prove otherwise than to destroy themselves and make room for you and these things I observed And also thus far we did fore see and it was revealed to us and believed by many of us fully and we did often Prophesie it that the Lord God of Heaven Earth would destroy and bring down the Government Authority as they have stood in this Nation for divers years and that he would bring Iudgment upon the Rulers and upon many of the Teachers People of this Nation because of their Oppressions and Unfaithfulness and Treachery Hypocrisie Wickedness which abounded amongst them which we have felt and seen and been sensible of and we have often given our witness against them because of their guiltiness in their sinful waies Oh it hath been loathsome unto the Lord even the Oppressions Treacheries of the Rulers Oh how hath Cruelty and Injustice abounded in their Government their hypocrisie hath been evident in our sight in many Particulars even in that they have cryed against and overthrown King and Kingly Government charging them with oppression and cruelty and pretended to ease the People in a better way of Government when as though Governors and Names Titles of Government were changed and altered yet oppression ceased not neither was injustice forsaken nor was the heavy yoakes of great bondage removed but the rather these things were increased upon many good People in these Nations and herein was the unfaithfulness and treachery of the Rulers very great in the sight of God and their Government unjust and unequal wherefore the Lord hath been provoked against them to confound them and overturn them and we have often told it them and also the Hypocrisie and deceits and sinfulness of Teachers we have seen testified against our witness to them both is and will be found true and Gods justice will be fulfilled upon them both these things we have observed even the heinous guilt of sin against God in both Rulers and Teachers the abominations that have been committed both in Civil and Church Government so called also and many People have loved to have these things so and we have been sensible how the Lord hath been provoked to overthrow the Governors of this Nation because hereof and this we have foreseen and Prophesied of even that Iudgement and Confusion would come upon the Government the Rulers and the Teachers but particularly when and after what manner judgment overthrow should come upon them was left to the Lord who hath brought to pass his own will according to Justice and it may prove to be a just Jugdment from the Lord upon the Unfaithful and Treacherous and Unjust Rulers and Teachers and People which I have mentioned and the Lord may justly avenge himself upon them who have abused his Mercies and not improved his Deliverance to his glory but perverted the end wherefore they were at first raised up I say the Lord may justly be avenged of them by this means of this mans comingin and he may be in the hand of the Lord a very smiting Rod to correct and rebuke and may be a heavy Judgment upon many in this Nation even from that cause and for that end as before I have expressed Quer. 2. Whether you or any of you do adjudge it Reasonable and Equitable that he should come inherit the Nations of which he is born the right Heir Or whether or no it is just or unjust to God and men that he should Reign King over these Nations If you walk judg by the Law of God which is Equal then judge of this whether he hath been kept out this many Years now is brought in again Reasonably Iustly or Unjustly contrary to Reason Answ. That he should come in is Reasonable and Equitable because through the purpose of the Lord his coming in is accomplished who effecteth nothing but what is Equal Reasonable there is cause in God sufficient wherefore it should thus be there is Sufficient cause Reason appearing to us in this matter upon the very account as laid down in my Answer to the first Query it is Equal as in the Lord that he should be restored who hath been removed cast out by such as have pretended to Govern Rule better than he but have ruled in Oppression Injustice not answered the cause wherefore he was cast out that he should come in to be a Scourge upon these this is just and in this particular doth lie the Reason Equity of his coming in to inherit this Nation And as for Reigning justly over this Nation that may better be answered when we have had experience of his Reign for if he Reign Rule in Truth Righteousness in Mercy and in Iustice and by and according to the Iust Law of God if thus he Reign then he Reigneth justly it is just to God and men that he should Reign and this the Law of God which is Equal judgeth by which we walk in all things do judge of all things And as for his being kept out this many years we do judge that the hand of the Lord is in these matters they were done suffered to be done by him in which he will be glorified yet thus far I say they that have kept him out in pretence that they would Rule better than he yet have ruled in Oppression Injustice as much more may be then he would have done they have dealed unjustly and contrary to reason both to him and much more to the People of these Nations while they have made and had new Names and Titles of Government and Governors but have continued the old oppressions and not releived the oppressed according to their own vows and promises which they have broken and it is but just they should be punished for it but if he render not evil for evil he doth well Quer. 3. Whether or no ye can judge that his Reign and Government shall be blessed to himself and these Nations or the contrary Or whether shall Peace or Trouble be in the Land in his dayes And shall his dayes be many or shall his time be short if this be revealed to you let us know Answ. We do judge that his Reign and Government may be blessed to himself and these Nations or not blessed and peace may be in the Land or trouble in his dayes and his time may be long or it may be short according as he walketh in the fear of the Lord or as he walketh wickedly and according as his Reign and Government is in Righteousness Mercy and Truth or in Oppression and Injustice accordingly do I judge may he be blessed may have Peace and long dayes or the contrary if he walk in the way which brings contrary effects and we take not upon us to judge any thing before the time but as thorow time he discovers himself so
