troubled in my spirit to know the Vision and I waited upon the Lord and he signified to me in the Light The six Suns were six Nations whose Lights were near out and the five which crossed each other signified to me some rising amongst them And the Fryar came to me and said It was God's will we should be kepâ— there or else they could not keep us I told him the Lord did suffer wicked men to do wickedly but did not will them to do it He did suffer Herod to take off John Baptist's head but he did not will him to do it and did suffer Stephen to be stoned and Judas to betray Christ but he did not will them to do it for if he had he would not have condemned them for it He said Then we are wicked men I said They are wicked men that work wickedness The Fryar would say still We had not the true Faith We said By Faith we stand and by the Power of God we are upholden dost thou think it is by our own power and holiness we are kept from a vain conversation from sin and wickedness He said That was our pride We said No We could glory in the Lord we were children of wrath once as well as others But the Lord hath quickned us that were dead by the living Word of his Grace and hath washed cleansed and sanctified us through soul and spirit in part according to our measures and we do press forward towards that which is perfect He then did say We were good Women but yet there was no redemption for us except we would be Catholicks Now the Lord said Fear not Daughters of Sion I will carry you forth as Gold tryed out of the fire And many precious promises did the Lord refresh us with in our greatest extremity and would appear in his glory that our souls would be ravished in his presence I had the Spirit of Prayer upon me and I was afraid to speak to the Lord for fear I should speak one word that would not please him And the Lord said Fear not Daughter of Sion ask what thou wilt and I will grant it thee whatsoever thy heart can wish I desired nothing of the Lord but what would make for his glory whether it were my liberty or bondage life or death wherein I was highly accepted of the Lord. The Room wherein I was separated was near the Chancery where all the Bishops Courtiers did resort and would come into the Inquisition Courts and I had Work amongst them daily they would come on purpose to their condemnation some would be smitten and run as if they hunted and some would be set on fire and cry Caldere caldere and fuoco fuoco and many would pitty us because we were not Catholicks the Fryars would say We might be Catholicks and keep our own Religion too and we should not be known we were Catholicks except we were brought before a Justice of Peace We askt if we should profess a Christ we should be asham'd of But as for the poor Workmen they were willing to do any thing for us and were diligent to hear us the Witness of God in them did answer to the truth there were many eyes over them had it not been for the great opposition there were hundreds would have flown to the truth And because I said I did talk with G. F. he the Fryar asked Whether G. F. did bring me money to maintain me in prison I said no but though I was absent in body yet I was present in spirit and was refreshed in him and in hundreds more besides They said I had seen Revelations and had talkt with G. F. and he was God's Revelation Sarah said Christ was God's Revelation he said she came under the Halter for saying Christ was God's Revelation She answered St. Paul said As soon as it pleased God to reveal his Son in me I did not consult with flesh and blood but immediately I went and preacht him and is not Christ God's Revelation then He said Who denied that What they would have done to Sarah if they had taken her forth we know not but the Lord did work so wonderfully that night for the preservation of her poor soul out of their net that he is worthy to be glorified for ever The next time he came to me he came in sheeps clothing but he had a Woolf under his Gown he gave me words as soft as Butter and as smooth as Oyl when he had a Sword in his heart and a Spear in his hand when they speak most fairest then beware of them He desired us we would not think so hardly of him as if he were the Author of all our wrongs and troubles he was not he said but would do any good he could for us were it with his blood But we thought he had been the chiefest that cast the poor man in prison but he was the man that hope him out without any punishment at all though the Inquisitor did say he should be severely punished I told him he did well he would have peace in it and would never have cause to repent it He did entreat us he might not bear all the burthen We told him of many wicked things he did act against us and of his lying and cruel words He bid us take no notice what he did speak But we did feel his spirit that what he spake he would do if he had not been chained I did use to tell him My Conscience was not feared with a hot iron J was not past feeling At last he was so weary of coming to us he did entreat the Jnquisitor he might not come to us any more the Judgements of the Lord did follow him so it was like to kill him When we were parted the Lord did vvork mightily for us and we vvere kept by the Power of the Lord over our Enemies and vvere bold for God's Truth and did make war vvith them in righteousness so that they could not gain-say us in the truth So that Scripture was fulfilled The wicked mouths must be stopped and they vvere put to silence praises be to our God and were made to confess or say Of a truth God was in us our God was a consuming fire to them they were not able to stand in his presence but they vvould howl and make a noise like Dogs and cry Jesu Maria and flye as people driven by a mighty rushing Wind the Power of the Lord did pursue after them like a Sword that Scripture was fulfilled which saith Christ came not to send peace on earth but a sword to cut down his Enemies the Lord was on our side and did take our part and did fight for us and did tread down our Enemies under our feet that they could not hurt us Mighty vvas the Work of God daily our tongues cannot express it they did vvork day and night vvith their Incâ—antments and Divinations Sorceries unclean Spirits crying and foaming insomuch we could take
