us still We could not rest but we must rise till we did know his will If for our zeal you us condemn Samuel must stand our Friend To speak for us when that God will to Jesses house him send Who there for us will make excuse for this our Ignorance When he did judge God annointed with his outward eyes glance For the Lord said he should not look on outward countenance Nor on the height of the stature though it was Jesses Branch For by that way God doth not look neither by it doth chuse For what accords not with his heart that still he doth refuse Here Samuel took the first-born Son for Gods Annointed sure But Countenance nor Stature doth answer to God the pure So second third and all seven past before Samuel But no answer from God he had of them as he could tell So being at a stand he said are here all thy Children David unworthy counted was to be with his Brethren Yet by the Lord annointed is whatere of him is sed For Gods Spirit on him is pourd Sure mercies of David Thus you see all the seven Sons disowned by their Maker But this same last Sheep-keeping lad because he was a Quaker All here may see that God doth chuse the heart that is upright Which tremble doth at his own Word is pleasant in his sight So we can say in truth of heart when God did first us call And we ran in the several wayes yea some have run them all In something we did answer him that pleasd him we do know That he never left calling us till his Truth us did show So the Last way some did profess was no Form but Seeking By Babylons fall they all did cease but now is found the thing The MESSIAH that doth restore Israel that was lost The which hath suffered much Shipwrack is cast upon our coast So the sure Mercies we have found the Christ the first the last The Spirit of the Living God which was in Ages past Christ by the flesh was Davids Son he being his Off-spring But yet in Spirit was Davids Root for David calls him King Here answerd is the great Question that doth with Truth accord How Jesus Christ not only was Davids own Son but Lord This is the King that God hath set upon his holy Hill That shall the Pot-shards of Earth break that bow not to his Will God being a Spirit his Son is so and so of right is Lord. Who was and is and ever shall be King with one accord His Day Christ said Abram did see tho some him for 't did scorn The Everlasting Father was though Isays Child new-born This was the Scepter which was not from Israel to depart The inward Israel indeed who 're Circumcis'd in heart This Law giver 'tween Judas feet yea nearer in his womb Who never shall from his depart until that SHILO come This was the Spiritual meat and drink this was the store the stock Of Israel that followed them to drink t is Christ the Rock Yea this the Rock of Ages is it was and shall be so Generations Foundation no other shall they know So now that former fickle State in which we wore wavering Being wholly unsatisfied until we had our King But now our Lord and King is come and in our hearts doth raign And hath our Enemies Sin and Death in 〈…〉 eat measure slain So I again to you do say do not upbraid us more With such a fickle wavering state as you have done before When in dead Forms and outward Priests which perish with using We neither handle touch or taste with you any such thing Wherefore your outward visible Signs must all of them give place According to your Liturgy 't is inward spiritual Grace The which now in the heart doth raign of many in this Nation For outward Shaddows were but till the time of Reformation But now the good things they are come Christ Body is discern'd And Gods Kingdom of Righteousness of Joy and Peace is learn'd The which in Meats and Drinks doth not consist as many think For in this Kingdom we afresh with Christ this fruit do drink And therefore all your Washings then that divers were and many With all your worldly Elements that doth not perfect any For the Body Christ hath prepard to do thy will O God For that thy People willing be in this days Power O Lord. And now may'nt I say Glory to as well as Englands Form The Father Son and holy Ghost in it I see no harm And that in the beginning 't was I also say the same So it shall be world without end Praise to his Holy NAME His Name 's but one and yet to him there many Names are given According as he Ministers to us here under Heaven And here on Earth Three record bear tho Three in ONE agree And answer Heavens record to as Branches of ONE Tree Some more SCRUPLES clear'd NOW for the opening of the Truth which is our strength c stay In answering of Objections to this same some may say Object Oh! here 's a Table richly deckt Oh here are dishes store Oh! is all this but one Small Mite and from a Widow poor Though here are many good Dishes they have not the right place Nor in good Order Vsherd in oh this doth spoile the Grace For there are sometimes Dishes come the which should last be brought And this Course will not it admit of this some will find fault Though we confess the meat be good and on the Table store But Sauce here is not sutable to sight it is but poor Answ My Answer this noâ—… â—…nquet is for them full Stomack have But bitter things for hungry Soules which newly come from grave But yet in it ought sweetness find O this is all my aim To praise the goodness of our God for his Love in the same And seeing meat is on the Board if it be'nt rightly set Let others take the pains that can the Dishes places â—…it Now for my part when I did taste any dish that was good I presently brought him to board to others for their food If in Feasts they first best Wine bring and after that that 's worst Yet Christ when he makes Water Wine the last's as good as first So these Traditions we do not in our minds much admire So hungry Souls with Righthousness be fed is our desire Object Tautologies O some may say be here I do them find Which are Dishes of one like meat this doth not please the mind Answ My Answer is 't was meat I lov'd that I often did eat And so for 't should not be reprov'd for giving of my meat This way Prophets and Apostles did use with Line on Line Thus putting Saints in remembrance by stirring their pure mine And that 't was not grievous to them the same thing for to write Yea those things which they did believe and had thereof the sight Object But now again for to return and
