spirit of persecution in whomsoever it appears to which spirit we exhort all men that love their Soules to beware of joyning and so in love to all People we rest by Faith chusing rather to suffer affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a Season John Whitehead Marmaduke Storre William Padley Gregory Milner Thomas Leemin Written in York-shire the 23d day of the 3d. Month. 1660. A Call from Death to Life and out of the dark wayes and worships of the World where the Seed is held in bondage under the Merchants of Babylon M. S. OH you my dear Neighbours and People in the Town of Shipton and Wighton and elsewhere where this may come who have been spending long your mony for that which is not bread and your labour for that which doth not satisfie as I have done Oh come buy wine and milk without mony and without price while it is held forth to you least the day come that you be deprived of it for long hath the Spirit of the Lord been striving with you as it did with me but you have resisted it time after time because it testified against you when you went on in sin and reproved in secret for the evil of your doings therefore you do not regard it but flies from it So in bowels of tender love to you all do I speak and in love and pity to your souls prize the love of God and his tender mercy and forbearance to you that he did not cut you off in the height of your iniquity but hath spared you until this day though you have long taken pleasure in sin not regarding God that made you yet hath his Spirit been striving with you many dayes years as it did with me and hath reproved you time after time for the evil of your doings but you regarded it not though it often called upon you in love meekness to depart from your iniquity and that which you have been addicted to it hath reproved and called you that have been addicted to drunkenness lying and swearing to depart from these things for they are evil and it hath called upon you that are proud and covetous to depart from them and hath reproved you that have been wild and wanton and given to sports and pleasures to depart from them and run on no longer in vanity but you did not regard it but took pleasure in sin Oh consider dear Neighbors and People what you have been doing ever since you came to years of maturity and let the witnesse of God which is faithful and true in you all arise and answer to which I speak and it will let you see that you have provoked the Lord and vexed his righteous soul from day to day and have pressed him with your sins and iniquities as a cart is pressed with sheaves yet hath he born it with patience and hath suffered long not willing that you should perish and dye in your sins but still he hath waited year after year upon you to be gracious to you but you have refused to return and hearken to his Call and Counsel but have run on in the broad way as your Forefathers have done so do ye and follow their Customs and Traditions which are vain and will not profit you at all in the day of the Lord when he comes to call you to an account how you have spent your time so consider and lay it to heart before the evil day come upon you least the Spirit of the Lord cease striving with you for verily the day is coming on apace that the Spirit of the Lord will cease striving with man who puts the Day of God far from him then it will be said He that is Righteous let him be Righteous still and he that is filthy let him be filthy still So dear Friends and People young and old prize your time while you have it and do not slight the Counsel of the Lord any longer least the day of your visitation passe over your heads at unawares which cannot be called again and as I said before Spend your mony no longer for that which is not bread in following Diviners of lyes for they cause you to erre and go astray by their lyes and by their lightnesse like sheep without a shepherd for they are blind Watchmen which leads you out of the way like troops of Robbers to devour you Hos. ch. 6. v. 9 and makes merchandize of your souls as they did upon me and thousands besides which the Lord hath delivered as birds out of the Fowlers net so being escaped from them we see their deceit and subtle hypocrisie which long hath lodged in them and therefore we cannot but declare against them because they are seen to be such as devour widows houses for dishonest gain and makes a prey upon you as they have done upon us for they seek their gain from their quarter and feeds themselves with the fat and clothes themselves with the best of the wooll as the false prophets did of old which the true Prophets declared against and with the same light that the true Prophets saw the false prophets of old do we see these Priests in this generation for their fruits makes them manifest what trees they are For they sue men at the Law for Tithes and take them by force false Prophet like and who cannot put into their mouths for conscience sake they prepare War against them and with cruelty oppression cause their goods to be taken from them to satisfie their wits and greedy desires so they make themselves manifest to be of that generation and to walk in their steps that the true Prophet spake of who were greedy dumb doggs that can never have enough as thousands do witnesse at this day and you may see it to be so with the Priests of this generation for in Balaams steps they are walking who loved the wages of unrighteousnesse as they do in this generation but they exceed him in cruelty for though he loved it he did not sue for it but these Priests do in this generation of which I am a witnesse and thousands besides who have suffered by them to the spoiling of their goods and estates Oh it is seen it is seen in this our day that the filthy and abominable thing is committed in the land as it was of old the Prophets prophecy falsely and the Priests bear Rule by their means and the people love to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof saith the Lord Almighty for they have dawbed you up with untempered morter and are Physicians of no value to you for they have long been sowing pillows under your arm-holes and have spoken smooth things to you in healing that in you which is for destruction and seeks to kill that which should live that so they might rule over you as Kings in the Earth and you to worship the Beast and his Image who is making war with
