have seen this People when they have come amongst us when I was a Hearer of Simon Ford into the very Assemblies and though they have said very little what a Confusion was there among the Teachers and Hearers And sometimes I have seen them two or three that came into this Place which was suffered by the Judgment through Fire to be laid waste that they have come into the Assembly at Alballows with Sack-cloth and Ashes upon their Heads bare-foot and bare-headed which I did at that very time very much strange at And another time I saw ano her come into the School when they were acting their pa t s in strange Dresses and wished them to train up their Children in the Fear of the Lord and they did lay violently upon him with their Sticks so that I was much troubled to see it And several times I have cryed and prayed to God to know why was it so that this People came amongst us after this manner what is the matter with them notwithstanding though it be so and they are never so uncomely yet if this be thy People give me an Understanding concerning of it for thou knowst what my soul travels after And before I joyned with them it was very hard for me to deny my self and become a Fool by reason of my great Acquaintance and Business in way of my Trade I thought I did not care if I had been of any Religion so I had not been of that Many of my Acquaintance would make a Mock at me so one time I purposed to go to Halson Horse Race about two Miles off Northampton then if went thither I thought they would not take notice of me for such an one but as soon as I come I thought they took notice of me and said What we hear you are turned Quaker but the Lord knew what Pain my soul was in at that time but I thought long to get by my self to cry and pray to God and comeing home my Brother M. came with me for I know his very heart was concerned for me at that time but there was such a Load and Pain fell upon me at that time that made me cry out with many tears running down my Cheeks Lord God of Heaven have Mercy upon me what shall I do to be saved Lord God of Heaven have Mercy upon me what shall I do to be saved â—o he fell a crying to me and said What ayleth thee Brother the Lord will have Mercy upon thee And I knew not any one living in all the world that could afford me any Comfort except the God of Heaven did Neighbours Acquaintance I write no Lye to you this day God is my witness and so long I do believe as my Brother hath Life and Sense he will not forget that time as he hath told me since And about this time there were several of this People carried out dead out of the County Goal which lay in the Dungeon FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS which I know not but might be by Reason of the Straitness of the Place as they were confined in and for want of common Air And then I began to enquire what was the matter and I could not understand that any thing was laid to their Charge except it was as concerning the worship of their God and then I wished if they suffered for God's sake and for Righteousness sake that I might suffer with them too for I did not care if they burned me if I was sure it was for God's sake but all the Business was to know whether I should be sure of it So J discoursed with some of my Neighbours and Acquaintance they said it was a Fancy and a Whimsie Bewitching and Delusion and after this rate they talked but the Lord knew my heart was it a Whimsie and Delusion and Bewitching to cry and pray to God to have Mercy upon my soul when my dayes were at an End The Lord knew this was is the very intent breathing of my soul and if this was Delusion I will be deluded more for I am sure God hath promised Seek and you shall find knock and it shall be opened and do they say this is but a Fancy and a Whimsie And many times I have gone into the field and I have got into a Land of Corn in private when no Eye or Ear hath seen or heard me and there have I kneeled down and prayed and cryed to God and pleaded with him as I was created and he my Creator and I had a soul to be saved that he would not withhold himself from me for I knew not any one living upon the Face of the whole Earth that I could have any Comfort in if thou O thou God of Heaven and Earth didst not help me and whither should I go or how should I pray for thou O God of Heaven and Earth Hast the Words of Eternal Life and I shall not let thee rest till thou hast Mercy upon me for I cannot trust my Salvation upon this man's Faith or the other man's Faith but upon thee O thou God of Heaven and Earth alone and after this manner J went on And J was a great lover of Musick and many times as J have been thinking of God and of the Condition that J was in it would have brought trouble upon me so that many times I have took my Cittern or Treble Viol or any instrument as I had most Delight in thinking to drive away these Thoughts and I have been so troubled as I have been playing that J have laid my instrument down and have reasoned with my self after this manner and fell a crying to God it is true I love this Musick but what good can these sounds do me when my soul wants Peace with God and