shall conquer by the sword of the Lord which the Lord hath put into their hands over Countries and Dominions For O Nation the Lord is with them and thy unjust Rulers and Officers cannot hurt them not a hair of their heads shall perish without my heavenly Father It is for a testimony of their Fathers love to them that they suffer shame and reproach and some of them imprisonment by the unjust Rulers and for a witness against them that some of them are brought before them the Lord is chusing the weak things of this World and he is making manifest his Counsels to Babes and revealing his Counsel and eternal Truth to Children and keeps his hidden Treasures from the eyes of the Wise and vulturous ones Praises praises be to him for evermore For the Lion of Judah is opening and hath opened the Sealed Book let all his Saints rejoyce for evermore This is the day of thy Visitation O Nation wherein the Lord speaks to thee by the mouth of his Servants in word and writing therefore return to the Lord thy God from whence thou art fallen Now will the Lord gather his Jewels and Chosen ones out of thee and will raise up the dead which lies slain under thy Teachers and Pharisees which makes a prey upon the people which was never sent by God to speak unto thee O Land Hear the Word of the Lord Depart from all thy Teachers for the Lord hath drawn his Sword and lifted it up against the false Prophet and the Vials of Indignation shall be poured upon him and upon all that upholds him in his Whoredoms and Witchcraft by which he deceiveth the simple therefore lest thou be partaker of their Plagues depart from them And all people mind that measure of Light within you which the Lord hath lightened every one of you withal for the Lord is risen to teach his people himself and he is fulfilling his Prophesie in thy ears O Nation they shall teach no more every man his neighbor and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will put my Law in thine inward parts and write it in their hearts Ier. 31. 33. The Lord is about his great and wonderful Work in thee and all the Wars and Contentions in thee O Land hath but been a making way for this Work of the Lord and hath not been the Work which the Lord hath purposed This Work is made known to them that feareth the Lord and abideth in his Counsel The Lord will overturn overturn the Nation and will create new Heavens and new Earth wherein shall dwell righteousness in which all the Chosen of the Lord shall rejoyce for evermore And all the Kings and Nobles shall cast down their Crowns before this Glory And all the men of War shall lay down their Armour and Weapons of War And Nation shall not lift up a Sword against Nation any more For the Lord will establish Righteousness and Peace this will the Lord bring to pass in thee O England through the destruction of that which now liveth and through the Resurrection of that to Life which now lieth in Death Hear O Land give ear O People for the Lord of Heaven and Earth is now turning the World up-side down all old things shall pass away all things shall become new by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slain of him shall be many corrupt Judges and Officers will the Lord sweep away and their name shall no more be found in the Nation the fire is kindled and the sword is drawn happy is he that keepeth himself from fighting against the Lord in this his Work and happy are ye O Brethren that stands faithful to the end to see these things accomplished great shall be the battel it is now begun many shall see death and shall yet live to see these things TO all the Despised and Contemned ones who are Persecuted and shamefully entreated by the Generation of the Chief Priests and by them who live in the highest Profession in the Word outwardly ye who are the scorn of the Nation and the derision of all the Heathen and are called Quakers you are my brethren children of my Father have been brought forth by the same Womb and have sucked the same Breast Ye are chosen out of the world out of all worldly glories and earthly excellencies and are not of this world and therefore the world hateth you you are brought out of the broad way of the flesh and are separated from all the world in their ways worships and forms of religion and are redeemed out of the mouths of all Idoll dumb Shepherds and hath one Shepherd and are gathered from all the mountains and out of all the desolate disinhabited places and are come into the pleasant sheepfold where is green pastures and fresh springs of living Waters By Faith with Abraham are ye come out of your native Country from among your kindred and out of your Fathers house And with Moses have you forsaken the glory of Pharaohs house and chosen rather to suffer affliction among the poor despised people than to have enjoyed the pleasures of sin but great shall be your reward ye Contemned ones glory and honor and everlasting happiness is prepared for you if you stand faithful to the end the Lord is with you as a mighty terrible one and therefore shall all your persecuters be ashamed and confounded the sound of a trumpet is heard among you which makes all Nations at a stand and all the Heathen to wonder and all the Rulers Nobles and chief Priests are in consultation combining together to suppress the Army of the Lord of Hosts which he is gathering together fear not nor be dismaid for the sounding of your trumpet causes an alarum and makes all the inhabitants of the Land to tremble and all bows before the sound of it for the sound of it is terrible to the Nations to all Kingdoms and Dominions the Lord of Heaven and Earth is your Captain which rides upon the Clouds and whose glory is above the World and therefore in the battel shall you obtain the conquest and all your enemies shall be put to flight and one of you shall chase a thousand for he is with you who hath all power in his hand and all your enemies are limitted by him therefore be not discouraged at the raging and swelling words of your Adversaries but be bold and valiant and faithful to him for his is the victory and by his own Right Hand will he get himself the victory Ye are my fellow Souldiers and fellow Members of the same body and my joy in the Lord stand faithfull to the Lord and be bold and valiant for the Truth upon Earth for you hath the Lord chosen of all the Families of the Earth to place his Name among you and he will glorifie his
Name by you he will accomplish his Wonders and make his power known and the greatness of his Name in the sight of the Heathen let all flesh be silent before him and let all the Pharisees and chief Priests and the wise men of the earth stop their mouths before the Lord for you have the word of the Lord and you are made patakers of the everlasting wisdom and are the beloved of God for his eternal Son is born and brought forth among you and therefore doth the wise men and chief Priests consult to take his life but wo unto your Persecuters for they are the seed of evil doers and better it were that a milstone were hanged about their necks and they cast into the sea for the Lord hath sought you to worship him and he is worshipped by you in spirit and in truth your sacrifice is accepted and therefore they that are of Cains generation persecutes you seeking after your blood you are made partakers of the blessing and therefore doth Esau threaten your destruction but your Preserver is the Lord of Hosts and therefore shall all their consultations be disappointed For wo unto them that digs deep to hide their counsel from the Lord and that takes counsel but not at the Lord All ye my brethren be ye faithful and obedient to him who hath called and chosen you out from among the heathen out of all imagined worships to worship in truth serve the Lord in singleness of heart and give up all to him freely to be ordered and disposed by him and look not back at the glory of Sedom nor at the riches of Egypt but follow him who hath enlightened your dark understandings and hath gathered you up by his eternal Light walk in obedience to the Law of God and to the Light made manifest for the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man travelling into a far Country which hath given talents to his servants to improve now all you my beloved ones improve every one your talent that the Lord may receive his own with usury that he may be glorified and that you all may receive a reward therefore all be bold and valiant in the truth and fear not man but fear the Lord God Almighty and walk in the fear of the living God and despise not the cross of Christ but let the cross be your rejoycing for through the cross is the power of the Lord made manifest Rejoyce for ever and be exceeding glad that you are counted worthy to suffer shame and reproach and some of you imprisonment for the Truths sake thus it was ever he that was born after the flesh persecutes him that 's born after the Spirit but be glad and rejoyce in the Lord for you hath he chosen and called even to shine as light in the dark world and to be as a burthensom stone to the Nations your fame is gone abroad through Nations and because of the Man-child that is born is the Nations troubled and the chief Priests and Rulers combined together but that the Lord may be glorified and for your sakes will he scatter the proud in their imaginations and will break in pieces the snares which the Pharisees and chief Priests have laid for your feet and they shall be taken in their own craftiness and fall into the pit which they have digged for you for the Lord who hath called you will set you upon a rock and will preserve you out of the mouths of cunning Wolves who devours souls for dishonest gain Sing praises for ever to the Lord our God who hath chosen us to make manifest his love and truth unto and hath gathered us up out of the mouths of all Idol shepherds that made a prey upon us and from all the mountains and hills where we were scateered in the cloudy and dark day where we were devoured by the wild beasts being without Shepherd and Sheepfold but praises glory and honor for evermore that we are freed out of the cruelty of Pharaoh and from under his tax-masters which layes heavy burdens upon the people rejoyce and be glad in faithfulness and truth unto our King for ever who is the Lion of the tribe of Iudah who hath opened this book and unlosed the seals and hath led us to himself and by suffering under all are we made Kings and Priests over all for evermore he alone is worthy to be praised who hath avenged us of our adversaries and hath given her to drink of the wine of the wrath of God who once made us drink of the wine of her Fornication I am with you you despised ones and my prayers are for you and the eternal glorious God of power be with you and keep you in the middest of this crooked and perverse generation for this generation seeks the blood of the Saints the Beast which was is and now makes war against the Lamb. E B. A true Declaration and a Discovery to all the World of my manner of Life what I have been and what now I am at present I Was brought up by my natural Parents in the profession of Religion according to the generality of this Nation going one day in seven to hear a man Preach the Word as they said to me and to be exercised in the formal worship which was then upheld to read and sing and to rabble over a Prayer but I was wanton and light and lived in pleasure without the fear of God not knowing of God but by hear-say and tradition but when I grew up toward twelve years of age something stirred in me and shewed me that there was a higher Religion than that I was exercised in and then I inquired where the chiefest of the Presbyterian Priests preached and would have gone some miles of a first day to have heard one of the best of them which seemed liker truth than the other and so I got up to be a Presbyterian and followed the highest of the Priests and Professors of that form and grew in favor with them then some small of my vanity and lightness I left and Pride grew up in me for wisdom grew up in me then some of my forâ—er acquaintance began to scorn me calling me a Round-head and the like and by my labouring here I gathered knowledge in things without but yet was ignorant of the living Truth Then when I was about seventeen years of age it pleased God to shew himself a little to me and somthing struck me with terror and when I had been praying I heard the voice often Thou art ignorant of God thou knowest not where he is nor what he is to what purpose is thy Prayer And so much fear and dread came upon me and broke me off from praying many times and trouble came thick into my mind and fearfulness fell many times upon me and I was struck off my delights that I formerly loved and what I had gathered in as of a god died and I left off reading in the Scripture for
