian Churches before the Apostacy then shall we own him and not deny him but if he cannot do this and if we can do it on our own behalf in the Power and Spirit of the Lord then may you and all men judge who are the true Ministers of Christ and who are the Deceivers And this manner of proceedings would deside all Doubts in you about us and we shall be clear in manifesting the Truth concerning the true Ministry and the false and the difference between them in their Call in their Practice and in their Maintenance And this is sent to you to read and consider of in the Fear of God as the Testimony of our Love to you and the Truth that you may take heed to your wayes and we would receive first your Answer whether you do consent and will allow such a Meeting and secondly his Answer whether he will undertake such a Dispute and we further are ready to clear all Doubts that may remain in you about us who are your Friends and desire your Prosperity and Faithfulness in what the Lord calls you unto By Edward Burroughs Samuel Fisher. And the same day we went to the Capuchine Fryars and had some Discourse with the chiefest of them in their Garden concerning the Light of Christ that every man is lighted withal and we did declare to them of the Mighty Day of the Lord that was at hand upon them and the Lord
God who are thus made free whose Sins are remitted and Iniquity covered and the Life rules and reigns and hath overcome Death and Death is swallowed up of Life and this is the Promise of God which must be fulfilled in you that ye may possess the Treasure of God in your Hearts and be Feeling-Witnesses of Immortality your Hands must handle the Word and you must taste and feel and see the Word of Life within you and you must find the Pearl and your own Lamps must have Oyl in them for people have long been running without after men Lo here and Loe there and have been applying the Promises in the wrong nature but now people must turn to the Light of Christ within them for Christ is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World and this Light must men follow and then they shall not walk in Darkness but shall have the Light of Life and men must walk in the Light and then the Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin and men must believe in the Light and then they shall be the Children of the Light and then Light shall shine out of Darkness and the Light that shines in their hearts shall give them the Light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So Friends love the Light and walk in the Light for it is the Light within that lets men see whether their Deeds are wrought in God or contrary to him the Light within will let you see of what nature your Works are whether of the corrupt nature or of the Divine Nature for all mens Works are of the one of these and all the Works that spring from the corrupt nature are but Abomination unto God though they appear never so Righteous and that Righteousness which is of Man cannot be justified before the Lord but man must be a Partaker of God's Righteousness of an uncreated Righteousness and that will cover all his Infirmities and in that only can man be presented Righteous unto God So Friends Wait to be Witnesses of this Righteousness that you may be cloathed with it and may be stripped off all your own which is but as filthy Rags and will not hide mans Nakedness but his Righteousness and his Sin must be condemned together and God must be known to work to will and to do in the Creature and this is God's Righteousness for which you must all wait that you may be Heirs of it and Possessors of it unto your Eternal Peace and live in the Fear of the Lord and be not immoderate nor excessive in any thing nor let your hearts be drawn away with the Creatures for then you commit Idolatry and are overcome of this World and you want the Authority of God and are in Bondage unto the Creatures and they defile you and burden you in that state while your Minds are captivated with them So Friends Mind God's Wisdom amongst you that it may lead you in all things and live in Love and Unity one with another and let no Strife be amongst you nor Contention for that will destroy you and eat out true Love and your Hearts will be hardened but bear one with another and be in Patience and Long-suffering one towards another and then the Presence of the Lord will fill your Hearts with Satisfaction and you will be comforted in God and one in another if Love and Unity be amongst you in the Spirit And meet together in the Name and Fear of the Lord and mind the Lord's Presence amongst you mind not words but mind the Presence of the Lord and feel his Power in your hearts and the words that come from the Power will refresh the Seed of God but if any speak words out of the Power the Seed of God will be burdened and will judge such words So every one feed upon the Bread of Life that comes from God and feel the Water of Life springing up in your Hearts that you may grow unto God as Plants of Righteousness and may make your Calling and Election sure So dwell in the Light and take up the daily Cross of Christ and walk not in the Flesh but in the Spirit and so shall the Blessings of the Lord be upon you My dear Love even the same Love wherewith I am loved of my Father doth salute you all and the Seed of God in you that I know and to that am I known who am a Brother and Companion unto all the Faithfull and Upright Edw. Burroughs Let this be coppied over and sent abroad and read in all your Meetings Good Counsel AND ADVICE Rejected by Disobedient Men And the Days of Cromwell's Visitation passed over And also Of Richard Cromwell his Son late Protectors of these Nations And the many Precious Warnings neglected by them and set 〈◊〉 nought which from time to time were given unto them as declared in these following Letters whereby all may see the Kindness of the Lord towards them by his Faithful Invitations to them and their own Apostacy and Carelesness who rejected Warning till the Time and Day of their Visitation is shut up with the Vail of Darkness and Reproach which lies over them and their precious Day of Love is spent and cannot be re-called To the READER FRiend Out of the same Love from whence these were written do I put them to publick view and it was not without much Doubtings and Questioning in my own spirit 〈◊〉 at last having found perfect Freedom and Strength from the Lord knâ—… that I am 〈◊〉 and frâ—â— altogether of other Ends saving then for the Honoâ—â— of the Truth and that all may see that the Dâ—â—nfalls of these â—en were not before sufficient Warnings which makes the Lord free 〈◊〉 his Servant free from what is coâ—â— to pass upon them and even their Fall lies upon their own heads that dispised the Lords Warnings and would none of his Counsel but suffered the Innocent to be oppressed under their Power and relieved not the Heritage of the Lord from her Cruel Enemies though they had Power to do it but 〈◊〉 their own glory and how to be established in greatness in the Earth till that â—he Lord 〈◊〉 cast them â—ut and made them as a Reproach And these things that have come to pass 〈◊〉 them may be as Warnings to all other Rulers that do succeed them and they may 〈◊〉 that the Lord is 〈◊〉 and his Iudgments Righteous and whosoever shall follow their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be Oppressâ—â—s of the Lord's Heritage as they were the Lord shall extend his Iudgments 〈◊〉 them also and their Destruction shall come even like as upon thâ—se before them Therefore let all the Earth be warned I am a Lover of Sion For the hands of the Protector FRIEND MAny Wâ—rnings hast thou had from the Mouth of the Lord his Love hath been towards thee and the glorious Day of his Visitation hath shined over thy head wherein he hath called unto thee to hear
season they will fall and perish of themselves and the Good Old Way and Truth and the pure Religion only will remain and let them cry one against another and rebuke one another and meddle not thou with that but only let thy Laws and Authority preserve mens Persons and Estates from the Wrong one of another that all men may live peaceably under thee and no man wrong his Neighbour's Person or Estate and that 's only thy Place to rule in outward Affairs but not to Rule over any mans Conscience to compel him to such a Worship or to limit from such a Worship in Religion that belongs not to thee but to the Lord who alone will be the Ruler and Guide and Exerciser of his People's Consciences and if thou dost meddle therein thou shalt not prosper nor be blessed in thy Deed So leave the establishing of Religion to the Lord and let all these Sects manifest if any of them have the Spirit and Power of God in them and with them and let them shew their Weapons of the Spirit for only such as have the Power and Spirit of God in them will overcome and such will be increased and grow and thou nor none can hinder and such that want the Power and Spirit of God in and with them may flourish in their Form for a while but they will be blasted and wither and it s in vain for thee or any to uphold such or endeavour to establish them but if thou meddlest on these accounts it will undo thee and confound thee therefore be wise and know what the Lord requires of thee perfectly for if thou leavest that undone which God requires then shalt thou be condemned and if thou dost that which he requires not then shalt thou not be free And this is written in Love to thee to inform thy mind how to walk towards the Lord and the People over whom he hath set thee And as for the maintaining of Ministers Let that alone also and be not troubled about it for it was ever the false Prophets and Deceivers that preached for Hire and went after Gifts and Rewards and sought Money and Gifts of people and they that do the same now were never sent of God nor are they such as shall convert people to God for who are true Ministers of Christ will not seek to thee nor to men for Wages nor Tythes nor Money but live of the Gospel and not compel great sums of Money from people to maintain them in their Families in Pride in Fulness and Idleness such things are great Oppressions in this Nation and a horrible filthy thing in the Sight of God and because thereof will the Lord's Judgments come upon the Land If thou wert but rightly sensible what casting into Goals and what suing at Law of poor People and what spoiling Peoples Goods by Restraint and all for and about Tythes and Priests Wages it would make thee admire the Wickedness of that Generation but do thou let them alone for they do shame themselves and undo themselves and lose the Hearts of all good People by their own doings and stand over them all in God's Authority and know a measure of the Spirit of God in thy own heart and thereby thou wilt discern and try and judge of the spirits of all men and their Religion and the Spirit will lead thee in the pure Religion to worship God in Spirit and in Truth So let not thy mind be cumbred at all about establishing Religion nor about maintaining the Ministers but be faithful to what the Lord requires of thee and learn his Will and do it and then thou wilt be Blessed and Honoured in this world and in the World to come And Friend Know thou that the Lord is doing of a great Work in these Nations he is raising up a Seed to serve him and to worship him aright and the God of Heaven is setting up a Kingdom over all the kingdoms of the World and he hath a Controversie with all sorts of people in as much as Corruption and Degeneration is entred amongst all and all must be purged of all Orders of men and the Evil cast out the Work of the Lord is Great and Mighty and he requires no help of thee nor any man whatsoever for his own Arm will bring it to pass yet he would not have thee to gain-say his Work and strive against it and seek to quench what the Lord is bringing forth if thou dost it then shalt thou be condemned and the Lord will speedily execute his Judgments and Remove thee and overthrow thy Power and Authority into Destruction wherefore be passive in this matter and look thou at the Lord and protect and defend mens Persons and Estates from Wrong but meddle not with their opinions and professions in Religions to exalt any of them nor yet to persecute them And thus Friend according as it lay upon me from the Lord I have written this unto thee in dear and pure Love God is Witness and I have cleared my Conscience to thee thus far and if thou fall by thy own Transgression it will lie upon thy self I have warned thee and I am clear and if thy Fall comes remember thou wast advised Who am a Lover of Iustice and True Iudgment and a Friend to this Common-Wealth and to thee wisheth well in the Lord E. B. London the 18th of the 8th Moneth 1658. This was delivered to him in the Eighth Moneth 1658. To the Protector and his Council THE Lord God will shortly make you know that we are his People though we be accounted as Sheep for the Slaughter yet our King of Righteousness will break you to pieces if you harden your Hearts and Repent not And seeing that Love will not draw thee neither the Gentle Leadings of our God have any place in you yet Judgment shall awaken you and his heavy Hand of Indignation shall lie upon your Cousciences and you will be scatterred and distracted to pieces E B. This was written in White-Hall in the Tenth Moneth 1658. to Richard and his Council For the Parliament YE that sit in Counsel that are assembled for the Nations Good hear ye the Word of the Lord God which is towards you all Rememember the Cause of God and of his People remember the Groanings of the Poor and give ear to the Cry of the Oppressed and relieve the Guiltless Sufferers and break the Bonds of Iniquity and let the Oppressed go free do this lest you perish And remember the Old Good Cause that is decayed and hath long been laid waste let it be once more revived in the Nations that God may bless you Remember the first Engagement which was for Freedom and suffer not the Exercise of pure Conscience to be trodden down by Oppressors but seek ye seek ye the Glory of the Lord and the Safety of his People and the Freedom of such as are oppressed and be not ye Oppressors nor Adders to the Sufferings of the
seeing the danger is such to you-wards in that place even more then to some others therefore is my soul engaged to admonish and instruct and Pray for your preservation unto the end that ye may walk as the Lords and to his glory 3. And also my desires are for you that blessings and Peace may be multiplied unto you and that you may walk in the Wisdom and Power of the Lord in this respect that Truth may be honoured and crown'd with dominion and Authority and good report in that great City by your faithfulness and patience and diligence and all the fruits of righteousness for as many temptations do attend you as I have said before so also many eyes are upon you beholding what you are and what you do and what will become of you and if you Walk in Faithfulness and Righteousness and be preserved unto the Lord in boldness and valour for his Names sake this will magnifie the Truth and crown it with honour and strengthen and comfort many that are weak and be a joy to all the upright and it will confound your Enemies and put them to shame and limit the unreasonable spirit of the power of darkness when our enemies see your just faithful righteous and inoffensive manner of walking in all things And therefore for this cause my heart is engaged to pray for you seeing the eyes of many are upon you to mark your wayes and doings and what will be the end And now dearly beloved as by the free grace and kindness of God ye are called unto this Calling and are renewed and changed into the Life of Righteousness so it is by the same Grace and Power of the Father that ye must stand and be preserved unto the end for by Grace and Faith we all stand even through Diligence Faithfulness and Watchfulness in the same Grace being obedient unto its teachings and fruitful in its motions and walking by its Rule in meekness and lowliness of heart in sincerity and godly Fear not being or doing any thing of our selves distinct or divided from this Grace but being and doing all things through the Grace of God dwelling in us and this is the highest Perfection of Saints Every ones highest state admits of Watchfulness and Faithfulness and Obedience and to Hearken to the Lord and do his Will in all things and whatsoever is of our selves and related to the outward World may be kept in Subjection by his Power that he alone may Rule and be exalted in Heaven and Earth and in all things what we are and what we do And wait upon the Lord that ye may be established and settled in the Truth and that ye may be confirmed therein forever as being natural Heirs of the possession of Grace and Truth to do and walk and live according to his will being so inherited never to go forth any more and able to say Nothing can separate us from the Love of God not Death nor Life nor any other thing For I would put you in mind and ye also know it How that many have been touched in their Heart with the sense of the Lord and his Love yea and many have enjoyed of the good Gift of God and walked with us for a time that have not remained unto the End but have started aside from the Lord and been overcome with the Temptations of this World even to the forsaking of the Way of Truth and Righteousness and such have dishonoured the Lord and forfeited their Peace and Inheritance in God and become hardened in their Hearts and dead to God and the Latter-end of such hath been worse then their Beginning though yet for a time such walked with us and tasted of the good Gifts of God yet are become Reprobate because their Hearts have not been firm and constant and sound and approved to God but of an Evil Frame and Temper of Spirit Ambitious Vain-glorious Self-seeking and such like which spirit could not retain the Gift of God but abused it and perverted it from it proper End And therefore dearly