observations so in all these my turnings in my carnall wisdom seeking the Kingdom of God in observations without thither the flaming sword turned which kept the way of the tree of life and fenced me from it and cut me down and rent all my fig-leave coverings and neuroyed that minde that looked out to seek the Kingdom of Heaven in observations or to hearken any more to hear the word of the Lord from man then my mind was turned within by the power of the Lord to wait in his counsel the light in my conscience to hear what the Lord would say And the word of the Lord came unto me and said put up thy sword into thy scabard if my Kingdom were of this world then would my children fight knowesâ— thou not that if I need I could have twelve legions of Angels from my Father which word enlightned my heart and discovered the mystery of iniquity and that the Kingdom of Christ was within and the enemies was within and was spiritual and my weapons against them must be spirituall the power of God Then I could no longer fight with a carnall weapon against a carnall man for the dead letter which man in his carnall wisdom called the Gospel had deceived me but then the Lord discovered to me the deceits of all these men in England that were seeking the Kingdom of Heaven in outward observations And the messenger of the Covenant forth of his mouth proceeded the two edged sword with which he slayes his enemies cut me down and caused me to yeeld in obedience to put up my carnall sword into the seabbard 〈◊〉 leave â—â—e Army Then I returned to my outward habitation and calling I had in the world and there laboured with my hands my mind being turned within to wait upon the Lord in the way of his judgements and this I witnesse the administration of Moses in which Cain is banished Esâ—u rep obated Pharâ—oh plagued the first born of Egypâ— slain and my wiâ—l brought in subjection for the Lord to do with me what his will was if he condemned he might and if he saved me it were his free love and in this condemned estate I lay crying in the depth of misery without any hopes of deliverance by any thing I could do to pacifie the wrath of God till the administration of the Prophets that witnessed to my soul therewhere free redemption laid up for me in the Lord Jesus and by the power of the word of their testimony there was a secret hope raised up in me to wait for his coming there I waited till the administration of 〈◊〉 and I witnesse that of all that is born of a woman there is 〈◊〉 â—â—reater then Iohn for he is a burning and a shining light who discovered more of the mystery of iniquity in me in his administration and the sence of my condition was more manifest the cry of my condemned soul was great and could not be satisfied I breathed and thirsted after Christ to save me freely through his blood or I perished for ever and in this condemned estate I lay waiting for the coming of Christ Jesus who in the appointed time of the father appeared to my soul as the lightnings from the Eâ—st to the West and my dead soul heard his voyce and by his voyce was made to live who created me to a lively hope and sealed me up in the everlasting Covenant of life with his blood then I witnessed the wages of sin and death and the gift of God eternal life through Jesus Christ my Lord and I witnessed according to testimony of Scripture death reigns over all from Adam to Moses and Moses untill the Prophets and the Prophets untill Iohn and from this day the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force there is no rest to the soul till Christ bee manifest and this the Scripture witnesseth and I witnesse these Scriptures fulfilled in mee in the year according to the account 1645. The witnesses that stood before the God of the earth and had power to plague the earth having finished their testimony the 〈◊〉 ascends out of the bottomlesse pit and makes war against 〈◊〉 and kill them and their dead bodies lay in the streeâ— of the great Citty spirituall Sodom and Aegypt where our Lord was crucified and this Scripture was fulfilled in me in the year according to account 1648. Then Kindreds tongues and the Nations of the earth made merry over the witnesses and I see the abomination that maketh desolate which is spoken of by Daniel the Prophet standing in the holy place where it ought not and then was I led by the Spirit into the wildernesse and tempted of the Devill that the Scripture might be fulfilled Luke 4.1 In that day and hour of temptation which was in the time as the lines following giveth testimony I witnessed these Scriptures fulfilled in me of Pauls condition wherein he complained as I then did who found a law in my members warring against the Law of my mind that when I would do good evil was present with mâ— the sence of which caused me to cry Oh wretched man that 〈◊〉 who shall deliver me from the body of this death And as 〈◊〉 crying to the Lord to free me from the burthen I groaned under the word of the Lord came unto me saying My grace is sufficient for thee I will deliver thee and by the power of his word I was armed with patience to wait in his counsel groaning under the body of sin in the day and hour of temptation untill it pleased the Lord to manifest his power to free me which was in the year according to the account 1651. The spirit of life from God entred into the witnesses and they stood upon their feet then great fear fell upon all that saw them and the Temple of God was opened in Heaven and I saw in his Temple the Ark of his Testament and there were lightnings voyces thunder earth-qâ—akes and great hail then mystery Babylon the great the mother of harlots and the abomination of the earth which made all Nations drunk with the wine of the wrath of her fornication she was discovered in me and God remembred her when the mighty day of the Lords power was manifest upon her Jesus Christ was revealed from Heaven in flaming fire pouring vials of wrath upon her and rendring vengeance upon all in me that knew him noâ— and disobeyed his Gospel and purged away the filthy nature that did me imbondage with the spirit of judgement and with the spirit of burning so through the righteous law of life in Christ Jesus I was made free and am from the body of sin and death and through these great tribulations my garment is washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb who
