that will rest upon the persecutors though they use never so much art to make the Lambs appear guilty and themselves guiltless Their Spirit Nature manner of fighting which is with Lamb-like weapons which hurt not flesh and blood their whole course and conversation and manner of suffering c. manifests them to be Lambs this is of much more force than a bare saying they are Lambs None of this is mentioned on their behalf but only that they say they are Lambs But let us see how fairly that is overthrown Against this that place John 5.31 is alledged If I bear witness of my self my witness is not true whereupon it is said thus Had not Christ been God the reason of the Jews had been good against him Answ Doth not the Spirit of God dwell in the Sons of God and doth not the spirit of God bear witness in them that they are his Children and is not this witness true Iohn saith We know that we are of God 1 Ioh. 5.19 Was not this witness true in John because John was not God Was not the Prophets testimony true that they were his Prophets and that God had sent them and that it was his message which they brought because they were not God Shall the spirit of God work wonders in the heart and shall he not testifie concerning his own work at his pleasure Ah friends how do ye understand Scriptures and raise inferences from it thus to condemn the generation of the righteous Search the Scriptures do not the Prophets still testifie that the Lord sent them and that it was his word which they spake though they themselves were not God but persons moved by the spirit of God who stirred in his servants under the Law but dwelleth resteth and abideth in his people under the Gospel and what he testifieth is true though fleshly wise Israel who seem to themselves very skilful in the Law and letter of the Scriptures could not receive his testimony either then or now Ah friends ye had need take heed and consider lest the bastardly birth in you hath taken up an habitation in the letter without knowing the mind of the spirit whose presence killeth the carnal part and shutteth out the wisdome of the flesh from medling with the Scriptures And whereas you seem to refer all to the tryal of the Scripture both station doctrine and practise surely if ye had done so in truth ye would have more patiently heard their testimony according to the Scriptures Every man pretendeth Scripture but none truly honour it but they who are guided by that spirit which it testifieth of And they who are not guided by that spirit walk not according to the Scriptures but according to reasonings of the fleshly part which windeth it self into the letter of the Scriptures that by some kind of conformity thereto it may avoid the dint of the spirit And this is the way of Antichrists revilings by getting the form crying up that winding his own fleshly spirit into that and sheltering it self under that Thus the Jews cryed up the Temple of the Lord the Sabbath the Law of Moses and writings of the Prophets and under this cover with great zeal persecuted Christ he was looked upon as a blasphemer as one against Gods Temple his Sabbath his Ordinances c. And since the daies of Christ the Antichristian spirit speaks great words of Christ his Death Resurrection Ascention Intercession c. and of Church-order and discipline that under this cover it may fight against the comforter the spirit of truth who alone can lead into truth and which is the proper way of Gods Ministration since Christs ascention And this hath been the way of opposing truth ever since and still is and here is the Antichrist he that holds these in the wrong part and by these fights against the true spirit But if there be any truth in this that ye are willing to be tryed by the Scriptures let it yet come to a fair tryal this way and let them have free liberty to manifest among you what they have to say from the Scriptures why your Church your Ministry your order and government your whole way of teaching and worship is not of God nor according to the Scriptures but an invention and imitation set up in the way of resemblance of what once was truly so If this cannot be made good against you ye will have much advantage of shaming them and of setling your people much firmer than by prisons whips cutting off of eares banishment and death which no mans heart seriously considering it in true soberness can possibly believe to be the proper engines of setling or preserving the Gospel of peace But that the Scripture is the rule of tryal under the Gospel I read not in Scripture but that the things of the spirit are to be known in by the spirit 1 Cor. 2.12 The Apostle John speaking of Antichrists seducers and erring spirits which were to be tryed doth not bid them try them by the words which he wrote or by the other Apostles words or by the Prophets words but by the anointing which keeping close to they need fear no seducers 1 John 2.26 27. The word which was in the beginning being received abode in and kept close to tries all words and spirits That which begets to God is the spirit the great gift which is given to him which is begotten is the spirit and this being given is to become the fountaine of life to the believer John 7.38 And in this spring of life he is to live and receive milk and knowledg and here he is to walk and here he is to try all other waters even by this water And this is more to a believer and more enableth him to try than all the words of truth that ever were written though he that hath this cannot despise or undervalue any thing that the spirit ever wrote but yet the spirit it self is more to him and more certain then any words concerning the spirit Men may make false glosses and mudd and make void the Scriptures by their reasonings and interpretations and traditional apprehensions but this water ever runs fresh clear no foul spirit can defile it Moses gave the Law which directed to and ended in Christ Christ in the flesh finished the work which the Father gave him to do and directed to the comforter to be the leader into all truth yea the spring of life to the believer and here the believer is safe but the Antichristian spirit ravening from this cries up the letter in the stead of this and doth not see how the letter points to and centers in this God hath made us able Ministers of the new Testament saith the Apostle not of the letter but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 he overlooked the letter that was not the thing he was chiefly to minister but the spirit the power to turn men from darkness to light that they might feel him that is
alwayes to last but is one of the fashions of this world which is to pass away how long a time soever it hath had and God may call his people from it at his pleasure and if he call from it they must leave it off though the earthly nature and powers be never so angry thereat The Lord hath let man have a long day wherein man hath been lifted up and appeared great by receiving that honour which is of the earth not of the faith but at length the Lord will bring forth his day wherein he will be great and have every knee bow to him and every tongue confess to him and then man shall be little and his honour fall and the Lord alone be exalted Isa 2.17 2. Doth not the image of God grow up into the likeness of God Doth God respect mens persons Did Christ regard any mans person Did not James say If ye have respect to persons ye commit sin and are convinced of the law as transgressors James 2.9 Of what law Of the law of faith which exalteth the new birth and layeth flat the creature in its transgressing nature estate and honour For saith Christ who received not honour from men nor gave honour to men how can ye believe which receive honour one of another John 5.44 That which receiveth earthly honour is of the earth and cannot believe and that which giveth earthly honour is of the earth and so not of the faith The faith is a denying of the earth a taking up of the cross to the earthly honour which is as a block in the way of faith How can ye believe when ye cherish that part in you which is against the faith The immortal seed of life in the day of the Gospel grows up out of the earth leaving it with its customes fashions honours yea and its nature and worships too behind it So that look into the ground of the thing with the eye which seeth over the transgressing state and over all things which have sprung up from the transgressing part and which please that part which is out of the faith out of the life and power drawn from God into the earth and it wil be manifest that earthly honour hath its root foundation and service there but falleth off like a shackle from mans spirit as the life riseth in him and as he is redeemed out of the earth Now as for Abrahams and Jacobs bowings c. Those things had their season under the law which made nothing perfect as other things had but now God calleth every man to bow to the Son and will not permit so much as bowing to an Angel who is far more honourable than any Magistrate And the Son calleth to honour the Father and to seek the honour which cometh from God only and he that will be his Disciple must take up his cross to the earthly part and follow him who neither gave earthly honour nor received earthly honour but condemned it John 5.44 Therefore let men consider the ground of the thing and the different state between Jews under the law and Christians under the Gospel and not think the bringing of instances from them of old time can dispence with us in following Christ according to the law of faith who gave us this pattern of not receiving or giving honour to mens persons and let not the weight of our plea it having so great impression on our hearts be despised by any that pretend relation