expect one drop of mercy favour nor affection but what our Heavenly Father did distil upon us from his living presence and work for us by the operation of his own Arm of strength and power But dear Friends though a long Winter and many sharp and terrible storms have past over our heads so that we cannot express our sorrows so likewise we cannot declare our joys Oh! in the midst of all our afflâ—ctions our God did draw nigh unto us an did speak comfortably unto us with many sweet and precious promises and did never suffer his faithfulness to fail us nor was he wanting unto us in Visions and Revelations Oh how doth he appear in his glory beauty and brightness so that our souls are ravished and wrapped up with his living presence and glory many times so that we do not dare to look out at our long sufferings nor trials but do press forwards towards the fulness of joy and blessedness which our Eternal Father hath prepared for all them that love him and walk in obedience to him and we know the deeper our sorrow is the greater our joy shall be and the heavier our Cross the weightier our Crown as we abide faithful And we do believe that neither Principalities nor Powers nor sufferings nor imprisonment nor pesecution nor life nor death shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour Amen Dearly beloved Friends though our bodies are bolted up in the Rocks and Caves of the Earth yet our spirits you know nonâ— can limit nor confine to any place And we do behold your order and steadfastness of your faith and labour of love and are daily refreshed in all the faithful-hearted Oh dear hearts the remembrance of the least of you is precious Oh! the Rivers of tears that have distilled from our eyes whilst we do think upon you for joy because of your growth and flourishing in the Truth Oh! you are Virgins indeed who have Oyl in your Vessels and your Lamps burning and are cloathed with the long white Robes of Righteousness and are adorned with the Ornaments of pure Beauty and glorious brightness abundance of you to our joy and comfort and we do pray night and day That every Babe of our Heavenly Father's begetting may prosper even as we desire our own souls should prosper and that every one may be kept out of incumbrances and use the World as if they used it not but every one's mind spirit heart and soul may be exercised in the Eternal by the Power of God out of the earthly out of the visible out of the carnal and perishing things of this life so as to trust in it into the heavenly into the spiritual into the invisible into that which never changeth sadeth nor waxeth old where every one may dwell in the enjoyment of the presence of the Lord for in the presence of the Lord is fulness of joy and at his right hand is pleasure for evermore Oh! that every one may be emptied of your selves and unbottomed of your selves that you may build wholly upon the sure foundation and anchored so fast upon the Rock of Ages that neither the swelling Seas nor the foaming Waves nor stormy Winds though they beat vehemently may ever be able to remove you Oh dear Brethren in the life and power you may feel the issues of Love and Life which stream as a River to every soul of you from the hearts of us that are wholly joined to the Fountain Glory and everlasting praises be given to his holy Name Our whole souls spirits hearts and minds are given up to serve the Lord in whatsoever he requireth of us as he shall make it manifest unto us And we do blesse his Name for ever that he hath found us worthy of so high a calling as to bind Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of Iron Our prayers are continually for the advancement of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus throughout the whole Earth for the gathering of the Seed of the Elect of God and for the raising of it up over the Seed of the Serpent in power and great glory to bear rule and to have dominion over the whole World that the Kingdoms of this World may become the Kingdoms of our Lord Jesus that he may rule in his Princely Power and reign in his Kingly Majesty whose Right it is that the knowledge of the Lord may cover the Earth as the Water covereth the Sea that all the Children of the Lord may be taught of the Lord and be established in Righteousness that so the Mourners in Sion may rejoice and the heâ—â—y hearted in Jerusalem may be right glad The Lord God of Power hasten it for his own Name 's sake and for his Elect's sake that lye in captivity under the hands of the dark Powers of the Earth either spiritual or temporal Amen Amen saith our spirits Dear and precious Friends and Brethren pray for us that we may finish our Testimony to the glory of God and to the praise of his holy Name and to the comfort of all that love his appearing and to our own eternal salvation and to the shame and confusion of all that hate the Lord Jesus and persecute his Truth So in the pure Vnity of the Covenant of Light Life Peace Love and everlasting Righteousness do we take our leaves of you all at this time hoping and believing we shall see your faces once again before we go hence and be no more seen Dear Friends pray for us Though we were in many streights and hardships by reason of the oppression yet whilst our minds were staid upon the Fountain we saw no want but our tender Father whose heavenly eye was ever over us saw our necessities sent his right dear and precious Servant and 〈◊〉 and faithful Steward Daniel Baker to administer to our necessities both spiritual and temporal he came not in his own time will nor strength but in the Will and time Strength and Power of the Almighty God at whose presence the Mountains were removed the tall Cedars were made to bow the strong Oaks to stoop Oh wonderful He went to the Lord Inquisitor the Popes Deputy to demand our lawful Liberty which would not be granted unless he and we would write to Messaena or Legorn to some English Merchant to be engaged for four thousand Dollers Which Proposition being out of the Covenant of Light we durst not stoop to it but our dear Brother in Christ Jesus offered his body for our liberty but it would not be granted nothing would serve but one to engage for four thousand Dollers to be paid if ever we come into these parts again Then in obedience to the Lord he offered up his Life for our Freedom but all would not serve the Will of our God be done Oh dear Friends greater Love was never heard of than for a man to lay down his Life for his Friend Oh! it is worthy to be recorded
empty away My dear Babes and Lambs seed of the sincere Milk of the Word of Life that you may grow up in it and wax strong in spirit to praise the Lord and to glorifie him who is worthy Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his Might seek him earnestly call upon him continually let your whole Meditations be staid in him alway Seek him earnestly deny your own thoughts and words give heed to the Light bring all your deeds to it give up all that is contrary to be slain stand single empty naked before the Lord that you may be fill'd with the streams of his everlasting Love Oh my dear hearts our God is full of love stand not back press forward let nothing hinder you the Lord calls for you My Son give me thy heart The promise of our God is as large to you as to any if you can believe your straitness is in your selves For God is a full Fountain abundance of love runs forth to them that can trust him I can witness it in the barren Wilderness he caused streams of living water to break forth I cannot express it is so large therefore doth my soul thirst after you my dear ones the love of God is to you My dear Sisters I have you in my remembrance and do pray to my God and your God 〈◊〉 that you may be enlarged in your measures to praise the Lord and to be kept in a sensible feeling of his power daily and that you may encrease in Wisdom Strength and Power over Gods Enemies The Blessing of the Lord God Almighty be with you and preserve you by his Mighty Power unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Salute me to my Sister S. R. there is a tender Plant in her I do feel it to my comfort praises be to the Lord. I am in health I praise the