this doth but stir up Laughter and Lightness of Spirit to make me forget my Maker and this will I last but a little while and I had better seek my Peace with God and then At his Right Hand there is Pleasures for evermore and these thoughts I had then So that my Musick began to be a Burden to me and J would fain have sold them my Intruments but that I had not Freedom in my Mind to do for if J did those who bought them would have made use of them as I did and J thought J would not be the Cause of it so J took as many as I suppose cost forty Shilling and BURNED THEM and had great Peace in my mind in doing of it which is more to me then all the Pleasures in this world And often I have cried to God and said as the Scriptures say Thou art no Respecter of Persons though I am but a poor simple man why may not I know as much of thee as to my Salvation as another man since my Sinceâ—ity is before thee and thou seest what my Heart earnestly breaths after for it was not this Name or that Name that I minded but Peace with God
your rule see how contrary you walk to it and say it is impossible to be done and Christ he said Mat. 7.14 Because strait is the Gate and narrow is the Way which leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it The Saints they were persecuted and imprisoned and Christ said For if they do these things in a green Tree what shall be done in the dry Luke 23.31 If they persecuted me they will persecute you also if they regarded not my Sayings they will not regard yours I pray you do but look back which look more like Saints those as assemble themselves together in your Assemblies or these whom Christ spake of who are persecuted for Righteousness sake and truly I look upon these to be Real Saints and had rather take my Portion among such in this day if it be in Persecution then to enjoy the Pleasures of sin for a season And when I came amongst this People at first what a strangeness did it Cause amongst my very Relations and Acquaintance insomuch that my nearest Relations were stirred up in Envâ—â—nd Bitterness against me some signifying as if I had not been fit to live upon the Earth and the Lord knows I had no other Desire in my Heart but to do that which my God-fathers God-mothers as they call them promised I should do as is the Custom now adays which People talk of but if they come to do it they rise up as an Army against them Father against the Son and Daughter against the Mother and All Evil-doers against Christ's Appearances spiritually so that in effect they say They will not have this man to rule over us and whoever he be that is a true spiritual Traveller will find these things to be true And that was That I should forsake the Devil and all his works the vain Pomps and Vanities of this wicked world the sinful lusts of the flesh and so forth but as long as I could talk of these things and not do them no notice was took of me as to be offended with me but when I came to do these things what a do was here and whath strangeness did it beget amomgst my very familiar Acquaintance And God is my witness at this time it is the very end of my Travel in Spirit To make my Peace with God when my dayes are at an end And now Neighbours and Acquaintâ—â—â—â— I being one that have had hard speeches cast upon me by some of you I thought I could not be clear in the sight of God and man till I had acquainted you how it was with me from a Child to this day which I hope will give no occasion of Offence to any but could heartily wish that you may not be alwayes Professors but Possessors of that Life which is beyond all the Profession in the world and that you may know the Lord's will to be done in your hearts as it is in Heaven and then you will pray as you should do and know what to pray for And truly my loving Neighbours and Acquaintance if it had been possible for you to have seen the inside of me I have told you the very Travel of my soul in these things and what I have here will I have had the Experience of and do not think it is a Whimsie or a Fancy and a Delusion to serve God it is your Concern as well as mine your souls lie in danger of Ruin as well as mine hath done and therefore for the Lord's sake consider these things which belong to your everlasting peace before they be hid from your Eyes for here is but a little while before your dayes be at an End and we shall see man no more and what is all this world worth then it is not all the words of earthly wisemen though called Teaches of this age or any man that can justifie you if God condemn you by his Light and Spirit in your own hearts theâ—efore for the Lord's sake think not that God will be mocked nor make not sleight of these things for such as you sow you must reap Your souls lie in danger of everlasting Misery anâ— it is an inward Reformation a new heart a riâ—ht spirit as God looks for of us all and it is the earnest Breathing of my soul you may seek after it as well as myself And now you my loving Neighbours and Acquaintance of this Town of Northampton where among you I have drawn my first breath how hath my heart been pained to behold the Ruins of this poor Town and I have