sit-upon the Throne unto the Slaves and Bond-men that are made a prey The Lord's Controversie is against you and the mighty terrible Day of the Lord is coming upon you wherein he will plead with you because of your Transgressions which cannot be numbred but do exceed theirs in former Generations who were cut off by his outstretched Arm. Therefore thus saith the Lord Now also will I arise as a mighty man of War and will appear in my Majesty to gather the Nations and to fan them and to try them in the wind of my Wrath and to purge them and to refine them in the Furnace of my Fire of Indignation and Jealousie And this from my mouth is a Warning to you and a Sound in your ears by authority from my Spirit To thee Oliver Cromwell called Protector THus saith the Lord My Controversie is against thee because thou hast not been faithful to the end in my Work but hast taken thy rest and ease and pleasure upon thy high and lofty Mountain of Pride and vain Glory and hast set up thy self to be worshipped exalting thy own Horn and hast not fully given Glory and Honour to me of that which I have done by thee but in thy heart boasts thy self against me who hath hewed with thee and made thee an Instrument in my Hand to do my Will upon my Enemies and now thou performest not thy Vows made to me in the day of distress but thou hast broken Truce with me and now thou sufferest grievous and hainous Oppression and Cruelty and Tyranny to be acted in thy name upon my People whom I have chosen and elected to exalt my Name by by unjust Imprisonments and grievous Persecution do they suffer in thy name which the Cruel-hearted make a cloak of for their cruelty and even such who have been thy Enemies thy name is a cloak unto to hid their cruel intents and wicked purposes against my People whom they tread upon and this is not unknown to thee and therefore the less excusable art thou in my sight and the greater will my Judgments be upon thy head which suddenly I will bring upon thee except thou repent and return to thy first integrity which if thou dost I will honour thee next unto my Chosen and give thee the necks of Princes to tread upon and their Dominions for thy Inheritance otherwise thus shall it be done unto thee if thou wilt not hear and obey my Voice saith the Lord. To all ye his Council THus saith the Lord My Controversie is against you because ye are one with him and every whit fully guilty of his Transgressions and feed him and your selves in the valleys of vain glories with vain shews and hopes and your endeavours are more to secure your selves from Mischief and Plots and wicked Intentions which remain in the hearts of the Rebellious against you then to defend and preserve the Innocent for you neglect to take off Oppression and to ease the Oppressed but make your Fingers as heavy as your Fathers Loynes who were cast out before you and the same Laws stand still in force by which Tyranny and Oppression is acted and the same false Prophets you establish by a Law which deceive the Nations and flatter you by subtil Speeches and there is no pure Reformation wrought in the Earth but you with your power joyn with the first Beast who was wounded by a grievous blow of fury to make War against the Lamb and his Followers and you seek to set up that which I am about to throw down and you are not ignorant of the grievous Cry of the poor under the burthen of oppression laid upon them by your Laws by which they unjustly suffer the imprisonment of their Bodies and the spoiling of their Goods and you suffer this wickedness to be done and shut up your compassion and the hands of Evil-doers hereby are strengthened through your forbearance they are hardened in their cruelty and because you profess more of the Name of the Lord then some that have gone before you and perform as little the greater is your abomination and the deeper is your hypocrisie and the greater will my Judgments be upon your heads except you speedily repent and walk in my Counsel which if you do honourable in Counsel will I make you and your Renown shall Generations to come exalt otherwise if you refuse my Word to hear I will make you a Reproach and a Curse to Ages for ever To all ye Iudges and Lawyers and your Train and to all that handle the Law THus saith the Lord My Controversie is against you because of your abominations for you are the very Actors of the allowed Oppressions and in judging for Gifts and Rewards and Bribery some of you have exceeded all that ever went before you and many just Causes of the Poor have been neglected for want of a large Gift and many unjust Actions of the rich men have you pleaded against Equity for advantage to your selves your Council have respected Persons and in Bribery and Gifts have you delighted and thereby have made your selves as Lords in the Earth and have set your selves upon high Hills and you have followed the counsel of your own heatts and your human wit and learning in seeking out the justness of a Cause and in judging thereof and my righteous Law of Justice have you not regarded to be your Rule but through the policy and craft have you hidden the simplicity of the Law from the Ignoraâ—… in unknown Languages and obscure Sentences and your wills many times have been your Law and true Judgment have you turned backward and made a Feâ—… against Equity that it could not enter Some of you are guilty in a high degree of that cruelty and tyranny which of late years hath been acted upon the Innocent yea you have grinded the face of the Poor imprisoned the Harmless and laid heavy burdens and oppressive bonds upon the Guiltless who have not transgressed any Law much less the Law of Righteousness you have made my free-born Children your Slaves and have highly attempted to sit Lords in my Thrâ—… of Conscience and some of them have deeply suffered by some of you for the exercise of their pure Consciences because they could not Swear or worship and respect your Persons nor pay Tythes that grievous Oppression nor bow to your wills and lusts in things of the like nature of Cruelty And you are guilty in a gross sum of upholding the false Prophet which prophesieth Lyes and falsly with flattering words of guile and he covers himself under your shadow and under your unjust Law which is his staff and strength and he riâ—… upon the Beast till you be both taken alive and cast into the Lake of everlasting Indignation The Cup of my Vengeance will awaken you and my Law 〈◊〉 for ever condemn you and my Counsel of Equity shall plead against you in the Court of Justice and my eternal Judgment from my Throne of
of Iacob The Lord is your God for ever while you be his People Therefore walk before him in Righteousness and let his own works praise him and give him of his own and glorifie him with it eternally Be low in thy heart and be not exalted because of thy Beauty and Riches and glory not but only in the Lord Be diligent in thy mind and watch against all thy Enemies and be not of a careless heart Eat not of the Vine of Sodom nor drink not of the Cup of Whoredoms give not thy strength to Strange women nor let not thy desirable Beauty be overcome of Harlots but keep thy self undefiled and mingle not thy Seed with Strangers but be fruitful in thy pleasant Land upon thy beautiful Mountain and bring forth aboundantly unto thy God who hath turned thy Wilderness into a fruitful Field and taken away thy reproach of Barrenness in Conversation upright and blameless do thou daily appear in Praises and Honour and Fear do thou abound and let thy God be thy Teacher in his Light and Truth for evermore that thy Enemies may see and be confounded and may behold and be ashamed before thee unto whom thy Rock of defence is a stumbling Stone of Offence wherewith the Kingdoms of the Earth shall be dashed to pieces and broken as a Potters Vessel before thee Come forth in thy Beauty and appear in thy Glory to the Nations Arise arise why shouldst thou sit as alone as in obscurity and darkness undiscovered Let the Princes of the Earth see thy excellency and appear before the Nobles in thy Robes of perfect Honour wherewith thou art decked and trimed as a Bride pleasant unto thy Husband Do thou judge among the Judges and give thy counsel among the Prudent and appear in thy Authority before Kings and Princes All the Dominions of the World are not equal in Treasure and Wisdom unto thee but all the Children of Whoredoms shall see their shame and be laid naked when thou appearest in thy purity The Nations long for thee to be partakers of thy vertue therefore shew thy self and appear that the rest of thy Flock which yet remain upon the barren Mountains may come in unto thy Fold to rest under thy Shepherds Power O Sion thou art prepared of thy God to beat the Mountains to dust thou art fitted for his Service to thresh the Hills Make no tarrying but come away spread thy self into every corner of the Earth for the Upright thirst for thee aboundantly who lie under the oppression in the Land of Darkness which may be felt from whence thou art freed into the everlasting Light And why shouldst thou O Sion lie at Rest while thy own Seed the Children of thy Womb are oppressed groaning in the captivity under the Uncircumcised who have driven away thy Remnant and scattered it from thee Put on strength O Arm of the Lord for thy Heritage hath no other Helper nor none that pitieth her And shine forth thou Seed of Iacob and bring in the Kingdoms of the Gentiles to partake with thee of thy everlasting Substance and lay out thy self to gain in thy holy Seed out of the power of Aegypts King O think upon and remember thy own former Bondage while thou was thy self Captive in a strange Land and let thy Bowels be filled with compassion towards thy own Mothers Children and be not straitned in thy help and deliverance for thy God hath given thee an Instrument with Teeth to beat the Rocks to powder he is not wanting unto thee in Power and Wisdom thou chiefest Son of his Love Give up give up to obey his Voice and love not thy life unto death till the Seed of thy Inheritance and the blood of thy Chosen be avenged upon the head of Iezabel who hath slain thy elect in all Generations and nourished her self with the blood of thy Innocent Call upon thy God and awake him to Vengeance to smite and to slay thy Adversaries and to consume their Habitations from off the Earth who have been too strong for thee Why shouldst thou not come forth in the power of thy Judgments to judge the Earth in Righteousness and to exalt thy name in thy Glory which all men have despised and seen no Excellency in And thou O Sions King hast been as a Stranger and unknown in the Earth and thy Treasure hath been wasted amongst the Harlots and empty to this day hast thou returned from gathering fruit of thy Vineyard for sloathful and aboundantly idle have the Labourers been in the Harvest and it is time for thee to arise and work for thy Law hath been made void and thy Statutes and Judgments have been neglected and all the Princes of the Earth contemn thy Laws and count the Sons of thy chosen Heritage as Slaves and Bond-men and decree unrighteous Decrees and seal them in the pit of their unbelief upon the Mountains of their rebellion against thee How long Lord How long When wilt thou appear to lay their honour in the dust of confusion Is it not the fulness of thy Time which thou hast promised How long shall the Remnant of Sion sit as a Widow bemoaning her Children Thy Host and Chosen wait for commission from thee to do thy Will that thou who art our God and our King our Judge and our Law-giver whom our souls have chosen may forever be exalted in thy Majesty and Throne of Justice and Judgment and thy Camp wait to see the honour of Kings and Princes overthrown by thee and thy Dominion set to rule over their heads that all Nations and Kingdoms may become subject unto thee and the Kingdoms of this World may become the Kingdom of thy Son forever and evermore and saith my Soul Come Lord Iesus come quickly By one whose name is truly known by the Children of the same Birth but unknown to the World though by is called EDWARD BURROUGH A DESCRIPTION OF THE State and Condition Of all Mankind upon the face of the whole Earth And a Discovery unto all shewing what man was in his Creation before Transgression and what he is in Transgression how he is become a degenerate Plant bringing forth cursed fruit to the grieving of the good Husband-man who is thereby provoked continually against the Works of his own hands to destroy that which he hath made because it is defiled through mans Transgression Also the Way of Restoration of Salvation Redemption and of Life Eternal is here declared unto all the Sons and Daughters of Adam in the whole world that all may come to the knowledge of the Creator and to have fellowship with him again from whom all the Children of men are separated in the state of enmity and are ignorant of him and drove from his presence This is to go abroad into all the Earth through the whole world as a Call and Visitation unto all mankind that they may hear and consider their condition and may return from whence they are fallen and may be
