following Isa 1.16 17. Wash ye make ye clean put away the Evil of your doings from before mine Eyes cease to do Evil learn to do Well seek Judgment relieve the Oppressed judge the Fatherless plead for the Widow Whereupon he would be reconciled unto them and they thus doing should come to acquaintance with him and receive good from him as in the 18th and 19th Verses Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord though your Sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow though they be red like Crimson they shall be as wooll If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the Land but otherwise they might expect from him as in the 20th Verse But if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured wit the Sword For the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it And now according to these Scriptures is the Lord's requirings of his People and Answers to them I witness Praises to the Lord God Almighty for ever-more to whom alone be the Praise for ever By whom I am moved to write this forth for the simple One's sake whilst I was looking without and knew nothing but from Hearing Conceivings and from the outward Declaration of Scripture without notwithstanding all my Profession of God in Word and in Action yet I knew him not but lived in Disobedience and under the Curse and Wrath of God which I did rhen see and sometimes feel although I knew not then from whence it came nor was not obedient to that which let me see it But when it pleased the Lord who separated me from my Mother's Womb and called me by his Grace to Reveal his Son in me then not consulting with Flesh and Blood but giving up in obedience to his Commands made known in me ceasing to do Evil and hearkening to the same that called upon me to forsake the Evil to do well for that is one in all whereupon coming to see it my Duty then the Adversary within me of my Soul 's good and the Enemy of God which would have hindered me in giving obedience to the Commands of God and so to have distrusted his Love did thus within me alledge against my giving up in Obedience to his Will made known If it were possible that thou could'st keep his Commands for the time to come to be made known to be thy Duty yet what wilt thou do for what is past Then the Lord was pleased to make known unto me by the Infallible Testimony and Witness of his Spirit which endureth with plain Words within me according to the Scripture fore-mentioned Isaiah 1.18 That although my Sins had been as Scarlet they should be as white as Snow though they had been red like Crimson they should be as Wooll Whereupon I found Peace this Condition being concluded upon to be obedient unto him for the time to come This was in the Day of the Lord 's great Power wherein he did render Vengeance to His Enemies and Fury to his Adversaries in me whereby the Keepers of the House were made to tremble as Eccl. 12.3 And in this Day of the Lord 's great Power looking upon him whom I had pierced according to the Prophecy which that day I witnessed fulfilled Zac 12.10 And I will pour upon the House of David and upon the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of Grace and of Supplications and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one who mourneth for his only Son and shall be in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first Born From the reading of this fulfilled did arise Comfort and much Rejoycing and no more remembrance of the Sorrow for the Joy that a Man Child was Born into the World as John 16.21 Which then I came to see ought to have ruled which had been crucified in Sodom and Egypt within me In which Day of the Lord 's great Power and Love to my Soul in raising up the Seed in me which sins not the Witness was manifest and upon the obeying of that in me which is Pure which doth his Will I found the Witness and a Testimony of his Love but upon my disobeying of that and acting contrary thereunto I found the Witness and a Testimony of his Displeasure And so I came to witness according to the Scripture fore-mentioned Isaiah 1.19 20. If ye will be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land but if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured with the Sword Thus the Scriptures were plain and true to me and needed no meanings but as open'd by the Spirit And thus I came to know and do bear witness according to Scripture That which is to be known of God is to be known within which brings into the true Fear and Obedience of him as in Rom. 1.19 Because That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And as the Knowledge concerning God which the World hath doth arise from without so like-wise doth their Fear from what they hear of God from Man that he is Just and a Rewarder of Evil Doers and they conceive that it is thus from the outward Declaration of Scripture because it so declares of him And all this may be where there is not any true Fear of God for where the true Fear of God is this Effect it works as these Scriptures declare The Fear of the Lord is to hate Evil Pride Arrogancy and the Evil Way and the froward Mouth do I hate Prov. 8.13 And by the Fear of the Lord Men depart from Evil Chap. 16.6 Thus it is whoso truly Fear the Lord not only hate Evil but depart from it but many there be which talk of Fearing God and live in the Evil such who have their Fear towards God only taught by the Precepts of Men will plead for it that it must be so and it can be no otherwise whilst they live here And these do as they did whom the Lord complained of by His Prophet Isaiah 29.13 For as much as this People draws near me with their Mouth and with their Lips do honour me but have removed their Hearts far from me and their Fear towards me is taught by the Precepts of Men. And as the Lord then threatned what he would do unto them Therefore behold I will proceed to do a marvellous Work and a Wonder for the Wisdom of their Wise Men shall perish and the Understanding of their Prudent Men shall be hid So it is now at this Day those who have been every one in their own Way and according to the counsels of their own Hearts seeking into the Mysteries of God the Sealed Book to teach others the Way to Fear God the Counsel of God is hid from such and they are at Strife amongst themselves about the Serving of God one saying Thus and another So one saying Lo here and another Lo there one in this
rise in London whereby a great Disturbance was occasioned then presently Proclamation was sent forth and we who were called Quakers were reckoned with Ranters and them who made the Disturbance and so were numbred amongst the Transgressors though Innocent Then by the Proclamation we were not to enjoy our Meetings for to wait upn God under any Pretence of Worshipping or to that purpose were words in it as formerly but if we did which many durst not neglect then we were to be Apprehended and had before Justices of the Peace and there we were to have the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance prosered which if we refused then by the Proclamation we were either to find Sureties for good Behaviour or go to Goal until the next Assizes To this purpose was the Subfrance of the Proclamation as I remember By this means we were hunted for and sought out at our Meetings by wicked Men who were glad of such an opportunity and this gladded the Hearts of the Wicked and made the Hearts of the Righteous sad for a time but the Lord comforted and made His meet together with boldness although some few did faint and with boldness we were carried before the Magistrates and could not Obey their Commands nor own that we were of Evil Behaviour by entering into Bonds for the Good Behaviour and to take the Oaths and so break the Commands of Christ Jesus who saith Swear not at all Mat. 5. And so we were sent to Prison to York-Castle There were committed upon that account between four and five Hundred and some of us I and others were continued a Quarter of a Year's time or more but the Lord cleared or more but the Lord cleared our Innocency and they set us at Liberty in the Lord's time therefore it is good to trust in Him Presently after this