THE POOR Widows Mite Cast into the LORD'S TREASURY Wherein are contained Some Reasons in the Justification of the Meetings of the People of God called QUAKERS with an Approbation of several Truths held by them and the ground of Dark Persecution Discussed Written by a Woman of the South who came from the ends of the Earth to hear the Wisdom of him that is greater than Solomon and doth a far off behold the happy Estate of his Friends and Servants who stand continually before him to hear and receive Wisdom from him who is the true Emanuel Now lest it should be counted a Libel or any should think we dare not own it in the World I have subscribed my Name A MITE if ALL is more than ALL Than they Abundance have That have not FAITH to give up ALL Their ALL will not them Save Printed for the use and benefit of such Bees as suck their Hony from the Flowers and Blossoms that God makes to spring that they may have to keep themselves alive in the dark stormy Winter 1671 THE Widows Suite TO Her FRIEND T. S. whom she desires to be IMPRIMATOR to her Small Mite My Friend THese Lines to thee are sent that thou mayst them review Because I know thou dost Believe and Seest in things are True So that if ought be Unsav'ry and thou dost know the Fault Thou having in thy House Seas'ning put thereto the Earths Salt Moreover I not willing am that Truth at all be Blam'd Nor would I do or give out ought that any should be sham'd Therefore unto the Sanctu'ry I do my Weights forth bring The Ballance thereof them to try this is the only thing To have all right and made good weight Infirmities to heal And what Weights equal are and just on them to strike the Seal Which when they have Truths Seal on them Oh! then none will question Let the Noble Bereans search they 'l find the Weights all one The Poor WIDOWS MITE Cast into the LORDS TREASURY Where in are contained in short some reasons in the Justification of the Meetings of the People of God called QUAKERS c. NO Prologue Preface Frontispice nor no Epistle have To Usher in this little Mite that long hath lain in Grave But now a Resurrection hath and from the Grave is come And in the Holy City walks though before deaf and dumbe Nor did it see at all for that in 's very Birth 't was blind Nor taste the goodness of his God nor could him feel or find Now Praises praises unto him that quickned hath dry Bones By breathing makes the sences live to Abraham's Seed of Stones This is the mighty Power of God on us that blind were born His giving forth his Light his Christ his Everlasting â—…orn His Gospel Grace and Righteousness his Joy his Peace his Strength His mighty Arm Salvation brings unto us now at length With Wisdom Truth and Holiness which is to Sanctifie And cleanse this little New-born Babe which long in sin did lye This is the true Emanuel that doth his People save From all the sins that they have done that kept their Souls in Gravâ—… This is the Spirit that quickens us this is the time of Love When in our Blood we wallowing were Oh then What did 〈…〉 Our Father could not seeing he by birth an Am'rite was Nor Mother either cause that she came of the Hittits These fleshly earthly Canaanites could not help in that day Of the Souls great calamity God only is its stay For Pitty pitty no Eye had on it for to help when It was cast out and loath'd of all Love to it God had then He then did purge and purifie that Birth that is his own The which is born of the Spirit by a new Name is known And He it is deliverance brings from Satans Power and Might And hath translated us into his Sons marvelous Light Whereby we wonder and admire his Mercies manifold And from his Truth cannot retire his Truth doth make us bold And valiant for it upon Earth for which we All have lost For in our Building we sate down and did cast up the Cost And by the same our Souls have gain'd let th' world go as it will Let Life or Death or Sufferings come so God be with us still This is the Test we have for God in this we all agree That of our selves no help we have All is of Grace and Free For Obligations we have none wherewith the Lord to tye But the Free Promises he makes on them we do relye So those that true experience have pray tell it to each other What for their Souls the Lord hath done be it Sister or Brother This is the Cause that we do Meet together it 's Gods due That we may serve and witness Him by his Word which is true For in the mouth of two or three when they witness Allone Gods Word it is established and Truth prevails upon The Hearts and Souls of them that hear both IN and OVT also Whereby they the same Spirit know that is in many MO. This was the Order Paul did give the Co-rin-thi-ans to That to one place the Church should come and this also should do The Prophet or to Prophesie to Judge the others were By the same Spirit which they spoke that to them Truths did clear And if amongst them there did come one that believed not Convicted then he is of all and Judgement is his Lot And thus the secrets of his heart all manifested be So falling down upon his Face then worship God will he And of a truth report that God it is that lives in you This way th'unlearned come to know the Way of God that 's true Here one by one may Prophesie that all may hear and learn And also may be comforted that to Gods Spirit turn We Members of each others are being Christs Body dear Which he hath purchas'd with his Blood and plac'd in us his Fear For we be they the which are built on the Foundation Of Prophets and Apostles to Jesus Christ's Corner-stone In whom also the Building is fitly fram'd together Grown unto an holy Temple from which God will not sever For being Built together are through the Almighty Spirit An Habitation of God the which he will Inherit And so the Head it cannot say to 'th Foot I need not thee Nor eke the Eye unto the Ear O be thou gone from me For that the Body is but One yet Members hath it Many Apeare there would Deformity if lack there were of Any This Body God hath temper'd so the Members each with other That all should have the self same care Vncomly parts to cover Not to Rejoyce at Nakedness as did that cursed Cham But as Japhet and blessed Shem going backwards cover'd shame So what is wanting in each one a supply others have To Minister unto each wants by it their Soules to save And this all is by the same Spirit diversities of Guifts With
