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A57303	The good old way and truth which the ancient Christians many ages and generations ago witnessed unto in the world from age to age, even from the dayes of Christ unto this very time, wherein the same doctrine, life and practice is witnessed unto by us who are in contempt called Quakers, through many tribulations, which our ancestors, the most ancient and true Christians that ever were upon the earth, sealed unto, with the loss of their lives and liberties, by which, in short, is fully manifested, in what is treated of herein, that the doctrine of the Quakers, in denying to swear any oath, and their refusing to pay tythes, and many other things they practise, was the doctrine and practise of the most famous and renowned Christians, both testified of in the Scriptures of truth, and the books of martyrs : also, a brief discovery of the ground and rise and tythes, manifesting them no Gospel-maintenance, but was testified against by the best and most ancient Christians many ages ago / written by ... Ambros Rigge.	Rigge, Ambrose, 1635?-1705.; R. T. (Rebecca Travers), 1609-1688.	1669 (1669)	Wing R1483; ESTC R17133	29,214	42

should be said over the Tombs of the Dead Now Priests see the original of your Prayers over the dead and see if it be Apostolical yea or nay 10. Gregory also ordained that neither Flesh nor any thing that had affinity in it as Cheese Milk Butter Eggs should be eaten on such dayes as were Fasts here came in that Doctrine of Devils commanding to abstain from Meats which God hath commanded to be received with thanksgiving of them that believe and obey the Truth 11. Sabinianus ordained that People should come together to hear Service by ringing of Bells at certain hours 12. John the twenty second Bishop of Rome ordained Bells to be tol'd three times a day here was the original of your Bells and tolings from the Popes Decrees 13. Singing of Mattens at set times Hicrom appointed as Polydore and others say 14. Pelagius the second commanded Priests to say them daily and Vtilianus invented the decent tunes wherewith the Hyms be sung and joyned thereto the Organs c. 15. Telesphorus appointed that Lent should be kept before Easter and added another week to it which is called Quinquagessima and also ordained Epistles and Gospels and Damasus divided them as they are read at this day in the Reformed Churches so called 16. Anastasius commanded that People should stand at the reading of the Gospel 17. Higinus the nineth Bishop of Rome ordained the Communnion to be celebrated three times a year 18. Pius about the year Four hundred and seven after Christ the tenth Bishop ordained that Easter-day should be kept on the Sunday 19. Vrbanus the seventeenth Bishop of Rome ordained Church-yards to be hallowed and forbad marriage of Priests 20. Sextus the twenty fourth Bishop of Rome in the year Two hundred and twenty after Christ ordained the Priests to wear holy Garments as Copes and divers other things in imitation of Aaron and then came in Surplices he commanded Images to be set up in Churches Much more such Trumpery might be instances too tedious to rehearse which is now upheld among the Protestants so called as great Ordinances of God though such things were never ordained by him in any Age of the World but invented by the several Antichrists which John saw entring into the World in his day which are upheld by the false Prophets of our Age without any ground or colour from that which they pretend to be their Rule viz. the Scriptures who have either in matter or form erred from the Spirit of Truth and the Scriptures in every thing relating to their Worship professing in words to know God but in works denying him being abominable and unclean and to every good work a Reprobate A few words followeth concerning Tythes manifesting them no Gospel-maintenance but since Christ and the Apostle dayes invented by the Papists TYthes were never commanded to be paid by the Lord to any but Israel under the Law neither was it ever payable but by the Jews in the first Covenant under the Levitical Priesthood out of the Land of Canaan to such Levites as had no part nor portion allotted them in the promised Land the Tythe or Tenth part of the increase thereof was commanded to be given unto them by the Lord for the Office of the Priesthood and for the service of the Tabernacle Deut. 18. 4. and the Levites out of the Tythes were to offer up to the Lord a Tenth part of the Tythes and give it unto Aaron the Priest for himself and his Sons Ezek. 45. 13. and no other portion had the Levitical Priests out of the Tythes but the tenth of the tenths for the rest had the Levites that did serve at the Tabernacle and it was also to relieve Strangers Fatherless and Widows Deut. 14. 29. So Israel's Tythes were not all given to the Priests but the Poor was maintained out of it beside for there was not to be a Begger in Israel here was the end for which it was at first instituted But Christ the Everlasting High-Priest being come he changed that Priesthood which was but to continue until the time of Reformation Hebr. 9. 10. and the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change of the Law that took Tythes Heb. 7. 12. after which there was never any Command given by Christ to any of his Ministers or Servants under the Second Covenant either to take or receive Tythes of any people and for Eight hundred years after Christ it was never imposed upon the People but they might give it to whom they would at their own pleasure And the Maintenance which Christ allotted his Ministers under the Gospel is expressed in Luke into whatsoever house they entred to eat and drink such things as were set before them for the Labourer was worthy of his hire Luke 10. 