of trouble and of your need in the day of your Integrity yet trouble and destruction shall come upon you and no help from him shall you find till you return to him with all your hearts and spirits and lay down your own crowns and exalt him the Lord of Glory who is now appearing in Power And further you say In the midst of Such unequalled and signal Mercies how greâ— hath been and is your ingratitude and unfruifulness To which I answer Truely have you spoken to your own shame for your ingratitude and unfruitfulness exceed many that went before you which justly were cut off for the very sins of which you are highly guilty and more may I add unto your confession How great hath been and is your Oppressions aâ—â— Pride and Vain-glory and Self-exaltings and hypocritical Fastings and Confessions with your mouths when your hearts are far from the Lord yea 〈◊〉 your Mercies have been unequalled so your sins cannot be numbred as thouâ—… you sinned that grace might abound or did evil that good might come or toâ—… liberty to your own hearts lusts from your former Mercies and Deliverancâ— received Then further you say Should the Lord say unto you as once he did unto Ephraim Ephraim is joyned to Idols let him alone that same Sentence would be your â—â—sert as insensibility is your crime so it might be too justly made your punishment Answer Yea verily the Lord may say so unto you many of ye Rulers 〈◊〉 England are joyned to Idols let them alone and that same Sentence is your â—…sert but insensibility is not wholly your crime for you have had a day of viâ—tation from the Lord in warning of you by the mouth of his Servants and yâ—â— are not altogether unsensible of your crime of great Oppressions and false Worships and Idol Shepherds Oblations which you are joyned unto and your punishment will justly be the same for the time comes that it shall be Darkness aâ—â— Night upon you and you shall seek the Word of the Lord but shall not 〈◊〉 it for God will smite your Idol Shepherds and break down your Idols Altaâ— of vain Traditions and the Lord will leave you to your selves to wallow iâ— Darkness and in the way of Death and the Servants of the Lord shall leâ— you alone and shall no more weary themselves with seeking to reclaim you And further you say Who hath been melted with Mercy Who hath been broken bâ— Iudgments A sinful Nation A People laden with iniquity A seed of Evil-doâ—â—â— Children that are Corrupters They have forsaken the Lord they have provoked the â—…ly One of Israel to Anger they are gone away backwards Why should ye be stricken 〈◊〉 more ye will revolt more and more And further you say As those sad words do Câ—â—racterise us as filthy as those of Judah so if that sad destruction should also be our doom 〈◊〉 could not but acknowledge the Lord is righteous in all his Wayes Answ. Verily few of you have been melted by Mercies or broken by Judgments but are a sinful Nation a People laden with iniquity a feed of Evil-doers and ye have read your own Character fully for you have forsaken the Lord and are Children that are Corrupters and are gone away backward anâ— provoke the Holy One of Israel to Anger and true it is Why should you he stricken any more or warned For you will revolt and turn aside more and more how truly have you numbred up the sum of your own state even to your shame and confusion of face and to the justifying of the Lord when he in Vengeance appears to judge you and even assuredly that sad denunciation will be your doom and the same Judgments shall overtake you when the Seed is gathered out from among you even desolation of Cities and madness of Prophets and God will smite you together with confusion and you shall not bring forth deliverance in the Land neither shall the Nations have peace in your dayes while you revolt when you are stricken and persecute the Innocent when they warn you And in the day of your recompence you shall indeed confess to your condemnation that the Lord is righteous in all his ways and further you say How deeply have you grieved your God in not mourning as you ought for that profainness and bâ—â—â—â—â—ness that is so ripe amongst you even under such means of knowledge and grace and in not being sensible under nor making a sanctified use of those rebukes you have of late received Answ. Yea you have and do daily even in your set days and times of Fasting deeply grieve the Lord God in not mourning and fasting with a heart prepared to the Lord but even in hypocrisie and even for strife and debate indeed ignorance and prophaneness and barrenness abounds among you and you are ripe therein to be cut down for the fire even the more ye are inexcusable because you have neglected the Messages of the Grace of God and means of knowledge from the Mouth of the Lords despised Servants whom you have persecuted even in cruelty some of them unto death and have imprisoned others unjustly while your false Prophets and Diviners have been set up by you who have daubed you with untempered Morter and you have made your hearts unsensible by heardening your hearts against reproof and rebukes which some of you of late have received the Messengers of which rebukes have been evil and shamefully entreated in your Towns Steeple-houses and High-wayes and elsewhere in your Dominions and how should you but be ignorant and prophane and barren while you cannot receive the Message of Light but stumbles at Christ Jesus the Light of the World and cannot believe in the Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightened every one of you which is the way to knowledge and to receive righteousness into your Souls and therein to be fruitfull to the Lord. And you say Every individual man hath helpâ—d to fill up the mâ—â—sure of their sâ—… First in not improving â—ercâ—â—s so fully as might hâ—…e been to â—is glory from 〈◊〉 they were received I answer Indeed I believe not one of you may be excused in the sight of God but are all guilty in filling up the measure of transgression and even iâ— not improving mercies to the glory of God for had you improved the great mercies of your Deliverance and Conquest over your Enemies the Nations had been in peace and rest before this day but you strove to glorifie your selves and sought a Kingdom of Riches and Honour to your selves and who might be the greatest and the highest to the pleasure of some and to the grief of others and you improved mercies to your selves and not to him that gave them and therefore is your Dominions filled with distractions and fears and troubles are on every side and your Dominions are as broken Vessels that cannot be joyned together but are full of wickedness and false Sects and Idol-worships and in your own Councels are
measure of the iniquity of these three Nations all which abomination cry aloud for vengeance upon the heads of some of you rather then for humiliation for sin cries not for humility this is your ignorance but the good People of God do lie low in his sight whom you highly offend every day and they lament you and suffer under your iniquities though you reward many of them with persâ—â—ution and hard censures of cruel dealings till of which your wickedness you repent and turn from it all your Prayers and Humilations and set Dayes of seeking God in your rebellious hypocritical hearts shall never appease God's Wrath but the rather shall add thereunto and kindle it more aboundantly against you Away with your vain Oblations and false divining Prophets they are a weariness to the Lord and his hand is against them while your hearts are not upright before him though sometimes some of you have found God near in deep distress when you called upon him even when your hearts were in a measure upright with him yet in vain you now set your selves to seek him and your cry he will not hear nor his Wrath shall not be appeased for you have truly confessed the cursed thing is amongst you even the Idolatry of the deepest nature both in Teachers and People and till you repent and remove every burden from off the Innocent the cursed thing cannot be taken away but for his Names sake which is Equity and Justice Judgment must he bring upon your heads and unto you he will be a God of Vengeance and unto him shall you be a People of his Curse except you break off your sins by Righteousness and your iniquities by shewing mercy to the Poor Further you say and this you desire That he will infatuate the Counsels and defeat the designs of those that labour to exalt themselves against the Interest of his Son and his People Answ. Friends you or some of you are the men that seek to exalt your selves and not it and therefore against the Son of God and his People instance the unjust suffering of many of God's People who know the Son in them to rule them under your Laws upheld by you and acted in by some of your selves and you say in your hearts you will not have this man to reign over you for you own not the Bringers of that Message but uphold your false Prophts which speak smooth things to you and cry Peace while you follow your own wayes and verily herein you go to seek God against your selves to your own destruction as being some of you the very men guilty of the Abominations which you set and propound to your selves in your Humiliation to pray against Your Eyes are blind and your Hearts unbelieving and ye know not what you do and your own Counsels and Designs or so much of them at least as are against the Innocent are sure to be infatuated and defeated and you shall receive from the Lord the answer of your requests upon your own heads for you labour against the Interest of the Son while you seek to bind any mans Conscience to this or that Worship Again you say That he will be pleased in a most special manner to vouchsafe his Presence to those who are entrusted with the Management of the Affairs of these Nations Answ. If you do his Will and fulfil his Ordinances of Justice and Equity towards all men not seeking your selves in any thing but the Lord in all things and wait on him in his Light by which Christ lightneth every one of you to be guided thereby in all your wayes then his Presence you may enjoy in a special manner in the managing of all Affairs to his Glory but if you keep not the Conditions of the Lord in seeking his Honour only and in denying your selves his Presence you shall not find with you but shall be filled with desolations and contentions and the Nations over whom you are entrusted shall not have Peace nor Deliverance in your days but they under you shall have Confusion and Oppressions and the special Pretence of the Lord shall not be shown to you or them and remember this is a Warning to you Again you say That he will appear the Mighty Councellor experimentally unto them Answ. If you stood in his Counsel and walk in uprightness of heart before him in the Light of Christ Jesus then will he appear to be mighty in his Counsel with you and for you otherwise you shall be given up to follow the counsel of your own hearts which shall never bring forth good but evil to your selves and to your whole Nations and this shall you know experimentally by the Light in your own Consciences Again you say That he would in all things spirit you unto the Work unto which you are called and give you unity among your selves even the best Unity that of the Spirit in the best Bond that of Peace that as you are a People abounding in Mercies so you may abound in returns Answ. The work is great unto which you are called and shall hardly be accomplished by you except you receive the Spirit of the Lord to be ruled therewith in your own hearts for if you rule for him you must first be ruled by him Mark and ordered with his Light which will condemn every evil affection in you and this is the Spirit of Unity in the best Bond of Peace which is most precious which brings forth a humble walking with the Lord in all righteousness before him and being led every one in particular with this Spirit and united to God and one to another in not seeking your selves but the Lord This is the Way where God's Blessing is received and aâ— returning unto him of praise for his Mercies but I wish you are not rather adding sin unto sin and fulfilling the measure more and more of your transgresssions till the Wrath of the Lord break forth against you to confound you forever Again you say And that at last through the unwearied goodness of our God these three Nations after such memorable revolutions may be setled upon the sure foundations of Truth Mercy and Peace and his People henceforth being delivered from their Enemies may serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of their lives Answ. Verily the goodness of God hath been unwearied to these three Nations in many respects it appeareth and many memorable revolutions hath come to pass in this last Age even in cutting down one Power and Authority of Oppression after another till many great Mountains are removed and the Nations levelled and the Lord is now bringing his great Work to pass iâ— overturning once and again till his Reign and his Kingdom be exalted over all in Truth and Righteousness and if you shorten not your hand in your Oppositions and Persecutions your selves shall also be overturned that God may in Righteousness settle these Nations which remain as a wavering