into prison I was put and when the day was spent Thomas You l called the Mayor of Derby sent for me and when I came before him he asked me what I came to the Town to doe The answer to him I came to declare the word of the Lord to the consciences of the inhabitants of Derby the Mayor replyed wilt thou go out of the Town Answer to him when the Lord orders me to go forth then I shall goe till then I shall stay then Thomas Youll the Mayor commanded the man to put me into prison again which was done the next day about the 9 hour there came William Bâ—sld one of the Mayors officers and said to me if thou wilt goe forth of the Town and in it no more come I will open the doores for thee to come forth the answer to him out of the Town I shall not goe untill I am ordered of the Lord and if thou openest the doore forth of the prison I shall not come till the man that said he had authority to put me in come by the same authority and take me out then away the man did goe and afterwards did come and the man whose name Iohn Slalous who put me in prison opened the door and took me by the arm and put me forth in much wrath and delivered me to the other man whose name is before written who said he had order to put me forth of the Town which he did and strictly charged mee to depart out of their coâ—sts with many threatnings what should be done to me if in the Town again I returned but the words of vain man was not regarded into the Town I returned and there did stay till I was free in my spirit to depart from thence Then I journeyed to Leicester and was there the first day of the week which was the 3 day of the 7 month called September And with me was many people to whom the word of the Lord was declared and after the testimony of Jesus was finished to them I went into the high place of the Town which the people of the dark world calls their Church and after the man they call their Minister had done the word of eternal life was declared to the consciences of the people who did hear with much attention untill two men came to me and said they had order from Edmund Iohnson called Mayor to take me away and with violence drew me forth and had me before the said Edmund Iohnson who commanded his officers to put me in prison before he did me examine which was done and the next day the man that put me in prison forth me brought before the Mayor and VVilliam Billâ—rs another of the Rulers of the Town who did me examine and not finding any thing against me commanded Robert Brewin Keeper of the common Goal to put me out of the Town and strictly charged me to depart forth of their coasts with many threatnings what they would do if I again into the Town did come but the threatnings of man was not regarded into the Town I did return in obedience to the command of the Lord to finish the testimony of Jesus I was to witnesse to the consciences of the inhabitants of the Town of Leicester Then in obedience to the Spirit of truth I journed into Northamptonshire and in a Town called VVellingborrow and thereawayes many did receive the word of life with much gladnesse of heart And at a time as I was going along the street in that Town neer the house of Thomas Andrews whom the people of the world calls their Teacher he to me did speak these words Give over deceiving the people least the plagues of God fall upon thee the answer to him was If thou say I deceive the people make it appear wherein I deceive them he replyed thou tells them there is no originall sin I required of him didst thou hear me say so to that he made no answer then these words was to him declared thou must either prove what thou accusest me of or own thy condemnation upon they false accusation he fled away and did make no answer About the time which was near 3 weeks after I was ordered of the Lord to return again to VVellingborrow and hearing there was a meeting in the Steeple-house where Thomas Andrew was who had he falsly accused as is formerly written for the truths sake into the Steeple house I did goe and in silence did stand till the man called their Teacher had done then I declared the word of the Lord to the people who did hear peaceably and afterwards I spake in particular to Thomas Andrews to prove what he had falsly accused me of in saying I deceived the people and there make it manifest before the people or to own his condemnation upon his false accusation but to what was required no answer he did make but away fled and the men that was there whom the world calls their Teachers then Henry Smith who in that Town dwels out of the Steeple-house haled me into the yard where the truth to the people was declared who did there stand peaceably to hear till William Baw called high Constable did take hold on me and had me away into the market place amongst the people and said he would bring evidence against mee for Blasphemy so had he me as prisoner too and fro in the market