the King consented to that Act of Parliament which they made against us That was to this purpose That if we to wit the People called Quakers did meet together upon pretence of Worshipping of God to or above the number of Five we were to be apprehended and be proceeded against for the same by Fines and Banishment But this dismayed not many although many for meeting together to wait upon the Lord as formerly in obedience him were Apprehended and Fined and some as I have heard in London where their Cruetly was grear were haled forth of their Meetings and cut by rude and wicked Persons and one died of Wounds that he received others by Magistrates were Sentenced to Banishment but the Lord disappointed them But as for me I was not cast into Prison upon that Account but was called before the Magistrates But herein was and is may Comfort that I did not see that I neglected my Duty in meeting amongst the Lord's People for fear of Man And after a time the Rulers they forbore pursuing that Act and we had our Meetings much quieter than could have been expected and Truth did spead and Desires in People after the knowledge of the Way of God encreased and the Lord God gladded the Hearts of his People by letting them see now by this Power the Wicked were chained And then the Bishops they set themselves by their Power to terrifie the Lord's Host the Followers of the Lamb but prevailed not Praised be the Lord but the Lord's Mercies were multiplied upon his People both Inward and Outward After this it pleased the Lord for the Trial of this People and that his Power might be manifest to suffer the Powers of the Earth in the following Year to make another Act against our Meetings more strict and cruel than the former the Substance whereof was to this purpose to wit That if we namely those People called Quakers should after the first Day of July 1664. meet together above the number of Five under a pretence of Worshipping God we should for the first Offence according to the pleasure of them in Commission for Justices of the Peace pay a Sum of Money under Five Pounds or suffer a time of Imprisonment not exceeding Three Months for the Second Offence the Prenalty was doubled and for the Third Offence they were either to pay One Hundred Pounds or to be Banished into some of the King 's Foreign Plantations and if they within Seven Years time should return without Liberty then to be proceeded against as Felons And the like Penatly they were to undergo in whose Houses or Grounds such Meetings were kept But Praised be the Lord all this prevailed not nor terrified the Lord's People neither durst they neglect their Duty For even the First Day of the Week after this Act took place at my outward Being where there might be above a Hundred Friends of Truth and others there was no Molestation from without But upon the 8th Day of the Month following I being with several other Friends met together in Sherif-Hutton for to wait upon the Lord the sence of God's Goodness to me and his People being upon my Spirit and I being kneeled down and expressing the same as the Spirit gave utterance There rushed in one rude Man with some Soldiers who haled me forth and that Man with the Constable had me before one Sir Thomas Gowre who was a Parliament Man and in Commission to do Justice who asked me If I spoke any words amongst the People Or to that purpose My answer was as is afore expressed And after I expressed the same he said That was a Transgression of the Act. My Wife standing by and hearing him say so thought in her Mind as she said since If that were a Transgression of the Act for me to express the Sence of God's Goodness upon my Spirit she was well content that I should suffer for it or to this effect things passed So the next Day he and George Mountain being in Commission for to do Justice by their Warrant commited me and a Friend named John Hicks at whose House the Meeting was to Prison to York-Castle for the space of Eleven Weeks and Five Days The Cruelties of Men were much seen in pursuing this Act in several parts of the Nation especially in and about London Sentencing many for Banishment and Banishing some but they were much restrained of what might be intended for that Summer that many might have been sent away there was Wars by Sea and the Pestilence very hot about London which I believe did as the Lord saw it good put a great stop to them in sending many away who were Sentenced for Banishment although many of our dear Friends in that common Calamity the Lord took away by Death that all might be humbled as as shown me at that time when I was Prisoner the Second time upon that Act in York-Castle which was thus occastioned I being at a Meeting of Friends of Truth namely those People called Quakers at Bishop-Wilton in the East-Riding of Yorkshire upon the 14th Day of the 3d Month 1665. the Constables came with a Warrant and there with took us our Meeting being as they said an Unlawful Meeting and the next Day had us before Tobias Jenkins and Liebard Robinson in Commission to have done Justice who committed me and nineteen other Friends to Prison for three Months In all these things the Lord's Support was much seen by those that Feared Him and the Prosecutors of the Act who thought to have wearied us grew weary in many places and Meetings became very quiet for some time and Truth prevailed exceedingly Blessed be Lord for ever whose work it was to Strengthen His and to give them Courage and Comfort every way FINIS
A Plain ACCOUNT Of Certain Christian Experiences Labours Services and Sufferings OF THAT Ancient Servant and Mininister of Christ Roger Hebden DECEASED Containing both Warning Consolation and Instruction in Righteousness They who are faithful unto Death shall receive a Crown of Life London Printed and Sold by T. Sowle in 〈◊〉 Hart-Court in Gracious-street 1700. The Author's Introduction SOmething in this Book is writen relating to my coming to Understand the Way of God and how I walked therein with Passages concerning my Imprisonment and Letters unto Friends and others With some Passages relating my Exercise for several Years of my Life-time with several other Passages therein written according to the Times and as there was a Service then seen The Author's Introduction With Directions therein for all that know not God how they may come for to Know Fear Serve and Worship Him in Love the Way is declared agreeable to the Scriptures of Truth and according to the Measure of Knowledge then communicated to Roger Hebden A Plain Account OF THE Christian Experiences c. OF Roger Hebden IN or about the â—â—st Month of the Year 1651 and in the Thirty First Year of my Life I Roger Hebden Son of John Hebden late of Appleton in the Street then using the Calling of a Woollen Draper and Dwelling in New Malton The Lord God of Heaven and Earth whose Love hath been to Mankind manifest in all Ages and to all Generations of Men upon the Face of the Earth about that time did manifest himself more fully than to many Ages and Generations in sending forth his Servants who in his infinite Love he had given to know his Kindness to them in placing a Witness for himself in them to lead and command them as Isaiah 55.4 And altho' this kindness of the great God the Author of the Good of all Mankind I was made partaker of with others and at sundry times had felt his Witness at work in me even when I was but Young even about the Age of Eleven or Twelve Years and at several times in my Life-time after bearing Testimony against the Evil of my Doings and condemned me for the sames yet I knew not that this was of God neither did I understand that this was given to Lead and Command me and so when I did such things as I knew to be evil was condemned in my self not knowing who it was that Condemned me as John 1.5 3.19 But the Lord God in his infinite Love towards me appeared in sending a faithful Servant of his named George Fox whom he had given to know the way of God and to direct others to know the same by his Power speaking thorow him made him serviceable to inform me and bring me to the knowledge of that Light and Grace of God within me which when I heard of it