that Worship him in Spirit and in Truth and deny the Pope and his Adherents Doctrines heathenish Traditions Customs and vain Fashions of the World that lieth in wickedness the Lord will judge thee for these things while thou have time Repent and prize it Thou tell me of my Friends Opening Shops on the Lords Day but which day of the Week is not the Lords that made them The Apostles Doctrine iâ— One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike but what shall be done to such he doth not say Away to Prison with them beat them spoil their goods persecute them or we can no wayes allow of it as thou say Nay but thus it s written Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind See Rom. 14.5 Remember thou art sufficiently warned from this day forward seeing the Lord hath given thee and many more a day of visitation of salvation whether it be received or rejected that thou have not a hand in persecuting any for conscience sake or for reproving sin in the gate in the Mass-house or open street least the Lord with a quick and mighty stroak as in a moment smite thee and take away the desire of thine eyes who art yet false accusing me and my Friends saying Cannot you and them of your gang with such reproachfull and unsavoury words be quiet but disturb us in our Congregations and act in the open streets in a most uncivil manner liker distracted men then sober persons drawing tumults about you to the disturbance of our peace Know thou that if the King of darknesse of Babylon of Confusion did or may send greetings of peace as in another case to all that did or doth dwell in the earth Dan. 6.25 yet the Prince of Life King of Righteousness Christ the Light of the World comes not to send peace on the Earth but a Sword see Luke 10.34 35. and the Angel cries wo wo wo to the Inhabitants of the Earth Therefore think it not strange that your peace is broken or disturbed for no peace to wicked but fear God Repent and bring forth fruits meet for repentance unto life least thou die in thy sins for this is of truth that I write whether thou hear or forbear From the Hole of the inner Prison in the Poultry Counter this 24 of the 9 mo 1659. From thy Souls Friend that writes his name Daniel Baker Here followeth a Coppy of a Letter sent from a Friend of Gods Truth to Thomas Allen Mayor of the City London THomas Allen Ah Friend what is this that thou hast done in this thy proceeding against me and to separate me from my family where there is so much need of me which thou little regardest but exerciseth cruelty on that day the first day which thou calls the Sabbath or Lords day even without mercy Yet thou knows or should know that he or they that rule over men should be just men men of truth ruling in the fear of God Friend I was the last first day of the week save one in my shop in Gods fear exercing my Conscience void of offence towards God and man doing no evil in word or deed to Man Woman or Child for my Religion which is Pure is to keep unspoted of the World and so cannot joyn one with the World in observing one day above another but esteem every day alike and am fully perswaded in mine own mind and know that the Kingdom of Heaven comes not with outward observation and that to the Lord all dayes are alike good and that it is the will of God our Sanctification to be Holy as God is Holy every day in all manner of conversation to do Justly to love Mercy and to walk humbly with or before the Lord God who searcheth the Heart And who have learned and are taught this by the Grace of God which brings Salvation which hath appeared unto all men even to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live Righteously Soberly and Godly in this present World to such all daies are alike who are God-like for the Lord God made every day good and every Child of God that is born of God who is Light walks in the Light Christ the good day that Abraham saw and was glad which is the true Rest which the Sabbath that was given to the Jewes for a Sign was a shadow of even of the Substance Christ the Light the good day of God the rest which remaines in whom all the Shadows Signes and dayes end And who now are rooted in him and built up in him Christ the Light and walk in the Light which through believing in are become Children of and are joyned and united to the Body Christ the substance that ends the shadows they dwelling in God who is light are freed from the begarly Rudiments and cannot be in any wise brought into bondage to them again to observe days or esteem one day above another and they now whose life is in observing of dayes which were appointed given as shadows and signs of the substance their life is not yet in the substance Christ the Light but in the Signs shadows and so as yet know not Christ the Light manifest in their flesh to redeem out of the bondage of corruption but still remain children of the Bond-woman under the bondage of sin an Satan and so are not holy any day of the week and then cannot keep or walk holily on the first day of the week or on any day else But prethee consider if thou have a Law for what thou doth against me and wouldest have me and all men account thee a just man as thou ought to be and art called a Justice for I and all men may judge of thee to be a Justice and a just man if thou do justice impartially without respect of persons Now how hast thou so dealt with me to send me to prison for opening my windows and because I will not shut them at the Marshal thy servants pleasure I being a Free man of the City in equity ought to have as much freedom in opening my windows and to keep them open as thou to command thy Servant and horses to labour on the first day of the week therefore if thou wilt do justice without partiality command the Marshal thy servant to carry thee to Prison and if thou be not willing to go so at his word in the Name of the Keepers of the liberties of England if the Marshals servant thrust thee violently out of thy doors as he did me why let it be so and if another of his servants take hold on thee and kick thee very wickedly and violently as he did me why bear it and if he take thee by the Collar of thy doublet and band on both sides thy neck and shake thee as a Dog would worry a Sheep as one of the Marshals Servants did me and the other carrying a stick under my back lifted it up quick on purpose to