Death This is no Outward visible Sign not signified so But separates man from his Lusts that always stood his foe Thus in his flesh Christ he took up the Comforts of Mans Life And laid them down at Gods own Will to reconcile the Strife For God it was that was in Christ the World to reconcile Now in his stead Embassadors hath sent to us the vile Though 't was not him did the Offence but was the Offended Yet his Embassadors pray us to be re-con-ci-led Here 's Grace indeed not only free but doth a begging come And Messengers t' intreat the World to accept this Ransome The which none could lay down for it but He of 's own accord Did purchas 't with his precious Blood and so of right is Lord. Yet doth not use Commanding Power but Love is his own way And those that will not this shall Rule as Enemies he will slay But this last Baptisme doth set the True Baptismes on The answer of a good Conscience by Christs Resurrection For as Christs flesh it suffered the same mind we must have No longer in our sins to live which to our Soul 's a Grave But now the Gospel it is preacht the dead sleeper's awake Yea he is come to Judgement to God Life to him doth make For that he would no longer have our Souls in Prison lye But by his quickning Spirit preach and free-ed us thereby Who sometime disobedient were yet God did suffer long Waiting as in the dayes of Noa who griev'd his Spirit strong And now unto the Will of God he doth subjection give No more unto the Gentiles Will resolveth he to live This is that Tabernacle which down nere shall any take Nor Cord thereof shall broken be removd shall be no Stake For here the Glorious Lord will be Rivers and Streams whereon No Gally nor no gallant Ship at all shall pass upon For that mens Tacklings loosed are their strength at Ours doth fall They cannot well strengthen their Mast or spread abroad their Sail For t is the Lord that is our King and our Lawgiver to How can we then lack any thing for ought he bids us do Oh this also is Wisdoms Gate Why he you then so mad If ever that your Souls be sav'd to 's Church God must you add Wisdom cryed hath without and uttered voice in street Yea in the Market place she calls where Pharisees do greet In the chief Places of Concorse the opening of the Gate Yea in their great Assemblies to where multitudes were sate How long ye simple ones will ye love your simplicity Turn ye unto this Church that ye may eat and live thereby And Scorners Why do ye delight in this your scorning Trade You being Fools Knowledge do hate t is sin thus hath you made At Gods reproof if now you 'l turn he 'll pour on you his Spirit His words unto you he 'll make known that you may Life inherit But this much know if you refuse and do not him regard But do his Councel set at nought with this he 'll you reward For mocking he will mock again at your Calamity And laugh when as your fear doth come it 's desolation nigh Then you may call but God will now to answer give at all Because you did not answer him when he to you did call For you none of his Counsel would Reproof's you did despite And would not choose the Fear of God but hated Knowledge wise Therefore the fruit of your own way is meat for you to eat Your own devices you shall fill who shut out Wisdom great In Vs the Time is come to pass last dayes pro-phe-si-ed That the Mountain of the Lords House should be established And on the Top exalted is above all barren Hills And many People to us flow thus God his House now fills And we his People bid you come to this the Lords Mountain It is the House of Jacobs God t is he o're it doth Raign Here he doth teach us his own Way the Pathes that we should walk From out of Sion flowes that Law whereof we joy to talk This is the Word which God the Lord sends from Jerusalem That doth among the Nations Judge rebuking much of them So that they have their Swords now beat into Plow shares we see And their Spears into Pruning-Hooks this LOVE makes all agree So Nation doth not lift up Sword for Esau doth embrace His Brother Jacob in his Armes this makes War cease 'T is Grace So we with Isay bid you come to this house with accord Desiring you to walk with us in the Light of the Lord. We are the City on a Hill there set that all may see Therefore alwayes in Cottages still this we cannot be For that we are not to be hid but set there to be shown And that through the Power of God to others should be known Which is the Light the Christ in us the Hope of Glory to And doth cast out the Reprobate this work he is to do The Blind make see and Deaf to hear tho Mountebancks do rage Leapers are cleans'd Dumb do speak this throws them off the stage And this also is freely to we witness it truly And if that we should hold our peace stones would against us cry For what are we more then wrought stone 't is God that doth us raise To he the seed of Abraham for to shew forth his Praise Tho in the Wilderness we 're squard and now appear but loose Yet being brought together all we do make God a House Whereby the Workemans Worke is seen for that he hath them tryed And made them like the Corner-stone to answer every side Yea Judgement to the Plumet hangs and Righteousness to 'th Line For to make all upright and true according to his mine These living stones together set may plainly see each other The Mighty workmanship of God in Sister and in Brother Yea t is the Standard of the Lord the Ensigne he hath ser For all Nations to flock unto tho Small things day is yet And though that we be Quakers call'd by most people in scorn Yet we the true Assembly be and Church of the First-born For in our heart God he doth dwell whose Spirit is a Sword Which was the cause that we were made to tremble at his Word And when the Lord with Odours sweet doth this his own House fill Oh then all others that pass by its sweetness favour will And if that any Lydia come that is to God so dear Whose heart the Lord hath o-pen-ed she 'll feed upon our chear For in these publick Mountains God to all will make his Feast And Messengers to 'th high way send for to invite his Guests These are the Feasts of Charity made by the God of Love On Heavenly Manna here we feed which comes from God above We being many are one Bread of which we partake all And when we 'r hungry doth us feed both now and ever shall This also