7 8. This is the hire the Ministers of Christ are contented withal at this day but the Ministers of Antichrist are not contented with their Allowance nor the allowance of the First Covenant which shews that they are Ministers of neither for if they were they would act according to one but their Fruits plainly testifies to their faces that they are Ministers of Antichrist who have run when the Lord never sent them Matthew 7. 16 17 18. Object Now some have pleaded for Tythes from Abraham's giving the Tenth of the Spoils of the Kings c. to Melchisedeck c. Heb. 7. 2. Answ This was not Tythe of Lands increase neither was it any Command of God to Abraham but a free voluntary gift out of the Spoils he had taken in war but Mark He was yet in the loyns of his Father when Melchisedeck met him Hebr 7. 10. and therefore no Gospel Plea So who would have Tythes from the Scripture must go and meet the Souldiers as they return from the Spoils of their Enemies and receive the Tenth thereof at their hands if they will give it them freely for it is evident that he who changed the Priesthood and fulfilled the Law which commanded Tythes of Lands sprang out of Judah of which Tribe Moses spake nothing concerning Priesthood Hebr. 7. 13 14. And it is yet far more evident for that after the similitude of Melchisedeck their ariseth another Priest verse 15. Who is not made after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the Power of an endless Life verse 16. For there is verily a disannulling of the Commandment going before mark a disannulling of the Commandment that was carnal where Tythes were included for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof verse 17 18. Because it made nothing perfect but the bringing of a better hope did by which they drew nigh to God verse 19. which better hope was Christ in them the hope of glory By all which it is evident that whoever receives or payes Tythes as any Legal right denies Christ come in the Flesh and such are the Antichrists which the Scripture speaks of 2 Joh. 7. and this is the reason why they who now witness him come in their

THE Good old VVay AND TRUTH Which the Ancient Christians many Ages and Generations ago witnessed unto in the World from Age to Age even from the dayes of Christ unto this very time wherein the same Doctrine Life and Practice is witnessed unto by us who are in contempt called Quakers through many Tribulations Which our Ancestors the most ancient and true Christians that ever were upon the Earth sealed unto with the loss of their Lives and Liberties By which in short is fully manifested in what is treated of herein that the Doctrine of the Quakers in denying to Swear any Oath and their refusing to pay Tythes and many other things they practise was the Doctrine and practise of the most Famous and renowned Christians both testified of in the Scriptures of Truth and the Books of Martyrs Also A brief Discovery of the Ground and Rise of Tythes manifesting them no Gospel-Maintenance but was testified against by the Best and most Ancient Christians many Ages ago Written by a Branch sprung from the Ancient Stock of David which hath long been compassed about with wild Beasts but thorow the tender Mercies of the Lord yet remains alive whose earthly name is Ambros Rigge Printed in the Year 1669. TO THE READER OH Let not prejudice possess thy mind in reading this small Treatise for then thou wilt reap no benefit thereby but let thy eye be single to the Truth herein expressed and thy whole body shall be full of Light for God never respected mens persons in manifesting his firm and ancient Truth and Mysteries of Life which were ever hid from the wise and prudent of the World as it is at this day yet not so hid but that it is universally tendred to all without respect of persons even from the King upon the Throne unto the Begger upon the Dunghil and therefore is mans destruction of himself as God said to Israel because man hath so much dependancy upon his own wisdom and natural gifts and parts that the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness unto him as they were to the Rulers and chief Priests of the Jews in the dayes of old whom Christ called Blind-Guides though they had natural learning enough as Pilate who crucified Christ had Latine Greek and Hebrew which any natural man may have who doth not know the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned Oh therefore lean not upon thy natural wisdom for it will prove a broken Reed in the Day of the Lord which hasteneth but receive and obey the Manifestatiof the Spirit of God which he in infinite Love hath given thee to profit withal for that is the Talent that he will assuredly require of thee with advantage and happy for ever are they who can give an account of the improvement thereof A. R. The Good Old Way c. IN every Age and Generation of the World since man had a being upon the Earth God had a Seed either invisible in being or visible in manifestation by and thorow which he manifested himself in his own way time and manner according to the good pleasure of his Heavenly Will which Way and manner in every Age of the World since sin entred into the World was contrary to the will and way of Mankind in the Fall and therefore were they in whom God brought forth his Seed in all Ages to give testimony in the World unto his Eternal Name and Truth persecuted and made a prey upon by the earthly powers who was not acquainted with these secrets of the Lord which was ever hid from the wise and prudent of the World and therefore did the Jews and chief Priests with the Scribes agree together to Crucifie the Lord of Life and after them many Heathen Emperors rose up against his Members and destroyed many thousands of them for the Testimony of Jesus and Word of God as both the Scriptures of Truth and the Histories of the Ancient Christians which immediately succeeded the Apostles doth largely and plentifully witness testifie and declare so that since Mans Fall He that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit Gal. 4. 