holy City shall be beautified and is adorning and preparing for the Saints and their King to inherit the Lamb is the Light of the City and the Temple therein and all Nations and People that are saved shall walk in the Light of the Lamb for he hath lighted every man that comes into the World with the Light of Salvation in all that do receive him and Darkness shall flee away the Sâ—â— is risen and Praise and Honour and Glory and Dominion shall be given to the Lamb who shall reign over Nations and his Saints shall see him and his Name shall be in their Fore-heads and there shall be no Night but Light and Glory and the Kings of the Earth shall bring in their glory and honour iâ—… it and the Gates stand open and are not shut every one that thirsteth let him come the cry is unto all and yet nothing that defileth shall enter these are the faithful Sayings of the Lord who is true and must not long be sealed fâ—r the time is at hand and all men shall read and all that keep the Commandmeâ—… of God shall have right to the Tree of Life and blessed are they they shall be healed though now they suffer all manner of evil for the Name of Iesus by the Beast and under his Power by them that worship him who must fulfil wickedness by persecuting the Innocent till the Lord be raised out of his Habitation and the dominion shall be given to them and they shall have power to bind Kingâ— in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron this is their Honour and this iâ— their Dignity and they shall rejoyce for ever and ever and shall glory in the Lord and not in this World and this shall come to pass as the Lord hath said Wherefore all Nations and People Arise arise and be awakened Prepare prepare and make way for the Lord be removed ye Mountains and throw down ye Hills and hewn down ye sturdy Oakes and cut up ye tall Cedars Make way and prepare the Path for the Holy One who is comming to rule wâ—… his Iron Rod and will dash you all to peices Be afraid and tremble thou Beâ—… that hast long reigned over the Earth and all thy false Prophets and Worshippers be confounded at this and bow and tremble at the remembrance hereof 〈◊〉 whom you have hated and crucified and his Saints whom you have persecuted shall come to reign over you all and to him whom you have set at nought 〈◊〉 you be subject to and ruled by to all your sorrow for behold the Lord cometh with his numberless number of Saints And this is a warning to all Nations and People upon Earth Times and Laws must be changed among you Governments and Orders must be changed Unjustice and Oppression shall be removed and every Yoak and Burden shall be taken off from the neck of the Poor true Judgment and Justice Mercy and Truth Peace and Righteousness shall be exalted and all the Nations shall have Judges as at the first and Councellors as at the beginning and the Poor shall rejoyce when true Judgment and Justice reigneth and the false Prophet subdued And this is a Warning to you all that you may hear and consider the Lamb who hath been slain who is risen to reign who is the Prince of Peace of whose Government there shall be no end even he hath lighted all man-kind on the face of the Earth the Light is the Eye which will let you see all this and will bring you to the fulfilling of it ' aâ—â— to the good Understanding and it shall evidencâ—… the truth of this even the Light of Christ in all men which is given to guide 〈◊〉 the Way of Peace THe Kingdom of Christ is setting up and it is not of this World neither shall be exalted nor advanced by worldly pollicy and worldly wisdom nor by carnal weapons nor by the multitude of an host of men its true the Son of God is gone forth conquering and and to conquer and the Spirit of his Mouth and the Word of his Power shall get himself the Victory his own Arm alone without the help of another shall work the Conquest and his Kingdom shall be set up within every particular of his Subjects for none can know him reign without them unto their Salvation till they know him to reign first within for that which opposeth the Kingdom of Christ and the setting of it up is within every man and must be subdued within where it hath ruled and the Enemy of Christ's Kingdom which hath lodged within must first be subdued before there be dominion over his Enemies without This is the Word of the Lord to all People for he that pursues his Enemy without and leaves him in his own house is foolish and out of the way and shall be overcome of his Enemy and shall not overcome him therefore ye that are waiting for the Kingdom of Christ be awakened and seek for it where it is to be found not without you first but first within strive not to obtain it with your carnal Weapons but take the Weapons which are Spiritual which only will overcome be not deceived for through suffering must the Kingdom of Christ be set up and not by rebellion through Crafts and Plots and secret Pollicy and turbulent Arisings nor Strife in the nature of Enmity by these means shall the Kingdom of Christ never be advanced And this is the Word of the Lord and our Testimony which we give of the Kingdom of Christ who is indeed arisen to make war against all his Enemies and they that follow him are called and faithful and chosen whose Weapons are Spiritual and mighty through God and reacheth to the killing and subduing of all flesh and he must war till all his Enemies be subdued and must reign over all his Enemies till the Kingdom be delivered to the Father where he shall be all in all The 3d Moneth 1657. All ye Inhabitants of the Earth in all Nations through the World Hearken and give ear the Word of the Lord God that made Heaven and Earth is towards you He is coming to set up his Kingdom and his Dominion which never shall have end and the Kingdoms of this World shall be changed and shall become the Kingdoms of the Son of God ALl ye Kings and Princes and Rulers through the whole World the Lord is coming up with his mighty Host against you all he who will fan you and sift you and try you and search you out for his Fan is in his Hand and he will throughly purge you and you shall all know that the Kingdom of the Most High rules in the Kingdoms of men all your Glory shall fade away all your Majesty and Honour and Dignities and Dominions shall come to an end all your strength is but as a Straw all your treasure as a Thing of nought all your glory as a fading Leaf in the Presence of the Lord God that made
is contained in the Old and New Testament of the Scriptures which Oath he is bound to perform before the Lord and unto all men Now it remains to be tried and proved what the Christian Religion is and who they are in these Nations that are of the true reformed Protestant Christian Religion in the purity thereof as it is contained in the Scriptures seeing there are abundance of Sects and diversity of Judgements and many Assemblies and Gatherings of people who are divers in their Wayes in their Practices and in their Form of Religion in these Nations which do all profess the Scriptures and that their Form of Religion is according to the Scriptures but this cannot be but it will be manifest otherwise for the Scriptures which were given forth by the one Spirit of God bears not witness of many true Ways or unto many true Religions but unto one Truth and unto one true Religion and is the Declaration of one way of Life and Salvation by one Jesus Christ and there is no other Name under Heaven given for Salvation And they that believe in him and receive him those are they onely that are of the true Religion who are guided by the Spirit and changed thereby from Death to Life and such have unity with the Father and with the Son and one with another and are not of this World but Heirs of the Kingdom of God and these may own and claim a Title to be defended and preserved in their exercise and Practice of Religion Therefore come all sorts of People and let us try and prove who it is that is of the true Religion and who it is that he is bound to maintain and uphold by his Oath Come I say all Sects and sorts of people and appear to Trial Dare you joyn issue with me in this matter to try your Profession and Practise oâ— Religion whether it be according to the Scriptures in the purity thereof yea or nay for the Lord hath put it into my Heart to lay you all to the Line of true Judgement and to prove you whether you must be upholden and maintained in your Religion yea or nay Come claim your Priviledge if your Profession and Practice in Religion be according to the Scriptures then you may own your right and the benefit of the Protectors Oath but if your Profession and Practice in Religion be otherwise and not according to the Scriptures then you must stand back and defend your selves if you can for the Protector is not bound to maintain and uphold you in your Practice of Religion And with this Argument I shall try you all Whatsoever is professed and practised for Religion for which there is neither command nor president in Scripture is not aecording to the Scripture let this fall where it may this is Truth and therefore all people come to tryal and receive your judgement by this rule And first the true Religion is a walking with God in purity and holiness a performing of good to him and not doing any evil a belief in Christ and receiving of him and a living in him and through the operation of his Spirit to be changed into his Image and the Body of Sin and Death put off and a living to God in all things and not a living to this vain World in any thing but in all things to be guided by the Spirit of Christ This in short is a description of the true Religion and they that are of this Religion shall be saved in the Day of the Lord and in Equity and Righteousness should be protected according to the Oath before-mentioned or else the Oath is not performed in justice but rather broken through transgression And first of all as concerning that profession and practice in Religion which is most general in these Nations I mean such as sprinkle Infants and are sprinkled being Infants professing it to be the Baptism into the Faith of Christ and that it is a seal of the new Covenant and of remission of sins and that thereby people are made capable of union with Christ and that it is a sign of regeneration c. This is practised and professed by many for Religion but this Practice and Doctrine is not according to the Scripture therefore all ye through all these Nations that are made Christians and own your Title in Christianity and a right to fellowship with Christ and that ye are joyned to the Church and become Members of Christ because you were sprinkled when you were Infants and all ye that preach this for Doctrine and practise it for Religion you are not of the true Christian Religion in the Purity thereof as it is contain'd in the Scriptures this I do affirm Therefore stand you by for what you practise and profess there is neither Command nor President in Scripture if you could shew any you are now called and a Necessity is put upon you to make use of your Knowledge if you would be protected in this Common-Wealth in your Practice of Religion Likewise you sing and give to sing David's Psalms in Rhyme and Meeter professing it is to the Glory and Honour of God ye practise this as an Ordinance of God as a part of his Worship and as a part of your Religion but this Practice and Profession also is manifest not to be according to Scriptures because it was never commanded neither is there any President for this Practice in the Scriptures in Gospel Times therefore in this part of your Religion you cannot justly own to be pro tected and maintained because the Protector 's Oath reacheth not to uphold and maintain any such Practices in Religion which are not according to the Scriptures Likewise all ye that meet together to exercise your Religion and to worship God in Temples made with hands set a part by you for that Practice professing them to be Churches of Christ this is not according but contrary to the Scriptures which say God dwells not in Temples made with hands neither did the Saints of old constantly practice any such thing But they were the Persecutors that met in Temples made with hands who cast out and haled the Apostles out of such Temples so that in this Practice you cannot justly own to be protected as not being a Practice in Religion according to Scriptures Likewise All ye whose Ministers preach for Hire and have Hire for preaching so much a Year and so much a Sermon at a Town or a Parish in a settled Place and who take Tythes and compel People to pay Tythes by a Law such are not the Ministers of Christ and ye that uphold such for Ministers of Christ are false in Judgment and blind in Understanding and are not of that Christian Religion which is according to Scriptures in the Purity thereof neither Ministers nor People for the Ministers of Christ never acted any such thing they were the false Prophets and false Apostles that preached for Hire and for Gifts and Rewards neither did