A Single and general Voice Lifted up like a TRUMPET Sounding forth the Lords Controversie concerning London with her Governors Priests and Citizens that walk in the Manners Customs and Way of the Heathen that know not the dreadful God who is Light among them neither like to retain God or that which may be known of God within in their knowledge like the Sinners of the Gentiles that sacrifice to Devils and not unto God Rom. 1. With somewhat directed to the ear of Thomas Atkin called Alderman of the said City A Reproof to his perverse and ungodly Proceedings Message and Two Letters from his Hand Answered with a lamentable Cry of the Innocent in and through a Servant of the Church of the First Born in the Inner-Prison called The Hole in the Poultery Counter in London Also a Letter from a Servant of God in the said Prison to Thomas Allen Mayor of the City The sound may be heard in other parts and become serviceable in the Nation though it may be as it is Rejected by them that forget Mercy Truth Equity Justice and sound Judgment the Law and the Prophets the Lord and his Work and rather chuse to set their hearts on and follow after lying Vanities and so forsake their own Mercies who rebel against the Light of Christ in the Conscience of Male and Female that are saying in their hearts as in Ages past to the most High that sheweth to man what is his thought Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes By DANIEL BAKER Lam. 2.6 The Lord hath caused the solemn Feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion Rev. 10. And I saw the Beast and the Kings of the Earth and their Armies gathered together to make War against him who is called Faithful True London Printed for Thomas Simmons neer Aldersgate 16â—â— A single and general Voice c. SUrely the Light of Life even the desire and health of the Nations is come in the middest of a foolish people in these latter dayes how many are they that love not their lives unto the death to publish and proclaim the joyful sound hereof to the ends of the Earth by which the Nations Kindreds Tongues and People are provoked to jealousie and wrath but why do the Heathen Rage and the people imagine vain things seeing he the everlasting light of the house of Jacob of Israels life and glory the sure Foundation the Rock the Hiding-place the strong Tower whose Name is called the Word of God by whom the world was made even he is come in the middst of us the true light that all men through him might believe and be saved from the wrath to come by him the light the Lord of the Sabbath the substance the rest that ends the signs and lighteth every man that cometh into the world even he is the same yesterday to day and for ever whose day Abraham saw before Abraham was I am Lo he is come who is the I am the Light the Author of eternal Salvation the Resurrection and the Life that is risen behold with boldness I Testifie in his Name that is faithful and true in the midst of us and this is he whose righteous Scepter shall sway over the Nations whose dominion shall be from Sea to Sea who shall Rule the Nations with his Iron Rod with the Rod of his mouth will he smite the Earth and with the breath of his Lips will he slay the wicked be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed O ye Judges of the Earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling kiss the Son lest he be angry and you perish in the way when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him O London How art thou defiled and poluted and filled with violence vanity deceit hypocrisie wickedness and works of darkness Surely thy Governors and Pastors have greatly erred from the way everlasting that such an unwholsome ill savour ascends from thee thy Pastors thy Priests and thy Heads have erred and gone astray a whoring ravening from the Spirit of Truth corrupted the way of Holiness or that which may be known of God within and have greatly multiplyed thine iniquities and crying abominations and so have perverted all equity and are estranged from the Life of Truth so that the Word of Holiness is become a Reproach a taunt and by word in the midst of thee thy loud crying sins are exceedingly increased far exceeding thy Sister Sodom that suffered the vengeance of eternal fire and according to the number of thine Inhabitants have been thy Dumb IDOLS or gods that cannot save from the power of the SWORD that 's to passe through the Streets of thy defiled wicked Inhabitants O! who shall bewail thee in the day and hour of thy calamity and distress when bitter howling and wayling shall be heard when no eye shall pity or weep over thee when thy Lovers shall forsake thee because of the multitude of thy Whordoms greatness of pride and haughtiness and fornications and would in no wise be cleansed purged or purified by the Word of the highest which has been sounded forth and proclaimed-even in and through thy streets O London is not thy Land full of Horses or is there any end of their wilde Chariots and Idols Alas alas wo and