place with so doing he made disturbance among the people but when he could not prove what hee had falsly accused mee with hee let mee goe who at the present time went from amongst the people to a friends house and came no more forth amongst the people in the market that day The next day being the 28 of the 10 month called December Richard Dennis being Constable of VVellingborow came to the friends house where I was and took me forth by vertuâ—â— of a Warrant that had no name but for one who is commonly called Quaker and had me with it before Thomas Pentlow called Justice at VVilby in Northamtonshire who did me examine but would not read mee any Law I had transgressed but a Mittimus made and sent me to the common Goal in Northamton on the 29 day of the 10 month called December 1654. A copy of the Mittimus I was denyed by Iohn Snart keeper of the Goal and also the men that were in commission to doe Justice when it was of them desired in the open Court at the generall Sessions holden at Northampton the 10 day of the 11 moneth by those whose names are Iohn Clark Iohn Parker called Sergant at Law George â—enson John Mansil John Brown who there did sit in Commission to have judged the cause in righteousnesse between mee and mine accusers but when the Mittimus was read where the charge against me was written not any appeared to prove what the Blasphemy was for which they committed mee to prison in suspition of neither they to me read any Law that any thing charged against me
and my brethren persecuted under the names as formerly written charging me with making tumults and breaking the publick peace for walking in obedience to the Spirit of Christ which guided all he sent to preach his Gospel to run to and fro as I have done in thee oh England that knowledge may be increased as is recorded in the Scripture of truth Dan. 12.4 And is according to the commands of Christ Go your wayes Behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves carry neither purse nor scrip nor shoos and salute no man by the way and into what City ye enter and they receive you eat such things as is set before you Luke 10 3 4 8 verses But beware of men for they will deliver you up to their counsell and they will scourge you in their Synagogues and you shall be brought before Governours and Kings for my names sake but he that endures unto the end shall be saved Mat. 10.17 18 22 verses According as it is written the wicked world that always did as they now do persecute the Messengers of Jesus Christ who to them were and are sent to witnesse against them in their markets and meeting places that their deeds are evil which the children of this generation that are strangers to the leadings of the spirit of truth calls them that are guided by the spirit to walk according to the Scripture makers of tumults movers of sedition breakers of the publick peace as the unrighteous generation did who persecuted Christ and his Apostles whose practice was to declare the mind of God in their Synagogues and Markets as the Ministers of Christ do now And they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing and asking the questions Luke 2.46 When Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custome was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day and as was declaring the word of eternal life to the people all they in the Synagogue when they heard these things he spake were filled with wrath and rose up and thrust him out of the City and led him to the brow of the hill whereon the City was built that they might cast him down headlong But he passed through the midst of them and went his way Luke 4.16 28 29 30. And Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ not of man neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead Gal. 1.1 He was a chosen Vessel unto the Lord to bear his name amongst the Gentiles and Kings and the children of Israel Acts 9.15 It was his practise to go too and fro to preach the word of eternall life to the people in their Synagogues and Markets as the Ministers of Christ doth When Paul Silas came to Thessallonica where was a Synagogue of the Iewes Paul as his manner was went in unto them and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures Acts 17 1 2. When Paul went unto Athens his spirit stirred in him when he saw the whole City given to Idolatry therefore disputed he in the Synagogue with the Jewes and with the devout persons and in the Markets daily with them that met with him Then certain of the Philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoâ—cks encountred him and some said what will this babler say other some he seemeth to be a setter forth of strange Gods because he preached unto them Jesus and the Resurrection Acts 17.16 17 18. verses And all my Brethren this day with me that witnesseth Christ Jesus risen from the dead and are sent to preach Christ the Resuâ—rection who hath enlightned every one that is come into the world that all his light that from him comes that shewes them sin waite for his power to cleanse them from sin and raise them out of the fallen and dead estate by the power of his resurrection to live in pure obedience to God We are by these the world calls their Ministers and Teachers withstood as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses But the Lord is making them daily manifest that all shall see their folly and by them be no more deceived 2 Tim. 3.8 9. And as the heathen Phylosophers before written encountred Paul so hath these men encountred with us as before written for witnessing Jesus the resurrection and the true light that lightneth every one