be instructed in the right way to God and be converted out of every false Way and this is the very end of their work and their intent in doing it and they ought not in justice to suffer for it for it is according to the Law of God and in Reason and a good Conscience and the Lord justifies them in it then that Law and Judgment must needs be corrupt and unjust which condemns the People and Servants of the Lord as for Evil-Doers for obeying the Commands of God and for the Exercise of their pure Consciences and no mans Person or Estate being wronged or injured but onely Sin and Wickedness reproved and exhorted from and hereby thus is the Law perverted and true Judgment turned backward and the guiltless is condemned guilty and the guilty is set free and the obeying the Commands of God and the Exercise of a good Conscience is unjustly judged a Transgression and this is a shame and will be great condemnation to such in the Day of the Lord by whose Authority this is done even that the Exercise of a good Conscience even reproving of sin and exhorting unto that which is good to follow that and to forsake all evil should be judged and punished as a hainous Transgression in a Nation and Common-wealth professing Christianity and pure Religion and this makes the sin much more great and unpardonable because the practise and faithfull excercise in Chistianity and in the pure and true Religion is adjudged Transgression and condemned by such who profess the same thing in words and yet persecute and punish the Exercise of it in others and this shews them unjust Judges and Hypocrites who cause the Servants of the Lord to suffer for the practice of that which themselves profess in words to wit Religion and Christianity for I affirm against all Opposers whatsoever that it is a Practice in Religion according to the Scriptures to go into the Steeple-Houses Meeting-places Markets High-wayes or other places and reprove sin and wickedness and cry against evil in Priests and people and exhort to good and to forsake evil and therefore it ought not to be prosecuted and punished but defended and maintained by the Just Government of a Common-Wealth and by Just Laws and Magistrates for this the Lord requireth that Justice and Truth and true Judgement be exalted and the Innocent and Unright defended in all their wayes of a good Conscience and that Evil-doers and Sinners and Transgressors be condemned and righteously judged Also many of the Servants of the Lord do deeply suffer and is deeply afflicted by injustice for the exercise of a good Conscience in other things as because they cannot put off their Hats and bow in respect to mens persons according to the vain customs of the Heathen and because they cannot Swear upon a Book by kissing it and laying the hand upon it according to the idolatrous form and for such like causes because many cannot fulfil the lusts and wills of men that live in pride and evil wayes in these and other things therefore are the people of God put to great sufferings though they deny not the honour due to all men in the Lord without bowing the Hat nor to affirm the truth in every cause in faithfulness without an Oath now to keep on the Hat which is a cover for the head to keep from cold or heat for healths sake before any man whatsoever though never so great or noble is not any wrong or injury to the mans person or estate before whom it is done but onely the high minde and the proud nature and that which is exalted above the fear of God which would be Lord over his fellow creatures that same is offended and troubled which bears not the Image of God but of the Devil as Hamman was and would be bowed to and had in honour and respected because of knowledge or parts and proud gestures or apparel and the Children of the Lord cannot do it nor give honour to him nor be subject and pleasing to that man who is of that spirit and of that nature which is not of God but exalted in pride and vain-glory above the fear of God and against him and would be worshipped and had in honour and reverenced of his Fellow-creatures who hath not so much riches in this World as he nor is so proud in apparel as he and because of that he looks to be bowed unto with Hat or Knee and is offended if he be not and then in his pride he rages and is vexed and seeks revenge against such as cannot honour him and respect him in his pride and vain-glory but as I said this is not done as a matter of wrong unto any though the Hat be not bowed or put off but it is a matter of Conscience unto the people of God and for a good Conscience sake they do deny and may not give obedience and honour and respect out of the fear of God to proud flesh and to men which is not in the fear of God which expects reverence out of the Lord and they know it is nothing else that is offended but proud flesh and an exalted mind and a man that fears not God neither walks in his ways I say it is nothing else nor any besides that is offended or troubled because the Hat is not put off and bowed and the people of God are not careful to please or offend that in men and men as such for they know nothing of God nor any man that truly Fears God will be offended at the want of a Hat bowed to him and thus it is a matter of Conscience unto many and for a good Conscience sake they do deny to honour and subject themselves by obedience to any man as he is a man out of the fear of God and in the glory of the vain World expecting reverence out of the Fear of God and contrary to his Law which forbids the respect to persons and all honour which is not according to God for who doth fear to offend a man as a man without the Fear of God and doth obey and honour any man by putting off the Hat before him or otherwise and not onely in the Lord such are Servants to the wicked one and not unto God who fears the wrath of the wicked and subjects in honour to please the wicked by putting off and bowing the Hat and such like and such knows not the excercise of a pure Conscience to God so this is a matter of Conscience to deny to honour and to please wicked men as such by bowing the Hat and no man in justice ought to be made to suffer because oâ— it for the Law of God justifies it and that Law and Judgement is corrupt and perverted which condemns it And likewise though many deny to swear at all though not to testifie the Truth yet they do not wilfully wrong hereby to any mans Person or Estate but it is a matter of conscience unto
upon whom the Wrath of God abideth and are subject to the Curse every moment and this is the state of all Mankind And the Light in every one shall answer this Measure and witness you and your Word to be the Word of the Lord which Light if they love it will bring every one to know the Power of the Creator to reconcile them and to bring them into Fellowship with him and to receive his Blessings and his Inheritance being changed by the Power of God into his Image But if they hate the Light and deny the Power of God and his Covenant and will not have Christ who hath lighted them to teach them and to rule them but do continue Enemies in their Minds to the Lord and will not receive your Message then they perish forever and you are clear seal your Testimony against them and the Lord shall be justified when he arises to Condemnation against them all who cannot own this Message and receive you in the Name of the Lord. Be bold and valiant and spare not to shew all people this Message and to Declare unto them in the Name of the Lord by whom you are sent And I warn you all Let the Fear and the Judgments of the Lord be in your Hearts and stand wholly in his Will and be obedient to the moving of his Power in all things that you may be armed against all the Swelling and Roaring of the Proud Waves of the Sea which will beat against you put on the whole Armour of God that you may withstand all the powers of Darkness and may overcome all the Temptations of the Devil Look beyond your life and your liberty and beyond all things of this World and the Life of God know and feel in you to give you Dominion over all and with his Word and Power to reach to his Witness in all that you may leave a Testimony behind you for him Thick Darkness you will find covering all people their Ears deaf and their Eyes blind and the Ground wholly barren and untilled you will find overgrown with Cursed Fruit and wild Branches which must be cut up and cast into the Fire and aboundance of Idolatry and vain Superstitions and great Hardness of Heart you will meet with and find all People in the Degeneration ignorant of God and without him in the World and abounding in all Unrighteousness and Unbelief worshipping their Idol godds which will grieve your spirits but be you Patient and Long-suffering and be not offended at any of these things but Plow in Hope and Sow in Hope and Thresh upon the Mountains and beat them to dust ye Children of Sion and bring all people to know the Fear and Judgments of the Lord in them You are sent forth to beget People unto him and to turn them to his Knowledge to till the Ground to pluck up the wild Branches which cumber the Ground and the tender Grape must be spared Therefore let the Word of the Lord dwell in you and divide the Word aright and cry not Peace to the Wicked neither cry Judgment to such as are of a Broken Heart feed the Hungry with Bread and feed the Fat with Judgment Be ye good Stewards of the Lord's Treasure cover the Naked but make bare the Harlot and discover her Abominable Whoredoms let all the World know how they have committed Whoredom with the great Whore who hath sate upon Nations Kindreds Tongues and Peoples And proclaim unto all Nations That the Lord God is risen for the Deliverance of his Chosen and he will make War in Righteousness against all his Enemies and they must lick the Dust of his Feet and bow under his Scepter And openly declare unto all the World That God is setting up an Everlasting Kingdom and the Dominion thereof shall reach over all the Earth and the Kings of the Earth must bring in their Glory to it In the Name and Power of the Lord God go ye into all the World with this Message and Testimony which shall be answer'd to be the Message of the Everlasting God with the Light which he lightened every man withal that you may bring Glory and Honour and Dominion unto him who hath called you to bear witness of his Name in all the World This I was moved of the Lord to give forth unto all that are moved to go into other Nations by a Companion unto all that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes E. B. A General Epistle to the SAINTS To the Seed of God Elected and Chosen of him before the World began and now called by his Word and Power into the Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness to be Heirs of the Inheritance of Eternal Life that never fades away DEarly beloved Friends who are called and sanctified through the Grace of God that hath appeared unto you and in you be mindful of your Calling and make your Election sure that you may feel it the Seed of God and the Heir of Life born and brought forth in every one of you that the Promise may be fulfilled in you and you may sit down in the Kingdom feeling the immortal Crown of Life as the Reward of all your Sufferings and Tryals and Patience for the Inheritance of an endless Life is the Portion of the Righteous who have followed the Lamb through his Sufferings and laid down their Crowns at his Feet and now his Feet are treading down and will tread down all mortal Crowns and stain the glory of all Flesh and bring it into contempt and set up his Kingdom to have Dominion over all And so Friends you in whose hearts the Day-Star hath appeared of Light and Life feel the growth of the good Seed in your selves which must rise in you all over the contrary part and over that nature which is related to the Kingdoms of this World that must be kept down in you all and all must be subject to the Lambs Power and to his Dominion every Work Word and Motion must be brought in subjection unto him that he who is Light and Life and Righteousness and Truth and all Vertue and Goodness may alone reign in you and over yâ—â—avâ— and the contrary may be kept in the subjection and the Body of Siâ—â—â— and Death may be wholly put off and Immortallity brought forth in you all by the Gospel which hath been sounded forth amongst you in Power and Life and not in the words of man's wisdom and this Gospel which we have received and you have heard hath wrought its effect wherefore the Lord sent it and many are turned from darkness to Light and from Satan's power to God and the Lord hath gathered his Jewels and is gathering of them and he hath planted his Inheritance with a pleasant Plant of Righteousness and Renown and his Arm hath wrought great deliverances in the Earth and hath raised up the Poor and exalted the Meek and Lowly and he hath brought down the Mighty from his Seat and these things hath
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