Lord and do want nothing the Lord is my portion I cannot want he hath deck't my Table richly he hath annointed my head with Balm it runneth down the skirts of my cloathing Written in the Inquisition-Prison at the Isle of Malta a sufferer for the Seeds sake Farewel at this time Amen Your dear Sister in the Lord SARAH CHEVERS Another from K. E. to her Husband and Children with somewhat from both the Lords Prisoners to Friends the which was taken with the rest of the Letters in the Inquisition and copied out for their Lord Inquisitor DEar Husband with my dear Children I beseech you together to wait in the patience having your minds alwayes staid upon the Lord Keep out of incumbrances for that is the Enemies opportunity to step in when the mind is gone forth and to vail the pure and darken the understanding and so hinder you of the pure enâ—oyment of the beholding the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Take no more upon you then you are able to perform in the Spirit of moderation and meekness for that is in the sight of God of of great prâ—ze See the Lord going before you in all your occasions that you may be prosperous in all youâ— undertakings wait diligently upon the Lord to be seasoned with his Grace that you may come to a pure understanding of the motions of his Eternal Spirit and to a true knowledge of the operation of his hands So you will be able with all Saints to comprehend what is the heigth and the depth and the length and the breadeth of the riches of his Grace and Love towards mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord Amen saith my spirit This is the counsel of the Lord unto you I do often remember M. H. I do desire she may be brought up in the fear of God and want for nothing that is convenient for her salute me to her dearly I have been very sensible dear Husband of thine and our Children and many dear friends more of your sorrowful souls mourning hearts grieved spirits troubled minds for us as being Members of one body Christ Jesus bâ—ing our Hâ—â—d we must needs suffer together that we may 〈◊〉 together a true sorrow begets a true â—oy a true Cross a true Crown We do believe it is our heavenly Fathers will and purpose to bring us back as safe to England as ever he brought us thence for his own glory though we are some of the least of Christ's Flock yet we do belong to the true Fold and our Shepherd hath had as great a care of us as he could have for any of his Lambs and hath brought us through great affliction praises be given to his glorious Nâ—mâ— of us and you and all that know him for ever Though we are absent in body in the Will of God from you yet we are present â—n spirit in the Will of God with you and do receive the benefit of all your prayers daily and do feel the Springs of Liâ—e that do stream from all the faithful hearted to our great refreshment and strengthening After our money was gone the Lord Inquisitor with the rest in Authority put a great allowance in one of their servants hands for our maintenance bâ—cause we could take no money our selves the Lord of Heaven did forbid us to meddle with any and he did send to know whether we did want any clothes he would send it to the Prison to us This was the large love of our God to us and we were made contented with that we had till the Lord God who is rich in mercy and full of all Grace and is never unmindful of any which trust in his Name of his everlasting love did send his faithful Messenger whose feet are beautiful and â—ace is comely cloathed with a bright shining Garment from the Crown of the head to the sole or the foot and came in great power and strength indeed armed with the whole Armour of Light and drest in the Majesty of the Mostâ—High and being commissioned of the Higher Power went to the Lord Inquisitor to demand our lawful liberty which would not be granted except we could get some English Merchants of Legorn or Messaena to engage four thousands Dollers that we should never come into those parts again the Lord who alone is our Life and Redeemer moved our dear Brother to offer his own body to redeem ours but it would not be received then he offered to lay down his own dear and precious life for our liberty Greater love can no man have than to lay down his life for his Friend the Lord will restore it into his bosom double his service can never be blotted out his Name is called Daniel Baker his outward being is near London a right dear and precious heart he is The blessing strength and power of the Almighty be upon him and his and overshadow them for ever Amen Greater comfort could never be administred to us in our conditions Glory honor and praise to our God for evermore Amen This is a dear and sweet Salutation in that which never changeth fadeth
redeemed of the Lord Amen Dear heart it is hard for us to part with thee thou wilt feel it The Will of our Eternal Father be done in the pure unity of the blessed Spirit of Light Life Joy Peace and everlasting Glory do we here take our leave of thee at this time hoping to see thy face again with joy in our Lord's time O dear heart our hearts souls spirits and our whole lives goeth along with thee The pure peace of our God rest upon thee Amen Dearly salute us to all Friends for they are dear and precious to us indeed Farewell farewell dear heart farewell Dear heart THou hast cleared thy Conscience towards us in the sight of God and man if here had been many friends what could have been done more concerning us than thou hast done Thou hast stood in great jeopardy ever since and thy life hath been sought for much We have felt it and cryed night and day to our Heavenly Father to preserve thee and safely deliver thee Whatsoever we do suffer we desire the Will of our Heavenly Father to be done in all things if the Lord doth stir up the Earth to help the Woman it is his own free love and upon that account we shall receive it and not upon any other This they spake concerning the money I lâ—â—t with them and for their necessities And the Lord did appear unto me in a Vision of the Night and smote me on the Arm and said Look there is the Pope he will not hurt thee Where he stood in the Room as one forsaken of God and man this was at the English Consuls when there was some fear upon me concerning him Now here is a Roman in the Prison which came hither upon some account he is a a Doctor of Law and differs from them in many things but they are all of one spirit He doth constantly affirm that the Pope hath sent an Order to set us free and he saith they are lyars and false blasphemers if they do say the Pope sent any such Order as they speak of They do meet every day concerning us we do feel them some would have it one way and some another and so they cannot agree because they do act contrary to the Will of God the Lord sets it all on fire and hath burned all they have done these three years concerning us Now where they will look a Reward of their charges we do not know the wise are taken in their own craftiness and the subtile in their own snare There have twelve of them sate in Judgement upon us three years and some have struck hard at our lives so that we have been even at death's door I have lain very weak three Weeks at a time There are