and do from my very soul desire that this Affliction which God hath sent amongst us may be for the better and not for the worse And it is not long since there was another warning by Thunder Lightning and Hail-storm such that in all my daye I do not know I have heard or seen the like what Dread and Fear were the poor Inhabitants in at that time Oh that you would have kept your minds exercised as I do beleive some did and had some Sense of the Dread 〈◊〉 Fear of this Terrible God that can shake terribly the Earth 〈◊〉 make the Inhabitants fear bâ—fore him I say what Fear were they in at that time running up and down thinking that the Town had been fired by Reason of the Lightning that was at that time The Lord grant that you may be of that Principle or Religion as it hath been my desire from a Child to be of that Religion which would endure a Thunder-clap that is if God should have called me or you to Judgment at that very time we might be ready with Oyl in our Lamps and not Put it off to buy when the Bridgroom comes for blessed be God at that very time I do not speak it for any Praise among you God is my witness but as I felt it upon my Spirit at that very time I could sing for Joy in my Spirit when others were running up and down in Dread and Fear and for ever my soul shall trust in this God who is mighty to save and mighty to destroy God blessed forever And the very Inhabitants themselves could not but at that time confess that God had sent another Judgment amongst them in my hearing but yet for all this what blasPheming the Name of God is here and Drunkenness and all manner of Wickedness almost committed Envy Malice and Hatred and what not insomuch that some have told me several times that you think in your Conscience you are a great deal worse then you were before the Fire and why is it so with you for the Lord's sake consider what will become of you that go on in this resolute way God will not alwayes strive with you put not I beseech you this day of the Lord afar off but while it t s to day harden not your Hearts I would intreat you that you would look back for about this twenty years what have this poor scorned People of God called Quakers
herds We do not encounter with you with Swords or Spears but in the Name of the Lord we go on and here the Lord hath given strength and patience to suffer whatever hath come upon his poor People for the trial of their Faith So that They are more then Conquerers through him that hath loved them as above twenty Years Experience can witness since the Lord first brought them forth out of this Northern Part of this Nation and this is that Lamb's Spirit in which we war of which God hath said Shall have the Victory And do not think t is Excommunication or rending our Goods from us or Banishment or any other thing that shall be ever able To separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord And if Christ be not In Vs we are Reprobates and if it were not that this Principle of God were in us and if we did not know and enjoy something that was above this world we were of all people as the Scripture saith Of all men in the World the most miserable For indeed the Case is God's as we are concerned in and if he doth not carry it on in us we cannot go any further and this is that City that God hath set on a Hill which cannot he hid For alas Our Profession is as empty as any Profession if we find not this Principle of God in our Consciences to prosper which teacheth us to deny all Ungodliness and if it be but a Sigh or a Groan a Cry or a Tear that cometh from an Honest Heart God hath regard to it for alas though there may be tricks that men may shufle or cut one with another we cannot deal so with this Alseeing God with whom we have to do for alas without God we can do nothing therefore it is to this Principle in your Consciences I direct you for no further then you find me plead for God no longer own me My Neighbours and Acquaintance of this Town of Northampton I pray you do you but a little consider what Condition were you in suddenly after this Judgment of God that was amongst us by Fire at which time we met one another several with Tears in their Eyes telling one another of their Losses by this sad Judgment Oh what a tender Frame of Spirit were many of you in then O that you had kept to that and it would have been greatly for your good for then you would have gone forward in that which is good till you had found Reconciliation and Establishment with your Maker and you would have remembred his Judgments and Mercy have spoken of them to his Praise but how little is this minded now So that many live as if there were no God! To hear the great Abominations that are committed in your streets is a greif to he upright now as such things were a grief to the upright in all ages Oh that these things may be considered laid to heart amended therefore it be too late for our days are swiftly passing over as a Weavers Shuttle and as a tale that is told The Lord grant that unto this Humble tender Frame of Spirit you may come and not let those former Afflictions slip out of your Remembrance for God hath promised he will Not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax but if your Sins were as Scarlet he would make them as wooll if as Crimson he would make them as Snow and this is the Lord 's doing and it is marvelous in our Eye and this is that humble way that my soul hath found Favour with him and for ever my soul shall praise him And I know not how few my dayes may be amongst you yet this is my Testimony and my Belief concerning this People those of them as are faithful I could wish I could say so for all as are called so that they are the People of God So whether you will be reconciled to this Princip e of God in your Conscience or no I am clear in my self concerning you Who am a Well-wisher to your immortal Souls John Mulliner THE END