do his work and service for it was pleasing to them thus hath the Devils work been done for a long time together and the Lords work neglected which should have been done Thus have men and women been growing as trees of unrighteousnesse bringing forth fruit to the unrighteous one the prince of darknesse which hath long reâ—gned and had possession in the heart of man So all dear people consider well of your conditions that you may see what Trees you are and to whom you bring forth fruit and this concerns you all to know from the least of you to the greatest for the Lord is no respecter of persons but in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh Righteousnesse is accepted of him who is our hiding Place and Rock of sure defence for us to flie unto where we are kept safe in the hollow of his hand So dear neighbours and People consider that you have long been labouring for the meat that must perish come to an end now it stands you all in hand to seek after the living Bread and hidden Manna that comes down from above and is given to feed the Hungry and strengthen the feeble minded and verily it is so in love and plainnesse to you do I speak that you who can live without this living Bread your Souls lies in Death still and the witnesse lies slain in Sodom and Egypt in you and the Seed lies covered under the Clods of the Earth in you and unlesse it arise and live in you you cannot be saved nor enter into the land of Rest which is prepared for the Faithful who are regenerate and born again of the Holy Seed which shall inherit the blessing the Son of God which is Heire of the Promise and in him is our life hid with God from the vulturous eye and venemous Beast and from the Lord are we refreshed day by day So dear People let the witnesse of God arise and be awakened in you all that the seed may come forth from under the Clods of your hard and stony hearts that so the prisoner may be set at liberty which long hath been oppressed and for the sake of it in you am I constrained to write unto you not knowing whether I may see your faces in the flesh any more yea or nay Oh! that you would lay these things to heart which I in love have written to you not knowing how soon your breath may be stopt and your life taken from you and as Death leaves you so must you appear before the Lord and be judged according to your doings So dear hearts do not sleight the day of your visitation nor the tenders of Gods love which is yet held forth to you least you be taken away in your sins and die in your iniquities and then I know your portion will be sad Therefore do I warn you in Bowels of tender love and in pity to the Captive in you that you run no longer in your former vanities in spending your time out of the fear of God for all they that live out of the fear of God do not feel his presence nor enjoy his blessing So all hearken to the Counsel of God and be attentive to his Voice and lend your ear to his Call while he is knocking at the door of your hearts Oh! do not resist him but let him in that he may take possession whose right it is for verily if you resist him when he calls upon you and will not lend your ears to his Counsel nor give ear to his Words a day of trouble and perplexity of Spirit will assuredly come upon you then will you call upon the Lord but he will not hear you but will hide his face from you even so will it be with you at that day because the Lord called and you would not hear him so when you call upon him he wil not hear you And this from the Lord God I declare unto you that if you perish your destruction is of your selves and the Lord will be cleare of your blood in the day of your account So dear people let the patience and forbearance of our God towards you lead you to repentance now no longer go on in sin against that of God in your Consciences but all stoop down to the witnesse of God in you that the Seed may arise to live in you for the blessing is upon England for the Seeds sake which God hath raised and it is growing and the vertue of it is spreading over the Nations and the Kingdom of Christ begins to flourish in the Earth but this I say unto you that unlesse you feel the Seed of God to arise and live in you you cannot inherit the blessing for the blessing is to the Seed the Plant of Gods Renown which he hath regard unto for it is of his Nature and Image and proceeds from him who is meek and lowly and easie to be entreated by the upright for his ear is open to their cry who hungers and thirsts after his presence to refresh their Souls So dear people lie no longer in Death but come out of the Grave of Carnal security wherein you lie that your Souls may live then will you prize with me the love and presence of the Lord above all things But unlesse that be restored to life in you which lies in Death you cannot prize the love of God for you do not feel his presence and this you know by experience that a dead Child is not sencsible of want neither doth it hunger after the breast but a living Child that is born into the World is soon sencible of want and in it is a hunger raised after the milk which comes from the breast to refresh it withal for it cannot live without it or some other food like unto it and this is a true figure to you and all and thorow it you may read your selves and how your conditions are every one in particular that so you may no longer be deceived nor rest in a false hope which will faile you and even so it is with you all who never found a true hunger raised after the Lord and after his Presence to refresh your Souls but you who can live content and rest satisfied without nourishment from him you are as a dead Child which feels no hunger nor want and this is the truth to you all the Lord revive your sences and quicken your understandings that you may be sencible how your conditions are which is the desire of my Soul that so you may not perish in your gain-sayings and for this very end is this written to you as I was moved of the Lord in bowels of compassion to you knowing that you are where I once was in the perishing state like the Prodigal from the Fathers House in the far Country feeding upon the husks with the swine and this was my state and condition for many years but in the time appointed the Lord looked upon me with
Marmaduke Stephenson again to Prison and wrote an order to the Iaylor to dischaâ—ge the Prison of them forthwith The Iaylor when he had taken W. Rs. great Coat from him turned them out of the Prison and after some stay in the Town according to their freedom past abroad into the Countrey within their Iurisdiction entering into great service and sounding thorow a dark cloudy Countrey which had not been broken thorow before wherein was found honest desires and divers were convinced the Power of the Lord accompanied them and with astonishment confounded their enemies before them great was their service abroad in that Iurisdiction for 4. weeks and upwards and having acquitted themselves like men upon the 13th day of the 8th moneth they returned again to Boston with six friends that did accompany them and one friend that went out of this Government and met them near Boston where they were all apprehended and had before the Governour and some of the Counsel The seven friends were all committed to prison and M. S. and W. R. were delivered to the custody of the Goalour to be kept in Chaines in a room by themselves the which was done they were shut up in a room by themselves and chaines laid upon their right legs the next week their general Court began before which they were had and sentenced to die and so returned to prison again upon the 27th day of the same month was the day appointed that they were to be executed the night before they had notice given of it then the latter part of the 27th day being the 5th day