many for us as far as they do dare The Lord says there were two with the Inquisitor for us and did plead much with him I did see it in a Night-Vision The English Consul which is dead was with us two several times after we were in the Inquisition he said he would lend us five pounds when we did want but when our money was near done we were made to rejoice greatly and could not take any of any one We did not know the mind of the Lord in it but had we had money we had not known the mighty Power of God Now we are able to trust the Lord where-ever he shall carry us without money We do question the money in the Consul's hand It will be hard for him to part with it Our Life is with thee A few Lines to D. B. OH our dear and faithful Friend and Brother begotten of our heavenly Father right dear and precious in his sight and beautiful before his presence Dear heart we do glorifie our God in our hearts souls and spirits who hath called chosen and elected thee to come up to the help of him against the Mighty and hath carryed thee along in so weighty a work and hath prospered thee therein praises be given to his blessed Name for ever who hath enclosed thee in his Bosom and Chamber of his everlasting Love and hath hid thee in his private Pavillion where them that would hurt thee cannot find thee because of the shadowing of his Almighâ—â—ness under whose defence thou art kept safe and he doth carry thee upon the Wings of his Power so that the Mountains do become plain before thee which we do see clearly in the Light Eternal honor and glory be to his Name for ever who is called Wonderful Counsellor the Mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace in whom we have fellowship and unity one with another and none can hinder Dear heart we do dearly embrace thy sweet Exhortations thou being sensible of the instigations of Sâ—â—an â—ho hath winâ—owed us with every bait winding and twining slights 〈◊〉 he hath Praises be to our God for ever who hath preserved us and prevented him The Enemies being busie with their Temptations to have us enter into their Covenant thereupon I was moved to write these following words which I communicated to their hands with the former Paper Viz. BEhold the Word of Life arose in me saying this morning Keep to Yea and Nay and I will confirm my Covenant unto thee These Words were spoken to the true Seed that shall inherit the Kingdom the same you know is but one in Male and Female And so the blessing of my Life rest upon you and be with you in the same even in that which hath no end neither fadeth away yea and my Spirit saith Amen Dear Lambs read within and be refreshed and the God of Life and Peace encrease the same and multiply your strength abundantly Amen Malta the 10â—h day of the 11th Month 1661. D. B. Another Paper from them to my hand DEar and precious heart in the Eternal Covenant of Light and Life of our God do we salute thee and dearly embrace thee Oh! what hath the Lord made thee unto us far more precious than we are able to express and great will be thy reward for thy faithfulness to the Lord and thy dear and tender love to us and thy diligent care of us Oh! thou art the Messenger we have cried long for to our Heavenly Father saying How long Oh Lord How long will it be before thou wilt send thy Messenger whose feet are beautiful coming upon the Mountains bringing glad tyding of great joy to us thy poor Captives Now hath the Lord our God answered us at large Praises praises be to his Name for evermore Oh! how are our souls refreshed and our spirits supported and our hearts comforted our minds rejoiced and our bodâ—es strengthened Thou canst never do greater service to the Lord our God than to come into such a place as this is to offer up thy dear life in ransoming us Great was the Power that brought thee and great is the Power that doth uphold thee and Mighty is the Strength which doth preserve thee and great
over the members of the body but that which created the body and every Member which is to have the supream authority and preheminence as well in the female as in the male and so he the Spirit of Truth that 's to guide into all truth he the man is not he to speak viz. Christ in the male the same in the female where he is risen and manifest as King Priest and Prophet a Guide Leader and Commander in all equitable and just things which are truly honorable But the woman was in the transgression against the Spirit Flesh lusteth against the Spirit saith the Apostle and the Woman that 's in the transgression is to be under obedience and to be in silence to learn in silence and to ask her Husband at home but what if she have a disorderly drunken Husband and not Christ the man the true Husband the true Lord how can he teach her seeing the woman is to learn of her Husband in silence and to be under obedience and not to usurp Authority over the man as also saith the Law which hath dominion over all that are under it in the transgression but the Spirit of Grace and Truth that 's poured upon sons and daughters teacheth us to deny the sin and guideth from the same and so maketh free from its condemnation and from under the Law to be under the Grace and Truth that is in the one Seed Christ in the Male Christ in the Female the quickning spirit the Lord from Heaven and so who are lead and guided by this are not under the Law which saith the woman is not to usurp Authority over the man as also saith the able Minister of the Mysterie of the glory and riches of Eternity which is Christ the fulness in his Saints their hope of life and glory but the woman is to be under obedience as also saith the Law yea but they that are led by the Spirit are not under the Law so are the sons of God manifest yet under the Grace covered the same Grace with which the Man-Child the holy Child Jesus was covered and filled with the same and no other but that which did and doth save the Saints from sin and so from under the Law and its condemnation and not onely so but also the same Grace which bringeth salvation and appeareth to all men it teacheth them not onely to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts but also to live soberly and righteously in this present world and verily this Grace is in them which saves and justifieth them and it 's not of themselves it is the gift of God And such are the servants of the living and true God that have their fruits and possess the same unto holiness and not onely so but the end of the same which is the pure manifestation of the Eternal substance to wit everlasting life pure clean power which is the excellent Treasure in the Earthen Vessels as saith the holy Scripture 2 Cor. 4. But Oh ye Congregations of the dead ye gathered Churches of so many Names and Heads to you sounds my voice saying What have ye done Oh! how guilty do ye appear before mine eye that 's single in the Lord's Light of despising prohesying and quenching the tender Spirit of glory which resteth at this day in and upon many sons and daughters and behold if ye can see how they do and have prophesied in the Name of the Lord and have fore-warned you of that which is justly come to pass upon you while many of you despised and wondered in the days of haughtiness and its prosperity