that have been and are upright and sincere towars God in their way they are not afraid but are confident in the Lord and are given up in his will whether to do or suffer for his Names-sake and they have no terror upon them because of any guilt because they have been upright in that way which they were perswaded to be right and such lives in a patient and quiet life and are contented whatsoever comes to pass because they have the witness that they have not followed their Religion for self ends nor taken the name of Righteousness for a Cloak as many others have upon whom this overturning falls very heavy And these things with many more the like we do observe from the present transfactions which are fallen out in Mercy to some and in Iudgment to others even a Iudgment upon all that do not fear the Lord but walk in wickedness and that have been Hypocrites and hard-hearted and cruel and to all that doth not repent of their sins these things and the end of them are and shall be great Iudgments and shall be turned into bitterness even their joy and rejoycing into howling and great Lamentation this shall be the end unto all the ungodly but unto all that fear the Lord and departs from Iniquity even unto such the end of all these things shall be good even Mercy and Peace and their sorrow shall be turned into joy And as for us we are not faint-hearted though it be supposed that we are in our last dayes and as though our ruin were nigh to come but we believe other wise for we have clearness of Conscience towards God and all men and walks in Faith and patience and knowing this assuredly that if we be persecuted and afflicted in Person or Estate by you that now are in Power yet it is for Righteousness sake and for the Lords sake and not for the guilt of any Rebellion against you that you have or ever can have to Charge upon us for we cannot befound in these things for we can neither secretly flatter to make peace with you neither can we openly rebell against you or resist you but as our right from God and you we claime the LIBERTY of the Exercise OF OUR CONSCIENCES in the Matters of Faith and a holy Life towards God that we may mind the things of Gods Kingdome and may so walk and worship as to have peace with God in our Consciences that no burden of Sin and Iniquity may lye upon us but that we may live and dye in peace with God this is all we Claime of you But and if you will not allow it us but will persecute us and seek to destroy us only for our Conscience-sake and because of our Faith and Religion if you do make and execute Laws against us in opposition to the Law of our God that you may take an occasion against us to destroy us because thereof then Innocent blood and cruel suffering will be upon you and the weight of it will sink you into confussion when your measure is full and if you should destroy these vessels yet our Principles you can never extinguish but they will live for ever and enter into other bodies to live and speak and act through other vessels for our Principles are standing and unchangeable through Ages and Generations and may be clouded but can never be extinguished for every man hath a Light in his Conscience which Christ hath inlightened them withal which Light reproves Men for sin and with it they know they should not Lie nor Swear nor be Drunk nor deal doubbly nor walk in any sin but and if they do these things and live contrary to the Light in their own Consciences then they deny Christ and are unbelievers and they are condemned and have trouble in their Consciences but if men do own that Light in their Consciences which doth reprove them for sin then it leads them to Repentance and to the forsaking of all sin and they cease from all Iniquity and receive Iesus Christ and his blood to cleanse them And the Light of the Spirit of God leads them into all Truth to do and speak the Truth in all things and then he hath peace with God in his Conscience And these are some of our Principles which can never be Subdued by all the Powers of the Earth though the vessels which now retain these were out off yet these Principles are unchangeable in themselves and can never be extinguished so that this our Religion cannot come to ruin but they that think so they are indeed deceived and whosoever shall seek to destroy that which Gods purpose is to exalt woe shall be unto them and as they purpose towards others so shall it come upon them from the Lord in his Day and Season And thus I have answered the Queries directed to the Quakers and subscribed Tradite hanc Amico Regis and I do desire that the Friend of the King and all his Friends and he himself may receive and road over these my Answers and may consider them in coolness and moderation for they may be to their Edification if they be Sober minded I am a Friend unto all men as men and creatures and a lover of all Souls and am in Principles and Practises one of them scornfully called a Quaker E. B. An OBjECTION Answered concerning the KINGS SUPREMACY ANd whereas it is Objected by some Whether or not we will be obedient Subjects accepting of him as our Lawful King and own his Supremacy and will obey him willingly or unwillingly and be Subjects in Conscience or against our Consciences Answ. It is our Principle and hath ever been our Practise to be obedient Subjects to whatsoever Power or Authority of man or men as have been in being over us either by doing and fulfilling their just Commands or by suffering under their Commands which have been unjust and thus we are perswaded and resolved in the Lord to continue even to be obedient to the Commands of Men in Authority which are just and according to our Consciences but and if any thing or matter be required of us and Imposed upon us which is contrary to the Law of God and our Consciences that we must fulfill by Suffering whatsoever is put upon us by him or any under him and so we own him and accept him as knowing and believing that he is set to Rule in this Nation not without but by and according to the purpose of the Lord and that he hath secretly purposed and Suffered the accomplishing of these things and thus we account that he is CHEIF MAGISTRATE because these things are Effected through the Lords Power who doth whatsoever he will and we do own that he is set and proclaimed to be the Head and Supream over this Nation in Civil Outward Affaires and Matters and in those things that are related to the outward man all his Commands which are just we can willingly be subject unto