beloved it is exceeding precious to have a Heart and Spirit tryed and approved of the Lord a good and honest Heart an upright and contrite Spirit for that will abide in Faithfulness unto God through all Tribulations and Tryals if the Heart be right in the sight of God whatsoever the Knowledge be or whether the Gifts be little or great yet the Lord's Presence is there and such are blessed so that it s not enough only to have a touch and taste of the Loving kindness of God but every one must be established therein in an approved Heart and tryed Spirit which can endure all things and not be shaken nor moved and its only that kind of Spirit which is Meek and Lowly Sincere and Upright which is established in the Truth and which only can remain unmovable And according to the ancient Doctrine of Christ which ye have believed every one must look to your own particular standing and must feel your own particular Joy Peace and Comfort and must receive the assurance of Life in your own Souls for it is an Everlasting Word Every one must stand by their own by what they feel and enjoy of Eternal Life in their own Hearts that only is every ones Security and Assurance in the Kingdom of Peace and Glory And it is the height of Perfection To have the Seal of the Spirit of God in our Consciences witnessing to us That we are the Lord's and Blessed are they that have this Testimony even that of the Spirit of the Father which is the Everlasting Comforter against all Sorrow and the Perfect Seal against all Doubts and the sure Guide against all Opposition This is the Office of the Spirit of the Lord and its Work in the Hearts of his Children Therefore my Advice is to you as from the beginning Look to your own to your own Measure of the Gift of Grace and Truth that only stands when all Wandrings after men and things fall and in that is your security as I have said And let your Conversations and Walkings be such as becometh the Gospel of Christ in all Faithfulness and Righteousness that you may be an Honour to the Lord in your Generation for this only have we to do in this World even to shew forth his Praise and Glory who hath created us in Christ Jesus All things in relation to Truth are well in these Couâ—…ies the Dominion of Truth is set up over the Heads of the Wicked and it is a Terror to its Enemies and the Joy of all Good men and Friends are Faithful in the Power of the Lord and look over this World to the World that hath no End and their Hope and Confidence is in that and Meetings are generally quiet and the Presence of the Lord is amongst his People And thus to the Grace Power and Wisdom of the Lord God are ye committed who is the only Preserver of his Children Grace and Peace
then they forgot God and regarded not to perform their Engagements neither to God nor his People for which cause the Lord cut them off in his sore displeasure and brought an utter Desolation upon them according to the words of his Servants and this Prophet of God lived to see their Desolation come which was sad to behold and his Prophesies were fulfilled in his own dayes And he also warned the present Rulers of this Nation to take heed of walking in the Steps of them that are gone before and for these things and for the publishing of the Truth of God and for bearing his Testimony with boldness against all Oppression and Cruelty he was hated of the men of this Generation but chiefly by some of the Rulers of the City of London He sealed his Testimony with his life in Bonds and so they have wilfully brought innocent Blood upon themselves and heavy will it lie upon them in the day of Account which greatly hastens wherein the Lord God will make inquisition for the Blood of the Innocent and reward every man according to his Deeds then will his Blood be upon you as the Blood of a thousand men and how will you bear your Sentence from the Lord of Hosts because you will be found guilty of the Blood of his Prophets Messengers and Servants which he sent unto you in love to your Souls to fore-warn you of the Evil which greatly hastens to come upon you Yet notwithstanding you have done all these things and the cry of Innocent Blood hath been heard so loud amongst you yet have you hardened your Hearts and go on in stiff-neckedness and persist in your Cruelty towards the Servants of the Lord that are left behind and are found casting them into Prison Oh wo is me for you where will a place be found for you in the day of the Lord or what Covering will you hide your selves under Or how will you appear before the Righteous God of Heaven and Earth Have you no consideration in you of your latter end Or else do you believe that the Lord sees not your Cruelty towards his People that you will not answer his requirings which is to do Justly and love Mercy and walk Humbly with the Lord and to do unto all men as you would they should do unto you surely if the consideration of these things were in your hearts or if you had any regard to keep your Consciences clear in the sight of God herein you could never do as you have done Wherefore consider these things and lay them to heart and repent speedily lest you sin your day away and place of repentance there cannot be found For this I tell you plainly that it is in vain for you to strive against the Lord or to seek to stop or hinder his Work which he hath begun for he will be too strong for you and he will make you bow and bend to his own Name and Power whether you will or no. And though he bear with you long and suffer you long yet his Long-suffering will come to an end and though you should be permitted to fulfill your envious Wills and lustfull Desires so far as to Banish or Kill or Destroy us from off the Earth yea all of us who are now in being which I do not believe ever shall be yet would God raise up another People by the same Power and Spirit in and by which we stand which should be a Terror unto you and should possess God's Everlasting Kingdom which is not of this World over your heads And in the time of his outward weakness he was heard to say That though this Body of Clay must return to the Dust yet I have this Testimony that I have served God in my Generation and that Spirit which hath lived and acted and ruled in me shall yet break forth in thousands and my faith is That it shall be even so for we have found him a true Prophet amongst us and to the Nations And this also near his departure he was heard to desire of the Lord That if it were possible to forgive Brown c. And so let all Friends be encouraged to wait upon the Lord in the feeling of the same Spirit that was in him which we know is the Saints Comforter that thereby you may be carried through all Tribulations and Persecutions with chearfulness that in the end you may all receive the Crown of Everlasting Righteousness with him and the rest of the Saints of the most High God and holy Prophets and Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so the Lord God Almighty of Heaven and Earth be with you all and keep you all in faithfulness unto the end Amen And this is my Testimony for that Man of God who hath been a Blessing to the Lord in his Generation and also to this Nation And in this I have eased my Spirit and am clear in my Conscience in the Sight of God having done that which was my duty to do Josiah Coale A Testimony of George Fox Concerning Edward Burroughs HIS Name is Chronicled in the Lamb's Book of Life a Righteous Plant Pure Chaste Clean Who can tax him for Oppressing them or Burdening them or being Chargeable to them Who through the Suffering hath finished his Course and Testimony who is now crowned with the Crown of Life and Reigns with the Lord Christ forever and ever And in his Ministry in his Life-time he went through Sufferings by bad spirits who never turn'd his Back on the Truth nor his Back from any out of the Truth A Valiant Warrior more then a Conqueror who hath got the Crown through Death and Sufferings who is dead but yet liveth amongst us and amongst us is alive George Fox A Warning from the Lord To the Inhabitants of Underbarrow and so to all the Inhabitants in ENGLAND Where it shall meet with them who holds up the false Teachers and false Worship and who beat stock stone and persecute and hale out of their Assemblies those who are sent by the Lord to speak his Word freely With an Exhortation that they haste to meet the Lord by true repentance by putting off the works of darkness lest the Lord cut them assunder by his Sword which is already drawn and put into the hands of his Servants Also a word to my Brethren and Companions in tribulation in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ who are by the World scornfully called Quakers With the manner of my passage through the dark World wherein the simple ones may see the deceits of the man of sin in his actings like the true Spirit to warn all to follow the true Light within which leads unto God and to beware of the Voice Lo here and Lo there TO all you the Inhabitants of Underbarrow profane ones and Professors you my Neighbours and Country men according to the flesh but Strangers as in the spirit to you all who are in the customary formal traditional Worship of
deny both the written Word which is your Rule and Reason too for we appeal from both Answ. Art thou not ashamed to say The Scripture is thy Rule who art found a Lyar and a false Accuser thy Rule shall try thee and shall bear witness against thee when God judgeth thee by Jesus Christ for neither by the Scripture nor thy corrupt reason canst thou know the things of God who art a natural man in the fall in the World without God But again I say let any try us in our lives and in our practices and if we speak or act contrary to the Scripture judge us by it but thy eye is blinded and when thou feest the Scripture fulfilled even crying out as a Woman in travel thou calls it uncouth howling and a spirit contrary to the Scripture and how art thou able to try who art blind and deaf in the mystery of the Kingdom of God for thy reason must never enter unto God but is shut out and in seeing thou seest not and in hearing thou dost not understanst and upon thee herein is the Scripture fulfilled And whereas thou sayest We will not have Christ to rule over us for we deny both his Person and Word which is the Rule of Life and Love I answer O thou Lyar God shall judge thee let shame cover thee and let thy own Conscience convince thee of thy Lyes and Slanders against the Innocent Christ Jesus is our Head and we are of his Body and his Word is sweet unto us even our life and rule of life and by him we see thee to be an Enemy to him and from him I judge thee not his Word but the spirit of the Devil is thy rule for he is the Ruler and Father of Lyes and Lyars and thy Portion thou must have with him in the Lake and what thou sayest of us it shall stand for thy own Condition thou wilt not have Christ to rule over thee who lives in thy lust and carnal mind without the fear of God which Christ comes to destroy in all that witness him And whereas thou sayest In the Name of God thou proclaimest That those men that disown the written Word are not Spiritual men they may have the Spirit of Antichrist Answ. Thou hast nothing to proclaim from God but as the false Prophets had other mens words and also I say if thou find any that disown the Scripture we also disown such and do say they are not spiritual men but have the spirit of Antichrist and of this number thou art guided by the spirit of Antichrist who art a Lyar and a false Accuser which is contrary to the Spirit of Christ and art without Faith and so art unreasonable in the corrupt reason without pure and undefiled Reason And whereas thou sayest Who but the spirit of Antichrist durst countermand the Commands of our Law-giver the Lord Iesus Christ I answ The Commands of Christ are Spiritual and in and by the Spirit and not traditional from the Letter without and Antichrist may conform to the Command without as the Pharisees did and yet be an Enemy to the Life and Substance of his Commands and this is thy own condition as it was the Pharisees who said He destroyed the Law who came to fulfil it as thou sayest We make void and deny the Commands of Christ when as we are Witnesses of them and directs all unto the fulfilling of them and thy spirit here is tryed to be the spirit of Antichrist the same which was in them which persecuted Christ and thou raylst and slanderest his Members And whereas thou sayest There were never any men appeared in the World so like those that Peter speaketh of in his second Epistle and these desire to overthrow the Writings of the Spirit of God I answ Peter spoke of such as thou art for as a Cloud carryed about with a Tempest thou art and a Well without water and defilest the flesh and dispisest the Saints dignity and speakest great swelling words of Vanity whilst thou thy self art a Servant of corruption serving the Devil by lying and falsly accusing and that we desire to overthrow the Writings of the Spirit of God thou art a Lyar for we go about to establish them and declares of him who is the Substance of them and God will reward thee according to thy deeds Who also accuseth us of unseemly Kissing in Glasiers-hall thou sayest if Mr Pope do not belye us I answer This is another Lye which proceeds from thee let all the honest hearted which ever have frequented our Assembly at that Place testifie against thee and Pope and your father the Devill whom by lying you serve and that no unseemly Actions have proceeded from us but Sobriety and Civility and unseemly Actions shall stand for thy own condition they are such as thy self who commits unseemly brawling and folly and vain contending against the Truth in Glasiers-hall as many Honest-hearted will witness against you and for us who have seen your base actions as Scorning and Flouting in that Place and so here you your selves are guilty of the Wontonness which Peter speaks of and of aluring through the lust of the flesh which thou slanderously wouldst cast it upon us And thou further sayest None ever promised to themselves so much liberty as these and the Ranters in being freed from the power and tryal of the Word I answer Both the Ranters and thee we do absolutely deny and testifie against you both to be in the enmity against God and against us who are his Servants Thou before didst rank us with the Papists and now among the Ranters but herein the Scripture is fulfilled upon us as they have done unto Christ so they do unto us he was numbred among Transgressors by the Generation of painted Sepulchers and whited Walls as we are by thee and all liberty which is of the flesh and to the flesh we do deny as many can witness who are Witnesses of our Ministery and again I say he that is able let him try us by the Scripture but thou art blind and hath hardened thy heart against God and hath neither salt nor savory and so are good for nothing but to be trodden under foot And whereas thou sayest The Lord bless every one of his from the condition of Chandler who formerly was the head of a Company of Shakers I answer The day is coming when thou canst not flee the wrath of God though thou pray God will not hear thee and if ever thou hast seen Chandler in this condition thou mightst have read thy figure in him weeping and howling and gnashing of teeth will be thy portion for ever and I say unto thee this condition of Chandlers is not come upon him because he was once a Shaker by the dread of the Lord upon him but because he went out from that condition out of the fear of God into the liberty of the flesh out of his shaking and fearing state which once he