alas for the little ones that lies wounded and oppressed under all thy filthy Abominations the multitude of thy unclean Beasts in the midst of thee are waxed fat and wanton greedily hastening and running into the abundance excess and so greedily devouring eating up and wasâ—â—ng and spoyling the goodl◠〈…〉 sidue under their feet so that their hearts are waxed grosse with fatness fitted for the day of slaughter feeding themselves without fear or amazement over the Worm or despised Seed of the Covenant in the midst of thee notwithstanding the Lion hath roared a top of the mountains O London London thy stink and ill savour hath ascended up into the nostrils of the most holy highest Lord of Lords King of Kings when as thy scent or smell should have been as Lebanon or as the Ancient Garden of Eden had the precious life of thy long feigned profession of the holy Prophets Christ and the Apostles good words freely and clearly ascended up and spread over thy Walls and Towers and Borders that the Nations round about might have scented tasted and savoured the good and precious fruit of the Life of thy seigned Profession and to have come with joy and rejoycing submitting and bending unto thee because of thy perfect beauty had it been brought forth at all in its season and comliness and brightness as the light that ariseth in the East and giveth light unto the ends of the Earth lo such a thing hath not been brought forth by thy Heads Pastors Priests and Wise-men of thy Inhabitants but out of the North the precious Lilly sprung up the ground is blessed that bare
and brought forth this tender plant that 's never to be forgotten but to be had in everlasting remembrance of all that hear the joyful sound and come to see the glory of the brightnesse of thy rising who shall Trumpet forth thy fame to the utmost parts of the Earth and talk of thy mighty power in the Congregation of the righteous O London London How hast thou been visited from on high by the hand of the Almighty in his faithful though despised Messengers that thou might be purged and made clean and healed Lo the multitude of thy polluted Inhabitants have dispised the day of Healing and of small things and the Children of Wisdom that have been wearied and as it were ready to faint from time to time under the weight of the multitude of thy pollutions and crying abominations and have truly bewailed and lamented thy estate but how have they been esteemed in thine Adulterous eyes as sounding Brass as signs and wonders the off scouring of the World or as the Wind thou hast not known whence they come neither whether they go O London Thy defiled Garments thy Heads thy Priests thy Pastors Professors and Prophane in thee thy Judgment Seats thy Courts thy Palaces with them that that handle the Law thy Idols Temples loe even thy streets in these latter dayes are stained with the blood of the Innocent O England England what hast thou done or brought forth how canst thou like an impudent Harlot or murtherer plead before the glorious Throne of the Lord God of Judgement and of the Lamb the Son of the highest and say not guilty or I am innocent O London Remember Jerusalem it s yet but a very little while thy day is passed over thy head some of thy Mourners have already seen and yet behold the Lillies covering the mountains the good watchmen of the City Zion where the Sabbaths which thou hast prophaned and polluted are forgotten waite for the gathering and healing of the remaining little ones that are defiled wounded and polluted even in thee O London Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles prepare War wake up the mighty men all the men of War let them come up beat your Plow shares into Swords and your Pruning-Hooks into Spears Let the Weak say I am strong Assemble your selves and come all ye Heathen assemble your selves-together round about thither cause thy mighty ones to come down O Lord let the Heathen be awaked and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to Judge the Heathen round about put ye in the Sickle for the Harvest is ripe Come get ye down for the Press is full the Fat 's over flow for their wickedness is great See Joel the third O ye heads and polluted Inhabitants of London that call the Scripture your rule read and behold your State see Deut. 32. and when the Lord saw it he abhorred them because of the provoking of his Sons and of his Daughters and he said I will hide my face from them I will see what their end shall be for they are a very froward generation children in whom is no faith They have moved me to jealousie with that which is not God they provoked him to jealousie with strange gods they have provoked me to anger with their vanities and I will move them to jealousie with those which are not a people I will provoke them to anger with a foolish Nation for a fire is kindled in mine anger and shall burn unto the lowest hell and shall consume the earth with her increase and set on fire the foundations of the mountains I will heap mischiefs upon them I will spend mine arrows upon them they shall be burnt with hunger and devoured with burning heat and with bitter destruction Now forasmuch as it hath been the manner and antient custome of the Mayors Aldermen Governours Citizens and inhabitants of the City of London the day when their chief Governour is sworn to do justice at such seasons great shews and wicked dark vile inventions is acted and brought forth in and through the open streets and River of the City because of which exceeding great multitudes of people assemble and gather together from divers parts in the vanitie of their vaine minds which are led captive to many and divers hurtful lusts that