to our Lord and Master which I shall briefly thus recite 1. It is the single and sincere desire of our hearts to give all the honour and obedience to Magistrates which is due unto them according to the Scriptures 2. It is manifest that we are careful of observing all just laws and patient in suffering through unjust laws or where the Magistrate doth persecute us without or against law 3. This kind of honour of pulling off the hat and bowing to the person we do not find commanded in Scripture but we find Christs command against it who saith follow me who both denyed to receive it and did not give it but condemned it And we find its rise to be from the earthly part and to the earthly part it is given which it pleaseth being given to it or is offended at being denyed it and this part we are taught by the Lord to crucifie in our selves and not to cherish in others 4. The bowing of persons under the law which was an earthly state wherein many things were permitted which are not permitted under the Gospel doth not bind Christians under the Gospel nor doth not limit the Spirit of God from taking of any one or more or all of his people from giving that which the earthly part calleth honour to that which is of the earth 5. We do appeal to the Lord our God who is our judge and law-giver that he hath laid this upon our Spirits and hath smitten several of us when there hath arisen so much as a desire in us to please men in this particular and in the fear of his name and in obedience to him do we forbear it and not either in contempt of authority or of the persons in authority 6. We find by much experience that the forbearing of this is a service to our Lord and Master and an hurt to his enemy It offendeth the passionate it offendeth the rough it offendeth the proud and lofty that spirit is soon touched and stirred by it but that which is low that which is meek that which is humble that which is gentle that is easily drawn from valuing and minding of it and findeth an advantage therein And of a truth the earthly spirit knows and feels that God is taking the honour from it and giving it to the meek and humble which makes it muster up its forces and arguments to hold it as long as it can Now what moderate man much more any Christian could not forgo the putting off of an hat or bowing of the knee upon so solemn and weighty an account as this If this were thine own case wouldst thou be forced imprisoned fined or have this made an argument against thee to banish thee or put thee to death Thou dost not know how the Lord may visit thee by his Spirit and what he may require of thee He may call thee also to give forth thy testimony and to fight under the banner of his Spirit against all the fashions customes honours yea and worships of this World That which is born of God is not of this World and as it groweth up in any earthen vessel so it draweth the vessel also more and more out of this World Ye are not of the World but called out of the World therefore the World hates you That which can please the World that which can bow to it and honour it that the World loves but the immortal seed which cannot bow but testifies against the Worlds honours that they are not of the Father
ye and be not afraid of their terror neither be troubled 1 Pet 3.14 and the Apostle Paul bids the Philippians stand fast in one Spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel and in nothing terrified by your adversaries which is to them an evident token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God And the same Apostle who commended the Hebrews as having done well in bearing the great sight of afflictons encourages them to go on still and not be weary or faint in their minds but resist even to blood eyeing Christ who endured the contradiction of sinners to the very last Heb. 12.3 4. And he practised as he taught for he was not terrified with bonds or afflictions nor accounted his life dear unto him but that which was dear unto him was the serving of his Lord and Master in preaching and witnessing to his truths as his spirit led him Acts 20.23 24. trusting on the Lord to uphold him in enduring of them or to deliver him out of them as he pleased 2 Tim. 3.11 but that which he and the rest of the Apostles and Saints of Christ applyed themselves to in case of persecution was to suffer 1 Cor. 4.12 And whoever they are that will be Christs faithful Disciples now must look to meet with the same cross as they did not only from the prophane World but from the worldly professors also for there were not only zealous worldly professors in that age but the same spirit hath remained in every age since which still gets into the best form it can when need requires to oppose the power thereby And they that are in the Spirit and in the power must expect to be persecuted by such and they are to bear it and not to flie from it unless by a particular call and dispensation from the Lord for a particular service which is not the rule as it is here made but rather an exception from the rule So Christ sending his Disciples in hast to preach the Gospel bids them not salute in the way Luke 10.4 nor be stopped by persecution but hasten to publish the sound of Christs coming in the Cities of Israel for the harvest was great but the laborers few Mat. 9.37 and yet notwithstanding all the hast they could make they should not have gone over the Cities of Israel before the Son of man come Mat. 10.23 There is a time to suffer persecution and a time to flee from persecution and both these are to be known in the Lord and to be obeyed in the leadings of his Spirit but to lay it down as a general rule for Christians to observe that when they are persecuted they should flee this is expresly contrary to the Scriptures afore mentioned which shew that Christians are not generally to flee but to stand in the service and work to which they are called bearing witness not only by believing and publishing but also by suffering for the testimony of the truth They are Christs Souldiers and their duty is to stand in the battel and bear all the shot and persecutions of the enemy if God call them off to any other service that is a sufficient warrant for them but flying upon other termes may prove a great dishonour to their Master and to his cause and truth and may be the occasion of a great loss to their Spirits who are so tempted to flee Neither is this bearing the brunt of persecutions and standing in Gods work and service notwithstanding them all even unto death any tempting of God but an obedient taking up of the cross according to his will and command And whereas you plead that reason requires it what kind of reason is it which bids avoid the cross of Christ and flee for safety And what kind of Spirit is that which preacheth this Doctrine laying it down as a general rule for Christians to flee when they are persecuted Is it not that Spirit which fain would be at ease in the flesh in so much as it self will rather persecute than be disturbed of its fleshly liberty though its very unwilling to bear the reproach of being accounted a persecutor Ah how did the Jews cry out against their Fathers for killing the Prophets and verily thought if they had lived in their dayes they should by no means have done it and yet the same Spirit was in them though they saw it not but thought themselves far from it That which blinded them was a wrong knowledge of the Scriptures and a great zeal and devotion about their Temple worship and Ordinances without a sensible feeling of the guidance of Gods Spirit The same Spirit that deceived them layeth the same snare in these dayes and men swallow it as greedily with as great confidence as they did the zealous professors of religion for the generality still becoming persecutors of the present appearance of truth not knowing what they do Thus in the fear of the Lord God and in love to your souls with a meek and gentle spirit not being offended at what ye have done but looking over it to the Lord who bringeth glory to his name and advantage to his truth by the sufferings and death of his Saints have I answered your grounds and considerations and in the same fear love and meekness have I some things further to propose to your considerations which are of great concernment to you and deserve to be weighed by an equal hand in the equal ballance without prejudice or partiality 1. Consider meekly and humbly whether the Scriptures be the rule of the Children of the new covenant for if the Scripture was not intended by God for the rule and ye take it to be the rule then ye may easily mistake the way to eternal life and also err in your understanding and use of the Scriptures making such an use of them as they were never intended for and so missing of the true use and intent of them Now that the Scripture was not intended nor given forth by God to be the rule of the Children of the New Covenant besides our faithful Testimony from the sight of the thing in the true eternal light weigh our arguments from the Scripture many are mentioned in our writings consider at present of these three 1. The Scripture is an outward rule or law but the Scripture saith the law of the new covenant shall be an inward law It is written in the Prophets that all the Children of the new covenant or new Jerusalem shall be taught of the Lord Isa 54.13 who teacheth them inwardly by his Spirit and writeth his law in their hearts Jer. 31.33 34. and after this manner did the Lord take his people into covenant with himself and teach them in the Apostles dayes 1 John 2.27 The covenant is inward the teacher inward the writing inward the law inward and there it is to be read learned and known where the Spirit teacheth and writeth it 2. Scripture or the writings