that comes into the world And as Tertullus the heathen Orator accused Paul before Felix Acts 24.1 5. We have found this man a pestilent fellow and mover of sedition amongst all the Iews throughout the world and a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarens The same spirit that was in the heathen Orator Tertullus that led him to accuse Paul before Felix did Edward bowles whom the people of the world calls Minister and teaches in the high place in York manifest to be in him who never had spoken to me when he by that dark spirit was led to give in an information against me and at the time when it were expected I should have the priviledg of the Law that theeves and murtherers had by it to be tryed and my accusers to appear face to face the said Edward Bowles did not appear to prove against me what was written in the Information neither a perfect copie of it would he or they that had it in keeping give 〈◊〉 when it was demanded least their works of darknesse should be broughâ—â—o light but what was brought to light when it was demanded of Edward Bowles This is a perfect copie that he wrote with his own hand as followeth It is informed that on William Deusbery a ringleader of the persons called Quakers goes up and down the country of York and is now in the west riding thereof dispersing principles prejudicall to the truth of the Gospel and peace of the Common-wealth It is therefore desired that seeing no man is allowed publickly to exercise his gifts to a particular Congregation unlesse he be first tryed and approved that the said William Deusbery may not be permitted to go up and down from place to place teaching untill he receive approbation of some persons who shall be thought fit to judge how agreable his principles are to truth and peace This is the substance of what I delivered into Mr. Payler but the particular words I cannot exactly remember but I believe they doe not any thing considerably vary from this Paper E. B. This man whom Edward Bowles call Mr. Payler was the fore-man of the Grand Jury to whom he delivered the information against me that they it might deliver to Hugh Windham who sate Judge of life and death at the general Assises holden at York about the time of the 13 and 14 dayes of the first moneth called March 1653. Upon the sight of the information given in against me the Judge granted a VVarrant in the open Court to the men that was in Commission to doe Justice in Yorkshire to apprehend me VVhich
had it transgrest but again â—o prison did mee commit to answer at the Assizes holden at Northampton the 10 and 12 day of the first month called March 1654. And three times I was there brought before Matthew Hail who did sit judge of life and death to answer what might be objected against me and the last time I before him was brought Hugh VVindham was with him who then was in commission with to have judged the cause in righteousnesse between me and my accusers and though not any accuser appeared against me to prove mee the transgressor of any Law neither would these that sate to judge my cause any Law to me read that any evidence given in against me was the transgression of but they me committed to prison where I had been amongst those arraigned for fellony and murther so under all these lies and aspertions false accusations I suffer and instead of being cleared of them when I was brought before those that are in Commission to judge with righteous judgement more accusations is laid upon me by them which was done by John Parker at the general Sessions before written and Hugh VVindham at the general Assizes before mentioned which both did accuse me in the open Court before the people that I was a seducer and when I required them to make manifest wherein I did seduce any they would not answer to what then was required and a copie of the ground of the evidence they pretend they have against me they denied to be given me in all places where they have proceeded against me as is formerly written least their woâ—ks of darknesse should come to light and their folly made manifest and truth cleared of the lies and false accusations with which they blind the eyes of many and cause them to stumble at the wayes of truth in speaking evil of the things they know not as is manifest in what is written So for the truth sake I bare testimony of and it to clear from all lies and aspeâ—sions cast upon it which hath caused the simple to stumble at the way of truth and that they no longer be turned aside by the lying spirit who every way seeks to murther and destroy the truth from the earth in persecuting the bodies of the Saints and shutting them up in prison under the names of blasphemers deceivers seducers and disturbers of the peace so make lies their refuge as that persecuting spirit â—ver did in all ages to stop the lying mouth and for the simple sake that desires in the truth of their hearts to know the leadings of the spirit of truth in the way to know the onely true God I here publickly declare to the inhabitants of England and to all that dwell upon the earth what I was in the fallen estate and how the Lord raised me up by the arm of his mighty power and carried me on through the great work of regeneration that all may know the truth I am sent to bear testimony to the consciences of those that dwell upon the earth is not any seducing nor contrary to the truth of the Gospel but is according to the truth as it is in Jesus He that hath an eye to see let him see and â—n ear to hear let him hear The first Birth I Was conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity and in that state lived and delighted