war against their souls at such seasons by which the Creatures are wasted consumed devoured and destroyed without the fear and wisdom of God by high and low rich and poor young and old bond and free for which end they were not created and the everlasting God hereby is greatly provoked and highly dishonoured though Thomas Atkin attribute it to the honour and respect of the Magistrates But Moses and Joshua the good Magistrates was not found walking in these or such like wayes and the persons of the Creatures hurt and sometime in great jeopardy to the loss of life by land and water and from time to time the Lord God and his spirit hath been grieved oppressed and vexed with these vain filthy abhominations of the heathen and Priests Rulers and people have been and are in a high degree guilty of all the hurt and waste of the Creation so much to the provoking and dishonour of the Almighty Lord and everlasting God of Truth yea and my spirit within me hath been often pressed down and grieved because of the weight of the crying abhominations of Priests Rulers and people that are called Christians but are not profirted at all by them the hired Priests that teach for filthy lucre their own way their gain from their Quarters like greedy dogs that can never have enough and are so plentifully bringing forth the fruits and works of darknesse walking in the manners of the Gentiles and way of the Heathen and pleading for their dumb Idols wherefore I was not onely moved to write to the two Mayors namely John Ireten and Thomas Allen to lay before them and to stop them and their subjects of their folly and wicked vanity but they would not receive warning as may appear by a paper afterwards published and Tituled A certain Warning from a naked Heart But the twenty ninth of the eighth moneth on which their Heathenish Ancient Idolatrous customs and dark inventions was so highly set up and exalted and carried thâ—â—ugh the open streets at which many thousands of people gazed before which time I spake a few words of Truth and sobernesse which the Lord put into my heart to some of the Aldermen as the horses and their Riders passed in at the Mayors gate saying The Lord God will stain the pride and glory of all flesh the Lord God will stain the pride of all glory as in the dayes of old the Lord will smite the great men of the earth with astonishment of heart who forget Justice and Judgement and the Lord God hath a controversie with all that forget the Lord and his work The Lord will be avenged on the great men of the earth
that destroy and devour the Creatures and the Creation upon their ungodly lusts and forget to do Justice and Judgement for which sayings I was not onely buffeted and abused at the Mayors gate by the brutish people but violently dragged carried away by Porters and thrown into the Poultry Counter by Thomas Atkins his unreasonable will without a Mittimus †But Noble Festus whom the Professors Priests and praphane call Heathen could not do so Act. 25.27 throw him in said the Officer and let him lie like a Rogue and afterward a Mittimus was sent though dated the same day The Coppy is as followeth LONDON ss THese are in the Name of the Keepers of the Liberty of Englamd by authorie of Parliament to require to detain and safely keep in your custody the Body of Daniel Baker until he find good security to appear at the next Sessions of peace in LONDON and in the mean time to be of the good behaviour occasioned a great tumult of people to be gathered together in the Streets to the the great disquiet of the City and disturbance of the publick peace and this shall be your Warrant Dated the twenty ninth day of Octo. 1659. to the keeper of the Poultry Counter Thomas Atkin. Now forasmuch as I should have been called to appear at the next Sessions of peace in London according to equity and the words in the Mittimus also but equity justice judgement was past by and forgotten and I was not called but kept a close Prisoner in a stinking hole of the Prison some weeks after and I had not onely laid before the Jaylor the unjustnesse of my Sufferings but that it was more then he or the unreasonable Justice according to the Law of the Nation could answer what they had done and the same day as I understand the Jaylor informed the Justice concerning the Matter who sent a private Messenger to have me come at his will which cast me into prison openly and to have set me free secretly but at that season I had not freedom from the Lord that gave me to see the wicked unreasonablenesse of their dealings with me and therefore had more Christian boldnesse to write to him the Coppy of the Letter is thus written This body in which I am with every Member of it is the Lords and so was and is the testimony of Gods truth whose words I spoke forth in obedience to his most Pure Spirit in my heart that reproves the World for sin the twenty ninth day of the eighth moneth and seventh or last day of the week when the great wise and honourable Men and inhabitants of the Earth and the wisdom 〈◊〉 honour that is from beneath is earthly sensual and devillish assembled together at Thomas Allens the present Mayors house and from thence thou with them accompanied and tollerated in a high degree the wicked inventions and idolatrous heathenish customs of the men of sin kept up and tollerated and highly exalted in course and time with vain fleshly glory by such that should be more wise who are called Christians Christian Magistrates Members of Churches Governours Mayors and Aldermen them to be found Acting and giving up their strength means and precious time to lying vanities rather then to be good sound sober examples to all both young and