AN EXAMINATION OF THE Grounds or Causes Which are said to induce the Court of Boston in New-England to make that Order or Law of Banishment upon pain of Death against the Quakers As also of the Grounds and Considerations by them produced to manifest the warrantableness and justness both of their making and executing the same which they now stand deeply engaged to defend having already thereupon put two of them to death As also of some further Grounds for justifying of the same in an Appendix to John Norton's Book which was Printed after the Book it self yet as part thereof whereto he is said to be appointed by the General Court And likewise of the Arguments briefly hinted in that which is called A true Relation of the Proceedings against the Quakers c. Whereunto somewhat is added about the Authority and Government which Christ excluded out of his Church which occasioneth somewhat concerning the true Church-Government By Isaac Penington the Younger The Stone the Builders refused is become the head of the Corner This is the Lords doing it is marvellous in our eyes Psal 118.22 23. I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto Babes Even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight Mat. 11.25 26. LONDON Printed for L. Lloyd next to the Sign of the Castle in Cornhill 1660. To the Rulers Teachers and People of NEW-ENGLAND MAny a weary step hath my poor soul fetched and many difficulties and hardships hath it met with in its pursuit after truth The immortal seed hath deeply suffered in me through the mists of darkness and various stratagems and powers of the enemy which have often encompassed me and distressed my Spirit exceedingly I have known many battels received deep wounds yea and have been in deaths and graves often where the living seed hath languished for want of the living spring Yet this thing to the praise and glory of the preserver of Israel may I speak the sence of God and the savour of his Spirit was never wholly taken away from me though many times I knew it not but was too apt to distrust it being ignorant of the way of its appearing in me The Scriptures I alwayes exceedingly prized and a deep knowledge of them from an experimental sence of the things they spake of was bestowedon me but I knew not what it was which gave me the knowledge nor how it sprang but went about still to fix it in the letter and so gave away the glory from the spirit which shines above and beyond the letter and ought so to be acknowledged Before this despised people appeared I was even quite worn out and said my hope is cut off from the Lord there is no such appearance of him to be looked for as my poor distressed soul wants Live without the presence of his spirit I could not where to meet with his spirit could I hear no news and that pretious knowledge which I had had through the operation of God upon my heart from the living spring the same hand which gave me also brake in pieces and pulled down that inward building which was reared up in my Spirit What a man of sorrows I became hereupon how I mourned all the day long and roared out after my God all the night season is not to be uttered And if it might be the Lords pleasure O that my misery might end with me and that this might be the issue of all my sufferings to fit me to be a faithful instrument in the hand of the Lord for the preserving of others there from Now this was it which undid me namely the getting up of the fleshly wisdome and understanding which though God had broken in me mightily several times yet it still had some secret device or other to creep in again unto me and to twine about my spirit undiscerned by me but this effect still attended it by degrees like a canker it eat out the sweetness and freshness of my life and Spirit and exalted that part in me which God hides the mysteries of his kingdome from At my first acquaintance with this rejected People that which was eternal of God in me opened and I did immediately in my spirit own them as children of my Father truly begotten of his life by his own spirit but the wise reasoning part presently rose up contending against their uncouth way of appearance and in that I did disown them and continued a stranger to them and a reasoner against them for above twelve months and by weighing and considering things in that part was still further and further off from discerning their leadings by the life and spirit of God into those things But at length it pleased the Lord to draw out his sword against that part in me turning the wisdome and strength thereof backward and to open that eye in me again wherewith he had given me to see the things of his kingdome in some measure from a child and then I saw and felt them grown in that life and spirit which I through the treachery of the fleshly-wise part had been estranged to and had adulterated from And now what bitter dayes of mourning and lamentation even for some years since I have had over this the Lord alone fully knows Oh I have known it to be a bitter thing to follow this wisdome in understanding of Scriptures in remembring of experiences and in many more inward wayes of workings than many can bear to hear The Lord hath judged me for that and I have born the burthen and condemnation of that which many at this day wear as their crown And now what am I at length A poor worm whom can I warn effectually whom can I help whom can I stop from running into the pit But though I am nothing I must speak for the Lord draweth and moveth me and how unserviceable soever my pitty be yet my bowels cannot but roul both towards those that are in misery and towards those that are running into misery Read in the fear and in the simplicity what was so written and the Lord open that eye in you which can see the way of life and discover the paths of the mystery of iniquity in its most hidden workings in the heart that ye sleep not the sleep of eternal death and so at last be awakned in the bowels of that wrath and fiery indignation which that spirit which erreth from and transgresseth the life and light within can neither bear nor escape J. P. AN EXAMINATION OF THE Grounds or Causes which are said to induce the Court of Boston in New-England to make that Order or Law of Banishment upon pain of death against the Quakers As also of the Grounds and Considerations by them produced to manifest the warrantableness and justness c. THat in New-England there hath been a Law made of Banishing the Quakers so called and of death in
there is a large difference between what was lawful to be done in the kingdom or common-wealth of Israel and what is now lawful to be done The kingdome or common-wealth of Israel was a state outwardly representative of what was inwardly to be done in the state of the Gospel by Christ the King thereof He is the King and Law-giver to his people and he is their Judge concerning their receiving or rejecting them concerning their obeying or disobeying them concerning their holding the faith or their letting go the faith and maintaining things contrary thereto And he doth judge his people here in this life so far as he thinks fit Heb. 10.30 31. reserving also what he thinks fit for another time of judgment Act. 17.31 And who is he that shall take his office out of his hand and judge one of his servants in the things of his kingdome Rom. 14.4 Is not this an intruding into Christs Kingly office He gave authority to command for the doing of such things outwardly before his coming as might represent what he would do inwardly after his coming but where hath he given authority since his coming to do such things any more Doth not the typical King with his typical government cease after that king with his government which it figured out is come O Governours of New-England to take away the life of a man is a weighty thing and the Lord will not hold him guiltless who either doth it in a violent manner or who maketh an unjust law to do it by But how pretious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints O how will ye be able to bear the weight of their blood when the Lord maketh inquisition for it ye had need have a very clear warrant in this case O how will ye answer this thing at the judgement seat of Christ Alas such arguments as these will stand you in little stead But ye have done it and now must maintain it and it is exceeding hard for you being thus deeply ingaged in the sight of the Nations to come to a sober and serious consideration of the state of the case as it stands before the Lord. 2. The second ground or consideration which they hold forth to clear their Law of banishment and death against the Quakers to be warrantable and just is this Because they are far from giving that honor and reverence to Magistrates which the Lord requireth and good men have given to them but on the contrary shew contempt against them in their very outward gesture and behaviours and some of them at least spare not to belch railing and cursing speeches c. Answ That we do not give that honour and reverence to Magistrates which the Lord requireth deserves a weighty proof For what we do or forbear in this kind we do as in the sight of the Lord as persons who are not only liable to suffer from men but also to give an account to him at the last day Now towards Magistrates our carriage is thus as in the presence of the Lord. 1. We observe their commands in all things that are according to God We submit our selves to the government that is supream and to the Governours under the supream for the Lords sake who in their several places ought to be for the punishment of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well according to 1 Pet. 2.13 14. This is Gods ordinance and here Magistracy is in its right place namely in punishing