29. even as it is manifest at this day for the Enmity yet remaineth between the Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the Woman Gen. 3. 15. and so will continue until the desolution of all things Now in the 11th Moneth in the Year 1668 9 did the Word of the Lord come unto me Saying Write and give a Testimony for my Name thereby and spread it amongst those who have multiplied thine and many others Sufferings for my Name and Testimony these several years last past that they may all be left without excuse when I call them before my Judgement Seat to give an account of the deeds done in their Bodies who have not yet repented of their evil but in secret have vindicated themselves as that they have done me service in persecuting them whom I have sent to be Witnesses for my Name and Truth in the Earth These Words lay upon my spirit the most part of the aforesaid Moneth being willing to wait upon the Lord that he might further manifest his Will and Mind unto me what I should write rather chusing to continue in silence many years then to set Pen to Paper to declare any thing which the Spirit of Truth would not seal unto which burden of the Word of the Lord continued still upon me till I gave up thereunto And upon the 21st day of the same Moneth in the year aforesaid I begun to write and the matter that was first laid upon me to write was concerning Swearing at all for the denial of which in obedience to the Command of Christ I had suffered strait and close imprisonment well nigh seven years besides other great afflictions that have been added to my bonds by the hands of wicked men in the said time all which I have been both made able and willing to bear for the Testimony of Jesus and Word of God not counting my liberty not life dear unto me that I might finish my Testimony with joy being counted worthy not onely to believe but also to suffer for that ancient Doctrine Faith and Practice which the best and most ancient Christians sufsered the loss of their Liberties and most of them their lives for as hereafter I shall make appear And furthermore it is upon my spirit to give some Testimony against that abominable Oppression of Tythes under which many groan at this day it being never any institution of Christ to his Ministers under the Gospel nor ever owned by the ancient Christians succeeding them nor ever claimed as any Gospel right for a thousand years after Christ's dayes till the midnight of Popery came over the Earth in the which the several Popes ordered Tythes to be paid to the Mother Church To the first that the Opposers of Gods present Manifestation of this Way and Truth in this our day who have magnified

themselves against those whom God hath raised in the Power of his Spirit to revive the ancient Testimony of his Servants in the Earth should flatter themselves in their rigorous proceedings against me and many others at this day for our constant obedience to the Command of Christ having no other thing to charge us withal but concerning the Law of Christ Now I say lest any who hath appeared against us herein should vindicate themselves by or under colour or pretence of any Scripture given forth either under the First or Second Covenant or the Law it self by which they now proceed against us which was never intended to take hold of the Innocent and let the Guilty go free Now under the Law of the First Covenant while Israel stood in Covenant with God they were commanded to swear by his Name in some Cases lest they should swear by false Gods and Idols as was the manner of the Heathens in their dayes as the Egyptians swore by the Life of Pharaoh and after them the Romans by the Life or Fortune of Caesar which was to neither of them any Command of God for they then were Enemies to him and his people But Israel was to Swear by the Living God Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and him shalt thou serve and to him shalt thou cleave and sware by his Name Deut. 10. 20. And in Leviticus this was the Precept to Israel Ye shall not steal neither deal falsly neither lye one to another neither shalt thou profane the Name of thy God I am the Lord Levit. 19. 11 12. And in Numbers If a man vow a vow unto the Lord and swear an Oath to bind his Soul with a Bond he shall not break his Bond but do all that proceedeth out of his mouth Numb 30. 2. Thus Israel in their infancy was commanded to swear by the Lord and to perform their Oaths unto him by which they bound their Souls both to God and one unto another which in its day and time was well-pleasing unto the Lord they answering his requirings therein but take notice by the way Israel was but then under the Law of outward observances which made nothing perfect and so it became them to swear by the Lord as it becomes a child to suck but not a man for when Israel was grown up viz. when Christ came the Oath of God who fulfilled the Law and all the Commands therein as they received him and grew in Grace and the knowledge of him they put away childish things and testified against all Oathes and many other thing which the Law commanded as being but typical and Figures of good things to come when the Substance of all these things was brought in who came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it as he himself testified to them that were zealous for the Law and dispised him the Substance of it For Circumcision was an express Command of God to Israel being Jews outwardly to them and their Seed for an everlasting Covenant Gen. 17. 13. for saith God The uncircumcised man-child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised that Soul shall be cut off from his people he hath broken my Covenant vers 14. this had a further and more large extent then Swearing ever had yet when Christ came the end of the Law for righteousness sake to every one that believed the Apostle told Israel when they were grown up That if they were circumcised Christ would profit them nothing Gal. 5. 