old and for them to be found acting and exerciseing themselves in such Heathenish abhominations and wicked vain customs of the World that lyeth in wickednesse to be laught at by fools and scorners though poor wise men lament over and pitty you by reproving with their life those evils you are found in to the end that you might not die in your sins which grives and wounds the just principle of God in your selves and others which Testimony is one with that which is true that condems the unjust But Friend was not this Body with the true Testimony from the Mayors gate by thy will cast into a filthy noysome Prison from which place by violence with Porters and others carried through the open streets in the sight of many hundreds of people as if I had been such a vile person or transgressor not worthy to live and the multitude might so judge of me seeing me thus openly carried and dragged as or far worse then many Malefactors or murtherers have been And what hast thou forgot to do Justice and Judgement and dost thou send for me secretly for as much as the Law is open and if I have committed any thing worthy of death or bonds Lo here is a body prepared to suffer and according to the Mittimus thou sent after I was thus thrown into a noysome hole of a Prison by thy will and under thy hand in writing I should have appeared at the last Sessions of Peace so called in London but I was not called according to the Tennour of the Mittimus and so thou hast greatly erred and art found a transgressor thy self and the Lords faithful witnesse in thy Conscience will judge thee for it and my words I spake as the Lord moved me at the Mayors gate is already fulfilled upon thy head where it will staud aright Lo thou hast forgot to do justice and judgement if thou had not thou would have without delay caused me to have appeared at the Judgement Seat there to be Tryed openly as I was cast into Prison openly and if I had spoke or done any thing worthy of Death or of Bonds the Law was open and thou ought equally and openly to have executed true Justice and Judgement and to have laid the sword upon the head of the transgressor and so to have been a terror to the evil doer Lo the Sword is to be laid upon thy Head O Man who hast forgot equity and lost pure Reason Justice and Judgement and thrown the Testimony of Truth into Prison so openly and what dost thou fend privately to have this Body which is the Lords to do his will and not mine own neither mans will that cast me in From the hole in the inner Prison in the Poultry Counter the 15 of the 9 mo 1659. Who am the Lords Prisoner for the Testimony of a pure Conscience for the Elects suffering Seeds sake A Friend to thy Soul called Daniel Baker The above written Letter was delivered to Thomas Atkin his hand and the Messenger brought me tidings that he read it and when he had done tore it to pieces and laught ill becoming his age gray hairs and place who after some dayes sent me a letter in the Night when it was dark a figure of his unfruitful works who hates to be reformed and to the end that others may beware and learn wisdome which many reject whose deeds are with Gods fear and Wisdom to be brought to the Light which equally tryeth all things and accordingly reproves and condemneth or approveth and justifieth I say according to the faithful and true witnesse in the Conscience of Male and Female so shall every ones deeds
of the Lord speak a few words of Truth and Sobernesse a Testimony against your Heathenish Customs and wicked actions which if Turks and Infidels were here to behold you no doubt but they would abhor and detest and defie you and your vain Religion rather then to be won to the faith of Gods Elect by such stinking and unsavoury examples to the shame of your dark teachers and bruitish pastors And the Lord is a pleading with the Inhabitants of the Earth because of their mighty sins and whorish hypocritical coverings and inventions of the Whore of the Beast and of the man of Sin together with the Witchcraft and Sorceries of the Mother of Harlots the well-favoured Harlot that hath so besotted and made the Kings and Rulers of the Earth even of all Nations of the Earth drunk with the Wine of her Fornication all Tables are full of Vomit wo to the Inhabitants of the Earth Moreover thou say if I had gone willingly I had not been dragged to Prison what is thy Conscience seared art thou altogether impenitent O man and thou I perceive dost rather countenance and strengthen the hands of evil doers that offer and do violence in a bruitish manner by buffeting and dragging the guiltlesse and innocent to Prison to which place I was forced I knowing assuredly by the Testimony of the Lord God within me that I was innocent in his sight and a prison I deserved not and had thou been a man of God thou might have savoured and seen so much also and therefore not willing to go or subject to the corrupt will of vain man but was therefore as a Sheep to the slaugter drove dragged and carried where I should not have been and this in the day when the Lords hand visits from which thou cannot fly nor hide will lie heavy upon thy conscience in the mean time I leave it to the witness in thee Again thou speaks in thy Letter thou sent for me to admonish me but thou being found a transgressor thy self art not fit to admonish another but to be threshed and admonished thy self and then to have discharged me thou say secretly when as I was so openly dragged as a great offender to Prison and thou may know that my words are fulfilled upon thy head viz. thou hast forgot to do Justice and Judgement in as much as thou sent not for me before the Judgement Seat where I ought to be tryed