of a person justified and to be justified thy language is of Egypt and in the mystery of iniquity thou speakst it which is condemned into the â—ake of perdition by the Light of Christ and in the Light thou and it art seen and comprehended and as I told thee before I own no righteousness but what is of Christ and wrought by him which Righteousness shall confound thee and all thy unrighteousness and conjuration and the same that justifies us shall condemn thee eternally 16 Quer. Whether Christ be in his Saints in respect of that nature wherein he suffered at Ierusalem Answ. Here thou Enemy of Christ wouldst know how the Saints injoy Christ here the Scripture is fulfilled upon thee the Light shines in darkness and darkness comprehends is not when thou comes to own thy condemnation the Light in thy conscience it will let thee see thy evill deeds it will lead thee up to Christ from whence it comes and then thou wilt know that nature that he suffered in but now thou art in that nature that Iudas was in that betrayed him and that they were in that crucified him 17 Quer. How and after what manner Christ who in respect of his Divine nature is in all places may be said to be in a Saint and not in Reprobate Answ. What hast thou to do to query after the Divine Nature who art the natural man that knowes nothing of God but what thou knowest naturally as a bruit beast and knowes not the things that be of God because they are spiritually discerned and the manner of Christs Divine nature which is infinite is hid from thy eyes for with that eye that thou shouldst see with that art thou blind and the manner of his being in a Saint thou knowest not who art a Reprobate and thou shalt find him to be thine eternall condemnation 18 Quer. Whether doth Christ now in these dayes assume or take upon him the form of a servant and the seed of Abraham that is our flesh And Whether doth not this assumption cause such a perfection of the God-head and the Man-hood as that both of them are united together into one person Answ. O thou dark Beast and Conjurer who art querying with thy conjured words that which thou knowst nothing of and which is out of thy reach and comprehension thou Blasphemer dost thou limit Christ to dayes in taking upon him the form of a Servant and the seed of Abraham Is not he the same now as ever he was And for the union of the God-head and Man-hood as thou callst it let thy mouth be stopt for with thee God nor none of his Children hath any union for God hath put an utter enmity betwixt thy seed thou Serpent and the Seed of the Woman and the perfect union with Christ we witness who is the same to day yesterday and for ever and therefore are we separate from thee and thy Generation 19 Quer. Whether is Christ now conversant upon earth amongst men since his Ascension as he was before and in those times wherein the Apostles lived Answ. In thy queries thy speech bewrayes thee thy language is the language of Aegypt for in it thou makest it clearly manifest that thou knowest not Christ at all not in the least measure for where the first Principle of Truth is made manifest it is the same that ever was and never changes and thou askest whether Christ be now conversant upon Earth amongst men since his Ascension as he was in the Apostles time Dost thou know what thou askest Did he not appear to the Apostles since his Ascension in the most glorious manner that ever thou readst and is he not the same now as he was then What wouldst thou make of him thou dark sottish Beast such a one as thy self who wouldst be pleading for darkness and ignorance of God but praise and glory to him who hath discovered thee and all such Deceivers as thou art 20 Quer. Whether did not Christ dwell among his Saints after another and more visible manner than now he dwels in his Saints Answ. There again thou hast shewed thy ignorance of the Scripture and for thy word visible he is not nor never was visible to thee nor to thy Generation for those that did profess the Scriptures as thou and thy Generation doth crucified him and said he was of the Devil as thou and such as thou art dost now thou Blasphemer where hast thou a Scripture that saith that Christ would dwell in his Saints after another manner Did he not say It is expedient for you that I go away and I go and prepare n place for you and I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there you may be also and ye have heard how I have said I go away and come again unto you and if ye loved me ye would rejoyce because I go unto the Father and Christ Jesus saith in Iohn 14. 21. Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me the works that I do he shall do also and greater works than these because I go to the Father But all these Scriptures is hid from thy eyes and thou art one of those that Isaiah prophesied on and that Scripture is fulfiled on thee which saith He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their hearts Now blessed be the Lord that hath discovered thee and such Blind-Guides as thou art So thy queries are answered in the eternal Light and Life of God and judgement is given upon thee and them which thou shalt eternally witness without roving or wandring but thou who art out of the Light art roving and wandring and stumbling in darknes who hast put forth these stumbling queries which are Answered lovingly and plainly and in the Scripture Language and Termes and with the Eternal Light and Life of God set thee in thy own place which thou shalt eternally witness These are matters of great concernment and if you refuse to answer them in writing spare your tongues and spare your Papers for I will henceforth neither hear the one nor read the other Answ. Thou sayst these are matters of great concernment We see that that which makes thee manifest and such as thou art and which layes thee open to poor ignorant people who are deceived by thee and led into the ditch and their souls kept in death by thee to make this manifest is of great concernment as these dark black stumbling queries and thy conjured words hath done which thou hast no Scripture for as ambiguity efficacy exclusively antecede and non-imputation assume and assumption Now let all people read and consider what they do that holds such as thee up who is shut out from God and shut out from the Saints life and language and art shut out of the Scriptures though thou makest a trade of them for money and deceives poor people but thou knowest nothing of the
stands in time and in the airy Philosophy and imagination and thy great words etetnity and eternities shall stand thee in no stead for that which is Eternal was before thou wast and shall be when thou art brought down to the pit with all thy imaginations And so that thou mightst not glory any more in thy shame I have answered thy Queries and for the simple ones sake that they might not be stumbled by thy stumbling queries who dwellâ— not in the Light EDWARD BURROUGH An Answer to a Book called Choice Experiences Given forth by I. Turner Also the Copy of a Letter sent to the Assembly of those that are called Anabaptists in Newcastle I Have met with a Book called Choice experiences given forth by one J. Turner who by Iohn Spilsbery in his Epistle is called a Daughter of Syon and her self declareth in the 109. pag. of her Book of being brought out of Babylon into Syon but all along through her Book heâ— language is one and the same before her comming out of Babylon and in Syon as she saith her language is the language of Babylon wholly and she is yet a servant in bondage in Babylon unto the Mistress of Witchcraft and never came to witnesâ— freedom in Syon for I know her voyce it s the language of her City where she now dwells which is in confusion in Babylon And whereas she declares of some particulars which she calls Decâ—its whereby she was deceived in the 109. pag. in that which she calls the fifth note of experience concerning notions and pretended spiritualities in which Satan transforms hiâ—self into an Angel of light and how the Lord was pleased to recover her out of deceit I answer It is plain to the spiritual man which discerns of truth and deceit that she is yet deceived and unrecovered out of deceit and here I charge her that she belyes the Lord for he hath not recovered her out of deceit for she hath resisted him in that work as is made appear in her Book and she is now in notion and not in power and in pretended spiritualities and not really in the Spirit and Satan is now transformed in her into an Angel of light by which she is deceived and whereas she talkes of her choice experienâ—es death yet raigns in her and is no whit subdued I speak as in the presence of the Lord who am moved to lay open her deceit to the simple who doth blaspheme the God of Heaven in his Saints in calling Truth error and calling that deceit which by the Spirit of the Lord I own to be truth and calls those corrupt Principles which were owned by the Servants of the Lord in former Generations and which are owned now by them which witness the same Spirit which Spirit of Christ she makes appear she knows not who hath denied him and salvation by him within Whereas she speaks of Satan envying her happiness and waits his opportunity to catch her as a Fish in the Water covering his book with a baite of Mystery and spirituality I answer She is yet in the power of Satan he hath already catched her with his covered hook which is covered with a very fair out side a fair Form of Truth a likeness of it with the likeness of a Church and of a Baptism and of a Fellowship c. is she beguiled already and is unhappy through the opportunities which the Devil hath waited over her for she it under the curse lying in the fall and enmity And whereas she speaks Of having escaped him in his former appearances as a Devil yet now transforms himself as an Angel of light I answer She hath not escaped him as a Devil and here she is a Lyar for his appearance is in her in lying and in speaking evil of those things she knows not and he is transformed in her as an Angel of light but she knows it not but lyes in darkness in the mystery of iniquity in notion and the pretence of spirituality And she saith Those that are so deceived are the fittest Agents to promote his Kingdom I answer Here it is made manifest she who is deceived by the Devil doth much promote his Kingdom by strengthening the hands of evil doers who through her writing hardens their hearts against the truth Whereas she speaks Of Satans drawing persons by corrupt principles which they would have trembled at the thought of before they had such principles I answer This is her own condition she is drawn by Satan to follow corrupâ— principles which if she did see she would tremble at the sight of them And she saith God was not onely pleased to keep her from such things but to discover the way by which persons are brought to such things I answer Here again I charge her that sâ—e belies the Lord which is Blasphemy for he hath not kept her from corrupt Principles he would but she hath resisted him and the discovery from God to her will be plagues and wo for death and darkness raigns which makes manifest themselves in her which is her discovery She speaks of avoiding those ways and forewarning others to avoid them likewise I answer She hath not avoyded the wayes of darkness but hath chosen them and hath avoyded the way of truth as is made manifest who hath denied salvation by Christ within and as she hath avoyded the way of truth her self so she casts a stumbling-block in the way of the simple to avoyed it likewise Whereas she speaks of discovering Satan under these vails and saith by barkening to the voyce of the Tempter she was deceived and beguiled by him in some particular things I answer Satan is not yet discovered to her but lyes under his vayle in Flesh deceiving her and by her bearkening to the voyce of the Tempter she is now deceived by him not in few things but in many I speak it as in the presence of the Lord who shall judge of her and me And she speaks of ever being humbled in the presence of God for it I answer When the dreadfull God shews his presence she cannot stand but shall be confounded who doth here speak to the dishonour of his Name True humility she knows not for the man of sin is exalted in her above all that is called God And whereas she speaks of beginning to be somewhat confused in her judgement and she speaks of not being swallowed up with confusion I answer She is in confusion and hath never been out of it as to every single eye may appear she is not only somewhat in confusion but is rowled and swallowed up in it and it is long since it began in her Whereas she speaks of being weak in Principles I answer It it true the Principle which is of God is and hath been weak in her for it is over-powred by the Principle of Deceit which is not weak but strong and which rules and Guides her in her own will Whereas she speaks of being with a
Abstain from all evil and follow that which is good and listen to the word within in the heart but this Gospel thou deniest and so must needst preach another Gospel and so art the accursed as Paul saith Then thou sayst Thus the poor Soul is most horribly carried away head-long c. into the belly of Hell c. thus much is the sum by turning the mind within to the Light which doth convince of sin and listning thereto and clapsing with the motions in the Conscience which do command to abstain from evil and to practice good and closing with something within which thou hast confessed is the Light of Christ hereby or thus is the poor Soul carried headlong and at the end of its life doth fall into the belly of Hell as thou sayst Let shame cover thee if thy heart be not altogether hardned was ever such Doctrine preached surely malice hath carried thee out of sence else thou wouldst not have uttered these things but it is answer enough to reckon thy confusion up into a sum and I leave it to every honest heart to read and judge thereof Then thou further sayst The Devil counterfeits the works of Grace and makes the Soul believe if it will be led by what is made known unto it by the Light or Conscience within it shall do well Answ. Wo unto thee that callst good evil and evil good Art thou not ashamed to utter thy mind so wickedly and impudently doth the Light of Christ within deceive or is not this Christs Doctrine I am the Light of the World he that follows me shall have the Light of Life and he that walks in the Light stumbles not and this shamelesly hast thou called the Doctrine of the Devil but if ever thou knowst God it must be by following and by being led with the Light within which God hath made known unto thee else the Light is thy condemnation eternally Then thou sayst The Devil counterfeits the new birth by perswading it is wrought by following the Light of the World c. Answ. This Doctrine is as wicked as the former and from as lying a spirit but answer me By what is the New-birth wrought and how if not by following the Light of Christ in the Conscience is there any other way to God but Christ Jesus who hath lighted every man that comes into the World and whereas thou beginst to scorn in thy vain mind at living upon Bread and Water and wearing no Hatbands and not speaking except the Spirit moves c. The Scorner and the Lyar go together the Lord rebuke thee thou false deceitfull heart and lying tongue it grieves thy lust to know any to live upon bread and water and it torments thy pride that any should forsake their pride and it is easily known of what spirit thou art and that thou goest on in thy own will before God leads thee and scornst to wait till the Spirit of God moves upon thee or scornst them that do wait but thou runst and art not sent like unto thy Fore-fathers and therefore thou dost not profit people at all Then thou accusest us of sad Blasphemies and horrible Doctrines but namest nothing and so slanderst without witness and take back thy own words for they belong to thee as is sufficiently proved in this Answer to thy Book let the wise in heart judge And thou hast said Thou wonderst that the ground do not open and swallow us up or else the Devil fetch us away alive c. And this most fully discovers thy spirit to be without the fear of God in any measure who utterst such wicked Language for which thou hast no example among all the Children of God and is not this horrible Doctrine and little less then sad Blasphemies It is answer sufficient to gather up thy confusion and send it thee to read if there be any honesty in thy heart repent and cease thy wickedness lest God smite thee with a Curse and make thee an Example of Destruction Then thou goest on and hast asked thy self a Question Is it not the Spirit of Christ that doth make manifest or convince of Sin The Question is good but thou hast consounded it in thy Answer and not answered plainly but hast covered Truth under the vail of thy many words Thou sayst There are two things that do make manifest and convince of Sin first the Law and secondly the Spirit of Christ. I query further Doth any thing convince of sin contrary to the Spirit of Christ if not then that which doth convince of sin is like unto or one in the Union or something as good in its Nature as the Spirit of Christ and thou instancest in Iudas whom thou sayst was convinced of sin by the Law without the Spirit of Christ to which I say the Law of God is spiritual and is not contrary but one with the Spirit of Christ in its union at least and that which let him see Christ to be innocent was not words syllables without him but must needs be within him so if I should say the Spirit of Christ was not in him yet was the Work of the righteous Law of God written in his heart which is spiritual and Christ Jesus was not without his own testimony in Iudas which is Light by which Iudas was and is condemned eternally And though Iudas was at the same time possessed of the Devil as thou sayest yet there was that within him also which disquieted and tormented the Devil which discovered the Devil with his works by which he saw his murderous mind and the Blood of the Just One I say it needs must be contrary to the Devil and to his works which condemned him I call it the Light of God which is spiritual call it what thou canst Then thou goest on and seems to shew a difference betwixt being convinced by the Law without the Spirit of Christ and the convincement by the Spirit of Christ but art confounded in thy discourse I say the power of the Law of God is spiritual and though thou make a little thing of it to be convinced by the Law of sins against the Law yet I make it a thing of weight And this is the condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love darkness rather then Light because their deeds are evil and the Law is Light as saith the Scripture and Christ is come to discover and reprove sin and I put thee to prove in all the Scripture where any such thing ever was distinguished as something to convince of sin without and besides or contrary to the Spirit of God and till thou provest it thus far I have answered thee concerning it Then thou sayst Though some say they are not only convinced of Sin but have gotten some power over it to abstain from those things forbidden in the Law yet thou further sayst This may be done as those blind Pharisees called Quakers think they do and be but natural men