in pride and pleasures lightnesse and vanity as all doth in that nature untill I were about eight years of age though before that time when I did live in vanity the light in my conscience did witnesse against mee and caused some trouble in me but I departed from the light and so followed the counsell of my own heart that lead mee into vanity to live without the fear of God And about the time when I was eight years of age of my natural birth the word of the Lord came unto me I created thee for my glory an account thou must give to me for all thy words and actions done in the body which word enlightned my heart and opened the book of conscience in me where all was written I had done in the body ever since I was a child or had any remembrance and when I had read my condition how I had lived without God who created me for his glory The word of the Lord then came unto me Shall the axe boast it self against him that heweth therewith or shall the saw magnifie it self against him that shaketh it As if the staffe should shake it self against him that lifâ—eth it up or as if the staffe should lift up it self as if it were no wood and by the power of the word of the Lord that spoke in me my understanding was enlightned and my conscience bore witness that it was my condition I had lifted up my self against the liviâ—g God in living without his fear who created me to live in obedience to him but I had lived in disobedience to him untill that day so deep sorrow seized upon me and I knew not what to do that I might get acquaintance with the God of my life who created me for his own praise and glory then I ceased from my vain conversation which I had lived in and began to read the Scriptures and books and mourn and pray to a God I knew not where he was but expected him without looking up towards the firmament where my carnal imagination told me he was and as I had heard those the world calls Ministers whom I went to hear whose words did witnesse with my carnal imagination of God they said he was above the skies calling it heaven but I felt the hand of the Lord within me executing justice upon the wicked in me and what way ever I turned to seek him in observations thither the flaming sword turned which was placed against me to keep the way of the tree of life and executed the righteous justice of God upon me so I stood before the Throne of the Lamb reading in my mournfull estate the sentence of condemnation that passed upon me from the glory of his presence and in this condemned estate I continued and through the ignorance where God was what his worship was I strove to satisfie his justice in outward observations imitating what the Saints did sometimes in fasting and prayer which was the practise of Cornelius and others of the Saints of the most high God as I found recorded in the Scripture of Truth But notwithstanding all my strict walking in observations in which I was seeking the Kingdom of God I found him not but the flaming sword cut me down so my sorrow increased for I found none in my condition that I could declare it to Then it pleased the Lord to order my friends in the flesh to put me to keep the sheep where I was retired from company so my mind was kept in my mournfull estate where my great
hath led me through the gates of the City into the new Ierusalem where there is nothing enters that works abomination or makes a lye but what is written in the Lambs book of life where my soul now feeds upon the tree of life which I had so long hungred and thirsted after that stands in the Paradise of God where theâ—e is no more curse nor night but the Lord God and the Lamb is my light and life for ever and ever I witness I am regenerated and born again of the immortal seed and hath pertaked on the first resurrection on whom the second death hath no power And this I declare to all the inhabitants in England and all that dwell upon the earth that God alone is the teacher of his people and hath given to every one a measure of Grace which is the light that comes from Christ that checks and reproves for sin in the secret of the heart and conscience and all that wait in that light which comes from Christ which is the free grâ—ce of God for the power of Jesus Christ to destroy sin and to guide them in obedience to the light so shall they come to know the onely true God and Father of light in Christ Jesus who is the way to him And 〈◊〉 I witnesse to all the sons of men that the knowledge of eternall life I came not to by the letter of the Scripture nor hearing men speak of the name of God I came to the true knowledge of the Scripture and the eternall rest they testify it in Christ by the inspiration of the Spirit of Jesus Christ the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah who alone is found worthy to open the seales of the book and I witnesse none else can for he alone opened the seales of the book in me and sealed it up to my soul by the teâ—timony of his own spirit according to his own promise I will bind up the testimony and seale the Law amongst my Dâ—sciples and I will write my Law in their hearts and put my spirâ—◠〈◊〉 â—heir inward parts and they shall not depart from me neâ—ther shall they need to reach every man his neighbour and every man hâ—s brother for all shall know me from the least of them to the greatest for I will be merciful to their unrighteousnesse and their sins and inâ—quâ—ties will I remember no more and all my childâ—en shall be taught of me saith the Lord God and great shall be the peace of my châ—ldren and this here declared the Scriptures witnesse and I witnesse the Scriptures fulfilled in me Praises