openly as I was cast into Prison openly and if I am found a Transgressor of any Law either of God or man Lo I refuse not to suffer or to die And moreover thou said thus you writ me a Letter and sent me word by your Keeper that you would be dragged out as you were dragged in I answer this is false I said not so but I told thy messenger and the Keeper if thou sent for me as I was cast into Prison that I was in their hands they may do as they were commanded but know thou that he that neither slumbers nor sleeps is my keeper though this vessel suffer under thy corrupt will and I was not willing to be dragged to Prison neither to be dragged out and thou did write me word saying if that be your mind when you desire your liberty get a Keeper to bring you to me and I shall give you a discharge Know thou that my mind is become subject to the Higher Power the light that is higher then the power of darknesse and behold I demand my liberty with boldness as my proper right for I have deserved no bonds for the pretious truth of God is on my side as a Friend and Servant of the Lord and so a true Christian and as I am a free-born English-man in this land of my nativity and as I have served my generation and moreover dearly purchased by the shedding of my blood and shattering of my bones not onely in my own behalf as I am a Christian an English-man a Free-born Member of this Nation but in the behalf of all the Free-born Inhabitants of this Land and thou also hast a share in what I and many more have jeoparded our Lives and Estates to purchase and what art thou found without Natural affection who also say after thou have thus cruelly executed thy enmity against me by casting me into prison if you want any thing it is your own fault and say thus I pitty your condition the Lord open your eyes But I know the Lord heareth not Sinners he who was born blind and had his eyes opened by the Light Christ said such words and how dost thou pitty me if I have of my own I need not want or it is my own fault thou say then it is like I may perish for all thy pitty and the tender mercies of the wicked is cruelty saith the wise man but know thou that if my outward man perish in this noysome hole of a prison that my blood will lie heavy upon thy conscience more especially and many more may feel the weight of it also if so and the Lord whom I serve I know then will require it at thy hand therefore see thou to it for so far have I cleared my Conscience and I can truly say I rest in peace but I know thou spake not truth in saying so in thy Letter for the Lords Eternal and Faithful witnesse in thy Conscience speaks not peace to thee and so thou cannot rest and the Scripture saith the wicked are like the troubled Sea that cannot rest but cast or foam up mire and dirt and sober people may favour the dirty stuff and corrupt fruit thou bears and brings forth therefore it is needful thou repent of this thy wickednesse and bring forth fruits meet for repentance least thou die in thy sins and if they were to depart into everlasting flames or unquenchable fire that visited not Christs little ones sick and in prison what thinks thou will be their portion that not onely cast them in but speaks all manner of evil against them let this remain with thee and many more of thy brethren the persecuting Rulers of England the Lord lay it not to the charge of them who simply know not what they do Father forgive them And how can you be clear and not guilty of all the Robberies committed at such a fit time as Thomas Atkin calls it hurt to the Creatures and of wasting and devouring the Creatures and the Creation thus upon your ungodly lusts time after time by which you tempt and and provoke the eternal Spirit of the Lord God to smite you and to give you up to the deceit and excesse of your own hearts lusts May not the Cut-purses Pick-pokets and evil doers say and rejoyce in the strength of their wicked hearts with such gladnesse that they have such fit opportunitiies so frequently given them by the Governours Magistrates and earthly great men that should be more wise and be good sober sound savoury examples to all and a terrour
to betray and insnare the Innocent that we should hear the Priest one time to try us yet he saw and also confest to a Friend That the Priest his heart failed him so that he could not or dare not come in until we were carried away and lâ—cked up in the Hole as at other times but had he been a Minister of Christ he would not have been afraid or ashamed neither would his heart have failed him or feared the face of any man but would with boldness without guilt upon the Conscience which causeth the heart to fail and bringeth shame to have answered a sober question which by one of them was denyed but would if a Minister of Christ or Spirit of Life with all readiness of mind count it all joy to Convince the gain sayers by sound Doctrine and if we were in Errors as we are falsly accused the Lord is witnesse he ought to do so and bring his deeds to the light that they may manifestly appear before all that they are unreproveable wrought in God and if such hired Priests be Ministers of Christ or of the Spirit of Life let such as fear and desire to fear the God of truth judge And let this be a Warning to Humphry Gifford or any that sees the deceit of the Hirelings and I told one of them in the prison before he did fly that he would make himself manifest to the people and immediately he did fly because he was a Hireling and so the Scripture is fulfiled upon his head lest such partake with them in their plagues for behold the Lords hand is lifted up against the hired Priests and bruitish Pastors of England that steal the Prophets