when my dayes were at an End Then as to my Employment of Periwig making it is more then twelve years since I began to make them much might be said for the making of them by some yet much questioning reasoning have I had within my self for some years so that at some times I have been troubled when I have been making of them and I could not tell what was the Reason of my Trouble except that was and sometimes when I have seen some of my Friends come in I have been ready to put them out of my sight and could not go on with any Content but Trouble so long as they were looking on me and some have spoke to me and told me They thought I did not do well in making of them to this purpose they have spoken and many times I have reasoned with my self after this manner what need I make such ado and be so much concerned there is hardly any man but is desirous of a good Head of Hair and if Nature doth not afford it if there be an Art to make a Decent Wig or Border what harm is that Object But are there not several of thy Friends who wear Borders and are accounted honest men Answ As for those whose Hair is wasted fallen and gone off their Heads through infirmity of Body and for want of it do find that their health is impaired or lessened if such do wear short Borders so their health sake and for no other End or Cause whatsoever I judge them not but let none make a pretence that they wear Borders or Wigs for their Health when in Reallity another thing is the Cause for God the Righteous Judge sees in Secret and he hates Pride Hypocrisie the spirit of which is judged for ever to be judg'd with all its fruits by the Lord and his People And let all those who have Hair growing upon their heads sufficient to serve them I mean what is really needful or useful be content therewith and not find fault with their own Hair and cut it off and lust after and put on others Hair And further thus I reasoned is there not some of thy Friends who make them sell Hair for the making of them and drive a great Trade and what do J not think that they have not as much Care to go to Heaven as J have and what need J make such ado and be so concerned But all this would not do but here lay that which was very near me that was if God should call me to account at this very time while J am reasoning after this manner whether or no J could stand clear in his sight and make them for if J stood condemned in God's sight it was not this man's making of them nor the other man's wearing of them that would justifie me in God's sight for if God condemns me in my Conscience J know no man living who can justifie or take away that Guilt And here J stood in this Condition for some time and the Lord knew the travel of my soul in these things and J knew not what J should do to be cleared of them so that J have been almost out of Hopes sometime and said within my self and cried J am afraid J shall dye with this upon my Conscience and then what will become of me hereafter and how can J stand clear in the sight of God that am condemned for it in my Conscience But my Prayers and Cryes were for God to deliver me for J could not deliver my self out of it but here J lay one day after another crying to God to be delivered So suddenly after our dreadful fire in which J was wi h the rest of my Neighbours a Partaker of that Judgment then J was more concerned then before so that J knew not what to do to get over it it lay so hard upon me to bear But still this cursed Enemy of my Soul this SELF-END Spirit began to work with me again and reason with me after this manner what am I resolved to ruin my self and turn away all if J do leave this J must expect to lose a great deal of my Trimming Trade and J had better leave off that then leave off this Periwig-making it fits so well with me in the Condition J am in by Reason of my Lameness J had a considerable Trade in it with several of my Acquaintance in Town and Country and some of them are Persons of Quality and wish me very well and if J leave that J shall disoblige them much and what will J do then am J minded to undo my self But still there was an inward Cry in me Lord save my soul for that lies at stake and it is that J plead for and J care not what J go through so my soul may have Peace with thee when my dayes are at an End for my soul is for Everlasting but this Trouble cannot last long These things stuck very hard with me that made