among you But oh my soul how hast thou been wounded in me whilst I have travelled and mourned over you And so you have been found despising that and quenching that Spirit of Grace which teacheth the Saints in Light and reproves for sin and testifieth against the World and its deeds because they are evil And this same Spirit strived long with you and in you and would have arisen up in its Authority Power and great glory from on high had ye not preferred and exalted the Spirit of this World in it's proper place in you above the just and long-suffering which is but one and the same in male and in female Oh! what have you done Can any of you yet smite upon your thigh and say so yet if ye can enquire enquire ye the Watchman's voice is the same it was and not otherwise viz. Return come yea return and come to the tender Spirit of holiness and of the gentleness of Christ and his yoke of self-denial and the daily Cross they are the two great Ordinances which ye have left behind and so the vail and the Darkness has covered you but the true Israelites have Light in their dwellings and their habitations is in the best of the Land of the living Wherefore my spirit saith Return come and hearken to the Lamb's voice and now see whether ye can follow him or a stranger wheresoever he goeth that 's the true Prophet raised up like unto Moses and obey his voice which savoureth not of this world for so his Kingdom and servants are not Therefore beware lest your souls be cut off from the Land of the living and ye perish in the outward observations by which the Kingdom cometh not among the Congregations of the dead where ye are yet seeking the living but I as a Brother even Joseph tell you yet again He is not there but is arisen from the dead from death to life who is the quickening Spirit the Lord from Heaven over the Earth over all the Land of Aegypt over the Land of darkness the same Lord the same Spirit which hath done excellent things is exalted in the new Heaven and in the new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness and let the Virgin-Daughter of Sion publish the same even from henceforth to all generations yea and my spirit it 's ready to say Amen There was one that saw a little Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands and he well retained his sight so long until in the Light of the living he saw the same which was so little wax so great that it became an exceeding great Mountain Verily the beloved City is manifest set upon a holy Hill it cannot be hid from them that see the glory of God doth enlighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof and his Light is like unto a stone most precious clear as Chrystal The Fountain is opened free come down from on high and thou shalt see if thou dost thirst for springs of Life To the Light submit thy mind and cease from strife in the same to behold the Bride the Lamb's Wife from the false Church Dan. Baker A Salutation to the whole Body of the Elect of God whether gathered or scattered abroad upon the face of the Earth And tender Greeting with Information from the same suffering and long suffering Seed whose Earthen Vessels are held in the Bonds of strait Captivity
unto me in a dream and said There were two English Friends in the City which did plead for our liberty in our behalf and he had taken all fear away from them and made them bold And in a little while after the Magistrates sent for us forth and askt us whether we were sick or whether we did want any thing and were very tender to us and said we should write to England and bid the Scribe give us Ink and Paper he said he would but he was so wicked he did not They did not tell us of any English that were there but there was one Francis Steward of London a Captain of a Ship and a Fryar of Ireland which came to the City together for what we know and they did take great pains for us and went to their Ruler and the Inquisitor and to several Magistrates and Fryars and the new English Consul with them and wrought much amongst them that all were willing to let us go save the Inquisitor they said and he said He could not free us without an Order from the Pope But we had many heavy Enemies besides which vvould not be seen but they obtained the favour to come and speak with us which was a great thing in such a place They sent for us to the Court-Chamber and the English Consul askt us if we were willing to go back to England We said if it were the Will of God we might The Captain spake to us with tears in his eyes and told us what they had done for us but could not prevail It is this Inquisitor said he the rest were made free you have preached among these people he said We told him we were called upon the Testimony of our Conscience and the truth that we have witnâ—ssed forth among them we should stand to maintain with our blood He said if they could get us off he would freely give us our passage and provide for us and he Vessel was his own We cold him his love was as well accepted of the Lord as if he did carry us He offered us money he savv the Lord vvouldâ— not suffer us to take any He took our Names We told them they took us out of our way and put us into the Inquisition and bid us changâ— our minds and we could not the Lord had changed us into that which changed not if they would burn us to ashes or chop us as Herbs to the Pot. The Fryar said We did not work which was false we had Work of our own and did work as we were able We told him our Work and Maintenance was in England And they said it was true He said We would not accept of the Inquisitors Dyet We did not know who did prepare for us we did receive our meat as we had freedom in the Lord. Then he said We had suffered long enough and too long but we should have our freedom in 〈◊〉 days and that they would send to the Pope for an Order And there were many English ships that way but the Captain saw it was a very hard thing so that it grieved him to the heart He prayed God to comfort us and he went away and we do beseech God to bless and preserve him unto everlasting life and never to let him nor his go without a blessing from him for his love he did venture himself exceedingly in that place But after he was gone they arose up against us with one accord the Inquisitor came up into a Tower and lookt down upon us as if he would have eaten us and they did try us for our lives again and did shut up our doors many Weeks we could not tell for what at length the Inquisitor came into the Tower again and Sarah was moved to call to him to have the door opened for us to go down into the Court to wash our clothes Then he gave command for the door to be opened once a Week and in a little while 't was open every day But great was our affliction indeed and she told him if we were the Popes Prisoners we would appeal to the Pope and he should send us to him But them in the prison with us especially the Fryar were mortal Enemies to us but yet they would have fed us with the choicest of their meat and would gladly give us whole Bottles of Wine if we would receive it and were greatly troubled because we did refuse to eat and drink with them and did persecute us exceedingly but the Lord did visit them with his dreadful Judgements the Fryar