Lord God against the King and his Government to destroy them both Therefore to reduce the Government of the Church into the State as it stood under the Bishops in his Fathers dayes and to prohibit all others that may differ in Judgment from that this is not the way for Peace and happiness in these Nations nor the way that will be blessed to the Government neither can the Bishops and Prelates justly themselves desire it that only they and their Church-Government should be Imposed and Tollerated and all besides Prohibited for this is not doing to others as they would be done unto and I may hope that their Suffering this divers years may have taught them the worth of Liberty to themselves and so that they will allow to others if it be in their power the same which they have desired themselves in their time of Suffering and they having tasted of some Subjection in Adversity they know the better how to behave themselves in time of prosperity and they may compare others with their own states and may judge that others will as much desire Liberty and from as good Principles in their Worship and Faith as themselves would have enjoyned it in times past and they may have learned to be good to others in that case for which themselves have Suffered and not cause others to suffer for that thing about wch themselves have suffered And I do conclude that he may justly with more safty happiness to his Government Tollerate and Allow LIBERTY of CONSCIENCE in the Exercise of Faith and Worship towards God in all Spiritual Matters even to al sorts of People in this Nation and let him defend their Persons Estates from the wrong one of another by wholsome Laws and let each sort defend themselves in their Faith and Worship in their Church and Ministry by their soundest Arguments and the best Spiritual weapons they have and thus should it be blessed to the Government And whatsoever sort or Sect of People are not contented with this that is to say to Allow the same Liberty to others in Faith and Worship which they do desire themselves are not worthy themselves to be allowed Liberty unto and this every reasonable man may judge Quer. 7. Lastly What is your Iudgement if ye dare declare it concerning the Times and Seasons and the present motions of them And what are your Observations of the present proceedings Are the present Times and Seasons and the proceedings and transfactions in Mercy or in Iudgment to the King and his Subjects If in Mercy to whom is it Mercy And if in Iudgment who are they to whom these things are so If ye be not faint-hearted declare your minds now in your last daies as many think for many say that your ruin is nigh come and if it be not so many are deceived Answ. Yes we dare declare our Iudgment concerning the Times and Seasons for we have received the Iudgment of Truth in our Spirits and never have been nor are we afraid to declare the Truth so far as Truth is necessary to be declared and we say the Times and Seasons are in the hand of the Lord and the motions of them are very swift and the Lord gives to whom and takes from whom Times and Seasons as he pleaseth even as it were in an instant doth the Lord give and change and alter Times Authorities and Things and mortal man ought not to glory in Times or Seasons as if they were certain and unchangable to him for behold the Motions of Times flyeth away and Seasons removeth their course and the most confident of men have no certainty thereof and that because they are in the hand of the Lord that turneth them about and often contrary to mens will and pleasure and therefore let every man be good in his time and fulfill the will of the Lord in his Season before Time and Season be no more but removed from them And as for our Observations they are very many of the present proceedings and transactions first we do observe that there is not any thing of all these transactions that are come to pass but there is a secret hand of the Lord God through them and in them either doing of them or suffering of them to be done and either as the cause by secret purpose or as the means of their accomplishment it is not without him that these things cometh to pass but his eye his hand is over them that man is only blesed which hath respect unto him in all these things that he may do or suffer for the Lord and that he may not rebell against him in what is brought to pass by him Secondly we observe how that the Lord hath given unto many Men a Day and a Time and tryed them what they would do for him and whether they would rule in Righteousness and in Equity but many have proved deceitful and not answered to the Lord what he expected from them and therefore the Lord hath confounded them in their Counsels and suffered them to Clash one against another and made them overthrow one another and one self-seeking man hath been the ruin of another as bad as himself and even many by their own proceedings have prepared a rod and judgment even for themselves and through their blindness of heart which they have been given up to because of their wickedness they have destroyed themselves and given their very enemies advantage over them to afflict them and this we have observed of present proceedings Thirdly We observe that there is a rude prophane spirit highly abounding throughout this Nation that brings forth much bad fruit as drunkenness and wickedness in a great measure which may justly provoke the Lord to wrath and indignation against the Land if it be not forsaken though it be lifted up in this wonderful rudeness in a pretence of glorying on the behalf of the King and his Government yet it vexeth the Lord and it works Sorrow in the hearts of many Sober People who are pondering what the End of this Government may be that is thus rude and prophane in its beginning saying in their hearts how shall the Lord blesse these proceedings and make the end of them happy which are thus void of the fear of God in the first part of them and if a stop be not put and a limitation upon the Spirit it will provoke the Lord to work sudden destruction and overthrown the Nation Fourthly We observe that many Hypocrites and dubble minded men are afraid and terror hath Surprized them who have taken the profession of such or such a Religion on them for a Cloak and hath been in the shew of Righteousness for earthly ends such are afraid and their ends are frustrated and they are turned into confussion and a prophane Spirit abounding over their Hypocrisie and such will deny their Principles and their Faith and will fawn slatter to save themselves this is abominable but men