good words that were spoke freely forth and boast in other mens lines made ready to their hand which they make a Trade on through Covetous practises beguiling unstable Souls and keep them ever learning what to say but like themselves do not And the Cry that hath often passed through me since I have been a Prisoner here against the abominations in this prison has been O the Ungodliness O the Oathes O the Blasphemy O the Cursed Speaking O the ungodly Unclean Songs of the Drunkards O the Deceit of the Priests O the ungodly hard Speeches O the Excess O the Revellings O the want of the poorer sort O the unreasonableness of men hardened from Gods fear O the cruel Mockings Revilings from sinful men O the Oppression O the Extortion O the wicked Customs O let this enter into thy heart O many lie even upon thine the Keepers head who as for thy part when I sent a Letter to thee in love to thy Soul thou tore it to pieces and laughed as I hear not becoming thy Age and gray Hairs and place but thou hast more need to weep and howl for the misery that is comming on thee because of thy mighty crying sins And thou Humphry Gifford hath often by words our of thine own mouth rejected the Lords Testimony to my face from time to time and this is truth whether thou canst believe me or nay it will stand upon thy head if happily thou find a place of Repentance unto life the Lord lay not these things to your Charge however so far have I cleared my Conscience and my Peace in which I rest no man can take from me From the Hole in the Inner-Prison in the Counter the 19 of the â—th Month and 7 or last day of the week and of the year according to the Worlds account 1659. Who am a Friend to the whole Creation that groans for Deliverance and lieth under the bondage of corruption and with that which judgeth the evil-doer but justifieth and giveth life to him whose deeds are wrought in God in Truth in Righteousness Daniel Baker The Original of this in Writing was delivered into the hand of Thomas Atkin by a Friend of Gods Truth Elizabeth harris who with much tenderness and bowels of Compassion tendered it to him and spake some good wholsome words being grieved to see the injustice of such men as he who instead of being ashamed of his perversness and disowning of his injustice and unequal proceeding against the Innocent persisted and reiected wholsome Counsel and spake forth a most wicked Lye saying That I had gathered all the Pick-pockets Rogues and Whores in London about me and that I was like to lie in Prison till I was dragged out and Reviled the sober Messenger saying to some that stood by You may know that she is a Quaker by her Language which I say is pure and true Now I leave this to the witness in all sober peoples Consciences to judge whether such a man befit to Rule over men It 's like I might be about an hour and half at the Mayors Gate and it would be much if all the pick-pockets and all the Whores and all the Rogues in London should be gathered together in so little time except they had been summoned before-hand but I deny such unclean vile Transgressors with my precious Life the Lord is witnesse and seeing if Thomas Atlin knew so well of so many Cut-purses pick-pockets Whores and Rogues were gathered together I say it had been a fitter time for him and many more of his Brethren to have laid the Sword upon such vile Transgressors and not to have let them gone free and condemne the guiltless by throwing Truths testimony into prison within and without But I have spoke enough and my Reward is with the Lord though Thomas Atkin have unwisely rejected his Testimony with many more who greedily are hastening farther under the vail of thick darkness therefore their glory which is their shame is to be made manifest to all that others may learn wisdom by the fear of the Lord which is to depart from evil A Coppy of another Letter from Thomas Atkin with something added in Answer DAniel Baker I this day had brought me by a Sister of yours a large Discourse but little to any good purpose you magnifie your selfe in your Gifts as if no man have such Knowledge as your self you may know much but your Practise is far short of what you seem to know Mark you vilifie our Ministers and Ministry and call our Churches Mass-houses your language and terms are provoking Cannot you and them of your gang be quiet and exercise your Gifts in your own Meeting-places but disturbe us in our Congregations and Act in the Streets in a most uncivil manner like distracted men then sober persons * * How if thou had been in the dayes of the holy Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel to have seen one go naked and bear a sign three years and another to bake his bread with mans dung or Cowes dung at the Commandement of the Lord its like thou would not have ceased to falsly accuse them to be distracted and uncivil persons mad-men and the like But why should the Spirit of the holy One be limited resisted or stopt that made the