praâ—ses Halleluâ—ah and eternal praises be unto thee Lord God Almighty who haâ—h taken unto thee thy great power to sit upon thy throne and to the Lamb for evermore It being charged on me my imprisonment to be jâ—st untill I give a reason of the hope of my calling and that I am uâ—willing so to do to stop the lyâ—â—g mouth of the false accuser and to clear the truth of the lies layd on it as before written and in love to the souls of the people that they the truth may know as it is in Jesus Here I have declared the work of the mighty God in revealing his Son in me who led me on my journey through the dark world where I passed through great tribulations as formeâ—ly written until I came to the end of the world over it to rejoyce in the power of my God 1 Cor. 10.11 upon whom the ends of the world are come whom the whole world that lies in wickedness hates and persecutes but to the pure single eye that is not of the world I lay this before which is written that all which it mindes may see the truth I bear testimony of is not any Popish Tenet though I was questioned concerning them at the general Assizes holden at Northampton the 10 and 12 dayes of the first month called March 1654. neither is it seducing nor blasphemy nor prejudicial to the truth of the Gospel or peace of the Nation but according to 〈◊〉 truth of the everlasting Gospel and sound peace of the Nation for which testimony I am still kept in bonds in the common Goal in Northampton numbred amongst the transgressors in the low prison with those arrained for fellony and murther waiting in rest and peace till the sufferings of the righteous seed be fulfilled And all you that are enemies to the truth of God persecuting it under the names as formerly written calling the preaching of the truth seducing this I declare and confesse unto you in the presence of God after the way you call seducing dâ— I worship the Lord God of my fathers and witnesse fulfiâ—â—â— what is written in the Law and the Prophets he that can receive me let him W. D. Dear friends whose minds are turned to the effectual light that comes from Christ all mind your own measure and be content in what the Lord hath committed to you with the light judge that which would draw your minds to look forth at others conditions and in impatiency to covet what the Lord haâ—h given to them before it be manifest to you be faithful every one in your own measure and in patience wait in the light for the unlimâ—ted spirit of Christ your life to open the seals of the book and make known unto you the mystery of eternal life which he will daily reveal in you that are faithfull in your own measure to follow the Lord in what he makes manifest to you whom he hath called into his Vinyard at the ninth and eleventh hour be faithfull to the Lord in walking in obedience to him in the light hee will make a short work in the earth for his seed sake and your reward shall be rest and peace in the presence of God in Christ with those that came into the Vinyard the third and sixth hours and laboured the heat of the day God almighty be with you his chosen servants and children and all in your measure keep in his eternall power bold valiant and faithfull unto the end and crown you with eternall glory in Christ one Judge Lord and King God over all blessed for ever Amen To all you that rule â—n England from the highest to the lowest whom the Lord hath betrusted with power to see the peace be kept and to judge the cause of the people He hath given you power theri causes to judge with righteous judgement the evil doers to punish and the righteous set free out of the hands of those that oppresse them This is the word of the Lord God to you THat you lend not your ears to the counsel of your own hearts or to the counsel of any without you that tempts you to draw your mindes from the pure counsel of God which is the light that comes from Christ Jesus and calls on you in your consciences to judge with righteous judgement as
you will eternally answer before the pure powerful dreadfull God take heed of abusing your power he hath betrusted you with in establishing any Law which is contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the conscience as those did whom the Lord drave out and destroyed before you in his wraâ—â—nd overturnd in his fierce displeasure which if you uphold those Lawes they made in their wills or any other which is contrary to the righteous Law of God in the conscience and rule according to them Lawes and exercise the power committed to you to bind the Lawes upon the consciences of the children of the Lord whom he hath chosen out of the world and made his jewels to fear an oath in obedience to the righteous Law which sayeth swear not at all which if you by these unrighteous Lawes take advantage against the righteous seed concerning the Law of their God them to ensnare under your power that you on them may satisfie your wills This I declare to you from the eternall God of Heaven and Earth It is hard for you to kick against the pricks for what is done to his people he takes it as done to himself and better a Milstone were hanged about your neck and you cast into the Sea saith Christ then to offend one of these little ones that beleeveth in his name and obeyes his command who saith swear not at all and now is manifesting his power in his people that all them may know between those that swear and them that fear an oath which if you them that fear an oath oppress this know the Lord God will plead their cause as he did the cause of all his people in all ages and destroyed those that oppressed them as in the time of Pharaoh