there was raised a Witness that I had felt such a thing divers times and coming to understand who it was that I had resisted and pierced it wounded me deeply and after I came to see what had been the cause of my Trouble avoiding it I had Peace as is in this Book mentioned And the Lord going on with his Work in me about six Months after poured forth his Spirit of Prayer and Prophesie upon me Thus I came to be made a Minister of Christ whom I Preach and in obedience to the same Spirit being led into the World's Assemblies occasioned my being cast into Prison Here followeth the cause why I was and am Imprisoned not being ashamed of my Bonds Unto Friends and to the World I do declare as followeth I Being led by the Movings of the Spirit of the Lord in me to be near Tadcaster amongst Friends of Truth who Worship God in Spirit The 17th Day of the 10th Month 1654. I came to a House in Newton being accompanied with divers other Friends where the People of God were met together to wait upon God whilst I there waited I was stirred in Spirit to go to the World's People's Meeting-Place in that Town where they Worship an unknown God as Paul was whilst he waited at Athens Acts. 17.16 And for speaking such words there as are hereafter expressed was I by Robert Barwicke called Justice sent Prisoner to York-Castle and kept Prisoner from the time afore-mentioned until the 16th day of the 11th Month following at which time in Weatherby at the Sessions I being called an Indictment as they call it was read wherein the Jury for him called Lord Protector did upon their Oaths present that I Wilfully and Maliciously with such like words which they use in their Form at such a time came to such a place By which Form and through Ignorance the Jurors whom I pity are led as out of the Doctrine of Christ in Swearing so into the Work of the Devil to tell Lyes as I told them then There was nothing of my Will in going thither which was and is my present Comfort The thing they charged me withal was the same in the Mittimus namely That I uttered unto Master Clapham as they called him many Railing and Reviling Speeches as Thou art a Hirelings a dumb Dog c. and the like only that whereas Robert Barwicke called Justice said in that Paper called the Mittimus that I spoke these words to him Before he came forth of the Pulpit therein being taxed to be a Lyar These words before-mentioned to wit Before he came out of the Pulpit were left out of the Indictment Therein Deceit was manifest although he had given it under his Hand and Seal in the Mittimus That all that was there written was done in his presence and hearing Now Friends to You and to the World a few words As concerning what is here Charged upon me before any of these words were spoken to him he proved himself and was seen to be what was said of him and to him for before I spoke one word to him he spoke to me after he was come forth of the Pulpit Then I asked him this Question By what Authority dost thou speak He could not answer thereunto And so proved himself like the Watch-Men Isaiah spoke of Chap. 56.10 And also fled like the Hireling Christ spoke of John 10.13 before he was so called Then I being moved to speak to the People to direct them to the Anointing their Teacher within them the Way to Life that Light wherewith Christ Jesus hath enlightned them And minding that they would have no need to follow such Hirelings whereby their Souls might be deceived And it being with me even as it was with the Prophet Micah Chap. 3.8 I was full of Power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgment For the Word of the Lord unto me before I went was Tell them of their Sins And so to every one as they came before me as I was moved of the Lord I declared unto them their Condition and their Portion without Repentance which they must find which they called Judging But as
I told Robert Barwicke if he had been upon Earth when Christ told the Jews They were of their Father the Devil he would have sent him to Prison Therefore all you who own this to be of God be not hasty to speak or act thus because it is agreeable to Scripture for a bare literal Imitation will not carry forth in time of Trouble neither will you find benefit by it For it is only the Spirit of Truth that gives righteous Judgment wait for the movings thereof And on the contrary you that talk of the Scriptures Fear to speak evil of those who are brought into the Life and Practice of them as the Holy Men of God witnessed lest the Scriptures condemn you This I was moved to write to fore-warn all of Extreams And now further top declare how I was dealt with at that place called Sessions Robert Barwicke declared Lawyer-like That he could do no otherwise with me than he had done seeing he had never seen my Face before To which I answered I had been with him upon Occasions and often I had seen him and he me Then he said I might not affront him I answered I might not suffer him to Lie but tell him of it Then after saying what he could against me he at down saying That he being concerned in the business would leave it to them others called Justices who asked me Whether I would submit or Traverse I answered In the Will of God I was and what he suffered them to do with me they might Then one of them asked me What Call or Occasion I had to that place I answered The same the Prophet Amos had to go into the King's Chappel to cry against the Altar in Bethel and Paul into the Synagogues as his manner was Acts 17.16 Robert Barwicke hearing this rose up in great Rage not heeding what he had said That he would leave it to them and begun to speak his Imaginations Priest-like wherein was no Truth and to say that he perceived and thought it was my Practice to disturb their Ministers as he called them and proceeded further using these Speeches Sirrah Sirrah Then I bid him see if these words did not come from an envious spirit But he went on with Threats that if I did so any more he would send me to the House of Correction and have me soundly Whipp'd whereupon these words were spoken O Tyranny Then he begun to take witness that I called him a Tyrant but they could not agree and so left it For one of them called a Justice said I said O Tyranny Then they asked me again whether I would submit or Traverse I answered them as before Then they concluded that they should get no other answer Then I asked them What Law I had broken And said If I had broken a Law they might lay the Penalty upon me But they would not shew me any Law that I had broken Then I asked them If the Prophets were Railers But they said that they might not discourse with me Then they caused me to be taken away And thus were they suffered to act And this is their time wherein they rule over others to their own hurt Herein they were seen and taken notice of by many both Officers Soldiers and others the Event I leave unto Him in whose Power I am who is present The next Day he who had the Charge of me brought to me two Papers called Mittimus's whereby I was by the Court ordered back again Prisoner to York Castle where I am in their Bonds but at Liberty in the Spirit of the Lord Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty 2 Cor. 3.17 This is witnessed Praises to the Lord God Almighty for evermore And all you who are guided by the Spirit of the Lord with whom I am one Praise the Lord with me who am a Well-wisher to the Souls of all Known by the Name of Roger Hebden A Warning from the Lord to Magistrates AWake awake look about you see what you are a doing You that profess your selves to be Christian Magistrates What are you doing with Christ's Appearance Do you not cast such into Prison who are brought into the Life and Practice of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles If you say They will not be subject to Authority but act contrary to Law So said the Jews of Christ We have a Law said they and by our Law he ought to dye But Pilate knew that it was out of Envy that the Jews did it What think ye was he clear of his Blood although he took Water and washed his Hands and said He was Innocent To that which is Pure of God in every one of your Consciences I leave