me cry out night and day Lord deliver me and help me over this Weight and Pain that is upon my Spirit and J care not what J do so J may be clear of them So through much TROUBLE OF SPIRIT J was willing to leave them But this would not clear me but as I had been a publick Professor of this Employment for some time I must bear my Testimony against them and that was I should send for my two men as I had instructed in that way and tell them how I was troubled and take a Wig and burn it before them as a Testimony for God against them But this was very hard but no Peace could I have before I did it and much Pain and Sorrow I had before I did it and no Comfort but Torment of mind I had till I had given up to do it so according to the Pain and Sorrow that lay hard upon me I gave up to do it and I thank God I have much Ease Comfort of Mind since I have done it for the Lord hath not put me upon any thing but what he hath given me strength to go through and he is not a hard Master and I have great Peace and Comfort in what I have done which is more to me then all the Perishing Fading things in this world And whoever he be that doth expect Peace with God in himself he must know a Cross to his own Will to cross his sinful thoughts Words and Actions and whatever he knows God requires of him he must do it though it be a great Cross to him though it is very hard to Flesh and Blood Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven but a man must be born again And as truly it is witnessed as ever it was writ in the Scripture God's People this day do know this spiritual Birth Blessed be God for ever and they travel in Spirit till God gives Encrease and delivers them And I am sure and can speak by Experience
A TESTIMONY Against Periwigs and Periwig-Making and Playing on Instruments of Musick among CHRISTIANS or any other in the days of the Gospel Being several Reasons against those things By one who for Good Conscience sake hath denyed and forsaken them John Mulliner But God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world Gal. 6.14 But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth 1 Tim. 5.6 Wo to the Crown of Pride Isa 38.1 Wo to them that are at ease in Zion trust in the mountain of Samaria which are named chief of the nations to whom the house of Israel came Passe ye unto Calneh and see and from thence go ye to Hemath the great then go down to Gath of the Philistines be they better then these kingdoms or their border greater then your border Ye that put far away the evil day cause the seat of violence to come near That lie upon beds of ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches and eat the lambs out of the flock and the calves out of the midst of the stall That chaunt to the sound of the viol and invent to themselves instruments of musick like David That drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the chief ointments but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph Amos 6.1 2 3 4 5 6. It is better to go to the House of Mourning then to go the House of Feasting for that is the end of all men and the living will lay it to heart Sorrow is better then Laughter for by the sadness of the Countenance the heart is made better Eccles 7.2 3. Printed in 〈◊〉 Year 1677 The Reasons why John Mulliner Barber in Northampton left off his Imployment of Borders and Periwig-making and how it was with him as to his Inward Condition before he Joyned with the People of God in scorn called Quakers as also his Testimony for them and his earnest Desires to his Neighbours and Acquaintance of the Town of Northampton that they would as well as himself be reconciled to the Principle of God in their Conscience now after this Judgment of God that hath been upon this Town by Fire Loving Neighbours and Acquaintance SInce I have left off my Imployment of making Borders and Periwigs it hath occasioned several of you to speak hardly of me and many Reports there are and have been concerning of it insomuch that I have been told I have made my self a Town and Country-talk Now for the clearing of my self and the Truth of God in which I am concerned and your Understandings it hath been much in my Mind to acquaint you with the Reasons why I left it which I would fain have avoyded and not to appeared so openly amongst you for I have sent several Letters to some Persons whom I have been concerned with in Town and Country to let them know why I left them but this would not satisfie me but as I have been a publick Professor of this Employment for many years I found I could not be clear in the sight of God and man till I had publickly given my Reason why I left it off and likewise how it was with me as to my inward Codition before I joyned with this People of God who are in Scorn called Quakers Ever since I was about ten or twelve years of age that I began to think that there was a God it hath been my earnest Breathing desire to know Peace with him and often when I was walking in the field I have thought that the very Fowls of the Air and the Beasts of the Field were in a better Condition then I was if I did not know Peace with God when my Dayes were at an End And it hath been my earnest Cry to God in the time of my Apprentiship and since as I have been walking in the Field other Places as I have been in private by myself that I had rather have my HELL or Sorrrw Trouble here in this life then to endure the Everlasting DISPLEASVRE of the God of Heaven hereafter and in order to this good desire which was begotten in me by the Lord I did love to wirte Sermons to hear the best of Teachers as I thought then which I have gone two Miles to hear in the time of my Apprentiship rather then I would have gone to sport or play my time away and at that time as I have been going I have cryed and begged of God That I might not miss of something that might be for my Soul 's good when my dayes were at an End And after this manner have I gone out in those dayes and since I came to the Town of Northampton to set up for my Trade I was a great Hearer of Simon Ford who belonged to the Parish of Albollows and I have writ his Sermons and after I had done I have come home and locked my self in and took my Bible and read the Scriptures and after I have read his Sermons and have laid them before me and have kneeled down and cryed and prayed to God that if there was any thing in them whereby I might come to the Knowledge of God's Everlasting Truth that he would not Withhold himself from me that I â—â—ght have an Vnderstanding of it For Lord I have said thou knowest my Desire is before thee and that I did not beg for any thing in this life but for my Soul's Peace with thee when my dayes were at an End And the more I prayed and cryed the more Trouble I had so that I knew not what to do I was so much distressed but I thought to go to Simon Ford who was my Teacher in hopes he would have satisfied me but finding that I could not declare my Condition as I had felt it upon my Spirit for some time I took a sheet of Paper and writ my Condition and read it to him how that I was in great trouble night and day so that I could not tell what to do though I had writ his Sermons and laid them before me and cryed and prayed to God that he would give me a true Understanding of his way that I might have my Soul saved when my dayes were at an End And much more I did write to this Purpose which writing some of my Neighbours at that time did see as I shewed it to them So he confessed these were good desires and could say little against me but after pretty much discourse to this Purpose he advised me to read a Book which I did get and read it but no Comfort could I get from him nor the Book neither though I went to him and several more of that Coat several times before I joyned with this People called Quakers And I was satisfied that there was that in me that time that no man could satisfie except the God of Heaven appear in h m And sometimes I
preached amongst you but this principle to have People mind God in their Conscience and to be faithful to what they know of God and what hard measure have they met with how have they been stocked and stoned and whipped and imprisoned their Goods rended from them and for nothing but for God's sake to keep their Conscience clear in his sight And how have some sealed it with their Blood and still are ready though patient Suffering in his Power God be magnified for it with their Lives given up and if God should suffer them to be brought to the stake for the Testimony of Jesus And let the Rain fall and the Wind blow and the Storms beat they are anchored upon that Rock Christ Jesus which the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against And do not think that this Pearl of great price which they have sold all for they will part with for nothing or for the Glory of this World which perisheth and this I say of them that are faithful to God in what they know they are the People of God and there is no more required of any of us but to be faithful to what we know be it much or little So this is my Testimony for this people if I should write no more for I wait for my Dissolution nor I know not how few my dayes may be amongst you And now you my loving Neighbours and Acqaintance since it hath been the Good Pleasure of the God of Heaven to send this Affliction of Lameness upon me so that in the prime of my age my strength is taken from me I Care not charge God with Injustice nor murmure against him he is Just and Righteous in all his wayes and if he had not sent this Affliction upon me I know not whether I should have been conformable to his Heavenly Will but in Love and Tenderness to my soul hath he suffered this Exercise to come upon me and I have for ever Cause to bless his Name that ever he hath dealt with me after this manner if he never restore me to my former strength again his Will be done though to look at it it is very hard and I know I am an Object of Pity to many of you but why should I murmur at it Shall the Pot say to the Potter why hast thou made me thus No I shall not but bless his Name that ever he hath spared me to this day that I should answer what he required of this poor weak Body of mine and this is the greatest Joy and Comfort of my Soul that as I have found my strength