of the week after their lecture so called W. R. and M. S. were had forth of the Prison into the open street where was one James Oliver who was made Câ—tain over a band of armed men by information 2. hundred which were prepared to guard them to and at the place of execution with Drumâ— Colours and Halberds Guns Swords Picks and half-picks 〈…〉 others on Horseback to keep off the multitude of 〈…〉 〈◊〉 dear Lambs near the hinder part and the chief Marshal and the Drummer next before them the command being given to march to the place of execution W. R. spake these words saying this is your hour and the power of darknesse then the Drummer beat up his drum and after a little space ceased again Then M. Sephenson spake saying this is the day of your visitation wherein the Lord hath visited you other words past which were not clearly heard by reason of the sound of the Drum So they walked along in pure retired chearfulnesse to the place of execution triumphing in the strength of the Lamb over all the wrath of man and fury of the beast in the pure retired Heavenly dominion of the invisible God And when they were come to the Ladders foot they took their leave each of other and W. R. stept up the Ladder and spake to the People saying this is the day of your visitation wherein the Lord hath visited you this is the day the Lord is arisen in his mighty Power to be avenged on all his adversaries and the rope being about his neck as he spake the executioner bound his legs and hands and his neck cloth being tyed about his face he said now ye are made manifest so the executioner being about to turn him off the Ladder he uttered this expression saying I suffer for Christ in whom I live and for whom I die So he being turned off M. S. went up and spake to the People saying be it known unto all this day that we suffer not as evil doers but for Conscience sake then be being bound according to the former manner as the Executioner was about to turn him off the Ladder he uttered these words saying this day shall we be at rest with the Lord Thus the Faithful witnesses sealed their Testimony for the Lord against the Dragons power and blessedly departed with praises in their mouthes entering joyfully with their beloved into Everlasting Rest. Peter Pearson Written in Plimmoth Prison in New England the 6th of the 10th moneth 1659. MAry Dyer an Inhabitant in some part of that Countrey was likwise sentenced to die when these two friends were only for coming a second time to Boston to visit her imprisoned Brethren there and was carried with them to the place of Execution and after they two was executed she stept up the Ladder and had her Coats tied about her Feet and the Rope put about her neck with her 〈…〉 and as the Hangman was ready to turn her off they cryed out stop for she was reprieved and loosing her feet and bid her come down but she was not forward to comedown but stood still saying she was there willing to suffer as her Brethren did unlesse they would null their wicked Law she had no freedom to accept their reprief but they pulled her down and a day or two after carryed her out of Townby force And yet the Rulers of Boston had the impudence to affirm in their Apologie published to vindicate their barbarous proceedings against the Innocent that this Mary Dyer accepted her life promising or consenting that she would depart their Jurisdiction in few dayes and return no more thus do they make lies their refuge and add iniquity to sin THE END Here followeth a Copy of the Warrant to the Keeper of the Prison * You are by vertue hereof forthwith required to discharge the Prison of William Robinson Marmaduke Stevenson Mary Dyer and Nicholas Davis who were found by the Court and Jury by their own Confessions Words and Actions to be Quakers and had sentence pronounced against them to depart this Jurisdiction on pain of Death and that if after the 14th of this Instant September they or any of them be found within this Jurisdiction or any part thereof at their peril Dated at Boston the 12th of September 59 by Edward Rawson Secretary
A CALL FROM Death to Life AND Out of the Dark wayes and Worships of the World where the Seed is held in Bondage under the Merchants of Babylon Written by Marmaduke Stephenson Who together with another dear Servant of the Lord called William Robinson hath since the Writing hereof suffered Death for bearing Witnesse to the same Truth amongst the Professors of Bostons Jurisdiction in New England With a True Copy of Two Letters which they Writ to the Lords People a little before their Death And also the True Copy of a Letter as it came to our hands from a Friend in New England which gives a brief Relation of the manner of their Martyrdom with some of the Words which they exprest at the time of their suffering John 16.2 3. They shall put you out of their Assemblies yea the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doth God service And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father nor Me saith Christ London Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Sign of the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1660. To the READER But especially to you that are Professors one in Doctrine and discipline with the professors in New England do we write these things that the witnesse of God may arise in you to judge between the Lords people called Quakers and your Brethren the Professors in New England whether they have not forgotten God and his goodnesse towards them and lost their first love which was stirring in them when they were little amongst the Families of the Earth and whether they are not Children of the Whorish woman that is called the Mother of Harlots that hath sitten upon many waters and deceived the Nations with the wine of the Wrath of her fornications which she offers in her golden Cup till the Earth is corrupted with violence and she made drunk with the Blood of the Saints Seeing they are so far Adulterated from God and Christ as that in their skirts is also found the Blood of the Saints Martyrs of Jesus Oh! how are they fallen that once seemed so tender in Conscience as that they would rather leave their native Countrey then practice things contrary to their Conscience and who would have believed that they which once fled for fear of sufferings would have caused others to suffer under their own hands which are now become wicked hands For they have taken two of Gods dear Servants and hanged them on a Tree for no matter of Fact committed by them against any Law which is Iust but because they were found by their words and actions to be Quakers and did contrary to the sentence of banishment which upon pain of death the Court passed upon them * return into their Iurisdiction as they were required of God to bear witnesse unto the Truth in which there is power to set free and for the Testimony thereof and that they might hold forth the good will of God in love to their Enemies and that they might be clear from the blood of all men in giving them warning to repent and walk in the Light of the Lord their lives were not dear to them