2. yet might Circumcision have been more strongly pleaded for when Paul spoke to the Galatians being God had commanded it to the Jews and to their Seed for an everlasting Covenant which he never did Swearing neither under the First nor Second Covenant so the Galatians had more ground to withstand Paul in crying down Circumcision then any hath to withstand the People or God at this day for denying Swearing And under the Gospel Swearing is more absolutely denied and forbidden by Christ and his Apostles then Circumcision being but a little after Christ began to Preach to Israel under the Second Covenant by his own mouth given in special charge to them then in being Not to Swear at all Matth. 5. 34 35 36 37. and confirmed by the Apostle James Jam. 5. 12. and never practised after by any of the Disciples as was Circumcision for Paul afterwards circumcised Timothy Therefore you who are so zealous for Swearing why are not you so zealous for Circumcision which was more enjoyned in the Scripture then ever Swearing was and with less Authority under the Gospel denied Object And further some pleads for Swearing because the holy men of old time did Swear viz. Abraham David and Solomon Joseph c. To which I answer Moses who gave forth the Law at the Command of God said unto Israel A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise unto you like nnto me him shall ye hear in all things and it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hear the voice of that Prophet shall be cut off from among the People Deut. 18. 18 19. which Prophet was Christ the end of the Law and when God brought him forth into the World he commanded Israel to hear him in all things Matth. 17. 5. who said Before Abraham was I am he commanded Israel Not to Swear at all The same Jesus said that he was greater then Solomon Mat. 12. 41 42. and was Davids Lord and by him God spake to Israel who was and is to be heard and obeyed in all things yea Whosoever shall break one of the least of his Commandments and teach men so shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven but whosoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5. 19. by which all you Swearing Teachers and Swearers contrary to the positive Command of Christ and the Apostle without any exception may read your portion for they who love Christ both keep his Commandment and teach others so to do For where Christ intended any exception in changing of the Law in what it had commanded he plainly expressed it as in Matthew where it was said that Moses suffered a man that would put away his wife to give her a Writing of Divorcement c. Mat. 5. 31. but saith Christ I say unto you whosoever shall put away his wife saving for the cause of Fornication vers 31. Mark saving for the cause of Fornication where Christ plainly expresseth the exception when he intended it And at the 28th verse Christ expressed the exception again when he intended it i. e. Whosoever shall look upon a woman to lust after her mark to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart so it is plain that when Christ intended any exception in changing the Law he did not leave his work imperfect for vain man after him to rectifie And immediately after this in the same Chapter Christ positively commands without any exception his

and is the Minister of a better Covenant then that which commanded Swearing which was established upon better Promises Heb. 8. 6. So the Priesthood being changed there is made of Necessity a change of the Law Heb. 7. 12. and Christ did not onely change that part of the Law which appertained to swearing but divers other clauses and sayings thereof As first that of Circumcision which the Law strictly commanded Gal. 5. 2. Secondly Love to Enemies which the Law commanded to hate Matth. 5. 53. Thirdly Overcoming evil with good c whereas the Law commanded to take Eye for Eye and Tooth for Tooth c. and many other instances which I might produce yet he came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Matth. 5. 17. as the Jews who upheld swearing and haring of Enemies after Christ came charged him withal even as the Apostate Christians now charges his Followers who abide to his Doctrine and dare not swear at all to be Destroyers of the Law and Contemners of Magistracy and bringers in of new Doctrine Acts 17. 19. which the same spirit in the dayes of old 〈◊〉 upon him and them whom God raised up in 〈◊〉 dayes to preach Repentance and Remission of sins by Jesus Christ who 〈◊〉 Marvel not my Brethren if the World hate you 1 Joh. 3. 13. For it hated me before it hated you and the Servant is not greater then his Lord c. John 15. 18 19. Object Again it s said Paul swore from that Scripture I protest before God c. and in saying I call God to witness which is said to be an Oath Answ As to the first it is an intrusion of the Translation It being neither in the Greek Copies nor in the Latine nor some English Copies To the second that he calls God to witness is no Oath but an earnest attestation for an Oath is that whereby something is sworn by as Israel was to swear by the Lord in Truth Judgement and Righteousness and calling God to witness is no more then to say I speak in the presence of God who knows the hearts and thoughts of all men and is no formal Oath neither under the Law nor Gospel Neither is there any command more full in either Law or Gospel then Christ's Command to his Disciples not to swear at all by any Oath without any exception being seconded by the Apostles command to his Brethren as I said before enjoyning them earnestly above all things not to swear by any thing either in Heaven or Earth lest they fell into condemnation which Commands were binding to all both then present and the succeeding Saints and Christians several hundred years after Christ ascended to the Father and the Apostles Testimony was finished in the World yea the ancient Christians many years after their dayes kept the Doctrine of Christ and the Apostle James testifying to their death against the Heathen Emperors who would have compelled them to Swear affirming it a special mark and character of a Christian from Christ's words not to swear at all as shall be made evident anon By all which it will manifestly appear that the Quakers denial of all Swearing is no New Doctrine but the renewing of that which was commanded and practised by the best of Christians above sixteen hundred years ago and continued in force and practice many hundred years even till the Beast that John spoke of in the Revelation got up and made war with the Witnesses and with the Saints and overcame them that kept the Testimony of Jesus and Word of God Rev. 13. 