is Gods Candlestick in which his Candle 's set And lighteth those be in the House and is for others yet The Woman having lost her piece of silver sought with pain And when that she had found it out t' her Neighbours cryes amain Contented not within her self these favours up to frowl But she must tell to others to what is done for her Soul This was the Sheep that went astray into the Wilderness But the good Shepherd he is come and brought it to the rest Oh therefore Neighbours neighbours come let us rejoyce together And praises in his House let 's sing for ever and for ever This is the HIVE also to which the BEES do honey bring Which they do gather from God's Flowers there they together sing Which is to him a savory thing and pleasant to his Heart Because 't is what comes from himself in us he doth it dart This is the Sacrifice of god which in them doth arise Being from broken contrite hearts God will it not despise Hither the Virgins Wise also are altogether come Each having Oyl in his Vessel tho in their Lamps burns some These Lamps being altogether trim'd they do make a great Light Which is the brightness of Gods Love held forth to Peoples sight To this bright rising all must come which is as Heavens Gate And with Oyl in their Vessels wait lest they do come too late This is the place that is dreadful in which Gods presence is Were two or three together be to praise the Name that 's his This needs must be the House of God where Angels do descend And those that meet in Gods pure fear he doubtless will defend This is not any New thing now as if 't had never been But this hath been in in Ages past as plainly hath been seen This is the House that David lov'd even the dwelling place Wherein Gods honour still remains in hearts full fraught with Grace And David bud all here to come and that with one accord Who God did fear to them he 'll tell the goodness of the Lord. What for his Soul the Lord had done which he for him did save Which was the Branch of Jesse Stem and rais'd him from the Grave Because he would not suffer him being his holy One That ought to him belonging should ere see corruption Therefore for this doth Davids Preach and to the living tell In the great Congregation of Saints that do excel In whom was only his delight which faithful were and true And that in Virtue did excel whose hearts God had made New These are the Living Waters which are both the last and first Therefore must all that seek for Life come here to quench their thirst Without money and without price Come ye do buy and eat Both Wine and Milk Why do you spend money for that 's no meat And your Labour also for that which doth not satisfie For it is not the Bread of Life therefore you eat and dye But hark with diligence to God oat ye that which is good And let your Soul delight it self in fatness it s own food Incline your ear yea come and hear and then your Souls shall live The Covenant sure of Mercy pure of David he will give Our Meetings they do witness Him that must the People lead And he is our Commander to our Peace Light Life and Bread Thus being met in Gods pure fear we then the Cysterns are Which he of living water clear doth send to us from far And therefore from this evil to when that it doth appear All People we advise to come from Cysterns are not clear For these be such Men to themselves who have forsook the Lord Hewed the which no Water will of Life to them afford These Meetings also Malachy did speak of in his time Wherein they that did fear the Lord and were all of one mine Vnto each other oft did speak to which the the Lord gave ear And then a Book of remembrance he wrote as doth appear For that they are and shall be his for ever he 'll them spare As Man doth spare his serving Son for they are Jewels rare These Meetings then were also kept in such an evil time When none but th' wicked were set up for goodness was a crime The Proud were then the Happy oalld wicked workers set up Yet then Gods People they did Meet tho Sufferings were their Cup. Bethesdas Pool a figure was of this our Meeting Place Whereas both Lame and Blind must wait for Gods descending Grace And in much patience wait his Will till that the Angel move And the Waters with virtue fill to heal this is Gods Love And therefore be not too hasty but wait upon Gods leasure For all Infirmities he heals and therein taketh pleasure Samarias Mountain t is likewise wherein is Jacobs Well Which springs forth to 〈◊〉 Life of this many can tell Here is the true Ho-ly Water of Life both pure and clear This is not that the Pope doth make wherewith he men doth jear But this is that that God doth give whereof when men do drink Out of their Belly Rivers flow much more than they can think Here when Gods People they do Meet whose zeal is as a flame Which maketh oft their hearts to burn whâ—… declares his Fame Of which the Scripture it is full yet is a Book that 's seald Which neither learnt nor unlearned to any hath reveald For the Veil being or'e their heart when Moses he is read How then can they know Christs own day though it be prophesi'd Though precept upon precept be yet they are nere the near And Line upon line they see not being without Gods Fear Of this Isaiah did complain and grievd for in his time This was the cause of Ignorance and darkness of the mine A sinful Nation he them call'd a seed of evil-doers Who had the Lord forsaken and in corrupt wayes were goers So laden with iniquity those things they did not know Which daily unto them was read their Veil did blind them so For Rulers they of Sodom were which is the Earthly Power Inhabitants of Gomorrah which cloggs them every hour So all these wicked worldly things that are set in the heart Must all with Gods pure fire be burnt though man do feel the smart Yea be moved out of its place by Gods Almighty Power For this same power of God alone will all of it devour And this Word-fire the virtue hath not only for to burn But give Light Life yea Heat and Power to them that of it learn And therefore tho dark cold and dead without power or strength Yet come to this Light Living-Word 't will raise you all at length We therefore in our Meetings have known this Refiners fire Which is to take off all the dross from it do not retire For as in outward fire we see when coals abroad be spread The Light the Life and Heat goes out and all comes to be dead But when