they being nothing terrified by their adversaries which to them is an evident token of perdition but to the patient sufferers of Salvation and that of God with whom they have now a reward in the endlesse life So that in them is fulfilled the words of Christ he that will loose his life for my Sake shall find it but we do clearly see in the Light of the Lord that he that seeks to save his own life will kill the Iust and therefore we marvel not at what the professors in New England that fled to save themselves have done Knowing that they which are born after the flesh will persecute him that is born after the Spirit but we do even pity to see such as do professe Scriptures have their eyes so shut and their hearts so grosse as to think they do God good service when they not onely cast out of their Synagogues but out of their Countrey and do Imprison Scourge cut off Ears and kill those that come to them in the Name and fear of the Lord and do tremble at Gods Word working out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling and here we do appeal to the witnesse of God in you all Professors and People whether the Professors in New England have not acted quite contrary to God in Imprisoning Scourging Banishing and Killing those that tremble at his Word seeing God hath said to this man will I look that is of a broken and contrite heart and trembleth at my Word but to such the Professing Rulers in New England will not look neither suffer them to have a being amongst them And again we say let the witnesse of God in you judge whether they have not acted directly contrary to Christ in destroying mens lives seeing he comes not destroy mens lives but to save mens lives and whether they be not quite out of his Doctrine and Royal Law which saith what ever ye would that men should do unto you do you even so unto them And we do likewise appeale unto the witnesse of God in all sober people whether the Pastours and Teachers of the People in New England that stir up and encourage their flocks to persecute to death Gods Servants be not become bruitish and contrary to the Ministers of Christ and their flocks contrary to the Primitive Christians seeing the Ministers of Christ were gentle towards all men and did not strive nor warr with Carnal Weapons but did meekly instruct them that did oppose themselves that with sound Doctrine they might convince their Adversaries and they both loved and taught the believers that followed them to love their Enemies and not kill them as they have killed those that they account their Enemies for which they have no cause unlâ—sse it be for speaking the Truth And again whether these Teachers and Professors and all that justifie their proceedings against the Lords Servants be not of that Generation that killed the Prophets and shamefully entreated those that were sent unto them which called the Master of the house Beelzebub and killed the Prince of Life seeing they do the same things to them of his Houshold And Reader That it may appear that these two which the Professors of New England have taken and by wicked hands put to death were the Servants of Christ Iesus and of the Houshold of God we do here present to thy view these things following which were writ by their own hands and sent unto us not long before their death Together with a Letter which was Writ from Plymouth in New England by Peter Pearson relating the manner of their death with some of their words which they did expresse a little before their Martyrdom all which we desire may be seriously weighed and laid to heart that the witnesse of God may rise in Iudgement against the
the Lamb but the day of their downfal is at hand and the Lamb shall have the victory and Rule and Reign in his People for ever and ever for now he is arisen in the Power of his Spirit with great Dominion and Authority to slay the wicked and cut down his enemies that resist him in his way And they that will not have him to Reign over them must fall before him who is our Head who will render vengeance in flames of fire upon all his enemies So dear People be awakened and stand up to Judgement and live no longer in carelesnesse and Carnal security but own the Light of Christ to be your guide for a measure of it is given to every one of you to profit withall and it is nigh you in your hearts and in your mouths the word of Faith which is able to save your Souls so all to it take heed that by it you may be quickened and revived again out of your fallen estate wherein you lie by reason of your transgressions which have made a separation between you and your Maker and verily I say unto you except ye be regenerate and born again you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God So dear People young and Old I speak to you all as one consider how you have spent your time and let a true search passe through you all that you may see whom you have been serving all your time for Servants you are to whom you do obey So dear People be not deceived for God will not be mocked such as you sow such you must reap from the hand of the Lord and receive according to your deeds whether they be good or evil who will give a reward to every man according as his works shall be for he is a God that will not wink at wickedness nor let the transgressor go unpunished to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confesse him Lord who created Heaven and Earth whom we serve and Worship who is our Lord and King and Captain of our Salvation Our Leader and Guider and our Preserver night and day our Mighty and Strong One the Mighty God of Israel is his Name the wonderful Counsellor and Prince of our Peace whose presence is with us to the confounding of our Enemies that rise up in opposition against us for he goes before us who is our Life to tread down our Enemies under his feet who is terrible to the wicked and all that forgets him must be turned into Hell where the worm dies not and the fire never goes out the swearer and the lyar must go thither that is their portion the Drunkard and the Whore-monger must go thither the proud and Covetous cannot escape the damnation of Hell and all they that lives Dives like must pertake of Dives torment which is coming upon them from which they cannot escape nor flie from and all such must go into the lake with the Beast and the false Prophet which have long born rule by their means in England and in the Nations abroad for they have devoured my Flock and the Sheep of my pasture saith the Lord Almighty who will be avenged on them for the wounded they have not healed nor comforted those who were sick neither have they brought back again that which was driven away but with force and cruelty have they ruled but the Lord God is now come in his Mighty Power to take their power from them and deliver his People out of their hands which have long been made a prey upon by them and reward them double for their doings So you my dear neighbours do not uphold them any longer in their sin in satisfying their greedy desires least you pertake with them of their plagues and of the wrath of God that is coming upon