might seek his face with understanding as by these particulars here mentioned will more plainly appear 1. That we humble our selves before the Lord for all our sins and iniquities wherein we have justly provoked the eyes of his holiness through our lukewarmness indifferency of Spirit rashness and want of love iâ— this great day of open Apostacy and backsliding wherein it is to be feared we have much added to the measure of the iniquity of this day 2. That notwithstanding all the complaints of the Lord's people there hath not been that diligent heart-searching into the minde and will of the Lord what his people ought to do 3. To remember before the Lord with mourning that there is not that natural care for Sion as there ought to be especially when he hath chastened us by taking away such choice Instruments as he hath done of late but most men now seeking their own and building their own cieled houses saying The time is not yet the time that the Lord's house should be built 4. To entreat earnestly of the Lord that he would be pleased so to own this present Meeting that the light which he hath given in amongst the body of his people inquiring after his minde and will in this day might be so gathered into one as that we might be able to read his minde and will together with our duty in this dark and gloomy day And that he would pour forth a plentiful portion oâ— his Spirit upon the Remnant of his faithful ones whereby they may be enabled tâ— prosecute his minde and will so made known unto them 5. To remember the afflictions of Joseph in all the parts and quarters of thâ— world and particularly in this Nation wherein the Saints are imprisoned especially by those that are under so great a profession of Light 6. That God would be pleased to deliver them that are insnared with the Apostacy of the times and remove them that stand in the way of his work Nevertheless leaving the Spirit of the Lord to breath in his people as he should please to minister unto them And accordingly upon the day above mentioned we met together at Abingdon in the house of the late deceased Servant of the Lord and we may with a holy boldness declare That we did in some measure behold the light of his countenance that day breathing through such of his servants whose hearts were stirred up to speak unto and from the Lord. The next day being the first instant we were again met together and spent the whole day in waiting upon him where we desire to acknowledge with humility and thankfulness That though we were unworthy to receive any thing from our Father yet some of us and many others did behold such tokens of his presence by his smiling countenance through our Lord Jesus Christ such quicknings of his Spirit such melting brokenness of heart such tastes of his peace and joy such renewings of first-love such endearing of Saints to each other such longings after the glory of God and groanings for the prosperity of Sion as some ancient Professors â—ffirmed they seldom experienced the like divers of the Souldiers and others though adversaries to this Meeting were forced to acknowledge God was amongst us of a truth and in particular when the party came on with violence upon our friends one of the Souldiers had this word Psal 105. 15. set upon his spirit with much power as he profest Touch not mine anointed and do my Prophets no harm he was a Brother and promised to break his sword when he came home For which we desire to bless and praise the Name of the most High our Father because he hath not forsaken them that seek him nor is it a vain thing to wait at his posts The next morning being the second instant we intended to have met again the former refreshings having thereunto sweetly engaged us but being prevented we shall give a plain account thereof and bless Jehovah for the worst men have or can do to us seeing our God will turn that also to his praise and the same doth and will work together for the exceeding good of them that sincerely love him About seven in the morning several of us lodging at the sign of the Lamb in Abingdon were in the Inn-yard some looking to their horses others getting themselves ready the better to be prepared for the meeting intended had the Lord pleased to have afforded it unto us about which time three Troopers came into the Inn and after they had put up their horses went up stairs to another of their company who had continued in the Inn most part of the time that we were there as a spy to take notice and give information of what he could hear and see done amongst us Presently after they went into several of our chambers and took away a Hawking-bag belonging to one George Allom of Exceter being a Messenger of the Church there and took out of it all his writings being as we understand of private concernment only whereupon it was asked by what authority they did it to which they replied That they had order but the question being again put Where their order was they put their hands upon their swords and said There was their order to which some of us said That if they could produce no other order a High-way-man demanding our purses could produce as good a commission for his action as they did Upon this another came in being as we afterwards understood Commander of the party then in the Town Lieutenant Barker by name some of our Friends asked him also by what authority this search was made to which he replied That it was sufficient he said he had order for what he did and that he was not bound to shew his order if he had any to every one that asked him But our Friends still pressing for a sight of his order with words spoken to the same purpose aformentioned by which the said Lieutenant was much inraged riding suriously about the Inn-yard striking several of our Friends violently with his Cane endeavoring to ride over them with his horse using many uncivil words towards us commanding us to go up to our chambers saying That we should know if he commanded us to go up we must go without any farther inquiry Soon after this some of us went out of the Inn to the meeting place intending to have gone in but two Troopers keeping centinel at the door refused to give liberty to any man presenting Pistols to their brests to hinder them from going into the place and in particular our Brother Mayo who lived there was so far hindered from coming in that they cocked their Pistols and presented them to his brest so that he was forced suddenly to step back fearing lest they should fire upon him From thence our Friends being disappointed of their meating â—ent into the Market-place one of our Brethren began in prayer another seconded him in speaking after