ears have heard for with his hands Gods Word hath handled been Yea this is he can truly tell you things of admiration What for his Soul the Lord hath done in his Regeneration So he is gatherd up into the Cloud of Witnesses Which here alone did serve the Lord yea him did fear and please And these are they that do not preach at any time for Hire But having Gods Word in their heart cannot contain T is fire And if the Holy Ghost could not for money then he bought And Simon Magus was condemn'd for having such a thought What is the Ghost that is in men that money out do reach And what is that which it receives with condition to preach It seemeth then that they have not of God this self-same Gift Sith that they can contain themselves till we for money shift For them their lips can knowledge keep ther 's none that they wil cherish For if People no money have they all are like to perish For freely they receiv'd have not the Gospel they do preach And therefore freely can't it give so for rewards do Teach That these men truly you may know they tell you what was said By Prophets Christ and Apostels these are their only aid And thus like to the wandring Jews in their Names would cast out The unclean spirit that 's in men but it gives them the rout And so upon them it doth fall that they do quarter crave And do return and tell men that him out there 's none can have For that they know they Power have both in and or'e them to Though they use Paul and Jesus words for money this they do For Satans Kingdom 's not so weak he should himself out cast But this same preaching Pollicy makes it the longer last And so he sets them for to steal the Saints and Prophets Words And bids them hear the Word of God thus much he them affords But yet with this Proviso to That none the same can keep Or any now hath the same Spirit but that it still doth sleep And therefore must not now look for any such Miracle For the power and work is lost this is Satans Oracle For he hath now changed his Form to keep from Peoples sight Though he the Prince of darkness be yet seems Angel of Light These Priests and Curats that do take upon them Souls to cure Physitians are of no value that God's fire can't endure But here you see they have but what they from their Neighbours steal They having not set Seal to God he nought to them reveals And though they say Hear you Gods Word spoken to Jeremy Or unto some other Prophet yet in their mouth 's a lye And so tho they do say or swear that the Lord he doth 〈◊〉 Yea then they do false witness bear this Test they cannot give Whereas those that do dwell in God and He dwelleth in them The Prophets and Apostles know yea Davids 〈◊〉 and Stone Bâ—ing in the Path they walkt do see their foot-steps every one And know their Light and Lanthorn to which unto them hath shown And therefore can in truth repeat what they to all do tell That God also their Souls hath brought from the dark pit of Hell This Spirit it may Preach and Teach Gods wonders manifold The which can speak Gods Word in truth being right a Lyin bolâ— Here you may see we do not quench Gods Spirit he affords That in the least measure doth speak rejoyce we at those words Something about SILENCE Object BUT some do say We marvel much that you can sit Silent We do conceive it no profit nor are with it content For if that we should sit a while silent from hearing breath Our mind a wandring then would be up and down in the Earth And so contriving in our hearts what 's to be done we plot Till there be someting we know not that on our heart doth smote And if this earthly spirit act â—…n for which we feel this smart Some former evil we have done lyes gnawing of our heart So to this outward Ear we must have Objects that do sound That the inward Intelect may thereby be wholly drown'd For that which doth us thus reprove and on our hearts doth smite Doth silence make our burthen ' cause it brings that to our sight For this is that to us doth shew the evils we have done In silence we are made to know therefore we silence shun And so among the trees do run our selves there for to hide For this same small still Voice at all by no means we abide Answer All this we must confess also for we the same have felt Gods Loving-kindness we do know thus he with us have dealt For t is the Lord the which doth wound and he doth also heal 'T is he doth kill and make alive thus with us he doth deal All the Satanick thoughts which thus wandred within our hearts His Light and Power did reprove he cast at them his Darts For this is the true Prophet which Ahab cannot abide That Prophesies not well of him that from the Lord doth slide And this is the Prophet also that the Samarians knew Which told them all they ever did they said 'T was Christ the true Though he at that time was in Fesh when he their thoughts did show But now in Spirit again is come by these things we him know The Word which in beginning was made Fesh Christ yesterday The same is now and e're shall be true Soules Eternal stay And this is that must humble all it is Gods mighty hand Before that ye exalted be his Power must make you stand And therefore now to Silence come Chastisement do'nt refuse For 't is Gods Love unto you all his Sons hereby doth chuse And therefore now with David pray the Lord your hearts to search To find out all Iniquity and in his fire it parch Yea with thy Candle do thou Lord search thy Jerusalem Tha it thy Holy City may be when thou turn'st out them That have kept and defil'd thy House the Temple that is thine Which unto thee should holy be Destroy them all in time That are not Children of thy House but came in by the Fall This Heathen Babylonish brood dash them against the Wall This Enemy which in thy Field when men slept there did Sow His Legions of Tares O Lord let them thy fire know This Man of sin in thy Temple presumptuously doth sit Exalting of himself above all that is calld God yet And shewing of himself to be the God of all the Earth Giving forth Laws of sin and death to all that here have breath And by those Laws in Members war and doth us captive lead Therefore for us O mighty God our Cause now do thou plead For in Hea'n we have none but Thee nor in Earth do we seek For any other helper but Thou Lamb of God the Meek For this same mighty Man of sin sends Ministers to praech None can