all ye young men and Prentises Learn ye the Fear of the Lord and take heed of Temptations lest ye be destroyed both Soul and Body by them learn not to Dissemble nor to Defr and nor take not Instructions how to Cozen and Cheat but first seek the Kingdom of God and its Righteousness and then all outward things shall be added unto you Give not your selves to any Evil beware of WINE and WOMEN which steals away the Hearts of many give not your selves to Vanity nor fulfil not the desire of your own minds in any thing Covet not after Riches neither study how to be Proud and Vain-glorious Give not your selves to Craft and human Policies nor to deceive any People but fear God and keep his Commandments and be subject to your Masters and obey them in all things that are good and be dutiful to them in that which is just and righteous but deny them in whatsoever is evil learn not Craft and Policy from them neither Whoredom nor Vice nor Drunkenness nor Cozening nor any other thing which is evil but rather reprove those things then in the lest to follow them and if you do the Truth and speak the Truth in all things and keep your selves from whatsoever is evil then will the Lord bless you outwardly and inwardly and the Knowledge of God will be your Crown in old Age And cease from all Gaming 's and vain Sportings and from all Wontonness and vain Pleasures and from all the works of the flesh for they that follow such things shall neither prosper in this World nor be blessed in the World to come Wherefore take heed unto your selves all ye that are young in the World be not overcome of evil nor follow not evil Divices but stand in awe continually and offend not God who gives you Life and Health and all good things And all ye Masters and Heads of Families this is a Warning to you Be Examples of all good in your Families unto your Children and Servants rule in Authority in the Fear of God but not in Tyranny nor a Rigorous mind teach and instruct in fear and not in cruelty give no bad example in Pride Vain-glory Drunkenness Whoredom Dissimulation nor any other thing but stand as a Terror over all evil and as Encouragers of all good bind not the Conscience of any under your power curb sin only and reprove not Righteousness seek ye to be taught of God and then may you instruct all under you in his Way be pittiful towards your Children and Servants and pass by offences rather then punish them with cruelty and make not a prey upon your Servants to serve your own ends only seeking your own good only and not theirs for such things are evil in the sight of God and it is to be condemned Let no Excess neither let Want be in your Families but that which is honest and right love that in all things and follow it let not your anger and passion exceed when offence is given you and do not correct in cruelty but in a good understanding and walk in the Truth and fulfil the will of God and not your own and this is of great prize and acceptable in the sight of the Lord. And all ye Tavern-keepers and Inn-keepers fear the Lord God and oppress not your Guests neither feed the lust of any till they be drunk for that is cursed of God both in you and them and that which he will be avenged of Oh great is that abomination among you much of the good Creatures is vainly and wickedly spent and abused in your Dwellings and your advantage stands in the abuse of the Creatures by excess and the Lord is grieved with you because of that And all sorts of People Rich and Poor High and Low Masters and Servants Parents and Children Buyers and Sellers Trades-men and Labourers Hearken to the Counsel of God and seek to know his Will to you in all things that you may do it in following all that which is good and denying all that which is evil that your souls may live Let not the Devil lead you nor his temptations overcome you in any thing but resist him in whatsoever he would lead you into which is against God and contrary to him Repent of all evil that ever you have acted and let the Lord be your Guide that you may not utterly perish and your City be destroyed for your sakes the Lords Love is towards you and he waits to be gratious unto you and desireth your return rather then your Destruction and would heal you if you did wait upon him and would bless your City and make you happy in it if you do his Will and deny your own I am a Friend unto all your souls and a Publisher of Peace and of Glad-tidings to all that thirst for the Lord and he hath given me Power to warn you of all your iniquities and Abominations to deny them and that which is good to warn you to follow and Oh that ye knew in this your day the things which belong to your Peace which now ye may know before they be totally hid from your eyes and there be no place for Repentance nor time of returning and this day will come upon many and they cannot escape it who now harden their hearts against the Way of their own peace and even scorn to be reproved for their Transgression and such my soul pitties who are going in the way of destruction and run hastily into perdition I have many times been made sad by reason of such when I have measured the condion of all People upon my bed I have pondred what abomination was in thee and what would be the end thereof and I have desired nothing so much as that I might faithfully warn thee and free my self and the Lord from the Blood of all men deep thoughts have been upon me concerning what the counsel of the Lord is unto you all that I might manifest the Truth and discover the Abominations and I have not spared to cry Repentance unto Sinners that Sinners might be converted and turn unto the Lord and thus far I am clear of the Blood of all men and the Lord is clear and if the Wicked perish it is because of their unbelief and gainsaying of the Lord and this is the Testimony which I give unto thee and unto all thy people O LONDON hearken and consider this is the only day of your Visitation and there is not another Way to Life nor to escape everlasting death and destruction then that which the Lord hath shewed you Blessed is he that can receive it and they that deny it do utterly perish without Mercy London the 15th of the 6th moneth 1657. I am as a Stranger among you yet well known to the Lord and the Testimony of God concerning you shall stand for ever for it is true and shall'not be confounded though the wicked reject it to their own destruction EDWARD BURROUGH A Just and
they are of God but the witness of God in every man beareth witness against all unjust men and Laws and Rulers and Governments which strengtheneth the hands of the wicked and oppresseth the just where the making and execution of Laws are in the power of proud men and covetous men who fears not God neither hates covetousness neither doth respect the cause of the poor but rules by their Wills and Tyranny and not by just Laws in Righteousness but makes unrighteous decrees to oppress the poor and innocent letting the wicked go free such who upholds unrighteous Worships and Teachers by oppression and causes the Innoccent to suffer and makes them Offenders because the exercise of a pure conscience towards God and men such Rulers and Government we cannot be subject to for Conscience sake but do rather fulfull the Law and Will of God though we transgress their wills and unrighteous laws and yet doth not rebel against them nor seek defence from them but patiently suffers under them and bears their injustice and cruelty without seeking any revenge but leaves vengeance to the Lord to whom it belongs and this is our Judgement in full the Government and Laws which we cannot obey nor fulfil for Conscisake we chuse rather to suffer under them for disobedience to them than to transgress the righteous Law of God written in our hearts by obeying them so that what we cannot obey for Conscience sake for Conscience sake we resist not but suffers under that the punishment of it patiently and herein are we subject to every ordinance of man for conscience sake in fulfilling of the good the just and righteous and in patience suffering under the cruelty and oppression of the unjust and unrighteous and this we do and teach every where subjection to every Ordinance of man and are not destroyers of true Government or rebellious against just Governours but are exalters of true Justice and Judgement in the Earth CHAP. XI Concerning the true Ministry of Christ and the false Ministry and the difference betwixt them this testimony I give unto all the World THE true Ministry is sent of God and is the gift of the holy Ghost and it stands in the Power of the Spirit of God and not in the words of mans wisdom of that wisdom which is from below and it brings people to the knowledge of God which is life eternal and it turns people from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the Power of God it is freely received of God and freely given forth of us it proclaims Peace on Earth unto such as are of a broken and upright heart and it proclaims war against all the wicked upon Earth it is a good savour unto God in setting the way of life and the way of death before all people the Ministry of Christ is free and cannot be bought nor sold for money it is without hire and gifts and rewards from any man which is given freely into the World and it ever was and is persecuted by the Generation of the unjust and by the powers of the Earth he that comes in the Fathers Name cannot be received of the World but the World is at enmity against it in this Generation as ever was it converts people unto the Knowledge of God and many did and many do receive the Knowledge of God thereby though some thereby be hardened against God unto destruction and the Word of the Lord and the Ministry returns not in vain unto God but all by it arâ— left without excuse the Witness of Christ in every Creature being reached to which gives Testimony to the Power and to the Truth of the Ministry of Christ but the false Ministers and Ministry are not such for their Ministry is received by natural Learning and Arts and is not the Gift of the holy Ghost but stands in the wisdom of mans words and not in the Power and Life of God it profits not the people at all neither do any come to the Knowledge of God thereby neither is turned from Darkness to Light but Teachers and people continues in the power of Satan and in the unconverted estate the Witness of God not reached to to bring to the understanding of things which are eternal but people are ever learning by it and never coming to the Knowledge of the Truth but the Blind leads the Blind and like Teachers like People all out of the Way given to Iniquity and unrighteousness and such are they who preaches for Hire and divines for Money and seeks for their gaiâ— from their Quarter and through covetousness by feigned words make merchandize of Souls going for Gifts and Rewards and teaching for filthy Lucre having settled places and so much a year these are not the true Ministers of Christ but false Ministers of Autichrist and Deceivers and were never sent of God and do never bring any to the Knowledge of Gods and such we beâ—â— witness against to be of the Devil and that for many Generations the World hath been deceived by them who hath had the form of godlines but not the Power and Christs words and the Apostles words without the Life and they have served themselves and not the Lord Jesus but now they are made manifest with the true Light which approveth the Ministry of God and disapproveth such who are Ministers of Antichrist and all that are in the Light and walk in the light can receive this testimony which is given by the Spirit of God to that Ministry which is sent of him which doth fulfill his will and against the false Ministry which is not of God which runs and was never sent of him CHAP. XII Concerning the Gospel of Christ this is my testimony unto all the VVorld THE Gospel is the Power of God and it is sent of him into the World to reconcile people unto him that have been in the enmity agaiâ—â—â— him 〈◊〉 is Peace to the Poor in spirit and judgement to the Fat and to the high minâ—â—â— and it is to be preached to every creature male and female under Heaven without respect of Peoples Nations or Generations it is the manifestation of the Love of God to the whole World to gather people out of all unrighteousâ—â—â—â— into the living Way of Life Peace and Truth to walk with God in Purity and Holiness and to deny the World and all its ways and works and worships which are evil and by it some are brought to God and to salvation and life eternal and some through it are hardened against God that they may be destroyed and condemned who are Reprobates and believes not in him from whom the Gospel comes and it cannot be received by any other way or means than by the revelation of Jesus Christ in the hearts of his people and many have the letter which knows not the Gospel nor hath received it and this Gospel which is everlasting have we received from God and this is the sound of it which we
thou art in their steps and among them that act such things as further may be proved and the wisdom of God so fore-saw to keep me clear and my words to be defended though I expected no less from thee as to this thing then is come to pass but the Lye is of thy self who would deny the Truth The next thing that thou wilt charge upon to be a Lye I pass here the Reader may expect it in its place and though thou sayst the Rantors and I and my Fellows are of the same mind in many things c. To which I Reply Their practices I deny and the ground in which they stand and their false doctrines yet dare we not deny any truth as it is in Christ though they as thou mayst profess it in words which is seldom they do for we have respect unto the Truth for the truths sake only but how uncharitable art thou in thy measure and judgement consider as if he should say Iohn Bunion is of the same mind with the Pope in many things the Pope holds Christ was born of Mary and was crucified and raised again and ascended c. And this holds I. Bunion and is of the same minde with the Pope in many things and therefore must partake of the same plagues with the Pope as thou said of us though thou hast by unequal measure thus judged us yet I render not evil for evil but in love to thy soul shews thee thy folly and weakness Then thou goest on having passed by the two slanders cast upon us by I. Burton in your first Book which I charged you withall in mine to which not one word as to evidence your slanders but hath slippen it over as a foul guilty man which charge stands upon you both that you are Slanderers herein and my first answer I am not ashamed of though you snarle much about it and would taint it or undermine it but thy subtilty is to weak Truth confounds thee and thy simple policy which is that we prize the Lord Jesus Christ God man to be precious unto us and hath owned him alone to be the Foundation whom God hath laid and in his Light we are saved c. As I said in Page 7. against which words thou canst not justly except nor yet prove the contrary and yet as a man that loves to hear thy own tongue thou lays down many things impertinent as to the cause in hand But it had been more honest to have helped thy brother Burton from under my true Charge and cleared the Truth if thou hadst been able but thou hast left â—im in the dirt under the Charge of a Slanderer and are unfaithfull to him â—nd goes about to inquire what it is as thou sayst to lay Christ for a Foundation thou confesses what I have said is fairly spoken and yet thy envious minde â—nd unbelieving heart seems to be offended at my words and to them that can believe I speak plainly and doth not beg thy belief nor any mans but commends my self to every mans Conscience in the sight of God and knows no other Jesus the Saviour nor Foundation then he that Iohn was sent to prepare the Way before who was and is and is to come who said I am the light of the World and now my words are defended to be truth in the sight of them that are spiritual and thou and such may hear but must not understand who have hardened your hearts least you should believe and therefore is given up to Gainsayings till the Wrath of God break out against you and let Iohn Burton remember my words where I said he is fallen into the pit which he digged for another and he undervalues the Lord Jesus whose Doctrine is to speak Truth but he hath lyed and slandered and so is out of Christ the Foundation and undervalues him who keeps not his sayings but is a Worker in Darkness and not in the Light And as to that where I say thus much is the mind of the Penmans spirit of the first Epistle of the first Book secretly smiting at the Doctrine of true Faith and Salvation to wit Christ within I have said the truth in righteousness and do own my words though thou sayst I have done him a great deal of wrong c. But I leave it to be judged by them that are spiritual and not unto thee to give false meaning of my words and doth not he say in that Epistle of some that have been depending too much upon some thing they call Christ and the Righteousness of Christ within them c. Let the wise in heart judge whether this be not as I said even a secret smiting against Christ within without which as I have said there can be no Salvation for he that hath not Christ in him is a Reprobate and this I speak not in opposition but as a testimony of Christ Jesus that dyed and rose again and ascended who is within and without also and if any preach another Jesus let him be accursed and repent thou who art in the wrong doing thy self falsly charging me noting in the Margent with speaking falsly when I spaâ—… the truth and the false speaking rests at thy door and is driven thither with the power of truth Then whereas thou wouldst justifie thy former wickedness in charging the Quakers to be Deceivers against my just Answer in page 8. of mine whicâ— stands free from any of thy vain Argument and uncontroled though resisted but it appears my words sticks close unto thee and torments thee and thou sayd with much confidence it will easily be proved that we are Deceivers but thy Arguments we shall try And sayst thou First the Quakers deny the man Christ Jesus without them and own Christ no otherways but as he is within c. Reply How impudent art thou in forging Lye after Lye and building them up in thy Work one upon another and a wicked course thou takes to clear thy former Slanders truly charged upon thee in my first even by laying another upon it Friend By this thy deceitful Slander while thou hast thought to prove us Deceivers hath proved thy self one even a false Accuser mayst thou not blush to say we own Christ no otherwayes then as he is within we own him which was is and is to come who is within us and without us as I have said in my first we own him as the Scripture speaks of him and it is known 〈◊〉 the Lord and in his sight we are approved whether thou believe it or not fâ—… I beg not beleif of thee but leaves thy double Slanders to be read and judged of by all honest people and in the interim know it is a bad way to prove us Deceivers by thy Lyes this the rather is a Witness to us that we are of God and against thee and thou to be of the Devil who was a Lyer from the beginning and 〈◊〉 his Child succeeds him in