them from which they cannot escape for they have grieved the Spirit of the Lord from day to day to see what havock they have made in the Nation of England by spoyling and causing spoyl to be made of Peoples Goods and Estates Oh! their sin is great and grievous to be born and the cry of their oppression and their iniquity is entered into the eares of the Lord that he is even grieved and sore vexed at them for they have trampled upon his witnesse in them and have pressed him with their sin as a Cart is pressed with sheaves so that he can bear no longer with them because their iniquity doth abound Oh! search the Scriptures and see if they do not go beyond and exceed the falâ—e Prophets of old in deceit and subtile hypocrisie Oh! they might even blush for shame to consider what they have done and caused to be done which will fall sad and heavy upon them when the Lord calls them to an account and requires his flock at their hands then shall they roar and weep bitterly and wish they had never been Born when Calamity Anguish of Spirit overtakes them which they will certainly meet withal for the Lord hath spoken it who will perform his promise that the Beast and the false Prophet shall go into the Lake together and for ever be tormented with the Devil and his angels for thither must they go and all that joyns with them must partake of their punishment So dear Friends and People take heed what you do in joyning with such who leads you to destruction for in the broad way they are walking themselves and leads you after them into the Pit of Perdition where they must remain for ever for they will not enter into the Kingdom themselves nor suffer you if they can hinder And will not the Lord arise for the Redemption of his Seed Yea surely he is arisen already to shake the Nations that resist him and hath given the Power to his Son which shall rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron and they that will not bow to his Government must be destroyed and broken to pieces the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it So dear Friends and People young and old mind well what is written and ponder it in your hearts for in love to you all do I speak the Lord is my witnesse that this is not written in any prejudice of mind to any mans person neither in prejudice or envy against the Priests or the false prophets but against their evil actions which we see in them which we loath and detest for never did the true Prophets of the Lord seek their gain from their Quarter as these Priests now do in this generation nor ever did they sue men at law for Tithes as these Priests do now neither did they the Lord sent forth to declare his mind and will make bargains with people for so much a year or abide in one Town for many years together as these Priests do now nay they went from one place to another from City to City and from Country to Country in obedience to the Command of the Lord as Ieremiah and the rest of the
true Ministers did to whom the Word of the Lord came saying I have ordained thee a Prophet unto the Nations Mark not to a Town or a City to remain in for many years together but to the Nations and in obedience to the living God he testified against the World that their deeds were evil but they could not bear his words but said he was worthy to die and so the Priests and false Prophets joyned with the Princes and Rulers of the people and cast him into prison and into the dungeon where he did sink amongst the mire that was in it Read in his prophesie and you will find it so and this was that which the true Prophets and Ministers of Christ received from the World where they went stocking whipping and Imprisonments thus were they requited evil for good in all Ages for their love which they did bear to the souls of the Sons of men and the same must we expect from this generation wherein we live we whom the Lord hath called to place his Name in and hath sent us forth in this day of his love to preach his Everlasting Gospel to them which dwell upon the earth in love and pity to their souls but they regard it not though we go thousands of miles for the Seeds sake which lies in death yet the reward of our labour from them is prisons and whips to scourge us withal and knives prepared to cut off ears and Irons hot to burn in the hand thus are we requited evil for good for testifying against the World that their deeds are evil and therefore do they hate us as they did Christ and his Apostles and calls us Deceivers Fools and Hereticks Jesuites and the like because we speak the truth to them and cannot joyn with them in their abominations but stands as witnesses for the Lord God against them therefore do the Priests and Rulers joyn hand in hand together against us as they did against the true Prophets Christ and his Apostles as you may read in the Scriptures of Truth which bear Testimony to these things So dear Neighbours and People where this may come consider my end in writing this unto you the Lord is my witnesse that this is not written as to set up our selves and pull down others but it is written for your sakes that you might come so see the deceit of your own hearts which hath long lodged in you and also the deceit of the Priests in this generation that seek their gain from their quarter and keeps you captive in Babylon and Aegypt where our Lord is crucified as they did many of us in time past where we were bewitched by their sorceries and their smooth words in speaking peace to us wâ—en our soules lay in death unconverted in our fallen estates as they are at this day so they could not help us out of it being in it themselves Thus were we led by them in blindnesse for many years together ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth by them if the Lord had not looked upon us with an eye of pity we had surely perished under their Teaching because they are out of the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles who was sent to open blinde eyes and turn People from darknesse to the light of Christ in them and from the Power of Satan to God but these Priests labour in this generation to keep people in darknesse in blindnesse and in ignorance in Death in their unconverted estate that so they might not see their deceit as we do the Lord open your eyes that you may see how you have been led astray out of the true way which leads unto Eternal Life Oh! my love in tendernesse runs out to you all my dear neighbours and acquaintance in Bowels of compassion and pity to your Souls which lies in Death as mine hath done but the Lord in his Eternal love and pity to my Soul hath redeemed me from my fallen estate and raised my Soul from Death to Life and out of the Pit wherein it lay dead in trespasses and sins and seeing the Lord hath done this for me I cannot but declare it to the Sons of men and praise his Name in the Land of the living who hath done great things for me and when I consider and ponder it in my heart my Soul is ravished with his love and broken into teares to consider his kindnesse toward me who was by Nature a Child of wrath as well as