it to judge you who am a Lover of Souls and a Lover of Justice It is not my desire nor the desire of any other that fears God that Sin should be unpunished when it is brought forth That is your Place and that is your Duty use the Sword put into your Hand for that end and the Blessing of God will accompany you But take heed lest you in your Wills or out of Zeal to prevent Sin do put in Practice those Laws whereby the Innocent are brought to suffer and so you come to be Actors of Sin instead of preventing it This I was moved to write to put you to a Search in your Selves to see how your Profession and Practice does agree and herein to you I have cleared my Conscience who am a Friend to Truth and a Witness against Deceit For which I am now Prisoner in York Castle known by the Name of Roger Hebden Copies of this was sent to those called Justices at several Sessions in Yorkshire and the City of York about the 16th of the 11th Month 1654. A Letter written to Friends in the Truth after I came to Prison before I was had to the Sessions at Wetherby This was to Friends in the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire before the 16th Day of the 11th Month 1654. from York-Castle O my dear Hearts THE Remembrance of you is precious my Bowels are even sweetly refreshed therewith even by every of you that are Faithful to the Lord in obeying the Measure of Grace received God Almighty bless you preserve you and increase the Knowldge of himself in every of you to his Praise and Glory who alone is worthy for ever and ever And all of you as Members one of another be faithful in your places watching one over another in Simplicity of Heart with a single Eye and in Love to re-call those that go astray from the Simplicity from that Spirit of Truth in them which ought to guide So the Simple will be delivered out of the Snare of the Crafty and so you will be altogether in the Unity serving God in Spirit which is the Service well-pleasing to him wherein you will come to witness the Rejoycing and Abiding therein the continuance of that Love which cannot be expressed In which Love I salute
you all my Bowels running forth unto you all who are Faithful although absent in Body yet present in Spirit which cannot be bound joying and rejoycing in the remembrance of the Order which the Lord out of his own large and free Love hath been pleased to place amongst you Into whose Power I commit you all my dear Friends with Love running forth to your Souls I exhort you all to give up your selves into his Will even to be guided by that which is Pure in every of you that God alone may be praised and your Souls refreshed by the Comfort that flows from the Fountain of Love to the obedient ones Written from your dear Brother in the Truth and a Watchman for your Souls good by Name Roger Hebden Another Epistle to Friends York-Castle the last Day of the 11th Month 1654. YOU who are Elders I Exhort who also am an Elder and a Watchman over the Flock of Christ to watch over the Flock of Christ committed to your Charge with all diligence and to see that they walk orderly according to what they do profess and you to be Examples to them in all Purity That God alone who is worthy of Praise who out of the abundant Riches of his Love in the Lord Jesus Christ whose Love many of you in a large Measure have tasted of may constrain you to give up your selves in all dutiful Obedience to his Will O that there may not be found amongst you any one that is a Sluggard Careless Heedless and Negligent and such as does not think it is so much as your Duty to walk answerable to your Profession even to be guided by that which is Pure of God in your Consciences O it is sadness of Heart to me to behold may such Careless Ones who should be Examples to others in all Dutiful Obedience to that which is Pure Now you who are set up as Elders to watch over others ought to be an Example to them in the best things Therefore all of you I exhort in Love running forth to you That you walk as Patterns and Examples to them And all of you my dear Brethren and Sisters in the Truth who have received the Truth in Love and have tasted of the Love of God Walk low in the Love received that so you may not only have the Continuance of that Love but that others may be your Examples of Lowliness and a holy Life and Conversation be brought in to own the Truth and so every one of you in your places be Ministers of Righteousness and so my glorying of you to my Brethren may not be found a Lie For herein have I gloried That you are kept low and that the fruit of a holy Life and Conversation doth appear amongst you and I have Confidence in many of you in the Lord that this will be found a Truth Into the Power of the Almighty I commit you all my dear Friends who are guided by that which is Pure of God in you and the Blessing of the Lord God Almighty be with you now and ever is the Prayer of your dear Brother Roger Hebden A Letter sent unto Thomas Warner of Knaisbrough a pretended Friend to Truth Which was as Followeth WE hearing that thou hast been Cast in some Suits and to prevent the Payment thereof either hath or is about to turn over thy Estate to some others and so to disappoint them of what is their due All such Actions we do disown and all them that Act therein Therefore we would have thee to deal so with Men as the Truth may not suffer by thee and thy actions otherwise to leave the Company of those that fear God and thou to declare to the World That it is not allowed by them that so the Truth may not suffer by thee but by thy declaring against the Deceit in thy self in plainness to the World the Truth may be cleared in part although there will be a blemish left upon it by thee if thou proceed in any such Actions This is all at present from us who are Friends to Truth and must and do hereby under our Hands testifie against all such deceitful Actions as is heretofore mentioned as to be intended by thee whose Names are Roger Hebden John Killam From York-Castle the 13th of the 11th Month 1654. Some Advice to Friends upon the putting forth of a Proclamation by O. Cromwel Friends A Printed Paper coming to my hand seeing the same would be publick and lest any weak ones that should hear of the same or see it and not understand how it is suffered to come should be troubled It lay upon me That Copies thereof might go abroad and likewise to write something therewith what was made known unto me therein Now as for the former part thereof in it self lyes open that which hath been hid to many That free Liberty is granted to all in their Meeting together to Worship God This being made publick will much restrain them that have been Rude by reason of their Ignorance therein And for the Restraint in the latter part thereof the great Service thereof is seen and rejoyced in for a Restraint it will be to some that should not go but those that should go must notwithstanding this Although the Enemies have done it out of Envy as Joseph's Brethren sold him yet the Lord will turn it to Good for so it was shewn me that it would be in this Day of the Lord 's great Power and breaking forth of Light wherein the Adversary will be ready to put many on to act or speak out of their Wills of Zeal before they come into the true Knowledge and Understanding from whence they speak or act These things being shewn me would be the Issue much was the Refreshing Rejoycing and Comfort that I received therefrom Praises to the Lord for ever-more All that fear him shall see all things work together for Good the Wise are taken in their own Craft they are confounded and know it not yea they do they know not what Therefore all in your Tents abide in the Counsel of the Lord stand still there is your Tower of Refuge Safety is there Wherefore you my dear Brethren and Sisters Children of the Living God Babes born of the Immortal Seed of the Word of God which endureth for ever Lend not an Ear unto the Adversary that would by causing you to look forth at the Dealings of the Lord either in the Particular or in the General cause you to have hard Thoughts of God But in that which is Pure the Measure of Light that you have received from Christ Jesus in the same Watch and with the same Pray and so you will be delivered from the Temptation for in so doing you will find his mighty Power near who is present with all that call upon him in Truth That is Truth which discovers Falshood and Vanity in that resist the Adversary and so shall you get the Victory Therefore let none be troubled that you see