he done in us who hath wrought all our Works and he hath broken the Chain of Antichrist and will tread down that spirit more and more till whole Babylon be sunk as a Stone into the midst of the Sea and till Righteousness alone sit upon the Throne that his People may rejoyce in him for evermore when they see their Inheritance in him and their Souls rest in him where he is become the everlasting Light and the days of Mourning ended Now Friends all of you keep in the Life and Power and Wisdom of God dwell and walk therein in all things and feel the Head Christ and have no Master but him and in all things seek the Glory of the Lord for they that turn to seek themselves become as the Dross and as withered Branches whom the Lord will take away and such shall not cumber his Ground They that go from the Life and Light and Word within them they go into Error and turn aside after Vanity and these shall never see the Countenance of the Lord who continue not unto the end in the Faith but make shipwrack of it and of a good Conscience and these become Antichrist and Servants of Sin and deny the Lord that bought them having lost Sincerity they run into a feignedness and having lost the true Hope they become unstaid and such will be tossed and change their way and so become hardned And therefore Friends I say unto you all live in the Power of God and feel the enjoyment of his good Presence in you Hearts in your Families and in your Meetings and live in the Power of Godliness and not in the Form without Power for that is but Idolatry where people are zealous in the performance and practice of Righteousness and wants the sence of the Lord's Presence but keep out of this and look at the Lord in all things stand in his Counsel and fulfil his Will and walk in his Spirit that leads into all Truth and feel that Kingdom that Power and Government which is not of this World but over and above the kingdoms that are earthly and in this will be your Peace and your Comfort and your Assurance for evermore And Friends the Lord hath not onely stretched forth his Arm to bring Redemption and Salvation unto you and his deliverance out of spiritual Sodom but his Arm hath also wrought great deliverance for us without and he hath appeared for us in much Loving kindness in that he hath stopped the way of his Adversaries whose moutâ—… were opened to devour us and doubtless it was in their wicked Heâ—…s to have cut us off that themselves might be exalted but the Lord eminently broke their Counsel when they were in confederacy together how to overcome us by Craft and Guile and the Lord scattered them by a secret Hand and this was one great Deliverance And again when they were risen in Numbers with their Hearts full of devouring Envy they were suddenly confounded and brought to nought and certain it is that both these Deliverances were chiefly to us though others have good thereby and I cannot but mind you of them that you may prize them and receive them as from the Hand of the Lord and may walk worthy of all his Mercies that are reached forth unto you from time to time and for his Name sake and for his Seed sake are these things done and he will gather his Seed yet more and more and make up the numberless number of his Chosen that his Heritage may be pleasing unto him and therein he will delight that Righteousness may sit upon the Throne and Truth and Justice and Mercy flow down that his Soul may be delighted And now as concerning Places among men for the service of your Nation as men this I have to say mind Gods Wisdom to guide you and if such things be put upon you do as you have freedom in the Lord though these things be less then the eternal Election which gives to see over and feel over mens kingdoms and in the Election doth your eternal Peace and Inheritance stand in God yet in man's kingdom Truth and Righteousness must rule Justice and just Judgment must have place on the Throne and this we wait for that Righteousness within and without may be exalted for the Gospel of Light which we preach destroys not but brings the Nation into equal and just Government among men and Truth brings the Nations into good order and ye must salt the Earth So keep over these things in the Life that gives you Dominion to act only for God even as men that may glorifie him in your Bodies and in your spirits even in your daily Practises amongst men and keep in the Power of the Lord which keeps the heart pure and feel the Word in your hearts and then you will not be corrupted but will be kept in singleness and uprightness to God and man and in that will be your Crown as men in seeking the Glory of the Lord and not your own And so Friends have respect unto the Lord God in all things that his Truth may guide you in all things even as men and therein stands true honour in this World and in the World to come And so keep your Meetings and live in good order let no strife be amongst you for that will eat out the good and quench your love and deadness and barrenness will cover you and you will become unfruitfull to the Lord. And all you that are moved of the Lord to go abroad to whom the Message of the Gospel is committed I charge you all to live in the Life of God it self and then Life will speak through you and keep in the Dominion over the earthly part in your selves and over all false spirits in the World that you may feel through the corruptible in all people and may answer the Witness which will slay the Evil and wound the Wicked and convert the Soul to God and let your Conversation be holy and just that you may answer the Witness in all And though we have seen the fruit of our Labour and hath our Reward with the Lord hitherto yet it is the beginning of the Harvest for there are Mountains to thresh and Darkness to beat under for the World hath been as a Wilderness and now it must be planted with the good Seed of the Kingdom of God Wherefore be valiant for the Lord God and for his Truth and sound forth the dread of the Lord among all People the false Church the Whore must have the Cup of God's Wrath given unto her through your hands and as she hath done unto us so we must give unto her double So go on in the Name and Power of God and the Lord God Almighty be with you all Let this be read in all your Meetings and copied over and sent abroad among all Friends E. B. Two Epistles to Friends in London being a Testimony against deceitfull Spirits and such as profest the
winnow some and to try them and to draw the hearts and minds of others into a Snare out from the obedience to Christ Jesus which do become Mockers and Despisers and Subverters of the simplicity of the Gospel of Peace and of the Ministers and Ministry thereof which is the Power of God unto Salvation and there is no other though some harden their hearts through unbelief and blind the Eye till they be past feeling through rebellion against the Truth which they hold in unrighteousness and not in the Power of God having made the offence of the Cross to cease yet boasting in the Liberty of Christ while they are unmortified having run from the Judgment and not truly came thorow it in the finishing of Condemnation and that spirit that goes out of the Cross is subverted and seeks to subvert others from the Truth as it is in Jesus and that spirit is denyed fellowship with though it have the conformity in the Hypocrisie Wherefore this is the Word of the Lord God unto you that err after that spirit Be awakened be awakened and remember and repent and come to your first work to that which condemneth you lest the Lord by his hand of Wrath and Judgment upon you make you an Example and of Misery and Destruction to all that shall hereafter deny the Lord and his Truth Hear and consider to the Light in you all I speak have you another Truth then that which hath been known and declared from the beginning is there any other way to Life then which we have been Witnesses of who have not handled the Word of God deceitfully amongst you nor sought yours but you nor preached our selves but Christ Jesus and hereof we have the witness in our Consciences in the Holy Ghost and is there any other Salvation then that which God hath manifested which is Christ Jesus the Light of the World Be awaked and consider Wherefore then do you separate your selves disoderly and resist the Word of Life which once begat you towards the Lord Consider what you are doing and whither you are walking the End of your way is Perdition and that is accursed which preacheth another Gospel How do you dishonour the Lord in the sight of the Heathen before whom you discover your Nakedness and your Shame doth appear having put off and cast aside the Armour and Weapon of Truth whereby you might have been defended But Scorners and Fools take occasion through your disorders and confusions to blaspheme the Name of the Lord and it is through you Be stirred up and consider and search your hearts and come to the tryal ye that vex the Lord's Soul and grieve his Spirit lest it cease to strive with you and you be wholly given up to fulfil wickedness till there be no place nor time of repentance found and this is a warning to you all in the Presence of the Living God that you may return to your first love to fear before the Lord and to walk in his Truth if there may be mercy and to fulfil his Will which is the Light which you are lighted withal by Christ Jesus who is the Lamb of God the Way the Truth and the Life the Author and Finisher of Faith and there is not another And know this ye that deny him that is given yea unto you all he will deny you before his Father and of all your Blood I am clear thus far whether you resist or receive who am the Lover of your Souls sometimes loved of you while you were Lovers of the Truth and am now a Witness for the Lord and his Truth and against that spirit which leads you in the Rebellion against the Government of Christ which is Order and Peace out of which you have erred to the piercing of your own Souls and though you now exalt your selves against me and the Truth and boast your selves as though you reigned yet in the day of the Lord shall the Light in you all which is now darkned bear witness to me and of my faithfulness in reproving you and the Truth is for ever dear to me and my soul delights no less in it though you rebel against it in the heady exalted presumptuous high wilful spirit which is not subject to the Government nor Authority of the Ministry of Christ but Truth is over you all and the Mountain of the Lord is established above you all and all your words and works and boastings and feignedness and disorders are denied and in them we have not fellowship but the contrary and do in the Authority of the Lord even by the same Authority which hath begotten us unto God and called us and carried us in his Work unto this day deny you all in the ground and state wherein you stand till repentance and turning from whence you are fallen to the Light which Christ hath lighted you withal And all faithfull Friends this is the Word of the Lord God to you hear and fear walk in the Truth which you have heard and learned and received of the Father in it dwell and live and know there is no other then that which is made manifest which is sure to you all and cannot deceive nor be deceived and be not shaken in mind nor troubled though some deny the Lord but let their fall be a Warning to you to be more watchfull to be kept to the Lord lest you be tempted and dwell in the Mountain of Holiness which no Beast can touch where is a hiding place to preserve you in the time of tryal And I charge you all in the Presence of the Living God of Life let your minds be setled and hearts staid in the Truth which is the Foundation of God and know the Armor of God to gird you up to God where no offence is taken against Christ nor against the Way of Truth but the Power of God doth remove that which would be offended and tramples upon that which gives the offence and in this you will be preserved until the day of Salvation and beware of that spirit that boasts above the measure and of that which makes the offence of the Cross to cease for there hardness of heart and unbelief enters and so another is followed then the Light and another joyned to then Christ Jesus and there is the way to perdition who goes from the Light within them they deny God and his Truth and follow the imaginations of the soolish heart and runs in rashness and in the forwardness and that ground receives the unclean spirit in again with seven worse and the latter end is worse then the beginning and this Truth doth not change which is the begotten of the Father but is the same for ever So in it all be faithfull and fruitfull to the Father in your Places and Callings shewing forth in all wisdom and pure conversation among yoâ—… Enemies to the putting them to silencâ— when they speak evil of you and be Examples of Holiness one to another that
Sin in themselves and Sin in the man yet not sin to the man if he doth not consent to them obey them and fulfil them and the Scripture doth prove it Rom. 7. where he saith It is no more I that do it but sin that dwelleth in me for in his Mind he served the Law of God and with his Mind did not consent to the Motions of Evil and Sin and the Sin was not his nor reckoned against him by the Lord because with his Mind he consented not and this no Upright Man can deny And also I apply'd my self at that time for Witness to the Experience of sober people and Christians Whether many times there had not been evil Motions in their Hearts presenting themselves to which they had not consented but the Lord had given them Power over them to resist them and deny them and they were not overcome of them And whether ever they were accused and condemned for such Motions which the Lord gave them power against Or Whether the rather they had not Peace and Joy in the Lord who had discovered to them and given them power over the Evil which had presented it self And I also gave them that which I had witnessed concerning the thing as a Testimony agreeing with the Scriptures to that particular And though the Relation saith as if I spoke of my present State to be so but herein the Hearers were mistaken if so they understood me for my present State is another then what it once was I bless the Lord I speak without Boasting And my present State I did not then nor now shall declare for I am not known to the World nor desire to be as what my State is But this was my Intent and is in these things My State was say I yea I believe from Ten Years old till many Years after that many times I had Evil Motions arising in my own Heart which sometimes overcame me and sometimes the Lord gave me to overcome them so that I consented not to them nor obey'd nor follow'd them and when they did overcome me and lead me aside then was I troubled and condemned of the Lord for they were reckoned to be my Sins when I consented and many times the Lord gave me power over them and I consented not but resisted them and denied them and then had I great Peace and Joy in the Lord and no Condemnation and this was my Experience for some years together though my present State be another Condition of which I shall not speak as not being needful at this time and this is the Truth which no sober Christiaâ— can deny It s true we spent a little time in disputing upon those things but to little purpose as on their part for what I then said many of the people saw to be the very Truth and all were well satisfied except such as might harden their hearts and much more passed betwixt us And as to this thing which I cannot relate only P. T. as he began so he goes on giving a Report in his Relation of much more then himself spoke and a great deal less then we spoke which thing in him was not very fair not honest For I then proved by many Scriptures That some were perfect in this life 1 Cor. 2. 5. even perfect without Sin Iohn 1. 47. 1 Iohn 3. 7. and yet I did declare at that time That many of the Saints and Children of God were not come to the State of Perfection which admits of no Addition for many of the Saints daily receive more and more of God's Wisdom and of his Power and Life revealed in them wherein they grow up to God from Strength to Strength And though they did so much contend against it yet in the end were forced to confess to the substance of what we spake as to the particular of Perfection The next thing is concerning Perfection and I am charged with holding That Perfection is attainable in this Life which thing I did hold forth and contend for and am not now ashamed of it and my very Proofs which then I used some of which are related by P. T. are sufficient to prove the particular if I should say nothing more and even as the thing is related though what I spoke the whole is not related by much as about this particular of perfection but what is related shall stand as a Witness for me and against them that do so much plead against Perfection even of such perfection to be without sin in this Life And to this I shall say little more but leave his own Relation unto the consideration of sober People onely must say that P. T. hath belyed his own Memory in saying his Relation is A faithful account and yet hath related much more then he spoke also about this Particular As to the next thing which is objected against me That the Scriptures were given to the World and not to the Saints this is utterly false and was neither thus spoken by me nor yet my meaning and at the Dispute I did deny that I spoke the words neither had I any such intent as they have deducted though still I do confidently affirm That that Scripture Iohn 5. 39. was spoken to the Unbelieving Iews that went about to Kill CHRIST who had never heard God's Voice nor seen his Shape nor had not Christ's words abiding in them and to them he spoke that Scripture mention'd neither had I any such meaning but that the Saints and all sober people and all people might search the Scriptures though such a bad consequence they have drawn upon my words and said It is a giddy assertion that hath dropped from me and yet himself is forced to confess what I spoke is true to wit that that Scripture in the fifth of Iohn was spoken to the unbelieving Iews and not to the Saints and yet P. T. to confound himself confesses that I said The Epistles were given to the Saints and this is a Contradiction from his own Pen First to say that I asserted the Scriptures were given to the World and not to the Saints and yet saith I confess the Epistles were given to the Saints which are some part of the Scriptures And whereas P. T. further speaks questioning in himself how far I own the Authority of the Scriptures and such like which shews his ignorance or his unbelief for I have and do here again speak plainly That we do own the Authority of the Scriptures and we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures have had hope and they are able to make the man of God perfect through Faith and what Christ and the Apostles owned the Scriptures to be the same we do and neither more nor less and in this we are approved of God and let men judge what they will And whereas P. T. further speaks something of Iesuites and saith he does not apprehend me to be of that measure of subtilty which is found among men of that Brother-hood