otherâ— Oh! the consideration of his love hath constrained me to follow him and to give up all for his sake if it be for the laying down of my life for none are the Disciples of Christ but they that follow him in the Crosse and through sufferings and they that love any thing more then Him are not worthy of Him Now minde well and consider what I say the true unfeigned love to God doth not break the love from one another but it breakes the bands of wickednesse as Strife Debate Anger and Envie that have lodged in the mind one against another and when these things are destroyed in men and women then comes the love of God to abound in them and encrease one to another and this I witnesse and the Lord beareth me testimony to what I speak that my love is dearer and nearer to those in relation to me than ever it was before and I know some of them feels it so yea the Lord knows my heart whom I serve that I lie not but speak the truth to you all that so you might not stumble nor have any prejudice in your mindes against me without a cause who am a lover of all your Soules and for that cause is this written to you that you may know it is so for the Lord knows I do not forget you though I be thousands of miles from you because of the simplicity that was in some of you who were my neighbours and acquaintance for I am one who have obtained mercy from the Lord through judgement and great tribulation which all must passe through before they come into the Land of Canaan they must be regenerate and born again and know a dying to sin and that which they have delighted in before they witnesse a living to Righteousnesse the Old man must be put off with his deeds before the new man be put on Christ Jesus the Son of the living God who is the expresse Image of his Fathers Glory who is taking his People to himself out of the 〈◊〉 of the Beast and false Prophets who have long made a prey upon them but the day is come that they shall make no longer a prey upon them for the Lord hath said it that he will teach his People himself and under his Government shall they dwell safely from the devourer and venemous beasts which hath long had his seat in the Earth amongst the Sons of men and by him they have been led Captive at his will to
often break me in pieces and often melt me into tears when he rises in his strength within me Oh! I am overwhelmed with it Oh! feel my dear heart how strong and mighty the Lord God is with me Oh! though thousands of the Philistins doth compass me round yet surely the God who is with me will work by me for truely I see them all before me as a Potters vessel which the Lord God will with his hand dash in pieces dear heart I am present with thee in the spirit and heavenly life and if the Lord permit we shall behold one another in the outward man to the comfort and joy of the spirit my dearly beloved on next fifth day we intend if the Lord will to come to Boston with several Friends with us which was so done Thy dear Brother in the Heavenly life and Spirit of Truth W. R. This was written by William Robinson to the Court of Boston ON the 8th day of the 4th Month 1659. in the after part of the day in travelling betwixt Newport on Rhode Island and Daniel Goulds house with my dear Brother Christopher Holder the Word of the Lord came expresly to me which did fill me immediately with life and power and heavenly love by which he constrained me and commanded me to pass to the Town of Boston my life to lay down in his Will for the accomplishing of his service that he had there to perform at the day appointed to which heavenly voice I presently yielded obedience not questioning the Lord how he would bring the thing to pass being I was a Child and obedience was demanded of me by the Lord who filled me with living strength and power from his Heavenly presence which at that time did mightily over-shadow me 〈◊〉 my life did say Amen to what the Lord required of me 〈…〉 commanded me to do and willingly was I given up from that time to this day the will of the Lord to do and perform whatever becomes of my body for the Lord hath said unto me My Soul shall rest in Eternal Peace and my life shall enter into rest for being obedient to the God of my life I being a Child and durst not question the Lord in the least but rather willing to lay down my life then to bring dishonour to the Lord and as the Lord made me willing dealing gently and kindly with me as a tender Father towards a faithful Child whom he dearly loves so the Lord did deal with me in Ministring of his life unto me which gave and gives me strength to perform what the Lord hath required of me and still as I did and do stand in need he ministred and ministreth more strength and vertue and heavenly power and wisdom whereby I was and am made strong in God not fearing what man shall be suffered to do unto me being filled with heavenly courage which is meekness and innocency for the cause is the Lords that we go in and the Battel is the Lords and thus saith the Lord of Hosts the mighty and terrible God not by strength nor by might nor by power of man but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts I will perform what my mouth hath spoken through my servants whom I have chosen mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth Friends the God of my life and the God of the whole earth did lay this thing upon me for which I now suffer bonds near to death he by his Almighty power and Everlasting love constrained me and laid this thing upon me and truly I could not deny the Lord much less resist the Holy One of Israel Therefore all who are ignorant of the motion of the Lord in the inward parts be not hasty in judging in this matter before you hear the truth of the matter least you speak evil of the things you know not for of a truth the Lord God of Heaven and Earth commanded me by his Spirit and spoke unto me by his Son whom he hath made Heir of all things and in his life I live and in it I shall depart this earthly Tabernacle if unmerciful men be suffered to take it from me and herein I rejoice that the Lord is with me the antient of dayes the life of the Suffering Seed for which I am freely given up and singly do stand in the Will of God for to me to live is Christ but to dye is gain And truly I have a great desire and will to dye herein knowing that the Lord is with me whatever ignorant men shall be able to say against me for the witness of the Spirit I have received and the presence of the Lord and his Heavenly life doth accompany me so that I can say in truth and from an upright heart Blessed be the Lord the God of my life who hath counted me worthy and called me hereunto to bear my Testimony against ungodly and unrighteous men who seek to take away the life of the righteous without a cause as the Rulers of the Mathathusets bay doth intend if the Lord stop them not from their intent Oh! hear ye Rulers and give ear and listen all ye that have any hand herein to put the innocent to death for in the Name and Fear and Dread of the Lord God I here declare the cause of my staying here amongst you and continuing in your