be freed from sin or death this Doctrine they do preach Whereby we all our Life-time have been kept in misery They also boldly do affirm that Paul he then did lye When unto God he did give thanks which was his strength and stay For that he had deliverance through Jesus Christ the Way And though Paul in his Agony did ask the question so From this Body of sin and death Who shall deliver Who This question it was only writ ' cause he would answer make Who was the alone Deliverance and for whose onely sake For none such tender pitty had to the poor wretched man To bind his wounds and 's wants supply but th' good Samaritan Who poured oyl into his wounds set him on his own Beast And brought him unto Christs own Inne the place of all Souls Rest With Wounds bound up and Charges paid this Love the Lord doth send With Stock laid in for future time what the poor Soul should spend Now shall not Paul when he is cleans'd and other Leapers to Return and give to God the thanks to whom alone t is due With David also come and tell what for his soul is done And that no Condemnation is in Jesus Christ Gods Son For they now walk not after flesh another Law they have The which of Spirit is and Life that doth their poor Souls save And this doth also set them free from Flesh Law Sin and Death And makes dry Bones together come for God sends for his Breath Which is the Gospel-Power of God which those Ministers hide Whose minds the God of this World blinds lest he should be espide Thus they go forth and People tell from sin they can't be freed Whilst on this side the Grave we are So their Lord's Lord indeed So making void the mighty Power of the Emanuel Who came to save People from sin Lyes of him they do tell As if his Hand were shortned and weakned were his Power Or that the World the Divels were for to rule every hour Whereas all Power in Heaven and Earth unto the Son is given And he must surely Raign on Earth though's Enemies have striven Him to oppose yet if not here Oh where shall Gods Son Raign For all his Enemies Death and Hell shall every one be slain For he must Rule till these be brought under his feet then shall The Son his Kingdom re-assigne and God be all in all So stop your mouths you Messengers that are Satanical For the Lords Christ is come to Raign his Rule must be your Fall And all your mighty Captains to which are of his Empire For Dragon Beast False Prophet to shall be cast in the fire For the Lords Christ came to destroy all the works of the Devil That Righteousness E'relasting may be brought from all that 's evil And if he were not to destroy his works in this world wrought What other World doth he work in that any out have sought When he his Messengers and Works are all cast in the fire What Works can he or they then do that any can desire 'T is also in this wicked World Gods Grace Salvation brings Teaching us worldly Lusts to shun and each ungoly thing And in this present world to live godly and soberly And to relieve in Righteousness the fatherless thereby The Widow likewise to visit this is Religion pure From the Worlds spots thus to keep clear the Devil can't endure And if all this you can't believe take your own evidence Of your own Doctrine the result and Catachistick sence Whereby this Truth it is confirm'd ' gainst all to be the same Where Children they are taught to say what 's promis'd in their name That the Devil and AL his works they must and will forsake And AL the Pomps and Vanities of this world leave to take And AL the sinful Lusts also of the Flesh which do rise ALL these they must be now forsook that did their hearts surprize And these not only to be left but they Gods Word must keep And his holy Commandements all their Life not in sleep This Christian Article of Faith they must fully believe Though they themselves their works destroy yet this to learn they give Oh is no here Babel built now anon pull'd down again This is the Dialect they speal of Sounds this is the strain Object But some may say For all this yet Paul in his flesh did feel A Prick Buffeting of Satan and this God did not heal Answ All this is true in his Warfare Pricks in the flesh he may And Buffetings of Satan to who sought him to destroy For when that â—e a Souldier was of Satan on his side He then with might did Persecute Christians could not abide And like his Master went about roaring for to devour And Letters had from the High Priest to take all in his Power And said himself He was e'en mad ' gainst all on God did call He went from house to house and did them unto Prison hall Now all this time there was no cause Satan should buffet Saul Till that he had his Champion lost and was convert to Paul And now who otherwise can think but Paul bufft'ed must be by his old Master that he serv'd now they do not agree Moreover must not Paul now have the measure he hid give And now the Wheel's upon him turn'd till the Lord him relieve So this no evil was in Paul nor ought that was unjust Though to the Lord he three times sought ' cause he did on him trust This seeking to the Lord did shew who had the power and might And that himself was but weakness 't was God must for him fight The Answer was he should not Fear sufficient was his Grace Him to defend and Courage give his Enemies to face He now must be a Souldier for his new Master t is right Therefore with Pricks and Buffets to his old Master doth fight Against him in temptation in raising of his mind To glory in the things he saw to which before he 's blind But by the Shield of Faith he did defend himself from evil And quenched hath the fiery darts cast at him from the Devil And Gods Light Armour on he put with the Sword of the Spirit The Helmet of Salvation to all 's Free here is no Merit So with this Armour and Weapon Paul did fight a good fight Against the Devil kept the Faith by Gods Pow-er and Might And by this Faith he did resist the Devil and made him fly And in this Faith the Victory got also a Crown thereby The which the Righteous God will give unto his Souldiers all That under this his Banner fight and on his Name do call So all may see that this was not an evil then in Paul But Souldiers marks of Jesus Christ the which we must bear all And his seeking thus unto God is as a sucking Child That seeketh for its Mothers Breast that is tender and mild And when the Child had suckt its