shall justifie us and condemn our Enemies Again he queries whether I make the Holy Ghost and the Eternal Spirit two I answer no they are one neither do I seem to make them two it is want of knowledge in him who cannot understand but raiseth Objections where there is no cause Again from my words this is acceptable and well pleasing to God above all words and outward conformity c. from this he questions whether the doing the greater things of the Law is acceptable where the less are neglected I answer no for every tittle of the Law less and greater must be fulfilled by Christ in us in whom we are accepted and thus I have returned a few words to the consideration of people and particularly to the people of Draton and the Country there about to whom I direct my speech thus All ye people who are scattered as Sheep without a Shepherd and know not Christ the Everlasting Shepherd to lead you and to rule you Cease oh cease from all your Teachers without you who are dumb Shepherds which do not gather you to God such are they that preach for Hire and divine for Money and that take Gifts and Rewards for preaching who through Covetousness by feigned words do make Merchandize of Souls Such do keep you alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth under their Teachings your Souls are starved under them and you perish for want of true Knowledge and Death raigns amongst you and many are in the broad way that leadeth to Destruction but few in the strait Way that leads to Life and Iniquity and Wickedness abounds amongst you and like Teachers like People for from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to Covetousness Jer. 6. 13. Great Ignorance hath blinded your Minds and great Darkness is over your Hearts and your Teachers do deceive you and they cause you to err and you give your Money for that which is not Bread and your Labour for that which doth not profit even as the people of Israel did so do you and in their Transgressions do you walk and your Teachers are in the steps of the Pharisees they are called of men Master as the Pharisees were they stand praying in the Synagogues and Temples as the Pharisees did and they have the chief Seats in the Assemblies as the Pharisees had and they even shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men as the Pharisees did and will not enter in themselves nor suffer them that would Cease from all your outward Priests and hearken to the Voice of the Lord which breaks down that nature which is contrary to God and raiseth up the Seed which is Heir of God's Kingdom and turn your minds to the Light in you which Christ hath lightened you withal which Light shines in your Consciences and convinces you of your evil Deeds it reproves you for Vain words and Ungodly speeches it will let you see what your hearts go after and what your love goes out unto and if you love that it will lead you to Christ and he will be revealed in you to teach you and to give you the Witness of Peace and Reconciliation with God The Light is your Eye by which you may see God it will lead you out of all idolatrous worships and works and from your false worships which are an Abomination to the Lord and you must be converted and changed into a new Nature and you must put off the Old man and his Works before you can worship God aright for he is worshipped in Spirit and in Truth only and such the Lord is now seeking to worship him Therefore cease from your Steeple-house-worship which is in the Traditions of men and not in the Spirit of the Lord and that worship must be confounded for its Root is corrupted and its Branches will wither and the Breath of the Lord is kindled against it If you love the Light of Christ and walk in it there is your Teacher and if you hate it there is your Condemnation The next day after the Dispute this was written and sent in a little time after to Draton and up and down that ways Richard Goodgrom FRiend hath not thy Ignorance Folly and Wickedness towards me now appeared And is it not manifest in the sight of many people And now thou mayest cease to boast and also to backbite for the time to come and no more secretly to surmise behind my back to the raising of unruly spirits against me so much as in thee was possible and hadst thou been more crafty and more subtile more Mischief thou mightest have done but the Innocent is delivered and thou art taken in the Snare thou laidst for another and false doctrine is prov'd to proceed forth of thy mouth And thou and thy Company may be ashamed when you consider the managing of your Work against me who many times appeared immoderate in speaking many at once confusedly and also were unreasonable in not being satisfied with just Answers but it shews your Blindness and Unbelief who cannot understand the Truths of the Gospel of Christ but contend against them though in the end you are forced to confess to them as was sufficiently witnessed that day of the Dispute and thou in particular who reproachedst me behind my back in divers places where I have heard of it by my Friends whom thou judg'dst had not been so yet they have discover'd the naughtiness of thy heart both in the Country and in the City Thou hast given forth that I had preached false doctrine and such like wicked reproachful back-biting language behind my back not like a man faithful to God and thy Neighbour but one that hath surmised Evil against the Harmless And thou mayest remember all these things thou objectest against who wouldst have made a great matter of them against me yet are they sufficiently prov'd to the Understanding of many honest People And if thou and thy Company will be blind it is because you harden your hearts against the Truth and I am clear in the sight of the Lord and all shall know that have an Ear to hear That what I profess preach and practice are the saving Truths of Iesus Christ though they may be branded to be Heresie by such as thee who may call Light Darkness and Darkness Light and put Good for Evil and Evil for Good And at a convenient Opportunity I may take in hand to prove That thou thy self hast held forth that which cannot be justified by the Scripture but are condemned thereby Many things fell from thee in my hearing which I may object against and prove the contrary and I shall not go behind thy back as thou hast done to slander thee but I shall rest contented and wait the opportunity to lay open thy Nakedness and Weakness in the sight of all people And whatsoever thou judgest The Scriptures the Writings and the things written of are two things
you do not or cannot satisfie all people in these particulars by the â—…es then forsake your Religion and renounce your Church and 〈◊〉 your selves to be Deceivers of the World and to be deceived for 〈◊〉 will tear your Garments and marr your Beauty and stain your 〈◊〉 and uncoâ—â—r your Nakedness and subdue your Power and sâ—ay 〈◊〉 Strength and pull down your strong Hold and the Dread of the Alâ—…y will come over you And come Friends answer me is the Light by which you walk everâ—… ing and is the Day dawned and the Sun risen that never goeth down 〈◊〉 have you seen the signs of the coming of the Son of Man and what are 〈…〉 signs of his coming and what is that Sun that must be turned into Dâ—… and what is that Moon that must be turned into Blood and what are the 〈◊〉 ers of the House that must tremble and do you own quaking and trembling at the Word of the Lord and did you ever quake and tremble or is 〈◊〉 such a thing in your Church and what is that Part in Man that must 〈…〉 is it not that Part in Man that the Devil enters into answer these 〈◊〉 and what is that Mother of Harlots and where is She that hath been 〈◊〉 with the Blood of the Saints and what is the Mystery of her declare 〈…〉 you can and what are her Garments and who are her Children 〈…〉 what nature are they and how may they be known and come Friends answer us have you seen God face to face as did Iacob and Abraham and have you seen his shape perfectly give us a Discription of him if you have and do not all those that be of the seed of Abraham hear God's Voice and 〈…〉 shape and are any of Abraham but who are come out of the World 〈◊〉 have denied it and bear the daily Cross of Christ which mortifies to the World and doth your Wooden Crosses and Stone Crosses in your Tâ—… and high-Wayes and in your Houses and Crucifixes in your Breasts 〈◊〉 you to the World and mortifie you or are you not such as have 〈…〉 of a Cross of Christ but want the Power and what is the difference 〈…〉 all your Images and the Images the Prophets declared against and what life is there in the Image of Christ or Mary painted or graven in Wood or Stoneâ— are your souls refreshed thereby and is not that all the Unity you have with Christ and is that Unity and Fellowship you have with Chriâ—… 〈◊〉 same that they had that had Unity and Fellowship with the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Son and have you Unity with the Son and with the Father 〈…〉 Church had tell us plainly and what is Antichrist and where â—…ing at this day and what is his Marks and Signs and what is the Marks of the Beast that every one received in their Foreheads and in their Hands and 〈◊〉 is his power by which he caused every one to worship him and is the Church of Rome wholy free from that from causing and compelling people to be of 〈◊〉 Religion and come to your Worship by your Fire and Fagots and Inâ—… make it us plain that this is not the Beasts power for we have a jealâ—… least it is not the power of God that was among the Apostles And why do 〈◊〉 Creatures did Christ or the Apostles kill Creatures that were not of their Religion doth not this shew that you want the Power and Spirit of God among you and the spiritual Weapon that beats down the strong Holdâ— â—e cannot believe that you have the spiritual Weapons which the Apostles had except you make it appear to us and can any be converted to the true Church but by the immediate Work and Spirit of God and they that have that â—â—ed not be ashamed but then why are some of your Ministers creeping up and down the Nations in Holes and dare not be seen but lies many years together undiscovered not daring to preach their Gospel and discover their minds did ever the Apostles thus and is not this a sign that they have not the Power of God to carry them through but runs into Holes and Corners for fear of their lives is this the way of the true Ministers of Christ and what is the Lamb's Wife and what is her Adorning and her Beauty and are you the Lamb's Wife and are married to him for ever hath every Member of your Church the Witness thereof and answer us doth natural Learning 〈◊〉 Minister of Christ or were the Apostles made Ministers thereby and can man learn the Ministry as he learns a Trade and is the Preaching of the Gospel a Trade or is it not the Gift of God and can iâ—… bought and sold and what is Eternal Life and how is it received and have any that hope but them whose Hearts are purified And must not every ones Heart be purified before they see God who is Pure And how comes man to be a Reprobate and 〈◊〉 comes man to be a Son of God agaiâ— And what is the Way and Mâ—… of Life Eternal Is it Carnal and visible Things and Ordinances Is it the â—â—ing and performing of something by the Creature or by the revelation 〈◊〉 â—…thing in the Creature And most not Christ be revealed in every partic and is not that the true Bread of Life And is there any other Bread that is Eternal but Christ which the mortal Eye cannot see And we are very 〈…〉 that Bread and Wine after Consedration is not the very Body and 〈◊〉 of Christ and except you can prove to us by plain Scripture and giâ—… sound Reasons to demonstrate things we must judge you and shew your Fâ—lly to the whole World And why do you pray for the Dead is that avâ—…ble shall not they receive according to their works that they have done Gâ—… 〈◊〉 Example that ever the Apostles did so or else we will say You are bâ—… 〈◊〉 â—n the Dark And tell us plainly what Error is and what Schism 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what is the Eye that the godd of the World hath blinded And what is the 〈◊〉 that sees God is it Mortal or Eternal Answer us these things 〈…〉 that we may know how to return in Controversie with you for the Lord God is risen that will break iâ— pieces and confound all the Wâ—… 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Friends give us your Answer Are you of Abrâ—…'s Seed that 〈…〉 of God that had not a foot of Ground but for sâ—â—k his Place and 〈…〉 Are you of that Birth that hath no Father upon Earth And are you Heirs of God's Promise And have you made your Calling and Eleâ—… And is the Seed come out of Egypt's bonds And are all Egypt's bonds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And what is the â—ondage of Egypt And was not Transgression the Reason of it And what is Pharoaâ— out of what Root did he spring and 〈…〉 is he and is not the hard heart of Pharoah Killers and Murderers 〈…〉 such of Pharoah And
and many more other wayes have suffered grievous things as Banishments out of Towns and Whipping and Stocking and grievous unjust Abuses and none of these for Evil-doing but for Good even because they cannot bow to the Devil but are redeemed out of the World and therefore the World hates them and some have suffered hard Cruelties because they could not respect Persons and bow with Hat or Knee and from these Cruelties canst thou not altogether be excused in the sight of God being brought forth in thy Name and under thy Power consider Friend and be awakened to true Judgement let the Lord search thy Heart and lay these things to mind that thou mayst be an Instrument to remove every Burthen and mayst at last fulfill the Will of God are they nothing to thee that such things should be brought forth under thee O be awakned be awakened and now seek the Lord's Glory and not thine own least thou perish before the Lord and Men nay if Men would give thee Honour and high Titles and princely Thrones take it not for that which would exalt and honour thee in the World would betray thee to the World and cast thee down in the sight of the World and this is God's Word to thee what shall the whole Nation be perjured Men and thou the cause of it and wilt thou transgress by building again that which thou hast destroyed Then shall the Lord and his Light in every Conscience bear witness against thee let it not be but deny thy self and thou wilt find the Lord honouring thee Give heed unto my Words and understand my Speech Be not exalted by Man lest Man betray thee the Lord give thee an Understanding in this and guide thee in his Counsel and the rather above all things let thy Heart be stirred up in thee for the Lord For now is he setting up the Dominion of his Son which never shall have an End and thy Dominion must bow under it and all the Dominions of the Earth or else be confounded and broken to Pieces the Glory of the Lord is revealing and thine shall be vailed before it and the Glory of all Flesh shall fall Therefore strive not openly nor secretly against his Way for it shall prosper there is no Enchantment against us nor any formed Weapon that can prosper knowest thou not that the King of Righteousness might command thousands of his Saints to avenge him of his Adversaries and to plead his Cause against the Rebellious All Power is in his Hand yea and the Authority and Dominion shall be in the Hands of his Saints and every one that exalts himself against them shall be brought down not by an outward Sowrd or might of Man but by his out-stretched Arm and all Crowns that are Mortal shall be troden down by him whose Crown is Immortal and never fades away Therefore be wise and learned this is thy day as thou dealest or sufferest to be done with the Lord's People so to thee it shall be done in that day when their Government shall out-reach thine and be set atop of it as thou hopest for Mercy from the Lord when his Kingdom conqueres thee and thine now deal favourably and relieve the Oppressed boast not thy self though the Lord hath used thee in his Hand but know that when he will he can cast thee a Rod out of his Hand into the Fire for in his Hand thou art if thou wilt honour him he will honour thee otherwise he can yea and will confound thee and break thee and make thee weak as Water before him his Love through my Heart breaths unto thee he would thy happiness if thou wilfully contemn it not by exalting thy self and