jurisdiction after there was a sentence of banishment upon death as you said pronounced against me without a just cause as you all well know that we who were banished committed nothing worthy of banishment nor of any punishment much less banishment upon death And now ye Rulers you do intend to put me to death with my companion unto whom the Word of the Lord God came unto him saying Go to Boston with thy Brother William Robinson unto which Command he was obedient who had said unto him He had a great work for him to do which thing is now seen and the Lord is now a doing of it and it is in obedience to the Lord the God of the whole earth that we continued amongst you and that we came to the Town of Boston again in obedience to the Lord the Creator of Heaven and Earth in whose hand your breath is And will you put us to death for obeying the Lord the God of the whole earth Well if you do this act and put us to death know this and be it known unto you all ye Rulers and People of this Jurisdiction that whosoever hath a hand herein will be guilty of innocent blood and not onely upon your selves wâ—ll ye bring innocent blood but upon this Town and the Inhabitants thereof and every where within your Jurisdiction that had the least hand therein therefore be instructed ye Rulers of this land and take warning betimes and learn wisdom before it be hid from your eyes Written by one who feareth the Lord who is by ignorant people called a Quaker and unto such am only known by the name William Robinson
his hand where his Banner of love will be over us to compass us about where we shall have recourse to the living springs which comes from the pure fountain and well-spring of life which issues forth abundantly to refresh the hungry and strengthen the feeble minded where you may feel me my beloved ones in the green pastures among the lillies of the pleasant springs where our Souls are bathed and refreshed together with the overcoming of Gods love the vertue of his presence which is as pretious oyntment poured forth giving a pleasant smell So my dear Friends let us alwayes wait at the Altar of the Lord to see the Table spread that so we may sit down and eat together and be refreshed with the hidden Manna and living food of life which comes from him who is our life our peace our strength and our preserver night and day Oh! my beloved ones let us all go on in his strength who is our Prince and Saviour that his Image we may bear who is meek and lowly in heart and minde the true and sure foundation of many generations the chief Corner-stone elect and pretious the Rock of Ages on which the Saints were built and if we all abide thereon we shall never be moved but stand for ever as trees of Righteousness rooted and grounded in him who will be with us in all our Tryals and temptations which we may meet withal and here will the Lord our God be honoured by us all that are faithful unto death we shall assuredly have a Crown of life which will never be taken from us Oh! my beloved ones what shall I say unto you who drinks with me at the living Fountain where we are nourished and brought up as twines in the womb at the breasts of consolation where I do embrace you in the bond of peace which never will be broken Oh! feel me and read me in your hearts for I am filled with love when I think upon you and broken into tears for the remembrance of you who are faithful doth refresh my Soul which makes me often to think upon you and have you in remembrance you Iewels of my Father and first fruits of his encrease if I forget you then let the Lord forget me nay verily you cannot be forgotten by me so long as I abide in the vine I am a branch of the same nature with you which springs from the good Tree which the Lord hath blessed where we do grow together in his life and Image as members of his body where we shall live to all eternity and sit down in the Kingdom of rest and peace with Abraham Isaac and Jacob to sing the songs of deliverance to the most high that sits on the Throne who alone is worthy of all honour and living praises to whom it is due novv and for ever Amen And this vvill be the portion of our Cup if vve all stand stedfast to that vve have received and be faithful in our measures in doing the Will of God vve shall find peace and unity vvith the Lord vvhich is joy unspeakable and glorious vvhich vvill never be taken from us So dear hearts let us all press forvvard to the mark of the High Calling so shall vve obtain the Crovvn from him vvhere our lives are hid vvith Christ in God vvhere vve shall remain for ever vvith him after our Testimony is finished 〈◊〉 shall lay dovvn our heads vvith joy and peace and receive the reward of everlasting life vvhich is laid up for us in Christ Iesus Oh! my beloved ones vvho are of the Royal Seed vvhich the Lord hath blessed my life 〈◊〉 bound up vvith you in the Holy Covenant vvhere vve are linked together as in a Chain and moulded into one mould vvhere nothing must remain that is not good for it must be purged out that vvould defile that so so vve may appear like the fine Gold vvhich is tryed in the fire to shine forth in the Image of the Father as lights to the world and as Cities set on a Hill vvhich cannot be hid so vvill the Lord have praise to vvhom it is due by our upright vvalking and honest conversation so shall vve all be a svveet smell and a good savour in them that are saved and in them that perish Oh! my dear Friends and Brethren hovv doth my love abound tovvards you Oh! feel it and let it fill your hearts for verily you are dear to me the Lord knovvs it vvhom I 〈◊〉 that you are often in my remembrance though my body be far beyond the Seas separated from you yet doth my Soul and life remain vvith you in the Holy Covenant sealed by the Spirit of Promise vvhere vve shall remain together in rest and svveet peace for evermore after our Testimony is finished So all you vvho are upright in heart feel my love and receive my Salutation vvhich springs from the Fountain of love where I am vvith you as by the vvaters of Shilo vvhich runs softly vvhere we are watered and refreshed together day by day that so we grow as Plants of Righteousness in the true vine where we are reconciled to the Father and one to another in that which Sea and Land cannot separate where you may all feel me and read me in your hearts with that which was before words were and if I never see your faces more in the flesh the will of the Lord be done for verily my life is not dear to me to lay it down for his sake who hath called me out of darkness into his marvellous light and hath counted me worthy to bear witness of his truth amongst a blood-thirsty people whose hearts are removed far from the Lord that so I may finish my Testimony with joy as the rest of my Brethren have done which are gone before me for I am freely given up with my dear Brother called William Robinson whâ—se love is dear to you all to lay down our lives as a witness against this people for us to live is Christ but to dye is gain for we know that our reward is sure where we shall enjoy the pure presence of the living God and be in favour with him for evermore Oh! how doth my love abound and run out in tenderness to you all Oh! my tongue cannot express it nor my mouth utter it forth as it flowes out to you from the living streams which waters the whole City of God Oh! feel it and be refreshed M. S. This is a Copy of W. R. his Letter to the Lords People THe streames of my Fathers love runs daily through me from the Holy Fountain of Life to the Seed throughout the whole Creation I am overcome with love for it is my life and length of my dayes it s my glory and my daily strength I am swallowed up with love in love I live with it I am overcome and in it I dwell with the Holy Seed to which the blessing of love is given from God who is