to the outward Elements And though Christ did eat the Passover with his Disciples before he left them yet he said That be would not henceforth drink of this Fruit of the Vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom Mat. 26.29 Which Kingdom being Spiritual it stands in that which is above all Carnal Things For the Saints Communion and Fellowship is in the Light 1 John 1.7 But if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and their Fellowship was not only One with another but With the Father and with his Son Christ Jesus 1 John 1.3 And it is the same now they who walk in the Light finds it so But I know it is not so with the World by their receiving Bread and Wine for when I did receive that with them there was a thirsting that with them there was a thirsting to have received something of Christ with the Bread and Wine but could get nothing but came away empty And after they have received Bread and Wine together they are not thereby United into One but too often live in Strife and Envy as formerly without any change at all Neither have the Teachers of the World my Command from Christ in Scripture for taking a Text or place of Scripture and to add thereto their own Inventions But if any shall say That Jesus went into the Synagogue and there was delivered unto him the Book of the Prophet Isaih and when he had opened the the Book be found the place where it was written The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because be hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the Poor c. Luke 4.16 17 18 19. From this some may conclude in themselves and say That he took a Text or place of Scripture to speak from it To which I answer It was not the words spoken of another or another's Condition but the Prophecy concerning him which was then fulsilled the Spinit of the Lond then being upon him whereby he did preach the Gospel to the Poor c. As in the 21 st verse He began to fay unto them This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears But which of the Teachers of the World can say truly That they are by the Spirit of the Lord being upon them Anointed to preach the Gospel to the Poor c. as it was there written in that Prophecy of him which he said was then fulfilled But other ways by Man they are appointed and the Love of Lucre with the Praise of Men are the chief Motives to put them forward to speak And so if they will follow Christ let them follow him and in plainness and honesty in this his Practice take the Scriptures that speak of them their Practive and Condition as he did of his which is fulfilled in them and by them and then they may take the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and open it in their Synagogues and read to the People that place Isaiah 56.11 where he speaking before of the Watch-men saith They are Shepherds that cannot understand they all look to their own way every one for his gain from his quater taking this Scripture and reading it to the People applying it to themselves that they are such as look to their own way every one for his gain from his quarter that Scripture the People may witness with them to be true in them and fulfilled by them And so they may turn into the Prophecy of Jeremiah where they may read themselves unto the People they being such as bear Rule by their Means Jer. 5.31 And which steal the Word from their Neighbour which the Lord us against For although they will be taking the Scriptures into their Mounths can they prove that the Lord dit ever speak by them For their Trading with the Scriptures is by Stealing from others and as then they did run when the Lord did not send them as in the same Chapter verse 22. therefore they profited not the People let them read that unto the People Wherein the People may see the cause why they have not profited by them They may likewise read unto the People what the Lord by the Prophet Ezekiel said that the false Prophets did Chap. 34.3 They seek for the Fleece and feed not the Flock this they may read and this the People who are not blinded may witness to be their greatest Care for to get the Fleece more than to seed the Flock They may turn unto the third Chapter of Micah and read in the 11th verse of Priests that taught for Hire and such as put into the false Prophets Mouths then they cry'd peace to them as in verse 5. but he that put not into their Mouths they prepared war against him These Scriptures are fulfilled in them and by them they teach for hire and such as will give them their desire they speak Peace to such and will call them good Christians but such as cannot satisfie their desires seeing them to be no Ministers of Christ and so cannot maintain them by acting against their Consciences against such they do prepare War either by Suing them at the Law or Smiting with the Tongue as Jer. 18.18 and with some of these they make War against such as cannot give them their Wages because they are not of Christ's setting down agreeable unto Mat. 10. and Luke 10. Read these places and there you may see the Wages that Christ appoints his Disciples Further if they will imitate in Reading a Scripture belonging unto them then they may read Mat. 23.67 Who love the uppermost Rooms at Feasts chief Seats in the Synagogues Greetings in the Markets and to be called of Men Rabbi Rabbi And as the Scribes and Pharisees did bid others observe and do such things as they did not themselves and laid heavy Burdens upon others but they themselves would not touch them as Mat. 23.3 4. So it is now with the Priests of England the People may witness with me that these Scriptures are true in them and fulfilled by them Woe from Christ was and is their Portion And in the 11th verse of the Epistle of Jude they may read where their Portion is set down before their Practice Woe unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward which is manifest at this day by their Persecution and Suing Men at Law for their Wages And the last place that I shall now desire them to read is 2 Pet. 2.1 where the Apostle saith But as there were false Prophets also among the People even as there shall be false Teachers amongst you And in the 3 d verse thus And through Covetousness shall they with fained words make Merchandise of you c. This is their Practice and is manifest to most Men that their exchanging of Place and People is Merchant-like to get Gain for the better some way if not always for
Seeds is placed by the Lord so the Victory is obtained by joyning with That of Him where his Power will be witnessed according to his Promise But in vain it is for any ever to expect the Victory who will not enter into the Warfare so as to have the Serpent's Head broken who will not joyn with the other Seed against it so as to have Sin to dye who will not deny themselves of their Sins but give liberty to their Lusts for there can be no dying of Sin until there be a dying of that which brings it forth For as the Scripture declares God made Man upright but they have sought out many inventions Eccles 7.29 But he was not so created in the many Inventions but in the Image of God Gen. 1.26 The Evil was of Man's finding out for the Lord commands Such a thing thou shalt not do Gen. 2.16 17. Now although the Command was Thou shalt not eat Man through Temptation aspiring thinking to be High fell Low acts contrary to the Command and so broke it The Transgression of the Law is Sin 1 John 3.4 And as Sin came at the first by breaking the Command of God so whilst there is a running on to be guided by that which at the first brought Sin there can be no dying of Sin but adding Sin to Sin and filling up the Measure of Iniquity But as there is a hearkening and giving up in obedience unto that Divine Light within which checks and reproves for Sin then the other part