THE Complaining Testimony of some though weak and of the least of Sions Children in this day of their sore Calamity occasioned at their Meeting to seek the Lord at Abingdon in Barkeshire the second day of the eighth MONTH 1656. Being a short NARRATIVE Of the inhumane dealings of some OFFICERS and SOULDIERS who said They had Order from their LORD for so doing Mal. 3. 15 16. And now we call the proud happy yea they that work wickedness are set up yea they that tempt God are delivered Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard and a book of remembrance was written for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his Name Act. 7. 34. I have seen I have seen the afflictions of my people I have heard their groanings and am come down to deliver them LONDON Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1656. To the faithful Remnant of the Womans seed who keep the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus together with every Impartial Reader WHen the Lord did first engage our hearts to wait upon him according to the ensuing Relation it was much upon some of our spirits that we should see the glory of God though we could not apprehend the manner of his appearance much less could we in the least suppose his answer would be as after was manifest But the onely-wise God who knoweth how to order all things for his glory can make the wrath of man praise him and the remainder thereof restâ—ain upon which account the ensuing Relation being thought necessary to be published is presented to your perusal hoping that as experience of his goodness hath been some refreshment unto us who have subscribed the same being all of us personally present some at the one part others at the other part of the transactions therein mentioned and sufferers in some degree or other in the same it will administer some refreshment unto you also that we may be thereby united with onâ— heart in one common Cause though contemned despised and reproached by those who did formerly walk with us hand in hand therein from which they have so openly Apostatized and also what you and we must expect from them unless the Lord should leave us to betray him with a kiss as they have done But we trust that relying upon his grace he will keep us by his mighty power through faith unto the day of salvation when we shall with rejoycing say Lo this is our God we have waited for him we will be glad and rejoyce in his salvation Your poor unworthy brethren desirous to be found faithful in this day of Zions tribulation Of the Ch. at Abi. John Tomkins Iohn Combes Simon Mayo Edw. Stennet Plalip Lockton William White Rich. Green Rich. Terrel Simon Peck Of the Ch. at Oxf. Rich. Tidmarsh Rich. Quelch Of Hull Thom. Cann Pet. Tindal Of London Iohn Pugh Iohn Green Fran. Walton Ioseph Neat Tho. Buttivan Ric. Parnham Iohn Rye Rich. Denton Tho. Wheâ—ler Iohn Tusucl Ioh. Portmans Iohn Clark Iohn Armiger Iohn Woodly Fran Young David Parry Iohn Clements Iohn Ionesâ— Iohn Waters Hen. Forty of Tatnes Churches Rich. Steed of Dartmouth Churches George Allom of Exeter Churches Of Northwalshamâ— Hen. Simmons Thomas Ruddock Tho. Hide Tho. Helsden William Wainsord of Norwich Fran Langden of Cornwal Hen. Preston A Word to such of the Army especially those of 〈…〉 Troops as are in any measure sensible of the 〈…〉 this DAY and mourning for the same IT was and is still upon our hearts that the Lo 〈…〉 grieved for the great transgressions of the Sodomitish generation among whom they live might be delivered before the judgements of the Lord break forth for if his wrath be kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that trust in him and therefore for your sakes was this short Epistle penned to the end that if the Lord so please you might be no longer deceived with vain words by those from whom you do suppose that the great things you first engaged for on the behalf of Christ and his people might be attained and that they might return from whence they are fallen and do their first works though the bottom upon which they now stand seems to us to give little ground of hopes for any such thing for men do not gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles Besides they persecute that Spirit appearing in any of those who are but enquiring the way to Zion with their faces thitherward witness the many prisoners now suffering for the Cause of our Lord Jesus besides the cruel usage of others mentioned in this ensuing Relation This therefore we desire to leave with you in the fear of the Lord That you would flee out from the midst of them and deliver every man his soul that you may escape the judgments of God and be free from the blood of your brethren which you will unavoidably be involved in so far as we can discern if you continue in your present station as some have been already in these last transactions and if so as you partake of their sins you will partake of their plagues Thus leaving you to the perusal of this Relation hoping that it may be of some use either to convince or else to leave this further Testimony That if you perish your blood will be upon your own heads though it be otherwise longed for and prayed for by Your unworthy brethren mourning with you and praying for your return Of Northwalsham Hen. Simons Thomas Ruddock Robert Hide Tho. Helsden Of Norwich Will. Waynford Of Cornwal Fran Langden Of Hull Tho. Cann Peter Tindal Of London John Pugh John Green Fran Walton Jos Neat. Tho. Buttivant Rich Parnham John Rye Rich Deâ—â—â— Tho Whceâ—â—â— John Tuâ—â—d John Portmans John Clarke John Armiger John Woodly David 〈◊〉 〈…〉 The complaining Testimony of some of Sions children though most unworthy or A short Narrative of the