was tormented night and day his body did perish the Doctors and Chyrurgions did follow him a long time And there were two or three English Ships there came into harbour and Sarah saw the coming of them in a Vision of the night and there was great pleading for us that we saw but she heard a Voice saying We could not go now So we were made willing to wait the Lords time Then they sent for us forth when the Ships were gone and askt us if we would be Catholicks And we said we were true Christians and had received the Spirit of Christ and he that had not the Spirit of Christ was none of his The English Consul told us of the Ships and said they would not let us go unless we would be Catholicks and that we must suffer more imprisonment yet and said he did what he could for us One of the Magistrates shewed us the Cross We told them and said We did take up the Cross of Christ daily which is the great Power of God to crucifie sin and iniquity So we told them that one of their Fathers did promise us our liberty We did think that Fryar was too tender-hearted to stay among them he did take a great deal of pains for us the Captain said we told him he would never have cause to repent it the blessing of God would be upon him for any thing he should do for us for we were the Servants of the living God and he promised us our freedoms in a little time This following I received from them in other Papers to Friends D. B. O Dearly beloved Friends Fathers and Elders and Pillars of Gods Spiritual House and Brethren and Sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ in the measure of Love and Life of our God do we salâ—te you all and do embrace you in that which is Eternal and we do greatly rejoice and glorifie the Name of our Heavenly Father that he hath counted us worthy to be partakers of the death and sufferings of his blessed Son with you though we be the least of Gods Flock yet we are of the true Fold whereof Christ Jesus is Shepherd and he hath had as tender a care over us as he hath had of any of his Lambs which he hath called forth in this the day of his Power and hath carryed us through and ever as great afflictions as most of our Brethren and sufferers for his Name both in
her pride It 's not their golden Candlesticks nor Lamps that be so many That can shine through the Clouds so thick to give a Light to any To lead to a true resting-place where they may still behold The beauty of God's glorious face more bright than fined Gold Thou seest oh Lord what man hath done for to exalt himself Against the Lord thy blessed Son who is our saving health They have changed his glorious Form and Image that 's so bright And fashion'd it like sinful man corrupted in thy sight Arise oh Lord arise in haste and punish for these things These men that have sought thy disgrace that they might reign as Kings Over thine own Inheritance contrary to thy will To keep them still in ignorance without knowledge or skill But now the God of Power is come to raise up Sion bright And to build up Jerusalem in all the Heathens sight The Gates of Hell shall not prevail though they be wide strong Against the gathering in of all that to the Lord belong All glory honor laud and praise be to the Lord of Might Who hath made known in these our dayes his Way his Truth his Light Concerning the Cross of Christ which is not a visible sign or a piece of Wood but the invisible and immortal Power of the Lord God and his Wisdom unto salvation to and in all them that believe is the same Christ the Power of God and the wisdom of God But the same Crosse is to the outward Jew or Christian a stumbling-block and to the wise Greek that 's exalted and puft up in the knowledge above and over the meek life foolishness as saith the Scripture 1 Cor. 1. 18 19. CHrist's Cross I do embrace Which gives me an entrance into Grace Sin and Death it doth deface And makes me run a glorious race A Crown of Life and Grace I do obtain And sin and death is daily slain And Christ himself alone to reign Through the Cross I do obtain The Cross of Christ is more to me Than all the Treasures I can see It brings me to my resting-place For to behold God's lovely face The Cross of Christ is Power indeed Against the Serpent and his seed And salvation it doth bring To all that do believe thereâ—n The Cross of Christ is my delight It doth uphold me day and night It keeps me from the power of sin Through Christ who is my Heavenly King Without the Cross I cannot be From sin and death at all set free The Cross alone doth crucifie Transgression sin iniquity It doth break down the middle Wall And slays the enmity withall And makes of twain one perefect man And so renews Christ for me again The Cross of Christ it doth destroy That Nature that doth disobey In those that do themselves deny And take it up most willingly And daily bear it after him Who is our Lord and Prince and King And not at all to let it down Till they come to enjoy the Crown The Cross of Christ is power and life It doth destroy all mortal strife It keepeth from the Power of sin All those that love to walk therein All that do own Christ Jesus Cross Through self-denial they must pass For to be purged from their sin And no longer live therein The Cross of Christ doth operate Through every vein and vital part The heart and reins to cleanse from sin Of them that 's exercis'd therein They that live in sin and wicedness are enemies to Christ Jesus Cross For all sin and uncleanness doth pierce the life of Christ Jesus Perfect Love and breathings of undefiled Life to the Seed of God greeting THe streams of beauty pure and bright That springeth up both day and night MY love to truth doth me constrain In Prison ever to remain If it be so that even I Cannot in truth be set at liberty My deare Redeemer's face so bright Doth shine upon me day night His count'nance doth exceed all Captivity and bodage thrall Amen K. E. My Love It cometh from a harmless Dove Within vvhose breats doth still remain God's perfect praises to maintain I have not time nor place to shovv The love vvhich from my soul doth flovv The blessing of the Almighty be upon thee And upon the vvhole Israel of God Amen THese Writings follovving are Copies of divers Letters which they had written to their Friends and near Relations in the time of my visitation of them But it came so to pass that as they were handing the same through the Grace of the Prison by the hand of another man to be communicated to my hand being then present in the Room also that the said Letters were intercepted and in the first place communicated to the Pope's Lord Inquisitor and he forthvvith sent for the Consul and charged him to get the same truly copied forth Then the Consul vvas vvrath vvith me that he should be exercised vvith so much trouble But in the Light and Counsel of my God I seeing and â—novving that there vvas nothing in them but vvhat came from a good ground of innocency and truth and pure natural affection I was moved in bovvels of tender love lest the said Letters should be finally miscarried or shut up in obscurity therefore I propounded to the Consul If that were such a trouble to him if he would let me have the Letters I should copy them out truly And after some time he