and in the time of Nebuchadnezzar and in the time of Hamon in the reigne of King Ahasuerus and in the time of King Herod whom he smotein his righteous judgements and consumed him with worms Acts 12.23 for persecuting his people and robbing him of his glory the righteous justice of God he manifested upon the enemies of his people is left upon record you to foâ—ewarn that you touch not his chosen anointed people nor do his Prophets no harm for whose sakes the Kings rebukes and all that oppresse them as is recorded in Scripture of truth and hath been witnessed before your eyes in destroying the Bishops and the King that oppressed the people of God by their power in binding Lawes upon them contrary to the righteous Law of God in their consciences and you Rulers of England who promised to the Lord God if he would deliver those that oppressed his people into your hands and give you power over them you would take away all Laws that burtheâ—ed the consciences of his people and they should have free liberty to worship him in spirit and in truth according to his Law written in their own hearts and according to your desires the Lord appeared while you in his counsell stood and gave all into your power according to the desires ofyour own hearts and now is the time of your tâ—y all wherein the Lord is trying all you this day whom he hath put power into your hands which if you now forget the Lord God who appeared to you when you were little in your own eyes in the day of your distresse and deny to perform your promises you made to the Lord when he delivered you out of the hands of those that sought your lifes but contrary to all your promises abuse your power you are betrusted with to build up again you seemed to destroy which cost the price of so much blood in establishing Lawes which are contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the conscience and by them think to scatter the power of the holy people and to weary out the Saints of the most high God in turning judgement backward and keeping justice a far off that truth falleth in the streets and â—quity cannot enter so he that departeth from evill maketh himself a prey to your wills and the Lord God seeth it and is displeased with you that there is no judgâ—ment for his people therefore to you this is the word of the Lord that abuse your power you are betrusted with in perverting judgement as before written thus saith the Lord God The pit you dig for my people you shall fall into it your selves and my people I will deliver by the arm of my mighty power and according to your deeds I will to you repay and recompence fury and vengeance to you my adversaries and will you sweep away with the beesome of my wrath except you repent and your blood shall be upon your own heads and you shall not escape but come to your end and none shall help you He that hath an ear to hear let him hear And be forewarned now in this day of your visitation wherein the Lord hath to you sent you to forewarn of the evill that is coming upon you that you may speedily to him return and lay your Crowns in the dust at the feet of Jesus Syons King and in his counsel stand which is the light in the conscience that in you witnesseth against every vain thought and wicked imagination and in the light wait his power you to guide to perform your promises and to take away all Lawes contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the conscience that the righteous Law of God may be your guide which is the guide of all the children of God then will the Lord God of Heaven and Earth be with you and with the arm of his mighty power destroy all that plot or rise up against you before whom he will make the unrighteous powers of the earth to shake if you abide faithful in his counsel and wil make you a terrour to the evil doers and a pâ—aise to them that do well and will bring you into the eternall peace and rest he hath prepared for his people but if you reject his counsell and cast his righteous Law behind your backs as you have done and follow the counsel of your own hearts all that have an eye to see read and understand Prov. 29.1 He that hath been often reproved and hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy and in that day I shall be clear of your blood who in love to your soules hath not hid the counsel of God from you which he hath made known to me that you may be left without excuse in the daâ— of the Lords anger when hee doth perform what he hath spoken Then shall I be remembred whom the world knows by name William Dousbery and by some of you that professes to minister justice cast into prison and there kept in the common Goal in Northampton for the word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ From the Goal in Northampton the 25 day of the 4 month 1655. O England England over all in