which leads forth the Creature unto the acting of Sin comes to be denied and so Sin will dye Obj. But if any shall say Is there this Light in every one Ans The Scriptures declare of Christ I am the Light of the World John 8.12 And John the Fore-runner of Him saith That he was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light that was the true Light which lighteth every Man that comes into the World John 1.8.9 And Christ who was the true Light compares the Kingdom of Heaven unto a Man travelling into a far Country who called his Servants and delivered unto them his Goods unto every Man according unto his several ability Mat. 25.14 15. And the Apostle Paul saith The Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all Men Tit. 2.11 Who can this deny but that there hath that appeared unto them which if hearkened unto and obeyed would have redeemed them from the Evil of their Ways they coming into the Obedience So this Light wherewithal Christ Jesus hath enlightned every one that comes into the World doth shine in the dark Understanding of the Creature Mankind although the Darkness does not comprehend it as John 1.5 Light shines in Darkness and the Darkness comprehends it not Yet notwithstanding as John 3.19 This is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather than Light because their Deeds are evil All which I witness according to these Scriptures That there was a Light a Measure of that which was pure of God in me which appeared unto me which did convince of Sin and Evil Deeds time after time this did shine into my Understanding although the Darkness was such in me that this Light could not be known by it Yet it was there and this Light was my Condemnation in secret when contrary thereunto I acted That which in the first place did convince of Sin and Evil Deeds did afterwards rise up in me and condemn me And this all must witness all that will not be obedient thereunto must be slain by him yea all his Enemies that will not have him to Reign over them Luke 19.27 Therefore in vain it is for any to expect him to be their Saviour in their Sins for he was not given by God for that end but to Save his People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 But if any shall say Is this possible ever for any to be saved from their Sins whilst they are here And may say If any say We have no Sin we deceive our Selves 1 John 1.8 I Answer doth not the same Apostle say 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is Born of God doth not commit Sin for his Seed remaineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is Born of God Here is mention of a Seed remaining in him which cannot Sin because he is Born of God Now this doth the Scriptures reconcile which seem to be at odds to know the two Seeds in Mankind what Seed that is that doth Sin and what Seed that is that doth not Sin neither can Sin for this know and this you may likewise feel within As there is one Seed that calls upon and leads forth the Creature for to act Wickedness so there is another that could never consent thereunto but was burthened by Transgression yet did reprove in secret and if it had been hearkened unto and obeyed then it would have been exalted in Men and set above the other and so have ruled in the Creature and the Creature being therewith guided would be kept from Sin for he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as Christ is Righteous and the other which committeth Sin is of the Devil 1 John 3.7 9. And for this purpose was the Son of God manifested that he might destroy the Works ef the Devil and to take away Sin as in the 5th verse which is seen and witnessed to be the end and purpose of God sending his Son but first he must be known to be Judge to condemn Sin in the Flesh as the Apostle declares Rom. 8.3 For what the Law could not do in that it was weak thorow the Flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful Flesh and for Sin condemned Sin in the Flesh And this is by Christ's Appearance who said Mat. 10.34 Think not that I come to send Peace on Earth I come not to send Peace but a Sword And he says John 9.39 For Judgment am I come into the World He comes first to break their Peace who have been at quiet and asleep in their Wickedness before he speak Peace unto them and so every one must know him as in Isaiah 33.22 The Lord is our Judge the Lord is our Law-giver the Lord is our King and he will Save us And whoso doth not know him thus knows him not savingly at all Therefore all you who do not know God any otherways but by hearsay and are only looking upon things without your Ignorance I pity and in love to your Souls as I am moved of the Lord I have written this unto you for to inform your Understandings where you are to wait to hear the Voice of God and the same obeying your Souls may live Therefore every one in particular turn your Ear the Ear of your Soul within hearken do not you hear something within you calling upon you to cease from the Evil of your ways and to do the Good Which being hearkened unto then you will find
who witness them true and to have been fulfilled in us and in obedience to the same Power are kept can read with Comfort from the Testimony within our own selves wherein we may and do rejoyce in Persecution and Suffering for Righteousness sake which none knows but as they are guided by the Righteous One wherein is our Happiness that although we be numbred amongst the Transgressors of Men's Laws yet we suffer not as evil Doers for who goes under the name of Quakers and suffers for evil Doing are neither owned by us nor know our Joy who suffers as Christians herein can Rejoyce in as much as we are made Partakers of Christ's Sufferings and can and may read 1 Pet. 4.13 14 15 16. Our Sufferings being for the same that the Prophets Christ and the Apostles practised to wit for speaking against Formal and False Worships and Worshippers and against Sin in Plainness even in their publick Meeting-places as they did as in 1 Kings 13.1 2. By the Word of the Lord the Prophet cryed against the Altar in Bethel Jeroboam standing by And by the Word of the Lord Amos prophesied in the King's Chappel in Bethel and in plainness speaks of the Judgments of God to befall Jeroboam Amos 7. But this was not from the Letter the outward Declaration of Scripture that they spoke but from the Movings of the Spirit of the Lord in them as Prophesies came 2 Pet. 1.21 And the Father and Mother of Jesus found him in the Temple amongst the Doctors both hearing them and asking them Questions Luke 2.46 And the Apostle Paul an his manner was went into the Synagogues and Reasoned with them three Sabbath Days together out of the Scriptures And into the Synagogues he went at three several places to wit at Thessalonica at Berea and at Athens read Acts 17. for which he was then Persecuted And it is the same Generation in Nature now which Persecutes for the same Practices as then He that was Born after the Flesh persecuted him that was Born after the Spirit even so it is now Gal. 4.29 And so all that live in Persecution Hating and Envying and in Pride Covetousness Drunkenness Swearing Lying or any such like Wickedness take the Scriptures and look who they were that did such things and what was to be their Portion And this use you may make of the Scriptures Search them and see every one where you can find your own Condition for this I know and so you shall find That if you do apply the Promises to your selves which do not belong to that Condition which you live in that will do you no good at all in the time of trouble Therefore all consider betimes now whilst you have time and now that you are warned And all People of all Professions cease from looking at your Profession and see whose Work you do and what Fruit it is that you bring forth whether it be the Works of the Flesh or the Fruits of the Spirit of God which are different as the Scripture declares Gal. 5.19 20 21 22 23. Now the works of the Flesh are manifest which are these Adultery Fornication Uncleanness Lasciviousness Idolatry Witcheraft Hatred Variance Emulations Wrath Strife Sedition Heresies Envyings Murders Drunkenness Revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God But the Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law And be not deceived God will not be mocked for such as you sow such shall you reap If ye sow to the Flesh then ye shall reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting which is witnessed as in Scripture declared Gal. 6.7 8. Therefore with Bowels of Love running forth towards your Souls I exhort you all to consider whose Will it is that you are doing and what it leads into For the Will of God is your Sanctification 1 Thess 4.3 Therefore take heed I charge you all in the Presence of the Lord and by his Spirit how you go on in any Wickedness and lay the blame upon God and say When the Lord will it shall be otherwise It is not his Will that any should go on in their Wickedness but that all should turn from their Wickedness and Live but your Destruction I do declare unto you all to be from and of your selves running on your own Wills working the Works and delighting to live after the Flesh which brings Death as the Scripture declares Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall dye but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Flesh ye shall live And the Lord is not wanting on his part for to bring to Life but by the Spirit of his dear Son he calls upon every one for to return from the Evil of their Ways and as Obedience thereunto is given the Deeds of the Flesh come to be mortified and so they come to witness Life But if any say Hath every one the Spirit of Christ I answer with the Apostle Rom. 8.9 If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his that is such as do not live up to the Spirit of Christ so as to enjoy its Indwelling For a Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit with And so every one as they stoop down in Obedience to that of God in them which is pure which rises up within them and shews them Evil Deeds and calls upon them to depart there-from they owning this to be of God from thence this Fear comes to be placed in the Heart that they dare not act contrary thereto but the same they obey and so him serve and worship who is a Spirit and is worshipped in Spirit and Truth Which that you may all do is my Desire and Prayer to the Lord for you all by whom I have been moved to write this forth unto whom I have cleared my Conscience and unburdened my Spirit in the informing your Understandings in the way of his Worship who is God over all and Blessed and Praised for evermore Hallelujah to the Highest Written by one who desires the Welfare of Souls R. H. Who was committed Prisoner to York-Castle for speaking the Truth To Enoch Sinclare Parish-Teacher of Slingsby this is A Copy hereof being sent to go unto him the first that went forth with what in this foregoing is thereunto added as in the Conclusion of this expressed is Friend I Being moved for to write something forth for to inform the Understandings of such as have been scattering and wandering in the cloudy and dark Day as I was whilst following the Inventions of such as thou art who knows nothing of God but by Hear-say conceivings of the Scriptures and looking upon things without Such pitying and in love unto their Souls I have
but pronounce Woes as they are moved by the Lord and Wo unto that in thee which would have all Men to speak well of thee that is thy Enemy and the Enemy of God and whilst that rules in thee thou art under the Wrath and the Woes belonging to the Wicked thou must expect whilst therewith guided And in bidding Let high Aspiring Thoughts and Conceits depart thou speakest of Conceits and Aspiring Thoughts and thou bids Let Tenderness and Pity possess his Soul Here thou art to be tryed whether thou live not in Conceits thy self yea or nay So What is the Soul Now this thou may'st answer as Scripture declares That God breathed into Man's Nostrils the Breath of Life and Man became a Living Soul But further I demand of thee What this is in the Creature Now if thou canst not give an account of this What this is in the Creature Then thou must acknowledge that thou hast been Exhorting another To let Tenderness and Pity possess thou know'st not what more than a Word but the Soul is more that a Word And when thou comest to know it then thou shalt see thy high Aspiring Thoughts and Conceits that thou hast lived in and to know and acknowledge that this is written in love and Pity unto thee from R. H. York-Castle the 11th Day of the 4th Month 1655. FRom the time of my being committed Prisoner by Robert Barwicke as is expressed in the fore-part of this Book I continued as Prisoner but several times at my own and Friends desire had liberty to visit Friends in the Country and at the Assizes held in the 7th Month of the Year 1655. when I had been between thirty and forty Weeks a Prisoner I was called and was tryed and cleared accordingly as is hereafter mentioned Being called before William Steel Judge it was said That I stood there Indicted since the last Assizes the Indictment being read it was demanded of me What I said to it Was I guilty or not guilty To which was answered to this purpose That what I said I should not deny there being put into the Indictment that I wilfully and maliciously uttered forth such words as they read the truth was that I spoke such words but that such words were spoken from my own Will or Malice that I denied and said That was their Condition which put the words in Then the Judge asked What I said as to the Substance of the thing My answer was What I spoke I should not deny Then he asked me If I would be tried by God and the Country My answer was The Lord he is my Tryer and what he will suffer the Country to do I am satisfied Thus I with other three Friends who had been called at the Assizes before and could not say neither Guilty nor Not Guilty true words and false being mixt together in our Indictments were to come to our Tryal before the Country and the next day being called and set in the midst amongst those there Arraigned for Fellony and Murder A Jury being chosen and they being about to swear them I spoke to the Judge to put him in mind of what passed between us the Day before how that he asked If I would be tried by God and the Country And my answer thereunto being That the Lord he is my Tryer and what he suffered the Country to do I am satisfied but that their Swearing is not allowed but forbidden by Christ and in testifying against it I clear my Conscience Notwithstanding this they called for Evidence against me but not any appearing the Jury gave in their Verdict as it is called that I was Not Guilty Then I appealed to that of God in all their Consciences to judge how I had been dealt withal who had been between thirty and forty weeks a Prisoner and none for to lay any thing to my charge But they would make no answer to that but hasted to take me away After some said I might recover Damage for my Imprisonment But I answered them I had not so learned of Christ for to render Evil for Evil. Roger Hebden Here follows a Copy of my Release To the Goaler of the Goal of York WHereas Roger Hebden was Indicted at these Assizes and Acquitted You may therefore set him at Liberty if for no other cause you detain him Witness my Hand this 12th day of September in Year of your Lord 1655. John Clarill Clerk of Assizes Here is an Account of my being a Prisoner at Alisbury To the Keeper of the Common Goal at Alisbury or to his Deputy there WHereas Roger Hebden Bucks ss herewith sent you yesterday being the Sabbath-day came into the Parish Church of Newport-Pagnell and there in the time of publick Service did openly and publickly before the whole Congregation disturb the Minister contrary to the Law in that case made and provided These are therefore to Will and Require you upon Sight hereof That you receive the Body of the said Roger herewith sent you into your said Goal and him safely keep until he shall be thence discharged by order of Law Hereof fail not Dated this 4th Day of January 1657. Thomas White ACcording unto this foregoing Warrant I was received and kept in the Goal between three and four Days and then brought forth and had my