7. and then the power of Darkness came over the Earth which set up Swearing contrary to Christ's Commands under which many of the ancient Christians suffered cruel Martyrdom for standing faithfull Witnesses for the Name of the Lord in the Earth and for denying to swear at all to those under whom they were as a cloud of Witnesses might be brought out af the Ecclesiastical Histories of them that denied all Swearing in divers Ages onely for brevity I shall instance a few First Polycarpus who was as it s said John's Disciple and had been a Christian Eighty six years when he came to suffer Martyrdom the Proconsul requiring him to swear By the Emperors good Fortune and By Caesars Prosperity Irenius lib. 3. cap. 1. which was the Custom of the Romans at that time and divers Heathen Emperors to set up their Images to be worshipped and their Persons to be Sworn by but Polycarpus denied and said he was a Christian and would shew forth the Doctrine of Christianity if he desired the same if the Proconsul would appoint a day to hear it so Polycarpus refused to Swear and kept Christ's Doctrine for which he was led away to be burned being an old man and full of dayes Acts and Monuments vol. 1. fol. 55 56 57. Secondly Basiliades an Officer and afterwards a Martyr being required to Swear affirmed plainly that it was not lawfull for him to Swear for that he was a Christian hence it appears that it was the proper mark of a Christian not to Swear Acts and Mon. vol. 1. fol. 71. Euseb cap. 6. pag. 98. Thirdly In the dayes of Domitius Nero who began to reign about sixty seven years after Christ under whom was the First of the Ten cruel Persecutions of the Christians he caused the Christians of all sorts to suffer he commanded Rome to be set on fire in twelve places and to avoid the infamy thereof he accused the Christians with it and caused them to be put to death After him began Domitian the Emperor to reign who began the second Persecution of the Christians who was a Blasphemer of God and an Idolater in his dayes was John the Evangelist banished into the Isle of Patmos This Domitian the Emperor fearing the coming of Christ again commanded that all that could be found of the Stock of David in Jury should be put to death The inquisition was this they commanded those they suspected to be Christians to swear whether they were indeed Christians or not but the Christians refused to Swear confessing that they were Christians and could not deny Christ nor his Doctrine for which they were commanded to be put to death Fourthly The Waldenses or Lionists whose names are so famous among the reformed Churches and who are said immediately to succeed the Apostles and were the most ancient and true Protestants professed it no way lawfull for a Christian man to Swear In defence of whom in the very matter Bishop Vsher De Success cup 6. late Bishop of Armath Primate of Ireland pleaded their cause against the Papists and Jesuits who are Swearers and Breakers of Oathes Fifthly The Plowman in his Complaint which is so much esteemed of and commended in the Book of Martyrs saith Lord thou giveth us a Commandment of Truth in bidding us say yea yea and nay nay and swear for nothing thou givest us also a Commandment of meekness another of poorness but Lord he that

calls himself thy Vicar on Earth hath broken both these Commandments for he maketh a Law to compel men to Swear and by his Law he teacheth that for a man to save his life may forswear and Lye and so Lord through comfort of him and his Laws the people need readeth to Swear or Lye nay oft-times to forswear themselves Lord here is little truth c. Acts and Mon. vol. 1. fol. 527. Sixthly It is one of John Wickliffs Articles whose Works were as much esteemed by the Protestants in England and Bohemia as dispised by the Papists and their Clergy having his bones taken up and burnt forty one years after his decease and his Books were also burned by the Papists and this Article was condemned with many other by the Counsel of Constance That all Oaths which be made for any Contract or civil Bargain between man and man be unlawfull John Hus and Jerome of Prague were condemned for holding of John Wickliff's opinions Ex Actis Consilij Con. stat vol. 1. fol. 606. Seventhly Walter Brute a Teacher among the People of God in the Age of Scorners called The Devil's Servant or Lollard against whom the Pope and King Richard the second and the then ungodly Bishops made so much ado to have the Name of Truth extinguished and the Professors thereof cut off This is Walter 's Testmony concerning Oathes I believe and obey the Doctrine of Almighty God and my Master Jesus Christ which teacheth that Christian men in the affirmation of Truth should pass the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees of the old Testament or else he excludeth them from the Kingdom of Heaven for he saith Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven And as concerning Oathes he saith It hath been said of old time Thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform those things