the Sun with its most glorious beams In its large Womb hath swallowed up her pale and glimmering Streams By which he Body is made dark this all may plainly see And when it gets before the Sun then an Eclipse will be Yea this also may be minded because it is most clear The Sun is ne're Eclipsed but when th' Moon is in its Sphere And the Earths Body also is as dark as is the Moon For when it gets before the Sun the Moon 's Eclips'd full soon Thus Nature hath these outward Signs that in their Sphears do run For the Earths Body doth Eclipse the Moon and She the Sun These outward Signs of Heaven were discern'd by men of old Who yet the Mystery did not see being all led blind-fold Because the God of this World had their minds wholly blinded Lest that the Gospel-Light should shine and they by it be led And though the Hypocrites of old Heavens outward could discern Yet did not know true Bethlehem where Gods own Seed was born Of these Figures the Prophets did of old make use you see When they told where the World was set in mans heart there to be So he that to God is a Friend must have the World cast out From this same place where it is set else Truth it will not sprout And this the cause of the Eclipse that man comes not to know Neither beginning nor the end of him God doth not show The works that he at all times doth they being heavenly Because of this total Eclipse that on his heart doth lye So that the Moons dark Body 's of to us no use at all The Sun reflecting not thereon by the Earths Interval This made the Seers which of old with shame confounded were For they no Answer of God had because they Preacht for hire Yea for money they did Devine and Judged for reward Thus building up Sion with blood no sight had of the Lord. The dark Moon here is turnd to BLOOD tho it pretend to build The glorious Mountain of the Lord have hereby Saints blood spill'd And yet for all this seem to lean themselves upon the Lord As if no evil she had done but in heart did accord This hard-heart Earth was still the same of which the Lord so long Complain'd of in the Wilderness it grieved him so strong To day to day for forty years oh this was all the noise But their hard hearts they could not hear the sounding of his voyce This Earth this Lust this Will this Fesh they being of one nature Are those that keep the glorious beams from shining on the Creature But now the Day of God is come expel those Mists he will Which do his Sun-beams over-cast that shine would on his still For though a man have outward eyes be they never so clear Yet if that Night do him oretake he is little the neer And as it is in outward Earth this is the cause of Night Having a Body thick and gross its self hinders the Light This Judgement was on th' Prophets which with their keen Teeth did bite ' Gainst those that put not in their mouths in War prepare to fight Therefore Night should be unto them they shall no Vision have Not so much Light as to devine how they themselves may save And down o're them the Sun shall go are Prophets of that day Yea darkness shall oretake them all who make not God their stay They therefore shall cover their Lipps for tho they call and cry They shall no answer have from God ' cause in the earth they lye These were also the Belly-gods whose glory was their shame For that they Earthly things did mind and therefore were to blame And this likewise was that also which Demas did embrace Who for this present world did forsake both Truth and Grace These were the false Teachers of which Peter did so fore-tell Should Heresies damnable bring that swift destruction fell Upon them in their great glory for that they should deny The Lord Light Life that thus bought them so in dark Death shall lye Yea these are they through Avarice and fained words should make Merchandise of the People too this darkness they did take And following these pernitious wayes is the sole reason why Truths way is evil spoken off to th' Light they 'l not come nigh So this is Moon Eclips'd you see the Earth and the hard Heart And now before this Cloud be gone these things must feel the smart For that the World and things therein must all be burnt with fire And be removed from his place in the Day of Gods ire But what is that which doth Eclipse the Sun The Moon I 've said When it is turned into Blood then doth it the Sun shade And makes his Body to look black and shine as if it were For all its great and glorious beams but a Sack-cloth of hair This was the time that Joel did prophesie of and say When Sun was dark then Moon was blood this should precede Gods day And 't was fulfil'd when the sixth-Seal was opened for loe A mighty Earth-quake then was seen which many well do know For then the Stars of Heaven fell unto the Earth their place Because they were untimely Figgs they staid there but a space For by this mighty Wind and Storm which God among them sent He shook off what untimely was tho glorious things were ment And now the Earth not only doth but also Heavens shake Because Gods Day is at the door they tremble do and quake For this first Earth and Heaven too which Man could not sustain Are both together shaken now their Form doth not remain Therefore this Heaven departed is even as it were a Scrole For all their glorious fained words together when t is rowl'd And every Mountain and Island which glory in their graces Are by this Storm and mighty Wind remov'd out of their places And they that were Kings of the Earth Great and Rich Men also With chief Captains and mighty Men with Bond and Free-Men go And hide themselves within the Dens yea on the Mountains call And on the Rocks for to hide them or upon them to fall These are the Presbyterian Moon which in the Night was Light But when to Persecution fell then all was Blood and spight But now their Kingdom shaken is and they are made to quake Having their Measure measured back this makes their own hearts akâ— This makes their Stars their mighty Men down from their heaven fall Rather than they will drink this Cup that is mixed with gall And so what Antichristian was in Way and Form before And Covenanted then against the same they now Adore Thus now their Valiant Captains do from Heaven daily slide Their Rich and mighty Men also in Rocks and Mountains hide From the Light Face of him that sits upon his Fathers Throne And from the Wrath of the Lamb which they often made to grone Object But some may now Object and