consented and gave them into my hand and laid it upon my Conscience to perform as I had said which I did with gladness of heart not in submission to his Will but in obedience to the God of Love and Peace which guided me in the same and so after I had finished them I gave the fair Copies into the Consul's hands for his Lord Inquisitor And so in the wisdom of the Lord which is wiser than the Serpents I obtained the very desire of my heart for his Truth and Peoples sake and retained the Original Copies and in the endless Love and Power of the Lord Almighty which was and is with me and accompanied me blessed and magnified be the Power of his excellent Majesty and Glory â—men over the heads of the lofty Mountains and barren Hills I brought the Treasures of a blessed and good ground away with this body in which I am so that they were not onely in my hands but also the precious substance and virtue of the same that accompanied them even in my heart within my bosom and the Words of Wisdoms Life did I wear as a Chain of precious Stones and Diamonds about my neck and as Bracelets and Ornaments of a comely and delicate chaste Bride about my hands and loins and behold the Almighty Lord and King of Eternal Life that had so mightily preserved me in the shadow of his hand of Almightiness which stopt the mouths of devouring Lyons and chained and limited the ravening and devouring wild Beasts of the Forrest even he the King of
faithful Husband Friend and Brother begotten of my Eternal Father of the immortal Seed of the Covenant of Light Life and Blessednesse I have unity and fellowship with thee day and night to my great refreshment and continual comfort praises praises be given to our God for evermore who hath joined us together in that which neither Sea nor Land can separate or divide My dear heart my soul doth dearly salute thee with my dear and precious Children which are dear and precious in the Light of the Lord to thy endless joy and my everlasting comfort glory be to our Lord God eternally who hath called you with a holy Calling and hath caused his Beauty to shine upon you in this the day of his Power wherein he is making up of his Jewels and binding up of his faithful ones in the Bond of everlasting Love and Salvation among whom he hath numbred you of his own free Grace in which I beseech you dear hearts in the fear of the Lord to abide in your measures according to the manifestation of the Revelation of the Son of God in you keep a diligent watch over every thought word and action and let your minds be staid continually in the Light where you will find out the snares and baits of Satan and be preserved out of his Traps Nets and Pits that you may not be captivated by him at his will Oh my dear Husband and Children how often have I poured out my soul to our everlasting Father for you with Rivers of tears night and day that you might be kept pure and single in the sight of our God improving your Talents as wise Virgins having Oyl in your Vessels and your Lamps burning and cloathed with the long white Robes of Righteousness ready to enter the Bed-Chamber and to sup with the Lamb and to feed at the Feast of fat things where your souls may be nourished refreshed comforted and satisfied never to hunger again My dear hearts you do not want teaching you are in a Land of Blessedness which floweth with Milk and Honey among the faithful Stewards whose mouths are opened wide in righteousness to declare the Eternal Mysteries of the everlasting Kingdom of the endless joys and eternal glory whereinto all the willing and obedient shall enter and be blessed for ever My dear hearts the promises of the Lord are large and are all Yea and Amen to those that fear his Name he will comfort the Mourners in Sion and will cause the heavy-hearted in Jerusalem to rejoice because of the glad tydings they that do bear the Cross with patience shall wear the Crown with joy for it is through the long suffering and patient waitings the Crown of Life and Immortality comes to be obtained the Lord hath exercised my patience and tryed me to the uttermost to his praise and my eternal comfort who hath not been wanting to us in any thing in his own due time We are Witnesses he can provide a Table in the Wilderness both spiritual and temporal Oh the endless love of our God who is an everlasting Fountain of all living refreshment whose Chrystal streams never cease running to every thirsty soul that breatheth after the springs of Life and Salvation In our deepest affliction when I looked for every breath to be the last I could not wish I had not come over Seas because I knew it was my Eternal Father's Will to prove me with my dear and faithful Friend in all afflictions and miseries the Lord remembred mercy and did not leave nor forsake us nor suffer his faithfulness to fail us but caused the sweet drops of his mercy to distil upon us and the brightness of his glorious countenance to shine into our hearts and was never wanting to us in Revelations nor Visions Oh how may I do to set forth the fulness of God's Love to our souls No tongue can express it no heart can conceive it nor mind can comprehend it Oh the ravishments the raptures the glorious bright-shining countenance of our Lord God who is our fulness in emptiness ourstâ—ength in weakness our health in sickness our life in death our joy in sorrow our peace in disquietness our praise in heaviness our power in all needs or necessities He alone is a full God unto us and to all that can trust him he hath emptied us of our selves and hath unbottomed us of our selves and hath wholly built us upon the sure Foundation the Rock of Ages Christ Jesus the Light of the world where the swelling Seas nor raging foaming Waves nor stormy winds though they beat vehemently cannot be able to remove us Glory honor and praises is to our God for ever who out of his everlasting Treasures doth fill us with his Eternal Riches day by day he did nourish our souls with the choicest of his mercies and doth feed our bodies with his good Creatures and relieve all our necessities in a full measure praises praises be to him alone who is our everlasting portion our confidence and our rejoicing whom we serve acceptably with reverence and God-like fear for our God is a consuming fire Oh my dear Husband and precious Children you may feel the issues of Love and Life which stream forth as a River to every soul of you from a heart that is wholly joined to the Fountain my prayers are for you day and night without ceasing beseeching the Lord God of Power to pour down his tender mercies upon you and to keep you in his pure fear and to encrease your faith to confirm you in all righteousness and strengthen you in believing in the Name of the Lord God Almighty that you may be established as Mount Sion that can never be moved Keep your souls unspotted of the world and love one another with a pure heart fervently serve one another in love build up one another in the Eternal and bear one anothers burdens for the Seeds sake and so fulfil the Law of God This is the Word of the Lord unto you my dearly beloved Dear hearts I do commit you into the hands of the Almighty who dwelleth on high and to the Word of his Grace in you who is able to build you up to everlasting life and eternal salvation By me who am thy dear and precious Wife and Spouse in the Marriage of the Lamb in the bed unndefiled K. E. My dearly beloved Yoak-mate in the Work of our God doth dearly salute you Salute us dearly to our precious Friends in all places I do believe we shall see your faces again with joy Dearly salute us to T.H. R.S. and his sister S.B. and his daughter N.M. and his dear Wife with all the rest of our dear Friends in Bristol T.C. and his deart Wife and Daughter and all Friends in Bristol or else-where J.G. and his precious Wife Children and Servants with all Friends Our dear love to E.H. with her Husband and Children at Alderberry The original of this was written in the Inquisition in Malta in