unto the Lord thou knowest But I say unto you thou shalt not Swear at all neither by Heaven nor by the Earth but let your communication be yea yea and nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of evil Therefore as the Perfection of the ancient men of the old Testament was not to forswear themselves so the Perfection of a Christian man is not to Swear at all because he is so commanded of Christ whose Commands in no wise must be broken although the City of Rome is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ Acts and Mon. vol. 1. fol. 653. Rich. 2d's days Eightly Chrysostom who was a Bishop of Constantinople in commendation of whom much is said in the Ecclesiastical History he blameth them greatly that brought forth a Book to swear upon charging his Clerks that in no wise they constrained any body to Swear whether they think a man sweareth true or false saying It is a sin to Swear well c. Acts and Mon. vol. 1. fol. 701 702. Ninethly Jerome who was an ancient Father and Teacher in the Church whom all the Protestants owned upon that place Matth. 5. 37. and James 5. 12. these were his words It was permitted under the Law to the Jews as being tender and as it were Infants that they might offer Sacrifices to God lest they should sacrifice to Idols so they might swear by God not that it was rightfull so to do but because it was better to swear by God then by false gods and Devils but the great Evangelist admits not of an Oath since every true saying is equal thereunto c. Tenthly In like manner doth Theophilist an ancient Father of the Church whom the Protestants own and have often cited his Doctrine for proof upon the place in controversie saith Learn hence that under the Law it was not evil for one to Swear but since the coming of Christ it is evil as is Circumcision and in sum what ever is judicial for it may become a child to suck but not a man Eleventh And Ambross saith upon Psalm 110. Let him then Swear that cannot repent of his Oath and a little after the said Ambross saith Do not immitate him in swearing whom you cannot immitate in following and indeed the principle solution given by him is Swear not at all Twelfth Many other Saints and Martyrs I might instance at large both in Henry the fourth and Henry the sixth's days whereof some were burned some cruelly handled who said It was not lawfull to Swear in private Cases Vol. 1. pag. 896. Hen. 6. days Thirteenth In Henry the fourth dayes it is said That neither the Pope nor Prelates neither any Ordinary can compel any man to swear by the Bible-book or any Creature of God for saith a Master of Divinity It is not lawfull either to give or to take any Oath upon a Book for every Book saith he is nothing else but divers Creatures of which it is made Therefore to swear upon a Book is to swear by Creatures and this swearing is ever unlawfull Acts and Mon. vol. 1. fol. 701. It would melt any tender heart to hear of the Cruelties and Tortures which that Blood-thirsty spirit invented to destroy the Bodies of those who kept the Commands of Christ and could not be forced to swear by all the Cruelties that the power of darkness either in Henry the fourth's dayes Henry the sixth's dayes Richard the seconds or Queen Maries dayes could invent to torment their Bodies withal which was not a few as may be seen upon record at this day in the first second and third Volums of the Books of Martyrs But they who loved Christ and kept his Commands in those dayes had power and strength given them to endure what ever the Lord suffered wicked hands to inflict upon them by which their Faith and Patience was fully tried and manifested but after the Iniquities of their Adversaries were full the Lord brought swift and fore destruction upon them divers manner of wayes as a just reward of their Blood and Cruelty as may be read at large in the latter end of the said Books For God in every Age shewed his severe wrath against the Spirit of Persecution about Worship and Sacrifice unto him Gen. 3. even from the dayes of wicked Cain unto this hour that spirit is accursed and drove out from the presence of the God of Israel where ever it appeareth at this day even as it was in the dayes of Pharaoh Saul Nebuchadnezer Herod Pilate and all the Chief Priests and after them the wicked Emperors and Kings and after them the divers Popes and their Bloodthirstly Rabble of Clergy and all other under what Name or Form soever at this day where that spirit of Persecution yet remains the Curse and Vengeance of the Almighty doth pursue it where ever it goes though God suffer long as he did Pharaoh and the rest to vex Israel till their iniquities was full even so the Lord in these latter Ages hath suffered many to act much violence and wickedness against his Heritage for their obedience

to the Commands of his Son and they who love him now keeps his Commands as they did in the dayes of old for he saith unto his If ye love me keep my Commandments and his Commandments is not grievous but joyous 1 John 5. 2 3 4. and John said Hereby we know that we know him if we keep his Commandments for he that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandments is a Lyar and the Truth is not in him 1 John 2. 