the Devil The which besides Old Adam did set on to tempt the Lord And in 's temptations offered what the World could afford The Kingdom power and glory to him he would allow And said t was his to give to those that unto him would bow Though he himself a wandrer were up and down in the Earth Our adversary doth appear to devour Spiritual birth This Spirit you shall see in them that do worlds glory seek And such as flatter fawn and bow to them they 'll appear meek But any one that fears the Lord and cant to proud flesh bow No favour love or curtesie to such he doth allow Though his necessities be great as Christs were also when He fasted forty nights and dayes a hungry he was then And this the Devil he did know to him it did appear Because Christ would not bow to him he therefore did him jear To satisfie his own hunger Bids him with stones make bread His own necessities to help if he meant to be fed And further mischiefs he contriv'd and dangers what he could When put upon the Pinacle himself cast from he should For if thou be Gods Son he said the Angels they have Charge And in their hands they should bear up and keep thy feet at large Lest thou at any time shouldst dash thy foot against a stone These were the snares affronts and jears our Lord he put upon But in Gods Power he did them bear of him we are to learn And to suffer all for his sake tho brought we are to burn Object But some may say That thou dost treat ' gainst Gods Commandement Which bids us honour our Parents this is the true Intent Answ For Answer hereunto I say This honour do we give There wants and their necessities we always do relieve This is the true Honour the which Christ he himself did say Though Jews Traditions made it void and Gods Law disobey For what profit our Parents do receive from us at all Is but returning of their own Corban we don't it call If in the Lord our Parents be we honour them also And if the Lord do honour them How can we then say no This is as 't is in Marriages are only in the Lord Where only is the Vnity and the alone Accord For here 's no caring for the World the Husband for to please The Husband being in the Lord they both are serv'd with ease When Wife and Husband both do seek the Lord for to obey What can the Wife or Husband do that either will gain-say For please the Lord the Wife is pleas'd if in the Lord she be And please the Lord the Husband 's pleas'd if in the Lord be he And if at all a jar arise they shall each other heal Till the thing plain be signifi'd and God doth it reveal Yea this will be to Parents to when in the Lord they be We honour do and please them both when that they do agree This is the double honour too the Elder is to have That in the World and Doctrine both do labour souls to save And this is not before People that we do them admire They being in the Lord do not at all such things desire The Grand SCRUPLE and OBJECTION ANSWERED Object BUT some may say You fickle are and know not where to fix And you in many Forms have been in seven or at least six When you from us at first did go Puritans you would be But when the Scotish-Broiles began you cryd Presbyterâ—e And so in War you would fight for 't in it some Blood you spent Yet here you could not fix at all but turn Independent And so you several Churches were with Power severally And then you broke up Churches to and did them all deny Because you said They were not built on the Foundation And all the Ordinances lost for Pope was Corner-stone Oh then did you bethink your selves what then was best to do To Bail these Churches and to get more Ordinances New For that this Anti-christian Pope the former he had spoild And now they must have all anew the others being defild And then a great Contention rose who should this same begin And who should John the Baptist be sith none were free from sin And all had need to be washed because that there was none The which had Gods Word come to him as it did come to John Neither that Power nor Spirit which could bring such things to pass By turning hearts to God as did the Prophet E-li-as At last this work it was begun there 's very few know how And many this Tradition took to it did many flow And so in many Bodies grew yet here were not content Which shews that you are wavering being Incontinent For here you did not tarry long but anon presently So great was your Ambition grown must be a Monarchy And that not only a small one you count your selves to thrive The World contains but four great ones and you must make them five So when that this great power came forth your building that was â—…igh You said your selves 't was but rotten and Foundation sandy For that as soon as any storm on this your house did blow Your Monarchy came tumbling down into the dust full-â—…ow And then when in the dust you were not knowing what to do When all your heavenly Building fell you went a seeking to And by that name you did confess still that there is a want Your Souls not being satisfied for that they still do pant So what shall we that do stand by of ye now for to make Who Valliant Famous Builders were but now are made to Quake And now for it are Quakers called your Laborinth is such So many means and ways you 've tryed we dare not with you tuch Answ For Answer hereunto I say these things do not dispise For when the Lord did Samuel call he presently did rise And ran forthwith to Old Ely and said lo here am I For that thou now didest call me and I came by and by Then Ely bid him go to rest and ly him down again But the Lord called Samuel before he long had layn Then Samuel rose the second time and to Ely did say Here I am for thou did'st call me he Answered nay nay But the Lord still calls Samuel again the third time to Who forth with went to Ely then to know what he should do And that with this great confidence and said he did him call That t' was the Lord Ely perceived that called these times all Samuel did not yet know the Lord nor ought by him was sed Gods Word to him was not showen nor yet was re-ve-led But Samuel Samuel cal'd is still and a fourth time also Before he knows it is the Lord then here 's thy Servant lo. Then do not you condemn us when 't was God who still did call Though we run to the Outward Priest and Ordinances all And second third and forth way God calling of