the evil doer for his evil deeds but not make a man an offender for a word or for a gesture which is neither good nor evil in it self but as it is done He that pulleth off his hat or boweth in flattery or to please man in him it is evil he that forbeareth to do it in obedience to God and in the fear of his name in him it is good 2. When any Magistrates punish us for wel-doing for our obedience to the Lords spirit though we know God never gave power to any Magistracy to punish therefore yet we patiently suffer under them referring our cause to him that judgeth righteously and waiting on him for strength to carry us through our sufferings for his names sake 3. When we appear before them we appear as in the Lords presence desiring his guidance that we may give due honour and respect to all that is of him in them and may be kept from honouring or pleasing that which is not of him and which he would not have us honour This is the temper of our Spirits and accordingly is our carriage as in the sight of the Lord what ever men deem of us But the great matter is because we do not pull off our hats and bow to them or that we use plain language to them as thou and thee to a particular person which some of them will needs interpret to be contempt though others of them who are more sober and considerate can clearly discern that it is not at all in contempt either to their authority or their persons but in meer single-hearted obedience to God Now to drive this a little towards a fair trial consider in meekness and in Gods fear 1. What kind of honour this is which is thus much stood upon Is it the honour which is from above or the honour which is from below What part springs it from in man from the new-birth or from the earthly nature what doth it please in man doth it please that which is begotten of God doth it please the meekness the humility the lowliness the new nature or doth it please help to keep up the old nature the lofty spirit even that part which is prone in every man to be exalted out of the fear of God For this I may freely say that whatsoever is of the earth hath an aptness in it to feed the earthly part and particularly this of outward bowing to the creature is apt to hurt him that doth it and is likewise apt to hurt him that reciveth it In mans giving and receiving honour God hath been forgotten They have forgotten God who have been giving honour to one another and they have forgotten God who have been receiving honour from one another And what if the Lord who hath made us sensible of the evil herein hath laid a restraint upon us can any forbid the Lord from laying such a thing upon us or is it lawful for any to go about to hinder us from obeying the Lord therein Thou who art thus eager in contending for honour Art thou sure it is not the evil part in thee which doth so desire it If it be the good part in thee thou wilt desire it in meekness and gentleness yea and will be able to bear the want of it with joy where it is denyed thee upon such an account that it may run more purely towards the Lord. Now if it be earthly honour it is of a perishing nature it is not
holding it in the fleshly wisdome where they may hold their lusts too mock at and blaspheme Jude 18. And this hath been the great way of deceit since the Apostacy God gathered a seperated people from the world the fals teachers get the form of godliness from them and set it up in the world and then turn against the power and deny it speaking evil of or blaspheming the spirit which is the dominion and his ministrations in the spirits of his people which are the dignities or glories of the new testament which excel all earthly dignities and also the ministration of the first Covenant 2 Cor. 3.7 8. So likewise for rayling speeches The false prophets can speak smooth words speaking in the fleshly wisdom they can please the fleshly part in their very reproofs but he that speaks from God must speak his words how harsh soever they seem to the fleshly part And he that speaks in his name spirit Majesty and authority is exalted high above the consideration of the person to whom he speaks What is a Prince a Magistrate a Ruler before the Lord but clay or dust and ashes If the Lord bid any of his servants call that which was once the faithful city harlot and say concerning her Princes that they are rebellious and companions of thieves Isa 1.21 and 23. What is the poor earthen vessel that it should go to change or mollifie this speech And so for the false Prophets and teachers If the spirit of the Lord in the meanest of his servants call them idol-shepherds hirelings thieves robbers dogs dumb dogs greedy dumb dogs that cannot bark though they can speak smooth pleasing words enough to fleshly Israel and the earthly great ones generation of vipers hypocrites whited Sepulchres graves that appear not c. who may reprove him for it or find fault with the instrument he chuses Now man judging by the fleshly wisdom may venture to call this rayling and the Prophets of the Lord have been accounted rude and mad and troublers of Israel and so it is at this day but the Lord being angry with the transgressor may send a rough rebuke to him by what messenger he pleaseth and what is the poor creature that he should gainsay his maker and desire the message might be smoother But now these false teachers who can speak smoothly to the fleshly part flatter the great ones and the professors that fall in with their form of doctrine and discipline they deny the power blaspheme the movings and goings forth of the spirit of God in his people and if any be drawn by the spirit to seperate from their formal way and to seek after the life and presence of the power him they cry out of as a Sectary a blasphemer an heretick and so bring rayling accusations against that life and spirit by which he is drawn and of him for following the drawings of it and thus they become guilty of speaking evil of what they know not Jude 10. They that are drawn out of the worlds worships know from what they were drawn but they that remain still in them do not know the power which drew out of them nor into what it drew but looking on it with a carnal eye it appears mean to them and so they readily disdain it and think they may safely speak evil of it though in truth they know it not And as for cursings There are children of the curse as well as of the blessing and the spirit of the Lord may pronounce his curse against any children of the curse by whom he pleases Curse ye Meroz curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof Judges 5.23 and yet Meroz did not persecute but only not come to the help of the Lord against the mighty So the professing Jews with their rulers and teachers were cursed by the spirit of the Lord Psalm 69.22 c. So Judas was cursed Psalm 109.6 c. For Peter applieth it to him Acts 1.20 Now if the curse be causless it shall not come Prov. 26.2 and well will it be with him whom men causlesly curse Mat. 5.11 although they were the highest devoutest and most zealous professing Jews with their Priests and Rulers in those daies and although they should be the highest most zealous and devout formal Christians with their rulers and teachers in these days who may have got this form as well as they got that form and yet hold the truth in the unrighteousness deny the power as false teachers formerly did who held the form 2 Tim. 3.5 But the case of Shimei is not at all proper to the thing in hand because he did not pretend to curse in the Lords name and authority but manifestly out of the fear of God cursed the Lords annointed in his low state Neither were these two Quakers put to death for cursing So that if Humphry Norton were never so blamable yet that reacheth not to them but is to be reckoned to him that did it who is to stand or fall to his own master therein Yet this I may say because it is so extraordinary a case we having not known the like that if he had not the Lords clear warrant for what he did surely the Lord will very severely judge him for speaking so peremptorily and presumptuously in his name if not required by him And so as touching contemptuous carriages When there is not contempt in the heart it is not easie to shew contemptuous carriages but the fleshly part missing of the honour which is pleasing to it and being offended thereby is ready to apprehend that to be spoken and done in contempt which is spoken and done in the humility and fear of the Lord. 3. A third ground or consideration to justifie their Law of banishment and death of the Quakers is drawn from Solomons confining of Shimei and of putting him to death for breach of his confinement whereupon they argue that if execution of death be lawful upon breach of confinement may not the same be said for breach of banishment banishment being not so strait but giving more liberty than confinement Answ The question is not whether the Magistrate upon no occasion may banish upon pain of death but whether the banishment of the Quakers upon pain of death was just or no If it were never so manifest that a Magistrate might banish and put to death in case of not observing his Law of banishment yet that doth not prove that every Law of banishment is just and that the death of such as do not obey their Law is just also but he may make a Law in his own self-will pride passion resolvedness and stiffness of spirit and so draw the sufferings of persons under that Law either of banishment or death upon his own head Now the Quakers coming in the name of the Lord by his commission and upon his work whom all the Magistrates of the earth are to reverence and bow before if Magistrates will presume to make a Law to banish them