go from me outwardly my Faith and Hope and Strength hath renewed in God inwardly And here I have great Cause of Joy and Comfort and to God let the Honour and Praise be who is worthy overall blessed for ever and for evermore faith my soul And one thing more I would desire of you to have a Care of speaking slightingly of the Spirit of God and Christ and making a Mock thereat as some have done as saying What the Spirit will not let you do this or that Let me prevail with you to have a Care what you say as to this thing lest you sin the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost I have wondered when some men have spoke to me after this manner who profess to be VVise and Religious should offer to speak so slightingly of this Spiritual Appearance of Christ for if ever you know God you must know him Spiritually For God is a Spirit and they that worshlp him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth And do you not read how The Spirit wars against the flesh and the flesh against the Spirit And to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace but to be carnally minded is Death And again Quench not the Spirit Grieve not the Holy Spirit whereby ye are sealed unto the day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesie your old men shall dream dreams your young men shall see visions Joel 2.28 And several more Scriptures there are that we may read concerning their spiritual Conditions but this spiritual Appearance of Christ is so mocked and scorned at that when any of God's People are brought before some you are ready to say what you are troubled with he Spirit you cannot swear you cannot give us Respect you must come with theeing thouing in your mouths and be brought before whom you will all is one to you Blessed be God that it is so that there is a People have more regard to please God then to please any man living as to these things Some time I have had concerns wi h some of you that rather then I would have come before you with my hat on if I could have been clear in God's sight I had rather have lain at your Feet but at any time if I did not stand faithful to this small thing as you count of what Pain and Sorrow have I had quickly after it in my Conscience that I knew I had not done well in it and it hath caused me to cry sometimes to God surely I shall take more care next time Now if you would but keep to your rule the Scriptures as you reckon them methinks you need not be so much offended whenas the Scriptures speak against having men's Persons in Admiration because of Advantage He that respects mens Persons commits sin Christ saith Learn of me I am meek and lowly and you shall find rest to your souls Who learns Lowliness of him will not take Offence at those who in Obedience to him speak his Language Thee and Thou to a single Person and who wear their Hats upon their Heads for which they were made If men would but truly come to serve the Lord their God in their Hearts it would teach them better manners one to another then a few dissembling Titles of Honour and worshipful with the Cap and Knee I pray you what do they all signifie but to make men proud amd there is too much of that already But this let them do Do-justly love Mercy and walk humbly with their God and then there will be no Offence taken And why should you take Occasion at Thee or Thou in the Scripture you may plentifully see that when the Servants of God went to declare his VVord to the Kings they went and said Thou O King hear the Word of the L rd and in your very Prayers when you pray to God do you not say Thou Lord or Thou God And what do you expect better Language then you give to the God of Heaven which if you should say You it would be Nonsense and People would think such were not in their wits as should say You Lord or You God Then again this Rule saith that formerly it was said in the time of the Law Thou shalt not forswear thy self but Christ Who is the
end of the Law for Righteousness sake to every one that believeth Rom. 10.4 saith Swear not at all but let your Yea be Yea and your Nay be Nay Mat. 5.34 And James saith Above all things my Brethren swear not Jam. 5.12 And now you can make some by your Law pay for swearing and others have got money by swearing and others you would force contrary to the Command of Christ and their Conscience to swear and because they would not swear they have been imprisoned some until death and I pray you do but see what Confusion here is amongst you Much more might be said from several Places of the holy Sc iptures as to the pressing of you to a holy godly living but many o you will not but even Hate to be reformed I verily think there may be some that are tender hearted that have a Love for God but yet to leave all the Glory and Vanities of the world and deny themselves to Follow him appears to them very hard but this you must do fever you know Peace with God And as sure as ever the Scriptures declare of it for as Christ said He that loveth any thing more then me is not worthy of me For verily I do look upon it to be man's greatest Happiness and Felicity to be a true Servant of Gold and the most