seeking thine own glory and hardning thy Heart against the Cry of the Poor and this I was moved in bowels of pittiy to lay before thee who am thy Friend not in Flattery but in an upright Heart who wisheth well unto thee in the Lord. A Friend to the Kingdom of Christ and not of this World but an Heir of Immortality with the Son of God called E. B. The Original of this was given to the Hands of Oliver Cromwell then Protector in the third moneth of the Year 1657. For the Hands of Oliver Cromwell called Protector FRIEND I am moved to write to thee from the occasion of being with thee yesterday and I take liberty from the true love and pitty stirred up in my Heart towards thee who am thy Friend and wisheth well unto thee in the Lord even that Salvation thou mayest receive and that thy way may be blessed upon Earth and the Fruits of the Knowledge of God might more abound in thee and the Fruits of Ignorance less which doth appear which I wish might be cut off before they wholly over-grow thee and remove the Blessing far from thee in this life and in the life to come and bring upon thee Destruction for the Fruits of all Unrighteousness brings Death Sorrow and Misery and the Light of Christ in thee shall answer in all things to the justness of the Judgments of the Lord. Thou sayest in effect that thou wouldest not or thou desirest not our Persecution or that we should be persecuted by Cruelty or unjust Imprisonment now consider what the cause is that what thou desirest not to be done yet is done thou having power in thy hand onely to prevent what thou wouldest not have done is it not thine own unfaithfulness to the Principle of God in thee which beareth witness against the Persecution of the Innocent Or is it that thou mayest please men and therefore rather suffer Wickedness to abound Injustice and Oppression to be acted against the Poor making it appear thou art willing to do the false Teachers of this Nation and wicked men a pleasure then to own the People of God in relieving them and â—â—sing them of their cruel Burthens and Oppressions laid upon them by unjust men for a word of thy mouth or the shew of thy Countenance in dislike of these cruel and unjust Persecutions would bind the Hands of many blood-thirsty Men and stop the Mouthes of many Devourers and therefore because of thine own unfaithfulness doth that come to pass which thou desirest not And so I must needs say This appears to be evil in thee to say In effect thou approvest not or thou desirest not out Persecution and yet it is done when the Power is in thy Hand to remove it and this in much love and great pitty I declare unto thee in the Fear and Counsel of God Further thou sayest Thâ—n art not guilty of these Persecutions acted unjustly upon us Again consider I say Thou canst not be cleared in the Sight of the Lord God from them being acted under thee and in thy Name in the Day of the Lord the Light in thy Conscience shall answer this for there seems to be rather a favouring of them in thee and by for bearance of the Actors of Cruelty by which their
Innocent make no Laws to limit the Lord nor his Spirit nor his People but make such of no effect lest ye be confounded like as with a Whirle-wind by the Breath of the Almighty I am the Lord and my Name is dreadful to all Flesh mine Arm is stretched forth over the Nations and I will scatter them at my Pleasure I kill and I make alive I break down and I build up fear ye me and tremble at my Presence bow before me and have my Name in Reverence and my People in Safety and let them be free from all Oppressions and Tyranny lest I correct you with the Rod of my Judgments saith the Lord For I will rule Nations with an Iron Rod and the Governments shall be mine through the Kingdoms of the World and my People shall inheriâ— the Possessions I will beat the Mountains to Powder and strike Terror in the Hearts of the Mighty and I will Judge among the Judges and Rule amongst the Rulers of the Earth who are but Dust and Ashes before me therefore do ye the thing that pleaseth me and have my Cause and my People's Cause in respect amongst you and be ye low and humble in my Sight lest I wound you and you never be healed lest I scatter you and you never be gathered I am the Lord that doth whatsoever he will Dreadful and Mighty is my Name in the Earth and my People are my Inheritance wherein I delight spare them and afflict them not that I may spare you and not destroy you and take you Counsel at my Spirit and at my Servants that you may prosper and hurt not the Innocent nor touch my Anointed Ones lest I come suddenly upon you saith the Lord and break you to pieces for I will make you know that my People are mine and beloved of me and that I care for them and will Fight for them and revenge their Cause and deliver them from the hands of their Enemies speedily this ye shall know when my Vengeance is extended forth to all my Enemies and upon all such as do oppress my People and are Spoilers of my pleasant Heritage and now am I arisen saith the Lord. Edw. Burroughs This was written to the Parliament which began to sit in the Eleaventh Moneth 1658. which Richard Cromwell Dissolved in the Second Moneth 1659. To Richard Cromwel and to Henry Cromwel FRIENDS YET once more hath the Lord given me somewhat to say unto you in Love to your immortal Souls You had a glorious Day of Visitation and many precious Warnings from the Mouth of the Lord by his Servants but you rejected the Counsel of the Lord against your own Souls and made no account of the Servants of the Lord which were sent unto you but caused them and suffered them to be persecuted by your Power and they were made a Spoil and a Prey to their Enemies all your dayes and you sought your selves and your own Honour and you were exalted in Pride and Vain-glory and forgot God who raised you up from a low Estate and you had no respect to the Cause of his People and therefore is this justly come to pass upon you from the Hand of the Lord not that I rejoyce in it and glory over you because of it only I tell you what is justly happened unto you that ye may learn the Lora's just Iudgments in these things like as formerly I warned you of it for it could not otherwise be but that the Lord would avenge the Cause of his People upon their Persecutors and the Injustice done unto them upon you in whose Name and Power it was acted for in every Generation he hath had respect unto his People's Cause and did avenge their Cause in his season And this I well remember I was once moved to speak in the Name of the Lord unto your Father That these things that came to pass in his days that Cruelty and Oppression of the Lord's People would be recompenced and repented of in his Children's dayes For I saw that the Cruelty and Injustice that was done in his Name upon the People of God could not escape un punished in a Generation and it is now come to pass in a measure and will be more and more even for his Transgressions and your own for all of you had a Day and a Time wherein you might have done something for the Lord and for his People and you had a Price put into your hands that you might have improved to the Lord's Glory and to your own Renown to have been a Blessing unto your selves and to the People of God in these Nations but your Day is over and Night is come upon it and your Price is taken from you and given to others and you cannot now work nor act on the Lords behalf as once you might have done and you have sought honour to your selves and you reap Reproach and because you have despised the Counsel of the Lord therefore the snare hath caught you which was laid for others These things I say unto you in pitty for you rather then in boasting over you neither do I commend that spirit which acteth in too much severity towards you which upraids you rather then seeks to amend you that is not my way For your Father served the Lord in his Generation and was once the Instrument in his Hand to the accomplishing of good things till that an ambitious spirit got power over him and betrayed him and the Work was lost which God called him unto And as for these that are now in Power if they shall tread in your steps and shall not relieve the Oppressed much more then any before them shall they be overthrown and brought into Contempt And as for you Come into the Fear of the Lord God that your Iniquities may be pardoned and seek Peace with God and Reconciliation and seek after the Kingdom that eâ—dures forever and while ye have time seek after a Crown Immortal and wait to know that which will make you Heirs of that Inheritance which never fades away the Light in your own Consciences which Christ hath enlightened you with which lets you see Sin and convinceth you of your Evil Deeds that Light in you must you own to be your Teacher and must become subject unto it in all things or else you have no part in the Kingdom of God and cease from your lying Prophets who have flattered you in your Iniquities and deceived your Souls and cryed Peace unto you and Safety and said You should Prosper and they have hardened your Hearts and been a Snare to you till the Lord's Anger is broken forth against you and they found Lyars So now consider and do not alwayes reject Love but and if you do I am clear and your Iniquities will be upon your own Heads and though rejected by you yet a Friend to your Souls whom the Lord hath made often to warn you and happy had you been if you had or can now prize
Just and Sober Men and to your condemnation in the Sight of God who takes notice of your wickedness and unseemly behaviour which you may call to mind and remember that you may repent of your ungodly words and cruel speeches and rude bruitish gestures which appeared in you without any Fear of God to your shame be it spoken and like Priests like People all out of the way in folly and vanity erring through Lightness and Wantonness not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God but perverters of the one and despifers of the other the sin of the Priest will be charged upon the People because you love to have those things so and uphold him in his wickedness and the sin of the people will be charged upon the Priests who through Lyes and Lightness cause you to err and profits them not at all but is a blind Leader of ye blind People till both fall into the Ditch together who close your Eyes that you may not see and shut your Ears lest you should Hear and harden your Hearts that you may not understand and your Destruction is of your selves and your Blood is upon your own Heads who scorns to be reproved and despiseth the Way of the Lord and will not receive his Truth in the Love of it that you may be saved but is a blind willful and stiff-necked people some of you who have hearts and cannot understand Is these the fruits of your long Profession Railing Mocking Scorning Laughing Hooting Foolish and Vain Words Nick-naming and Reproaching these things abounds openly among you to your shame especially at such a time when Meekness and Soberness and Moderation had much better become you to have been brought forth by you your Priests exceeding the rest in vileness and some of your Rulers hardly being clear remember your work and call to mind your words and ways and let shame cover your heads from the highest to the lowest of you and thou proud wild reproachful professeâ— Minister cease thy vain presumptious boastings against the Innocent and now when thou puts off thy armor if thou hast gotten a victory glory or rather hide thy face for shame and stop thy mouth in the dust whose Lightness and Wildness hath super-abounded some of thy fellows who may be ashamed of thee in thy words and behaviour whereby thou art sufficiently proved to be one that was never sent of God if we had no other testimony Thy proud presumptions boast against the Quakers was with soberness and in the Fear of the Lord answered to thy shame in the sight of all such whose hearts are not altogether hardned and given up to believe Lies and to do Wickedness that they may be damned that believe not the Truth and first as to the manner of the dispute on his part were his Railing Envious Reproachful unsavory filthy words of God or of the Devil with much impudency many times uttered in the discourse as Villain Sirrah Wretch Blasphemer Rogue and such like lying words of Bitterness more like the words of a brawling Drunkard then for a Minister of Christ and were his booting laughsing and clapping his hands and rude and unseemly gestures and behaviour of God or of the Devil more like in appearance to a Stage-player then to a Minister of Christ to his shame I mention it consider and answer these things and let that of God in your Consciences judge to which I stand to be approved in meekness and he to be reproved and condemned in his filthiness and bruitishness in the Sight of God may not you who owned him in that discourse be ashamed of him in these his words and actions which appeared who boastingly gave a Challenge to dispute of the things of God and then to mannage it in Rudeness and Wildness without any Fear of God in Lying and Slandring and at the end when things came to the head for Tryal to run away and not to stand to the end though several times he was charged to it I appeal for Answer to the Light of Christ in all your Consciences not like a Minister of Christ in any measure he appeared but as one that knows not the Living God nor his Law and Fear nor Judgements and an unfit fellow upon tryal I found him to dispute the Precious things of God and through some Nations I have hardly met with a worse which caused me to be the more silent then otherwise I would for I chosed rather to be accounted a fool by silence then to offend the Just Law of God by giving holy things to Dogs or casting Pearls before Swine in which nature he and some of you appeared who fasly Slandered the Innocent with the name of Jesuite and such like crying away with him with Bitter and Cruel words and gestures pushing with your hands and crying a Prison were the fittest or such like even like unto your fore-Fathers the Pharisees who persecuted Christ under the account of themselves being righteous and he a blasphemer and they laid snares for him to entrap him in his works as you did who when I would not answer according to your provoking that you might ensnare me would hardly suffer me to answer any thing to clear and defend to the Truth against the boast of the Wicked but by Hooting and Laughing and Clapping of Hands and Foolish Jeastings and unreasonable Rudeness prevented me from speaking and them that would have heard from hearing as much as you could even as bruit Beasts or Heathens and not like civil people much less like godly Christians nor like such as would or could soberly debate the Truth of God to edification and truly may I say I fought with Beasts at Reading after the manner of men but all was to make your selves and your pretended Minister manifest and all could not be so blind but might understand his wayes and words not to be guided by the Spirit of God but by the spirit of the Devil who is the Father of such Works and Conâ—… as was brought forth by him in the Meeting in many uncivil actions and reproachful words of envy And also as to the matter of dispute on his pâ—â—t managed was but a vain contention boastingly uttered without the Fear of the Lord in a proud presumptious spirit and a Snare laid in the mid'st of his Questions and Arguments to entrap the Just but in vain was the Snare 〈◊〉 in the sight of the Bird and I chose rather to appear a Fool to your wisdom then to be made a prey upon by you and caught in your deep-laid Snare for we are learned to be as wise as Serpents and deeply did he and sâ—â—e of you fall into the Snare of Confusion and Wickedness and False Doctrines as would have been laid open if he had durst to have staid or you to have heard The Principal Question was whether the Scriptures are the Word of God which he affirmed but could not prove by plain Scripture â—â—to which much might have