tryal at the last Sessions who ordered me to the House of Correction there to be kept fourteen Days and then to be discharged Which was done accordingly R. H. A Copy of my Commitment to York-Castle Thomas Harrison Esq Sheriff of the said County to the Goaler or Keeper of the Castle of York Greeting I Command you Yorkshire That the Body of Roger Hebden by me taken you receive into your Custody and him safe keep so that I may have him before the Justices of the Peace at the next General Quarter-Sessions of the Peace to be holden for the North-Riding of the said County to answer his Highness the Lord Protectour of certain Trespasses and other Misdemeanors whereof he stands indicted Given under the Seal of my Office the 1st day of April 1658. A true Copy examined by John Thomlinson By the Sheriff NOW Whereas mention is made before of my being cast into Prison at Alisbury it was for my going into a Steeple-House at Newport-pagnel where standing quietly until the Priest had done his Preaching who had been telling in a bemoaning manner that The Devil cast Fiery-Darts and Hand-Granadoes as it were into the Soul It being made known unto me as I stood by that he knew not what the Soul was which he said the Devil did such things to so words were spoken unto him to this purpose Man thou hast been speaking much as concerning the Soul it were needful for the People's Satisfaction thou mightest declare what the Soul is but instead of answering this needful Question he put it off with saying That he would Dispute with me there the next day But there being present one Thomas White a Man
in Commission to have done Justice he threatned for to send me away to Prison which he did early the next Morning and whilst I was there in the House of Correction I received Intelligence how that at the Sessions in Yorkshire there was a Bill of Indictment preferred against me to this purpose in it How that at a Meeting where I was at North-Allerten I intended or endeavoured to put one Thomas Mann Priest of that Town into a Well So opening the Bible it opened and I read these Scriptures Psalm 119.85 The Proud have digged Pits for me which are not after thy Law And in the 69th Verse of the same Psalm The Proud have forged a Lie against me The Pits were the Goal and House of Correction in Alisbury which I was put into for doing nothing else but what was agreeable to Scripture and the Lie which the Proud had forged against me was what they had laid to my charge in Yorkshire for true it was I went to the Priest in Buckinghamshire but in Yorkshire the Priest came to me with a salse Accusation in his Mouth at his coming using words to this purpose How now Roger Thou says I Preach false Doctrine It being denyed and he being put to Prove what he said otherwise he would be found to be a false Accuser put it off with asking What was the false Doctrine he did Preach So by his coming a great Tumult was raised insomuch that my Life was much in danger to have been taken away but by the Power of God and the endeavour of some Friends who bestirred themselves and got me forth of the Throng I was preserved There was a Well in the place so the wicked not being satisfied with what was done against me forged a Lie viz. That I intended or endeavoured such a thing as to put the Priest therein So after my return into Yorkshire I was arrested by an Attachment forth of the Sessions for to Answer at the next Sessions but I not having had any Summons given nor any word left at my House for my former appearance I could not own to the Bayliff that his proceedings were agreeable to their own Law and so could not give him his Fee which he said was Two Shillings so he cast me into Prison as by the Mittimus fore-mentioned is expressed so coming to the Sessions neither Priest nor Bayliff which I heard preferred the Bill of Indictment against me appeared against me but were to be questioned for their own Miscarriage laid to their Charge as I heard so I being called and none appearing against me for to lay any thing to my Charge by Proclamation I was cleared and the Bayliff who was the cause of my being sent to Prison at that time much reproved I was three Weeks and more a Prisoner upon the account afore-mentioned Roger Hebden A Copy of the Mittimus by which I was sent Peisomer to York for refusing to pay Tythes Thomas Harrison Esq Sheriff of the said County to the Keeper of the Goal of the Castle of York Greeting Yorkshire I Command that the Body of Roger Hebden by me lately taken you receive into your Custody so that I may have his Body before the Lord Protectour in the upper Bench at Westminster on Monday next after three Weeks of St. Michael to answer Henry Sowtheby in a Plea of Trespass Given under the Seal of my Office the 9th day of August 1658. A true Copy examined by John Thomlinson By the Sheriff About 9 Weeks Prisoner THis Plea of Trespass that is fore-mentioned which I was commited to Prison for that I was to answer Henry Sowtheby in was for the Tenth of my Hay and Corn that Year Growing which he claimed right to being an Impropriator And he cast me or by his means I was cast into Prison before a good part of the Hay was got or Corn near ready to cut Notwithstanding these his Dealings he openly confessed how Honest I had been and that he believed that it was for Conscience sake that I could not pay it and that it was true I had often paid him his Rent before the time it was due For in the time of my Ignorance of the Root from whence Tythes were I had a Lease of him for seven Years and did perform giving 1 l. 6 s. 8 d. Yearly for the Tythe of my own Land but after I writ to him to this purpose following and gave it him before he caused my Imprisonment fore-mentioned Henry Sowtheby unto thee formerly I paid a Composition Yearly Rent for Tythes of Lands in my Possession in the time of my Ignorance from whence Tythes were but finding in Scripture that they were the Lord 's by his express Command read Levit. 27.30 and he gave the Tenth unto the Children of Levi for an Inheritance for their Service which they served even the Service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation as Numb 18.21 And with the Levite the Stranger the Fatherless and the Widow were to eat and be satisfied as in Deut. 14.29 But seeing that none of these things are performed by them that receive Tythes in England now as then in Israel And lastly finding in Scripture that the Priesthood being Changed there is made of necessity likewise a Change of the Law as Heb. 7.12 denial is made of them that not any Right or Due thou hast unto Tythes by the Law of God as is seen by Roger Hebden IN the Year following I was ordered in the Movings of the Lord's Spirit for to visit Friends the former part thereof I passed through the Eastern Counties up to London and returned thorow the middle Counties Then before the middle of that Summer I passed into Scotland about that time when King Charles the Second came into England again and after my passing through several parts of Scotland amongst most of them few Friends that were then convinced of the Truth them to strengthen for to stand in the day of Tryal then approaching for then many did expect we should soon have been brought under either to have denyed our God or under great Sufferings and then was a time of much Wickedness and Lewdness much of God's good Creatures consumed in Drinking and Fires making Ringing and Rejoycing because of the Coming of the King Notwithstanding all that Lewdness which was then alost by the Lord's Power I and a Friend with me named Samuel Watson passed and had little Interruption and so returned forth of Scotland into Cumberland and visited several Friends in that County and so returned into Yorkshire before the middle of Summer About the time and after King Charles the Second returned into England again But there were some who could not be content therewith amongst others some of them called Fifth Monarchy Men who as I understand expect Christ to come for to Reign Outwardly in Person upon Earth and some few of them being stirred up in a forward Zeal without a true Knowledge of what Spirit they were of did