Honourablest Title in the VVorld to be a true Christian for their Name is had in everlasting Remembrance when the Name of the wicked shall not and therefore let them mock and scorn if they will the day will come that God will clear the Innocency of his people and think not that it is impossible to know God as his People did formerly when it was said that they Did taste and see how good the Lord was and they Tasted and Handled of the Good Word of Life And do not think it is enough to believe as Your Church believes and because your Ancesto s went in this way you may and what should you trouble your selves any further and truly if I could have been satisfied here my self I would willingly have went along with you but I could not though many times with Tears I have cryed to God and said why cannot I be satisfied to do as such who are esteemed wise understanding men that I must separate from them and become a Scoff and a Scorn to them but blessed be God he hath made known himself spiritually to a little Remnant who have followed him through the great Tribulations and blessed be his Name for ever he hath confirmed the Truth of it to this poor People under his hand and seal as it were by his eternal Spirit so that they do taste and handle of this good VVord of Life as they keep faithful to him in what they know for no more God requires of me nor you for if it but one Talent if we keep faithful and improve it it was said Well done faithful Servant thou hast been faithful in a little I will make thee Ruler over much enter thou into the Joy of the Lâ—rd So it is Unfaithfulness to God as is cursed in the inward parts The Lord give you an Understanding of these things is my earnest Desire for God is my witness I have no ill will to any of you but my earnest Desire is for you as for my own self to pray and beseech you to be reconciled to God and not to grieve and quench his Holy Spirit in your Consciences by living in known sin and transgression for who ever they be that will not accept of Mercy they must expect Judgment for God is Just and Righteous in all his wayes and he will and hath been clear of the Blood of all People in aâ—l Ages and Generations that are gone And therefore for the Lord's sake and our own souls sake let us not slight Christ's spiritual Appearance in our Conscience but be perswaded to let him have the whole Heart for it is an inside work And whoever he be if he hath never so eloquent a Declaration at preaching let him profess what he will if it be the Truth it self let him preach and pray sing Psalms and Hymns if they be not spirtual they are as if they cut of a Dog's Neck and as sounding Brass and tinkling Cymbal in the sight of God and no Profit in them at all So this is my Testimony for God that he doth appear as he is Spiritualy and doâ—h more and more appear by the Light of his Son Christ Jesus in the Heâ—rts of this poor scorned People called Quakers as sure as ever Christ did appear Personally upon the Earth to his Disciples according to the Holy Scriptures of Truth And therefore slighâ— not this spiritual Appearance of Christ I beseech you that which condemns you for sin in your Consciences as you tenâ—eâ— the welfare of your immortal souls and though this come from a simple Instrument yet I would intreat you to bear with me for it is in Love to you all And before ever I set Pen to paper to write this I have in the very secret of my soul desired that I might have lain in a Cave in the ground and have cried out these few dayes I have here upon the Earth to the Lord rather then I would have appeared so openly amongst you but I could not be clear till I had signified my mind to you and so I do appeal to the Principle of God in all your Consciences I being one that have had my being amongst you almost all my dayes what damnable Practice or Principle have any of you seen by me that makes you talk at this rate Except you call this damnable which checks and reproves you when you do not well and which of you all dare to say he hath it not in him which is the great Love of God unto Mankind which doth either excuse or accuse if they do good or evil and this is that Witness that God hath not left himself without in the hearts of all Mankind And certainly if there had been any thing in your Teachers Doctrines Reasons Uses and Applications if Crying and Tears Sighs and Groans would afforded me any Comfort in them the Lord would have satisfied me in them but I could not get Peace in them though the Lord knows it was my daily Prayers from a Child to be satisfied And therefore having dealt plainly wtih you and having told you how it was with me from my Childhood do you think that I am deluded and do you think that I with many more that have known this spiritual Travel will be scoffed and scorned out of this experienced Principle of God in our Consciences my God be blessed we know better things And though you may Goliah like come in defiance against this Host of the Living God yet be it known to you You are but men and not Gods and though we are but poor Striplings and simple Mecanick poor Tradesmen and some coming from their flocks and