upon pain of death yet if the Lord require them either to stay or return they know whom to fear and obey which delivers them from the fear of them who can only torture and kill the body and they had rather die in obedience to the Lord than feel the weight of his hand upon their souls for their disobedience It is not in this case as it is in ordinary banishment upon civil accounts where it is in mens will and power to abstain from the place from which they are banished but they must fulfil the will of their Lord not at all regarding what befals them therein 4. The fourth Ground or Consideration to justifie their Law of Banishment and Death against the Quakers is drawn from their right and propriety which every man hath in his own house and land and from the unreasonableness and injuriousness of anothers intruding and entring into it having no authority thereto yea and when the owner doth expresly prohibit and forbid the same And that if any presume to enter thus without legal authority he might justly be impleaded as a thief or usurper and if in case of violent assault he should be killed his blood would be upon his own head Whereupon it is argued thus that if private persons may in such case shed the blood of such intruders may not the like be granted to them that are the publick Keepers and Guardians of the Common-wealth have not they as much power to take away the lives of such as contrary to prohibition shall invade or intrude into their publick possessions or territories And that the Quakers do thus invade and intrude without authority they urge thus For who can believe that Quakers are Constables to intrude themselves invade and enter whether the Colony will or no yea contrary to their express prohibition If in such violent and bold attempts they lose their lives they may thank themselves as the blamable cause and authors of their own death Answ It is no invasion nor intrusion for any Messengers and Servants of the Lord to enter into any part of his earth at his command upon his errand and about his work And if any should be so sent to the house of a particular person to deliver a message from the Lord and the owner of the house instead of hearing and considering his message in meekness and fear whether it were of God or no should be rough and violent with him and command him off before he had delivered his message and either upon his not immediate going off or his return with another message for the Lord if he please may send him again should fall upon him and kill him upon whose head would this mans blood light 2. If men will needs have it go for an invasion it is an invasion of a spiritual nature and the defence from it cannot be by carnal weapons Killing of mens persons is not the way to suppress either truth or error How have the Papists been able to defend their Kingdome or suppress the truth by their bloody weapons They may prevail in their Territories against mens persons for a season but the truth will have a time of dominion and will in the mean time be getting ground in mens minds and consciences by the sufferings of the Witnesses to it Nay my friends if ye will defend your selves from this invasion ye must get better weapons 3. Is this your rule concerning any that shall come in the name of the Lord that if they be not Constables or other earthly-Officers ye will banish them and put them to death Is the Lord of heaven and earth limited to send none but Constables among you Well ye may judge by your Law while your day lasts but the Lord in his day will clear his Servants and Messengers though they have not been Constables and lay it upon the head of them who have unrighteously shed it 5. The fifth Ground or Consideration whereby they justifie their Law of Banishment and Death against the Quakers is this Corruption of mind and judgement is a great infection and defilement and it is the Lords Command that such corrupt persons be not received into the house which plainly enough implies that the houshoulder hath power enough to keep them out and that it was not in their power to come if they pleased whether the housholder would or no. And if the father of the Family must keep them out of his house the Father of the Common-wealth must keep them out of his jurisdiction they being nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers by the account of God So that what an housholder may do against persons that are infected with the plague or pestilence who may kill them if otherwise he cannot keep them out of his house a Magistrate may do the like for his Subjects And if Sheep and Lambs cannot be preserved from the danger of Wolves but the Wolves will break in amongst them it is easie to see what the Shepheard or Keeper of the Sheep may lawfully do in such a case Answ It is granted that Corruption of mind and judgment is defiling and infectious and therefore every heart that knows the pretiousness of truth is to wait on the Lord in his fear in the use of those means which he hath appointed for preservation from it but that killing the persons is one of the means God hath appointed this is still the thing in controversie and is still denyed to be either proper in it self or sanctified by God to this end The Apostle sayes there must be Hereticks that they which are approved may be made manifest 1 Cor. 11.19 but he doth not say hereafter when there are Christians Magistrates they must banish or cut off the Hereticks as fast as they spring up but God hath use of these things for the exercising of the spirits of his people and the truth gains by overcoming them in the faith and power of the spirit And so as touching Wolves the Apostle Paul called the Elders of the Church of Ephesus and told them that after his departure grievous Wolves should enter in among them not sparing the flock Acts 20.28 29 31. The Lord hath put into the hands of his Shepherd a sword which will pierce to the heart of the Wolf he standing faithful in the power of God in the life of righteousness need not fear any Wolf but by the power of the spirit and presence of the truth shall be able to preserve the consciences of his flock pure to God What kind of Shepherd is he that cannot defend his flock without the Magistrates sword but take away that the Wolf breaks in preys upon his sheep Surely the true Shepherd who knows the vertue of the sword God hath put into his hand will never call to the Magistrate for his sword of another nature which cannot touch the Wolf the Heretick the Seducer but only flesh and blood with which the Ministers of Christ never wrestled nor fought And this is
c. saith the Apostle least any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Heb. 3.12 13. and persecution most hardens of any sin How cruel how bloody doth it make it even unmans men Prisons Whips cutting off of ears Banishment Death all is little enough if not too little And what reviling doth it fill mens pens and tongues with making them so hot and passionate that they cannot equally consider the cause but misunderstand it misrepresent it strive to make it appear another thing both to themselves and others than indeed in truth and plainness it is Look over your writings consider the cause again in a more meek and upright Spirit and ye your selves will easily see how in your heat ye have mistaken and dealt more injuriously with others than ye your selves were ever dealt with There is a time of righteous judgment wherein the most inward covers shall be ripped off and the sinner appear what he is and then the persecutor shall bear that shame that burthen that misery which is the portion of that Spirit It is but a small advantage to it to cover its iniquity for a little moment If ye could make all the world believe that ye are not persecutors what would this profit you if in the day of the Lord ye should be found such But having proceeded thus far it is hard for you to consider and retreat That Spirit hath great advantage over you to make you accept of any cover it can now offer you to hide your selves under Oh that ye could see how ye have wrested Scriptures and what strange kind of rguments ye have formed to make that which ye have done pass with your own hearts and to make it appear somewhat plausible to others Yet all this will not do the eye of the Lord sees through you and that light which ye reproach makes you manifest to be at present in subjection under the bloody dark power who will hold you as long as he can and furnish you with such weapons as he has against the Lamb and his followers But ye come forth to the battel in a bad day for the light is arisen to conquer and is not now to be overcome with the darkness And though ye meet the Woman and her seed with a floud of reproaches and persecutions yet that will not stop her from coming forth out of the Wilderness to shew her beauty and innocency again in the earth Consider these things and come out of this hard Spirit into tenderness if it be possible that the still meek gentle Spirit of life may be your leader from under all false covers into the truth it self where there is a gentle lying down with all that is of God and not so much as an offence because of any difference much less heart-burnings and persecutions but a sweet waiting on the Lord for every ones growth in their several ranks and stations Since my waiting on the Lord for the presence and guidance of his Spirit in the examining the foregoing Grounds and Considerations there came forth an Appendix to John Norton's Book wherein are laid down some further Grounds by way of justifying of their proceedings which for their sakes and likewise on the behalf of the truth and people of God I may also say somewhat to 1. FIrst they insinuate an argument concerning the not suffering of evil which they say is common to all that fear God with themselves Answ Evil is to be resisted but in Gods way according to Gods will and not according to the will of the flesh Spiritual evils are to be resisted by and in the faith with spiritual weapons which God hath appointed and sanctified thereto Earthly evils outward evils transgressions of the just law of the Magistrate are to be resisted by the sword of the Magistrate Here are the bounds which God hath set which he that transgresseth sinneth against the Lord and his own soul But the believer is not to step out of Gods way to resist the Magistrates evil nor the Magistrate to step out of Gods way to resist spiritual evil but both are to wait on the Lord for his blessing on the means he hath appointed and it is better for each of them not to resist evil but let it grow upon them till the Lord please to appear against it than to overcome it by an unrighteous weapon Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help and stay on horses and trust in Chariots Isa 31.1 2. A second argument is taken from the sole cause of their transplanting which they say was to enjoy liberty to walk peaceably in the faith of the Gospel according to the order of the Gospel Answ That there was an honest intent in many of them in transplanting into New-England I do not doubt though whether they had a sufficient warrant from God to transplant was doubted and objected against them by many of their conscientious fellow sufferers here in old England who testifie them that they did believe it to be their duty not to fly but stay and bear their testimony for God and his truth by suffering and this had been a better way of resisting that which was manifestly evil than of resisting by the sword that for evil which in due time they themselves may see and acknowledge not to have been so But if they did truly desire liberly did not the enemy tempt them to be selfish to seek it so far as might comprise themselves excluding such as might differ from them upon as just grounds as they themselves differed from others Did not they set bounds to the truth and bounds to the spirit of God that thus far it should appear and no further Whereas God hath degrees of discovering and leading out of the Antichristian darkness and he that opposeth the next discovery of truth the next step out of Babylon is as real an enemy and persecutor as he that opposed the fore going In that they testified against the Bishops they did well but if they will now set up a stand either to themselves or others and not follow the leadings of the Lamb their life may be withered and they may perish in the Wilderness while others are following the guide which they left when they set up their stand towards Canaan And as for walking peaceably That they might be free from the fear of outward powers having liberty to try what ever pretends to be of God and if it appear error be out of danger of having their consciences forced this is a great mercy But if they would live so peaceably as that no discovery of God further should ever start up among them nor the Lord himself be suffered to send any of his servants with any further discovery of light unto them this is not a peace which God allowes to any man nor which his people desire but only the carnal part which loves to be at ease and not to be at the pains of tryal in the fear
pretence to justice their whole course of proceedings will prove in truth and according to righteous judgment but persecution Now the grounds of their proceedings they mention to be these 1. Their having received intelligence from good hands from Barbadoes and England of the pernicious opinions and practises of the Quakers 2. Their professed Tenents how well ye have acquitted your selves herein let all that fear God judge 3. Their turbulent and contemptuous behaviour to authority 4. Their designs to undermine and ruin the order and peace here established Answ He that is willing to receive shall never want intelligence against the truths and people of God even from such hands as he will be ready to call good it is a remnant only that receive truth the generality of professors in all ages are still ready both to send and receive intelligence against all the living appearances of it and of Gods witnesses to it Nor can he who hath already entertained prejudices ever want matter against their tenents or behaviour or to charge them with designs Have not these reproaches alwaies been cast upon every appearance of God Are not the vessels he chuses to hold forth his truths by still represented as persons of pernicious opinions and practises and their tenents charged to be wicked and they looked upon as turbulent and contemptuous c. Were not the non-conformists themselves looked upon as persons that would undermine and ruin the order and peace of the Church who for such trivial things would make such great rents and breaches marring the beauty and disturbing the unity order and peace of the Church of England sure they cannot yet forget this besides that common charge against them of contumacy against authority These are but the old weapons of the old Serpent only a little new furbished by you for your own use even the weapons which the Bishops wrested out of the hands of the Papists and which ye have wrested out of the hands of the Bishops and they are no better in your hands than they were in theirs They were good in their hands so long as they had authority to make them forcible and they have no more vertue in your hands than what outward authority and power adds to them England was once overflown with this floud of reproaches but now at length this afflicted people waiting in patience on the Lords will they have much vanished the earth helping the woman and persons generally who are any whit sober and come to consider things in fear and meekness find no such matter against them no such opinions or practises or tenents but the truths of God received and held forth in his fear their carriage and behaviour meek and humble void of turbulency and contempt towards any and they freer from designs against authority and orderly government than any sort else whatsoever This is well known in England and it cannot be denyed by the authorities and powers therof how we have still been like lambs suffering from all not contriving or so much as desiring the hurt of any The Lord knows the desire of our souls to be after truth and righteousness and our expectations for the establishing thereof to be fixed on him alone and not on any persons whatsoever but as he pleaseth to appear in them and work by them and whatever happens in the mean time is received as from his hand who ruleth on high over all so that our spirits do not so much as rise against any authorities or instruments that persecute us but we wait on the Lord our God to advantage his truth and bring about good to us thereby and we pity and pray for all who know not what they do blessing the Lord our God who accounteth us worthy to suffer for his names sake in bearing testimony at his command to any though it should be but the least of his truths Therefore take heed of going on in the hardness of your hearts but know what a people in the just judgment of God upon you your lot hath been to persecute whose blood will stick the closer to you and lie so much the heavier upon you by how much the dearer they are to God And though ye plead the safety of the People as being the soveraign Law yet the Lord God knows whether ye have aimed at the safety of the People among you in uprightness of heart or whether ye bring this in also as a further cover There is a double safety the People may justly challenge from you First the safety of their Consciences in a tender searching after truth and further removing out of Babylon Secondly the safety of their estates persons and liberties in this search They did not fly from England to be persecuted by the prevailing part among themselves but to enjoy freedome of conscience in enquiring after the Lord his truth and way of worship and not to be tyed and bound up in a form exalted and established according to the opinions and result of the reasonings of the major part Now whether ye have preserved these Liberties for them and really sought their safety or whether ye have persecuted or made a prey of them for their Conscience sake beyond whatever was done to you here in England or beyond whatever they had been like to suffer had they staid here in England the Lord in his day will righteously judge Ye have judged between Cattle and Cattle the Lord also will judge between Cattle and Cattle and in that day ye will see that as his choice have been your outcasts so your choice is rejected by him and that as his spirit is the abomination of your eyes so your formal way of worship is the loathing of his soul O that ye had eyes to see it that your hearts might not be utterly hardned against the Lord his truths and people even to your utter and eternal destruction Little do ye see poor deceived hearts what a narrow step there is between you and the pit THE Authority and Government which Christ excluded out of his Church c. MATT. 20. vers 25. to 29. But Jesus called them unto him and said ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them and they that are great exercise authority upon them But it shall not be so among you but whosoever will be great among you let him be your Minister And whosoever will be chief among you let him be your servant Even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransome for many And as they departed from Jericho a great multitude followed him HEre Christ cuts off that power and authority which grows up in the corrupt nature of man which was ever and anon springing up even in the Disciples here he wholly excludes it out of his Church and sayes expresly he would have no such thing among them no such kind of greatness no such kind of authority Among the Gentiles there are