am confident That the King hath better Experience of us than to believe these our Malicious Accusars And I do appeal to him from the knowledge which he hath already of us that he believes we are Innocent and not guilty of those things thus unjustly charged upon us and I question not but he will rightly understand that these Accusations are more out of Hatred and Envy against us than out of desire to benefit the King by such Presentation 2. I do testifie unto the King and before the whole World That we do profess and believe concerning the Father Son and Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Blessed Gospel and the Holy Scriptures I say we do believe and make prefession in Truth and Righteousness concerning all these things and by our Doctrines and Instructions do perswade all people to believe and not seduce any from these Truths of the Gospel and this is known through these Kingdoms concerning us though we stand now accused falsly concerning these Matters before the King But as for the Scriptures being the Rule of Life we say The Spirit of God that gave forth the Scriptures is the Rule of Life Faith unto the Saints and leads not contrary but according unto the Scriptures in the Belief and Practice of whatsoever the Scripture saith And if these Petitioners did make the Scriptures the Rule of their Lives and Practices for the denyal of which they here accuse us they would not have cut off Ears Banished and put to Death for the Cause of Conscience which is contrary to the Scriptures and proceeded from another spirit than that which gave forth the Scriptures 3. Concerning Government our Principles and Practices are well known to many and partly to the King We are not Enemies unto Government it self as these our Accusers do charge us but it is our Principle and hath ever been and is our Practice to be subject to whatsoever Government is set up over us either by doing or suffering and neither to vilifie nor rebel against any Government or Governours by any Malicious Plots or Contrivances but to walk in Meekness and Humility towards all being subject for Conscience sake as I have said either by doing or suffering and I doubt not but the KING is sufficiently informed hereof and believeth this Testimony 4. As for our Doctrines tending to subvert both Church and State this is also a false Accusation and Slander for our Doctrines are to convert and not to subvert even to convert to God and Truth and Righteousness that men should live in these things and forsake all that which is contrary and this Effect our Doctrines have wrought in the World as the Testimony of many Consciences shall bear witness Oh let the King consider of our Defence as well as of our Enemy's Charge who have thought it not enough to Whip most cruelly Banish cut Ears and put to Death the Innocent but must still accuse them â—alsly and seek to cover themselves by fawning and flattering Addresses unto the King like as if they had done no Evil whenas the God or Heaven is Witness to whom we can appeal That our Brethren suffered the Tortures of shameful Death in New-England through their unjust Laws and Sentences as Saints and Servants of the Living God for the Name of Christ Jesus and for his Truth which they held until Death and not for Evil-doing And the Executioners of these inhumane Cruelties seem so far from Repentance for their Evil doing that they rather justifie themselves in what they have done and cease not to smite and wound and reproach the Innocent and that before the King and that after they have Martyred them Again These Petitioners say After all other means for a long time used in vain we were at last constrained for our own safety say they to pass a Sentence of Banishment against them upon Pain of Death such was their Dangerous Impetuous and Desperate Turbulency to Religion and to the State Civil and Ecclesiâ—stical as that 〈◊〉 unwilling soever could it have been avoided the Magistrate at least in Conscience both to God and man judged himself called for the Defence of all to keep the Passage with the Point of the Sword held towards them this could do no harm say they to them that would be warned thereby their willing rushing themselves thereupon was their own act and we with all humility conceive a Crime bringing their Blood upon their own Heads By way of Answer to this let it be considered 1. What Means was for a long time used before they put them to Death is shameful to mention Was it not by the means of Cruel Whippings Banishment Imprisonment Cutting off Ears and taking their Goods by Violence It s true by this Means the Petitioners dealt with the Quakers and never by any Christian like Means for the very first of our Friends that ever came among them they made them Prisoners ere they came on shore and inhumanely dealt with them and Banished them and this was the first and fairest Means that ever was used by them which are not Gospel-Means nor the Way by which the Church of New-England ought to have proceeded Had our Friends been in Error and such as they say of them it had been their Duty to have gained them by Love by Mercy and by Long-suffering these are the Weapons of the Spirit of God which ought to be us'd towards them that are in Error in order to the converting of them from the Error but contrary to this the Magistrates and Church-Members of New-England took Cain's Weapons and dealt Cruelly and not like Christians nor like sober Men towards the Innocent but their thus proceeding was in vain as themselves acknowledge for notwithstanding the Gospel of Christ grew and encreased and many were converted to the Faith of Christ Jesus throughout New-England 2. Let it be considered what their dangerous and desperate Turbulency was to States Civil and Ecclesiastical Did ever these poor People whom they condemned and put to shameful death lift up a Hand against them or appear in any Turbulent Gesture towards them Were they ever found with any Carnal Weapon about them or What was their Crime saving that they warned Sinners to Repent and the Ungodly to turn from his way We appeal to the God of Heaven on their behalf whom they have Martyred for the Name of Christ That they had no other Offence to charge upon them saving their Conversations Doctrines and Practices as Saints of the Most High God and this is witness'd by many of their Neighbours though themselves have hardened their Hearts against the Reproof of God's Witness And we certainly believe it was their Malice and Envy that constrained them to pass Sentence of Death upon them and not the Equity of either just Law of God or man for they deserved not the merit of Death such was the Innocency of their Cause And they are no more safe by the taking away the Lives of our
Punishment pertaining to Hereticks as such for such Heresies held by them Being first convicted truly thereof as aforesaid by the true Church of Christ in whom there is infallibility of Judgment Knowledge and discerning in that case for in the true Church of Christ doth infallibility of true Judgment and Knowledge dwell and every true Member of the true Church hath its particular Measure of the infallible Spirit of Christ whereby he is certainly perswaded of the Way of Truth in which he walks and knows and believes the infallibility of the Truth he professeth and is certain and secure of the Way of his Peace and Assurance in God which he hath received and believed and also hath certainty and infallibility of Judgment and Discerning who are out of the Truth and in the Way of Error and are Hereticks such are infallibly known and discerned by the Spirit of God in the true Church of Christ and by every Member of the same according to his measure of the same Spirit and Gift of Knowledge and Discerning by it And to such as are so convicted by the infallible Spirit of Christ for such their Heresies there is a Punishment pertaining for Hereticks were to be punished in the Apostles dayes according to Paul's Instructions 1 Cor. 5. 5. which was That such a one as had erred from the Truth which once he knew should be delivered up unto Satan for the Destruction of his Flesh that the Spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord Here was a Punishment described by the Apostle for this Heretick that had erred and gone from the Truth and acted against it though once he believed in it and knew it And again Tit. 3. 10. he exhorts and advises That a man that is a Heretick after the first and second Admonition should be wholy rejected and turned away from and judged with the Holy Spirit of God And thus it is clear there is such a thing as dealing with men that are Hereticks and punishing them for such their Heresie according to the Apostle's Doctrines and Instructions And without all controversie such as do err from the Faith which once they have received and turn from the Truth in principle or practice must not escape unpunished but must receive the sentence of just Judgement from God and from his Saints that continue faithful 7. But what kind or nature this punishment is of in what way and manner such as are Hereticks may be and ought to be punished is doubtful to many and is a case at this time to be inquired into for that way and practice of punishing such as have been supposed to be Hereticks as among the Christians so called for many generations to wit the way and practice of burning banishing killing imprisoning and afflicting corporally the persons of them that have been called Hereticks for their heresies and laying forfeitures and penalties on their bodies and estates as hath been the practice of Papists and Protestants towards one another since the Apostles dayes this way and practice hath not been of God nor by any example or precept of the Apostles or first Christian Churches established in their dayes they did not practise or prescribe such dealing towards them that were truly Hereticks and were erred from the Faith and Truth of Jesus Christ not Killing Burning Banishing and Prosecuting the Persons of Hereticks this was not the way of the Spirit of God among the Primitive Christians they did it not nor gave institution for the doing of it at any time but this way of dealing towards Hereticks in such cruel proceedings as hath been in practice for many Ages is of Satan and Antichrist and is down-right Murder Robbery and Wickedness in the Eye of the just God while one Sect or Sort of Christians so called have punished and enviously persecuted another Sort different from them as Hereticks with grievous Afflictions in Body and Estate even unto Death and Banishment this hath not been of God nor true Christian-like but of the wicked one and Cruelties and Murders before the Lord neither are the same proceedings at this day in any part of the World where they are extant any just legal Righteous Christian-like way of proceeding according to Apostolical example but are of Antichrist and of the Wicked one as I have said And this Way and Practice of proceeding towards Hereticks hath been so far from effecting the return of any to the Way of the Lord that have been erred from it as the end of proceeding toward Hereticks should effect that the way and practice of Killing Banishment and Persecuting by violence Hereticks so called hath hardned men in their evil way and made such as have been Hereticks more bold confident and obstinate in their Way Heresie and Errors and many that have been more righteous and clearer from Heresie then such as have so judged them have been destroyed by cruel dealing and many others have been destroyed in their Iniquities and Errors by being so proceeded against And thus true Judgment and Justice in this case have been perverted and turned backwards and because of Ignorance and Cruelty the Righteous have suffered unjustly as the Wicked and the Wicked have suffered by unjust proceedings and thus the Way of Righteousness hath not been known in the Earth but Error upon Error one evil upon another hath come onesin added to another among the Sons of men in the Apostacy amongst the false Christians 8. But the perfect Way of the Lord in proceeding towards such as are truly Hereticks so discerned and infallibly judged to be by the true Church of Christ is this Let such first be admonished advised instructed and warned again and again to beware return from and renounce such false Principles Doctrines and practices held by them and this in the spirit of Christ Jesus in perfect love and in meekness and in the wisdom of the Lord God such I say as are erred from the way of the Lord and from the faith of Christ once received into error ought thus in the first place to be dealt withal by the Way of Admonishing Instructing Warning and Reproving that there may be a Returning and Repentance towards the Lord and his Truth again from whence they have erred and if such shall not receive the Instructions Reproofs and Admonitions of the true Church of Christ then such Hereticks shall be rejected and cast out according to Titus the 3. 10 11. saith the Apostle A man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself here is the Description of the punishing of an Heretick if he will not receive Admonition after being given him again and again but doth harden his heart against the Church and against the truth of Christ and will not repent but persicts in his errors and heresies and that after reproof and admonition then he is to be rejected rejected what is that but a casting out from
the unity of Saints a departing and absenting from such an one and a depriving of him of the peace and comfort joy and felicity of the Assembly of God's People and Servants a turnning from such in Converse and Fellowship and a separating from them and judging them by the Spirit of Christ Jesus and this is rejecting an Heretick and delivering him to Satan according to 1 Cor. 5. 4 5 6. When the Church The Saints were met together with the Spirit of God and the Power of the Lord Iesus Christ such a one as had erred from the Truth and sinned against it and was truely an Heretick should be delivered unto Satan for the destruction of the Flesh that the Spirit might be saved Delivering unto Satan what is that but to let him be cast out into the wicked World reputing him as such an one and that he partake not of the sweet heavenly and blessed Union and Fellowship of Saints in their Assemblios and converse with the God of Heaven in his Spirit and Life not to be numbred among the righteous nor a partaker with them in the holy Union of the Elect to pass judgment upon him eternally in the estate he is now in having both erred from the Truth and rejected and despised the reproofs and Admonitions of the Church of Christ and as such to give him up to Satan to give him up to that Spirit that hath led him aside from the Truth and hardned his heart against it to deliver him up to it seeing he refuseth to be reclaimed from it and hath chosen to follow it rather then the Truth let him be left unto delivered up unto that Spirit even unto Satan in the wicked World let him be cast out thither among the unclean and not reckoned among the record and line of the faithful People and separated from and cast out so as he expresseth it vers 11. If any man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous a Railer a Drunkard c. with such a one not to accompany no not to eat and this is to deliver a Heritick to Satan for the destruction of the Flesh and is the proper punishment of Heresies and Hereticks according to the Apostles Advice and Precept but not to kill or punish the persons of men by corporal Afflictions and Penalties on the Bodies and Estates for their Error sake this the Apostle gave no Commission for but that such as erred from the Truth and walked contrary in Principle or Practice should be rejected and delivered up unto Satan in the way and manner before declared Again in Matth. 18. 16 17 18. it is signified by Jesus Christ to the self-same purpose in these words If thy Brother trespass go and tell him alone if he repent forgive him if not take one or two or more with thee and tell him again if 〈◊〉 still neglect to hear tell it to the Church but if he neglect to hear the Church let such a one be unto thee as hath offended and rejected Reproof and Admonition again and again as an Heathen man and Publican In which words of Christ is truely signified the right and proper way of proceeding towards Hereticks and Offenders even that they be first again and again admonished and reproved and if they resist the same then to be cast out separated from and not enjoy the union and comfort of the Saints amongst them but as an Heathen man and Publican but here is not a word signified of laying corporal Punishments Burning or Banishing persons for their Errors sake and though they may offend no proceedings of this kind are authorised by Jesus Christ or his Apostles in their day but in another way and manner as I have shewed is the proper way ordained of God to deal with Hereticks according to the Testimony of holy Scriptures signified by Christ and his Apostles in the Primitive Churches 9. This is Punishment according to the nature of the Offence for as the Offence is Spiritual erring in the mind from the Truth and a going astray from the Spirit of Christ in a man 's own particular so the Punishment is answerable thereunto even to be separated from the Truth and not to enjoy the Vertue Peace and Comfort of it nor to be partakers thereof amongst the faithfull People And this is truly according to the Iustice of God whose Wayes are just and equal altogether and hath appointed just Rewards for Transgressors according to the nature and merit of the Fact and Deed that is evil and 't is righteous and just that men that sin against their own Souls should be deprived of the Peace and Comfort thereof that all that do depart from the Truth once known and sin against the knowledge thereof â—hould be no more a partaker of the Vertue and Felicity of the same and that they who offend the Lord's People and revolt from the union thereof should be cast out from them rejected of them and not enjoy the Blessings and Peace with them even that all they that will not hear the Repooofs of the Spirit of God nor be drawn with the gentle movings thereof should be judged and condemned with the same and not inherit the Assurance of the Saints And this is God's Iustice That all that love Evil and walk in Iniquity and despise the Lord should be cast out into the sinfull World to have their Portion with the Ungodly and all the Workers of Iniquity and this is just Punishment according to the nature of the Offence of Error aad Heresie for in my Iudgment and I have the Spirit of just Iudgment in this Case it is great Punishment and sufficient for a man that hath once tasted of the Vertue of God's Presence among his People to be cast out from the Feeling and Enjoyment of that Life Vertue and Assembly where it is enjoyed this is Punishment and a Wound to the Soul and Conscience for a Person that hath been turned from Iniquity and witnessed the Peace of Christ in the Church to be left in Iniquity and to witness the Wrath and Anger of God daily smiting him in his spirit and upon his heart this is indeed great Punishment And to have the holy Spirit of Christ in his People now to judge and condemn him whom sometimes it hath comforted and refreshed and to be dis-united and separated from that Spirit and Power amongst the Saints which once gave Life and Joy amongst them This man thus judged and condemned by and thus separated and dis-united from the Spirit and Power of Christ and his People is punished and afflicted sufficiently for his Error and Heresie even in his Conscience Soul and Spirit he is wounded grieved pierced vexed and punished though yet his outward-man and his person be not corporally afflicted by Punishments but he is afflicted within he is dealt withal by the Anger of God in his Conscience he is separated into Darkness and from the Light and Glory of God in the Assemblies