Transgression they might come to be healed and come into Christ the Power and Wisdom of God and might be saved Again as they were Soldiers and as they were an Army I was moved to speak much unto them that they might know what their service was there in that state sometime saying unto them It was possible the Lord might have some good work to do by them if they were faithful and not seek themselves but the Glory of the Lord. And at one time being sent for by Governor Lockhart where there were many Officers with him and we had much discourse with them and this lay upon me to declare in the Name of the Lord unto them that if they did enterprize any business as they were an Army in a spirit in opposition unto us and in that spirit that did reject us and deny us and gain-say us then should they never prosper in any enterprize whatsoever but if they went on in any degree in the Fear of the Lord and in that Spirit that was among us then should they overcome their Enemies and none should have power over them nor overcome them And after I was parted from them this following Paper was upon me to write unto the whole Army in general both to Officers and Soldiers To the English Army to Officers and Souldiers Friends I Am moved to clear my Conscience unto you in the sight of the Lord to warn you that you may all learn Wisdom and the Fear of the Lord God and may stand in his Counsel alwayes for that will be a defence unto you at all times and therein will you prosper in the Lord's Work and chiefly unto you the small remnant of our English Army in and about Dunkirk I say unto you Officers and Souldiers Fear the Lord God and walk in his Wisdom and every particular Person amongst you inquire of the Lord â—hat he requires of you inquire of the Lord I say and know his Will and be obedient unto it in all things and so shall you prosper in standing in God's Counsel and in performing his Will and so shall you be exalted and have victory over your Enemies even as you seek the Honour of the Lord and his Glory for if you honour him and do that which is acceptable to him he will honour you and set you atop of all your Enemies and he will make way through the Mountains even by you for the further appearance of his Glory and he will honour you as his Work-men if you be faithful to him and walk in his Counsel and Wisdom till he hath prepared his own way by you for assuredly it is not in vain but the Lord had some end in it to himself in bringing you to that Place and what do you know but he may have some good Work for you to do It is possible there is more in his Heart and in his Purpose concerning you then yet may be discovered to you wherefore it is good for you that you wait upon the Lord to know his Will fully concerning you that you may do it and fulfill it and therein shall be your Crown but on the contrary dependeth your misery and destruction And this I do know That the Lord hath owned and honoured our English Army and done good things for them and by them in these Nations in our Age and the Lord once armed them with the spirit of courage and zeal against many Abominations and he was with them in many things he called them to and gave them Victory and Dominion over much Injustice and Oppression and cruel Laws and he was with them till that a spirit of vain Glory and Ambition and Self seeing and the Honour of this World entered into some and defiled the whole Body and made it deformed and void of its former beauty and of its valour and nobleness also at which the Anger of the Lord was kindled and against you also was his Hand turned with the loss of his Presence because the sincerity and the faithful Principle was almost choaked and the Good eaten out from amongst you by the false spirit of Self-seeking and Vain Glory which was entered into the Hearts of many but this is to the Army in general and to say no more of it to you onely that you might search your own hearts and may be purged and may again return to the old spirit of Righteousness which will reach after the liberty of the people and the freedom of the Nations and that all Oppression may be broken down to the dust before you and be subdued by you as your Prey and that there be no more a looking back by you for rest and ease in the flesh in great Houses of residence till you have visited Rome and inquired after and sought out the Innocent Blood that is buried therein and avenge the Blood of the Guiltless through all the Dominions of the Pope the Blood of the Just it cryes through Italy and Spain and the time is come that the Lord will search it and seek it out and repay it and it would be your honour to be made use of by the Lord in any degree in order to this matter whether the Lord will revenge the grievous blood-guiltiness that lies upon them by himself without an Instrument or whether by you or others as an Instrument whether this way or another that God will do it this I determine not but this I do know The time is not long that he will one way or another avenge and revenge the Blood of the Just upon the murderous Head and this I also believe that the Lord will do it or make way hereunto even by you the men of our English Nation if you be faithful to him and do what he requires of you for what are these few poor Islands that you have run through and laid many Mountains low they are but little in comparison of the great part of Christendom in which Idolatry and grievous Oppressions do abound which the Hand of the Lord is against and which he will take Vengeance upon Oh did you but see and perfectly know the Cruelties the Oppressions the Idolatries the Murders and all whatsoever that is Evil both in Civil and Ecclesiastical State that is brought forth and rules in full Power in all the Pope's Dominions I do say Were you but fully acquainted with all these things and also of the purpose of the Lord which is speedily to visit them with his Rod it would awaken you and stir you up and it would set your spirits on fire of a great Zeal with Desires of no greater Honour then to be Instruments in any degree towards the executing of so goodâ— a Work even towards the relieving of the Oppressed and breaking the Bâ—nds of Cruelty that the Nations may come to Rest and may no more be captivated with the Chains of Antichrist I do say it would be your greatest Honour to be Instruments in such a Work and do you know what
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
hands are strengthened then any dislike shewed by thee in bearing thy Witness as thou oughtest to do against them For thou knowest of some 〈◊〉 this City and else-where whom we know to be just Men who suffer Impriâ—â—â—â—â—nt and the loss of their Liberties because for Conscience sake they canâ—â—â— Swear and many others in this Nation suffering cruel things upon the like or same ground even for Well-doing and not for Evil which Oppression might be removed and their unjust Sufferings taken off by thee by a word from thy Mouth or Pen and this makes thee that thou canst not be clear in the sight of God in these things because not helped by thee who hath the Power to help it and this in true Love I give thee to understand in the Day of Recompence shalt thou know the Lord will not clear thee except thou repentest and â—â—sest the Oppressed Other things thou speakest about the Light of Christ which lighteneth every man that cometh into the World with the Light of Life or with the Light of Condemnation and about the Ministry of this Nation wiâ—â— some other things which I had a desire to have answered if time had been seasonable and thou willing to have heard but thou shouldst not have appeared in such lightness especially when speaking of the Things of God which did grieve the Spirit of the Lord and vex the Righteous Soul which Behaviour with some words which thou utteredst by the Light of Christ is to be condemned and which I do judge with the Life of God and yet doth tender and preserve the measure of Justness and Honesty which is in thee but thou art high above the Principle of God and cannot receive the Teachings of the Father into that mind which is light and unstable for the Counsel of God is manifest to the Meek and the Lowly but there is much in thee to be judged when thou comest to the Witness of God in thee And as concerning the Light of Christ at which thou stumblest by which every man that comes into the World is enlightened in short this I say The Light to thee is given of God and it must thou own to be thy onely Teacher to receive by it from the Father and to be guided by it in all things if ever thou inheritest God's Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace and this is the Word of the Lord to thee And as concerning the Ministry of England for which in part thou seemest to plead thus I say in Plainness Generally it is not of God but of Antichrist and the Lord is against it for it is the Ground of the greatest Oppression of the Poor in its Maintenance as any one particular Abomination which this day is in the Nation and this is the Truth from the Lord and if thou settest thy self to uphold them by any Law made or to make against such whom God hath raised to bear Witness against them their Wayes and Idolatries thou â—â—alt fall with them into Perdition and be overthrown amongst them in the Just and Righteous Judgments and this is the Word of the Lord to thee For God is risen of a Truth to make War against the Beast which long hath reigned and against the False Prophets which have long deceived the World and I warn thee with-hold thy hand from helping them if thou meanest to be preserved or blessed in thy Person in thy Family and in thy Armies for as I said to thee The Kingdom of Christ is setting up by his own Power and all must â—ow and become subject thereunto he needeth none of thy Policy nor the strength of thy Arm to advance him yet would he have thee not to prove thy self an open Enemy thereof by doing or suffering to be done Cruelty and Injustice against them whom the Lord is redeeming out of this World into subjection unto that Kingdom lest thou be such a one as wilt not enter thy self nor suffer others to enter and so Destruction come upon thee Wherefore arise as out of Sleep and Slumber not in this World's Glory and Honour come away and appear for the Lord rather then against him be not overcome by the Pleasures of this World nor the Fattering Titles of Men winâ— not at the Cruelty and Oppression acted by some who shelter under thee and make thy Name a Cloak for Mischief against the Upright but let the Testimony of God in thee answer for his People this Law is not just by which many suffer because they cannot swear and because they cannot cease to declare against Sin and Iniquity let that of God in thee bear Witness and thou and thy name being chief in the Execution of this Law what will thy account be to the Lord in his Day Consider I say consider and be thou changed in thy mind and heart lest thou having forgotten God and his many Deliverances be shut up and numbred for Destruction and I say and desire the Lord give thee a more perfect Understanding of his Wayes and Judgments and that the Crown Immortal thou mayst strive for by Meekness and Righteousness through relieving the Oppressed and shewing Mercy to the Poor and removing every Burden which lies upon the Innocent and this is the Desire of him who is thy Friend and would not have thee crowned with Dishonour through suffering the People of God to be oppressed in thy Name which will be thy Overthrow absolutely if thou removest it not by turning and easing the Oppressed Edw. Burroughs This was delivered to his hands about the beginning of the Fourth Moneth 1657. For the hands of the Protector FRIEND THou oughtest to stand in the Counsel of God in all things and not to follow the Counsel of thy own heart nor to act things in thine own will neither shouldst thou suffer others to act under thee and in thy name that which is Unjust and Unrighteous Much Unrighteousness and great Oppression is acted in thy name by which the good name PROTECTOR is abused and subverted and instead of Protection by it great Unjustice is acted under it and covered with it and this one thing I am moved to lay before thee which hath been acted by thee or under thee not without thy knowledge in which thou hast done Evil in the Sight of the Lord and one day thou wilt know it Several in these Nations Justices of the Peace and other Officers who have been in trust under thee when they have owned the People of God in scorn called Quakers have been cast out of their Places though they have not denyed to serve thee and the Common-Wealth neither hath Unfaithfulness to their Trust been proved against them and also several Souldiers now of late in Scotland and else-where have been turned out of their Places because of the same thing viz. For owning the People of God and these things are not right in the Sight of the Lord that such who have been for many years Faithful in the Service and in their Trust