that was dead and is alive and liveth for ever As they have done unto me so will they do unâ—o you if they have persecuted me they will also persecute you These are his faithful and true saying He that receiveth you receiveth me and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me mark that Verily verily I say unto you Whomsoever receiveth whom I shall send receiveth me and him that receiveth me receiveth him that seâ—â— me c. He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me And it 's to be understood that such like dealing J. S. and H. F. our Brethren found at Alexandria from whom they also were banished And on this wise being rejected despised banished out of Asia from Smyrna in about eight dayes we arrived at the Island Zant where my dear Brother and Companion in sufferings and not onely so but in the Kingdom and patience of Christ he was visited with sickness â—igh unto death but the Word and Commandment of the Lord ordered me to pass through part of Italy and my face was set towards Venice and we weighed the thing in the fear and counsel of the Lord and were both given up in one to travel yet it was so that the poor Lamb was not capable in body to travel with me by reason of weakness and he being fully perswaded and satisfied in his own mind that I was to pass onward in the tender Love of our God he did the more constrain me I finding some unwillingness to leave him in that condition which was not a little cross unto me But in the Heavenly Will and Peace of our God and joy of the Lord out of all visibly we parted asunder and it came to pass that he laid down his body there in about two days after There being a Ship of Venice ready I embarqued on the same and had a good passage through the Gulf of Venice After three Weeks were finished was I admitted together with the Ships company to receive Product or Admission to come into the City as their manner is and there I continued about eight days as a sign and wonder among many and gave somewhat of a sound of the Lord's Day in truth among them and from thence I travelled to Legorn and my face was as if it were set towards England I being alone as a Mourning-Dove in a desolate Wilderness Yet it came so to pass when I arrived at the same Port or City that the everlasting Love of my God did fill and overcome my heart and mine eye right dearly affected the same and verily the living Word and Commandment of my God sounded in mine ear and mine understanding was quickened in the Spirit of Life from God so that I was made willing and not to rebel against the Heavenly Voice And what if I testifie that mine eye saw the Angel of his presence which was expresly for me to give up and pass away from thence to visit his long suffering Seed of Innocency shut up in the Inquisition in the Isle of Malta under the Pope's Authority and to communicate to their necessities and verily the sweet promise of the Lord entered and possessed my heart and my God made my way prosperous for in the Light of his countenance he had often set these poor afflicted long-suffering innocents before my face Wherefore my body and mind was freely offered up as my reasonable service to serve his Truth and the least Member of it and so to the death of the Cross whereto I became obedient in uprightness of heart as if I should never see Kindred or Native Countrey more A Vessel of France being ready to depart from thence Eastward I embarqued thereon for the Isle of Cicilia to Musena and from thence to the Isle of Malta in a Vessel of the said Island and in my passage the Vessel did bear in to Syracuse where Paul abode three days in his passage to Rome after he had suffered abode three days in his passage to Rome after he had suffered shipwrack on Malta and at Syracuse I abode five days where I gave a sound of the Lord's Truth and Life And so we immediately sailed from thence and within 24. hours we arrived at the Island of Malta and within some hours after I came upon the said Island I had admittance to the Pope's Lord Inquisitor to whom I delivered my Message in the Italian Tongue on this wise I am come to demand the just Liberty of my innocent Friends the two English women in prison in the Inquisition And he asked if I were related to them as a Husband or Kinsman and whether I came out of England on purpose with that Message And I answered I came from Legorn for that same end and he replied at last They should abide in Prison till they dye except some English Merchants or others that were able would engage or give obligation for the value of three or four thousand dollers conditionally that they should never return again into those parts On this wise was his reply divers times with the Consul and many others together and asunder but in the Name and fear of the Lord God I withstood the same unchristian-like demand and cruelty in the Word Power and Travel of the Lord in his innocent suffering Lamb behalf albeit they daily threatned me with their cruelty and Inquisition of darkness and followed me to and fro with their Officer and Black-Rod and the Popes Deputy would have bound me that I should neither speak good nor evil to any one while I was on the Island as the Consul said save to him neither to come to the Prison alone except the Consul came also with me or some of his Family at least But their snares Bonds and Covenants in the Name of my God I defied because the Spirit of Life from the Lord gave me Dominion through sufferings in Spirit First over their unjust dark Impositions yea and in the same good authority in the innocency and uprightness of my heart I travelled through and over the darkness over its works and ceased not to publish the end of my coming which they would not have known abroad the sound of Truth and its dread and same struck terror in their hearts that both high and wise great men together with the Popish Priests and Jesuits knights them called of the Nobility of the Pope's Dominion of Spain and France and of many Nations they did not burthen themselves a little with my bodily presence my clear testimony and Friends in general all which they defied and withstood as it doth appear by the words of Truth in this Treatise And thus it comes to pass among the Nations because we are not of this world as our Life and Testimony also is not for but against the same therefore we marvel not if the world hate us knowing its birth which is from beneath earthly and sensual persecuteth that which is from above heavenly and