body and every member of his Creature Man from Commanding or his Creature male or female from subjecting to their Lords Command in or by their body without respect of the outward adorning Life mens persons time place or dayes that the Will of the Almighty Lord of Heaven and Earth might be done in it as it is in the new Heaven and in the new Earth that the Inhabitants of the world might cease to do evil and learn to do Righteousness even as he is Holy and Righteous that calleth his people out of Babel the Land of Darkness and Confusion lest while they partake of her sins they partake of her plagues and judgements Lo the same voice cryes now in these latter dayes He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear and come forth and turn to the Light that 's low in the heart freely from the Lord given to thee drawing Tumults about you to the disturbance of our Peace You and your Companions prophane the Lords Day some opening their Shops on that day which we can no wayes allow of you make a great Complaint of the Jaylor and his Vnder Officers I doubt not but there is great Fault in all of them there is no Good to be learned in such places and I believe it is a Grief to all good People to see and hear such Sins daily committed in such places and if it lieth upon your Spirit as you Write it doth â—his is false I Writ not so but I was burthened with the crying Abominations of the City and Prison Lo in that fear and wisdom of my Lord and Master Christ the Light I have cleared my Conscience whether thou and them who are the Cause of it hear or forbear I marvel you will stay so long in that place If your Vnder Keeper bring you to my House that I may talk with you I may perhaps see Cause that you shall Return thither no more when you are weary of your Company you may take my Advice and so I leave you Resting Your well-wishing Friend THOMAS ATKIN London the 24 of Novemb. After I had Written an Answer to the late Letter the 25 of the 9th Month in the Morning from the Lord had I freedom to pass forth to Thomas Atkin with the Letter and with the words of my Mouth to lay his wicked lyes and false and unjust Accusations and Proceedings upon his own Head and to warn him on the Lords behalf who with his Servants are and will be clear of his Blood if he die in his Sins with many more that reject the Truth and persecute the life of it as its appearance is brought forth in and by the Friends of Christ Jesus the light of the World that lighteth every man that cometh into the World FRIEND DId thou never read Christs words in the Scriptures of Truth which saith For every idle word that men shall speak they shall give Account in the day oâ— Judgement and all Lyars shall have their part in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimstone And how is it thou do not fear and tremble before the living God that hath given thee breath but in the hardnesse of thy heart and impenitency instead of laying thy sad wretched and miserable estate to heart when it s so plainly laid before thee had not the god of the World altogether blinded thine eye thou might see so much O man who yet fear not to heap up false Accusations against the Innocent which thou and many more are truly guilty of as I have sufficiently proved to thee who most wickedly and prophanely said to my Friend the Messenger this morning That I had gathered all the Pick-pockets and Whores and Rogues in London about me a wicked Lye so I turn it back upon thy head O man what will be thy end Art thou fit to bear the Name of a Ruler a Christian a Magistrate a Justice of Peace which should be a terror to the Liar the false Accuser the Evil-doer and not fear the God of Truth thy self but speak such most wicked Lyes and false Accusations to the shame of thy greedy dark Teachers the Lord's witness in thy Conscience when the Lord visits for all the Deeds done in thy body will bring them into remembrance and judge and condemne thee for the evil and behold I yet call for thee to Repent and hearken to the witness in thee opprest and cease from thy wickednesse left thou die in thy sins who writ to me in thy late Letter after thou have undeservedly spoke contemptiously and vilely of me and of what I writ in love to thy Soul Thou say I vilifie your Ministers and Ministry Thou err in saying so for I do not vilifie them in speaking the Truth of or concerning them as thou may read and understand by what I have written to thee but can I speak more vilely of them then thou in thy Letter to me saying There is no good to be learned in such places and thou dost believe its a grief to all good people to see and hear such sins daily committed in such places viz. Prisons to thy own shame thou have written this better a milstone were hanged about the neck of such as offend Christs little ones by casting them into such places and much more to the vilifying as thou call it of the hired Priests that take so much Quarterly gain or yearly gain from their Quarter to deceive the poor Prisoners who can learn no good here though they preach for Hire so often so that thou have confirmed what I have truly written and is it not time for them to be silent that are in deceit in an evil way how can they teach the good old way who are out of it themselves consider of this and Repent Another Charge thou layst to me is for calling the Churches made with hands Mass-houses Did not the Popes adherents build them to say Masse in and give them their Monks and Saints Names as St. Gregory St. Dunston St. Sepulcher St. Katherin St. Antlin St. Rood St. Giles St. Clement c. And how is it thou art so blind and dark and called a Magistrate and yet know not the Church of the living God which is the pillar and ground of Truth from an old Popish Masse-house made up of Lime and Stone with mens hands where God dwels not and dost not thou blaspheme to call that a Church which is not but I may say a figure of thy hard heart who art yet a member of such a Church which is not the body of Christ See Col. 1.24 The true Church is the Body of Christ but I deny with my life a stony Idols Temple Steeple house or Masse-house that it is the Church or Body of Christ or the pillar and ground of Truth which is the Church of the living God behold thy blasphemy and the damnable error of thy dark Teachers And why dost thou continue heaping false Accusations upon me and my dear friends the Lords Servants