inhumane dealings of some Officers and Souldiers at Abingdon the second day of the eighth Month 1656. IT having pleased the Lord to take unto himself a choice and eminent Servant of his to wit Joh. Pendarves Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of that Congregation at Abingdon whose interring we did meet to solemnize the 30th of the 7th Month that being one end of our coming together judging it our duty to perform the last office of love to so faithful a Servant as he was indeed a Prince in Israel who did in his life time naturally care for Sions welfare wholly giving himself up unto the Lord's work and hereby a price and oportunity was put into our hands to bring many of the Lord's people together from several parts of the Nation in this dark and gloomy day to seek his face for the understanding of his minde and will what his Remnant remaining faithful in this great day of Apostacy ought to do To which end there were several heads agreed upon according to which they
him our Brother Jones of Longworth in Barkshire an ancient grave Christian who was formerly persecuâ—ed by the Bishops procâ—rded with a word of exhortation then our Brother Austen a member of â—hâ— Church at Oxford who was late a member of the Army exercising The Souldiers drew â—ound about us and after a short time made an attempt upon uâ— hoping to have scattered us which the Lord prevented though no opposition was made on our parts then the Trumpet sounding they drew off and came on â—gain in a body with much violence the Commander of the party came in and broke through violently with his sword drawn having first broken his Cane he cut divers one of our hats being slâ—shed in three or four places and most of the Souldiers some with drawn swords others with swords in their scabbards violently smiting and driving us one from another whereby we were forced to desist from our duty unto God the Lord of hosts before whose throne we were in prayer and continued till pulled down by force one was forced to tumble over stones to shift their strokes to his hurt by another * Note that the Officers carryed themselves more uncivilly then the common Troopers Officer endeavouring to ride over him spurring and beating his horse to that purpose but the Lord suffered it not to be Some had their Garments rent and torn on their backs some offering to go and see their friends seized upon in the tumult were threatned to have their swords thrust through their howels several being haled about the Market-place so long that one of their owâ— company cried out For shame drag not a man thus Moreover one speaking to a soldier that he must answer this one day before the Lord he replied He would answer our God well enough At this time also the ancient Brother before mentioned had many blows made at him but through the goodness of the Lord received aâ— hurt though divers others men and women were shamefully beaten at this time and after this riding about where they saw any together fell in amongst them to disperse them taking several as prisoners and afterwards letting several loose in a private manner laying nothing to their charge somwhat like that in Act. 16. 37. After this that party of horse which had been so insolent and inhumane drew out of the Town and within a short time after came in with them about seven or eight Troops more who suddenly divided themselves into several Inns where we lay shutting up the gates and securing such as they could finde Soon after this one whom they call Major Gen. Bridges with several others came into the Town and at the new Inn proceeded to examination of such whom they had taken and such also whom they had detained in the several Inns as prisoners but in the end they were all dismissed except five who were carried away to Windsor-Castle of whose particular charge we can give little account only thus much we are câ—edibly inform'd that one of them was charg'd only for making an appeal to God 〈◊〉 prayer between us them there being little against any as spoke or done at them â—ting That which was chiefly the ground of their commitment was drawn soâ—â— by insnaring questions asked them when they were examined against themselve◠〈…〉 of their judgement and conscience which we leave to every unbiassâ—d person to judge oâ— And this we desire further to mention Tâ—at one of the subscribers Joh. â—omkâ—nâ— an Elder of the Church at Abingdon being well known for his grace cautions and very sparing in his expressions at all times had this laid to his charge when he was examined That he challenged one of the Souldiers to fight with him upon Salâ— luâ—y plain also that he should say we had thirty thousand men more to come to us â—nâ— the souldier that spake there words proferred to bring three men to swear to the truth of â—t though it is well known there were no such words spoken by him directly or indirectly by which the Reader may observe what sons of Belial they have amongst them who dare advâ—nture to swear any thing likewise to advise the Reader not to give much credit to reports contrary hereunto This Relation is presented to publick view to prevent any false Informasion that may come from any particular person or from our enemies who may endeavor to possess men that there was a design of rising at this meeting which we do hereby declare against as wel as testisie to the truth of this Relation Of the Ch. at Abi. John Tomkins Iohn Combâ—s Simon Mayo Edw. Stâ—nnet Philip Lockton William White Rich. Green Rich. Perrel Simon Peâ—k Of the Ch. at Oxf. Rich. â—iâ—marsh Rich. Quâ—lch Of Hull Thom. Cann Pet. Tindal Of London Iohn Pugh Iohn Green Fran. Walton Ioseph Neat Tho. Buttivan Ric. Parnham Iohn Rye Rich. Dâ—nton Tho. Wheâ—ler Iohn Tusnel Ioh. Portmans Iohn Clark Iohn Armiger Iohn Woodâ—y Fran Young David Parry Iohn Clements Iohn Iones Iohn Waters Hen. Forty of Tatnes Churches Rich. Steed of Dartmouth Churches George Allom of Exeter Churches Of Northwalsham Hen. Simmons Thomas Ruddock Tho. Hide Tho. Helsden William Wainsord of Norwich Fran Langden of Cornwal Hen. Preston Had there been an oportunity to get friends together there would have been many more Subscribers FINIS