yet a new name I have received which such knows not Written in the common Goal in Boston the 19th of the 8th month 1659. A Relation from the two innocent Servants of the Lord concerning the bloody Sentence of death passed on them by Iohn Indicott in the Court of Boston ON the 20th day of the 8th Month 1659. I with my beloved companion Marmaduke Stevenson and Mary Dyer of Rhode Island was had into the Court where John Indicott with others of his Councel were assembled and soon after we were come to the Bar before them John Indicott called to the Keeper of the Prison to pull off our Hats which was done accordingly when did John Indicott begin to speak unto us as a man out of the dust whose life is departing from him so faintly did he utter his words unto us to this effect That they had made several Laws and tryed and endeavoured by several wayes to keep us from among them and neither whipping nor imprisoning nor cutting off ears nor banishing upon pain of death would not keep us from amongst them and he said also He or they desired not the death of any of us yet notwithstanding his following words were Give ear hearken now to your Sentence of Death said John Indicott their Governour so after these words were spoken by him he stopt the words being uttered very faintly out of his mouth then I did make way to speak to John Indicott and the rest of the Court which was as I remember to this effect I desired I might read a Paper to them and the people there present which was many which was a Declaration of my Call wherein was declared the Reasons and Causes of my staying in their Iurisdiction with my Companion after banishment upon death which had been pronounced against us and two more friends the one of which is a sufferer now with us on the 8th day of the 7th month last at which words speaking John Indicott their Governour in a furious manner for rage and madness like Nebuchadnezzar was got up in him said I should not read it neither would they hear it read which thing onely at that time I desired before the sentence of death was pronounced against us yet he would not grant it so I seeing and being sensible of their hardness of heart that they are given up to work wickedness and commit murder in labouring to take the lives of the innocent from the earth I said unto them seeing that I could not be suffered to read it in the hearing of the people nor suffered to have it read unto the people that then was present I said I should leave the Paper with them which I did soon cast upon the Table amongst them and the Secretary or some other handed it to the Governour who read it himself but would not let it be read in the hearing of the people and when he had looked a certain time on it he called me by my name and said I needed not have made such ado or desired to have it read for he said I had spoke more then that unto them the day before concerning it which I had not for there is many words in the Paper which I did not then utter unto them so that I desired the thing again that all that was there present might bear it but he would not suffer it but soon after in envy called me by my name and said unto me Hearken unto your Sentence of death which be uttered forth to this effect in which time I was silent he said William Robinson This is your Sentence you shall be had back from the place from whence you came and from thence to the place of Execution to be hanged on the Gallows till you are dead this was the Sentence of death John Indicott their Governour pronounced against me and soon after called to the Goaler to have me away which he did accordingly WILLIAM ROBINSON SOon after my dear Brother W. R. was taken away out of the Court the Governour being partial spoke unto me saying If you have any thing to say you may speak but I was silent and gave him no answer then so that when he saw that I would not speak when he required of me then he pronounced the Sentence of death against me as he had upon my Brother before You shall be had to the place from whence you came and from thence to the Gallows and there to be hanged until you be dead then did these words following run through me Give ear ye Magistrates and all who are guilty for this the Lord hath said concerning you who will perform his promise upon you that the same day that you put his Servants to death shall the day of your visitation pass over your heads and you shall be cursed for evermore the mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it therefore in love to you all take warning before it be too late that so the curse might be removed for assuredly if you put us to death you will bring innocent blood upon your own heads and swift distruction will come upon you So after these words were spoken unto them I was had to Prison again where my Brother was MARMADUKE STEVENSON THE like Sentence did John Indicott their Governour pronounce against Mary Dyer after M.S. was had away Mary Dyer you shall go to the place from whence you came namely the Prison and from thence to the place of Execution and be hanged there till you are dead I said the Will of the Lord be done take her away Marshal I said yea and joyfully I go and in the way to the Prison often used such speeches with praises to the Lord for the same I said to the Marshal let me alone for I should go to Prison without him I believe you Mrs. Dyer said he but I must do what I am commanded MARY DYER This is a Copy of M. S. Letter to the Lords People OH my dear and well-beloved ones who are sealed with me in the holy Covenant of our Fathers love my love and life runs out to you all who are chosen of God and faithful for you are dear unto me the Lord knows it and are as seals upon my breast you lambs of my Fathers Fold and sheep of his Pasture the remembrance of you is pretious to me my dearly beloved ones who are of the Holy Seed and bears the right Image which springs from the true vine and off-spring of David and stock of Abraham the Father of the faithful and the redeemed ones who are reconciled to God and one to another in that which Sea and Land cannot separate where you may feel me knit and joined to you with the Spirit of Truth and linked to you as members of his body who is our Head and Rock of sure defence for us to flye unto where we are kept safe in the hour of temptation and in the day of Tryal shall we be preserved in the hollow of