moved of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to be written for thy Instruction from Him THere is a Great and Mighty and Innumerable People come and coming up out of Egypts Land travelling towards the Land of Rest promised of the Lord 〈◊〉 them to be obtained and enjoyed by them and they do and have sojouâ—ned Strangers in these Nations over whom thou are called to Rule and appointed â—â—ief Governour this seven years and greatly are and have they been afflicted and oppressed and even trodden down through unjust Judgment and unrighâ—… Dealing by the Rulers and Inhabitants of the Land and all the dayes of thy Father the late Protector they were held in great Captivity and Bondage and unrighteous men made them a Prey and laid heavy Yoaks of cruel Sâ—â—â—â—rings upon them and daily increased their Task and something thy Father did for them in their Journey of great Distress yet but a little of what the Lord required of him and what the Lord looked for that he might have done for Pâ—â—er was in his hands given him of the Lord but he was not fully obediâ—â—â— and therefore was the Lord's Hand stretched out somewhat against him 〈◊〉 his Family and he was smitten of the Lord and suddenly taken away in Judgment for he hearkened not to the Counsel of the Lord concerning that People neither did fully relieve them from Oppression but slighted many Warâ—â—â—â—â— from the Lord and the Day of his Visitation passed over and Death took 〈◊〉 away in Disobedience while this People were yet under great Oppressions for he left above a hundred of them in Prisons unjustly suffering for right eousness sake and not for Evil-doing and in this he fulfilled not the Will of God but left his Name and Glory somewhat stained because of these things and though the Lord chose him and shewed Love unto him gave him Power over his Enemies and made him an Instrument in his Hand to break down great Oppressions yet he was not obedient to the end to do my Will saith the Lord but left something â—â—â—one which he was truly called unto Now this innumerable People that is come and coming up as aforesaid are them called Quakers and this Egypts Land is that great Darkness Ignorance and Wickedness and false Wayes and worships in the Apostacy and fleshly bondage to sin and death which all the World and Kindreds and Multitudes that are unconverted to God live and walk in and that Land of Rest promised to which they travel is the peaceable and quiet dwelling with the Lord free from the heavy oppression of Sin and Iniquity and cruelties of men and free in the exercise of their pure Consciences by the Spirit of the Lord as it shall move and lead them into all Truth and their sojourning as Strangers is their denying and despising the World and all its glories and walking in the daily Cross of Christ whereby they are crucified to the love and respect and renown and honours of the world and are come â—â—t of Kindreds Tongues and People counting the reproach for Christ great Riches not respecting men but the Lord altogether in all things and also their suffering unrighteously false imprisonment and spoiling of their goods for Righteousness sake this is their sojourning as Strangers And that something that thy Father did for them is he released many of them divers times out of Prifons where they were unjustly cast and he signified sometimes his displeasure against them that made them suffer and shewed love to them in hearing their Innocent Cause with some respect thereunto and that which he did not which he might have done is He took not away Tythes that Cause of great Oppression to many nor the Unrighteous Laws wholy as he ought to have done and as the Lord required of him And know thou from the Lord That this same People are the People of the Lord and beloved of him and as dear to him as the Apple of his Eye and his Presence is with them and he leads them as a Flock by his Spirit into all Truth and who shall Bless them shall be Blessed but he that acts against them shall not prosper but be smitten of the Lord for their Cause will the Lord plead in his Judgments and avenge them of their Enemies and the Dread of the Lord God shall fall heavy upon the heads of their Persecutors and though they are hated of all men and under great Afflictions yet are they a Just People and Innocent seeking the Good of all men and are Peaceable towards all and receiving all manner of Wrongs and Evil and Speakings against them by Ungodly Men but they render to no man Evil for Evil but bless them that curse and do good to their Enemies and bear all things from all men in Long-suffering and Patience for they are learned in the Practices in doing and suffering of the Holy Apostles and Prophets and are of the Seed of Abraham who was the Friend of God and they were thy Father's Friends and are not Enemies to thee nor to righteous Government but wish well unto thee in the Lord and that thou mayst not be destroyed in Wickedness but be established in Righteousness and Peace in thy Government to rule in God's Authority over all Wicked Men that may seek thy hurt And we desire for thee that the Lord may give thee Wisdom and a perfect Understanding and the Spirit of just and sound Judgment to judge Righteously in all things and to settle the Government in true Judgment that the Principle of God in every man may answer to it in defending preserving and protecting all that walk in Truth Righteousness being a Terror to all Evil-doer for for that end is Rule and Government ordained of God amongst men to be a Praise to all that do Well and a Terror to all that do Evil. And now the Lord having suffered it to be brought to pass that thou art set up in thy Father's stead to be chief Ruler amongst men this the Lord God Almighty requires of thee as thou hopest to prosper and be blessed in this Life and to enjoy Life Eternal when this World is passed away and this is the Word of the Lord God unto thee Be Humble Meek and Lowly in Heart and exalt not thy own Horn nor seek not this World's Honour but seek the Lord with thy whole Heart and let Justice and true Judgment and Righteous Government which is according to the Law of God be set up and exalted in the Nations and come to know in thy self the Dominion and Authority of the Lord God over Sin and Transgression and to keep down and condemn all that which is contrary to God in thy own Heart and that will make thee a Dread and a Terror to Men and Nations and then the Lord will be thy Crown and his People will rejoyce in thee and lift up their Hearts to God for thee If thou throwest down and abolishest all Unrighteous
Laws and Decrees which have been set up in the days of Ignorance and yet stand whereby the Lord 's dear Children are afflicted and oppressed at this day and establishest such a Government which is justly according to God in which Righteousness and Truth Justice and true Judgment may run down and all the contrary may be stopped and chained and limited and confounded and then that which thy Father leâ—t undone the Lord will fulfil through thee And doing these things the Lord would make thee truly Honourable and Happy and Blessed in this life and in the Life to come but in doing the contrary the Lord will make thee a Curse and take thee away in his Judgments and thy Name shall be left a Reproach to Ages forever And if thou Rulest in Oppression and Cruelty and sufferest the Innocent to be Destroyed for want of True Judgment then shall thy Dayes be Fewer then thy Father's if thou be Disobedient to him the Lord shall cut thee off and thy Memorial shall Roâ— and this is the Word of the Lord God to thee And as for this Afflicted and Sojourning People They desire nothing to thee but Truth and Peace and Righteousness and no more of thee but Justice and true Judgment and that they and their little Ones which to them are brought forth may sojourn in Peace and quietly pass through the Nations till they come to the Land of Promise and they may not carry of the Glory nor Riches of this World with them nor seek great Places of Honour from thee nor be hurtful to thee nor the People nor to Mankind in their sojourning only what the Lord Commands them that they must do and what he forbids that they must not do For they have chosen the Lord to be their Leader and to give him their Obedience in all things and thy Government so far as it is according to God they will not destroy nor rebel against but are true Friends thereunto and subject in all things And if thou walkest with the Lord and chusest him for thy Councellor and abasest thy self and altogether exalt him and preserve his People that fear him then shalt thou prosper and thy Name shall be greater then was thy Father's and the Numberless Number of this now distressed People will be unto thee a Strength and stand by thee in thy Day of Trouble and defend thee and thy just Government and their hearts shall cleave to thee and thou shalt prosper for their sakes and none of thy Enemies shall have power over thâ—e to Destroy thee though many may seek for thy life Wherefore my Friend Awake awake and now consider The Day of thy Visitation is present and thy Father's is past and now thou hast a time to gain unto thy self Everlasting Honour and Renown or otherwise to leave thy Name a Curse and a Reproach for evermore Do thou hearken to the Voice of the Lord and fear his Dreadful Name and bow before our God that made Heaven and Earth who rules in the Kingdoms of Men and pulleth down one and setteth up another at his Pleasure and as he will and he will make thee know that he lives and reigns over all and doth whatsoever he will and if he smites thee none shall heal thee and if he wounds thee none shall comfort thee Therefore take him for thy Councellor and beware of the wicked Counsels of men for thou hast may Enemies and they would rejoyce to see thy Fall and if the Lord be not on thy side thou canst not long stand but if thou be obedient to him and preservest his People and breakest down all Oppression then thy Enemies shall fall and thy Foot shall tread them down and the Terror of the Lord shall be upon all that hate thee but thus shall it be done unto thee if thou be disobedient to him and rejectest his Counsel by his Servant I am thy Friend and a Lover of thy Soul and seek thy Happiness in this World and in the World to come known to many by the name of Edward Burroughs The Original of this was delivered to him a few dayes after he was proclaimed Protector To thee Richard Cromwel chosen to be Protector and chief Magistrate Governour of these Nations of England Scotland and Ireland a faithful Presentation and Salutation by a Servant of the Church WE are rightly and truly sensible in all things of the Mighty Hand of the Lord God who brings all things to pass by his own Power and according to his Will and in Heaven and Earth and over the Kingdoms of men he ruleth and reigneth he buildeth up and breaketh down he planteth and plucketh up and he pulleth down one and setteth up another and who may say What dost thou or Why dost thou it for he is a Great God and Mighty and his Majesty is terrible and all things in Heaven and Earth and all the Sons of Men are at his disposure whose Dominion is from Everlasting to Everlasting and he may be feared and had in Reverence by all Creatures that have Life and Breath And in particular we are sensible of his Great and Mighty Power who hath of late Years in these Nations once and again overturned and overthrowed and changed at his Pleasure Times and Powers and Authorities and Dominions and he hath brought down the Mighty from their Seats and stained the Crowns and Glories of the Honourable and broken the Stout-hearted and the Oppressors of their Governments as Potsherd one against another and made the Highest of Men of no respect before him for he hath pulled down and set up whom he would according to his Will and in all these things hath his Hand been the very Doer and Accomplisher thereof that he might be known and feared amongst all people through the whole Earth who is the Dread and Terror of Men and Nations And as for thy Father the late Protector Great things and Honourable did the Lord do for him in raising him up and casting out his Enemies before him and giving him Victory and Power and Renown through Nations and we know the Lord shewed Favour to him and gave him Strength Wisdom and Valour and a right Spirit and he was called of God into that great Work to subdue the grievous Cruelty once ruling over tender Consciences and to break down the great Oppressions which for Ages had caused the Just to groan and the Lord was with him in Victory and went before him and was his Defence and preserved him from great Dangers and from the Wills of all his Enemies and made him prosperous against them all but yet we know to say no more of him He did not wholy fulfil the Will of the Lord nor the Work which he begun but became Disobedient and abused his great Deliverances and Authority and did not set free the Oppressed altogether but left Mountains of Oppression and grievous Yoaks of Bondage unbroken down and unsubdued and the Lord smote him and took him away