3 4 5 6 7. By all which it is more then manifest that the most ancient true and faithfull Christians in their day and time gave a testimony against Swearing at all and suffered for it both under the Pope and many Heathen Emperors but they who would be accounted Christians now having got the power into their hands are found in the same spirit of Persecution as they were in under which the true Christians alwayes suffered and do act as furiously according to the power given them from above as they did in dayes past and no doubt would run as high as they did in Burning Hanging Gibbitting and Strangling if they had the least colour of Law to countenance them therein By all which let the sober and honest hearted judge whether the Quakers Doctrine of not Swearing be any new Doctrine or not and whether our Sufferings this many years for our obedience to the Commands of Christ be not vindicated both by Christ and all his Disciples in their dayes and by all the ancient Christians before cited and whether they who now calls themselves Christians are not far degenerated from the Life and Doctrine of Christianity though they retain the name and from the practice of the ancient Christians breaking Christ's Commands and forcing others so to do which in time will pull down the wrath of God upon their heads if they repent not For it is not every one that saith Lord Lord that shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven Matth. 7. 21. It is not the name of Christianity nor a Profession of Christ's words recorded in the Scripture that will hide you in the day of the Lord that hastneth which shall burn as an Oven wherein all the Proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that cometh shall leave them neither Root nor Branch Mal. 4. 1. the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it For the Earth is filled with violence and the Land mourns because of Oathes Jer. 5. and the Proud are counted happy and they that work wickedness are set up and they that tempt God are even delivered Mal. 3. 15. and they that reprove Iniquity in the Gate are made a prey upon for which God hath begun to visit this Nation with his sore Judgments which will bring desolation in the end to them who continue in the aforesaid Abominations Object And furthermore some wicked and malicious spirits have said we who are called Quakers will not sware because we desire to plot and contrine mischief against the King and Government c. This is altogether false and groundless as many years experience will witness for us who were never found plotting against any Government under which we have been but have from time to time patiently born the rod of the wicked since we were a people and if we durst break the Command of Christ to Swear any Oath we should as willingly swear obedience to the Power and Government under which we are as any Oath that could be tendred us this for my own part I speak heartily willingly and freely without any reserve of mind whatever and if any should have power given them to imprison my body so long more as I have suffered here if I would not consent to hurt the Kings Person or the person of any I could as willingly suffer for the denial of that as I have for my constant obedience and adhering to the Command of Christ who saith Swear not at all for the same Jesus commands me not to war with flesh and blood but to love my Enemies and though I should suffer five times more then I have done I could never be brought to redeem my self through the destruction of the person of another though never so wicked and ungodly for I know Vengeance is the Lords and he will repay it Rom. 12. 19. and therefore have I committed my just and innocent cause unto him who in every Age and Generation of the World recompenced Tribulation upon them that troubled his people 2 Thess 1. 6. though he spared some of them long to see if his long suffering would lead them to repentance but as they heardned their hearts against him and his people he manifestly appeared in many Judgments against them to awaken them as he hath done of late years against those who have oppressed his Royal Seed in this Age which he hath caused to spring up in his people scornfully called Quakers which shall spread over the face of the Earth yea it is as easie to stop the course of the Sun from running his course as a Giant as to hinder the growth of the Seed of God for he hath blessed it and no inchantment shall prevail against it yea if all our bodies should be destroyed in whom it is risen yet after us shall all the Families of the Earth be blessed in it for the more it is persecuted the more it grows as when a Vine tree is cut the more it is cut the thicker it spreads so doth the Truth at this day as in Ages past He was made perfect through Sufferings Hebr. 2. 10. and he is the same still and will remain when all the wrath of man which works not the righteousness of God shall have an end and be no more and therefore we cannot fear him that kills the body and hath no more that he can do but are taught both to love and fear him who after he hath killed the body hath power to cast both into Hell Matth. 10. 28 29. and therefore are we made a gazing stock to the World now and have as little love from the world as our fore-fathers had in dayes past marvelling not why the world hateth us seeing it hated him who is the Prince of Life and condemned him to death as a Blasphemer and a Deceiver before it hated us Luke 5. 21. Matth. 27. 63. for the Servant is not greater then his Lord and it was the chief Priests that was the chief Murtherers of him for they stirred up the Rulers to do it Luke 23. 13. which happily otherwise they would have dreaded and so brought Innocent Blood upon their heads and upon their Posterity for ever And who is it now that stirrs up the Rulers against his Appearance Is it not the chief Priests who both are and ever were the greatest Enemies that he and his people had upon the Earth who knows that if people should cease from man