thee I lament who persecutes the Sons and Daughters of the most high God he hath to thee sent thee to forewarn of the evill day that is coming upon thee O That thou in this day of thy visitation did know the things belonging to thy peace which the living God tenders to thee in this day of his mercy wherein he waites on thee to be gracious unto thee and to make thee the glory of all the Nations of the world and in all thy straits for thee appeared and in his mighty power hath destroyed all that did secretly plot and rise up against thee to establish unrighteous Lawes and them bind upon the consciences of those that feaâ—ed the Lord in thee and walked humbly before him according to the measure of light received and now hath he appeared in the day of his mighty power in thee O England to exalt the Kingdom of Christ in the hearts of his Saints and hath sent them to preach his everlasting Gospel in thee to turn the mindes of the people from darknesse to light which comes from Christ in it to waite for his power to guide out of all sin and uncleannesse into union and fellowship with the Father of light which many of you people in England seemed to desire above all things and content to give up your lives to withstand them that did appear to bind any unrighteous law upon you and by it to take advantage against you concerning the Law of God which you professed to love and to delight in your liberty in it more then in your nearest and dearest relation or life or any outward injoyment and all you in that day who were faithfull to the Lord according to the measure of light manifest in you the Lord God did appear for you and in his mighty power hath scattered those that stood up in enmity against you to bind Lawes upon your consciences which is contrary to Scripture and the righteous Law of God in the heart and the Lord hath given you power over all those your enemies and now have you free liberty which they cannot take from you to worship God in spirit and in truth according to the desires you seemed to manifest in the day you cryed to the Lord when you were in distresse and now is the Lord come to visite you in his tender mercy and hath sent his Ministers to preach his eternal word freely without money or price in season and out of season to reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine which many of you people in England who promised the Lord to worship him in spirit and in truth now his counsell rejects and turns to the teachers you have heaped up to your selves according to your own lusts who cryes peace peace to you in what you do while you put into their mouths and now is the time come to the fulfilling the Scripture in you who have itching eares and cannot indure sound doctrine but turns from it to fables which if you continue in your carelesse mindes slighting this day of your visitation and not like to retain God in your knowledge God will give you up to reprobate mindes that professe you know God but in works deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good work reprobate upon whom the Lord will get his glory in his righteous judgements and if the Lord in his everlasting love had not left a seed in thee O England thou with all thy teachers whom thou hast heaped up according to thy own lusts would have become as Sodom but for his own seed sake whom he hath blessed he will do good to the inhabitants of England who stands faithfully in his counsell to be guided by his power and will scatter all those that stand in opposition to his righteous seed Christ whom he is exalting in the hearts of his elect and chosen people in England to rule for ever over all that stand in enmity to him this is the day the mighty God is giving all power unto his son Jesus to whom every knee shall bow and all you proud stubborn self-willed lofty ones that hates the light of Christ in you that witnesses against sin in the secret of the heart and conscience and it rejects and denies to be guided by it but turns to the counsell of your own hearts and the Teachers you have heaped up according to your lusts and with them sits at ease in the flesh and turns the grace of God into wantonness and forgets the loving kindnesse of the Lord who delivered you by the arm of his mighty power when enemies compassed you on every side and gave your lives for a prey when they were nigh unto death and now you abuse your liberty to walk with your teachers according to your lusts and with them commit this filthy and abominable thing in the land the Priests to teach for hire and the Prophets that divine for money and you people love to have it so but what will you do in the end thereof which day you put afar off and do not regard but that you shall not be ignorant of the mind of the Lord and left without excuse in the mighty day of the Lords anger who hath sent his servants and children early and late to forewarn you of the evill day that is coming upon you if you doe not speedily repent and turn to the Lord but slight this day of your visitation then shall the things now belonging to your peace be hid from your eyes and your end shall be according to the word of the Lord I declare to you thus saith the Loâ—d All these my enemies that will not that I shall rule over them bring them hither and slay them before me and this is your portion you enemies of Christ that hates his counsel as is before written he will you consume with the breath of his mouth and the brightnesse of his coming which will overtake you that sit at ease in the flesh as a theef in the night and in flames of fire will render vengeance on you that disobeys his Gospel and will give to every one of you according to the works done in the body and you shall not escape from Israels Judge Syons King who will all his people deliver and you proud lofty ones under bring by his mighty power to the praise and glory of his righteous justice who alone is worthy God over all blessed for ever Amen Remember you are warned in your life time and prize this day of your visitation while the Lord in patience and long-sufferance waites to be gracious and mercifull to you if you speedily return to his counsell which is the light of Christ in your consciences that shewes you sin and wait in it for his power to lead you to repentance and to cleanse you from sin and in the straight way of self-denyal and the daily crosse you to guide in obedience to the Father of light then will the Lord God