can do nothing they cannot convert any man to God but the power that speaketh by them the same power worketh in other mens consciences at its pleasure And here is the beginning of the government of Christ in the heart when his truth carries conviction with it to the conscience and the conscience is drawn to yeild it self up to him then he layes his yoak upon it and takes upon him the guiding of it he cherisheth it he cleanseth it he comforteth it he ordereth it at his pleasure and he alone preserveth it pure chast gentle meek and plyable to the impressions of his Spirit And as the conscience is kept single and tender to Christ so his government increases therein but as it becomes hard or subject to mens wills so another spirit gets dominion over it Therefore the great work of the Minister of Christ is to keep the conscience open to Christ and to preserve men from receiving any truths of Christ as from them further than the spirit opens or to imitate any of their practises further than the spirit leads guides and perswades them For persons are exceeding prone to receive things as truths from those whom they have an high opinion of and to imitate their practises and so hurt their own growth and indanger their souls For if I receive a truth before the Lord by his spirit make it manifest to me I loose my guide and follow but the counsel of the flesh which is exceeding greedy of receiving truths and running into Religious practises without the spirit Therefore the main thing in religion is to keep the conscience pure to the Lord to know the guide to follow the guide to receive from him that light whereby I am to walk and not to take things for truths because others see them to be truths but to wait till the spirit make them manifest to me nor to run into worships duties performances or practises because others are led thither but to wait till the spirit lead me thither He that makes hast to be rich even in religion running into knowledge and into worships and performances before he feel a true and clear guidance shall not be innocent nor the Lord will not hold him guiltless when he comes to visit for spiritual adultery and idolatry The Apostles were exceeding tender in this point for though they certainly and infallibly knew what was to be believed yet they were not Lords over mens faith but waited till he who is Lord of the faith would open the way into mens consciences They did not take upon them to be able to turn the key to let in truth and conviction into mens spirits as men in these dayes have been too apt to undertake but directed them to him who had the key there to wait for the conviction and illumination of their minds and so to receive in as they found him give forth to them Let every man saith the Apostle be fully perswaded in his own mind take heed of receiving things tâ—â— soon take heed of running into practises too soon take heed of doing what ye see others do but wait for your own particular guidance and for a full perswasion from God what is his will concerning you Though I know this to be a truth yet do not ye receive it till God make it manifest to you receive truth from his hand stay till he give it you Indeed the main matter in religion is to keep out the wrong part the forward part the bastardly birth from running into duties catching of openings and laying hold of promises and to feel the heir born of the immortal seed to whom all belongs and that the other birth never afterwards get up above him but be subdued and brought into subjection Again saith the Apostle take heed of doing any thing doubtingly be not forward be not hasty wait for the leading wait for the manifestation of the Spirit Be sure thou receive what thou receives in the faith and practise what thou practises in the faith for whatsoever is not of faith is sin being an error from the principle of life which is to guide and thereby thou loosest ground and dishonourest Christ and comest under condemnation And so the Apostle warns believers to take heed of drawing one another on too fast or of judging one another in such things as some of them might have light in others not He that eateth not to judge him that did not eat and he that did not eat not to judge him that did eat Yea in matters of worship he that observed a day and kept a Sabbath not to judge him that observed not a day or kept not a Sabbath for the Jews which were truly converted yet were hard to be drawn off from the observation of their Sabbath and could hardly bear with the believing Gentiles who were never taught to keep their Sabbath with them but were taught to esteem every day and sanctifie it to the Lord Rom. 14.5 And these who esteemed every day and dedicated it to the Lord ceasing from sin and resting to him for under the Gospel we are not to set up a new type but to enter by faith into the true rest which is the substance of what the other signified could hardly bear with them who observed a day Even in the Apostles dayes Christians were too apt to strive after a wrong unity and uniformity in outward practises and observations and to judge one another unrighteously in these things And mark it is not the different practise from one another that breaks the peace and the unity but the judging of one another because of different practises He that keeps not a day may unite in the same spirit in the same life in the same love with him that keeps a day and he who keeps a day may unite in heart and soul with the same spirit and life in him who keeps not a day but he that judgeth the other because of either of these errs from the spirit from the love from the life and so breaks the bond of unity And he that draws another to any practise before the life in his own particular lead him doth as much as in him lies to destroy the soul of that person vers 15. This was the Apostles rule for every one to perform singly to the Lord what he did and not for one to meddle with the light or conscience of another undervaluing his brother or judging him because his light and practises differed from his vers 10. of that 14. chap. but every one to keep close to their own measure of light even to that proportion of faith and knowledge which God of his mercy hath bestowed on them And here is the true unity in the Spirit in the inward life and not in an outward uniformity That was not necessary in the Apostles dayes nor is it necessary now and that eye which so dotes upon it overlooks the one thing which is necessary Men keeping close to God the Lord will
pretended Rev. 12.15 For the Dragon which persecuted her having now gained her ground had set up another woman fot the true Church and had decked her richly Rev. 17.4 insomuch as she was admired for her beauty by all the Kings and inhabiters of the earth ver 2. but she which was indeed the true woman was trampled upon and despised even by all the outward worshippers in the outward court all over the world Rev. 11.2 And if those of the Synnagogue of Satan could contend to be the true Jews and the true Church even while the true Church was standing Rev. 3.9 no marvel though they carry it clear in their several forms and disguises all the time of her flight and absence especially they appearing both in the place where she once was and in her very dress and here is the eye of Gods spirit and of the wisdom he gives to his babes tryed even to discern and fly from her here Let her paint never so often change her dresses in every hour of reformation come nearer and nearer into the likeness of the true Church yet that which is born of the truth espieth her and the young man whose care is kept open to the voice of wisdom which uttereth it self in the immortal seed escapeth her bed and is not defiled with the great Whore nor with any of her women or daughters who are borne of her after her spirit though they deny her and seem much to differ from her according to the flesh Rev. 14.4 Enter into the mistery of life from out of the reach of the spirit of witchcraft and read me here that in the true eternal light of all the living thou maist perceive the mistery of deceit and escape as a bird from the snare and live Now the true Church being thus fled what becomes of her seed they must needs be scattered they can no more be found in a body as before there is now but a remnant left which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ and those the Dragon applies himself still to manage the war against Rev. 12.17 And the Beast to whom the Dragon gave his power Rev. 13.2 and upon whom the false Church was found sitting even to the very last Rev. 17.3 did not only make war with the Saints but also overcome them and this power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and Nations ver 7. of chap. 13. So that the holy City was to be kept down and trampled under foot by the false worshippers under one form or appearance of Church-worship or other all the time of the Beasts reign Rev. 11.2 And as the Beast did kill them so the woman that sat upon the Beast drunk their blood Rev. 17.6 For mark the Dragon the first Beast the second Beast with the false Church are all in unity together drive on their war and design under disguises and appearances of truths Church-worship and discipline against the Lamb his followers against every appearance of Christ in his truth people And every where where he can get into any form without the power there he manageth his war by the form against the power Thus in Popery by crying up holy Church holy Church he knocks down al the springings up of truth there so in Episcopacy by crying up that form how did he knock down the buildings