chained him by his mighty Power glory and praise be unto his name forever And when he saw that all these devices and strategems failed him he pretends to have Tythes due from Ambros his Wife against whom he imployed several rude Bailiffs and when they did not prosecute her to his mind he turned Bailiff himself and joyned himself to a rude swearing bruitish Fellow who with himself pursued Ambros his wife till they took her who caused her to be set upon the Bailiffs Saddle and with mocking and jearing sent her along in the mans Saddle to Horsham Prison to her Husband and at the Assizes got two of his kindred to swear falsly against her whereby he proved eight pounds due to him from her as he pretended for the levelling of which he the said Lechford hearing that Ambros and his Wife had hired a Room or two and had some Goods for their necessary use in Horsham sent four Bailiffs who entred into the said Rooms in Leonard Letchfords name with an Execution in the name of Mary Luxford who brake and spoiled and robbed the said Ambros Rigge of Goods to the value of thirty pounds yea they carried away Ambros's proper goods which he bought for his use in the Prison several years before leaving not so much as a Bed to lie upon in the Winter season which goods aforesaid Robert Ryde Bailiff of Horsham sold at his own price and time of which he would never render any Account though he was often required and several times promised he would but the last time he was sent unto he sent word that he must have more goods for Letchford from Ambros and afterward one of Horsham asked Ambros if Letchford had not robbed him of more Goods saying that Letchford was heard to say that he would never leave off till he had undone Ambros which though the party was one of his own Judgment could not but condemn him herein Afterwards this Letchford hearing that the King was like to take some pity of Ambros with many others who had suffered many years strait close imprisonment having nothing to charge them with but obedience to the Commands of Christ he with others not unknown stirred up all the power they could and got several hands to sign a Paper representing Ambros to the King a turbulent Ring-leader of the Sect of the Quakers and a Stranger in the Country and not fitting to have liberty thinking thereby to strengthen his Bonds by these aggravations Oh that all who had any hand in this wicked Return may find repentance thereof before they go hence lest it stand recorded against them in the day of Account for it was the same spirit that accused Paul to Felix Acts 24. 5. who said they found him a pestilent Fellow a mover of Sedition among all the Jews throughout the World and a Ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens the same spirit also called the Lord of Life the Prince of Devils and the Servant is not greater then his Lord for if they have called the Master of the House Beelzebub how much more them of his houshold And this Priest Nebuchadnezar like hath caused the Furnace to be heat seven times hotter then for false Swearers who is but to remain a year in Prison but seven years imprisonment is accounted too little by him for those who cannot Swear at all to break the Command of Christ good were it for such Persecutors of the Innocent that their Cradles had been their Graves for then had not the cry of Oppression followed them to Judgement which in every Age of the World was the overthrow of the Oppressors and pulled down the Wrath of God upon their heads and if they were to go into everlasting punishment in the dayes of Christ that did not visit and refresh the least of his Servants in Prison what will become of them that sends Robbers to take away the goods of the Servants of Christ which they provided to supply their wants in Prison such actions is scarcely heard of among the Heathens Is this the way to convince gainsayers did ever either Christ or any of his Ministers use this way of gathering the lost Sheep of Israel though he had all Power in Heaven and Earth given him that he might rule all Nations with a Rod of Iron were ever Prisons Gibbets Stocks Fire or Faggot to restrain or destroy the Bodies of the worst of Hereticks ever used or commanded to be used by Christ or any of his Ministers on Earth you who so much pretend the Scripture to be your Rule what Examples have you therein of these things from the Ancient and true Christians but is not the Heathen Kings and Emperors both in the Scriptures and the several Popes and their Antichristian Clergy since the Scriptures were written your patern for these things If you could prove those to be in Error whom you so falsly accuse the way that you take with them would but more harden them therein for it is a great dishonour to a Christian Nation to oppress and abuse the worst Infidel in the World And have not you kept some of the Servants of Christ in Prison well nigh seven years whom you have judged Deceivers now since their commitment and confinement how often have you sent your Ministers to convince them Is not your whole Flock of Clergy able to do it If you had had the least love to their Souls you would have travelled and laboured night and day by sound Doctrine and Arguments to have put to silence the ignorance of the foolish and deceived if you could have proved them such if you had warred with them with the Sword of the Spirit viz. The Word of God and have defended your selves by that we should have believed you had been sent of God and guided by his Spirit but we see you are short of the Papists who are gross Idolaters for before they delivered those they counted Hereticks to the Secular Power to be punished they sent their Priests often to admonish them and to convince them by Arguments From all these your proceedings we are bold to conclude that if there were no more Tythes and great Benefices in your Parishes to be reaped then there is at Horsham Goal you would be as seldom seen there as you were in the Prison aforesaid and have as little care over your Flocks as you have of them there Oh that you would consider what you are a doing before it be too late for the Spirit of the Lord will not alwayes strive with you large hath been the day of your Visitation which you have most grievously abused The Jews Chief Priests did think they had done well when they persecuted the Servants of Christ who had more colour of Scripture for what they did then you have therefore are ye more inexcusable before the Lord. R. T. THE END