in Judgment because thereof And as for thee who art now set up in his stead We certainly believe that the Hand of the Lord is in this matter if but to try thee and it is he that hath brought it to pass not expected by any nor much sought after by thy self but its 〈◊〉 to pass a thing out of and contrary to the Thoughts and Expâ—â—â—ations of the whole Nations art thou attained to this Place of â—…nment and therefore we must acknowledge something of the great Hand of God in it being come to pass as out of due season yet may the Lord make it seaâ—â—nable and we patiently wait to receive what the Lord brings to pass thereby knowing that thou art in the Hand of the Lord to do whatsoever he will with thee and conceâ—â—ing thee And if thou fearest him and walkest with him and chusest him for thy Councellor and art obedient to him and seekest his Glory alone and not thy own Honour and Greatness then the Lord will do great things for thee and by thee and accomplish his own Work through thee whiâ—â— fell in thy father's hands and thou wilt be blessed and renowned and honoured forever and thy Name shall be had in respect in Generations to come and hereby the present thoughts of many shall be confounded but if thou dost harden thy â—eart against God and live cruelly and neglect his Cause and despise his Name 〈◊〉 Honour and seek thy own renown and oppress the Just in thee and without thee and suffer the Poor to groan under the Cruelty and Burden of Oppressing Men and Laws in thy Government without relief from thee and go on 〈◊〉 Authority as some evil men before thee then shalt thou not prosâ—… but the Lord shall bring thee down and lay his Hand of Judgment upon thee and thy Name shall be a Reproach to the Saints forever and the heavy 〈◊〉 of Vengeance shall be upon thee and pursue thee more then any before thee and the Lord will deliver his People by another way and this is not in Flattery and Feignedness to thee but as the Lord lives our God shall 〈◊〉 to pass in his day and thou shalt be the Witness Wherefore O man seek the Face of the Lord and enquire diligently of him and hear his Word that thy Soul may live and feel a measure of his Spirit in thee to lead thee into all Truth and set his Presence before thy Eyes alwayes to direct thy steps that he may bless thee with Power Wisâ—â—â— Authority and Dominion to perform the Duty of thy Place faithfulâ—â— towards the Lord and all Men as he requireth of thee And if thou 〈◊〉 â—â—â—kest the Kingdom of God and its Righteousness and the Reconciliation between the Lord and thee and comâ—st to feel the Elect Seed of God raised up over all the contrary in thee and Transgression and thy own Will and Affections and that which is of the Flesh in thee judged and condemned by the Word in the Heart which maketh the immortal Soul to live and â—e refrâ—â—â—ed in God and the Heir of the Promise of God born in 〈◊〉 and hereby shalt thou have an Assurance and Hope of Life Eternal to rest in perfect Peace with God when this World is no more but passed away â—ith thee and also in this present time Wisdom and Valour and true Nobility shall be added to thee and the Spirit of Power and Dominion to â—â—ke Men and Nations be afraid and fear and all Evil Men and such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hurt of thee and thy Government â—â—â—ll be blasted and confoundâ—â— and all Good Men be encouraged and made strong and the whole Naâ—â—â—â—â— kept in Peace and Unity and the Truth and Peace of God shall hereâ—â—â—â—ourish amongst us to the Honour of the Eternal God and to thy Reâ—… if thou rulest and governest for him and by his Spirit and Authority And we are truly sensible of the great Charge of this Place and also of the multitude of Perplexities and Dangers to thy self occurring and happening thereby Dangers from open Enemies by their Malice and cruel Plots and Dangers from thy pretended Friends and they of thy own House by secret Surmâ—â—â—ngs Dangers in Martial and Civil Affairs in this Nation and abroad so that we certainly believe Nothing save only the Wisdom of God and his Power can preserve thee and carry thee to go through and faithfully fulfil so great a Place and to discharge it truly in the Sight of God and Just Men neither mayest thou be defended and preserved by any other Means from the wills and plots and envy of evil men who may watch for evil against thee to destroy theâ—â— and blot out thy Name and thy Father's Posterity out of the Land Wherefore take heeâ— to thy self and fear God that he may bless thee for this is a subtil and crafty Generation and the Nations are politick and the Inhabitants thereof are wise and deceitful over whom thou art set and with whom thou hast to deal Therefore beware of men for many may seek after thy hurt and some may flatter thee and shew seeming great respect unto thee and profess great Service of Love to thee in the Nations and in thy Family for a season till their own Ends of Advantage be accomplished and may in the very time hatch Evil against and secretly invent to uncover thy Nakedness and betray thee for many men are Treacherous but thou receiving a Measure of the Wisdom of God it will guide thee over all such and thou wilt see into the hearts and spirits of men and to discern between Love Unfeigned which will seek thy good and not self and that Love which is feigned which will flatter thee and blind thy Judgment and lead thee into Snares and such as will the least flatter thee will be the most true to thee So beware and let not vain Flatteries and Proud Ambitious and ungodly Self-seeking Men nor Drunkards nor Covetous nor Politick and Deceitful men and spirits have any place in thy Heart nor in thy House nor in Places of Authority and Trust in thy Government for such men will be a Snare unto thee and a Dishonour to thee and the cause of God's Wrath and Curse against thy Person Family and whole Nations for such men God will not bless nor thee nor the Government for their sakes and this thou wilt find trâ—â— one day Therefore chuse unto thee such men as fear God who are Just and Humble and Upright-hearted who are Sincere and Faithful to the Lord who have the Wisdom of God and true nobility of Spirit in Righteousness and Simplicity free from the Prophaneness of this evil World let such be thy Companions to wait upon thy Person and to Govern and Rule in thy Family and Nations and let such be put in Trust who will not be Treacherous for such are Blessed and will be a Blessing to thee and the whole Government And we know that the Lord gives respect
more clear opportunity for I cannot be at Okingâ—â—â— the day mentioned by thee because my service is already determined for that day and for some other reasons also in my own breast Let me have a plain answer from thee that I may dispose of my self is the Lord guides me for his service This is all for present I do desire who am a Friend to all that love the Lord. Reading the 19th of the 10th Moneth 1659 E. Burroughs But to this Letter his Answer was he would not meet me at Reading for there was no need of Dispute there and therefore it is my present work at this time for to answer his ten Particulars in writing and to make them publick to â—ll that all may judge of this matter And indeed but that for these teâ— particulrs Charges and that truth may be clear from those Charges in his ten Particulars I believe I had not thus proceeded in this publick manner but because â—e ceaseth not to speak evil of the Truth and yet will not come forth fairly to Tryal neither will answer me any Queries in publick but keeps a secret reviling and reproaching therefore do I thus proceed Answer to the first Position Thy Major and thy Minor are both lame and both false and thy so conclusion falls to the Ground for the Quakers do not pernitiously deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God but they in sincerity say that Christ is the Word of God Io. 1. 1. Rev. 19. 13. and the Scriptures are the Words of God and a Declaration and a Treatise and this Testimony is according to the Scriptures Luke 1. 1 Acts 1. And it is not Heresie nor Blasphemy to deny the Scriptures to wit the writings to be the Word of God but the truth written of and those things declared of in the Scriptures 〈◊〉 â—he Word of God and not the writings which are Scriptures But this iâ—â—â—â—the◠〈◊〉 to before mâ— so I pass it Answer to the second Position Thy Major Position is uâ—â—â—â—ly 〈◊〉 and not grounded upon any part of the Scriptures so that the Niâ—… and the Concluâ—â—â—â— are both denied and cast out for a man mâ—y sâ—y That Chrisâ—â—â—e Foundation of Faith and the Spirit of God is the Rule of Life for thus the Scriptures say and a man may lawfull deny the Scriptures to be the Foundation of Faâ—â—â— and Rule of Life and neither be Heretick nor Blasphemer was the Apoâ—â—â—e a Blasphemer and a Heretick who said No other Foundation could be laid but thâ—â— which was laid already which was Christ And was he a Heretick and a Blasphemer that said The Sons of God were led by the Spirit of God and exhorted to walk â—y the Rule of the Spirit and are the Quakars Blasphemers and Heretiâ—â—s who â—old forth that Truth the Apostles held forth and who walk by the Spirit wâ—… according and not contrary to the Scriptures O thoâ— Perverter of the right way of God who hast falsly accused the Innocent in thy illiterate Logick Answer to the third Position In this thou hast falsly accused but yet let us câ—â—sider thy words There was a Nature in that Maâ— Iesus Christ that was born of tâ—e â—â—â—gin that was subject to cold heat thirst and hunger and subject to be tempted of the Devil and this nature was not God whose nature is Infinite Eternal Unmeasurable me sâ—bject to hunger nor thirst nor to heat and cold nor subject to temptations so that a man may say lawfully and be no Blasphemer that there was a Nature in him which was â—ot God and yet the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in him too and he is the Everlasting Father and the Father is in him and he in the Father and thus by a sound interpretation of the Word God by Nature thy Major and Minor and Conclusion are all made void Answer to the fourth The good works of the Saints are wrought in God and by his Spirit and its God that works in them to will and to do and all such Works are worthy Works glorious Works and blessed Works even unto Eternal Life as the Scripture saith Glory Honour and Peace be unto every man that â—orketh good Rom. 2. 7 10. And no man by Faith without Works is justified for Faith without Works is dead and a dead Faith doth not justifie This is our Faith and the Faith which the Apostles were of and we are neither Hereticks nor Papists no more then were the Apostles and thy argument is vain and falls to the ground and hath no weight in it unto sober Minds though Self-righteousness is altogether Abomination to the Lord and justifieth not any man Answer to the fifth Position A man may deny the Sprinkling of Infants and the administration of Bread and Wine as is held forth in your Assemblies and be neither Antichristian nor a Heretick for the Institution of sprinkling Infants and administring of Bread and Wine among unconverted people was never ordained of God nor practised amongst the Apostles if thou sayst it was prove it out of the Scriptures or else stop thy Mouth and to deny such Ordinances and Practices which God never commanded nor the Saints of forâ—er Ages ever practiced is not Antichristian nor Heresie but thu do the Qakers and tâ—â—â—â—fore they are not Antichristian nor Hereticks upon this accompâ— and tâ—â—â— thy Position is not worth any thing for the end proposed by thee but thy Weakness and Folly is made manifest and thy idolatâ—ous Prâ—ctices so much plâ—â—â—ed for by thee are denied and opposed by the Spirit of the Lord. Answer to the sixth Position As for the sin of Infants we do not say That Infants in general that is to say every particular Infant that is 〈◊〉 hath been horn into the World has Sin for some were fillen with the holy Ghost and some were â—â—â—ctified from their Mother Womb and what Sin had such And the Scriptâ—re speaks That the Unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the Beliâ—ving Hâ—… eâ—se 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Câ—ildrâ—â— unclean but now are they holy And what sin had these So that â—â—y maâ—… is proved defective and so thy minor and thy conclusion is worth nothing though as to the general part we do believe there is a nature whereby all are Children of Wrath in Degeneration Answer to the seventh This is a false Accusation thy minor Proposition and is a Lye and so thy Conclusion is utterly false Answer to the eighth As for the Christian-Sabbath we do not deny that for Christ is the Saints Rest and the Seventh day of the Week is the Iews Sabboth and not the Christian-Sabbath and so this is but a false Accusation as the rest And as for the first day of the Week which you observe for Sabboth you have neither binding Example nor express Command in Scripture for that practice Answer to the ninth As for the singing of David's Psalms in Rhime and Meeter and in the Custom as practised amongst you we do utterly deny to be any Ordinance of