up of the true life and power there also And if he be driven out there then he stands ready to enter into the next form either of Presbytery or Independency that he may not want the advantage of a cover to keep his war on foot still against the Saints and the truths of Christ and here lies his strength and the liker his form is to that which once was true the better it serves to cover him and he has better advantage of fighting under it against Christ his truths and people than under another which is not so like But Antichrists reign who hath taken the name upon him without the nature and so persecuted the true nature being covered with the name is to have an end yea blessed be the Lord it is in part ended and the Lambs day is already begun the outstretched arme of the Lords everlasting power is revealed and revealing more and more yea Babylon is already discovered her waters are dryed up her nakedness under all her coverings is seen her very life and spirit is struck at her kingdom totters dayly the stakes also of Zions tabernacle are strengthening daily and the Lord is stretching out her curtains and inlarging her territories and the wrath issues out more and more from the Throne and dreadful woes and plagues are prepared for them who are either upholding any old likenesses of what once was true or setting up any new ones in this day of Gods power wherein he is redeeming and bringing forth the life it self Is it not plain that the Beast or Antichrist who sat in the Tem-of God ruling there as a Beast by outward force without the inward life and power 2 Thes 2.4 had power given him to continue his war against the Saints till the very expiration of the forty two months Rev. 13.5 and was not this power given him over all kindreds and Tongues and Nations ver 7. Did not the false Church or false woman till the very end of this time in one appearance or other under some form of worship or other sometimes in a grosser and more loathsome sometimes in a finer and more taking dress still goe for the true Church being upheld by the Kings and inhabiters of the earth who all drank of her cup of fornication Rev. 17.2 4. Was not the holy City or true Church trod under foot all this while in every kindred nation c. by the heathenish spirit of the Antichristian Christians therein who made a great shew of zeal and worship in the outward court Rev. 11.2 For while the holy City is to remain unbuilt he that will worship in it must sink into its ruins and lye desolate with it but he that will be building before Gods time rejects the corner stone which lies hid in the ruins of this City and so builds up a Babylon to which though he gives the name of Zion yet it is not so in truth but Zion lies underneath in the dust trampled upon and set at nought by him and his building Now shall the forty two months never have an end and shall the holy City never rise again from under the feet of the Antichristian professors and worshippers in the outward Court shall the walls of Zion never be built more or is it to be expected when the Lord begins to build her up and bring her forth that ever any of the false Churches should own her O fear therefore before the Lord every one entring into that in his own heart which being hearkened unto teacheth the fear and breaketh the pride loftiness and conceitedness of the high
imagining mind which first builds up with apprehensions about Church Religion and worship without the spirit and then is offended with that which cannot bow to those images But be it known unto you O Nations and Powers of the Earth that the Lord hath raised up a people whose knees can alone bow at the name of Jesus and whose tongues can alone confess to him And if Nebuchadnezzars spirit should heat a furnace of affliction seven times hotter then it hath yet been heated all this dâ—y of the cruel sufferings of Gods dear people and threaten all with it that will not bow to the image or form of worship which he sets up yet this we know assuredly that the Lord hath begotten a seed which he can deliver and which we do not doubt but he will deliver let Antichrists Sea Waves roare never so loud against them But however bow to any image they cannot for they have tasted of the living truth it self which hath made them free from such images and idols wherein they were before intangled and the spirit of the Lord calleth aloud to them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath set them free and not to receive any more the yoke of bondage upon their necks but to draw under the sweet gentle yoak of his Spirit O England England how sad is thy state how great mighty things hath the Lord done in thee but thou still overlookest his hand and art offended with the work of his Spirit because it sutes not with thy fleshly desires and interests O England England what will become of thee the Lord hath kindled his sire and thou addest fewel daily The Lord is arisen to make inquisition for the sufferings and blood of his people and thou instead of repenting of what thou hast done art greedy of more Thou hast deeply drunk of the whores cup of fornication and that makes thee thus thirsty after the Saints blood Thou cryest out against those that put the Martyrs to death as the professing Jews did against those that put the Prophets to death and yet persecutest their Spirit wherever it appears in further prosecution of the work of reformation at this day even as the Jews did persecute the Spirit of the Prophets in Christ and his Apostles O mourn to the Lord to open thine eyes that thou maist not thus stand any longer in his way Let him bring forth his Church let him set up his truth let him advance his people and do not thou go about to limit the spirit of the holy one in them There 's none of these will harm thee but bring blessings upon thee Let thy Governors keep within their bounds and be a defence upon all people in their just rights and liberties and see if from that day he do not bless thee But if there be one thing in the Lords heart concerning his people and another thing in thine if he resolve to bring them forth to his praise and to give them their liberty in their obedience to his Spirit thou resolve they shall come under thy yoaks and bonds how can ye agree your wrath by this means must needs be kindled against each other and he that hath most strength will carry it For as the day of your wrath is come to see the people of God so increase and grow bold in his truth and power so the day of his wrath is come to see his people so reproached hated hunted and persecuted for his names sake Revel 11.18 And take heed lest upon that spirit which in this generation still continues persecuting the sufferings persecutions and blood of all the Saints and Martyrs shed all the time of Antichrists raign be not required The blood of all the Prophets from Abel to Zacharias was required of that great professing generation of the Jews who spake such great words of Moses and the Prophets but persecuted Christ and his Apostles Mat. 23.35 And the blood of all the souls that lie under the Altar crying how long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth They were bid to rest a little season and then the blood of all that ever was slain since the Apostles dayes is to be required on that generation of professors who are found even to the very last in the persecuting spirit Revel 6.10 11. I do not write this to reproach any sort of professors but in true love and bowels of compassion that such among them as ever had any tast of God and of his sweet meek spirit but are now grown hard and found smiting their fellow servants may if it be possible hear the Lords voyce which yet tenderly calls after them that they may not be cut in pieces and receive their portion of wrath with Babylon Mat. 24.49 50 51. Revel 18.4 As for me I am poor and weak a worm and no man one who hath been a mourner and wanderer in a strange land all my dayes yea I have been that fool who though I have often been very neer yet still knew not the way to the city of my God Eccles 10.15 and at present I am very unworthy and unfit to be an instrument in the Lords hand for the reclaiming of any man from his wanderings Yet this I can in truth and uprightness say concerning the Lords gracious dealings with me that in the bowels of his mercy he hath visited me and turned my face towards his Zion and in his life and Spirit as he pleaseth to keep me fresh and open I know both my way and my leader and also that which is mine enemy which continually endeavoureth to betray and devour me And I speak the truth in Christ I lie not I know also what I have felt wrath and misery upon and that what the Lord hath so long and so severely smitten in me he will not spare in others O that men could hear and avoid my bed of torment where I suffered a most dreadful and terrible hell for many years bear with me for I cannot call it less though without either guilt upon my Spirit or fear of wrath being justified before God in my own conscience till afterwards under long continuance of misery and thick darkness some guilt was contracted and having a secret root of hope concerning good from God if once I might appear in his presence to plead my cause there Who can possibly believe the misery I endured if it were related and yet it had not the least mixture of either of these in it for a long time But after this through the ignorance and thick darkness wherewith I had been long overwhelmed not knowing what had been and still was present with me the tempter by his subtilty got in and led out my mind from what had visited and sought after me all my dayes to wait and hope for some great appearance to set me to rights and here my loss was very great my soul being hereby